Chapter 41: Confession

As if anticipating that someone would start teasing after his confession, Chi Xiao leaned forward, grabbed his glass, and tapped it lightly on the table. “I’ve said it. That’s enough, right?”

He was well aware that Ming Can wouldn’t like this kind of situation.

This dare was a punishment for him, and he shouldn’t drag her into it.

He was genuinely worried that someone might start pressuring Ming Can to respond, which would be no different from bullying her.

Moreover, he didn’t want to hear her response.

No matter how he looked at it, he should have just drunk the alcohol earlier instead of accepting the dare.

But in that moment, impulse had overwhelmed reason, and by the time he realized it, the words were already out.

So, he could only try to make up for it afterward.

With a cold, almost impatient tone, he hammered the final nail into the coffin, firmly framing the confession as just part of the dare.

Just a dare, not a truth.

Seeing that Chi Xiao seemed annoyed by the dare, barely completing the task before his eyes turned frosty, his entire demeanor reverting to the icy, aloof state he was known for, the guys naturally didn’t dare to push further. They quickly changed the subject and started the next round of the game.

Ming Can didn’t say a word the entire time. It was as if she had participated in the dare, yet also as if she had been completely removed from it.

She couldn’t help but feel that, during that round, Chi Xiao had taken the fall for her by calling a risky number, worried that she might be the one punished.

In the moments that followed, she kept expecting him to drink to avoid the dare.

But then, out of nowhere, he turned to her and said he liked her.

He spoke quickly, decisively, and for a brief moment, his gaze was so direct it almost felt intense. But that moment passed in an instant, and the dare ended abruptly and carelessly. Ming Can’s emotions felt like they had been lifted high, only to be gently set back down. Whether Chi Xiao had been sincere or just going through the motions, she couldn’t tell anymore.

The only thing Ming Can was relatively sure of was that tonight’s drinking game was different from any she had participated in before.

The games were the same, and the punishments were just as outrageous as ever. What had changed wasn’t the external factors, but herself.

The strategy she had decided on earlier—choosing truth whenever she was punished—suddenly felt difficult to stick to.

It wasn’t because her truths had become ambiguous, or because she had developed girlish feelings she couldn’t share with others.

It was because she had remembered some past events buried deep in her memories, and suddenly, she didn’t want to say anything unpleasant in front of everyone.

Thinking this, Ming Can picked up her glass from the table and took a small sip of the cool beer.

Completely unaware—

that someone as selfish and ruthless as her, who had never cared about hurting others, would suddenly start caring about other people’s feelings.

The game continued.

Learning from the earlier incident, Chi Xiao stopped covering for Ming Can. The consequences of him taking the fall for her might be even worse, since these mischievous friends dared to target him but wouldn’t necessarily bully Ming Can.

After two rounds, Ming Can lost by challenging someone else.

“You guys actually had that many threes?” Ming Can was frustrated but accepted her loss. She grabbed her glass. “I’ll drink.”

She declared she would drink before the punishment was even decided, showing an unusually high level of risk awareness.

Under the surprised gazes of the others, Ming Can raised her glass and downed the entire drink in one go, displaying a bold and fearless attitude.

Chi Xiao watched her actions closely, his brow slightly furrowed.

When Ming Can lost again and still firmly chose to drink as her punishment, Chi Xiao finally couldn’t hold back. He leaned closer to her and asked in a low voice, “Didn’t you say you weren’t good with alcohol?”

Ming Can: “It’s just a few beers. No big deal.”

Chi Xiao: “You should still drink less.”

Her cheeks were already tinged with a faint pink, her eyes shimmering. Her bright red lips pursed slightly as she said to him, “Five cups max, okay?”

Her tone rose slightly at the end, as if hooked, making one’s heart itch with anticipation.

“Mm,” Chi Xiao looked at her, unable to tear his gaze away, the corner of his lips lifting almost imperceptibly. “Just don’t get drunk and start causing trouble.”

Ming Can: “Tch—”

Am I a three-year-old? Do I need you to remind me?

Ming Can indeed would cause trouble when drunk.

To be more precise, when drunk, she appeared completely normal on the outside, her actions unaffected. The only thing abnormal was her brain—she would calmly say some crazy things.

As for what kind of crazy things, according to those who had witnessed her drunk, it was usually some strong opinions she normally kept buried in her heart but couldn’t say out loud. For example, criticizing school policies, cursing that all men were trash, and once, in her high school class group chat, she sent out tens of thousands of yuan in red envelopes, forcing a classmate she had long been at odds with to kneel and sing 《Conquer》.

Ming Can would black out after drinking, so these embarrassing past events were mostly recounted to her by her best friend, Rui Yiqing.

Since then, she had been very restrained at drinking gatherings, never overindulging, and thus had never gotten drunk again.

Ming Can knew her alcohol tolerance well. Tonight, she would only drink five cups. At most, she’d feel a bit dizzy, but she wouldn’t get drunk enough to lose control.

As everyone got more into the game, round after round passed.

Ming Can had originally thought that five cups would be more than enough of a safety buffer, because she rarely lost in these kinds of games before. Only tonight did she realize that her previous lack of losses was because she hadn’t played against experts. Her bluffing skills were no match for the people here tonight, and it didn’t take long for her to lose for the fifth time.

The glass was filled again, and Ming Can still refused to choose between truth or dare. She grabbed the cup and brought it to her lips.

“Fifth cup,” the man beside her reminded her in a low voice.

“You’re so annoying. Can’t I count?” Ming Can turned to glare at him.

Her voice was soft, carrying a hint of embarrassed irritation, and she scolded him without hesitation, her carefree attitude leaving Chi Xiao momentarily stunned.

It felt like…

she was already starting to get tipsy.

After finishing her fifth cup, Ming Can leaned back lazily, hugging a pillow to her chest as if trying to suppress her heart, which was pounding from the alcohol.

She couldn’t drink anymore.

If she lost again later, she’d have to accept another punishment or simply stop playing.

Just then, her phone rang. Ming Can seized the opportunity to catch her breath, quickly grabbing her phone and stepping out to a quiet corner to answer.

Seeing the caller ID, the breath she had just relaxed tightened again. Reluctantly, she answered, “Hello, Dad.”

Ming Zheng’s steady voice came through. “It’s nine o’clock. You should be done playing with your friends, right?”

“Mm,” Ming Can touched her warm cheek, cutting off Ming Zheng before he could get to the point. “I told you before that I couldn’t attend the banquet because of the concert. But actually, it’s not just that. Even without the concert, I wouldn’t want to go to that banquet.”

Ming Zheng was caught off guard by his daughter’s sudden bluntness. After a pause, he asked, “Why?”

Though Ming Can wasn’t drunk, the alcohol had affected her brain, making her unusually candid, even blunt. “Because I don’t like arranged marriages. And I don’t like the person you’ve arranged for me.”

“…” Ming Zheng was silent for a long time. “Cancan, you’re still young. These things aren’t urgent. You can take your time to think about it.”

Ming Can: “Can I also take my time to decide whether to go to the banquet?”

With only a few days left before the banquet, Ming Zheng frowned. “You have to go.”

Ming Can let out a silent scoff.

Ming Zheng: “Listen to me first. Your grandparents returned to the country yesterday. They’re also attending this banquet, and your uncles and their families will be there too. You don’t want to be the only one missing from such an important family occasion, do you?”

Ming Can’s grandparents had been abroad recently, and Ming Zheng had assumed they wouldn’t attend the banquet, so he hadn’t pushed Ming Can too hard, only hoping she would show up. But now that the elders had returned early and confirmed their attendance, the situation had changed. That’s why Ming Zheng was urgently reaching out to his daughter to explain the stakes.

After listening, Ming Can quickly reined in her impatience and accepted her father’s arrangement. “I understand. Don’t worry, I’ll be there.”

Ming Can knew when she could afford to be willful and when she had to be sensible and considerate.

After hanging up, she shuffled back to the living room in her slippers and sat down in her original spot.

The comfortable, privileged life she had enjoyed since childhood was provided by her family. Since she benefited from being a child of a wealthy family, she also had to bear the responsibilities that came with it.

Even if those responsibilities often felt more like shackles to her.

The glass on the table had been refilled by someone. Ming Can’s mind was preoccupied with the troubles at home, and in her frustration, she unconsciously picked up the glass and poured the cool liquid down her throat.

Suddenly, her arm was gently grasped by the person beside her.

“Why are you still drinking?” Chi Xiao’s brows furrowed, his tone stiff. “Put it down.”

Put it down?

She had already drunk half of it.

Seeing his stern face giving her orders, Ming Can’s rebelliousness surged. Ignoring his restraint, she downed the entire glass.

Setting the glass down, she licked her lips, as if belatedly realizing that he was trying to look out for her. She leaned in slightly, whispering in his ear, “Just one more cup. It won’t hurt.”

Her speech now had more particles than when she was sober.

Her warm breath brushed against his ear, leaving a lingering, sticky sensation that wouldn’t fade.

Ming Can’s head was already spinning a little, her reason barely holding her thoughts together, warning her that she absolutely couldn’t drink anymore.

“I’m done playing,” Ming Can announced, withdrawing from the game. “I’ve had a great time today. If you want to keep playing, feel free to stay.”

Outside, the snow hadn’t stopped. Although it wasn’t too late, the weather was harsh, and if the snow continued, the road back to the hotel would become difficult. So, the gathering came to an end. Everyone spent a few minutes cleaning up the living room together, and Chi Xiao put on his coat to see them to the door.

“Be careful on the road,” Chi Xiao said. “I left something in the bathroom. I’ll go up and get it, then head out.”

Even now, he didn’t forget to emphasize that he had only come over to borrow the bathroom to shower today. Once he packed up his things, he would leave and not stay the night.

Watching his roommates gradually walk away, Chi Xiao turned back into the house, standing in the entryway to take off his coat and shake off the snowflakes clinging to it.

The living room lights were still the same as when they were playing the game—a few scattered spotlights casting a dim glow. The TV was muted, but the screen was still on, its flickering light enveloping the girl standing by the floor-to-ceiling window. One hand rested on her waist, her slender figure accentuated by the light. Her shoulders were delicate, her legs long and straight, standing gracefully against the snowy backdrop like a painting, so beautiful that one dared not disturb her.

Chi Xiao had thought she would go upstairs to wash up, but she was still here.

As he walked into the living room, Ming Can turned at the sound, as if she had something to say to him.

Before she could take a step toward him, Chi Xiao had already strode over to her side.

The two stood shoulder to shoulder in front of the window.

Ming Can held a cup of hot water in her left hand, steam rising gently. She blew on it, the steam dispersing in a soft swirl, then raised the cup to take a slow sip.

The warm liquid soothed her throat, and she said softly to Chi Xiao, “Senior, there’s something I need to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“A while ago, I mentioned that my dad wanted me to attend a banquet. I didn’t want to go,” Ming Can said. “But now something’s come up, and I have to attend.”

Ming Can remembered that she had promised Chi Xiao she wouldn’t go. Now that the situation had changed, she naturally had to inform him to avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings.

Chi Xiao: “You have to go?”

Ming Can: “Mm.”

Chi Xiao: “Alright, I understand.”

Ming Can held the cup with both hands, the steam warming her face. Beneath her skin, the alcohol was rushing to her head, like a strong wind blowing from underground, making her dizzy.

In the next moment, a strong hand suddenly grasped her arm, pulling her back upright as she started to tilt to the side.

“I’m not drunk,” Ming Can instinctively said. “I can stand steady.”

Chi Xiao didn’t let go. “Are you sure you’re not swaying?”

After a pause, he chuckled lightly. “The water in your cup is about to spill.”

Ming Can looked down at the cup. The clear liquid inside did seem to be swirling:

“I… it’s because the family stuff is so annoying. It’s making my hands shake.”

Chi Xiao: “What stuff?”

“You’re asking something you already know the answer to,” Ming Can pouted, her words tumbling out like a floodgate had opened. “If I go to the banquet, I’ll have to go on arranged dates. With all the elders there, I can’t be willful. I’ll have to grit my teeth and interact with your uncle’s family. You have no idea how charming I am—your uncle and aunt both really like me…”

“I know.”

“Huh? What do you know?”

“Nothing. Keep going.”

Ming Can shot him a sideways glance, her eyes showing a hint of displeasure at being interrupted. Her lips parted slightly, then suddenly froze. “… Damn it, I forgot what I was going to say next.”

When she wasn’t drinking, this thought would have stayed in her head.

But now, she couldn’t quite control the connection between her brain and her mouth. Whatever popped into her mind, she’d blurt it out the next second.

Chi Xiao seemed to have noticed this too.

His right hand still lightly held Ming Can’s arm. The slender, well-proportioned bones and flesh pressed against his palm through her clothes, transmitting wave after wave of warmth.

He could clearly feel the pulse beneath her skin. Looking down, he saw her long eyelashes fluttering, and her almond-shaped eyes showing a hint of confusion. Her lips puffed out slightly, sulking because she couldn’t remember what to say next.

How could she…

Be so adorable?

Chi Xiao took a soft breath and said in a low voice, “It’s fine. If you can’t remember what to say, I’ll talk.”

Ming Can: “What do you know about my family’s matters?”

“A little,” Chi Xiao said. “It’s fine if you attend the banquet. As for the arranged marriage, I’ll handle it.”

Ming Can was surprised. “How will you handle it?”

Chi Xiao’s lips curved slightly, his tone light. “You just need to know that, in any timeline, you won’t marry Chi Yao. That’s enough.”

Ming Can couldn’t help but voice the thought that flashed through her mind: “If I don’t marry Chi Yao, who will I marry? You?”

…

The air around them suddenly fell into silence.

Chi Xiao hadn’t expected her to say something like this so bluntly, cutting through the ambiguity with a single stroke and exposing the intentions he had been hiding in the shadows.

After a moment of silence, Chi Xiao responded in the most emotionally neutral way possible: “Based on the future timeline, that’s how it is.”

Ming Can didn’t bother hiding her disdain. “If I don’t marry him, I have to marry you? Do I have no other options? Do I have to marry someone at all?”

“That’s not what I meant.”

She was the one who had said it earlier. He had simply not refuted it.

“Then what did you mean?”

“I just… wanted to help you resolve this.”

“Why do you want to help me resolve it?” As Ming Can spoke, she felt her head growing heavier, her thoughts becoming more chaotic, like a stormy sea. A certain memory was being tossed to the surface by the waves—

It was his sudden confession earlier, when he had accepted the dare.

“You don’t actually like me, do you?”

Her voice wasn’t loud, but it was clear, echoing in the quiet living room.

The moment she asked the question, her reason returned, and she immediately regretted it.

Chi Xiao held his breath, looking down to see her brows furrow slightly before relaxing, her lips parting with a complicated expression.

Among all the interwoven emotions, he could be sure of one thing: there was definitely no hint of joy.

Chi Xiao hadn’t lost much during the game tonight, only drinking a few cups of alcohol as if they were soft drinks. His mind was at most half-drunk. But at this moment, he felt something surging uncontrollably from his chest, like the effects of alcohol, making him feel unclear-headed, impulsive and overwhelmed.

The hand holding Ming Can’s arm suddenly tightened, pulling her closer until her soft body was almost pressed against his chest.

Chi Xiao took a deep breath, the corners of his lips actually curving upward, carrying a suppressed self-mockery as he said to her in a low voice:

“Whether I like you or not—don’t you know?”

He didn’t understand why he had suddenly asked this impulsive question.

After all, he had already received the answer long ago.

In her glamorous and flamboyant life, he had always been an insignificant, invisible extra.

She didn’t even remember that he had once stood in front of her, clearly expressing his feelings for her.

The memory of that day was still vivid in Chi Xiao’s mind.

Second semester of the second year of high school, early spring.

In Beicheng, the weather was still chilly, the sky high and vast, the clouds thin, and the wind sharp like the depths of winter.

Chi Xiao stood outside the school auditorium, with a violin strapped to his back.

Over an hour passed, the sun setting in the west as the orchestra students finished their rehearsal and poured out of the auditorium.

Chi Xiao stood at the bottom of the steps and called out to Ming Can as she descended.

She was wearing the scarf he had knitted himself around her neck, which gave him a sudden surge of confidence, even though she had no idea the scarf was his doing.

The two walked, one after the other, to a quiet, secluded spot.

Behind the auditorium was a small grove of sparse ginkgo trees, trembling lightly in the wind.

The boy with the violin on his back stood as tall and straight as those trees, though he was also trembling slightly from nervousness.

He poured all his sincerity into the few words he said to the girl in front of him.

And then.

In her sparse response, he fell into an icy abyss.

Realizing his utter inadequacy.

From then on.

Until now.

In front of her, he had never dared to speak another word of truth.