Chapter 19

Just a few steps outside,

Xu Zhou felt everything in front of him start to blur.

His head was dizzy, vision hazy; after barely taking two steps, he collided with someone.

“Ah, s-sorry…” Xu Zhou shook his slightly unfocused head. “I wasn’t paying attention…”

“Zhouzhou.” Shen Yan reached out, wrapping an arm around his waist, brows tightly furrowed.

Hearing the familiar voice, Xu Zhou lifted his head, his dazed gaze landing on Shen Yan’s face.

“Huh?…”

“I thought you weren’t coming…”

He pinched Xu Zhou’s cheek lightly. “Latecomers owe a drink…”

Shen Yan gave a resigned sigh and held Xu Zhou’s hand. “Let’s go home.”

“Need the… bathroom…” Xu Zhou looked up at him, eyes pleading.

It was urgent.

Shen Yan’s heart softened immediately.

“I’ll take you.”

He lifted and guided Xu Zhou all the way to the bathroom.

Shen Yan waited outside.

From the stall came Xu Zhou’s woozy voice.

“The… belt… won’t undo…”

“Open the door.” Shen Yan’s gaze deepened.

“Oh…”

Xu Zhou obediently opened the locked door, and Shen Yan immediately stepped in.

He effortlessly undid the belt for him and helped steady him.

Shen Yan closed his eyes, exhaling deeply, then retied the belt for him.

Xu Zhou turned and hugged his waist politely. “Thanks.”

Shen Yan’s gaze deepened; he lifted Xu Zhou’s chin, voice slightly hoarse. “Say your thanks properly later…”

Just as they were about to leave the stall, voices came from outside…

“We’ve searched everywhere! Where the hell did Xu Zhou go?”

“If he’s not in the bathroom, we’ll check outside later. Probably passed out from the drinks…”

“Chu Xuanxuan’s still waiting to confess to him… Hey, Shao Guangming, do you think they’ll end up together?”

“Xu Zhou doesn’t look like he has a girlfriend. Both are single—maybe it could actually happen…”

“Look, he didn’t refuse Chu Xuanxuan just now. There’s hope.”

“He’s drunk, though…”

The two of them pushed the bathroom doors, searching one by one, their voices getting closer.

“Anyone here?”

“Why no response?” Xia Mu Xun knocked on the door curiously.

“Xu Zhou can’t be in here, right?” Shao Guangming joined.

“Passed out??”

Shen Yan, listening to them outside, looked at the person clinging to him and grit his teeth. He’d settle this later.

As the knocking continued, Shen Yan gently lifted Xu Zhou’s face buried against his chest, pressed a hand over his lips, and slid his fingers under his shirt to rub his waist.

Xu Zhou’s eyes opened instantly, looking at him innocently.

Damn it.

“Baby…”

“Mm… don’t…”

The hands outside froze mid-knock.

They exchanged an awkward glance, then turned and left without hesitation.

The sounds of footsteps faded.

Only then did Shen Yan release him, taking his hand and leading him out.

Sensing the drop in Shen Yan’s surrounding pressure, Xu Zhou obediently stayed close.

He felt a chill at his back…

By the KTV entrance, Xu Zhou had regained most of his composure, carefully scratching Shen Yan’s palm.

“Well… I should go tell them I’m leaving, or else they’ll…”

“I’ll go with you.” Shen Yan’s expression was all official-announcement mode.

Xu Zhou’s heart tensed, and he quickly corrected himself.

“I’ll tell them on my phone…”

“Mm.”

“So, shall we go now?”

Shen Yan was about to answer when his eyes caught someone standing at the KTV entrance.

Chu Xuanxuan was frozen, staring at Xu Zhou and Shen Yan holding hands.

Their relationship was… that close?

Should she even call out to Xu Zhou now?

She moved her lips, stepping forward.

“Xu—”

Shen Yan looked up at her once, and Chu Xuanxuan froze on the spot.

How did she see hostility in that glance?

Was it just her imagination?

Next second, she watched Shen Yan tilt down and kiss Xu Zhou’s lips, and Xu Zhou raised his hands, wrapping around his neck, reciprocating obediently.

Chu Xuanxuan stood rooted, stunned for a long time.

Shen Yan and Xu Zhou were… in that kind of relationship?

After a deep kiss ended, Shen Yan, in high spirits, ruffled his hair.

“Zhouzhou, let’s go.”

“Mm.”

Back to the hotel, Xu Zhou, unaware of what had just happened outside, felt Shen Yan’s pressure ease, and his own mood lifted.

Though he had no idea what had occurred.

Once in the car, Chu Xuanxuan was still standing at the KTV entrance.

“Xuanxuan, why are you still here? Did you find Xu Zhou?”

Li Wei and the others had intended to watch the drama unfold but only saw Chu Xuanxuan standing alone.

Still in shock, she turned to them and forced a smile.

“He’s gone.”

“Ah?” The others exchanged glances, understanding immediately.

Li Wei patted her shoulder, offering comfort.

…

Back at the hotel,

Xu Zhou hadn’t even sat down to rest before Shen Yan’s lips pressed against his.

“Mm…”

Just as Xu Zhou was laid on the bed, he looked up at him pitifully.

“…Dizzy…”

The fire in Shen Yan’s eyes was high, but Xu Zhou’s words immediately extinguished it. He scooped him up, sitting him upright.

“Not feeling well?”

“Mm.”

Shen Yan touched his forehead. “How much did you drink?”

“Not much…”

Shen Yan got up to get water.

Xu Zhou grabbed him, hesitatingly said, “I want… some chips…”

Shen Yan froze mid-motion, looking at him with mock exasperation. “I’ll get some. Wait here on the bed.”

“You didn’t know I liked eating them…”

“I know.”

Xu Zhou blinked, puzzled. “How do you know?”

“Who used to eat chips in class all the time?”

Alright then. Good memory.

He wondered if he’d ever said anything to really offend him.

Being alone in the hotel was boring.

Xu Zhou still went with him to the supermarket. The alcohol had mostly worn off, though his head still spun a bit.

Shen Yan pushed the cart to the chip section.

Xu Zhou walked ahead, picking and choosing, soon filling half the cart.

“Want anything else?”

Xu Zhou shook his head. “Nothing.”

At checkout, Shen Yan grabbed a few extra boxes on a whim.

Back at the hotel, the two, freshly washed, sat side by side on the small sofa.

Shen Yan worked on his phone while Xu Zhou munched “crunch crunch” on the chips…

Ten minutes later, Shen Yan put his phone down, looking at the still-eating Xu Zhou. His gaze caught the nearly full plastic bag of chips beside him.

Xu Zhou held a chip near his lips. “Want some?”

Seeing Shen Yan just staring, he didn’t push it too obviously.

He popped it into his own mouth instead.

Shen Yan’s eyes darkened slightly. “Feeling dizzy still?”

“Nope.” He was sober now.

Before he could finish, Shen Yan leaned in, blocking his lips, tossing the bag aside onto the small table.

“I haven’t brushed my teeth yet…”

“Later…”

He got up, pulled a small box from the chip bag, and carried Xu Zhou to the bed.

“What’s that you got??”

Shen Yan leaned close to his ear, chuckling softly. “What do you think it is…”

Xu Zhou, stunned, quickly snatched it from Shen Yan’s hand.

His expression froze. He didn’t know whether to keep it or return it…