HYSE - 8

Chapter 8: Hormonal Warfare (4)

The dinner, full of noise and excitement, concluded at nine o’clock in the evening, and everyone walked out together.

Initially, there were plans to continue with another round of fun, but considering it was Monday tomorrow and people had work or classes, they eventually decided against it. They agreed to meet again when they had more time.

Naturally, the ladies were arranged to go home first. Ergou and Fang Shu were on the same route, while Li Sixuan, who hadn’t drunk any alcohol, drove her own car. The considerate Class Monitor turned to Qin Yan and enthusiastically asked: “Miss Qin, how are you getting home?”

Qin Yan’s expression had been less than pleasant since earlier. By this point, she had already put on her sunglasses, raised her chin, and pursed her red lips.

She looked around at the restaurant entrance, then stepped aside to make a phone call. Not long after, she came back clicking her high heels: “I forgot to call my assistant earlier. He just left and will be here in an hour.”

Some tactless person still shouted: “Let Teacher Gu take you home.”

Ergou rolled his eyes and glanced at the speaker.

Back in the private room, after Gu Congli spoke, the entire room fell silent for a while.

Since the beginning in the hotel lobby, Gu Congli had only exchanged two sentences with Shi Yin. There was no interaction between them, and they didn’t even sit together. Yet these two sentences were enough to spark endless speculation.

People’s expressions varied. Initially, they thought it was a case of mistaken pairing, but Shi Yin explained that she and Gu Congli were now colleagues in a sense, and the homework he mentioned referred to work-related tasks.

However, from their attitudes throughout the evening, anyone who paid attention could see that although Qin Yan brought him, Gu Congli barely acknowledged her during the meal. Observant individuals understood quite a bit.

The person who blurted out earlier caught Ergou’s gaze and realized his mistake, awkwardly said goodbye, and quickly slipped into a taxi and left.

It didn’t matter much. Qin Yan achieved her goal and gracefully descended the steps, smiling elegantly, her voice soft and teasing: “Teacher Gu, do you have time to give me a ride?”

Gu Congli turned his head: “Isn’t your assistant coming?”

Qin Yan looked troubled: “He said it would take an hour to get here.”

Gu Congli: “Then wait a bit.”

Qin Yan: “...”

Even the part of Miss Qin’s chin visible under her sunglasses changed color. She clicked her stiletto heels down the steps, hailed a taxi, got in, and left.

Shi Yin listened from the side and couldn’t help but want to laugh secretly.

She leaned against the glass door, raised her hand to touch her nose, and stealthily curved her lips behind her palm.

Most people had left, leaving only Ergou and Fang Shu. Shi Yin watched them get into the car, glanced at Class Monitor’s flushed face from drinking, took a picture of the license plate number, and watched them leave.

Only Shi Yin and Gu Congli remained.

The summer night breeze carried a slight chill, dispersing the muggy air. The greenery was lush, and tree shadows swayed.

Shi Yin stole a glance at him.

The man walked ahead of her, a tall and slender silhouette—broad shoulders, narrow waist, and a pair of pleasing long legs.

As the taxi approached, he walked to the car, turned his head, glanced down at her, and gestured toward the car door with a flick of his chin: “Get in.”

Shi Yin hesitated for two seconds before realizing and hurriedly ran to the back seat, opened the door, and climbed in.

The first thing she did after closing the door was lower the window to peek out, watching him get into the front passenger seat and provide the name of her residential area.

Shi Yin felt honored and cautiously stretched her head forward: “Chief Editor, are you planning to come home with me?”

“…”

Gu Congli silently glanced at her through the rearview mirror, his gaze peculiar.

Shi Yin fell silent, obediently leaning back into the rear seat.

After two minutes, she couldn’t resist and muttered softly: “My place is pretty big, enough for two people to sleep...”

This time, Gu Congli turned his head directly.

In the dim light, only the warm glow of the streetlights filtered through the car windows. His eyes were dark, his mouth tight, almost expressionless, appearing somewhat gloomy.

Shi Yin quickly closed her mouth and quietly observed him.

She had indeed drunk quite a lot that night—mixing white liquor with beer—but her almond-shaped eyes remained clear.

Gu Congli slightly narrowed his eyes: “Not drunk?”

She paused, then realized what he was referring to.

Suddenly, she started feeling unhappy again.

Shi Yin remained silent for a moment without speaking.

Then, unexpectedly, she raised her hand, grabbed the backrest of the front passenger seat, straightened her body, leaned entirely over, rested her cheek on the seat, and placed her chin on top.

Gu Congli was still looking down at her sideways, and her face suddenly moved closer, the distance between them shrinking infinitely.

The man’s features magnified before her eyes; the darkness seemed to blacken his pupils, like countless hands reaching out from hell, pulling her almost into the abyss, sinking together into the boiling flames of damnation.

She lowered her eyes, her gaze sticking to his thin, soft lips.

Shi Yin unconsciously swallowed.

Alcohol emboldened cowards.

She felt that her audacity to stare at him so closely might really be due to being somewhat drunk and starting to lose her senses.

Before she snapped out of it, Gu Congli had already turned his head away. Shi Yin straightened up, shook her head, and laid back down: “I flirted with Qin Yan while drunk. Are you upset?”

She dropped even the honorifics.

Gu Congli responded flatly: “What does it have to do with me?”

“Why didn’t you take her home earlier?” she asked again.

He repeated: “What does it have to do with me?”

Shi Yin pressed her lips together, her heartbeat quickening slightly.

She paused, let out a soft breath, her voice low: “But you’re taking me home.”

“You are my author.”

Her breathing stopped for two seconds.

Even though he said it calmly and indifferently, his voice devoid of emotion, carrying no other meaning.

But it was as if a bond had finally reestablished itself between them—they were no longer unrelated people. Even if it was just the relationship between editor and manga artist, she was “his author.”

It wasn’t important and it didn’t matter.

It wasn’t special and it didn’t matter.

Being his author alone was already enough.

Shi Yin smiled, all her frustration and annoyance from the evening simply vanished. She leaned back into the rear seat, turned her head to look out the car window.

The vehicle sped along, the window half-open, the cool night breeze rushing in, refreshing and invigorating. Her voice mingled with the wind, softly and lightly: “Chief Editor.”

“Hmm.”

“You don’t need to play the family card with me. Even if you say so, I can’t possibly finish thirty-four pages of original drafts by tomorrow. Not even the King of Heaven could do it.”

Gu Congli remained silent.

Shi Yin immediately gained confidence, feeling it necessary to fight to the end, making Gu Congli realize how ridiculous, insane, inhumane, and impossible his previous request was.

And he was the editor, while she was the one drawing! Teacher Shi Yi had dominated the industry for three to four years. If she couldn’t regain some ground in this instance, how could she continue in the business?

With this in mind, she gritted her teeth, turned her body in the narrow backseat, crossed her legs, lifted her chin, looking very bold, and continued bravely: “Thirty-four pages of original draft—if you can finish them in two days, I’ll kneel down and kowtow to you, calling you ‘Dad’ three times.”