Chapter 44: Under the Influence

Ming Zhao was fully prepared to throw a tantrum, cry, make a scene, and even threaten to hang herself.

This was her usual tactic for dealing with Zhou Tingyun.

So, when Zhou Tingyun said, “You’re drunk,” it was as if a switch had been flipped, and the mist of emotions enveloped her.

It felt as if she had suffered some great injustice.

She coldly retorted, “Then I’ll go find Brother Mu Qing. I don’t want you anymore.”

With that, she puffed up in anger and attempted to get off him.

Zhou Tingyun pressed down on her knee. “Ming Zhao.”

He was eight years older than her and was no longer the impulsive young man he had been at sixteen. He should be tolerant of her, understanding her careless words.

Yet, even with that thought in mind, his gaze still darkened.

He wasn’t a saint with unwavering self-control.

His unusually possessive desire and his inescapable jealousy surged at that moment, overwhelming his reason.

Everything had changed since that night when she turned eighteen.

Seeing her turn her head and struggle, Zhou Tingyun held her captive, gently lifting her face.

His touch was gentle yet undeniably firm.

The girl was pouting, stubbornly glaring at him.  Clearly furious, her beautiful eyes were brimming with a thin layer of moisture, gently swaying in their sockets, as if on the verge of tears.

He sighed.

She wouldn’t remember anyway.

Zhou Tingyun thought this, then helplessly lowered his head slightly.

A light, yet precious touch—like a gentle breeze across the lake’s surface.

His lips brushed hers, fleetingly.

Ming Zhao’s pupils widened. Even after he pulled back, she remained dazed.

He… kissed?

He really kissed her?

So easily?

It turned out that all it took to provoke him was a Lin Muqing.

Ming Zhao felt a little dizzy. She admitted she was shallow, but seeing the usually aloof and noble Young Master Zhou repeatedly giving in to her was truly…

Easily appeased, Ming Zhao watched as he raised his hand to wipe her tears. Tentatively, she leaned in and pecked his lips.

The man neither flinched nor reciprocated; he simply lowered his gaze, looking at her with a hint of indifference, as if indulging a child’s playful antics.

Seeing this, she slowly blinked, straightened her body, and leaned in again, hovering close yet distant, the fragrance surrounding them.

Her dewy eyes curved slightly, brushing lightly over his brows, nose, and then lips…

Then he grasped her cheeks, creating distance between them.

“Where did you learn that?” he asked.

“I learned it from you,” Ming Zhao replied, her dimples appearing.

The man stared at her, his gaze subtly darkening.

Meeting his gaze, she removed his hand and tilted her head, kissing him.

Ming Zhao had a wealth of theoretical knowledge, but her practical skills were another matter.

But she was determined and eager to learn.

She fixed her eyes on Zhou Tingyun’s and, extending her tongue, tentatively licked it, lightly bit his lower lip, and then sucked on it.

Seeing that the man still didn’t respond, his lowered eyes calm and seemingly unmoved, Ming Zhao didn’t dare to be too bold. Just as she was about to pull away, Zhou Tingyun clasped the back of her head and pressed her back against him.

The breaking point was just a thought away.

Outside the car window, the neon lights flickered like water, leaving long trails of golden and pale blue, like falling stars.

Inside the car, the soft sound of water was discreet and restrained, while a hidden fire crackled and burned.

The delicate and beautiful girl sat on the man’s lap, forced to tilt her head back, exposing her slender, vulnerable neck.

It was damp, warm, and sticky.

Rationality urged him to stop.

Yet, he continued to seize every breath she took.

As he kissed her deeply, his fingertips slowly caressed the back of her neck, lingering at her earlobe, gently kneading it.

The dual sensations left Ming Zhao weak, nearly melting into Zhou Tingyun’s embrace. He adjusted their positions, pulling her onto him, fully controlling her.

The car had already pulled into the old residence and stopped, but their lips and tongues remained entwined.

Uncertain how long they had been kissing, he finally slowed down, becoming gentle and tender when he heard the driver closing the door and leaving.

He released her, gazing at the girl’s eyes, which were misty with emotion, and gently caressed her swollen, rosy lips with his fingertip.

He tidied up her disheveled hair and then held her as they got out of the car.

Ming Zhao felt a bit dazed from the kisses, resting her chin on his shoulder as she took a moment to recover.

She pursed her lips, as if she could still feel that tingling sensation, her ears flushed red.

How could he be such a good kisser?

As they walked into the living room, they unexpectedly bumped into the still-awake Zhou Grandpa.

His expression was one of anger. “What are you two doing?”

“Zhao Zhao is drunk,” the man replied without missing a beat, his voice steady. “I’m taking her back to her room.”

Zhou Grandpa softened his expression for a moment before glaring at him. “Is this how you act as an older brother? Letting her drink out in public?!”

Zhou Tingyun did not argue, simply stating, “I will discipline her properly.”

Ming Zhao: “…”

She pretended to be dizzy and acted as if she couldn’t hear them.

Zhou Grandpa felt that something was amiss, but for a moment, he couldn’t put his finger on it.

He watched as Zhou Tingyun escorted Ming Zhao to her room on the second floor, then watched him leave before turning away.

Once Zhou Tingyun returned to his room, he remained calm for a moment, then lifted his hand to wipe at the corner of his lips with his fingertip.

The soft sensation seemed to linger, and the sweet fragrance was impossible to shake off.

Why didn’t he push her away? Was it really just to comfort her and stop her from crying?

Zhou Tingyun knew deep down that he was using her intoxication as an excuse for his indulgent behavior, but the thrill coursing through his veins was impossible to suppress.

The cold water flowed down.

One hour later.

As he stepped out of the bathroom, still wrapped in a chill, he noticed a lump under the blanket on the bed.

He paused for a moment.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, he reached in, intending to pull her out.

“Surprise!”

Ming Zhao suddenly popped out, flashing him a big, bright smile.

Then she furrowed her delicate brows.

“Why did you take so long in the shower?”

She was wearing a milky white long-sleeved pajama set.  Her previous actions had been over the top, so now she was trying to lower Zhou Tingyun’s guard.

Sure enough, the man simply pinched her cheek. “Aren’t you going to sleep?”

Ming Zhao held up her tablet, displaying the new version of a mystery escape room game.

Her architectural career really took off during those few years abroad.  Since she couldn’t sleep anyway, she might as well stay awake.

Lately, she just wanted to rest.

Her mother, Mrs. Ming, expected her to take over the family business at thirty-five, so for the remaining fourteen years, she wanted to be a rich woman who tended flowers, plants, and simply relaxed.

Occasionally, she would work on projects that interested her.

Zhou Tingyun was reviewing documents, while Ming Zhao used him as a pillow, sitting in his lap playing her game.

He had no objections.

On one hand, a drunk Ming Zhao would be quiet and compliant if he just went along with it. On the other hand,

He had already kissed her.

There was no need to provoke another scene.

But Ming Zhao was certainly not a docile person.

While playing, she suddenly tilted her head back and planted a kiss on his chin.

Zhou Tingyun’s hand paused slightly, and he lowered his gaze to look at her.

She moved higher, kissing his lips, smiling at him.

According to the broken windows theory, once an initial act of rule-breaking or boundary-crossing goes unpunished, it tends to lead to more similar behaviors.

Therefore, Zhou Tingyun held her chin, lowering his head to meet her in a long, lingering kiss.

She completely forgot everything she had been thinking just moments before, insatiable.

After the kiss, Ming Zhao continued playing her game.

Before long, she looked up again and leaned in for another kiss.

Soon, the back of her head was captured, and subtle, intimate sounds filled the room.

After several rounds of stolen kisses, Zhou Tingyun finally closed his files and set them aside.

The intervals between kisses grew shorter, and the entanglements of their lips and tongues lasting longer.

Even knowing he was taking advantage of her state; he couldn’t stop himself from falling deeper.

In the end, Ming Zhao was carried to her bed while still being kissed.  Just as he was about to leave, she reached out and hooked her fingers around his neck.

The man’s dark, turbulent eyes met hers for a moment before he lowered his head and kissed her again.