Chapter 237: You Woke Her |
What if I fall for you too?
Chen Yin chose to ignore this question. Seriously, they’re all drunk and flirting with me. Do they think I’m easy prey just because I’m younger? If it weren’t for this inconvenient body, I would have already taken all these teasing beauties to bed.
Of course, he only thought that. He maintained a blank expression, nodding along to whatever Hua Yulian said.
She giggled and pulled him into a warm embrace.
Chen Yin blushed as he felt her ample bosom against his back. …Nice.
“…Actually, I’m the oldest here.”
Hua Yulian’s gaze lowered slightly. “I shouldn’t be so childish anymore, acting like one of these brats.”
“Why do you follow Big Sister, then?” Chen Yin asked curiously.
“Because,” she smiled faintly, “I’m a coward.”
“Little Brother, have you heard of the Immortal Disciple Competition?”
Chen Yin shook his head.
“It’s held every four years, a competition between the most talented young disciples of every sect. The next one is next year.”
Hua Yulian stretched languidly, her body as graceful as a cat’s.
“I want to defeat my Senior Sisters.”
“That’s why I left home. I want to become stronger without relying on my family or my sect.”
“…Strong enough that no one will call me a ‘flower vase’ anymore.”
Chen Yin nodded thoughtfully.
“Do you think it’s shameful of me, Little Brother?”
Hua Yulian chuckled self-deprecatingly. “Like I couldn’t cut it in the adult world, so I ran away to play with children.”
Chen Yin shook his head. “No one wants to be called a flower vase. It’s not your fault you’re beautiful.”
Hua Yulian laughed, her arms tightening around him.
“I know you’re just flattering me, but I still like it.”
“Those words are enough.”
“I’m going to get a drink,” she looked down at him. “Want to join me?”
“You’re not saying ‘no alcohol for children’ this time?” Chen Yin chuckled.
Hua Yulian giggled, then stood up and rejoined the party.
Chen Yin shook his head.
…He had only come here for Master, with no intention of getting involved with any of these girls.
He didn’t know how to deal with Si Qing and Hua Yulian’s sudden interest in him.
Fortunately, they were smart enough to understand his subtle hints and rejections.
He didn’t mind being friends with them.
The atmosphere in the room reached a fever pitch.
Yu Ling, standing on the table, a wine jar in her hand, shouted, “Xiao Ling’er’s suggestion was good! Since you’ve all been following me for so long, let’s give our little group a name! Any suggestions?”
“Unparalleled Society!” Xiao Luo shouted, raising his hand.
“Too unrefined.”
“Hidden Edge Pavilion!”
“Too bland.”
Everyone started suggesting names, their voices overlapping.
Chen Yin watched them with a smile, sipping his wine quietly.
“Big Sister, how about this,”
Feng Xiangling said, his voice clear and steady, fanning himself gracefully, “The divine above, the mortal below. We are young, our wings yet to fully develop, our future full of promise. Let’s call ourselves… Shen Li.”
Chen Yin froze, the wine turning to ashes in his mouth.
In the end, Yu Ling couldn’t decide on a name and postponed the decision.
As the night deepened, most of the teenagers were drunk and passed out. Si Qing and Hua Yulian had also had a bit too much to drink, so Chen Yin helped them back to their rooms.
Si Qing clung to his hand, her face flushed, her lips moving as she mumbled something unintelligible.
Hua Yulian, although slightly drunk, still managed to thank him politely.
After settling them in, Chen Yin returned to the main hall.
Looking at the bodies scattered across the floor, he sighed.
…Where was Master?
A familiar fragrance suddenly wafted towards him.
Then, someone covered his eyes from behind.
“Guess who~!” A playful voice whispered in his ear, her breath warm and smelling of alcohol.
Chen Yin sighed. “Big Sister, even you get drunk sometimes.”
Yu Ling slowly removed her hands from his eyes and leaned against his back, her head resting on his shoulder.
“What… it’s been so long… since I had this much fun…”
Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, her nose slightly red.
“And besides…” she mumbled, “I’m not drunk.”
Chen Yin didn’t know what to say, so he just nodded.
“Everyone else is asleep. Aren’t you going to bed, Big Sister?”
“No.”
She sat down beside him, her legs swinging playfully.
“…I don’t want to sleep yet. The night is still young.”
“Keep me company.” Her voice was soft, almost pleading.
Chen Yin nodded and sat down beside her.
The candlelight flickered, and the sounds of snoring echoed through the room.
“Thank you… for today.”
“I didn’t do anything.”
“It doesn’t matter,”
Yu Ling flicked his forehead lightly, “if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have been able to win those arguments. And if you hadn’t been there every afternoon, listening to my complaints…”
She trailed off.
She would have been lonely.
But she couldn’t say that. She was Yu Ling, the Big Sister. She couldn’t show weakness.
Chen Yin smiled.
“You’re smiling again!”
For some reason, his smile always annoyed her.
“No, I’m not,” he said, touching his nose. “I’m just happy to be of service, to listen to your troubles.”
“Really?”
Yu Ling looked at him suspiciously.
Chen Yin nodded obediently.
“Fine.” She looked away and lowered her head.
“I guess… it’s not so bad to have someone to talk to sometimes.”
Chen Yin’s body stiffened slightly.
He realized that Yu Ling was leaning against him, her head resting on his shoulder.
“Next time… if I need someone to talk to…”
Her voice was slurred, her body limp against his. “Will you… listen?”
Chen Yin didn’t answer immediately.
A cold breeze rattled the windows.
Yu Ling had already fallen asleep.
Chen Yin gently turned his head and looked at her sleeping face, her cheeks flushed, her nose twitching slightly, her soft snores echoing through the room.
She looked like a cute little dumpling, so tempting he wanted to take a bite.
He didn’t speak, afraid of waking her, just silently answered her question in his heart.
“I will.”
Soft footsteps approached.
A gentle voice whispered,
“Big Sister… is she asleep?”
Chen Yin nodded silently, without looking up.
He recognized the voice.
Feng Xiangling, the elegant young man who was always with Si Qing and Xiao Luo, the oldest of the group.
Seeing Chen Yin’s nod, Feng Xiangling sighed and said, “I didn’t expect Big Sister to drink so much today. I’ve never seen her this drunk before.”
Chen Yin ignored his pleasantries and asked bluntly, “What do you want?”
Feng Xiangling chuckled awkwardly. “It’s cold out here, and she’s drunk. You must be tired too, Little Brother. Let me take her back to her room. You should get some rest.”
His tone was gentle, but Chen Yin’s voice was cold.
“No need. You’ll wake her.”
Feng Xiangling frowned slightly. “But… she might catch a cold sleeping out here—”
“Don’t worry about it,” Chen Yin’s tone was dismissive. “She’s not that fragile.”
Feng Xiangling’s frown deepened.
“I appreciate your concern, Little Brother, but you’re still young. Staying up all night isn’t good for you—”
Before he could finish his sentence, Chen Yin’s eyes snapped open.
Feng Xiangling felt a chill run down his spine.
“…Who are you,”
“To speak on her behalf?” Chen Yin’s gaze was cold and sharp, like a blade.
For a moment, Feng Xiangling felt like he was facing a terrifying beast, ready to tear him apart.
“Ah…”
He instinctively took a step back, then saw Chen Yin raise a finger to his lips.
“Shhh.”
“You woke her.” He looked at Yu Ling, his gaze soft and gentle.