Chapter 88: In an Instant

  Chen Yan and Yuan Rui are both mid-to-high-level players, and the game is progressing very quickly. Xia Xixi stands silently on the side, watching as the balls on the table go into the pockets one by one.

  Yuan Rui's condition is not stable, sometimes he can score three goals in a row, but sometimes he can't even score for several rounds. On the other hand, Chen Yan, who was initially lagging behind, steadily scored every round, turning from chasing to taking the lead. His ball often inadvertently broke through the opponent's good position.

  Chen Yan's shots are unpredictable, every time his own advantage is about to open up, he will make a mistake, so that he always maintains a lead of one ball at a steady pace.

  The balls on the table are getting fewer and fewer, and the atmosphere between the two people is subtly changing.

  Xia Xi watched Chen Yan's elegant stroke, from the first shot to now, his expression has always been relaxed, as if he didn't take his opponent seriously at all. The more anxious Yuan Rui was on that side, the calmer Chen Yan was on this side. He remained aloof and condescending towards his opponent, although there was no obvious advantage on the table, but in terms of aura, he had already defeated his opponent.

  Xia Xi gradually saw through Chen Yan's intentions, who didn't even consider Yuan Rui as an opponent. He was playing with a cat-and-mouse approach, teasing and humiliating him.

  Finally, except for the black ball on the table, both people only had one ball left. Chen Yan had the right to hit the ball and he made a clean and neat shot to pocket his last colored ball.

  At this time, Yuan Rui's temples had already sweated, the outcome was already a foregone conclusion, and the remaining black ball, cue ball, and pocket were almost in a straight line. Even if Chen Yan closed his eyes and hit it lightly, he could still win.

  Chen Yan's mouth hooked into a sly smile, and he unexpectedly put away his club, ignoring Yuan Rui's tension and astonishment. He walked straight up to Xia Xi Xi and handed over the club: "This shot, you take it."

  Xia Xi hesitated for a moment, then took the cue stick. Standing in front of the billiard table, she bent down to aim, and suddenly her mind cleared up. Chen Yan had given her the right to choose, letting him lose or win, all depending on her thoughts.

  If he wins the ball back, Jiang Yan will be his again. This is a decision she made to help him, so he doesn't have to apologize for breaking the rules.

  If she lost the game, her emotional inclination would be easily exposed, unwilling to let him fight for others, acknowledging her own concerns, and their gamble ended with her defeat.

  This move by Chen Yan is a win-win situation for himself, but for Xia Xixi, it's a difficult choice.

  Her thoughts were complicated and messy, she couldn't hear her own heartbeat, nor could she make up her mind. Although she should have aimed at the black ball, she took a deep breath, closed her eyes instead.

  Flashes of memories with Chen Yan kept flashing in her mind, the unruly him, the teasing him, the entwining him.

  A surge of resentment rose in his heart, Chen Yan, how dare you always bully me?

  She opened her eyes, and the bottom of her eyes was clear. She made a shot, a perfect hit, and the black ball fell accurately into the hole. This game finally came to an end.

  "You won, whether I like it or not, you've taken her from me again." Yuan Rui's gaze turned to Jiang Yan, only to find that she wasn't even looking at him. He could only withdraw his gaze in disappointment and walk slowly over to Chen Yan, extending a hand for a handshake.

  Chen Yan looked at him with disgust, without any intention of stretching out his hand.

  Yuan Rui smiled awkwardly, "Chen Yan, next time we meet, our confrontation won't be so simple." He tried to save face by making a tough statement, but it was futile because Chen Yan's attention wasn't on him at all.

  The little overlord of C city took a deep look at Jiang Yan and retreated with his tail between his legs.

  The outcome was already decided, Xia Xi didn't want to witness a reunion scene, she turned around and wanted to leave, but was stopped by Chen Yan.

  "He said: 'Wait a minute, I have something to say to Jiang Yan.'"

  Xi Xi smiled weakly, "One minute is not enough for you to make amends, this person's heart is no longer with her, she doesn't even want to waste a second," "Wait until I leave, then you can slowly talk things out."

  Chen Yan grabbed her wrist, not letting Xi Xi walk out of his control range. He was circling around Xia Xi Xi while scolding Jiang Yan: "I told you, don't get too close to that bunch of princes' party. Now do you see clearly what kind of person Yuan Rui is?"

  Jiang Yan's face, normally a vision of loveliness, twisted into an icy smile. "If you just wanted to teach me a lesson, then there's no need to say anything more," she said coldly. "Yuan Rui was indeed over the line, but it was you who treated me like a pawn, who saw me as nothing more than something to be won or lost. Do you think that defeating Yuan Rui would make me see his true nature? You're wrong - I know exactly what he's like, and the person you've truly humiliated is me."

  Her cold words made Chen Yan's face change, and Xia Xixi, who was arguing with him, also quieted down. They were all too selfish, afraid of losing face, afraid of getting hurt, without realizing that the most innocent and hurt person in this quarrel was Jiang Yan, who was at the center of the storm.

  "Xiao Yan, I didn't mean to humiliate you, I just fear that if you get too close to those people, you'll end up losing out." Chen Yan said.

  Jiang Yan's tone became increasingly rude, "Who did I get too close to and got taken advantage of? You? Don't be ridiculous. Wasn't it enough that you dumped me for her and humiliated me thoroughly today by putting on this act together?"