Chapter 61: Hooking Her Finger Part 1

The immersive sleep accompaniment live stream picked up the guests’ even, steady breathing clearly.

Jiang Xiaoyi lay on her side on the bed, a thin summer quilt draped over her cheeks. The glow from her phone screen illuminated a small patch in front of her eyes.

In the video, Meng Chuning shifted her position, propping herself up on one elbow while clutching a soft little bread roll in her other hand as she leaned toward the camera.

“…” Jiang Xiaoyi stared at the fluffy bun cradled in Meng Chuning’s palm and swallowed hard. She felt starving, desperately tempted to take a bite.

As if sensing her thoughts, Meng Chuning pinched the bun delicately between her pale fingers and held it up to the screen, offering it. “Xiaoyi, do you want the grape-flavored little bun?”

Jiang Xiaoyi was on the verge of losing it. She fought to steady her breathing while watching Meng Chuning knead and dangle the bun right in front of her eyes. Finally, she couldn’t take it anymore and hurriedly tapped to exit the playback.

It was too much—her sister sending her a video like that in the dead of night. Jiang Xiaoyi felt hungrier and thirstier than ever. She clamped both hands over her burning cheeks, not daring to peek out, terrified the live stream viewers might notice something off.

Her phone buzzed twice. Jiang Xiaoyi tapped to open the message.

M: 【Xiaoyi, did you watch it?】

Jiang Xiaoyi freed a hand to type a quick “mm” in reply.

M: 【Show your face already. Don’t suffocate yourself.】

“…” Jiang Xiaoyi slowly lifted the quilt in slow motion. A wave of cool air washed over her face, easing the heat considerably.

In the live stream, Meng Chuning watched Jiang Xiaoyi lying on her side, her back rigid with tension. A fine sheen of sweat glistened on the pale stretch of her exposed nape.

Had she teased Jiang Xiaoyi too hard?

Jiang Xiaoyi took a few minutes to compose herself, waiting for the burning flush on her cheeks to fade before messaging Meng Chuning.

Xiao Yi: 【Sister, seeing it but not being able to eat it is so cruel.】

Xiao Yi: 【crying cat.jpg】

Meng Chuning smiled at the cat emoji Jiang Xiaoyi had sent. She had no idea when Jiang Xiaoyi had saved that one, but it was pretty cute.

She had been a bit naughty tonight, sending a teasing video to Jiang Xiaoyi while she was still on the live stream duty. The poor girl had clearly reacted to it but couldn’t make a sound. It really was cruel.

Meng Chuning toned it down, turning off the still-recording video. She sprawled limply on the bed, her gaze lingering on Jiang Xiaoyi in the live stream until drowsiness gradually overtook her.

The early morning alarm rang out, and the variety show live stream reopened after six hours offline.

The viewers had stuck around all night, flooding the comments with excited chatter.

【Jing Ying’s just-woke-up bare face is still flawless.】

【OMG, opening my eyes to Ye Yiwen—pure bliss.】

【Jiang stan reporting in. Where’s Xiaoyi’s wake-up moment?】

“Good morning, everyone,” Jiang Xiaoyi said upon returning from her wash-up, greeting the live stream audience.

The camera captured her damp brows and eyes, long lashes dotted with water droplets fluttering once. It was a killer blow to viewers’ hearts first thing in the morning.

【Aaaah, who gets it? My heart skipped when Jiang Xiaoyi popped up.】

【Jiang Xiaoyi looks rosy and radiant. Starting the day with her has me in a great mood!】

【Such a casual greeting, but why does Jiang Xiaoyi make it so seductive? I’m smitten.】

【+1】

Meng Chuning paused mid-toothbrush at the sight of Jiang Xiaoyi’s boundless energy. Her heart inexplicably itched. Then her phone pinged with a WeChat from Jiang Xiaoyi.

Xiao Yi: 【Voice message, 2s】

Meng Chuning played it. Jiang Xiaoyi’s soft voice floated out: “Good morning, Sister.”

She’d greeted the live stream audience first, then sent this especially for her—quiet and muffled, like a secretive whisper into the mic.

Meng Chuning’s eyes sparkled with amusement. Waking up to Jiang Xiaoyi’s thoughtfulness felt amazing. The moment she saw her later, she wouldn’t be able to resist pinning her down for a deep kiss.

She changed into a sporty tracksuit and headed out, only to spot Meng Fanyu emerging from the bedroom with Little Dumpling in her arms.

Meng Chuning paused. “Sis, are you taking Little Dumpling to No. 1 High School with you?”

“No,” Meng Fanyu replied. Just then, Meng Qinglan’s assistant arrived from downstairs to pick up Little Dumpling.

Meng Fanyu explained, “I’m sending Little Dumpling to stay with Mom for a bit.”

“Mom agreed?” Meng Chuning couldn’t fathom Meng Qinglan’s reaction. Skipping work was one thing, but dumping Little Dumpling on her too?

She struggled to picture the chaos ahead for Meng Qinglan.

Meng Fanyu’s cheeks colored slightly. “Mom said it’s been ages since she’s seen Little Dumpling. She agreed to take her.”

“Really?” Meng Chuning heated some milk as she spoke. “Sis, you didn’t just pull an ‘ask forgiveness later than permission,’ did you? Send Little Dumpling over and leave Mom no choice.”

Meng Fanyu nodded mutely. Meng Chuning took a sip of milk and promptly choked. “You’re not scared of making Mom mad?”

“Well… I just don’t fully trust the nanny,” Meng Fanyu said, downing her milk while avoiding Meng Chuning’s eyes.

“…” Meng Chuning shot her a pointed glance, brow furrowing slightly. “Sis, ditching even Little Dumpling for work? Isn’t that taking dedication a bit far?”

Now it was Meng Fanyu’s turn to choke. “I didn’t…”

Meng Chuning hummed noncommittally, grabbed her car keys, and headed out without pressing the issue.

Meng Fanyu hurriedly set down her cup and followed. “Chuning, I’ll come with you.”

…

When Meng Chuning and Meng Fanyu arrived at No. 1 High School’s indoor gymnasium, the guests were running pre-match volleyball tests with the students.

Teacher Xu demonstrated easily, volleying the ball. “Like this—keep your forearms together, chest tucked, abs tight. Use your body’s up-and-down squat to receive it.”

Facing the camera for the first time, Teacher Xu seemed a tad nervous. After twenty volleys, the ball slipped past. Jiang Xiaoyi caught it and handed it back.

Teacher Xu smiled. “Xiaoyi, give it a try. See if you’ve got it.”

The other celebrity guests looked anxious, still fuzzy on the moves despite the demo.

“Got it.” Jiang Xiaoyi cradled the volleyball in her palm and stepped onto the open court for her volley test.

The instant the ball arced high and dropped, Jiang Xiaoyi volleyed it back effortlessly. Her form was textbook perfect, drawing awed “wows” from the surrounding students.

Jiang Xiaoyi volleyed with total focus, her movements precise and fluid. Her intent gaze tracked the ball’s every rise and fall, her expression as serious as if she were in a high-stakes match.

Classmates crowded around, counting her volleys.

“Forty-nine, fifty, fifty-one…”

After sixty straight volleys, the live stream chat exploded.

【Is Jiang Xiaoyi a pro athlete? The ball’s like a puppy in her hands!】

【Aaaah, stop volleying the ball—volley me instead!】

【Her arm strength shocked me.】

【Don’t her forearms ache?】

Mountain Wind’s golden ID swept across: 【Not bad.】

The chat went wild again.

【Who’s this Mountain Wind bigshot? Loaded and laconic.】

【Insane. Bet Mountain Wind realized Jiang Xiaoyi isn’t just pretty—she’s athletically gifted too.】

【See? I’m not shallow! I’ve been waiting to discover more of Jiang Xiaoyi’s talents.】

For ease of movement, Jiang Xiaoyi had changed into the program crew’s volleyball uniform, baring her long, toned arms. Eyes naturally drifted to her pale forearms.

Once she stopped volleying, a faint redness bloomed on her elbows—it looked sore.

“That’s enough, Xiaoyi,” Teacher Xu said, approaching. “Don’t hurt your elbows. There’s still the match ahead.”

Jiang Xiaoyi caught the final ball. Ye Yiwen asked nervously, “Xiaoyi, my turn?”

“Sure.” Jiang Xiaoyi passed her the ball, then glanced toward the rest area where she spotted Meng Chuning.

Meng Chuning winked at her. Jiang Xiaoyi flushed at her sister’s playful, flirtatious air-kiss from afar, so flustered she missed the incoming volleyball.

“Xiaoyi, careful!” Meng Chuning shot up from the rest area in alarm. In the next instant, every eye in the gym turned to her.

Meng Fanyu tugged Meng Chuning back down to defuse. “Jiang Xiaoyi, watch yourself.”

“I’m fine,” Jiang Xiaoyi said, pressing her lips together. Her gaze slid past Meng Chuning’s face before she calmly refocused on the volley test.

Meng Fanyu gripped Meng Chuning’s wrist as they sat. “It was just a graze. No need to panic like that.”

“Hope no one noticed anything,” Meng Chuning murmured, rubbing her face. “Was my voice too loud?”

“It echoed through the whole gym,” Meng Fanyu teased. “Keep that up, and viewers will get suspicious.”

“…” Meng Chuning turned back to the court. “I was already holding back.”

Meng Chuning felt a twinge of regret. Her flirty wink was what had distracted Jiang Xiaoyi into getting hit. Good thing Xiaoyi was okay.

On the court, Jiang Xiaoyi’s cheeks remained pink—flushed from exertion or embarrassment, who could say? Ye Yiwen picked up the stray ball and approached. “Seems like Meng Chuning and Meng Fanyu really look out for you.”

Meng Chuning’s shout had drawn quick cover from Meng Fanyu, and now Ye Yiwen brought it up again. Sweat beaded on Jiang Xiaoyi’s forehead as she deflected. “Yiwen, have you got the volley down?”

“Still practicing.” Ye Yiwen mimicked Jiang Xiaoyi’s stance, forearms pressed together. “Xiaoyi, toss me one.”

“Okay.” Jiang Xiaoyi lobbed a perfectly heighted and positioned ball. Ye Yiwen swung hard, sending it sailing in a wild arc off-course.

Jiang Xiaoyi dashed after it, caught it, and returned to correct Ye Yiwen’s form.

“…” Ye Yiwen tried a few more times, but she kept receiving with her shoulder or her face. She turned the simple motion into something clumsy and rigid.

“Careful!” Jiang Xiaoyi warned.

Ye Yiwen squeezed her eyes shut on instinct. Jiang Xiaoyi saw the ball veering toward her face again and swiftly intercepted it. “Yiwen, you can dodge, you know.”

The live stream chat buzzed with concern for Ye Yiwen.

【It’s okay if you can’t learn it—stop taking it to the face, boo!】

【That hit looked solid. Proof Ye Yiwen’s face is all natural.】

【Never pegged Ye Yiwen for such poor body coordination lololol.】

【Don’t neglect workouts for work, Yiwen!】

Mountain Wind’s golden ID flashed again: 【So clumsy.】

The blunt comment stood out amid the sympathetic barrage. Ye Yiwen’s fans couldn’t resist typing rebuttals.

From the rest area, Meng Chuning eyed Meng Fanyu sidelong. “Sis, Yiwen seems kinda fragile, doesn’t she? Wonder if she’s weak at everything—incapable across the board.”

Meng Fanyu’s palm clenched subtly, her earlobes turning pink under the question.

“…” Meng Chuning blinked. Had she misread? It was a perfectly normal question—why was Meng Fanyu blushing like that? What was she thinking?