You're trying to set me up

"What did you just say? I didn't catch that. Say it again? And what was that nickname you gave me?" Pan Ning's tone was calm.

But to Meng Wenzhou, it sounded like a deadly triple interrogation.

His eyes blinked rapidly as he turned to look at Su Yang and Ji Bo, his facial muscles twitching involuntarily.

"Uh... well, I just remembered I left my air conditioner on at home. What a waste of electricity! I should go turn it off. Gotta run!"

With that, he sprang up from his seat and bolted out of the rooftop garden.

"Meng Wenzhou!! Stop right there!!" Pan Ning shouted angrily, sprinting after him.

The commotion instantly drew everyone's attention, and heads turned toward the scene.

Liu Bo stopped dancing, releasing Xiao Liang, who looked utterly miserable, and rushed over. "Yang, what's going on?"

Su Yang was bent over, clutching his stomach, tears streaming from his laughter.

Ji Bo was even worse—he had laughed so hard he rolled off his chair onto the floor.

"What's so funny? Share the joke!" Liu Bo demanded impatiently.

By then, the others had gathered around too.

Zhang Ziming stared blankly at Su Yang and Ji Bo, who were practically wheezing with laughter.

"What's up with you guys? Is it really that funny? Let us in on it!"

"You... hahahaha." Su Yang could barely speak between laughs. He raised a hand. "Just... give me a second."

Meng Qianyu walked up to Su Yang and peered down at him. "What happened? Why did my brother run off?"

"No idea!"

After a few seconds, Su Yang finally regained his composure.

He wiped the tears from his face and stood up.

Liu Bo pressed closer. "Come on, Yang, spill it! What happened?"

"Your Brother Meng was badmouthing Sister Pan... and she heard him."

"WHAT?? Brother Meng has the guts to talk smack about Sister Pan?" Liu Bo exclaimed in disbelief.

Meng Qianyu covered her mouth, giggling. "Then my brother's done for... he's gonna be black and blue for sure."

"Ahh!!"

"Ow!!"

"I was wrong, I was wrong!!"

No sooner had she spoken than Meng Wenzhou's intermittent screams echoed from a distant corner.

"Looks like he didn’t get away," Zhang Ziming remarked, grinning smugly as he glanced in that direction.

Liu Bo sidled up to Su Yang and whispered, "Yang, what exactly did Brother Meng say? Tell me."

Su Yang froze, then took two steps back, eyeing Liu Bo warily. "You trying to get me killed?"

"I swear I won’t tell!"

"No way. If you're curious, ask Brother Meng yourself. I'm not risking it—way too dangerous!"

Meng Qianyu chuckled and turned to leave.

But after two steps, she spun back around and warned the group, "You guys should probably scatter before my sister comes back..."

"Oh, right, right! Drinks, drinks!" Zhang Ziming grabbed Shen Yixue’s hand and hurried away.

The others, though still confused, dispersed as well, returning to their drinks and songs.

"Yang, I gotta hand it to you—I really admire how you managed to win over Sister Pan," Liu Bo muttered under his breath.

Su Yang rolled his eyes and coughed into his hand. "Go back to dancing."

......

Two minutes later, Pan Ning strode back in first.

She looked completely unruffled, heading straight for Zhang Ziming and the others at the drinks table.

"Where’s Brother Meng?" Liu Bo craned his neck toward the distance.

"Wanna go check on him?"

"Sure." Liu Bo was about to head over when Meng Wenzhou limped back into view.

The group immediately clenched their jaws, struggling not to laugh.

Meng Wenzhou acted as if nothing had happened. He smoothed his slightly disheveled hair and grinned at Su Yang and the others. "What’s with the stares?"

"Uh... you okay?" Su Yang asked, barely suppressing a smirk.

"What do you mean? I’m fine! Totally fine!" He spread his arms confidently.

"Then what was all that screaming about earlier?"

"Huh? Me? I didn’t scream."

"Must’ve been my imagination," Su Yang teased.

"Definitely your imagination."

"Oh, okay then. Anyway, let’s drink!"

......

Over two hours later, the party wound down.

Everyone had been drinking, so driving was out of the question. Meng Wenzhou had planned to book rooms for everyone at the hotel, but no one wanted to stay, so they dropped the idea.

Soon, they took the elevator down to the hotel’s outdoor parking lot.

Su Yang glanced at Lu Yun and Tang Ziyun, who were arm in arm. "You two aren’t too drunk, are you?"

"Pfft, please. This is nothing," Tang Ziyun slurred, her gaze unfocused.

Su Yang sighed. "You’re definitely drunk."

"Hehe, no I’m not~"

Shaking his head, Su Yang turned to Lu Yun.

"No need to come to the restaurant tomorrow. I’ll let Old Gao know."

Lu Yun nodded with a smile.

"Did you call a driver?" Su Yang asked.

"Yep~ Little Tang’s staying at my place tonight. We’re going shopping for gear tomorrow."

Su Yang raised an eyebrow. "You two got close fast."

"Hehe, Lu and I just click~ It’s like we were sisters in a past life," Tang Ziyun chimed in.

"Now you’re really talking nonsense," Su Yang chuckled. "Alright then. I can’t drive you since I’ve been drinking, but text me when you get home."

"Got it~"

A few minutes later, a driver in a blue vest arrived. After saying their goodbyes, Lu Yun and Tang Ziyun got into the car and left.

The others’ drivers showed up one after another.

Pan Ning walked over to Su Yang. "Did you call a driver?"

"Not yet."

"What are you waiting for?"

"Well..."

It suddenly dawned on Su Yang—thanks to his "Alcohol Immunity" skill, all the alcohol he’d consumed had already metabolized.

Aside from the smell, he was completely sober. There wasn’t a drop of alcohol left in his system, so he didn’t actually need a driver.

"Did you call one?" he asked instead.

"I don’t need to," Pan Ning replied flatly.

"No? So we’re taking a cab?"

"Who said we’re leaving together? My dad’s driver is picking me up. I need to go home and pack, and Qianyu’s coming with me."

"Oh, right. Got it."

Just then, two cars pulled into the hotel driveway.

Two men stepped out—one in his twenties, the other in his thirties.

The younger one looked familiar to Su Yang—he was the guy who’d driven Meng Wenzhou at the airport before.

The older man was Pan Ning’s father’s chauffeur.

After quick greetings, everyone got into their respective cars and drove off.

Pan Ning and Meng Qianyu climbed into the back of the Urus. Su Yang raised a hand, miming a phone call.

Pan Ning nodded. "We’re heading out. See you tomorrow."

"Goodbye, Su Yang." Meng Qianyu tilted her head and gave him a soft smile.

"Take care on your way home. See you tomorrow."

...