Chapter 90/91: Drunk

Only Gu Qichen and Shen Shichuan remained in the private room. Gu Qichen was slumped on the table. Shen Shichuan, comfortably seated beside him, read World Economy, a book he’d taken from a nearby bookshelf. He looked up at a sound from the entrance. "Finally, you're back," he said.

Xia Yangyang was surprised. "How did you know I'd come back?"

Shen Shichuan seemed to have been waiting for someone—perhaps her. He rose, returned the book to the shelf, and said, "Seeing you look back every three steps as you left, I knew you'd return. I'm leaving your husband with you. I'm going home."

Wait, what? Leaving her? Wasn't he going to help? How could she manage this drunk man alone? Shen Shichuan, however, showed no intention of assisting. Before leaving, he patted Gu Qichen on the shoulder, as if saying, My brother, this is all the help I can offer. Xia Yangyang didn't notice that Gu Qichen had briefly opened his eyes and silently dismissed Shen Shichuan with a glance.

Shen Shichuan left. His driver, Lao Zheng, waited outside the hotel. As Shen Shichuan entered the car, Lao Zheng asked, "Where's Mr. Gu? Why didn't he leave with you?" (Lao Zheng had dropped them both off earlier.)

Shen Shichuan chuckled. "He may be spending the night here."

Lao Zheng started the car. "Did Mr. Gu get drunk?" he asked doubtfully.

"No," Shen Shichuan replied, "He never gets drunk."

Back in the private room, Xia Yangyang pressed her hand to her temple, fighting a headache. How would they leave? Leaving with him in public would make headlines tomorrow. Although her fairytale romance with Gu Qichen remained a secret, a scandal with him would generate significant negative press once her identity was revealed.

With no other choice, Xia Yangyang got a room downstairs. It took considerable effort to drag Gu Qichen to the room. Utterly drunk, he leaned heavily on her shoulder. Luckily, Xia Yangyang's childhood taekwondo training gave her the strength to manage.

Once inside, she collapsed him onto the bed, feeling immense relief. She fell onto the bed beside him, utterly exhausted. After resting, as she was about to rise, Gu Qichen rolled over, half his body on top of hers. He pulled her into his arms, his hand across her chest.

Just as Xia Yangyang was about to pull away, she heard him mumble, "Yangyang, I miss you so much." A jolt of electricity surged through her. His childlike whine was unlike the Gu Qichen she knew. He seemed a different person entirely. Stunned, a smile slowly spread across her face. Her heart felt flooded with happiness.

She had been angry about his acceptance of toasts from numerous women at the party, but his words melted her anger away.

He mumbled, "I feel uncomfortable."

"Hold on," Xia Yangyang said quickly, "I'll get you some hangover medicine."

Before she could stand, he grabbed her arm. "I hate medicine. I don't want any."

Xia Yangyang patiently explained, "This is a hangover cure, not regular medicine. You'll feel better."

He stubbornly insisted, like a child, "I don't want medicine. I want a bath."