Sometimes people drink to talk, and sometimes they drink when there’s nothing much to say.
“It’s so cool tonight—cheers.” Lin Cheng raised his glass.
“Your makeup looks amazing today—cheers.” Lin Cheng raised his glass again.
“Whoa, that bowtie on your shirt is adorable—cheers.” He lifted his glass once more.
He always managed to come up with some ridiculous excuse to drink. As far as he could remember, Lu Xiaoxiao was a total lightweight, but she was stubborn as hell and refused to admit defeat. They were knocking back craft beers, which packed a bit more punch than regular brew, but by the fourth can, she had face-planted onto the table, her cheeks flushed a soft pink.
“Done already?”
“Who—who said I’m done?” Lu Xiaoxiao slapped the table and sat bolt upright, raising her glass toward Lin Cheng. Her hand wobbled all over the place, and Lin Cheng burst out laughing as he clinked glasses with her.
He had no intention of telling her to slow down. He was a booze hound himself—how could he lecture anyone else? As long as it didn’t kill you, it didn’t count. Fifth can, sixth, seventh. Suddenly, Lin Cheng realized Lu Xiaoxiao’s eyes were getting brighter with every sip.
What the—did her tolerance just level up?
But it didn’t take long for him to figure out that wasn’t the case at all. She had started rambling incoherently, her gaze locked straight on him as she asked in fits and starts, “Why… do you like Xu Wanyue… so much?”
“Because she’s cute.”
“Where’s she cute…?”
“Cute in how she’s no good at saying no.”
“What’s that mean?”
“You know, that gentle, airheaded girl who’s terrible at turning people down. With someone like her, you suddenly lose all interest in messing with her. You just want to stick close, act like a spoiled brat, and watch that helpless look on her face while she gives in to your little whims. I guess every guy has a childish little boy buried deep down inside.”
In truth, Lin Cheng hadn’t set out to act childish around Xu Wanyue. She had subconsciously slotted him into the “little brother” role, so he just went with the flow and became her whiny kid brother.
It was all Xu Wanyue’s fault! That scheming, wicked woman!
Come to think of it, this was his first real heartbreak, and Lin Cheng found the whole thing oddly amusing. The world around him swayed just a little, but Lu Xiaoxiao had completely slumped over the table. Her eyes were barely staying open through sheer willpower, and her voice had shrunk to a tiny whisper.
“You… wouldn’t like… someone like me… right?”
Her voice was so faint that Lin Cheng pretended not to hear. “What was that?”
Lu Xiaoxiao went silent and closed her eyes.
Sighing, Lin Cheng headed to the bar to settle the tab. When he returned to her side, he gave her shoulder a gentle pat—no response. He poked her waist, and she finally stirred. She managed to stand, but after one step, she toppled straight into his arms.
Lin Cheng caught her gently. “I’ll piggyback you to the hotel… I can’t take you home like this.”
He had ridden his bike there, and it was parked outside, but Lu Xiaoxiao looked like she didn’t even have the strength to hold on. Lin Cheng crouched in front of her, and she draped herself over his back. He secured her legs and headed for the hotel. He always kept his ID in his ear clip—not something he’d grabbed on purpose this time. After checking into a room, he laid Lu Xiaoxiao on the bed.
Lin Cheng vaguely recalled the last time Lu Xiaoxiao had ended up here, she had stripped off her clothes and made a scene. The trip seemed to have sobered her up a touch. She propped herself up a bit, and Lin Cheng handed her a bottle of ice water. She chugged a big gulp, only to spill the rest all over herself because her hand slipped. Her shirt was soaked. She fumbled with the buttons, but they wouldn’t budge. Growing frustrated, she grabbed the fabric and ripped the shirt open. Buttons flew everywhere, revealing the white lace bra hugging her ample chest. She tossed the shirt aside, tilted her head back, and shot Lin Cheng a defiant, triumphant glare. “There. I took it off.”
“Damn, you’re a badass.” Lin Cheng shrugged and watched as she shimmied out of her skirt next, flinging it right at him. Utterly helpless, he eyed her as she stumbled off the bed and toward the bathroom, muttering the whole way, “You—you can’t come in… You—you can’t touch me…”
There was an inexplicable note of grievance in her voice.
“…” Lin Cheng sank onto the sofa and quietly observed the human drunk show unfolding before him.
Soon, he heard the shower turn on. But seconds later came a loud thud—Lu Xiaoxiao had slipped. With a sigh, he approached the bathroom door. “Need me to come in?”
“No… don’t you dare…”
“You okay?”
“Of course I am! I’ll just—just stand up right away… Ow… Waaah…”
“…” Lin Cheng was speechless.
He waited by the door for a dozen seconds, catching a glimpse of her silhouette staggering back upright through the frosted glass. But moments later—thud again. This time, it sounded like her head had smacked the wall.
That thud meant a thick skull.
Lin Cheng had just reached the door when Lu Xiaoxiao scrambled over to block it with her body. He threw up his hands in exasperation. “I’m not gonna do anything to you. Is that really the image you have of me?”
“No, it’s not… But—but you… you’re gonna… humiliate me…”
“When have I ever humiliated you?”
“I don’t care… You—you bully me…”
Suddenly, it clicked for Lin Cheng what she meant. He froze for several seconds before murmuring, “Sorry. I apologize. Can you forgive me?”
Lu Xiaoxiao’s body quickly shifted away from the door. When he opened it, he found her kneeling on the floor, looking utterly pitiful—bruised knees and all. He checked her with his ability and confirmed her ankle was sprained too. What a dummy.
Lin Cheng picked up her white lace bra from the floor first. Her eyes looked so woefully pathetic right then. It was a deluxe suite, so he extended a hand to her. She hesitated for a second before taking it, letting him pull her up and settle her on the little stool in the bathroom. Then he started filling the tub.
Once the water was just right, he turned back. “Hop in the tub.”
He helped her to the edge, and her body slowly sank in until only her head and collarbones remained above the surface. Lin Cheng grabbed the body wash, but Lu Xiaoxiao suddenly lifted her leg, turning her head to gaze at him with aggrieved eyes. “The socks…”
Her pale, delicate foot was still clad in those black lace stockings that hugged her calf. Lin Cheng reached out, slid them off, and gently gripped her ankle… then gave it a quick twist.
“Ow…”
“Twisted it earlier, huh? Let me pop it back.” He glanced at her pouty, aggrieved face and pinched her cheek lightly. “Gonna drink that much again next time?”
“You plied me with it.” Lu Xiaoxiao sounded even more aggrieved.
Lin Cheng thought about it. Fair point.
“You drink just ’cause I say so?” No way was he owning up to it.
Lu Xiaoxiao fell silent, her dark eyes fixing on him intently. She lounged in the tub under the bright lights, her long, thick lashes dotted with water droplets, casting shifting shadows beneath.
“Aiya, that’s why you should drink less next time, okay?” Lin Cheng pinched her cheek again.
Her body was so soft. She wasn’t as tall as Xu Wanyue, but she made up for it with a plush, gently curved figure and a slender waist. The water’s surface bubbled with white foam, obscuring the view.
Weird. How did a night of drinking turn into sharing a bathroom with a woman?
Lin Cheng remembered the vow he’d made before heading out. Damn it… Why had he felt that inexplicable premonition right before going for drinks? Lu Xiaoxiao soaked for a good while until she looked on the verge of dozing off. Lin Cheng shook her shoulder gently. “Alright, alright—up you go. Time to rinse off the bubbles.”
She reached out to him.
He took her hand and helped her stand. The naked girl stood in the tub, porcelain skin glistening with rivulets of water. Lin Cheng wrapped an arm around her waist, lifted her out, and positioned her under the shower, carefully rinsing away the foam.
Lu Xiaoxiao’s hands seemed at a loss for where to settle. Her hair hung wet and limp; she bit her lip lightly, like a porcelain doll at someone’s mercy. Soon, Lin Cheng fetched a bath towel and dried her body and dripping hair. “Crawl under the covers.”
She reached out again. He took her hand and led her to the bed, where she clambered in and burrowed under the blankets. Lin Cheng thought for a moment, then lay down beside her. She’d hogged all the covers, so he hugged a pillow instead. He flicked on the TV to some variety show. Lu Xiaoxiao’s eyes secretly peeked at him.
“Go to sleep. I’ll head out once you’re out.”
“As expected…” Her voice was feather-light.
“Expected what?” Lin Cheng looked down into her eyes.
“Nothing.” She answered softly but kept staring at his face. After several seconds, she whispered, “Can you… not go?”
“You took all the blankets. What am I supposed to cover up with?”
“I’ll share…”
With great care, Lu Xiaoxiao tugged some of the blanket free for him. Lin Cheng slipped under, enveloped in warmth. The girl’s soft, yielding body pressed against his side—stark naked.
…But making a move now would be taking advantage of her state. She’d wake up muttering endlessly, blame it on the booze, treat it like Little Dog had chomped him once. Lin Cheng, stay strong! You’ve got a will of steel and principles hard as iron!
Lu Xiaoxiao slowly wrapped her arms around his, her soft, pale flesh molding fully against his arm. She shifted into a comfy position, closed her eyes, and left Lin Cheng staring at the ceiling, utterly at a loss.
…Yeah, going out for drinks was no different from doing time in jail.
