"I can’t bear to let you go." Pei Yicheng tightened his grip and pulled her into his arms, his chin resting on her shoulder, his warm breath showering down on her neck, scorching, blazing hot.
Xu Nianhua stiffened her body, daring not to move; she was enveloped by Pei Yicheng’s breath. Although she disliked alcohol, the scent of liquor on him wasn’t repulsive but rather made her, who hadn’t drunk a drop, feel intoxicated.
Her head swam hazily, and she didn’t even know where she was anymore.
"Nianhua, if only I could shrink you down." Pei Yicheng’s murmuring words rose to her ear.
Xu Nianhua laughed softly, replying, "I’m not Sun Wukong; how could I shrink?"
Suddenly, Pei Yicheng said.
Xu Nianhua looked puzzled, asking, "Wait for you for what?"
But Pei Yicheng didn’t speak again.
After a long wait, Xu Nianhua whispered, "Cheng-ge?"
Xu Nianhua called out his full name, only realizing after hearing the even breathing by her ear that Pei Yicheng had fallen asleep.
Xu Nianhua was bemused; she had really thought that Pei Yicheng could hold his liquor. It turned out that even Pei Yicheng could get drunk.
"I didn’t see anything." Pei Yining, who was bathing, heard some noise in the house and immediately came downstairs after her shower to see if they had returned. And there she was, catching them in an embrace. She quickly turned, indicating she hadn’t seen anything.
"Yining." Xu Nianhua hurriedly called after Pei Yining.
"Nianhua, I really didn’t see anything."
Pei Yining slightly regretted running down, wondering if her brother would blame her.
"Your brother’s drunk." Xu Nianhua shouted toward her retreating figure; if Yining left, how could she manage to help Pei Yicheng to bed on her own?
Just as Pei Yining was about to run off, she heard her and hurried over. Unbeknownst to her until she looked closely, Pei Yicheng was tightly holding Xu Nianhua with closed eyes, indeed asleep.
"My brother is drunk?"
Pei Yining sniffed the smell of alcohol and reached out her hand, attempting to help Pei Yicheng.
However, Pei Yicheng still clung to Xu Nianhua, mumbling, "I have a girlfriend, you can’t touch me."
Pei Yining: "..." Was her brother really drunk, or not?
"Yining, it’s your sister, Yining." Xu Nianhua coaxed like comforting a child, somewhat struggling to hold up Pei Yicheng, saying, "I can’t hold you up on my own."
Pei Yicheng called out her name, refusing to let Pei Yining help, instead following Xu Nianhua’s footsteps back to the room.
Pei Yining, standing aside: "..." She’s not a tiger; she wouldn’t fight with Xu Nianhua over her brother.
"Your brother’s drunk, he’s talking nonsense." Xu Nianhua explained awkwardly.
Pei Yining smiled understandingly; she was afraid if the conversation continued, Nianhua, who was shy, might end up avoiding her brother in the future.
Pei Yining watched as Xu Nianhua helped Pei Yicheng to the edge of the bed, then she disappeared swiftly. She hid back in her room, muttering to herself, "Falling in love really makes people silly. My brother, so clever, becomes like a child in front of Nianhua."
She silently prayed that her brother and Nianhua could hold hands for a lifetime, grow old together, and live happily ever after.
Pei Yining quietly made her wish.
After much effort, Xu Nianhua finally managed to get him onto the bed, but Pei Yicheng was holding on to her, refusing to let go.
"Pei Yicheng, you’re not pretending to be drunk, are you?" Xu Nianhua struggled for a long time but couldn’t free herself from his grasp.