Chapter 25: Soft and Warm — Just Let Myself Be Reckless This Once…

After the game, it was time to eat again.

Seeing everyone had mostly put down their chopsticks, Xu Youyou suggested, “Looks like we’re almost done eating? Let’s switch to a round table and keep playing—something more exciting.”

Whether it was the sting of ‘tragic’ failure earlier or something else, Pei Yunzhe was actually the first to respond.

“I’m in.”

Chen Qingyue waved his hand grandly and brought out four more bottles of Hennessy XO. “We’ve got more if this isn’t enough. Let’s drink to our heart’s content tonight!”

They ended up playing the classic drinking game: Truth or Dare. If someone couldn’t answer or refused a dare, they had to down a full glass.

The wheel spun and pointed to Chen Qingyue. He immediately said, “Truth.”

Xu Youyou raised her hand. “How many girlfriends have you had before?”

“Oooh~” Pei Shize and Zhong Yang egged him on in unison.

Even Pei Yunzhe rarely chimed in, “You have to tell the truth.”

“…One? Fine, two.”

“Chen Qingyue, you lied to me?”

“No, that was back in middle school! It didn’t mean anything!”

“Pfft, figure out how you’ll explain that later.”

“Youyou, I didn’t mean to hide it…”

The wheel spun again and landed on Pei Shize.

“I’ll pick truth too.”

Pei Yunzhe asked, “Why did you choose Zhong Yang as the female lead despite public opinion?”

Zhong Yang froze.

Was he afraid she wouldn’t believe him and wanted to use this chance to explain again?

He seemed to really understand her inner concerns…

Pei Shize scratched his head and answered honestly, “I hesitated for a long time, but there really wasn’t a better choice. If we had a plan B, the team wouldn’t have taken the risk.”

Worried he might hurt Zhong Yang, he quickly added, “Not saying you’re not good—your acting, talent, looks… overall, you’re the most outstanding. The online drama isn’t your fault either. Just focus on acting, and we’ll lift each other up.”

“Okay.” Zhong Yang smiled and raised her glass toward him. “Thank you, Director.”

Then, taking advantage of the drinking gesture, she leaned slightly toward the man beside her who rarely spoke and whispered, “Thank you too.”

Pei Yunzhe acted as if he didn’t hear, but the corners of his lips lifted ever so slightly.

Next, the wheel landed on Xiaoyun.

“I—I’ll go with truth too.”

Chen Qingyue asked the capable Lake employee, “Your current salary is 6,000 a month. If I offer you 8,000 plus 5% commission, would you stay and not get poached by Zhong Yang as her assistant?”

“Uh…”

Before Xiaoyun could answer, Pei Yunzhe cut in. “I’ll offer you 15,000. Year-end bonus and holiday allowance. Be Zhong Yang’s assistant with peace of mind. If you do well, you can be promoted to agent and double your salary.”

Such overwhelming wealth—15k, double the pay, and a promotion! Xiaoyun was nearly dizzy with excitement.

“I—I’m following Sister Zhong Yang!”

Chen Qingyue gave Pei Yunzhe the finger. “I can’t beat you. Fine!”

Pei Yunzhe calmly returned the gesture. “Fair.”

The wheel spun again—it landed on Zhong Yang.

Always the one to go against the grain, she said, “I choose… dare.”

Xu Youyou jumped in, “Pick a male from the table, interlock fingers, and hold eye contact for ten seconds.”

Zhong Yang stared at her best friend in disbelief, full of suspicion.

Xu Youyou avoided her sharp gaze. “Ahem. No backing out!”

Come on, how many men were even here?

Chen Qingyue was taken. Pei Shize was the director. Pei Yunzhe was the boss…

None of them were suitable. Zhong Yang simply took a drink instead.

She didn’t notice the fleeting hint of regret in Pei Yunzhe’s eyes.

Then the wheel landed on Xu Youyou. Chen Qingyue asked how many boyfriends she’d had, and she didn’t give an honest answer either. The two almost started arguing on the spot.

Round after round, the truth-or-dare questions became more suggestive and bold.

Everyone thought the same—thankfully they could drink to avoid answering. Three bottles of liquor were quickly emptied.

No one knew how much time passed, but finally, the wheel pointed to the one person who hadn’t been picked yet—Pei Yunzhe.

“Truth,” he said.

Still somewhat sober, Pei Shize asked, “Bro, what’s your ideal type?”

Without hesitation, Pei Yunzhe answered, “Cute, beautiful, fair-skinned, slightly wavy long hair, likes animals, eyes that sparkle when she smiles, and when she cries—it breaks your heart.”

Who… is he describing…? Zhong Yang’s fingers tightened around her glass. Despite the music in the background, she could almost hear her own heartbeat thudding wildly.

The wheel spun again—it was Pei Yunzhe again.

“Truth.”

A slightly tipsy Chen Qingyue asked, “H-How many girls… have you ever had feelings for… from childhood to now?”

“One.”

Again, the wheel landed on Pei Yunzhe.

“Truth again.”

Xu Youyou’s eyes gleamed strangely as she asked, “Is the girl you had feelings for sitting at this table right now?”

Pei Yunzhe fell silent for two seconds.

“She is.”

His voice was steady, firm, and unwavering.

The three exchanged subtle glances.

Xiaoyun quietly gasped: Whoa. This is big!

Zhong Yang’s face turned completely red. She didn’t dare look up to see everyone’s reactions. She could feel waves of heat radiating from Pei Yunzhe’s direction.

Maybe it was the alcohol, but every time he spoke in that magnetic voice, her already erratic heart sped up again. By now, it was making her feel breathless.

The sound of the spinning wheel amplified in her ears. She silently prayed: Please don’t land on Pei Yunzhe again…

It slowed… and stopped—pointing straight at Zhong Yang.

“I—I’ll just drink…”

She picked up her glass, but before it touched her lips, a large hand held her wrist.

Pei Yunzhe gently took the glass from her.

“You’ve already had three.”

And then he drank it all in one go.

The fiery liquor burned down his throat, making him frown slightly.

“True man! I salute you, my brother!” Chen Qingyue, never missing a moment of drama, poured him another full glass.

“Okay.” Pei Yunzhe downed it in one gulp.

Pei Shize said, “Bro, I’ll drink with you.”

“Okay.” Pei Yunzhe clinked glasses with him and drank again.

Chen Qingyue: “So smooth! Another!”

“Let’s go.” Pei Yunzhe smiled even more, but his raised hand suddenly dropped mid-air.

Thud—his forehead hit the table.

“Pei Yunzhe!” Zhong Yang quickly stood to check on him.

Even Chen Qingyue sobered up a little. “Wait—he’s drunk already?!”

Pei Shize nervously nudged him, “Bro? You okay?”

Xu Youyou couldn’t believe it. “No way, with a face like that you can’t even handle three drinks?”

Pei Yunzhe frowned from the noise and suddenly sat back up.

He looked perfectly fine.

Only if one looked closely could they see his unfocused gaze, blank and dazed.

Zhong Yang glanced at the time. It was 11:00 p.m. With more eating and drinking, it wouldn’t be just Pei Yunzhe who passed out.

She spoke up. “It’s getting late. Let’s call it a night. So, who’s volunteering to take him home?”

Chen Qingyue: “We—Youyou and I have plans… movie night! Midnight showing!”

Pei Shize: “Not me. I’ve got to stay up with the crew working on the storyboard. The film’s about to start shooting.”

“Jie, I get carsick.”

Such lame excuses… Zhong Yang was about to speak when she suddenly felt a tug on her sweater.

She looked over—Pei Yunzhe sat upright, but one hand had latched onto her sweater hem.

“Great! Since he chose Zhong Yang, we’ll be on our way,” Pei Shize smiled and pushed everyone out the door. “No need to take him all the way home—just wait here for the driver with him.”

At the door, Xu Youyou winked at her, expression teasing.

Zhong Yang smiled quietly. If it’s just waiting for a driver, why couldn’t we all wait together?

…

Pei Yunzhe’s eyes were practically shut, but he still hadn’t let go of her sweater.

The driver wouldn’t arrive for another 20 minutes.

Zhong Yang gently lifted his hand and helped him into a more comfortable position so he could sleep on the table.

The restaurant was quiet—so silent you could hear a pin drop.

Zhong Yang gazed at the man breathing peacefully beside her for a long while, then slowly reached out and tenderly touched the red mark on his forehead.

Did it hurt when he hit the table?

As if answering her unspoken question, Pei Yunzhe frowned slightly and his eyelashes trembled.

He looked unexpectedly vulnerable.

In that moment, Zhong Yang realized—his image in her heart had become much clearer and more vivid.

Normally, Pei Yunzhe was too calm and rational, rarely spoke, and always gave off a cold, distant, hard-to-approach aura.

But really, he was just quiet and efficient—he didn’t bother with empty pleasantries.

He saved his gentleness and patience for those he deemed worthy.

He’d bicker like a little boy with his friends, acting smug when he won and pretending nothing happened when he lost.

And he had a great temper—no matter how they teased him, no matter what punishments he got during games, he never got mad, just laughed along.

Thinking this far, Zhong Yang’s eyes dimmed slightly.

She had been too busy having fun to reflect earlier, but now she realized—even if he could take a joke, he was definitely not someone who would play the clown just to entertain others…

He probably really only knew how to sing that one song.

She shouldn’t have laughed at him.

She knew very well—whatever joy and ease Pei Yunzhe had experienced in life were likely frozen in a childhood that ended too soon.

When he answered the truth question, he said seeing that person cry would make his heart ache.

Yes—liking someone means instinctively feeling their pain, like a fine thread pulling through your chest, dull and aching.

Just like what she felt right now.

Her fingertips brushed over his frown, traced his eyelids, his straight nose, felt his soft breath—and paused.

Whether it was heartache or affection, something destined to end shouldn’t be allowed to begin.

Zhong Yang had thought: maybe, if one day she stood higher, had real achievements, and was met with praise instead of slander… maybe then, she could confidently hold his hand?

She didn’t expect to be his equal, but she wanted her own career, her own ability to live well.

Only when she found and accepted her own value could she stop feeling inferior in front of him—could she love without fear or confusion.

Pei Yunzhe was so, so wonderful. He made her heart race, again and again.

But… it’s better to let it go.

At least for now.

Zhong Yang looked at the time—11:15.

The driver would arrive soon.

The night was kind—it brought darkness. And darkness could hide many secrets that shouldn’t be known.

Zhong Yang leaned toward Pei Yunzhe, and brushed her lips gently across his—soft, warm.

Just this once, she would allow herself to be reckless.

Once the sun rose, she would hide all her feelings again, locking them away in a place no one could see—until the next night fell.