Chapter Twenty: Did I Hear That Right?

Supporting Luo Qing as we left the Splendor Bar, I could smell the heavy scent of alcohol on her breath, mingled with a faint, sweet fragrance.

Suddenly, Luo Qing bent over as if she were about to be sick. I hurriedly guided her to a secluded corner beside the bar, gently patting her somewhat thin back.

“Yang Chen... I feel terrible…” Luo Qing’s voice was barely audible, yet far clearer than before.

“Relax. Just let it out and you’ll feel better. It’s okay, come on, be good, just let it out.” I continued to coax her, having discovered that this method worked well on her.

Sure enough, Luo Qing vomited a mouthful, the strong smell of alcohol instantly filling the air.

“Feeling any better? Try again—see if you can get any more out.”

She stayed bent over, silent, as though mustering her strength. After a while, she reached for my arm and gave it a gentle pinch. Realizing she was done for now, I helped her up and led her toward the roadside.

“I... I don’t want to go home, I’m not going home!” Luo Qing protested as we walked.

I was puzzled—hadn’t she wanted to go home back in the bar? Why the sudden change of heart?

“What are you here for?” She looked up at me, her face pale with a sickly hue.

“I have no idea. Honestly, I don’t even know why I came!” I knew she was far from sober, that nothing I said would stick. So I just grumbled my complaints.

“How can you drink so much again? You must be a hopeless drinker—every time you drink, you overdo it, and you never learn!” I could only shake my head at this Lady Luo. Day in and day out, never an ounce of propriety—she can’t hold her liquor, yet she insists on drinking!

“I want to!” she declared, with a feeble show of resistance. Afraid she might fall, I held her tighter.

“Don’t move around. I’m warning you—I’m a man, you know. If you keep teasing me, I might not be able to control myself!” I joked to startle her.

It worked—Luo Qing quieted down, following obediently as I guided her to a spot where we could catch a cab.

“I’ll find you a decent hotel for the night. Remember, don’t wander off if you get confused later—if some bad guy snatches you up, I won’t be responsible!” I went on, mostly talking to myself.

“Yang Chen… I’m tired. I want to sit for a while.” Luo Qing tugged at my shirt, looking up at me with pitiful eyes.

“Alright.” I helped her sit on the edge of the concrete curb.

She gazed at me silently. The moment my eyes met hers, I looked away, feeling a tension I couldn’t quite explain—whether from her beauty or something else, I always felt nervous around her, drunk or sober.

“It’s a little cold…” Luo Qing said, glancing at me.

She was in a light red dress, sheer stockings, and little leather shoes—no wonder she was cold at this hour.

I looked down—just a white T-shirt on me. I couldn’t exactly take it off and give it to her.

When I hesitated, Luo Qing instinctively leaned into my arms.

To be honest, I felt embarrassed. She was drunk, and getting too close made me feel as though I was taking advantage. But seeing her shoulders shivering, I couldn’t stand it.

After a moment’s hesitation, I steeled myself. If she, as a girl, didn’t mind, why should I? Wouldn’t it be foolish to miss out on this?

With that thought, I pulled her into my embrace. She didn’t resist, just leaned quietly against me.

I lowered my head, breathing in the fragrance of her hair, feeling her warmth and steady breathing.

Looking at Luo Qing nestled comfortably in my arms, my heart inexplicably began to race.

I even felt a fleeting sense of happiness... a feeling I hadn’t known for a long time.

I found myself wishing I could hold her like this a little longer.

Startled by my own stray thoughts, I shook my head, trying to dispel them.

“I’m sleepy…” Luo Qing murmured.

“I’ll take you to a hotel.”

“I don’t want to go there.” She shook her head.

“Then where do you live? I’ll take you home.”

“No. Not home.”

“Then where?” I realized we never seemed to be on the same wavelength.

“To…” Luo Qing looked up as if pondering, then fixed her beautiful eyes on me.

“To your place!”

“What the hell? Where?” I blurted out in shock.

“Your place!” Luo Qing insisted, more lucid than before, her words much more coherent.

“How can a girl just stay at my place?” As beautiful as she was, that was all the more reason not to let her.

First of all, my place was tiny—no sofa, no carpet—where would I sleep? It was one thing before, but now I had a proper job and needed my rest! Most importantly, despite thinking of myself as a decent man, with a beauty like her in my bed, I wasn’t sure I could restrain myself!

“I’ll stay over—what are you going to do about it?” Luo Qing suddenly flared up, slurring her words.

“Whatever you want!” I couldn’t be bothered to argue with a tipsy girl.

After wriggling in my arms a bit, she managed to stand up. The moment she left my embrace, I was surprised at my own pang of reluctance.

“Let’s go!” Luo Qing seemed much more energetic than when we’d left the bar.

I stood as well, instinctively reaching out to support her, but she swayed away from my hand.

I looked at her in confusion, but she just grinned mischievously at me.

Feeling awkward, I quickly retracted my hand, unable to meet her gaze.

“What’s the matter, did you get addicted to touching me?” Luo Qing teased, leaning closer.

“Who wanted to touch you?” I protested. “I just didn’t want you to fall and mess up that pretty face!”

She said nothing, just kept smiling cheerfully. After a while, she remarked, “How are you so cute?”

I stayed silent, feeling as if I were being teased by a female rogue, and quickened my pace toward home.

“Wait for me!” Luo Qing called, struggling to keep up.

“Yang Chen, you bastard!”

“Yang Chen, you’re not a real man!”

“Yang Chen…” Her voice suddenly grew weak.

I turned in alarm to see her sitting on the ground not far behind me.

“What’s wrong?” I rushed back to check if she was hurt, surprised at how my concern for her had crept up on me.

“Hehe, I can’t walk anymore…”