Chapter 85 - Flirting

We often end up losing the track of time when we're with friends. That's what happened with Dylan and Darren as well. Both of them didn't drink for long but they did end up at a restaurant for dinner.

Suddenly, Darren's phone beeped. He looked at the message before clicking on the link that forwarded him to a Weibo page. Seeing the content of the video, his brows quirked up ever so slightly.

"Damn! I don't even have to imagine that scene anymore. I can enjoy it in high definition," Darren really didn't expect that he would be seeing this. 

"What?" Dylan asked swallowing his food since it was bad manners to talk while chewing.

Darren turned the screen of his phone towards Dylan and the latter almost knocked the glass of water down. The video playing on the phone screen was Hu Shishi's live pathetic act that he had experienced first-hand today. The video started from the moment she stepped out of the restaurant looking sassy, obstinate and arrogant.

From that look to rolling on the ground with a huge dog on her was really something... Funny. Dylan got the chance to laugh again as he relived the moment. But realizing something he said, "Where did this come from?"

Darren shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly as he replied, "Paige sent me the link. But the Weibo page belongs to a famous paparazzi. Maybe, the paparazzi was following Hu Shishi and finally managed to shoot this."

Although Darren's explanation seemed reasonable, Dylan wasn't convinced. He had a doubt in his heart for some reason. The angle and position of the camera seemed like it was in the direction of his own car. But in his car, only Xiu was with him and for Dylan, Xiu wouldn't do it since she had no reason to go this far at all.

"What's the use? PassionArts Entertainment is gonna use money to drop this video," Dylan spoke bitterly and with discontent evident on his face.

"They can do whatever they want, how can I let go of such an amazing chance?" Seeing Darren's ice-cold smile he rubbed his hands together.

"What are you planning now? It's already giving me the chills." Dylan shivered involuntarily.

"The video is becoming a hot topic and it'll stay that way until I say so. I already asked Paige to work on that," stated Darren offhandedly. 

"Why? How is it beneficial to you?" 

Darren placed his fork and knife down and intertwined his fingers together as he looked at Dylan. "Do you really think Hu Shishi loves her cousin so much to come and actually beg to you?" Dylan shook his head without even thinking. Hu Shishi was a self-obsessed person how could she be selfless? "Then why do you think she came to you?" Dylan thought about it and shrugged his shoulders. "Hu Shishi is the best candidate for PassionArts Entertainment's next CEO. Half of the board is in her favor because of her tricks. She wanted to use her cousin as a shield to save her own position since the Flick City project was under her supervision."

"That makes more sense now," said Dylan as he looked at Darren with admiration in his eyes. He was about to speak when the screen of Darren's phone lit up again and Darren raised his hand to stop Dylan.

Darren unlocked his phone and read the message which came from Xiu.

Sweets : 'Howdie neighbor! I need your expert advice.'

Darren instantly typed back the message, 'How can I help you, Sweets?'

The reply came even before he could place his phone back on the table. This time there was a photo attached.

Sweets : 'McSpicy, what do you think? If you're really really really happy, which one would you choose? Breezer or Beer?'

A smile tugged at his lips which bedazzled the best friend sitting opposite him. Dylan almost spurted out the water in his mouth when he noticed the arc of his lips. And it wasn't even cold or sinister. The smile looked rather sincere and warm. 

Darren replied, ' Do you want me to be honest? Or am I allowed to lie?'

Sweets : 'Let's be honest.'

Darren : 'Then honestly speaking, if I'm really really really happy, I'd go for a sober night.'

Sweets : *shocked face emoji* 'That's not an option tonight! Please, help. I'm either allowed two cans of beer or Breezer. Isn't that unfair?'

Darren : 'Oh, so tonight there is no wine o'clock?'

Sweets : 'Nah! Tonight, it'll be beer o'clock.'

Darren stifled his laughter as he typed, 'Oo! You liar! You do remember what happened on Friday night.'

Xiu covered her mouth with her hand and typed back, 'I don't know what you're talking about. My beer is waiting for me. Bye!'

Dylan's suspicion wasn't wrong, it was indeed Xiu who had filmed Hu Shishi's embarrassment just the way she once did to Xiu. A tooth for a tooth. So, an online embarrassment should also be returned the same way, right? 

Xiu had used Neil's account to send the video to a paparazzi she was familiar with in her previous life. The reason she chose that specific paparazzi was that Hu Shishi had a huge beef with her. And since she was looking really happy, Nora allowed her to drink either Breezer or Beer. 

But Xiu was never fond of choosing. She always got confused and that's why she decided to take a third person's opinion which happened to be Darren.

When she hastily said bye, Darren chuckled at her response and sent a text message.

Xiu looked at the phone screen to find a new message from McSpicy and hesitatingly clicked it open.

McSpicy : 'Don't drink too much. Having blacked out drunk nights is really no fun.'

Xiu smiled slightly and answered, 'What are you talking about? Drunken mistakes are the best ones. Wanna try sometime?'

McSpicy : 'If I didn't know any better I might have thought that you're flirting with me.'

Sweets : 'What if I am?'

After pressing the send button, Xiu looked at her phone with a horrified look. What did she do? Why? Why was she saying all that? What would he think? Xiu slammed her head lightly on the tabletop startling both Nora and Neil who looked at her strangely.

Meanwhile, Darren was in a trance when he read her reply. 'What if I am?' Did it bother him? No... Not really. But... 

He shook his head and typed a few words before deciding not to reply. Because whatever he replied might make this situation a little awkward. He didn't know whether Xiu was joking or not but he wasn't gonna joke around with her. He could see how beautiful her heart was, he didn't want to hurt that heart in any way.