"No worries," Xiuyi smiled.
"Looks like we’re going to drink for a bit longer. Let’s find a place to stay for a while," Will said, draping his arm over Xiuyi’s shoulder and leading him to one side of the living room, then gestured to a subordinate who immediately trotted over, "Go, get some food for Mr. Will and Mr. Xiuyi from the kitchen. Haven’t had dinner yet, I’m starving!"
Shortly after, the subordinate brought over some snacks, and Will started chatting with Xiuyi while they ate and drank.
Midway through drinking, he suddenly slapped his forehead.
"Almost forgot, there’s an email I didn’t send, really..." he stood up immediately, "I’m going to send an email from my car, you..." he gestured to another subordinate, "keep Mr. Xiuyi company!"
While his subordinate was preoccupying Xiuyi, Will turned and walked out of the living room, headed around to the back of the villa and nimbly climbed up to Duke Locke’s third-floor room.
The nurse happened to be out of the room. Will tiptoed inside, took out the prepared medicine, replaced the remaining pills in the medicine bottle, and cast a glance at Duke Locke on the bed, his lips curling up.
"Duke, remember, you owe our master a huge favor!" Turning around, he snuck back to the outside of the main door as silently as he had come, then reentered the living room, "Mr. Xiuyi, I’m sorry to keep you waiting."
Of course, Xiuyi was all smiles, "Mr. Will is too polite."
In the dining room, when the main course was served, Huangfu Jue personally poured Qian Xueying her fifth glass of wine.
"This is the last one; you can’t drink anymore."
"Duke is underestimating me!"
Qian Xueying squinted her eyes, looking tipsy but not quite drunk—though not entirely pretending, as the liquor was indeed rich and lingering. It didn’t seem so at first, but it packed a punch later, a fact well considered when Huangfu Jue chose this wine for her.
"As long as you’re happy, I’m willing to drink with you till the end of time."
Riding the wave of the alcohol, Qian Xueying began to let loose, no longer holding herself with the same demure composure as before, and she daringly reached out to touch his hand.
Huangfu Jue sidestepped, returning to his own seat.
"I didn’t expect Miss Ying to be so forthright. This is somewhat different from how I previously perceived you."
"Everyone has two sides, don’t they?" Holding her glass, Qian Xueying stood up and slowly moved to his side, her body leaning slightly towards him, "I used to think that the Duke was as unapproachable as an iceberg and never imagined that one day we’d be drinking at the same table, just the two of us... It’s almost like a dream. What I mean is..."
Her gaze was affectionate as she watched him, "A dream come true, Duke, do you understand?"
Huangfu Jue swirled the wine in his glass, "Miss Ying, you’re drunk."
"Maybe!" She leaned in closer to him, "Speaking of which, I don’t think I’ve ever properly briefed you about the previous documents. Shall we go to the study and discuss the project in detail?"
Huangfu Jue stood up.
Qian Xueying set down her glass, pretending to stumble as she fell toward him, but Huangfu Jue ignored it, pulled out the chair, and moved to the other side.
She was caught off guard, her lower back smashing into the dining table, tugging at her wound and causing a tearing pain.
"Fine, fine," she said, pressing down the pain and smiling at him, "Shall we go upstairs?"
Huangfu Jue gracefully raised his right hand.
"Miss Ying, after you!"