Chapter 094: Drunk Without Drinking
The pink dress gave Ma Xiaofei a soft look, making her appear both sexy and gentle, and combined with her pure yet seductive and beautiful face, it instantly made Lin Lang's eyes light up.
Ma Xiaofei greeted them proactively, "Marry, you're here!"
Lin Lang sweetly called out, "Hello, Xiaofei Jie!"
AI-generated image of Ma Xiaofei
Ma Xiaofei narrowed her eyes and feigned a smile, "Hello, Lin Da Gangqinjia!"
Marry Yang greeted, "Xiao Fei, why are you bringing your laptop to work while eating?"
Ma Xiaofei smiled and replied, "The portrait photos I took for your Lin Da Shuaige this morning—the final selections for the magazine cover and illustration portraits are ready. I wanted you to review them on the computer before they're published in the magazine."
Marry Yang, arm in arm with her lover Lin Lang, looked at her best friend Ma Xiaofei's laptop and began admiring Lin Lang's portrait photos.
"Wow~ So handsome!"
Marry Yang praised, "Xiao Pa Cai, you're quite photogenic. Your piano portraits are super handsome!"
Lin Lang, however, looked bewildered after seeing them. This was because all the portrait photos selected for the cover and illustrations of "Piano Art" magazine were formal ones of him in a suit and tie; there wasn't a single photo showing off his muscles.
It was clear that Ma Xiaofei had played a trick on Lin Lang, deliberately teasing him by taking nearly a thousand sexy male portraits, which left Lin Lang utterly speechless.
"Lin Da Gangqinjia, don't you think this set of 'Piano Prince' style portraits I took is pretty good?" A subtle, mischievous smile spread across Ma Xiaofei's face.
"Xiaofei Jie, didn't you say that this kind of conventional 'Piano Prince' image lacked novelty?"
Ma Xiaofei feigned ignorance and replied, "Did I say something like that?"
"If not this 'Piano Prince' style, then should I have taken sexy male portraits showing off my chest and abs to seduce female readers?"
Lin Lang was somewhat speechless.
Marry Yang, unaware of the hidden meaning in their conversation, said, "I think this traditional 'Piano Prince' portrait style is very good!"
Ma Xiaofei chimed in, "I also think this 'Piano Prince' style portrait is quite suitable for your Lin Da Shuaige. Could it be that he wants to take illustration portraits showing off his abs to seduce female readers and have them published in our magazine?"
"Ah…" Lin Lang was at a loss for words.
Ma Xiaofei secretly winked at Lin Lang, her expression mischievous yet very playful and cute.
Marry Yang teased, "Xiao Pa Cai, you don't really want to take photos showing off your chest and abs to seduce female readers, do you?"
My heart feels bitter!
But I can't say it.
Lin Lang thought to himself, "Ma Xiaofei, this hooligan, tricked me into taking muscle-showing portraits, and now she's mocking me. I'm really impressed!"
After a moment, Lin Lang forced a bitter smile and said, "No, no, no, I don't have that kind of hobby!"
Ma Xiaofei closed her laptop, narrowed her eyes, and feigned a smile, "Lin Da Gangqinjia, take a look at the dishes on the table. I ordered them in advance; they're all what Marry and I usually like to eat when we have hot pot. You can order whatever else you like."
Lin Lang put his arm around Marry Yang's waist and replied, "The guest follows the host's lead. Since Xiaofei Jie is treating, Marry and I are happy with anything."
"Hey…"
"Lin Da Gangqinjia, aren't you treating?"
"I'm here to freeload, how did it become me, a single dog, treating?"
Marry Yang said with a beaming smile, "I'm treating this meal to celebrate our Xiao Pa Cai winning the China Piano Performance Master Cup."
Lin Lang deliberately showed affection, kissing Marry Yang lightly on her cheek, and dotingly said, "I'm treating! I'm treating! I was just teasing Xiaofei Jie. When you're out to eat with me, how could I let you two pay?"
Marry Yang smiled gently, her face full of happiness.
Ma Xiaofei complained, "I'm here to freeload hot pot, not to watch you two show off your affection. No intimate gestures at the dining table, okay? You two can get all mushy when you go home tonight."
Marry Yang replied with a laugh, "Okay, okay, okay!"
Lin Lang gallantly pulled out a chair, and Marry Yang sat next to Ma Xiaofei, softly replying, "Thank you!"
Lin Lang sat opposite Marry Yang and Ma Xiaofei, and asked, "What would you two like to drink?"
Marry Yang and Ma Xiaofei spoke at the same time, but their answers were different.
Ma Xiaofei replied, "Baijiu."
Marry Yang replied, "Red wine."
Character revealed through drink choice.
Women who enjoy red wine are romantic, with an inherent nobility and arrogance; such women are generally beyond the control of most men.
Women who enjoy baijiu are typically unpretentious and unconstrained by tradition. They are individualistic, live freely and unrestrained, and know how to use a slight tipsiness to release emotions, possessing a unique charm.
From this, it was evident that Marry Yang and her best friend Ma Xiaofei had completely different personalities.
Lin Lang instructed the waitress to bring a bottle of Wuliangye, a bottle of Changyu red wine, and a bottle of orange juice.
Why didn't Lang Ge order 'Lafite' or 'Romanée-Conti' to show off?
Because the Sichuan-Chongqing hot pot restaurant didn't have them. The best red wine available at a hot pot restaurant was Changyu 'Cabernet Sauvignon'.
Marry Yang asked Lin Lang, "My dear, what will you drink?"
"You forgot I'm a Xiao Pa Cai who gets drunk with one sip. I'm driving, so I won't drink. I'll have orange juice."
Marry Yang gently replied, "Okay!"
"What are you, a big man, drinking orange juice for? Have some baijiu with me!" Ma Xiaofei's tone was a mix of challenge and playful coquetry.
AI-generated image of Marry Yang
Before Lin Lang could answer, Marry Yang said, "Xiao Fei, I'll drink with you; A Lang shouldn't drink since he's driving."
Ma Xiaofei heard this and teased, "Oh my~ Marry, you really do care for your man, afraid I'll get him blacked out and ruin your good time tonight, aren't you?"
Marry Yang's face flushed slightly as she replied, "Xiao Fei, what nonsense are you talking about?"
"A Lang not drinking must have his reasons. It's best to respect his wishes!"
Lin Lang listened, then propped his chin on his hands, gazing affectionately at his lover Marry Yang, and deliberately showed affection by saying, "My dear, you're still the best to me, mwah~"
Marry Yang smiled sweetly and gently.
"Eww… You two are really mushy!"
"Although I had some psychological preparation before coming to be a third wheel, seeing you two being so lovey-dovey still gives me goosebumps."
Marry Yang said with a blissful expression, "The soup base is already boiling, Xiao Fei, let's go mix the dipping sauces!"
"A Lang, what flavor dipping sauce do you want?"
Lin Lang replied, "No chopped green onions or minced garlic, just some sesame paste, cilantro, and crushed peanuts will be fine!"
Ma Xiaofei heard this and teased, "No chopped green onions or minced garlic? Are you afraid of having bad breath when you kiss?"
Lin Lang replied generously, "Yes."
Ma Xiaofei looked at her best friend Marry Yang and asked, "Then for your dipping sauce, will you put chopped green onions and minced garlic?"
Marry Yang narrowed her eyes and replied, "I won't either."
"I'm starting to regret being a third wheel; you two are a bit too mushy." Ma Xiaofei accompanied Marry Yang to the self-service condiment area to mix their dipping sauces.
Marry Yang asked, "Xiao Fei, why didn't you put chopped green onions and minced garlic in your dipping sauce either?"
Ma Xiaofei actually replied, "I'm also afraid of having the smell of green onions and garlic when I kiss!"
"Xiao Fei, you just got divorced not long ago, and you don't have a dating partner. Who are you going to kiss?"
Ma Xiaofei joked, "I don't have a boyfriend, but you do! Just lend me your boyfriend for a kiss, that's all!"
"Hmph~ How can a boyfriend be lent out, haha…" Marry Yang laughed, not taking it seriously.
"Marry, our relationship as best friends is so good, is there anything we can't share?"
Marry Yang likewise joked, "If you really dare to kiss my boyfriend, then I'll lend him to you for a kiss. It's not like he'll lose a piece of flesh if you kiss him."
"Haha…"
A mischievous smile spread across Ma Xiaofei's face, as if she was plotting something naughty regarding Lin Lang.
During the hot pot meal for the three of them.
Lin Lang was exceptionally attentive to Marry Yang, very warm, constantly using public chopsticks to pick food for his lover Marry Yang, and sweet-talking her to keep her happy.
Marry Yang's face was constantly adorned with a sweet and happy smile, and her eyes shone when she looked at Lin Lang, as if at this moment, she was the happiest woman in the world.
Ma Xiaofei verbally complained about the two showing affection, but in reality, there was a hint of envy, even jealousy, in her eyes.
Why?
Because very few men could be as handsome and wealthy as Lin Lang, with such elegant manners and charming wit. Most importantly, the emotional value Lin Lang provided to Marry Yang was perfect.
For a scumbag to be so warm, it left Ma Xiaofei stunned.
After three rounds of drinks and five courses of food.
Ma Xiaofei had poured and drunk half a bottle of Wuliangye by herself. Her face was slightly flushed, and her eyes were somewhat hazy, giving her the aura of a slightly tipsy married woman.
Marry Yang held her red wine glass, chatting happily with Lin Lang.
Lin Lang exuded charm at all times.
Marry Yang stood up and said, "Xiao Fei, you two chat. I'm going to the restroom."
Ma Xiaofei, with a drunken smile, asked, "Do you want me to go with you?"
Marry Yang replied, "No need, you stay and chat with A Lang!"
Marry Yang left the private room for the restroom.
Ma Xiaofei held a ladies' menthol cigarette between her fingers, and with a seductive, hazy look in her eyes, she said, "Xiao Pa Cai, lend me a light."
Ma Xiaofei actually used her best friend Marry Yang's exclusive affectionate nickname for Lin Lang, 'Xiao Pa Cai,' to ambiguously address Lin Lang, which made Lin Lang feel numb.
It's no exaggeration, Lang Ge was truly stumped.
Lin Lang wiped away cold sweat and weakly said, "Xiaofei Jie, isn't it a bit inappropriate for you to call me Xiao Pa Cai too?"
Ma Xiaofei drained the baijiu in her glass, and, emboldened by the alcohol, smiled alluringly, "I know it's inappropriate, but what can I do if I just want to call you that?"
Lin Lang pulled out his limited edition Zippo lighter, and while lighting Ma Xiaofei's cigarette, he replied, "What else can be done? Just make do with it!"
"Then what if I, your older sister, want to be with you for a long time?"