Chapter 85 - "Drinking Buddy"

Zhao Yang didn't know why, but he was stammering. His mind spun around, and his head went blank.

'Shouldn't this girl ask for her father's hospital expenses? Why is she asking something so trivial like accompanying me to drink?'

Seeing Zhao Yang's confused face, Lai Jiayi gritted her teeth. She silently cried in her heart.

'Boss, I also want to ask for money, ah! But I can't!!'

"I-I don't need dresses...you already gave a lot of clothes t-to me. As for money…" Lai Jiayi paused. She smiled sheepishly. "I-I can earn them by myself."

Zhao Yang's eyes shook. The guy subconsciously held his breath.

"So...you only want to...go to drink with me? To the bar? Like...now?" Zhao Yang asked in a small voice. The man still looked at Lai Jiayi as if she's an oddball.

'Weird. This girl is weird. I can't understand her.'

"Mmm. I-I have always wanted to go to a bar like now, b-but because of my circumstance...I can't." Lai Jiayi put on a pitiful expression. She looked like she's pitying herself.

"T-that's why, if I can tag along with you, b-boss, I...I will be grateful!" Lai Jiayi bent her back, bowing to Zhao Yang for a few seconds before straightening her back.

The girl squeezed her eyes and clasped her palms. "O-of course, if you don't mind me t-tagging along– "

"Why?" Zhao Yang interrupted. He looked at Lai Jiayi with confusion and curiosity. "You are afraid of men. I'm also a man. So shouldn't you be uncomfortable if you go with me?"

'So, why...you ask to tag along with me? Aren't you afraid of me?'

Zhao Yang looked straight into Lai Jiayi's eyes. This time, he didn't avert his gaze. One could see his determination to know what's in Lai Jiayi's mind.

If he could, the man might even dissect Lai Jiayi's head and peek into her mind.

'I just can't understand why this girl doesn't ask me for something she really needs!'

"T-that…" Lai Jiayi coughed. The girl quickly activated her 'sweet mouth.' skill and made a bluff.

"I-I told you that I'm comfortable around you, boss. A-also, since you respect me, I-I think I can trust you?" Lai Jiayi fidgeted. The girl twisted her toes. "A-and the only man I'm close with right now, i-is you, boss."

'My dad is hospitalized. I don't know anyone else aside from Uncle Shan, this guy, that doctor, and the annoying Jun Bajie.'

Lai Jiayi nodded to herself.

'Out of those people, I prefer Uncle Shan the most. But, there's no way he will let me go to a bar! So, I can only pick Zhao Yang, right? He always goes to a bar every Friday, after all.'

Lai Jiayi strengthened her heart and slowly looked at Zhao Yang's eyes as she continued. "I-I think...it will be fun to drink at the weekend with y-you, boss." Lai Jiayi spoke in a coy voice.

Her face turned bright red. She looked like a bashful maiden.

'Ha, please, just say yes! I can't keep up with this acting!!'

Lai Jiayi screamed in her heart, knowing that her face was red from embarrassment even though the other things were only an act.

Seeing Lai Jiayi's face already looked like it's about to explode, Zhao Yang couldn't help but sigh. He didn't know why but something just touched his heart, warming his body.

"Alright. If you like it, you can go to the bar with me from now on."

TING! [Barometer rises!]

Once the notification sounded, Lai Jiayi almost fell from her chair. The girl turned her head to see Yaya behind her. Tears started to gather in her eyes.

[Yaya….I did it!! I choose the correct option!!] Lai Jiayi wanted to hug the duck and kissed him. She stared at Yaya with lovestruck eyes.

'Ahhhh, my sacrifice doesn't end up in vain! Even though I can't get easy money, I raise the barometer!!'

[Congrats, quack!! You are awesome!] Yaya genuinely praised Lai Jiayi. The duck peeked at the barometer display next to Lai Jiayi.

Only he could see this.

'Ahhh, the barometer rises by 2%! Jia's barometer is now at 25%. This is good!'

[Hurry, thank Zhao Yang, quack! You raise the barometer, plus from now on, you also get more time to interact with him, quack!]

[Okay, okay.] Lai Jiayi grinned from ear to ear. The girl hurriedly looked at Zhao Yang with twinkling eyes.

"T-thank you, boss! Thank you!"

"Mm. Nevermind." Zhao Yang coughed. He touched his throat, feeling that it's a bit dry.

'My body is hot. This is the alcohol effect, right? ….yeah, must be it.'

Zhao Yang convinced himself as he tried to control his expression. The guy had that poker face for a while, but his voice was a complete opposite of his stoic face.

"Then...from now, we...will be a drinking buddy, right?" Zhao Yang continued the conversation. Somehow, he couldn't bear to keep silent.

"Ah, drinking buddy!" Lai Jiayi's eyes sparkled. One could see glitter pouring out of it. "Y-yes, boss, drinking buddy!"

'Fck yeah!! I can slowly be his close friends. This guy will also open up a bit to me. Look, he's even more casual around me now.'

Lai Jiayi felt like her body floated in the air. She couldn't describe this feeling, but there's one thing she's sure of.

'I make great progress tonight!'

Seeing Lai Jiayi was all smiles, looking like an innocent child, Zhao Yang shook his head. He silently felt a sense of relief. He looked at Lai Jiayi with tender eyes.

'Ah, this girl is so simple. She's so happy just because of this matter.'

...what a weird girl.

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