Zhong Cheng opened the car door and, seeing Jiang Yi inside, his expression flickered with surprise.

Jiang Yi's eyes lit up at the sight of him, though a hint of hesitation and restraint remained. However, the previous air of avoidance was gone.

Once Zhong Cheng settled in, the car began to move.

Neither of them spoke in the backseat. Aside from the initial exchange of glances, they avoided even eye contact.

The driver, watching them through the rearview mirror, wore an amused expression.

Zhong Cheng's eyes flicked upwards, and the driver immediately snapped his gaze forward.

"Thank you," Jiang Yi's soft voice echoed in the quiet car.

Perhaps her voice was too low, as Zhong Cheng didn't react.

Jiang Yi clenched her fists, silently encouraging herself. "Thank you," she repeated, louder this time.

The driver couldn't resist another quick glance in the mirror.

Zhong Cheng glanced at the rearview mirror first, catching the driver's eye and silencing him with a look, before finally turning to look at the girl beside him.

"For what?"

"For what happened in PE class," Jiang Yi said. "It's good that you saw. Thank you for being my witness."

"Hmm," Zhong Cheng acknowledged, leaning back comfortably. Then, he added, "I didn't see anything."

"What?" Jiang Yi asked, puzzled.

"I didn't see you not bump into her," he clarified.

Jiang Yi's eyes widened. "Then..."

He met her gaze. "I bluffed. Seems like it worked, though."

"Oh," Jiang Yi said. "Still, thank you very much."

Zhong Cheng looked away, falling silent.

Anxiety gnawed at Jiang Yi. Her fists clenched tighter, words forming on her tongue, yet remaining unspoken.

She hesitated for several minutes, the silence growing heavy.

"Something you want to say?" Zhong Cheng turned to face her.

Lost in thought, a blush crept up the girl's cheeks. Her breathing deepened, her chest rising and falling, drawing attention to its fullness.

Zhong Cheng's eyes darkened.

Suddenly shy, and conscious of the driver, Jiang Yi lowered her head. "No, nothing."

A scoff reached her ears. "Nothing?"

Then, she watched as the partition began to rise, sealing them off from the front seat. Soon, it was completely closed, a solid barrier blocking sight and sound.

Jiang Yi's heart pounded in her chest.

Zhong Cheng remained silent, his gaze fixed on her. "I…I…" She wrung her hands, her right index finger twisting around her left thumb.

"Did my brother and Qin Zezhou fvck you?"

What?

Jiang Yi's eyes widened, staring at Zhong Cheng in shock.

How did he know about Qin Zezhou?

Zhong Cheng already had his answer, reading it in her reaction.

"You're filthy," he stated.

Two simple words, spoken flatly, yet they landed like a crushing weight on Jiang Yi's heart.

Her face paled. "No, I'm not… I…" I'm not filthy.

Before she could finish, her words were cut off.

Zhong Cheng kissed her! Her mind went blank, eyes wide with disbelief.

The blankness faded, replaced by a rush of sensation. His lips were pressed firmly against hers, the unfamiliar warmth of his touch spreading through her, a jolt to her senses.

He parted her lips, his tongue invading her mouth, claiming her space, sweeping across her tongue, probing deep, exploring every corner.

The kiss ended as abruptly as it began. He pulled back slightly, leaving a small gap between their faces.

The shock still hadn't left Jiang Yi's eyes. "You said I was filthy…"

"Mm," Zhong Cheng's hand moved from the back of her head to cup her cheek, his thumb gently tracing her cheekbone. "You are quite filthy."

The light in Jiang Yi's eyes dimmed. "Then why…" her voice trailed off, "why did you kiss me?"