Ji XiaoYu's face was steaming hot and his heart was thumping and jumping. He stammered out a complaint, “Wh-when did I become yours? D-don't you talk nonsense!”

“You are my personal bodyguard, aren't you?” Cheng YuTang's lips twitched slightly and he said calmly, “I just forgot to add the rest of the sentence.”

Ji XiaoYu: “……”

You can forget that?!

This man's clearly messing around with me again for fun, it's really, really just so evil! Ah, ah, ah, ah!

Cheng YuTang was still a bit uneasy, so he asked, “Cutie, did that little girl just now look good?”

Ji XiaoYu said angrily, “What's to look at? Did she have two noses or four ears?”

Actually, it was dark in this nook, so if that young woman surnamed Luo really had two noses or four ears, he couldn't have seen them clearly.

Cheng YuTang chuckled, satisfied.

Seeing the little thing squinting at himself with an angry look, obviously anxious, he took on a teasing mindset and sat down so their legs were touching. And then, in the dim light, he s.h.i.+fted his hand as if clawing the couch and, gently but forcefully, separated Ji XiaoYu's slender five fingers, interlocking them with his own.

Ji XiaoYu's heart suddenly stopped beating. Then he struggled to pull his hand free.

“Hey, don't move,” Cheng YuTang pressed against his side and whispered, his lips touching the clean, rounded, blus.h.i.+ng ear, “or people will look.”

Ji XiaoYu suddenly felt as if he had been enchanted by a spell; he couldn't move.

On the small stage at the front of the private room, Han Qings.h.i.+ was still singing charmingly with the microphone in his hand.

“You are the song in my heart, a blooming flower inside; you are the melody of my life, my longing has converged into a stream~”

Cheng YuTang didn't look at the stage, just turned slightly to face his little bodyguard.

He had originally thought that the song was very vulgar and boring. But at this moment, he felt a little differently. He couldn't help but sing along softly with the melody, “I really want to ask you, have you fallen for me yet; Silence for too long, will just make me make a careless mistake……”

The music in the private room was deafening, but Ji XiaoYu felt as if all the screams and chaos were suddenly far distant from himself. There was only the voice of the man in front of him circling around his heart. It took him awhile to find his voice, “I-I thought you said you couldn't sing this song?”

Cheng YuTang tightened his grip, feeling the thin layer of sweat between their palms. He s.h.i.+fted his features into a warm, gentle expression and said, “Yes, but when I look at you, I can sing.”

Ji XiaoYu: “……”

Oh papa, there's no way, I can't resist. This man plays so, so dirty!

……

Han Qings.h.i.+ finally finished singing, the melody falling silent. The atmosphere in the private room was pushed to a climax instantly, with whistles, cheers, and screams of “encore” almost raising the roof.

Han Qings.h.i.+ delicately and sweetly waved his hand, saying, “No more, no more, I'm thirsty, I can't sing anymore.”

Ji XiaoYu woke up as if from a dream, scrunching up his face as he said, “Haven't you been here for half an hour now? I don't like it here, I want to go back.”

Cheng YuTang agreed without hesitation, “Okay, let's leave right away.”

When Han Qing said that he was thirsty, someone immediately diligently poured water for him to drink right away. Someone else took the microphone and said with a smile, “How can you drink water on such a good day as today? You have to drink alcohol! Earlier, Prodigy Han and School Gra.s.s Cheng were late, does everyone want them to do a three-cup punishment?”

“I want it, want it, want it!”

“That's a must!”

Soon, six cups were slid on the table and filled with some transparent high-quality drink.

Han Qing put a hand over his heart, saying, “Aiya, no way, this drink is too strong. I'll get drunk if I drink it.”

“It's okay, it's okay, a night like this is so rare, you must get drunk and not go home!”

“Yeah, yeah! Anyway, School Gra.s.s Cheng is here, so what are you afraid of? It's no big deal to rent a room1 nearby, hahahaha!”

“Hey, where is School Gra.s.s Cheng?”

“Oh yeah, wasn't he just here?”

Because one person asked, everyone just now realized that they didn't know where Cheng YuTang had gone.

Han Qings.h.i.+ had just been absorbed in singing and, for a time, had also forgotten about Cheng YuTang. When someone asked, he opened his eyes wide and looked around. Because he was standing up high and had a good view, he soon saw the man in a corner – with that annoying pheasant spirit. At that moment, he couldn't force a smile.

“I'm here.”

Cheng YuTang reluctantly released the little bodyguard's hand and stood up. He walked up to the long table and said, “I can take the three cup punishment, but I have to leave after drinking.”

“Hey, what's with leaving? It's still early!”

“Yeah, it's not even 10 o'clock yet!”

“How about staying until after midnight? Let's count down the new year together as buddies.”

“Yeah, yeah, it was difficult to get everyone together. School Gra.s.s Cheng, stay a little longer!”

Cheng YuTang turned a deaf ear to the persuasive voices surrounding him and paid even less attention the pitiful grievous expression on Han Qings.h.i.+ next to him. He took a gla.s.s from the table.

After observing him for a while, he had been able to conclude that Han Qings.h.i.+ was a bit off, but there wasn't anything wrong mentally. He was even more savvy and shrewd than before; it was as if he had completely released his restrained character. But no matter what the guy became, as long as he wasn't bothering Cheng YuTang, he wouldn't worry too much about it.

“Wait, wait, I'll drink it for you!”

There was a sudden whoos.h.i.+ng sound from the corner and a man sprang forward. He made a move to take the gla.s.s out of Cheng YuTang's hand.

“It's okay, don't worry, my tolerance isn't that bad. I should drink these three cups.” Cheng YuTang gently fended off his hand and said softly, “Even if I get drunk, aren't you still here with me?”

Everyone: “!!!???”

What was going on here, wasn't that kid a bodyguard? Why was School Gra.s.s Cheng's tone so private and intimate, completely different from what was used towards Prodigy Han?

They had thought that this school gra.s.s was born with a naturally n.o.ble temperament, always residing in the loftiest of positions. He was polite and estranged towards everyone, wasn't that how it was?

Ji XiaoYu heard what Cheng YuTang said. It wouldn't be good to oppose him again, so he could only watch him as, with a frown but no other movement on his face, took one cup after the other, drinking them without pause.

After finis.h.i.+ng the three cups, Cheng YuTang's complexion didn't change and his expression didn't change. He said calmly, “Thank you for your affection, cla.s.smates. The cost of tonight can be credited to my account. Have a good time, everyone. We're leaving, goodbye.”

After that, with a n.o.ble and benevolent att.i.tude, he took Ji XiaoYu's hand and walked calmly and steadily out of the private room.

Everyone in the group looked at each other, not knowing what to say at the moment.

In the awkward silence, there came a timely exclamation of a young woman's infatuation, "So beautiful! Too romantic! You two must achieve happiness! I will always wish you two the best, wuwuwuwu……"

Han Qings.h.i.+: “……”

Everyone else: “……………”

……

Outside the hall, fresh, cold air hit his face and Ji XiaoYu took two deep breaths and finally felt comfortable. While walking towards the parking lot, he complained, “What kind of cla.s.s reunion was that? That foul black smoke atmosphere2 wasn't enjoyable at all. I'm never going to one again.”

After waiting for a while, he didn't hear a response from Cheng YuTang. He couldn't resist looking up in curiosity. Under the illumination of the street lamps, there were two faint blush spots on Cheng YuTang's face. His expression looked normal, but his gaze was a bit off, dazed, as if he had lost depth perception.

Ji XiaoYu's heart thumped hard for a moment, no way, is he drunk?

He stretched out two fingers and waved them in front of Cheng YuTang's eyes. He asked as a test, “Cheng Zong, look, how many?”

Cheng YuTang didn't answer. After a long while, he reacted. He grasped his waving hand, bringing it to his lips and kissing it, and then he took a bite at his fingertips.

“Hey, hey, hey, don't nibble! Those aren't pickled chicken feet for sale in a supermarket!” Ji XiaoYu blushed and hurried to retrieve his hand. He also got back an extra as Cheng YuTang's was pulled.

Cheng YuTang swayed, his feet beneath him moving in vain, and slammed straight into a pole that was about a meter away.

Ji XiaoYu hastened to grab him, otherwise Cheng Zong's handsome forehead would have gained a huge lump.

Well now, Cheng Zong is obviously really drunk. Who was it who said just now the amount of alcohol wasn't too bad? Not strong enough to drink three gla.s.ses, is this better than me?!

I can't let go of him, I can only continue to hold him like this.

So Ji XiaoYu interlocked their fingers again.

Fortunately, Cheng YuTang wasn't like some people in TV shows, who would cry and scream when they got drunk. He just had delayed reactions and his judgment was compromised. If someone wasn't looking, they wouldn't notice he was drunk.

After entering the parking lot, Cheng YuTang locked his legs and opened his mouth, “Where are we going?”

Ji XiaoYu said, “Sending you home.”

Cheng YuTang: “You come too.”

Ji XiaoYu: “……of course.”

If not him, who would drive?

Arriving next to Cheng YuTang's car, Ji XiaoYu opened the pa.s.senger door, stuffed the man in and sat him down, and then went to the driver's side. He found that the man was sitting there motionless and he reminded him, “Cheng Zong, fasten your seat belt.”

Cheng Zong acted as if he didn't hear, motionless.

Ji XiaoYu had no choice but to lean over and pull the seat belt across and fasten it for him.

Before he knew it, Cheng YuTang smacked a kiss on his face with a crisp *mua* sound.

Ji XiaoYu jumped as if he had been shot with a bullet. If he hadn't already fastened his own seat belt, his head would definitely have smacked the roof of the car.

He covered the place where he had been kissed and asked in angry annoyance, “Hey, are you really drunk or not?”

Cheng YuTang didn't answer, simply revealing a smug smile similar to the child who had stolen candy.

Ji XiaoYu wiped the saliva off his face and said angrily, “Okay, now see here, you silly drunk. This little master won't take care of you anymore. Don't you let that sneak attack happen again on the road, otherwise if there's a car accident, we'll have to go to the hospital together!”

Cheng YuTang seemed like he was listening this time, because there was no more hara.s.sing of the driver on the way back. The two returned to the villa community smoothly and safely.

Unfortunately, Ji XiaoYu had felt relieved too soon. After getting out of the car, Ji XiaoYu found that Cheng YuTang was even more drunk. Not only was his mind unclear, he couldn't walk stably. Just holding hands wouldn't be enough to support him, he had to lean his whole body on him. If Ji XiaoYu pushed him away, he would stagger and then fall to the ground.

No way, Ji XiaoYu could only take this man who was half a head taller than himself, who was twice the size of him, and half-hug, half-carry him into the villa, then carry him up the stairs. If he hadn't been physically stronger, he was afraid he couldn't have handled this drunk.

However, this drunk wasn't well-behaved. He put his head on Ji XiaoYu's shoulder and his lips pressed between his ears and his neck. Ji XiaoYu's ears were one of his most sensitive parts after his waist, so his knees went weak. A few times, he almost stumbled his feet and made both people roll down the stairs.

With difficulty, he finally got the man into the master bedroom on the third floor and threw him on the bed. Ji XiaoYu was sweaty and tired, so he took off his coat. He sat on the bed wearing on his t-s.h.i.+rt to rest for a while. Just as he was thinking about getting up and going to wash his face in the bathroom, suddenly something tightened around his waist. He was encircled by an arm. The man behind him said clearly, “Don't go.”

Ji XiaoYu wouldn't have any difficulty in breaking this arm's grip, but he was afraid that he'd use too much force and hurt the man. He had to appease him calmly and kindly, "Cheng Zong, I'm not leaving, I'm just going to the bathroom to wash my face and then I'll wipe down your face, okay?”

Cheng YuTang stared at him with a bewildered gaze for a long time. He seemed to judge that he wasn't lying and loosened his arm because of that. Then he slowly added, “If you leave, I'll deduct money from your pay.”

Ji XiaoYu: “……”

So drunk like this and you still don't forget to threaten to blackmail me, this incapable ruler!

—

Footnotes:

1. Rent a room (開個房嘛): euphemism for specially staying in a hotel to have s.e.x ↩

2. Foul black smoke atmosphere (烏煙瘴氣): Idiom referring to a chaotic situation, aka pandemonium reigns ↩

—

and thus the s.h.i.+p of a dozen cla.s.smates was sunk, muahaha