Chapter 4: The Incompetent and Malicious Ex-Boyfriend (4)
At the night market, the BBQ stall owner’s hands were moving at high speed in front of a pile of grills. Shen Ci and his group sat in a temporary makeshift shed.
Frozen beer sat on the table along with two plates of boiled peanuts, two plates of shelled peanuts, and two plates of mixed cold appetizers.
Shen Ci raised his glass and spoke first. “Today, our company has a new member. Let’s have a drink together to welcome Xiao Ming to the team.”
Hearing Shen Ci call him “Xiao Ming,” the corner of Ming Yanzhou’s mouth couldn’t help but twitch.
Xiao Ming, my foot—
But he didn’t protest. He quickly picked up his glass. “Thank you, Brother Shen. Thank you, everyone…”
The group laughed and clinked their glasses. Except for Xiao Hu, who didn’t drink, everyone else was having frozen beer. In this weather, nothing felt better than a glass of ice-cold beer.
Ming Yanzhou frowned slightly after drinking. He had never had this kind of cheap beer before; it felt both astringent and bitter. While it didn’t taste great, it wasn’t undrinkable.
Soon, the waiter brought out some of the BBQ. Two large, overflowing plates. This kind of night market didn’t look clean, and in truth, it wasn’t, but the taste was absolutely undeniable.
In his original world, Shen Ci’s favorite thing in the summer was drinking and eating skewers.
“Everyone, eat whatever you want. Don’t hold back to save me money.”
“Boss Shen, don’t worry. I definitely won’t save you money…” one of the loaders said with a laugh. Ming Yanzhou remembered his name was Ran Lin.
Shen Ci arched an eyebrow at him. “Then I’m relieved.”
The group chatted while eating skewers and drinking. Shen Ci leaned against the back of his chair and lit a cigarette, a smile on his lips as he listened to them gossip. He really liked this kind of atmosphere.
By the end of the meal, everyone except Xiao Hu had drunk to their heart’s content. Ming Yanzhou seemed drunk, leaning back in his chair with his eyes half-closed.
Xiao Hu glanced at Ming Yanzhou. “Brother Shen, Xiao Ming seems to have drunk too much…”
Only then did Shen Ci notice Ming Yanzhou. After stubbing out his cigarette, he reached out and patted Ming Yanzhou’s shoulder. “Xiao Ming, you can’t sleep here.”
Ming Yanzhou lifted his eyelids to look at him, his dark eyes shimmering with a fine mist. His expression was hazy. “Shen… Brother Shen, I’m not sleeping…”
Shen Ci couldn’t help but frown. Great, he really is a bit tipsy. He hadn’t drunk that much; his tolerance was really poor!
He withdrew his hand, leaned back, and spoke casually. “Is everyone full and happy?”
Everyone nodded.
“Alright, then let’s call it a night. We have work tomorrow, so go home and rest early.”
Shen Ci stood up and glanced at Ming Yanzhou, who had closed his eyes again. “This kid is drunk; I’ll just take him home.”
Shen Ci didn’t know where Ming Yanzhou lived. It was late, and he wouldn’t feel right letting him go back alone while drunk. If anything happened, he would be held responsible.
After paying the bill, Shen Ci walked over to Ming Yanzhou and patted him. “Xiao Ming, do you still have any awareness?”
Ming Yanzhou slowly opened his eyes. “Brother Shen…”
“Get up. We’re going home.”
Ming Yanzhou stood up sluggishly, his body stumbling as he nearly sat back down. Shen Ci was quick and caught him.
Shen Ci let out a “tsk.” “Xiao Ming, you really need to work on your alcohol tolerance…”
Ming Yanzhou’s eyes were half-lidded as he gave a soft “En.” His entire body was leaning heavily against Shen Ci.
If Zhou Geng and the others heard Shen Ci’s words, they would surely scoff. Ming Yanzhou had a poor tolerance? Who was the one nicknamed the “Impenetrable Thousand-Glass Drinker”? Was it a ghost?
But Shen Ci didn’t know that. He thought Ming Yanzhou was truly drunk and helped him toward the roadside. He hadn’t driven tonight since he knew he’d be drinking. However, the BBQ stall was close to the company, and a taxi ride home would only take ten minutes. Shen Ci wouldn’t be stingy over a starting-fare taxi ride.
…
Shen Ci practically dragged Ming Yanzhou out of the car.
“Brother Shen… where are we… going?” Ming Yanzhou leaned limp against Shen Ci’s shoulder. He was faking it on the outside, but inside, he was flying with joy. His mind was full of: Brother Shen is holding me! He’s holding me!
As Shen Ci helped him toward the residential complex, he said patiently, “Going home to sleep.”
“Oh, okay…” Ming Yanzhou muttered.
Ming Yanzhou was sticking to him like a piece of plaster. Shen Ci was actually getting quite tired. Just as he inserted the key into the lock, the door was opened from the inside.
Only then did Shen Ci remember there was another person at home.
Ye Xi was wearing pajamas. His gaze turned instantly dark when it landed on Ming Yanzhou clinging to Shen Ci, but it vanished in a flash.
“What are you standing there for? Quick, give me a hand.” Shen Ci shouted at Ye Xi impatiently.
Ye Xi’s brow showed a hint of disgust, but thinking that this person was still clinging to Shen Ci, he quickly took the man over.
“A-Ci, who is he?”
After catching his breath, Shen Ci followed Ye Xi inside and closed the door. “A new employee at the company.”
He plopped down on the sofa and unceremoniously ordered Ye Xi, who had just placed Ming Yanzhou on the couch. “Hurry and pour me a glass of water. I’m exhausted.”
Ye Xi’s gaze lingered on Shen Ci’s heaving chest for a moment before he turned to the kitchen. Soon, he came out with a glass of water.
“Warm water. Drink slowly.”
Shen Ci glanced at him, his eyes narrowing slightly. The person he had been constantly abusing was suddenly showing concern for him. It felt wrong.
But Ye Xi stood there submissively, looking perfectly normal. After a few seconds, Shen Ci withdrew his gaze. After drinking half the water, he put the glass on the table.
“Alright, you go to sleep.”
It was already past eleven. Normally, Ye Xi would be getting ready for bed by now.
Ye Xi’s scrutinizing gaze landed on Ming Yanzhou, who looked as though he had fallen asleep with his eyes shut. “A-Ci, what about him?”
“What else? He’ll just make do and sleep with me for the night.”
Shen Ci stood up, intending to carry Ming Yanzhou to his room.
Ye Xi suddenly spoke. “Let him sleep in my room.”
Shen Ci looked at Ye Xi in surprise, thinking to himself that as expected of the protagonist, he was too kind.
“That works too. Then you’ll have to trouble yourself and sleep on the sofa for a night.”
Ye Xi: “?”
Since when was he going to sleep on the sofa?
“A-Ci, can’t I sleep with you?”
Shen Ci was horrified in his heart, but on the outside, he remained as steady as an old dog. “Why would you sleep with me?”
“It’s not like we haven’t slept in the same bed before.”
Ye Xi suddenly took a step closer. As their breaths mingled, he reached out and lightly tapped Shen Ci’s chest, the suggestive meaning clear. “Besides, we are a couple. Isn’t it normal for us to sleep together? Instead of sleeping with your boyfriend, what’s the point of sleeping with him?”
Every hair on Shen Ci’s body stood on end. What did this guy want? Even though they were a couple and Ye Xi was beautiful, Shen Ci was a straight man. He had no interest in men.
He couldn’t get it up!
The original plan to sleep with Ming Yanzhou was because Ming Yanzhou was also a man. But Ye Xi’s words reminded him that his current identity was a gay man with a partner; sleeping with Ming Yanzhou was indeed inappropriate.
Meanwhile, Ming Yanzhou, who was slumped on the sofa pretending to be asleep, was completely stunned.
The good news: the man he liked also liked men. The bad news: the man he liked already had a boyfriend!
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