Chapter 97: Sharing a Meal |
Liu Changqing stood silently, holding Lan Yixian’s chin, staring at her flushed face and tightly shut eyes.
He had gotten her drunk…
But that wasn’t the most pressing issue. The real headache was figuring out how to get her out of here. No taxis could drive into this area, so they’d have to walk a bit to reach the main street.
Looking at the unconscious Lan Yixian, Liu Changqing sighed. He set down the packed barbecue on the table and freed his hands.
Grabbing her arms, he tried lifting her up, but she slumped like a slippery eel, resisting every attempt.
With no other choice, Liu Changqing adjusted his grip, securing her arms and forcibly pulling her to her feet.
“Lan Yixian! Lan Yixian!”
His calls seemed to stir her slightly. She opened her eyes to a sliver, murmuring groggily, “Liu… Liu Changqing…”
“Can you stand on your own?”
“No, you’re standing because I’m holding you. Let me go, and you’ll see if you can stay upright.”
Raising his voice slightly, Liu Changqing released her.
As soon as he let go, Lan Yixian collapsed forward like a boneless doll. Startled, Liu Changqing hurriedly caught her, propping her up with one hand.
Her head rested lightly against his shoulder, her soft breaths brushing against his neck.
This close, Liu Changqing could see her features more clearly than ever. Her long eyelashes, unmistakably natural, stood out even more under the proximity.
Shaking his shoulder slightly to rouse her, he found she didn’t react at all.
Scanning the bustling scene around them, Liu Changqing noticed a few curious glances from nearby tables, which made his face flush with embarrassment.
If they were younger, this might’ve seemed cute. But for someone his age…
Deciding it was best to leave quickly, he crouched down, turning his back to her. As soon as he let go, Lan Yixian predictably slumped onto him. Liu Changqing adjusted her position, hoisting her up slightly before standing with her weight on his back.
Her arms draped loosely over his shoulders, and he grabbed the bag of food with one free hand before making his way out.
The stall owner noticed them and chuckled. “Did your wife have too much to drink?”
“She’s not my wife…” Liu Changqing muttered.
The owner grinned knowingly. “Alright, but be careful. Don’t let your wife catch you!”
Ignoring the teasing, Liu Changqing continued forward, focusing on steadying Lan Yixian as her weight shifted.
Carrying a drunk person was vastly different from carrying someone sober. Every few steps, her body would slip down slightly, forcing Liu Changqing to stop and adjust her position.
The awkward walk continued until they finally reached the main road. Liu Changqing flagged down a taxi after a brief wait.
Carefully setting Lan Yixian down, he opened the car door with his occupied hand and helped her into the backseat. Once she was settled, he exhaled deeply and climbed into the front passenger seat.
“Driver, take us to XXXXXXX,” he instructed, leaning back against the seat in exhaustion.
The ride was silent.
When they arrived near Lan Yixian’s home, the taxi stopped, unable to go further into the residential area. Liu Changqing paid the fare, helped Lan Yixian out of the car, and watched it drive off.
Looking at her drooping head, he sighed in frustration. He adjusted her weight and began the slow trek toward her home.
A short distance turned into a grueling five or six minutes.
Reaching the stairs, Liu Changqing briefly entertained the idea of carrying her like a sack of rice. After what felt like an eternity, they arrived at her apartment door.
Light spilled from the windows, signaling someone was home.
Liu Changqing knocked on the door and called out, “Zhou Shiyan, open the door.”
The door opened quickly, revealing a startled Zhou Shiyan, who froze at the sight of her mother leaning against Liu Changqing.
“What happened to my mom?” she asked, panic evident in her voice as she hurried forward.
“She drank one cup of beer… and this happened,” Liu Changqing explained.
“She drank?” Zhou Shiyan’s voice rose in disbelief. “She can’t handle alcohol! She once got drunk off rice wine and was out for half a day!”
Liu Changqing was at a loss for words. He’d known people with low tolerance before, but this was on another level.
“Let’s get her inside first,” he said.
“Right,” Zhou Shiyan nodded and helped guide her mother into the apartment. When Lan Yixian was finally lying on her bed, Liu Changqing let out a long sigh.
“Phew! That was exhausting.”
“Why would my mom drink? She knows she can’t handle it…” Zhou Shiyan muttered.
“Well, that’s on me. She ate something spicy, and there wasn’t any water around. I told her to rinse her mouth with beer, but I guess she didn’t realize and just downed the whole cup…”
“…”
Zhou Shiyan tilted her head slightly, staring at Liu Changqing in silence.
“What? It’s true!” he insisted.
“I know,” she replied softly, turning her gaze to her mother.
The room fell quiet.
After a while, Zhou Shiyan broke the silence, her voice low. “It’s not just because she can’t handle alcohol. My mom doesn’t like drinking because… of some things from the past.”
“What things?”
“Things that happened a long time ago.”
Hearing this, Liu Changqing decided not to press further. He had a vague sense of what might have transpired but didn’t want to pry into their family affairs.
Looking at Zhou Shiyan—a girl not much older than his own son—he couldn’t help but feel a pang of pity. Her calm tone betrayed a numbness that tugged at his heartstrings.
Glancing between the small girl and her peacefully sleeping mother, Liu Changqing made a decision.
“Zhou Shiyan,” he called gently.
She turned to him, her eyes meeting his.
With a smile, Liu Changqing held up the bag of barbecue. “Hungry? Let’s share this.”
Zhou Shiyan stared at him for a moment, then slowly nodded, a small smile forming on her lips.
“Okay.”