Drunkenness

"You've had too much to drink."

Chen Qin supported Ye Shuang as they entered the elevator, then guided him to a guest room on the second floor. After helping him sit on the edge of the bed, she bent down to remove his shoes and socks.

"Tha…" Ye Shuang mumbled incoherently.

"You’re no match for my dad when it comes to drinking. You should take better care of yourself," Chen Qin said, sitting beside him. Seeing how uncomfortable he looked, with his arm draped over his eyes, she pressed the service bell by the bed.

Within seconds, there was a knock at the door, and a middle-aged woman entered. "Miss?"

"Auntie, could you bring me a warm towel?" Chen Qin asked.

"Of course."

Soon, Chen Qin began gently wiping Ye Shuang’s face with the warm towel. Since he was in no state to shower, she just wanted him to sleep more comfortably.

Watching him drift into slumber, Chen Qin pressed her thumb against the now-cool towel and stole another glance at him.

A thought crossed her mind, and a faint blush crept onto her cheeks. She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, revealing her fair profile—then leaned in slightly, her face mere centimeters from Ye Shuang’s.

"Mmm." Ye Shuang let out an unconscious murmur, startling Chen Qin. She straightened up abruptly, her face burning crimson.

After confirming he was still asleep, she exhaled in relief.

"Mom… I’m sorry…" Ye Shuang’s sudden, unconscious whisper softened Chen Qin’s heart.

After suffering such a blow, Ye Shuang might not show it outwardly, but he must be hurting deeply inside. He wasn’t one to rely on others—sometimes even a little stubborn.

Gently stroking his hair, Chen Qin whispered tenderly,

"Ah Ye, you can lean on me. I’ll always be here for you."

Leaving Ye Shuang’s room, Chen Qin noticed the woman still waiting outside and asked, "Auntie, did you prepare fresh clothes for that girl?"

"Yes, Miss Bai has already taken a shower."

"Then you should rest too. It’s late."

"Of course, Miss."

With nothing else left to do, Chen Qin returned to her own room on the third floor.

……

……

"Hey, Ah Chen."

"What’s up?"

In another room, Chen’s Mother sat at her vanity, applying a face mask, while Chen’s Father—despite having drunk heavily—remained relatively sober, still playing mahjong on his phone.

"What do you think about that girl?"

"Pretty, but I don’t think Shuang’s feelings for her are romantic. At least, I didn’t get that impression," Chen’s Father replied without looking up.

"No, that’s not what I meant."

"Huh?"

"Ah Xian… doesn’t she remind you of Ah Xian?" Chen’s Mother said. "I’ve known Xian since we were kids, and that girl looks just like her when she was little."

Chen’s Father finally set his phone down, frowning slightly. "You serious?"

"Yeah," Chen’s Mother nodded. "Remember Xian’s daughter who went missing? She was about three or four at the time… By now, she’d be around seventeen or eighteen."

"No way. If it were really her, wouldn’t she have been sold off to some remote village? How could she still be in school?"

Even as he said it, Chen’s Father sounded uncertain. "Well… back then, getting a household registration wasn’t too difficult."

Chen’s Mother continued, "Tomorrow, ask the girl for more details. If there’s even a chance, I’ll tell Xian and have her come to the mainland."

"You know how it is—after losing her daughter, Xian never had another child. That girl was her only one."

"If this turns out to be true, it’d be nothing short of a miracle."

"Alright."

……

Some time later, Ye Shuang stirred awake in bed, his head spinning and his body aching.

"The ceiling… is spinning…" he groaned, slowly sitting up to steady himself. Beer was one thing, but baijiu always left him feeling wrecked.

He was thirsty.

Scanning the room, he found no water pitcher. There was a service bell on the nightstand—a quick press and a word would summon someone to bring water—but it was late, and he didn’t want to trouble anyone.

"I’ll just go downstairs and get some water myself…" Ye Shuang was no stranger to the Chen household. He’d stayed over many times before, often after late-night hangouts with Chen Hai.

Stepping into the hallway, he found it dimly lit by warm yellow strip lights running along the floor.

"Yawn—" Just as he was about to descend the stairs, a small hand suddenly tugged at his pant leg.

Startled, he looked down to see Bai Yuyou.

"Yuyou?"

The girl was sitting against the wall, clutching a snow-white pillow with one hand while the other held onto his pants. Her upturned face gave her the appearance of a lost little creature.

"What are you doing here?" Ye Shuang crouched to meet her gaze. "Did something happen?"

Bai Yuyou tightened her grip on the pillow, lowering her eyes as she whispered,

"Couldn’t sleep… wanted to sleep with Ye Shuang…"

"But… couldn’t find you…"

"Then… forgot which room was mine…"

Ye Shuang sighed softly, stroking her hair before helping her up.

After guiding her back to his room, he said, "I’m going downstairs for water. Do you want some?"

She shook her head.

"Then wait here for me, okay?"

"Okay."

Soon, Ye Shuang returned with a pitcher of water, set it on the table, and stepped into the bathroom briefly.

By the time he got back to bed, Bai Yuyou was already asleep, curled around his pillow, delicate and fragile in her slumber.

Ye Shuang lay down beside her. Sensing his warmth, she immediately nestled closer, pressing her face against his arm as usual.

"She’s so starved for affection," he murmured, brushing her bangs aside. Feeling her slow, warm breaths against his skin, he closed his eyes.

Still slightly drunk, he fell asleep almost instantly.

A while later, Bai Yuyou’s eyes fluttered open.

She leaned in, planted a soft kiss on Ye Shuang’s lips, then snuggled even closer before drifting off again.

Mm. Married couples should kiss often.

In her mind, Tang Keke’s voice echoed—

"Seal the deal!"