Chapter 20

Drunk

Three days passed in the blink of an eye. That morning, Lin Qianyou received a WeChat message from Director Sun Dong.

He invited her to dinner with the team that evening, saying it was a chance to get to know the other artists participating in the show.

Lin Qianyou replied with a simple “Okay,” finally feeling a bit more at ease.

For the past three days, with nothing else to do, her mind had been consumed by the memory of Qi Shanglan kissing her that night. She kept forcing herself not to think about him, but she just couldn’t stop.

She told herself it was just because she was too idle. It was just a kiss, wasn’t it? Hadn’t she kissed him first that night? If he was simply returning the favor, what was there to dwell on?

Stop thinking about it. Just forget it. Maybe it was just an impulsive act. Even if it was intentional, it was only “payback.”

Sitting in front of her vanity, Lin Qianyou started putting on makeup. But at some point, her reflection in the mirror had turned red again.

Annoyed, she set down the makeup brush, got up, and opened her closet to pick an outfit. In the end, she randomly grabbed a short-sleeved top and a pair of fitted jeans.

Arriving at the restaurant early at noon, Lin Qianyou gave the room number that Director Sun Dong had sent her to the waiter, who then led her upstairs.

“This is the room, but it’s not yet your reserved time. You can wait inside,” the waiter said politely.

Lin Qianyou returned a smile. “Thank you.”

She walked in and sat in a corner, lowering her head to check her phone.

She accidentally opened WeChat. She accidentally clicked into her chat with Qi Shanglan. And, as if by accident, she seemed to hear his voice.

“Here so early?” His voice came from the doorway.

Lin Qianyou froze, then looked up in disbelief.

It really was him.

His tall figure stood half a head above the door frame, and he had to slightly lower his head as he entered. He seemed to have a preference for casual sportswear—today, once again, he was dressed in a tracksuit. But unusually, he had layered a black jacket over it, likely part of the set.

He had a good sense of style, carrying off the outfit effortlessly. The only strange thing was that today’s temperature was a scorching 38°C, yet he still wore an extra jacket just for the sake of fashion.

Lin Qianyou stared at him for a moment before remembering to respond. She smiled and said, “Yeah, I’m an artist, after all. When attending a dinner, I have to arrive earlier than the director.”

Watching Qi Shanglan stroll in leisurely and sit down just as casually, she couldn’t help but ask in confusion, “Wait, why are you here?”

He casually sat down in the seat next to Lin Qianyou, resting one hand on the back of the chair as he glanced her up and down.

Strange. Today, she was actually dressed so conservatively. He had originally planned that if she wore something revealing again, he would take off his jacket and make her wear it.

As Qi Shanglan took off his jacket, he said to her, “Director Sun didn’t tell you? I’m also a regular guest on this show.”

He casually hung his jacket over the back of his chair, then looked up—only to see Lin Qianyou’s face filled with shock, exactly like that night three days ago.

Lin Qianyou took a deep breath.

So, the “resident police officer” that Director Sun mentioned was actually Qi Shanglan?!

Heavens, you really love messing with me!

Lin Qianyou silently closed the chat window on her phone, but Qi Shanglan, with his sharp eyes, still caught a glimpse of it.

“You were just messaging me?” he asked bluntly.

“Oh, no, no,” Lin Qianyou hurriedly waved her hands. “I accidentally clicked into it.”

“Accidentally, huh?” He repeated, deliberately dragging out the last syllable, his smile carrying a teasing hint.

Lin Qianyou, still clueless, nodded and picked up the glass of water the waiter had poured for her. She took a sip. “Mm-hmm, accidentally.”

Qi Shanglan watched as her soft red lips lightly pressed against the rim of the glass, leaving behind a faint lipstick mark. She hadn’t even really drunk any water before putting the glass down again.

Seeing how distracted she was, Qi Shanglan’s mood inexplicably improved. She was probably still dealing with the “aftereffects” of that night.

He casually pulled a tissue and pressed it against his index finger before suddenly leaning in toward Lin Qianyou without warning. The next second, he gently dabbed at the corner of her lips.

Lin Qianyou shuddered in surprise, her gaze shifting sideways to look at him.

“Your lipstick smudged,” he said softly, his breath brushing against her face—light and teasing, as if intentionally stirring something within her.

“I’ll do it myself!” Lin Qianyou hurriedly snatched the tissue from Qi Shanglan’s hand, flustered. She opened her phone’s selfie mode and checked for a long time but couldn’t find any smudged lipstick.

Meanwhile, he was still very close to her.

“Qi Shanglan?” A female voice suddenly called from the doorway, followed by the sounds of children chattering.

Only then did Qi Shanglan shift his gaze away from Lin Qianyou’s lips and turn to look at the door. Lin Qianyou also quickly put down her phone and looked over, thinking that the production team had arrived.

“It really is you.” Wang Xinyu said with pleasant surprise. The two noisy children beside her had already rushed into the room and taken their seats, cheerfully greeting Qi Shanglan and Lin Qianyou in unison: “Hello, big brother and big sister~”

Lin Qianyou smiled and greeted them back, finally remembering that they were the child actors signed by the director—a pair of fraternal twins. However, she hadn’t expected them to be so young and adorable, about the same height as Ah Fu.

Qi Shanglan didn’t like children much. The one at home and the one at the Earth Temple were already enough to give him a headache, and now this variety show had kids participating too? Did they think Lin Qianyou alone wasn’t noisy enough?

He couldn’t even be bothered to smile at the two enthusiastic children and simply responded with a flat, “Hello.”

And that was it.

Qi Shanglan glanced back at the doorway but still couldn’t remember who the woman in front of him was. “Do we know each other?”

Wang Xinyu let out an awkward laugh and sat down next to Wang Muhan and Wang Muyang. “Not only do we know each other, but we were high school classmates.”

With the search narrowed down, Qi Shanglan furrowed his brows and thought for a moment before finally remembering who she was.

“Wang Xinyu?” he asked.

Wang Xinyu smiled and nodded.

Qi Shanglan’s gaze shifted to the two little kids, surprised that she already had children this big. “These are your kids?”

“Huh?” Wang Xinyu was startled, then quickly explained, “No, I’m their aunt. They’re my brother’s children. Director Sun said that during filming, it’s best for a guardian to be present to prevent any accidents in case the kids get too playful. But my brother and sister-in-law are busy and don’t have time, so I’m accompanying them for the show. I just won’t be appearing on camera.”

Qi Shanglan nodded vaguely, indicating he understood, and then fell silent again.

Wang Xinyu lowered her eyes in disappointment. After all these years, seeing him again still made her heart flutter. But he remained just as uninterested in her as ever, completely indifferent to her feelings.

He always wore that cold expression, maintained that distant attitude, and disregarded any kindness shown to him. Back then, the love letter she had secretly slipped into his desk—he hadn’t even bothered to read it before returning it to her.

So decisive. So indifferent.

The table fell into silence, and the awkward atmosphere didn’t escape Lin Qianyou’s sharp senses.

But there was no way she would let things go cold. Qi Shanglan might not like to talk, but she was a chatterbox. So, for the rest of the meal, it became a one-person show. One moment, she was chatting with the kids about silly topics, and the next, she was engaging Wang Xinyu in girl talk. But not once did she address Qi Shanglan again.

Qi Shanglan quietly listened to the endless chatter beside him. She might not be an expert on the universe or geography, but she always had something to say and an endless stream of jokes. She could strike up a conversation with anyone. The two little kids giggled at her antics, and even Wang Xinyu—who had been known for her cool demeanor in high school—seemed genuinely interested in what she was saying.

Yet, at this very moment, she was deliberately ignoring him.

Thinking about the way she had fled so awkwardly that night, Qi Shanglan couldn’t help but curl his lips into a teasing smile as his gaze returned to her.

She laughed heartily at times, covered her mouth giggling at others. When she smiled, her eyes curved into crescent moons, and her softly curled eyelashes shimmered with a delicate, warm glow.

Qi Shanglan’s gaze drifted downward, past her upturned nose, finally landing on her lips as they opened and closed while she spoke.

That thing of hers—like a drug. One taste, and there was no quitting. It made him crave a second time, a third, countless more.

He had endured three days, thinking she would eventually figure out his feelings for her.

But seeing her now, so carefree and unbothered, it seemed she hadn’t taken him seriously at all.

At that thought, Qi Shanglan clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth in displeasure.

A commotion erupted outside the door—it was Zhou Ziqing and Director Sun’s team arriving.

The private dining room suddenly buzzed with energy. After everyone introduced themselves, they finally settled in to wait for the food.

With mostly men at the table, Director Sun called for the waiter to bring out some alcohol. Considering the presence of two young children, he also specifically requested a few glasses of juice.

At gatherings like this, the drink of choice was usually ^[1]Baijiu (白酒) is a traditional Chinese distilled liquor made primarily from fermented sorghum, although other grains like rice, wheat, or corn can also be used. baijiu—strong, intense, and highly stimulating. It burned as it went down, something most people couldn’t handle.

Once the alcohol was served, a younger team member stood up to pour drinks for everyone. He started with Director Sun, then made his way around the table, filling each person’s glass.

Lin Qianyou had never tried baijiu before. Her eyes lit up with anticipation as she watched the bottle in his hands. It was even a well-known brand, making her even more eager to give it a try.

When the server reached her side, she enthusiastically held out her glass, ready to receive her pour.

But before she could react, someone moved faster—placing a bottle of juice in front of her without hesitation.

She looked down and saw Qi Shanglan’s strong arm pressing down on her wrist, forcing her to withdraw. The next moment, she felt an icy glare burning from above.

Qi Shanglan gazed down at her, expressionless, but his stare was cold enough to kill.

Lin Qianyou instantly caved, obediently setting her glass back on the table. She even mumbled a soft “thank you” to him.

“You’re welcome.” His response was quick.

And so, for the rest of the meal, Lin Qianyou could only sip on her fruit juice, not touching a single drop of alcohol.

The more she thought about it, the more frustrated she became. Why had she backed down so easily? She could have just said, I drink alcohol, not juice, and that would’ve been the end of it.

But the moment she recalled Qi Shanglan’s gaze from earlier, her resolve wavered again.

Seriously, was he doing this on purpose or not?

Around the table, the men were drinking glass after glass. Some of their faces were already flushed red, their words slurring into incoherence.

Lin Qianyou glanced at them and shook her head. But when she turned back to Qi Shanglan, she realized that his expression remained completely unchanged. His complexion was as steady as ever—so normal it was almost unnatural, as if he hadn’t had a single sip.

But she had clearly seen him drink several glasses.

It just proved that some people were simply built different.

Even when drinking, some managed to look effortlessly refined.

Although the lingering hues of sunset had begun to fade, the heat in the air remained thick and unwavering.

After a satisfying meal and plenty of drinks, the drunken Director Sun was helped away, and the others gradually left as well, leaving only Lin Qianyou and Qi Shanglan behind.

Lin Qianyou was on her phone, about to book a ride home, when Qi Shanglan, who was also waiting for a car, suddenly leaned toward her.

She found herself wrapped in his embrace, catching the strong scent of alcohol on his breath.

“Qi Shanglan?” Lin Qianyou was startled and gave him a slight push. “Are you drunk?”

Qi Shanglan let out a soft “Mm” and uttered two words: “Headache.”

Oh no, Lin Qianyou thought. A headache was a clear sign of intoxication. Baijiu had a strong aftereffect—some people showed it on their faces, while others felt it in their heads.

“Did you call a car? If not, I can book one for you and send you home?” she offered.

“Can’t go home.” His face was buried against her neck, his voice muffled and full of discomfort. “Strict rules at home. Drinking isn’t allowed.”

Lin Qianyou was so surprised she let out an “Ah?” “Then what do we do? Should I take you to the police station?”

“What are you thinking? Does that even make sense?” A drunk cop being taken back to the station by a concerned citizen?

“Then… how about you come to my place and sleep it off first? You can go home once you’re sober?” Lin Qianyou suggested, as it was the only idea she could come up with.

“That works,” Qi Shanglan agreed.