After sneaking out of the restroom, the two didn't head straight back to the game room. Instead, they took a stroll around the courtyard before returning.
But at the door, Jian Ran suddenly decided that she should go in first, and Chu Lulin should follow about ten minutes later to create the illusion that they hadn't been together, making it safer.
"Big sister, isn't this a bit like burying your head in the sand?" Chu Lulin chuckled.
Jian Ran shot him a glare.
Of course she knew, but what choice did they have? They were guilty.
This was just a precaution. If Jiang Ming had noticed anything outside the door, he wouldn't connect it to them.
Besides, maybe everyone was so focused on mahjong that they hadn't even noticed they'd left. If they went in separately, it would be less conspicuous.
Holding onto this sliver of hope, Jian Ran slipped back in. But just as she quietly sat down, Zheng Hui turned and asked, "Where did you go? You were out for so long."
Jian Ran: "..."
Well, so much for that illusion.
"I went to take a call," she said, then added guiltily, "Something urgent came up at work. It took a while."
Zheng Hui just said, "Oh," having asked casually and not pressing further.
Jian Ran breathed a sigh of relief, thinking she was in the clear. But then Jiang Ming, sitting across from her, suddenly spoke up.
"Sister Ran, where did you take the call? I went out just now and didn't see you."
Jian Ran froze for a second, her mind racing before she gave what she thought was the safest answer: "I went back to my room."
Jiang Ming nodded in understanding, then played a red middle tile and muttered to himself, "I thought you might have gone out with Lulin. I wonder where he went."
He hadn't been able to find him earlier.
Jian Ran's eyes flickered. She lowered her gaze guiltily, not daring to respond.
Just then, Chu Lulin walked in unhurriedly, hands in his pockets.
Jiang Ming immediately called out, "Where did you go? I called you forever and got no answer."
Chu Lulin reacted calmly, relaxed and casual. "Something up?"
"Pung!" Jiang Ming drew the tile he needed from the wall, his mood lifting, and he dropped his accusatory tone. "Nothing now. I was in a hurry to go to the restroom earlier and wanted you to play a round for me."
Chu Lulin gave a casual "Mm," brushing it off without any explanation.
Jian Ran envied his unflappable composure.
Sigh. When would she ever get over her habit of panicking when guilty?
Two more rounds passed. Jiang Ming hit a lucky streak, drawing a self-picked '1 Bamboo' and nearly jumping for joy, filling the room with excitement.
Jian Ran finally relaxed as everyone's attention shifted away from her and Chu Lulin.
But it turned out she'd relaxed too soon.
After Jiang Ming gloated for a bit, his gaze swept over Chu Lulin. "Hey, why are your lips so red? Looks like they're swollen."
Everyone's eyes immediately snapped to Chu Lulin's mouth, including Jian Ran's. When she saw his slightly swollen lip bead, her heart leaped into her throat.
Oh no. She hadn't controlled her intensity.
Chu Lulin paused momentarily, then unconsciously licked his upper lip, as if just noticing the anomaly. He glanced subtly at Jian Ran, a faint smile playing at his lips. "Nothing, just a bit of internal heat."
No one suspected the explanation. The weather was dry and easy to cause such heat, and they'd all had lamb the day before, so everyone was slightly affected—just not as severely.
Zheng Hui even offered to bring him some medicine for internal heat from her and Jian Ran's room.
Crisis averted. The automatic mahjong table shuffled the tiles, and a new round began.
This time, Jian Ran stayed alert for a while longer, only letting out a slow breath when she was sure nothing else would happen.
She hadn't expected to have swollen Chu Lulin's lips with her kissing. She hadn't noticed earlier, but he'd handled it quickly and covered it up.
Relieved, Jian Ran sneakily pulled out her phone and sent him a message.
[Phew~ That was close.]
Chu Lulin turned to look at her, his shimmering eyes seemingly smiling. [Is big sister scared?]
Jian Ran never backed down. Stubborn denial was her forte. [How could I be? I think it's pretty fun!!]
Chu Lulin raised an eyebrow. [Oh. I see. So big sister likes this feeling.]
[???] What feeling did she like?
[The thrill of a secret affair.]
[...]
Jian Ran pursed her lips.
She had to admit, there was indeed a thrill of a secret affair.
But she dared not continue this conversation. Her earlier comment about 'preferring it more aggressive' was a lesson learned.
She was afraid that if she kept running her mouth, Chu Lulin, a man of action, might do something even more unpredictable.
Better to stay quiet.