Chapter 20: She, a girl, going out drinking with a man?

Luo Xing took another sip. Seeing only a few ice cubes left at the bottom of her glass, she stood up. "I... I need to use the restroom."

Shen Que supported her by the waist. "Can you manage on your own?"

He held her hand. "I'll walk you to the door. Come on."

Luo Xing nodded, giving him a thumbs-up. "Sister, you're such a good person."

Shen Que noticed the obvious flush on her face and glanced at Yun Cai. "How about you accompany her inside? Like this, I'm afraid she'll end up headfirst in the toilet."

Yun Cai rose, her face also showing signs of intoxication, though she was in better shape than Luo Xing.

Ming An saw this and stood up to join them.

Still uneasy with three women heading off together, Shen Que supported Luo Xing and followed Yun Cai and Ming An.

"How long will this line take?" came an impatient woman's voice from ahead. "I mean, at such a popular bar, does it make sense for there to be only eight stalls in the restroom?"

Shen Que held Luo Xing's waist with one hand and gripped her arm with the other. Even so, Luo Xing complained about being tired and tried to lean on Shen Que.

Shen Que had to keep an eye on Luo Xing and also look after the two women ahead. Luckily, Yun Cai and Ming An behaved themselves, holding onto each other.

Two girls in front grew impatient and left. Shen Que overheard them mention there was a restroom upstairs with fewer people.

He looked ahead; not many were left in line. After a moment's thought, he decided to wait.

Yun Cai and Ming An went in, and three had just come out. Luo Xing should have been able to go in next.

But a woman barged in without queuing.

As a man, Shen Que couldn't go in and drag her out to tell her not to cut in line.

"Ah... Shen Que, Shen Que, Shen Que..." Luo Xing kept calling him.

Shen Que knew she was anxious, so he patted her back in comfort. "Just a bit longer."

"Shen Que, Shen Que, Shen Que..." Luo Xing got desperate and tried to pull Shen Que inside with her.

It was the women's restroom, and Shen Que already drew stares from the girls behind him.

Luo Xing's actions pushed Shen Que's discomfort to new heights.

He tugged at Luo Xing. "Alright, alright, we'll go upstairs. The elevator’s over there."

Luo Xing finally calmed down.

Shen Que sighed. "I'm never bringing you here again."

Yao Xiangming finished another fruit platter. No one had returned, but a phone on the table lit up.

He glanced at it instinctively.

Su Mo (2 new messages)

[Image]

Are you coming?

Yao Xiangming looked away.

Who was Su Mo?

Oh, right, the person Xingxing had mentioned before—the one who'd provoked her.

Su Mo had gone to the restroom first and sent Luo Xing a message.

But Luo Xing hadn't replied, so she left.

Outside, Gu Shiyan leaned against the corridor wall, cigarette in hand. As he stood there, women coming out for fresh air greeted him, and he responded with a shallow smile.

A woman thought she had a chance, pulled out her phone to add him.

He smiled gently and shook his head. His lowered gaze appeared tender, but his eyes were indifferent, as if no one stood before him.

Su Mo was still holding a tissue, carefully wiping her hands.

It seemed that Luo Xing meant something to him—she’d mentioned those two words before leaving, and he followed her out.

She finished drying her hands and strolled over.

Standing before Gu Shiyan, her dark eyes fixed on the cigarette he held between his fingers. "Out for a smoke?"

Gu Shiyan's gaze seemed to bury her, his voice tinged with sarcasm. "Playing dumb?"

Ding—

At the end of the corridor, the elevator doors opened.

"Shen Que, Shen Que, Shen Que..." Luo Xing muttered, "I really can't hold it..."

After saying this, she began to repeat Shen Que's name.

Shen Que supported her. "Almost there."

Gu Shiyan and Su Mo both turned their heads.

Su Mo saw Luo Xing and a flash of surprise crossed her eyes.

She glanced at her phone. Luo Xing hadn't replied.

Gu Shiyan straightened his shoulder from the wall, ash from his cigarette falling onto his shoes unnoticed.

Luo Xing wore a dress cinched at the waist, accentuating her slender figure.

Her off-shoulder neckline revealed a swath of pale skin. She wore no jewelry—only a pure black lace dress, its stark contrast with her flawless white skin both harmonious and striking.

Gu Shiyan's gaze seemed drawn irresistibly to the hand supporting Luo Xing's waist...

Then slid down to her long, shapely legs, slightly bent, her rounded knees pressed against the fabric of Shen Que’s trousers, rubbed so much they were turning red.

Shen Que, too, noticed Gu Shiyan's presence and paused for a moment.

Luo Xing clung to his shirt. "You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you? Just because I didn’t listen to you today and had a few extra drinks?"

She tugged hard at his shirt. "Do you really have to treat me like this? Hmm? Shen Que? We’ve known each other for over ten years... You petty man."

Gu Shiyan turned his head, unwilling to look, but the next second, his gaze drifted back to Luo Xing.

A girl and a man drinking together?

And ending up in this state?

Is she really fearless or...?

Gu Shiyan lowered his head and took a deep drag, his gaze lingering in the air. Thin lips exhaled, smoke swirling slowly before him.

Those two figures in his peripheral vision seemed etched into his heart.

He stubbed out the nearly spent cigarette in the ashtray atop the trash can.

Gu Shiyan moved as if to return to the private room.

Shen Que glanced down at his badly wrinkled shirt—two buttons had been pulled off by Luo Xing.

He sighed, then lifted Luo Xing in his arms.

Her hands still gripped his shirt at the chest, her eyes closed.

Shen Que carried her right past Gu Shiyan.

Gu Shiyan paused, watching Shen Que carry her all the way to the restroom door before setting her down.

Luo Xing still clung to his shirt. "What, I'm going to sleep."

Shen Que gently patted her face, trying to wake her up. "Weren't you going to the restroom?"

Luo Xing slowly opened her eyes. "Oh, right, I was."

She straightened up and walked forward, Shen Que guiding her by the shoulder, steering her in the right direction. "This way."

He gently pushed her inside. "Be careful."

Luo Xing nodded obediently and walked in, steadying herself against the wall.

Shen Que looked back down the corridor—Gu Shiyan was already gone.

Outside stood the girl in the white dress, who glanced at him.

The private room was well soundproofed; just outside in the corridor it had been quiet, but once inside, Gu Shiyan was engulfed by noise.

He looked toward the center—Li Zhao, who couldn’t sing, was holding the mic and howling like a dog.

Gu Shiyan sat in his usual spot, several guys nearby greeted him.

He was already irritated and didn’t bother with even superficial politeness.

Seeing this, the others refrained from further attempts.

Yet a newly arrived girl insisted on moving closer.

"I’m Liu Huan. What should I call you, brother?"

Liu Huan held a glass of red wine, dressed in a white shirt and a pencil skirt, even putting on a pair of glasses for effect.

Gu Shiyan had no interest in playing along. He lowered his eyes and turned his head away.

Anyone with sense would know to keep their distance at such a moment—he clearly wasn’t in the mood for flirtation.