Resolute

Shen Yi excused himself from the host and walked to a corner to answer the phone.

Under normal circumstances, he shouldn’t have taken the call at this point, but if it was anyone else, he might have ignored it—however, when Fu Nanzhi called, he had to pick up.

"Hello?"

"What’s going on?" Shen Yi leaned in and asked in a hushed voice.

"Hurry over, Shen Yi!"

"Quick! I can’t hold her back!"

As soon as the call connected, the background noise was chaotic, followed by Fu Nanzhi’s panicked voice.

Shen Yi’s expression tightened, and he immediately asked,

"What’s wrong? Who can’t you hold back?"

"Calm down, explain slowly."

On the other end, Fu Nanzhi felt slightly reassured hearing Shen Yi’s voice. She took a steadying breath and said,

"It’s Shu Yunyi."

"She’s drunk so much, and she’s demanding to see you."

"There are bottles everywhere—she’s sitting on the edge of the balcony, and I can’t talk her down."

"What?!"

Shen Yi’s heart lurched, his voice rising involuntarily, drawing curious glances from those nearby.

"Where are you?"

"At Shu Yunyi’s apartment," Fu Nanzhi replied urgently.

Though alarmed, Shen Yi kept his composure. After a pause, he instructed,

"Put the call on speaker."

"Okay."

Fu Nanzhi obeyed, switching to speakerphone while keeping a firm grip on Shu Yunyi’s arm—though her strength was no match if Shu Yunyi truly intended to jump.

After a moment, Shen Yi spoke again,

"Yunyi, it’s me."

Shu Yunyi was heavily intoxicated, her eyes swollen like peaches, legs dangling over the balcony’s edge.

Her head spun, making her oblivious to the danger—or perhaps she was aware but deliberately ignoring it.

Faintly, she thought she heard Shen Yi’s voice, and her consciousness sharpened slightly.

"Xiao... Xiao Yi..."

"You... you’re here?"

She clutched Fu Nanzhi’s hand, mistaking her for Shen Yi.

Her fragmented words reached Shen Yi, who took a deep breath and softened his tone.

"I’m here."

"Whatever’s troubling you, you can tell me. What are you doing like this?"

"Come down from the balcony, alright?"

He avoided scolding her for drinking, not daring to provoke her over the phone.

His priority was coaxing her to safety—everything else could wait until she sobered up.

Shu Yunyi turned her head, forcing her swollen eyes open. Fu Nanzhi’s figure came into focus.

Even in her haze, she recognized this wasn’t Shen Yi and petulantly protested,

"You... you’re not Xiao Yi. Who are you?"

"Xiao Yi... Xiao Yi, where are you?"

"I need to see you."

Tears streamed down her face like broken beads.

Despite her muddled state, Shu Yunyi refused to let a stranger touch her, wrenching her arm free from Fu Nanzhi’s grasp.

The sudden movement threw her off balance—she nearly toppled over the edge.

"Ah!"

Fu Nanzhi barely had time to scream before lunging forward, wrapping her arms around Shu Yunyi’s waist to steady her.

Once she had a firm hold, Fu Nanzhi broke into a cold sweat, heart pounding with delayed terror. If she hadn’t acted fast, Shu Yunyi might have been lost forever.

Shu Yunyi, one foot dangling in the air, jolted awake from the near-fall, her drunkenness fading rapidly.

On the other end of the line, Shen Yi couldn’t see what happened—only heard Fu Nanzhi’s scream. Assuming the worst, he urgently demanded,

"What happened? What’s wrong?"

"Nanzhi? Yunyi?"

His voice snapped Shu Yunyi back to reality. She realized she hadn’t imagined hearing him earlier.

Staring at the phone on speaker, her expression twisted with sorrow. She knew today was Shen Yi’s wedding—the very reason she’d drowned herself in alcohol.

Fu Nanzhi pressed a hand to her racing heart, wiping away sweat before answering,

"It’s... it’s fine. I caught her."

"We’re both okay."

Her voice trembled, betraying how shaken she was.

Shen Yi instantly pieced together what had happened. Anger surged within him.

"Shu Yunyi!"

"Is your life worth so little to you?"

If it were anyone else threatening to jump, he might not believe it—but Shu Yunyi? She’d done it before.

Shu Yunyi let out a tearful, bitter laugh.

"What’s the point of living if you’re not here?"

Shen Yi softened his tone.

"I’ve always been here."

"Really?"

"Then where are you right now?"

Shu Yunyi lowered her head mockingly, swinging her legs over the edge.

"I..."

Shen Yi faltered.

Shu Yunyi knew full well today was his wedding day—she just wanted to corner him, make him suffer.

"Oh..."

"Can’t say it?"

Shen Yi exhaled slowly, speaking gently.

"I’m at the wedding venue."

"Is it our wedding? Why wasn’t the bride informed?"

Drunken sorrow and resentment bled into her words.

Shen Yi rubbed his temples, glancing back at the crowd watching him.

But this was his mess to clean up. He murmured soothingly,

"Yunyi, calm down. We’ll talk after you sober up, alright?"

"Come inside. Let Nanzhi make you some sobering soup, then rest. You’ll feel better."

Shu Yunyi’s eyes filled with desolation.

"You think I’m just throwing a tantrum, don’t you?"

Fu Nanzhi edged closer, ready to intervene if she spiraled further.

Shen Yi remained patient, his voice tender.

"No, don’t think like that."

"No? Then can you come see me?"

Shu Yunyi’s breath reeked of alcohol as she laid bare her heart.

With the ceremony starting soon, there was no way the groom could leave. It was impossible.

After a moment’s hesitation, Shen Yi relented.

"Tonight."

"I’ll come find you tonight."

Sneaking out on his wedding night was the best he could offer—though even that wasn’t guaranteed.

"No."

Shu Yunyi shook her head violently.

"Now. Come see me now."

Shen Yi’s brows knitted together, frustration boiling over.

"The wedding starts in half an hour. I can’t leave now."

The word "wedding" grated on Shu Yunyi’s ears. Impulsively, she declared,

"Fine. Then you have twenty minutes."

"If you’re not here in twenty minutes, I’ll jump."