Chapter 22: Drunk and Blacked Out

“If you ever feel like talking, you can confide in me too,” Wen Jiu said gently.

At that moment, Gu Zehuai felt as if the deepest corners of his heart were being filled, warm and content.

He shook his head, said it was nothing, and then broke into a wide smile.

It was the first time Wen Jiu had ever seen him smile so happily.

Seeing that all traces of gloom had disappeared from his face, Wen Jiu smiled sincerely as well.

The two of them drank cup after cup, holding nothing back, just wanting to enjoy themselves.

Eventually, Wen Jiu began to feel a bit tipsy. Remembering they had work the next day, she told Gu Zehuai she wouldn’t drink any more.

Gu Zehuai nodded. He appeared no different from usual, but Wen Jiu could see the dazed look in his eyes and knew he was drunk.

She thought to herself, “He really can’t hold his liquor, can he? So that’s his limit. I’ll remember that for next time.”

Even after drinking, Gu Zehuai’s behavior remained normal—he even insisted on seeing Wen Jiu home.

Watching him, Wen Jiu tried to reason with him: “Gu Zehuai, you’re drunk. You don’t need to walk me back. Just go get some sleep, and I’ll lock the door for you.”

But Gu Zehuai wouldn’t listen and stubbornly replied, “No, I’m not drunk. I have to walk you home before I can go to bed.”

Unable to dissuade him, Wen Jiu relented, “Alright, alright, just walk me to the door and then go home, okay?”

Seemingly understanding her agreement, Gu Zehuai nodded obediently.

He hurried to the front, leading the way after unlocking the door.

Before long, they reached Wen Jiu’s apartment. After unlocking the fingerprint lock, Wen Jiu turned to Gu Zehuai and said, “I’m home now. You should head back and get some sleep, alright?”

Gu Zehuai nodded and started back, but paused to glance at Wen Jiu, seeing her still standing there watching him. He slowed his steps a bit.

But it was only a short distance home, and no matter how slowly he walked, he was there in no time.

He waited until Wen Jiu’s door was completely closed before entering his own apartment, locking the door behind him, and obediently going to bed.

Wen Jiu sat in her living room, replaying Gu Zehuai’s words and actions from just now, wondering whether he would remember any of it in the morning. The thought made her laugh out loud.

He was unexpectedly adorable in such a contrasting way.

After a quick wash, Wen Jiu finally went to bed.

The next morning, Gu Zehuai woke up in bed.

Staring at the ceiling, he tried hard to recall what had happened after he’d started drinking the night before.

Unable to remember a thing, he had to admit to himself that he’d gotten drunk.

His memory only stretched as far as drinking with Wen Jiu, cup after cup. Then everything went blank.

Feeling uncomfortable from the alcohol, he made himself a glass of honey water and drank it, soothing his stomach a little.

After wracking his brain to no avail, Gu Zehuai picked up his phone and hesitated for a long time before sending Wen Jiu a message.

[Are you awake? Did I do anything weird after I got drunk last night?]

Wen Jiu didn’t reply for a few minutes—she must have just woken up.

[You don’t remember?]

Gu Zehuai pondered what Wen Jiu meant—was it that he had done something, or nothing at all?

Then she sent another message: [Well, if that’s the case, take your time and try to remember.]

She even added a little yellow face with a hand covering its mouth, giggling.

As soon as Gu Zehuai read it, he had a sinking feeling that he must have done something embarrassing last night. He couldn’t help but press a hand to his forehead.

He thought to himself, “It’s going to be so awkward next time I see Wen Jiu.”

What Gu Zehuai didn’t know was that, on the other end, Wen Jiu really was giggling to herself.

She hadn’t expected that after getting drunk, Gu Zehuai would actually black out.

But then again, she didn’t quite know how to describe last night’s Gu Zehuai either, so she decided to let him figure it out for himself.