TSDT - 33

In the end, Jiang Ying and her office colleagues chose a well-known trampoline park for their gathering.

Young people truly have boundless energy.

Strongly recommended by Xiaoman’s boyfriend, this group of office workers, who usually only went to karaoke or hotpot for team building, actually came to play such a healthy sport. Taking off their winter coats and seeing each other in athletic wear, everyone found it a bit amusing.

After all, they were still young. Once they entered the venue, stimulated by the dynamic music, their spirits soared, and everyone was eager to try. Bouncing around on the trampolines like rubber balls, even the usually quiet and reserved Zheng Yifeng laughed like a 200-pound child.

The person taking photos for them was a male colleague’s girlfriend. She said it was inconvenient for her to participate, so she didn’t join in the intense activities and took on the role of photographer.

After bouncing for a while, Jiang Ying broke a sweat and felt a slight discomfort in her lower abdomen, so she didn’t continue with them.

Once they had bounced enough, everyone moved on to play obstacle courses and in the foam pit.

Xiaoman passed by Jiang Ying, who was resting, and with a rather hostess-like demeanor, asked her what was wrong and if she felt unwell.

“Maybe I got a stitch, just need to rest for a bit.”

“Alright, we’ll go play then. Actually, you two who aren’t feeling well, you could go on the slides. You don’t have to move for that.”

“Good idea.”

The colleague’s girlfriend was quite outgoing and immediately said her period was a bit painful, otherwise she would have joined in the bouncing.

Jiang Ying chatted with her casually, “You can come again next time, the environment here is quite nice.”

The girl candidly said, “What a shame.”

Jiang Ying nodded. In her heart, she was thinking, You can’t play because of your period, but I’m unfairly suffering because of overly intense morning exercise, which made half my body uncomfortable.

She had gone to bed early last night, and when she woke up today, it was still dawn. Jiang Ying grabbed her phone and saw it was not even seven o’clock, earlier than she usually woke up on weekdays. She tossed her phone aside, hoping to catch a bit more sleep. Who knew this slight movement would wake Meng Jingshu? He didn’t even open his eyes, just leaned over and kissed her neck.

It tickled a bit. Jiang Ying, still drowsy, rubbed her leg against him a few times to show her displeasure.

He suddenly opened his eyes and asked her in a husky voice what time it was.

Jiang Ying told him, and he said, “Oh, still early.”

Before her sluggish mind could even grasp the meaning of that statement, Jiang Ying was stripped. Men are easily aroused in the morning; he got straight to the point without any unnecessary foreplay.

Half-asleep, Jiang Ying had no strength at all, letting him mold her as he pleased. In no time, she couldn’t take it anymore, whimpering a few times, then he flipped her over, and tears even welled up in her eyes.

He kissed the back of her ear, coaxing her that he was collecting yesterday’s debt, urging her to hold on a little longer, then his thrusts grew fiercer. Later, Jiang Ying couldn’t distinguish between discomfort and pleasure, crying and begging him to stop.

After they finished, she was so tired she fell right back asleep. When she woke up again, both of them were almost late. Jiang Ying rushed out the door, and half the day had passed, but her lower abdomen still occasionally felt a dull ache.

She hadn’t had a good time; it was all that damn man’s fault.

Team-building activities usually revolve around dopamine-inducing, wildly exhilarating events, but this place was quite comprehensive, even having relaxing and wellness-oriented steam rooms.

The group, despite it being deep winter, had worked up a sweat from playing. After eating a quick bite, they decided to go to the steam room to play cards. So, one by one, they each held a cup of water and found a spot in the large steam room to sit on the floor.

They said they’d play cards, and Xiaoman’s boyfriend actually brought two decks of UNO. Someone remarked that they hadn’t played it since graduating, and for a moment, everyone reverted to their vibrant, youthful student selves.

In the first round, Xiaoman lost and received the first penalty.

Everyone cheered, urging them to kiss.

Xiaoman tried to back out, but Jiang Ying reminded her, “You said it yourself earlier, that anyone who brings a family member has to kiss in public. We all remember.”

Teased by everyone, Xiaoman went all out, pulling the male colleague into it as well. As a result, both couples were forced into it, sharing a public kiss under everyone’s gaze. Other people in the steam room saw it and applauded from afar, making the scene lively.

Xiaoman’s couple probably had bad luck with cards today. In the second round, her boyfriend and Jiang Ying battled to the very end, and he narrowly lost.

Penalizing the boyfriend naturally involved Xiaoman.

Everyone was happy to see it happen. A female colleague named Xiaoxiang, fueled by intense gossip, wanted to ask a truth-or-dare question. She asked them when they had their first kiss.

The boyfriend smiled shyly, glanced at Xiaoman, and said, “It was on our first meeting, at a bar, after clubbing...”

Bar, first time.

Those were very R-rated keywords. Everyone present smiled meaningfully.

Xiaoman feigned anger and nudged him, “Who told you to say so much!”

Jiang Ying teased, “Everyone’s watching, don’t bully the junior!”

Xiaoman and her boyfriend went to the same university, so colleagues in the office usually referred to him this way.

Xiaoman pinched her boyfriend again: “I’ll bully him, so what!”

The junior laughed, indulging and helpless.

Xiaoxiang was sitting next to Jiang Ying, whispering in her ear, “Don’t look at how much Xiaoman bullies him, she definitely loves him to death in her heart.”

Sitting close, soft whispers couldn’t be hidden. It was meant to tease Xiaoman, who heard it and came over to poke Xiaoxiang’s waist, saying openly, “Of course I like him! I invited you all out to show off my boyfriend!”

After she finished speaking, she proudly kissed her boyfriend’s face.

Her colleagues felt their scalps tingle from the display, constantly rubbing their arms for non-existent goosebumps.

Jiang Ying smiled along, yet these words became a knot in her heart.

Right, if you like someone, of course you’d be eager to show them off to others, wishing you could flaunt how wonderful your treasure is to the whole world.

Xiaoxiang was on a roll, getting carried away and even encouraging the junior to set her up with a boyfriend. “You know, junior? Recently, older woman-younger man relationships are popular. Do you have any single roommates or classmates? Introduce them to your older sister?”

At this, the single female colleagues got excited, practically like wolves entering a sheepfold.

Jiang Ying chuckled, “If there’s anything good, don’t forget me, I want an introduction too.”

Even the male colleagues joined in the fun: “Me too, me too!”

Others: “Wow! You’ve been hiding it deep...”

Amidst the laughter and commotion, Jiang Ying suddenly felt the discomfort in her lower abdomen finally turn into a familiar, heavy ache.

________________________________________

When he was younger, Meng Jingshu loved making friends, regardless of their background. But as he grew older, due to many practical factors, his contact with those friends gradually lessened. He was nonchalant and not fixated on deep friendships.

His current fixed circle in Zebian was mostly introduced by Tong Hao. They weren’t people who had to bend over backward for a living, and they gathered for pure relaxation. Tong Hao was a local from Zebian, a legitimate second-generation heir. Perhaps due to similar upbringing backgrounds, they found some common ground, and along with Wei Zhanfeng, they instantly hit it off at a party during their study abroad period.

Later, when they returned to Zebian to develop their careers, Tong Hao didn’t join the game, but he did make a few connections. Friendships between men were like this: eating, drinking, playing, and supporting each other.

Today’s gathering was organized by Ah Qing, without giving a reason, a grand convocation of everyone. The group thought it was some incredibly important matter, and each arrived at the agreed place with a serious mindset, waiting for him to announce it.

Ah Qing had a regular private room at the clubhouse. When everyone had arrived, he poured tea for them himself before speaking. The amber-colored tea from the Jin Jun Mei tea leaves produced wisps of white smoke, and the refreshing tea aroma wafted into their noses.

Everyone’s heart skipped a beat.

Then Ah Qing took a deep breath and said, “I’ve decided to propose to Jiaran.”

The world fell silent.

Two seconds later, everyone let out a collective “Tsk.”

“I thought it was something serious to make such a big deal!”

“You pushed off a party just for this?!”

“Couldn’t you have just notified us in the group? Why such a grand display?”

Old Su was even harsher: “You haven’t even proposed yet, and you’re already having a bachelor party with us? What if she doesn’t agree?”

Old Su had always had a sharp tongue, and Ah Qing had been at odds with him for a long time, but this time, he didn’t retort. Instead, he took a sip of tea and sighed deeply.

Tong Hao chuckled, “I don’t think he’s confident himself.”

Wei Zhanfeng teased, “No way, hasn’t she always been very nervous about you? She should be thrilled, shouldn’t she?”

Ah Qing remained silent.

Meng Jingshu ate a piece of tea pastry, wiping his hands, and noticed a fresh scratch from a fingernail on the back of his hand, which made his thoughts drift.

“Old Meng, what do you think?” Someone called him, and only then did he realize it was his turn to speak.

He casually suggested, “Just ask her directly.”

Ah Qing nearly froze solid.

Old Su suddenly noticed something: “Wait, when did you two get back together?”

Ah Qing turned into an ostrich, silently shaking his head.

Coincidentally, Ah Qing and Meng Jingshu became single around the same time, and essentially, both were the ones who got dumped.

His girlfriend, Jiaran, was very controlling and restricted him a lot. One time, he was in such a bad mood that he couldn’t help but complain. Jiaran was also a tough cookie; in a fit of anger, she kicked him out, saying she would never control him again from then on.

His brothers all congratulated him on regaining his freedom, but he himself remained absent-minded. After much thought for several days, he finally made his decision.

It’s just that this bunch of guys were accustomed to a wild lifestyle, and seeing him like this, it was truly unbelievable.

“Holy crap, then why are you proposing?!”

“It’s been how long since you broke up? Has Jiaran contacted you? Maybe she’s already found someone else. Look at our Brother Meng, he’s changed several times during this period, learn from him.”

They had always spoken freely among themselves, and Meng Jingshu was too lazy to explain his private matters, remaining noncommittal.

Ah Qing suddenly said excitedly, “I’m going to propose to her, dammit! Are you guys going to help me or not!”

Rare occurrences often cause a stir. A seemingly soft person suddenly erupting can have immense power. This outburst truly intimidated a few of the sarcastic commentators.

“...Alright, alright.”

“Help, help, help.”

Ultimately, they were brothers. No matter how much they might ridicule him normally, when he faced a major life event like this, they would naturally help if they could.

Moreover, a group of young people in their twenties, suddenly faced with the prospect of one of them getting married, was like a crack appearing in a cup of water; free spirits would eventually become mundane. They sighed with regret and curiosity, approaching the task with the same enthusiasm as if planning a romantic rendezvous, setting about making arrangements for him. Immediately, some booked venues, others found planners.

Within a few hours, the plan was finalized, and even the flight for the flowers to be air-shipped on the day was confirmed.

Ah Qing said he would treat everyone to dinner at his newly opened restaurant, and they drove there.

________________________________________

Winter days set early. At 5:15 PM, it was already dark. The group from Weihe Law Firm, having jumped for half a day, were ravenous and headed to a bustling commercial district for food.

Usually, gatherings involve hotpot, and this time was no exception.

They went directly from the subway station to the mall’s basement level. The hotpot restaurant was on the fourth floor, and they were too lazy to take the escalators floor by floor, so they followed the signs to the express elevator.

Conveniently, the middle one was coming up from the parking lot and would arrive soon.

Xiaoxiang was pulling Jiang Ying, talking about a cosmetic brand counter that had a promotion today, giving away lots of samples, and inviting her to check it out later.

Jiang Ying felt a bit unwell, staring distractedly at the ground, and just hummed in response.

Xiaoxiang then mentioned her skin had been dry lately and asked Jiang Ying if she had any mask recommendations.

Jiang Ying thought for a moment, and just as she was about to answer her, she heard the elevator doors open, and then Xiaoxiang suddenly gasped, tightening her arm around Jiang Ying’s.

As if sensing something, Jiang Ying looked up, right into those dark eyes.

“...”