Part 2
With that, she confirmed their private room and left with Chu Yang. The men Zhou Ningyu had ordered were multitalented—skilled at singing, dancing, and playing drinking games. It was all quite entertaining.
When they first entered the room, the men had paused, seeing Chu Yang’s expressionless face. They assumed he and Zhou Ningyu were a couple and that the “rich sister” was hiring male hosts just to make her boyfriend jealous after a fight.
Zhou Ningyu was clearly a beautiful, generous older sister who would pay for any drinks they recommended without a second thought. Several of them immediately crowded around her, asking what she wanted to hear, what dances she wanted to see, and what games she wanted to play.
Chu Yang’s side was a bit quieter, but because of his face, some were willing to chat with him even without a commission. However, Chu Yang wasn’t very interested; he only let them stay so as not to ruin Zhou Ningyu’s fun.
So, a man started teaching him how to use a dice cup, showing off by shaking it away from the table without a single die falling out.
Chu Yang finally grew a bit interested. He leaned forward slightly, watching the man’s movements intently.
The person being watched felt his heart skip a beat. With a clatter, the dice scattered.
“Hey—can you do it or not? Don’t ruin the handsome guy’s mood. He already looks a bit unhappy.”
The speaker glanced at Zhou Ningyu, worried she might be displeased.
Zhou Ningyu’s tone was indulgent. “It’s fine. Go ahead and teach him; this is the only thing he’s been interested in all night.”
The group’s expressions turned a bit strange. It seemed their guess was wrong… Was she trying to coax a boyfriend? If so, why hire others to sing for him?
But with Zhou Ningyu’s permission, someone immediately crowded toward Chu Yang’s side, offering to teach him. He had actually been observing Chu Yang for a long time, mostly fearing he might offend the “client.”
Chu Yang was a serious learner. He gripped the cup and shook it, his expression changing from his earlier nonchalance. His dark, bright eyes were fixed on the dice as he imitated the man’s posture, gripping the cup to slide and then shake it horizontally.
He had no problem with a single die, but as he added more, they began to fall.
The man in front of him would shake one die and then catch the second and third. Chu Yang’s competitive spirit was triggered, and he began to learn with intense focus. Someone handed him a drink, and he took it, draining half the glass.
For convenience, he rolled up his sleeves, revealing smooth, beautiful arm muscles. He was thin, and the veins on his arms were taut. He looked incredibly handsome shaking the cup with a cold face.
Zhou Ningyu also found it a sight for sore eyes. “You look better shaking that cup than most people do mixing drinks. Any interest in mixology?”
Chu Yang shook his head. “No thanks.”
He quickly learned several ways to shake the dice and started playing games with the others, drinking whenever he lost.
The alcohol content in the drinks Zhou Ningyu ordered wasn’t very high and they went down easily, but before he knew it, Chu Yang had drunk quite a bit.
When Chu Yuanzhou called to urge him home, Chu Yang was leaning against the sofa, his face flushed and his eyes misty.
The music in the private room had long since stopped. Chu Yuanzhou wanted to come pick him up, but Zhou Ningyu glanced at Chu Yang, and when he shook his head, she said, “No need. We’re on our way back and are almost home.”
Chu Yuanzhou: “Be careful on the road.”
Chu Yang was very relieved he hadn’t worn his watch out, otherwise Chu Yuanzhou would have already stormed over.
Zhou Ningyu then called her assistant. Five minutes later, the car stopped in front of the bar.
Chu Yang was a bit unsteady as he walked down the stairs. Zhou Ningyu supported him, but before the assistant could open the car door, someone else grabbed Chu Yang, forcing Zhou Ningyu to stop.
Pei Xilin said coldly, “Where are you taking him?”
Zhou Ningyu frowned. “Home, of course.”
Pei Xilin didn’t quite believe her. It was late and he had been drinking; he was worried she was taking Chu Yang to a hotel. He grew guarded, his grip like a steel vise as he refused to budge. “I’ll take him back. I know where he lives.”
Zhou Ningyu looked him up and down, thinking it would be even less safe to let him take him back. “That’s not for you to decide. I brought him here, so it’s only right that I take him back.”
Pei Xilin: “He’s drunk and has no awareness of his surroundings. You—”
Zhou Ningyu understood then, confirming Pei Xilin’s intentions. “If he has no awareness, then it’s even more reason not to let you take him back. Is your heart any cleaner than mine?”
Pei Xilin’s heart tightened and his jaw went taut. For a moment, he couldn’t find a single word to fire back. He was also a bit nervous, worried Chu Yang might hear and find him disgusting.
Just then, Chu Yang shifted and opened his eyes. “Are we home?”
Zhou Ningyu: “Not yet, we’re just about to head back. This person… says he wants to take you. What do you think?”
Chu Yang followed Zhou Ningyu’s gaze and realized someone else was holding him… Why was Pei Xilin here again…?
“You want to take me home?” Chu Yang asked directly.
Pei Xilin: “…Yes. Is that okay?”
He was no longer acting forceful.
Chu Yang’s groggy head thought for a moment; if Zhou Ningyu took him home, she’d have to double back. “Mmh… then you take me back.”
Zhou Ningyu: “Are you even familiar with him? You’re just going to go with him?”
Chu Yang stood up straight. His eyes were still misty, and his usually cold voice sounded a bit soft. “It’s fine. It’s out of your way. We’ll video chat!”
Zhou Ningyu: “You really… are you drunk or not?”
Chu Yang suddenly stood even straighter. “I’m not.”
Zhou Ningyu: “…”
In the end, Pei Xilin was the one to take Chu Yang home. The moment Chu Yang got into the passenger seat, he started a video call, propped his phone against the tissue box on the dashboard, and closed his eyes.
Zhou Ningyu: “…”
Pei Xilin closed the car door and walked around to the driver’s seat. He couldn’t help but look at him several times. As he prepared to start the car, he realized Chu Yang hadn’t buckled his seatbelt. His hand trembled slightly, and his mind couldn’t help but wander.
He leaned in, instinctively holding his breath. He was almost pressed against Chu Yang as he slowly pulled the buckle over.
On the other side of the screen, Zhou Ningyu’s brows immediately furrowed. She almost thought Pei Xilin was being bold enough to try something despite the video call, but she relaxed when she saw him buckling the seatbelt.
But it was still strange. Pei Xilin’s movements were too slow—so slow it felt like the phone was lagging.
He was even afraid the seatbelt would chafe Chu Yang, using one hand to pull and the other to press the strap up as he clicked it into place.
After he started the car, Chu Yang actually opened his eyes. He looked a bit unhappy, his brows furrowed slightly as he opened and then closed them again.
Pei Xilin’s heart skipped a beat. “Are you uncomfortable? Do you want to throw up? Am I driving too roughly?”
Chu Yang glanced at him and shook his head.
Pei Xilin frowned in worry. After driving for a bit, he stopped in front of a convenience store. He unbuckled his seatbelt and said to Chu Yang, “I’m going to buy something.”
A moment later, he returned to the car. He pulled a bottle of warm milk from a bag, unscrewed it, and placed a straw inside before holding it to Chu Yang’s lips. “Drink this. You’ll feel better.”
Chu Yang looked down at the milk and then at Pei Xilin. Pei Xilin felt himself flushing under that gaze and instinctively wanted to coax him. In the next second, Chu Yang leaned down and took the straw into his mouth directly, having no intention of taking the bottle from him.
Thump-thump-thump.
Pei Xilin’s heart was like a balloon being filled with a pump, or like a volcano erupting with molten lava just because of a single movement from Chu Yang.
He could barely control the upward curve of his lips.
He never imagined that even a small thing like feeding someone milk could bring him such immense satisfaction.
If anyone had told him before that he’d enjoy the feeling of serving someone, he would have thought they were insane.
Pei Xilin unconsciously leaned in, watching Chu Yang’s long lashes flutter occasionally. After several gulps, Chu Yang looked up. “Thank you.”
Pei Xilin waited for a moment to see if he’d drink more. “How do you feel? Do you want more?” he asked with a hint of regret.
Chu Yang: “Better. I don’t want any more.”
Pei Xilin nodded and recapped the milk. He took several candies from the bag and placed them in Chu Yang’s palm. “If you feel uncomfortable, just have one.”
“Okay.”
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