Chapter 26: The Mark on His Thigh

Several more people entered the elevator. Jiang Shuyao immediately slipped into the corner, keeping her distance from Lin Ran, and tugged up her mask. She was even worried that strangers might think she was here for a tryst.

When they reached their floor, Jiang Shuyao was the first to step out, striding quickly to the right, trying to create the impression that she and the handsome man weren't together.

"Hey, Jiang Shuyao, Jiang Shuyao from Sichuan Conservatory of Music, you’re going the wrong way, my room is over here."

Pfft—

Jiang Shuyao nearly died on the spot from that remark.

She rushed back and clapped a hand over Lin Ran’s mouth. "Why are you shouting my full name and school? Why not just announce my ID number while you’re at it?"

Jiang Shuyao was fuming.

This damned man was just too much.

"Are you doing this on purpose?"

"Yes."

"I’ll stomp you to death—"

Jiang Shuyao raised her foot, aiming for Lin Ran’s toes.

Lin Ran reminded her, "Those cost over ten thousand!"

Her heel stopped just ten centimeters short of his foot.

"You’re infuriating! Hmph!"

Jiang Shuyao snatched a room card, entered her room, and slammed the door shut.

Thump, thump, thump—

Lin Ran knocked on the door. "Get some rest. I’ll call you when it’s time to eat."

"Can you have room service deliver it to my room?"

"So cautious?"

"I don’t want to run into anyone I know. If word gets out that I was in a hotel with you, I’ll be branded as the third party in your relationship."

"The perfect best friend, huh? Alright, I’ll arrange it."

"Mm."

Leaning against the door, Jiang Shuyao pondered. Lu Man and the others would be coming soon. Knowing them, they’d definitely start making wild speculations.

To prove her innocence, she, Jiang Shuyao, needed evidence that nothing had happened between her and Lin Ran.

She took an eyebrow pencil from her bag, lifted her shorts to reveal the top of her thigh, and solemnly wrote the character for "upright" at the root of her leg.

"OK, done."

She flopped onto the bed to rest.

In the next room.

It was time for the best friends' special session.

He had spent over ten thousand on high heels for Jiang Shuyao, and it had earned him a windfall of three hundred and ninety thousand.

Card balance: 1.41 million.

After deducting the cost of two gifts, he had netted eighty thousand.

Quite lucrative.

Now, he just had to see how much more Vivienne could bring in.

Lin Ran was filled with anticipation.

Soon, the meal was delivered to Lin Ran’s room.

He knocked on the door across the hall. "Come eat."

"Leave my portion at the door, and make sure there’s extra meat."

"Get over here and eat it yourself."

"Hmph!"

Jiang Shuyao opened the door, darted across the hallway, shut the door behind her, crouched at the coffee table, and began eating hungrily.

Lin Ran chuckled. It was obvious she was keen to avoid any misunderstandings.

She just wanted to eat quickly and return to her room.

So, there really were decent friends in that kind of group?

Jiang Shuyao had shattered Lin Ran’s preconceived notions about girlfriends.

Hmm?

Lin Ran rubbed his eyes and leaned in for a closer look at the edge of Jiang Shuyao’s shorts.

"What are you looking at?" Jiang Shuyao grabbed the waistband of her shorts defensively.

"Why is there an 'upright' character on your thigh? Who the hell wrote that?"

Lin Ran was furious, his dreams crumbling.

Jiang Shuyao replied coolly between bites, "I wrote it myself."

"What? You wrote it yourself? Why?"

"To avoid misunderstandings."

"You think writing 'upright' on your thigh is going to prevent misunderstandings?"

"When Lu Man and the others come, they’ll start spinning stories. I wrote this in advance to show nothing happened between us. It’s a mark of righteousness. What did you think it was?"

Lin Ran had thought it was a tally mark.

"I’m done. Take your time. Bye!"

Jiang Shuyao put down her bowl and chopsticks, slipped back to her own room in a flash.

She really was adorable and quick-witted.

After eating, Lin Ran grew drowsy and soon fell asleep.

...

One o’clock in the afternoon.

Lu Man, Susu, and Kexin arrived at Jiang Shuyao’s door.

Lu Man banged on the door. "Open up, open up! Police inspection!"

Jiang Shuyao opened the door, clearly annoyed. "What’s the meaning of this?"

The three women burst in, inspecting the room and shouting, "Lin Ran, come out! We know you’re here!"

Jiang Shuyao gritted her teeth. "I could kill the three of you. Can’t your minds be purer? Lin Ran’s in the next room. Knowing you three, I came prepared."

"???"

The three were baffled, curious about what Jiang Shuyao had prepared.

"Look, ta-da—"

Jiang Shuyao lifted her shorts without a care, boldly revealing the top of her thigh.

They crowded in for a look.

Pfft—

They nearly died from laughter.

"Why is there an 'upright' character? Did Lin Ran write this?!"

"I wrote it as soon as I came in. It’s a mark of righteousness, drawn with an eyebrow pencil. It’ll rub off easily. It’s still there, so now do you believe me?"

"It rubs off easily, ha ha... Shuyao, you really covered all the bases."

"I had to. Lin Ran booked two rooms, and I was worried you’d get the wrong idea. I need to prove my innocence."

Lu Man made a teasing sound, then, with a sly smile, said, "But... you didn’t write 'upright' on your cherry lips."

Pfft—hahaha—

Susu and Kexin burst into laughter.

"What? What?" For a moment, Jiang Shuyao didn’t get it, then she realized, and her face turned crimson. She gritted her teeth.

"Lu Man, you little minx, you filthy-minded rogue! I’ll beat you!"

She pounced, pinning Lu Man to the bed and pummeling her.

"Get off, get off, that hurts!"

Lu Man kicked her away, straightened her clothes, and took a tour of the room.

"Tsk tsk, you could have just booked a room for a nap, but you booked two suites for a midday rest. That’s thousands gone—so extravagant. By the way, Yaoyao, what’s the gift Lin Ran prepared?"

Jiang Shuyao replied, "It’s a secret. You’ll know tonight. You all have fun, I’m going to wash off the 'upright' character."

Lu Man said, "Forget washing it off. Let’s go swimming. This hotel has a pool, and we already bought swimsuits. Let’s go!"

"Let me see." Jiang Shuyao grabbed the bag, rummaging through the swimsuits.

"What the—Lu Man, your boyfriend isn’t here and you’ve packed a bikini? Out to seduce someone?"

"It’s for you."

"Nonsense, I’m not wearing that! Give me the conservative one. The rest are yours to choose from."

Jiang Shuyao claimed her pick first, leaving the others to choose among themselves.

In the end, Lu Man got a bikini. "Tch, cowards, what’s there to be afraid of? I’ll wear it. I’ve got the body for it, I’m not shy!"

Jiang Shuyao called, "Let’s go, you little minxes."

The four women chattered as they headed to the pool.

...

Lin Ran woke refreshed from his nap; it was already two in the afternoon.

With a top-tier cleanser and the self-cultivation of a male idol, bolstered by good sleep, he grew ever more handsome and charismatic.

Humming a tune, he strolled out of his room and knocked on the door across the hall—no response.

He called Jiang Shuyao, and it rang for a while before she picked up.

"Are you out shopping?"

"No, we’re at the hotel’s VIP pool—ah! Lu Man, stop splashing me, you brat—"

!!!

Lin Ran’s eyes lit up.

Images of four girls frolicking in the pool flashed through his mind.

"Wait for me, I’m coming!"

...

The hotel had both a public and a VIP pool, the latter reserved for high-paying guests.

Lin Ran’s two 2,500-yuan rooms qualified them for the VIP pool.

At this time of day, the pool wasn’t crowded. Aside from Jiang Shuyao and her friends, only a few other women were swimming.

Lin Ran bought a pair of swim trunks and entered the VIP pool area.

At a glance, he spotted Jiang Shuyao.

She was wearing a red one-piece swimsuit, walking along the edge of the pool with a silk scarf tied around her narrow waist.

So slender, yet so shapely.

Some women, like Jiang Shuyao, looked adorable fully dressed.

But once undressed, they exuded sheer sensuality.

My girlfriend’s best friend has a truly stunning figure!