Chapter 81: After Marriage [Drunk Night]

Zhu Xingyao had a performance in Beijing in mid-October, so their honeymoon was postponed until the end of the month. But traveling was supposed to be relaxing, and neither she nor Jiang Tu wanted to rush it. On her first night in Beijing, she had dinner with the orchestra and drank a bit. When she returned to the hotel and video-called Jiang Tu, he immediately noticed, “Did you drink?”

Tonight, it wasn’t red wine; the aftereffects were a bit strong. Zhu Xingyao’s head felt dizzy, and she touched her flushed face, “Is it that obvious?”

Jiang Tu looked at her, “Your face is a little red. Are you feeling unwell?”

Zhu Xingyao shook her head, “I’m fine. I’m not drunk.”

A while later, Xiao Kui brought in a cup of lemon water. She overheard their conversation and muttered softly, “Although not completely drunk, it’s pretty close…” She placed the lemon water on the table, “Drink some lemon water; it’ll make you feel better.”

Xiao Kui waved at the screen, smiling brightly, “Good evening, Mr. Jiang.”

Jiang Tu nodded at her, his voice low and magnetic, “Thank you for your trouble.”

“No trouble at all.” Xiao Kui stared at the screen dreamily for a few seconds before turning to unpack the luggage. As she worked, she listened attentively to their conversation. This was the real-life prototype of novels and movies! Even their casual exchanges made her swoon. She considered herself their number one fan.

Xiao Kui thought sweetly: As long as I stay by Star’s side, I can get my daily dose of sweetness!

Zhu Xingyao had no idea Xiao Kui was fantasizing wildly. She took a sip of lemon water and looked at the screen with bright eyes, “Husband, have you ever been drunk?” They had been together for a year, married for over half a year, and Jiang Tu attended many social events. He often came home smelling of alcohol but never seemed drunk. She suddenly became curious about his tolerance.

“I’ve been drunk a few times.”

Jiang Tu sat on the sofa. Tang Dou had played with toys on the balcony for a while and then jumped onto his lap. He glanced down, scratching its back, and Tang Dou stretched lazily, enjoying the attention.

Zhu Xingyao found it hard to imagine Jiang Tu drunk and couldn’t help asking, “What do you do when you’re drunk?”

Jiang Tu seemed to recall something unpleasant and frowned slightly, “Sleep.”

“Just that?”

“Mm.”

“Don’t you feel anything when you’re drunk?”

Jiang Tu paused, looking up at her, “When I’m drunk, I think of you more.”

He was usually a very composed and restrained person. Only when drunk, with his nerves numbed, would he let himself go. But that feeling wasn’t pleasant because he already thought of her too much—repeatedly recalling memories, watching her concerts all night, flipping through her photos, and then dreaming of her.

It was a bit obsessive.

Zhu Xingyao felt a pang of sympathy. She looked at him with big, concerned eyes, and Jiang Tu smiled softly, his voice low, “I’m fine.”

Xiao Kui got another sugar rush! She excitedly twitched her ears.

After returning to her room, she immediately opened Weibo. Her Weibo ID: SunflowerAlwaysSmiling.

Zhu Xingyao’s fans knew that sometimes she couldn’t resist posting snippets of her daily life, like this one—

“What do you do when you’re drunk?”

“Sleep.”

“Just that?”

“When I’m drunk, I think of you more.”

Her followers quickly gathered, adding dozens of comments within moments.

“Sunflower, you hit the jackpot again! When are you posting pictures?”

“No pictures? Boo! You always secretly post without saying anything. Are you possessed by Jiang Tu?”

“I want to know… how do you think of her? Now that Jinjiang has become so strict, even Lin Xing doesn’t dare write such things. I want detailed information.”

How does he think of her… There were numerous replies below. Xiao Kui thought they were being suggestive, but she had no proof and worried Zhu Xingyao might see it, so she gritted her teeth and deleted the post.

…

A few days later, Zhu Xingyao changed her flight and rushed back overnight. That night, Jiang Tu had a social event, but she didn’t tell him. Old Liu dropped her off at the building at 11:30 PM. She looked up and saw the lights in their apartment were off.

When she got home, Tang Dou was already curled up in its cat bed, sleeping. Hearing the noise, it crawled out, arched its back, and stretched luxuriously before slowly walking over.

“Tang Dou, Mommy’s home!” She happily picked up Tang Dou, “Were you alone at home?”

Tang Dou lazily rubbed against her. Zhu Xingyao smiled and pushed her suitcase inside. She sent Jiang Tu a message: “Husband, is the social event almost over?”

After a moment.

Jiang Tu: “It’s over. I’ll be home soon.”

Almost home? Zhu Xingyao put down Tang Dou and went to take a shower.

Jiang Tu called a designated driver and had already entered the residential complex. He was quite drunk tonight, but when he saw Old Liu’s car pass by, his mind instantly cleared a bit.

Ten minutes later, Jiang Tu opened the door. The sound of running water came from the bathroom. He took off his suit jacket, placed it on the sofa, undid his shirt buttons, and walked toward the master bedroom. Standing at the bathroom door, he watched the glass door fogged up with condensation and streaked with rivulets of water. His throat tightened, and he reached for the handle.

Suddenly, he remembered—it was her period, and he hesitated.

Fifteen minutes later, Zhu Xingyao opened the door and froze, her eyes sparkling with moisture, “Tu Ge, when did you come back?”

“Just now.” His voice was hoarse, and he coughed lightly, “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming back? It would’ve been a surprise otherwise.”

“Then there wouldn’t be any surprise.” Zhu Xingyao, wearing her nightgown, hugged his neck and smelled the strong scent of alcohol on him—stronger than ever before. She looked up at him, “Did you drink?”

Jiang Tu leaned down to kiss her, “Mm…”

Zhu Xingyao could feel the heat of his lips and tongue. His hand rested on her lower abdomen, gently nuzzling her neck, asking if her stomach hurt. She felt the warmth of his palm, different from usual, and quickly dodged his kiss, touching his forehead, “Husband, do you have a fever?”

“No, it’s just from drinking too much.”

Jiang Tu’s speech was a bit slow, somewhat sluggish, unlike his usual self. Zhu Xingyao curiously observed him. She removed his glasses, cupped his face, and gazed intently into his eyes. Suddenly, she smiled, “Are you drunk?”

“A little,” Jiang Tu furrowed his brow, seeming a bit uncomfortable.

Zhu Xingyao thought that usually, he took care of her, but now that he was drunk, it was her chance to take care of him!

She tiptoed and kissed his lips like she was soothing a child, “Wait for me. I’ll make you some hangover soup.”

Whenever she drank, Xiao Kui would make her lemon water.

She opened the fridge and found there was no lemon left.

Zhu Xingyao took out her phone and searched online. Among the many recipes for hangover soup, she picked one: egg whites and milk boiled together.

Baidu said this recipe could protect the stomach lining. Jiang Tu was generally healthy, except for his occasional stomachaches due to years of overwork and irregular meals.

Jiang Tu stood by the door, watching her crack an egg and accidentally break two pieces of shell into the bowl. He remembered she hadn’t used an egg separator and rummaged through the cabinets... He walked over, took one from the sterilizer, and handed it to her.

She smiled at him, “I’ll be quick!”

A few seconds later, she muttered, “Why does my eggshell always break when I crack eggs?”

“I’ll teach you.” He embraced her from behind, guiding her hands, his warm breath brushing against her ear, “Gently. Don’t use so much force.”

“Oh…”

From cracking the egg to separating the whites, he held her throughout, teaching step by step. Zhu Xingyao blinked. She was a kitchen novice, and he rarely got so hands-on when teaching her. Even when both were at home resting, he wouldn’t cling to her like this. She could feel his intense affection but had never thought of him as clingy.

She went to the fridge to get milk, and he followed.

She poured the milk and egg whites into a small pot, turned on the low flame, and was hugged from behind again.

Zhu Xingyao blinked, feeling… tonight’s Jiang Tu was a bit clingy.

Her heart softened, and she turned around to kiss him.

A few minutes later, the hangover soup was ready.

She tasted it herself and found it a bit strange. She pushed the bowl toward him, “Drink up.” Jiang Tu finished it in one gulp. Curious, she asked, “Tu Ge, do you really think of me a lot when you’re drunk?”

Jiang Tu set down the bowl and looked up at her, “Mm.”

Suddenly, Tang Dou jumped onto his lap, and he absentmindedly stroked its fur. The man and the cat looked very close. Since Zhu Xingyao spent less time at home, Tang Dou was closer to him. She suddenly felt a bit jealous, picked up Tang Dou, and sat on his lap.

“What do you do when you think of me?”

Thinking of her but not daring to text her...

Jiang Tu wasn’t wearing his glasses, his dark eyes fixed on her, “Watch your performances, listen to your music, flip through your photos.”

“Sounds like a fanatic fan.” She hugged his neck and laughed softly, “And then?”

Jiang Tu rested his chin on her shoulder, his voice low, “Then I dream of you.”

“What do you dream of me doing?”

His body stiffened, and he squinted slightly, “Are you sure you want to hear?”

Zhu Xingyao gave a confused “Ah” and quickly realized, blushing faintly, “I thought you... I didn’t expect you’d have those kinds of dreams too.”

Jiang Tu fell silent, smirking faintly as he looked at her, “We’ve been married for over half a year. Am I too gentle with you? Do you think I’m so restrained that I won’t even dream of you? Wife, this is a normal reaction for men.”

Zhu Xingyao: “...”

She quietly retorted, “When you’re like that… where’s the gentleness?” Jiang Tu’s gentleness usually only lasted during foreplay. He was exceptionally persistent and patient, ensuring she wouldn’t feel pain before proceeding. But it was far from gentle, often bordering on obsessive and wild.

“Hmm?” He frowned.

“I always bump my head against the headboard.” She whispered.

“...”

Jiang Tu pursed his lips, closed his eyes, and chuckled silently.

“It’s already half past midnight. Go take a shower. We should sleep.” Zhu Xingyao stood up, “I’ll get your pajamas.”

Over ten minutes later, Jiang Tu emerged from the bathroom, seemingly a bit more sober. He turned off the light, climbed into bed, and pulled Zhu Xingyao into his arms. Zhu Xingyao looked up at him in the dim light and softly said, “Tu Ge, I used to dream of you frequently—at least twice a week.”

“Nightmares?” Jiang Tu was sleepy but opened his eyes again. She never talked about her nightmares, but he learned from her psychologist that she often relived them.

Zhu Xingyao nestled in his arms and whispered, “Sometimes they start as good dreams… I dreamt I was pregnant—with your child.”