Chapter 101: Departure

"Be careful not to let the boss hear you, or she'll say we're gossiping behind her back."

Another younger teacher said, "It's just a casual chat. Besides, if there wasn't anything going on, why would someone take secret photos of her? Now that it's out there, people are bound to talk. We're just enjoying the drama. It's fine, what are you afraid of?"

"Ms. Song, maybe we should stop... If the boss hears this, it won't look good."

The female teacher, addressed as Ms. Song, smiled, looking completely unbothered. "What's the big deal? You're so timid."

"The boss is actually really nice, and she has a boyfriend. This isn't our place to discuss. Let's drop it."

"So cowardly. Don't be so jumpy. Does the boss's boyfriend know about this?"

"How should I know? I'm not her boyfriend."

...

Xin Gan didn't listen to the rest of their conversation. As soon as she returned to her office, her assistant knocked and entered, looking highly indignant.

Before Xin Gan could speak, the assistant placed some documents on the desk and said, "Little Boss, you're way too nice. It's precisely because you're so good-tempered that the other teachers don't respect you and gossip about you behind your back."

The assistant was straightforward and genuinely liked Xin Gan. Xin Gan was kind, treated her employees well, and had even given out a very generous red envelope during Lunar New Year. Anyone would love a boss like her.

So when the other teachers spoke ill of Xin Gan, the assistant naturally felt defensive on her behalf.

Xin Gan said, "It's fine, as long as it doesn't interfere with their work."

"But Little Boss... this is just too much. I'm not trying to badmouth them, but gossiping during work hours is just..."

Xin Gan replied, "Linlin, I know your character. You mean no harm and didn't mean to speak ill of them. But it's alright, don't take it to heart. The truth will speak for itself. Even though I'm the boss, they still have freedom of speech, as long as it doesn't affect their work or harm the studio's interests. Linlin, don't argue with them."

"Little Boss..." The assistant was truly angry, feeling it was unfair. "They take your salary yet they still talk about you. I just..."

"Don't be angry. There's nothing to be upset about. Everyone gossips. Linlin, you've been working with me for nearly half a year now, and I know how hard-working and conscientious you are. As long as you do your own job well, it doesn't matter what others say."

The assistant pouted. She was still young, with a very straightforward personality. In a corporate environment, this kind of personality would put her at a disadvantage, as her displeasure was written all over her face. Even though her intentions were good, they were easily misunderstood.

Understanding her feelings, Xin Gan offered a few comforting words. "Don't be upset. I'll be needing a lot of help from you in the future."

"Don't say that, Boss. During my interview, I told you I only had an associate degree, and many companies rejected me. You were the one who gave me a chance. I cherish it, and I will work hard."

Xin Gan smiled gently, her eyes clear and sincere. She never looked down on anyone and treated everyone with equal respect. Still, knowing Linlin was standing up for her made her feel warm inside.

"Then let's ignore them. Just focus on doing your work well."

"Okay, I'll head out first." The assistant composed herself.

...

After work, Cheng Jiu arrived early at the art studio to pick her up. This time, Xin Gan asked him to come upstairs and wait, as she was still teaching.

The studio had several classrooms, separating students of different grade levels. Xin Gan taught the high school sophomores. The male students in that class were all taller than her, and when they stood up to ask questions, she felt a bit intimidated.

The receptionist recognized Cheng Jiu. When he walked over to ask if he needed to sign in, she shook her head with an embarrassed expression, telling him it wasn't necessary and letting him straight in.

Cheng Jiu sat on a chair in the lobby, his posture upright and perfectly composed, waiting for Xin Gan's class to end.

Seeing Cheng Jiu, the assistant immediately went to pour a cup of coffee and brought it over. "Please have some."

"Thank you," Cheng Jiu said, accepting the cup.

The assistant said, "The boss is still in class. Please wait here for a moment. You can call me if you need anything."

"Thank you for the trouble."

"Don't mention it." The assistant checked the time. "There are about twenty minutes left before class ends. I won't disturb you then."

Cheng Jiu was dressed somewhat formally. His hair was cropped short, his features sharp and handsome, and he carried an energetic, upright aura. Remembering the previous misunderstanding, the assistant spoke with extra caution.

Cheng Jiu nodded. "Go ahead with your work. Don't mind me."

Just as the assistant returned to her desk, Ms. Song leaned in and whispered, "Who is that handsome guy? Why are you just letting him sit there staring into space?"

"What do you mean staring into space? He's the Little Boss's boyfriend. He's here to wait for her."

"Ah? The boss's boyfriend?" Ms. Song showed a surprised expression. "He's her boyfriend? Are you sure?"

Remembering how Ms. Song had gossiped about the boss, the assistant's face soured slightly. "Why would I lie to you? Is there any need? If you don't believe me, you can go ask. I've seen him drop the boss off at work almost every day."

Ms. Song looked thoughtful, then quickly put on a smile. "I really didn't know. So that's how it is. As expected, good-looking men never lack girlfriends."

The assistant retorted acidly, "Our boss is beautiful too—young and pretty, running this studio all by herself."

Ms. Song's expression turned complicated, as if she wanted to agree but was unwilling to admit Xin Gan's capability. She gave a sarcastic huff. "Aren't you sweet-talking. I won't chat with you anymore, I'm going to class."

The assistant didn't want to deal with her either and went back to her work.

...

Class ended, and the students began leaving the classroom one after another. One or two students stayed behind to continue painting, with Xin Gan guiding them from the side. Since the students hadn't left, she couldn't leave either. Only after they finished did she pack up her art supplies and walk out.

The assistant quickly came over to tell her that someone had been sitting in the lobby waiting for her for a long time, and it was already dark outside.

Xin Gan hurried to the lobby and saw Cheng Jiu. He was reading an art book. Sensing someone approaching, he looked up and saw her.

He closed the book and said, "All done?"

Xin Gan said, "Yes, my classes for today are finished."

"Have you eaten?"

"Not yet," Xin Gan said. "Should we go out to eat, or..."

"Do you have other things to do?"

"Yes, I need to write tomorrow's lesson plan."

"Let's order delivery then."

Xin Gan tilted her head and smiled. "Alright."

Seeing the assistant, Cheng Jiu walked over and asked, "Do you guys order delivery often?"

The assistant was startled, then said, "Yes, we do."

"Tonight is my treat. Could you please tell the other staff members to order whatever they want? I'll pay for it."

The assistant looked at Xin Gan, seemingly asking for her approval.

Xin Gan said helplessly, "It's his treat. Just get him to reimburse you later."

The assistant happily agreed and asked Xin Gan, "Boss, what would you like to eat? You order first, and then I'll ask the others."

"The usual. Just order two portions for me."

Xin Gan pulled Cheng Jiu into her office, took off her coat, and asked, "What's the occasion today? Treating everyone to dinner?"

"It's just a meal. It doesn't cost much, and it saves you money."

"Our studio doesn't provide meals anyway, so how does it save me money? Make yourself comfortable while I finish up my work." Xin Gan smiled, turned on her computer, and began to work.

When Xin Gan worked, she was extremely focused and did not like to be disturbed.

Because she was so absorbed, she didn't notice Cheng Jiu wandering around her office. He saw several paintings hanging on the wall, all signed with an English name, which was presumably Xin Gan's.

In the corner, a canvas cover was draped over something. After a moment's thought, he asked, "Can I take this cloth off?"

Xin Gan didn't hear him clearly and just mumbled an agreement, which he took as permission.

Cheng Jiu pulled the cloth away and saw a painting resting on the easel. It depicted a man and a woman standing in front of a mirror. The man was holding a hair dryer, blow-drying the woman's hair. The scene felt incredibly familiar.

It was him and Xin Gan.

Cheng Jiu curled his lips into a smile. He hadn't expected her to have the skill to recreate that moment so perfectly.

About half an hour later, the delivery arrived. The assistant brought in their portions. Not daring to say too much, she set the food down and left.

Cheng Jiu took out the food and placed it by her hand, sighing. "Still not finished?"

"Not yet," Xin Gan said.

"Let's eat first. The food will get cold."

Xin Gan said, "Okay."

Cheng Jiu opened the containers and began feeding her. Her eyes were still glued to the computer screen, so she didn't notice him using chopsticks to feed her a piece of fish. She ate the first and second bites without looking. By the third bite, she realized it was a chili pepper. The heat hit her instantly, making her gasp for air.

Amused that his prank had succeeded, Cheng Jiu quickly handed her a drink he had prepared.

She drank more than half of the beverage before recovering. She glared at him in annoyance. "Are you trying to kill me? I wasn't even looking..."

Mid-sentence, Cheng Jiu put down his chopsticks, reached out to pinch her chin, forcing her to turn and face him. "Let me help you cool down," he whispered, and then kissed her without hesitation.

Xin Gan's anger vanished instantly, completely subdued by his kiss.

He didn't care that they were in the office, nor did he care if the door was closed. He just kissed her.

After a few minutes, Xin Gan, feeling dizzy and finally regaining a bit of her senses, pushed his shoulder and whispered, "My lips hurt."

Only then did Cheng Jiu let her go, saying, "Eat first, then you can get back to work."

Xin Gan could only redirect her gaze to the food container. She coughed slightly and asked him, "How is He Chuan?"

"I haven't gone to see him. He probably won't die."

"Gastrointestinal bleeding can be quite serious if not treated properly. You hit him too hard."

"He brought it on himself for messing with Cheng Hui."

Xin Gan swallowed a mouthful of rice before asking unhurriedly, "What next? What are you going to do?"

Cheng Jiu fell silent for a moment and placed some food in her bowl.

Xin Gan picked out the chili peppers. Her lips were still burning, so she took another sip of water and said, "Why don't you ask Cheng Hui?"

"..."

"How can you be sure Cheng Hui absolutely dislikes him? If she doesn't, they should just lay their cards on the table. He Chuan is your friend, so he wouldn't cross the line recklessly. He would at least consider his relationship with you and not do anything out of line to Cheng Hui. Subconsciously, I don't think He Chuan is a bad person. He's better than He Cheng."

She had interacted with He Chuan a few times before and always felt his nature wasn't bad. Besides, Song Chen also spoke highly of He Chuan. How could someone like him do such a thing to Cheng Hui?

But if Cheng Hui really didn't like him, then He Chuan couldn't force her anymore.

Cheng Jiu thought about it. "So according to you, I should let him see Cheng Hui one more time?"

"Let them meet and talk things through. If He Chuan doesn't give up, no matter how much you try to block him in the middle, you won't be able to stop him."

Cheng Jiu pondered for a long while but said nothing.

...

Cheng Hui was shocked for a long time when she learned from Xin Gan that He Chuan was hospitalized with stomach bleeding. When Xin Gan asked if she wanted to visit him, she hesitated for a long time before refusing, saying she was afraid.

Xin Gan said, "Cheng Jiu is here too, so you don't have to be afraid."

"Sister Xin, I'm still scared. I don't want to go, and I don't want to see him."

"Alright, then we won't see him. Don't be afraid, we are all on your side."

"Please don't tell Mom and Dad. I really regret telling my brother..." Cheng Hui choked up slightly. Her emotions had been in turmoil recently. She was terrified of seeing He Chuan, so avoiding him was for the best.

"We didn't tell them. Don't worry, don't be afraid." Xin Gan felt sorry for her. She was only nineteen, and she must have been deeply frightened to be this terrified.

"Thank you," Cheng Hui said. "Actually... was He Chuan's stomach bleeding caused by my brother beating him up?"

Xin Gan didn't hide it. "Yes. He Chuan didn't fight back and just let Cheng Jiu beat him. But he's fine, he just needs to stay in the hospital to recover."

"I understand."

Cheng Hui had nothing else to say. She hurriedly said she had things to do and hung up. She was still lying in her dorm room, not wanting to go anywhere. Her head felt heavy and dizzy, and she wondered if she was falling ill.

He Chuan could take care of himself. He didn't need her to worry about him, nor did she want to see him again.

While Cheng Hui was lying in her dorm room feeling dizzy, her phone rang. She answered it groggily. Hearing Tang Que's voice, she instantly snapped awake.

Tang Que said, "What's wrong? You sound low on energy."

Thinking she was dreaming, Cheng Hui murmured to herself, "I'm fine. I must still be dreaming. Why would you call me? What a scary dream."

Tang Que: "You're not dreaming. It's me. I'm at your school gate."

Cheng Hui: "..."

...

It was only when she actually saw Tang Que at the school gate that Cheng Hui fully woke up. Fearing it might be a dream within a dream, she rubbed her eyes vigorously. After confirming repeatedly that Tang Que was indeed standing before her, a feeling of reclaiming something lost washed over her.

"Aren't you at A University? Why are you back?"

Tang Que's expression was calm as he said, "My mother fell ill, so I came back to visit her. Then I thought of you, so I dropped by to see you. What, you don't want to see me? You don't look very happy."

"No, no, I'm not unhappy..." Cheng Hui almost bit her tongue, not knowing what to say. "Where is your girlfriend?"

"We broke up," Tang Que replied, his face still devoid of expression.

"Broke up? Why?"

"A breakup is a breakup. There aren't that many reasons." Tang Que answered directly.

Learning that he had broken up made Cheng Hui feel a brief flash of joy, but it vanished instantly. The thought of He Chuan being hospitalized with stomach bleeding, as Xin Gan had mentioned, shattered her mood, and she could no longer feel happy.

She felt she was a terrible person, wavering constantly in her stance.

Cheng Hui asked, "Then why did you come to find me?" It was unlikely he came just to see her.

Tang Que asked, "Do you still like me?"

Cheng Hui: "..."

"Hmm?"

Cheng Hui bit her lip and remained silent.

Tang Que smiled and stepped closer to her. He was taller than her, with handsome features—exactly her type. Observing her expression, he felt she still liked him but was probably hesitating because of their previous unpleasantness. He coaxed her deliberately, "You don't like me anymore?"

Sensing his slight frown of displeasure, Cheng Hui quickly shook her head. "No, it's not that I don't like you..." Putting He Chuan aside, she still liked Tang Que very much. Otherwise, she wouldn't have grieved over him for so long.

Tang Que said, "Then that means you do."

She lowered her head shyly.

"When I rejected you before, it was indeed because I was with Tang Yao. I couldn't two-time, so I couldn't return your feelings. Cheng Hui, since you still like me now, we can give it a try."

Cheng Hui really thought she was dreaming. The very scene she had wanted most in the past had suddenly happened, and she felt it was unreal.

"Tang Que, do you know what you're saying?"

"I haven't been drinking and I'm not sleepwalking. Everything I just said is true." Tang Que smiled again. "If you don't believe me, I'll leave. You have nothing to lose."

Cheng Hui hesitated for a moment before saying, "I agree, Tang Que. As long as you know what you're saying and won't regret it, I agree."

Tang Que had his back turned to her. Hearing her words, a flash of disgust crossed his eyes, but he had to endure it. He said very calmly, "Alright, then it's settled."

Afterward, Cheng Hui returned to her dorm in a daze, unable to believe what had just happened. Her face was burning red. When her roommate woke up and saw how red her face was, she joked, "Are you in love? Why is your face so red?"

Cheng Hui touched her face, which felt hot, and sat down on her chair, feeling a sense of melancholy and loss.

Noticing something was off, her roommate walked over and touched her forehead. It was burning. "Do you have a fever? Why is your forehead so hot?"

Cheng Hui: "...I don't think so."

"You have a fever. Go to the clinic, quick. Let's go."

Once at the clinic, they measured her temperature. The doctor said it was a low-grade fever and she needed an injection, but she had to go to the hospital for it.

Cheng Hui said, "No wonder I felt so hot. It turns out I have a fever."

"My goodness, you didn't even know you had a fever. I'm speechless. Go to the hospital, quickly."

...

Cheng Hui went to the hospital. He Chuan was also hospitalized there, but since the hospital was so large, they didn't run into each other at first.

However, while He Chuan was wandering aimlessly around the hospital with nothing to do, he unexpectedly ran into Cheng Hui.

Cheng Hui pursed her lips, looking at him warily.

He Chuan said, "Here to see me?"

"No," she shook her head.

There were only one or two good hospitals in the city, and the closest one to her school happened to be this one. It wasn't surprising to run into He Chuan here.

"If not me, then who?"

Her roommate had gone to fetch her medicine. Having just received her injection, Cheng Hui was still a bit dizzy and didn't want to talk to He Chuan. Her tone was naturally harsh. "Anyone but you."

He Chuan's face was pale, but he smiled. "Huihui, I'm injured and feeling miserable, yet you still come to torture me."

"You brought it on yourself. Who told you to bully me?"

Saying he brought it on himself was truly heartless and cold. He Chuan's face grew even paler. Cheng Hui noticed it, of course. Although she didn't mean to be cruel, if she didn't speak this way, He Chuan would keep pestering her. It was better to speak plainly to make him give up.

For a moment, He Chuan didn't know what to say. Having been in the hospital for so many days, he had hoped that once she knew about his injury, she would soften up a bit and visit him. But what did he get in return?

"I don't like you. Even if you were bedridden, I still wouldn't like you. He Chuan, let's just consider everything you did to me in the past as over and done with, but I hope you won't harass me anymore. I'm with Tang Que now. He accepted me."

He Chuan's eyes instantly sharpened, staring at her like a hawk. "Tang Que?"

"You know that the one I've always liked is Tang Que. He broke up with his girlfriend, and now I'm his girlfriend."

He Chuan grit his teeth, so angry he felt like coughing up blood. He squeezed out a few words through his teeth: "You really have no self-respect."

"What about you? You have no self-control!"

"Cheng Hui, do you really think I have a good temper? Do you think I don't get angry?"

"If you dare to bully me, my brother will never forgive you." Cheng Hui was ice-cold, looking at him as if he were a complete stranger.

He Chuan was truly furious, breathing heavily. "You're something else. Fine. You have so little self-respect that you'd get back with Tang Que who dumped you, and even become his girlfriend. Fine, I underestimated you."

He Chuan stormed off in anger. This was the first time.

Once he left, Cheng Hui suddenly lost all her strength and almost collapsed to the floor.

Good, good. He should completely give up now, right?

He must be utterly disappointed in her, right?

She thought she would be happy to be rid of He Chuan, but there was none of the expected joy. Instead, her chest felt tight and suffocated.

...

After that trip to the hospital, Cheng Hui's fever flared up twice. She went back to her dorm and slept. When she woke up the next day to go to class, she felt dizzy and unwell again by noon. She wanted to vomit but couldn't throw up anything.

The students around her were worried and urged her to go to the hospital, but she refused, insisting on staying in class.

Before the class ended, she fainted.

Fortunately, her classmates noticed in time and rushed her to the hospital.

...

When Cheng Hui woke up again, Xin Gan was in the hospital room accompanying her.

"You're finally awake. Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere else?" Xin Gan reached out to feel her forehead, then felt her own to confirm the fever had gone down before letting out a long sigh of relief.

"Sister Xin, why are you here?"

"Your classmate used your phone to call me. I rushed over as soon as I got the call. Are you feeling better?"

Cheng Hui lay there, her eyes dry. "I'm fine, much better."

"That's good. Do you want to eat anything? I'll buy it for you."

"I'm not hungry. I want to sleep a bit more."

"Then get some sleep. You'll need to stay in the hospital tonight for observation."

Cheng Hui murmured an agreement, her mood heavy.

By evening, Cheng Jiu arrived. The moment he walked through the door, his eyes fell on Xin Gan first.

Xin Gan gestured for him to be quiet, closed the door, and walked out to speak to him. "Cheng Hui is still sleeping. Don't wake her."

Cheng Jiu looked serious. He wanted to smoke, but he couldn't do so in the hospital.

"He Chuan called me this afternoon. He said he's going abroad for a while and probably won't be back anytime soon," Cheng Jiu said expressionlessly.

"He's going abroad? Then Cheng Hui..."

"He and Cheng Hui cleared things up. Since she hates him, he won't show his face in front of her again." Cheng Jiu wasn't in a good mood either, feeling highly irritated.

He Chuan had left, but was this matter truly over?

Cheng Jiu wasn't sure.

Given He Chuan's personality, he shouldn't have backed down so easily.

Xin Gan held his hand, not knowing what to say for a moment.

Once Cheng Hui woke up, Cheng Jiu told her about He Chuan, saying, "He won't appear before you again."

Cheng Hui began to cry. She didn't know why she suddenly couldn't control her emotions, but she felt incredibly sad.

Cheng Jiu patted her head and said, "What are you crying for? You're not a child anymore."

Cheng Hui said, "Brother, I'm with Tang Que now."

...

Before leaving, He Chuan went to see Cheng Jiu. With his usual cynical smile, he said, "I messed up with Cheng Hui. I admit defeat. But Cheng Jiu, I don't want to fall out with you. I won't appear before Cheng Hui in the future. You can rest assured."

Since He Chuan had said this, he would definitely keep his word. He never broke his promises.

He had just been discharged from the hospital and was still not in the best condition. He wanted to drink, but Cheng Jiu stopped him.

"How many years will you be gone?"

"I don't know. Maybe a few months, maybe a few years. Nothing is certain."

Cheng Jiu silently picked up a glass of alcohol, took a sip, and said nothing.

He Chuan patted his shoulder. "Cheng Jiu, I'm sorry. I let down your trust. It was my fault."

Cheng Jiu glanced at him sideways. "She's my sister. If she doesn't like it, no one can force her."

"I get it. It's my own failure." He Chuan clinked his glass against Cheng Jiu's. "Cheers. We can still drink together when we meet in the future. After this cup, I'm leaving. But I'll attend your wedding. When the time comes, I'll find a way to avoid Cheng Hui so she won't see me. I, He Chuan, keep my word."

...

He Chuan left Yong City as if fleeing. He could no longer bring himself to shamelessly pursue Cheng Hui. He had his own self-respect and pride; he couldn't let Cheng Hui trample on him without limits.

If she didn't like him, then she didn't. He would just stay far away.

He really left, without sending any news.

Once Cheng Hui recovered and was discharged, she returned to school for classes, acting as if nothing had happened, living a relaxed and comfortable life.

Cheng Jiu didn't know whether to say she recovered quickly because she was young, or that she was simply heartless.

He hadn't told Cheng Hui about He Chuan leaving Yong City, so she was unaware.

Once, Mrs. He came to visit the Cheng family. Chatting with Mrs. Cheng, she casually mentioned that He Chuan had gone abroad to expand overseas business. She said that in the past, even though he was busy, they could still see him, but now they couldn't see him at all. He was working too hard.

Mrs. Cheng smiled and said, "Young people should strive. He Chuan working so hard is also for the good of the He family."

Mrs. He smiled, not particularly enjoying hearing praise for He Chuan. Instead, she took the initiative to bring up her younger son, He Cheng, saying that the television drama he starred in was very popular, making him famous overnight across the country, and that he had to wear masks and sunglasses whenever he went out, being a big star now.

Her words were clearly boasting about He Cheng, and Mrs. He's expression was filled with pride and satisfaction.

Mrs. Cheng saw through it but didn't point it out, asking again about He Chuan.

"It seems He Chuan also took a girlfriend with him overseas this time."

"When did they start dating? How come there wasn't even a whisper of it?"

"Just recently. You probably know the girl too; her name is Tang Huaihuai. I heard Tang Huaihuai's younger brother is dating your Cheng Hui. Is that true?"

Mrs. Cheng was stunned and astonished. "Did I hear that wrong? Tang Huaihuai? Is she the daughter of the Tang family?"

"Mrs. Cheng, it looks like you really didn't know. The Tang family girl told me herself that Tang Que and Cheng Hui have been dating for a while. I think Tang Que is a very good boy—he's at A University, a key university, and even won a scholarship in his first semester."

Mrs. Cheng kept the smile on her face and said, "Really? How did I not get any wind of this? It's my fault too. I've been so busy with Cheng Jiu's wedding lately, getting dizzy from sorting out the guest list. If Huihui really has a boyfriend and he's a good person, then that's happy news for everyone."

...

During this period, Cheng Jiu was busy with the wedding preparations, and Xin Gan's art studio was also busy. Their schedules didn't align, so they rarely saw each other. When they finally met again, it was for a dinner gathering between both families to double-check the wedding details.

Cheng Jiu and Xin Gan were supposed to be the main focus, but Mrs. Cheng had a lingering concern that she had to address. She pulled Cheng Hui aside and asked, "I heard you're in a relationship?"

Cheng Hui: "Where did you hear that?"

"If you weren't dating, would I have heard about it?"

Cheng Hui still wanted to struggle. "That's not true..."

"His surname is Tang, right?"

Cheng Hui: "..."

Mrs. Cheng said, "Is his father Tang Jingli?"

Cheng Hui: "How should I know what his father's name is..."

"Then find out. If it is Tang Jingli, you two must break up immediately. There's no room for discussion."

...

Back at the dining table, Xin Gan felt a bit lightheaded after drinking a glass of fruit wine with a rather high alcohol content. She rested her face in her hand to clear her head.

Cheng Jiu sat next to her. Noticing she was a bit tipsy, he said in a low voice, "You have such a low tolerance, yet you dare to drink?"

Xin Gan murmured dizzily, "If they serve it, I dare to drink it."

"Aren't you something."

Since the table was filled with elders, it was unavoidable for Xin Gan to take a sip or two. Cheng Jiu couldn't stop her and could only let her drink.

Grandpa Xin and Old Mr. Cheng hadn't seen each other in a long time. When they met, their eyes filled with tears, and they sat together chatting about their youth. Cheng Jiu had heard these stories so many times his ears were practically calloused, so he didn't pay attention to what the two elderly men were saying. Instead, he kept his eyes on Xin Gan out of the corner of his eye.

The dinner lasted until past ten o'clock. Xin Gan could barely stand steadily and had to lean on Cheng Jiu for support. Once the others had walked ahead, Cheng Jiu held Xin Gan close and slowly walked out.

Cheng Jiu wanted to carry her directly to the car, but she strongly refused, saying it would be embarrassing with so many people watching, especially with the elders of both families present.

Her cheeks were flushed pink, her gaze hazy, and her lips held a soft sheen—whether from the lipstick or something else, she looked exceptionally alluring in his eyes.

After helping her into the car, Xin Gan leaned back and closed her eyes to rest.

Cheng Jiu had also been drinking and couldn't drive, so he called a designated driver.

...

Cheng Jiu was the last to escort Xin Gan home. Her parents' car had arrived home earlier. By now, the alcohol had fully hit Xin Gan. She wrapped her arms around his neck, refusing to let him leave, muttering incoherently.

Cheng Jiu paid the designated driver first and told him where he could catch a taxi. Once the driver left, he kissed Xin Gan's forehead. "Why didn't you tell me earlier that you couldn't drink? I wouldn't have let you touch it."

Xin Gan couldn't control her body, but her mind was still somewhat clear. She mumbled in reply, "I had to drink... it would be impolite not to..."

"We're all family, no need for such formalities."

"Then tonight... come stay at my place..." Her speech was slurred, and she dragged out her words, completely unaware of how she looked.

Amused, Cheng Jiu pinched the tip of her nose. "Sit up straight and tell me."

"Can't... too weak..."

He leaned close to her ear on purpose and whispered, "Instead of going to your place, why don't we go to mine? No one is there."

Xin Gan shook her head. "No... you'll bully me."