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Lin Zhan looked at Shen Xi, whose consciousness seemed completely gone, and patted his face lightly. She turned to Zhang Ze. ”What happened?”
Zhang Ze nearly bit his tongue. ”Lin Zhan?! You didn’t leave?! Weren’t you supposed to be abroad?!”
Lin Zhan: ”......”
“Who said I went abroad? I was painting in the studio across the street.”
She even pointed at the building where her studio was located.
“What are you guys doing here?”
Zhang Ze was so agitated he could barely contain himself, his gestures wild as he spoke.
Pointing at Lin Zhan: ”You didn’t leave?!”
Pointing left: ”Jiang Qin swore you went abroad!”
Pointing at Shen Xi: ”This idiot thought you were gone, drank himself into oblivion, and was puking his guts out when I found him!”
“He was in such a state, of course we had to drag him home! And you were just painting in the studio across the street?! What the hell was he drinking for then?!”
This was the first time he’d ever seen Shen Xi drink.
No—to be precise, chug alcohol like water.
At first, Zhang Ze thought Shen Xi could handle it. He’d tried to stop him, but part of him also wanted Shen Xi to vent.
But the moment Zhang Ze got distracted talking to a friend, Shen Xi vanished.
Panicking, Zhang Ze rushed to the rooftop, fearing Shen Xi might have jumped. Cold sweat drenched him as he stammered, asking if anyone had seen Shen Xi.
Luckily, Shen Xi hadn’t jumped. Someone said he’d gone to the restroom.
—Zhang Ze had thought not jumping was a good thing. But when he saw Shen Xi’s condition, he wondered if this torment was worse.
Shen Xi was braced against the sink, his fingers bone-white from the force, veins bulging.
His neck and face were flushed deep red, his ears so dark they looked like they’d drip blood.
His back was arched, shoulders trembling violently with every heave.
His shirt clung to him, drenched in sweat.
The faucet was turned to full blast, the roaring water drowning out nothing.
Shen Xi’s eyes were wet—whether from washing his face, the physical strain, or tears, Zhang Ze couldn’t tell.
He didn’t know how long Shen Xi had been vomiting.
Finally, Shen Xi splashed water on his face, droplets rolling down his cheeks. Zhang Ze suspected not all of it was water.
Shen Xi’s eyes were bloodshot, exhaustion and despair etched into every line of his face.
He leaned against the cold tiles, eyes closed.
“I know this is the price I have to pay. She must have felt worse than this before.”
“I deserve it. I accept that.”
Zhang Ze gritted his teeth, watching him, but couldn’t find the words.
Shen Xi let out a bitter laugh. ”But this joke… isn’t it too cruel?”
He covered his eyes, voice shaking. ”How could she just leave… without a word?”
Then he slid to the floor, completely spent, succumbing to the alcohol.
Unable to wait for the party to end, Zhang Ze and the others hauled him up and dragged him home.
And then, while crossing the street, they saw Lin Zhan.
Now, Lin Zhan cradled Shen Xi’s face, her heart aching.
“I was joking with Jiang Qin. I tried to tell her not to believe it, but I might not have sent the full message. I didn’t check my phone all day at the studio.”
“I’m sorry—why didn’t you guys stop him?! It’s only my first day away! How could you be sure I wasn’t coming back? This escalated way too fast!”
Shen Xi’s lips were pale, his face devoid of color.
Who knew how much he’d drunk?
One of the basketball players who’d helped carry Shen Xi chimed in: ”Don’t worry too much. The prez is fine—just drank a bit too much. What man hasn’t gotten drunk a few times? It’s not like he’s alcohol poisoned or anything!”
“Besides, he was really torn up thinking you’d left. Probably regrets not stopping you. This is a good lesson for both of you—”
Zhang Ze, now fully accepting that Lin Zhan hadn’t actually left, swiftly switched sides.
He cut in: ”No lesson for Lin Zhan. This is all on Shen Xi. Serves him right for not appreciating her when he had the chance! Always saying ‘there’ll be other opportunities’—what a load of crap. He’s too passive. This shock is good for him.”
“Lin Zhan, don’t take it to heart. Shen Xi’s been spoiled since childhood—never had to fight for anything. That’s why he’s like this. This misunderstanding was necessary. Now he’ll realize he can’t take you for granted.”
The basketball guy snorted. ”You’re one to talk! Weren’t you the one fueling the fire, saying Lin Zhan was gone for good, that she’d given up on him, might even get a foreign boyfriend? If you hadn’t riled him up, would he have gone this far?!”
Zhang Ze rolled his eyes hard. ”Oh, so now it’s all my fault?!”
Seeing them about to bicker, Lin Zhan intervened. ”Let’s get Shen Xi home first. He looks miserable standing like this.”
Zheng Yimian left first, while Lin Zhan followed them to Shen Xi’s apartment.
At the door, she hesitated. ”Maybe I shouldn’t go in—”
Zhang Ze waved her off. ”Go on in. His parents aren’t home tonight.”
Lin Zhan blinked. ”They’re not?”
Was that… a hint?
Zhang Ze shook Shen Xi’s shoulder. ”Where’s your key? Open the door.”
Shen Xi didn’t respond.
“He’s probably asleep,” Lin Zhan said, reaching into Shen Xi’s backpack to avoid Zhang Ze shaking him again. ”I’ll find it.”
Zhang Ze smirked. ”Wow, already so protective?”
Lin Zhan fished out a cold keychain, the metal jingling in her hand.
“I’ll open it.”
Once inside, the boys dumped Shen Xi onto the sofa.
Zhang Ze gave Lin Zhan a knowing look. ”We’re heading out. Hangover stuff’s on the table.”
Lin Zhan looked up, flustered. ”You’re leaving already?”
Zhang Ze: ”What, you want two guys to play nursemaid?”
Lin Zhan fidgeted. ”I don’t know how to take care of him either...”
Zhang Ze: ”Can you at least cook something?”
Lin Zhan: ”Can you?”
Zhang Ze: ”No.”
Lin Zhan: ”......Well, if I cook, one bowl of porridge might just kill him.”
Zhang Ze: ”…………………………”
Zhang Ze: ”Right. Forgot you’re the artsy type. Domestic skills aren’t your forte.”
Backing toward the door, Zhang Ze added, ”Shen Xi can cook. If all else fails, just shake him awake and make him do it!”
With a ”BANG!”, the door shut.
Lin Zhan: ”......”
Shen Xi lay on the sofa, his hand over his eyes, his furrowed brows just visible between his fingers.
Lin Zhan whispered, ”...Is the light too bright?”
She turned off the main light, switching to a softer lamp.
Worried his parents might return late, she locked the door, then quickly showered in Shen Xi’s bathroom and changed.
Looks like I’m stuck here tonight.
She boiled water, mixed it with cold, and brought Shen Xi a warm glass.
He was asleep but restless, curled up, his hand now pressed to his stomach.
His brows were tightly knit.
Lin Zhan gently smoothed the crease between them with her fingers.
“Always frowning… you’ll get wrinkles.”
She lifted his head slightly, fingers threading through his hair. ”Wake up a little. Drink some water.”
Shen Xi’s frown deepened instantly. Lin Zhan quickly set the cup down and pressed her palm to his forehead. ”No frowning allowed!”
Miraculously, his brow relaxed under her touch.
Lin Zhan pouted. ”Shen Xi, I think you’re a masochist. You love being bullied.”
Shen Xi coughed weakly, as if protesting.
Lin Zhan cooed, rocking him slightly. ”Fine, you’re not.”
“Now drink some water, or your throat will hurt.”
She sat on the edge of the sofa, lifting his head and tilting the glass to his lips.
The water touched his mouth.
Lin Zhan swallowed hard.
After a moment, she realized the water level hadn’t changed.
“Are you faking?” she accused. ”You’re not drinking at all?!”
She propped him against her shoulder, pinching his chin. ”This CEO orders you to drink water. Understood?”
But as he shifted, the cup tipped, spilling water all over him.
His clothes darkened where the liquid soaked in.
So uncooperative.
Lin Zhan wiped him down with a tissue, then refilled the glass and tried again.
This time, he drank—small, slow sips. Lin Zhan held a tissue under his chin to catch stray drops.
Once he finished, she asked, ”More?”
He didn’t answer, eyes still closed.
She adjusted the pillow under his head and stood to wash the cup.
But the moment she moved, a hand caught her wrist.
His grip was warm, firm.
His voice was low, hoarse, almost pleading.
“Don’t go.”
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