041. Such a Familiar Plot!
“Another drink!”
“No way, Wang Jie, you can’t hold your liquor!”
Zhang Shaoqing chuckled and nudged Wang Jie’s shoulder, but Wang Jie just buried his face in his hands, not responding for what felt like ages.
“Wen Yang, shall we continue?”
He looked across the booth, only to find Ning Chu slouched on the sofa, dazed with those slightly vacant eyes. She was rubbing them vigorously to stay awake, but her fidgeting and vulnerable expression made it clear she was already well past tipsy.
In her drunken state, anyone might mistake her for a girl acting all flirty.
And as for Wen Yang? That guy was snugly asleep on Ning Chu’s lap.
“You guys really can’t handle your liquor,” Zhang Shaoqing snorted. “Ning Chu, you’ve only had two drinks!”
“d*mn it, I’m the one buying drinks, and now I have to take care of you?”
Zhang Shaoqing cussed as he stood up, turning to flag down a waiter. “Where’s the nearest hotel? I need two people to help get them to a hotel.”
“A hotel?”
Hearing that word made Ning Chu’s sluggish brain jump to another term: “check-in.”
She jolted, shaking her head rapidly. “No way! I want to go back to the dorm!”
“Why? Do you want me to drive you back while drunk? And then we’ll both end up in the ICU as roommates?”
“I’ll take a taxi myself!”
“Just look at the time!”
Zhang Shaoqing had always been blunt, his tone harsh and fierce, especially paired with that typical street punk’s blonde hair. It looked like he might explode at any moment, which made Ning Chu shrink back, unable to say a word.
After all, he was one of Zhang Shaoqing’s characters, and here he was, feeling so pitiful as the author…
The bar was above a hotel, and as Ning Chu anxiously sat on the sofa, he watched intoxicated Wen Yang and Wang Jie being helped out by the staff. He felt a growing sense of panic.
Half-drunk and feeling odd, with only the antagonist clear-headed and trying to coax him into a hotel …
Though Ning Chu wanted to believe Zhang Shaoqing had no ulterior motives, he couldn’t shake off that feeling, especially given the antagonist’s actions in the book were pretty low.
Why on earth would Little Emperor Wen write a villain like this!
All those dark little thoughts written into the villain had him uneasy about Zhang Shaoqing.
“They’re leaving; I won’t have to help you too, will I?” Zhang Shaoqing waved as he walked unsteadily, a bag of sunflower seeds stuffed in his pocket. He headed for the front, arranging for the stay. “Two drunkards might get into trouble; I’ll share a room with Wang Jie, and you can have one with Wen Yang. How’s that?”
Ning Chu hurried to catch up. If it weren’t for the end of the month and the fact that he was down to just a few bucks because he was raising a little black cat, he would’ve definitely chosen to take a taxi back to the dorm or book a different room altogether.
Staying with Wen Yang in a room was definitely better than sleeping in some park.
Following the staff to the second-floor hotel, Ning Chu stood at the front desk when he heard a series of heavy breathing coming from deep in the hallway.
He already felt a bit off, and hearing that suggestive sound made him even more uncomfortable.
“Is the soundproofing that bad?” Zhang Shaoqing frowned, glancing at the price list. “Three hundred bucks for just this room?”
Though he grumbled, he had no choice. The other hotels likely wouldn’t help with the drunks, so he gritted his teeth and completed the check-in.
“Let’s go, time to sleep.”
“Okay…”
“You’ll stay in this room with Wen Yang.” Zhang Shaoqing pointed to the door opposite them. “If you need anything, knock. I’m hitting the hay first.”
Once the bar staff settled Wen Yang onto the bed, they left, and Ning Chu sat on a rattan chair, staring at the closed door and glancing at the snoring Wen Yang, finally feeling a bit of relief.
Thank goodness. This guy really had no ulterior motives toward him.
“Looks like I really shouldn’t touch a single drop of alcohol.” He leaned back, rubbing the aching corners of his eyes as he murmured, “Good thing I’m still a guy. If I had turned into a girl, who knows what would have happened tonight…”
Chilling!
He vowed never to step foot in a bar again! His head was spinning; he swore he had control over himself. It was just two big cocktails, yet here he was, feeling weak and half-blind from the drunkenness.
And God knows what else was going on; aside from the tipsiness, his mind had inexplicably filled with all sorts of colorful thoughts and feelings…
“Ugh~”
He shook his head vigorously, his face flushed. Leaning on the desk, he stood up, planning to wash off in the bathroom to cool down.
Though his heart was racing, and his body was reacting, his legs brushed against each other and brought him a flicker of pleasure, but his… well, you know, was totally unresponsive.
Definitely a bust!
When he reached the bathroom door, Ning Chu froze in place.
Why was the bathroom door transparent? You could see straight through to the shower inside!
He turned to sneak a glance at the still-snoozing Wen Yang, and any lingering caution about the protagonist quickly faded.
Anyway, that guy was asleep.
If anything, he should be more concerned about someone barging in on him while showering at the dorm.
A bathtub! It had been ages since he had a nice soak.
Good old me, even in an intoxicated state, I still have my wits about me~
Feeling woozy…
Ning Chu held his head, stumbling into the bathroom. He started filling the tub, splashed some water on his face, and remembered to lock the door. As the tub filled up, he flopped right in.
So much better~
Warm water gradually climbed higher, wrapping around his skin like gentle waves. He sighed comfortably and shifted to find a better position.
The sound of the running water stirred Wen Yang awake. He cracked open his eyes, confusedly staring at the unfamiliar ceiling while scanning the room.
A small space, two beds dressed in crisp white linens, a set of rattan chairs with a glass round table, a wall-mounted TV, and a computer in the corner.
Wen Yang yawned. He had never had a cocktail before and, like Ning Chu, had unexpectedly passed out. Even his memories of before getting drunk were hazy.
He only remembered lying on Ning Chu’s lap…
That lap was quite soft, with a hint of a delicate floral scent that had him blacking out in comfort.
Though awakened now, Wen Yang still stared blankly at the ceiling, confused about how long he had been lying there before he realized he was in a hotel.
I must turn on the TV! Crank the AC to the lowest setting!
Otherwise, it’ll be a waste.
He got out of bed and walked toward the bathroom to handle some personal hygiene, but after just two steps, he realized there was the sound of running water inside.
“Who’s in there?”
He called out loudly as he approached.
The water sound suddenly stopped.
Ning Chu’s foggy brain instantly cleared.
You scared me! Thought something happened!
Glancing at the mist-covered glass door now filtered through a soft haze, he calmly shouted, “Just wait outside! I’m in the shower; two minutes!”
As he leisurely reached for a towel to dry himself, Ning Chu’s movements suddenly froze.
Hold on! The bathroom! Drunk intruder? Male lead?!
Why does this plot sound so familiar!
The alcohol’s worn off, but I’m about to lose it!
He nearly slapped himself! What was he thinking earlier, casually being on guard! After a whole mental loop, it turned out he might still end up in trouble!
His body ducked back into the bathroom, pupils shrinking, eyes fixated on that door.
Just don’t kick it in while drunk!
