Chapter 17: Love at First Sight
Xia Yangyang wished she could disappear. She couldn't recall anything Gu Qichen had mentioned about their past encounter. Her memory of the evening was hazy, her alcohol tolerance and usual composure nonexistent after drinking. However, given her ten years of Taekwondo training, she was strong, making Gu Qichen's account not entirely implausible. The awkwardness of the situation made her forget why she’d even started the conversation. She’d always assumed they were both drunk, but then she had a sudden realization.
"Aren't you the type who can drink a lot without getting drunk?" she asked.
Mu Liancheng had recently mentioned Gu Qichen's nickname, "Wine God." He'd consumed a bottle of strong liquor without showing any effects, while Shen Manbing had been intoxicated after only two sips.
Gu Qichen nodded. "Indeed, I have a high alcohol tolerance."
"Then how did you end up passed out drunk that time at dinner with Director Yang and the others?" Xia Yangyang asked.
Gu Qichen, as an investor, had joined the meal, become extremely intoxicated, and been left in Shen Shichuan's care. Xia Yangyang, having no other option, booked a hotel room for him. She'd been preoccupied with Gu Qichen's relationship with Shen Manbing and had argued with him. Despite this, he'd completely outmaneuvered her that night.
Gu Qichen began nonchalantly, "Wife, have you heard of 'alcohol worms'? Some people are supposedly born with them, allowing them to drink heavily without getting drunk. But even these worms need a rest. That day, my alcohol worm was on holiday."
Xia Yangyang, still trying to understand this concept, noticed a smile playing on Gu Qichen's lips. "Gu Qichen, are you teasing me again?" she bristled. He had a talent for fabricating stories, even inventing an "alcohol worm."
Xia Yangyang snorted and ignored him. Gu Qichen chuckled, then took her hand, his voice turning serious. "You might not believe this, but it was love at first sight for me. Even I find it ridiculous. From the first moment I saw you, I felt a familiarity, a curiosity. My body didn't reject you; instead, I felt compelled to get closer. So, Yangyang, I can't fully answer your question. And I don't believe we had a one-night stand. That night, I reflected deeply. From the moment I touched you, I intended to make you my wife, to spend our lives together. Our marriage isn't just to compensate for that night. It's because, from the first moment I saw you, I truly liked you."
Gu Qichen remembered that night at the Dark Night Bar. The girl—inebriated—had collapsed into his arms. He usually avoided physical contact, but her scent—a mild, refreshing fragrance beneath the alcohol—had intrigued him. Her flushed face resembled a ripe red apple.
His friends joked that she'd been drugged, and several offered to "take care" of her. But he, unusually, put her in his car and took her home. That night was tumultuous.
Xia Yangyang had indeed been drugged by her friend, Gong Xue'er, who had since left the country. Gu Qichen hadn't told Xia Yangyang, wanting to shield her from the darker aspects of life. He didn't believe he'd taken advantage of her, but he had lost control that night.