CHAPTER 108: DRUNK BEAUTY

Stepping outside, the rain was still falling but it wasn’t so heavy.

They both stood outside of the inn, probably waiting for the carriage.

Mo Ying wore a dark blue fur while Lin Xu wore a white one. They both stood, staring at the falling rain. They had so many things to say to each other.

Lin Xu wanted to hit him, curse him, smack him and ask him so many questions.

What was the reason for everything?

Why was he back now? Shouldn’t he be living happily ever after with his family? What the heck did he want from her?

Mo Ying ended up breaking the silence, "It’s raining so much... it reminds me of that night, do you still remember, Lin Xu?"

Folding her hands, Lin Xu turned her face away, "I have poor memory, I don’t remember anything."

Her words made a small smile appear on Mo Ying’s face, "You still haven’t changed, huh?"

"What’s that supposed to mean?" Lin Xu asked, getting annoyed but before Mo Ying could respond, a carriage arrived and this time a familiar person stepped out.

It was Fuhan.

Walking towards Mo Ying and Lin Xu, he held two wooden tokens in his hands as he bowed to them.

"Oh, it’s you, your partner in crime," Lin Xu said, eyeing the both of them.

Knowing she was still quite upset, Fuhan just smiled and handed the token over to Mo Ying. "This is all you’ll need to enter the pavilion. I got the bedroom for the two of you... enjoy."

Saying that, he bowed and left, his words making Lin Xu stare in confusion.

"Room? What room is he talking about?" she asked but Mo Ying didn’t respond as he headed towards the carriage.

Mo Ying walked ahead, opening the carriage door and turning back to her. "Careful," he said calmly, extending his hand. "The steps are slippery."

Lin Xu glanced at his hand and scoffed. "I don’t need your help," she said stubbornly, lifting her dress slightly as she moved to climb in on her own.

But just as her foot touched the wet wooden step, it slipped.

"Ah—!" she gasped, losing her balance.

Before she could fall, Mo Ying’s arm shot out, catching her firmly by the waist. The sudden closeness made her freeze, her hands instinctively gripping his shoulder for balance.

For a second, neither of them moved. The rain pattered softly around them, and their faces were only inches apart.

Lin Xu’s heart skipped a beat, but she quickly pushed him away. "Let go of me!" she snapped, her cheeks slightly red.

Mo Ying stepped back without saying a word, his hand falling to his side. "You’re still as reckless as ever," he said quietly.

"Mind your own business," Lin Xu muttered, glaring at him before climbing into the carriage properly this time.

Once she was seated inside, Mo Ying followed and sat across from her. The air was thick with silence again, broken only by the sound of the rain and the carriage wheels as they began to move down the muddy road.

Meanwhile,

Still back in the inn, Yan Mei couldn’t sleep at this point so she decided to go for a little drink.

She walked toward the counter and bought one jar of wine.

Taking her seat, she started to gulp it all down, forgetting that she was a lightweight when it came to drinking.

Yan Mei poured herself another cup of wine, swaying slightly as she leaned over the table. Her cheeks were already flushed, and her eyes looked a little unfocused. "Ah... this wine is stronger than I thought..." she mumbled, giggling softly to herself.

She tried to pour another cup but missed the glass completely, spilling half the wine on the table. "Oops... hehe..." she laughed again, wiping it clumsily with her sleeve.

At a table nearby, three men who had been drinking noticed her. They exchanged looks, grinning in a way that made it clear what they were thinking.

"She’s alone," one of them whispered. "And drunk."

Another smirked. "Pretty too. Look at that face."

The third one chuckled. "I’ll go talk to her."

He stood up and walked over, pretending to act friendly. "Miss, you shouldn’t drink alone this late. How about I keep you company?"

Yan Mei looked up at him through half-lidded eyes and frowned. "No need... I’m fine alone."

He leaned closer, the smell of cheap wine heavy on his breath. "Come now, don’t be shy." He reached out as if to touch her shoulder.

Yan Mei immediately flinched and raised her hand clumsily. "Stay away from me!" she said loudly, her words slurring a little.

The man smirked. "Aw, don’t be like that—"

Before he could finish, a sharp hand grabbed his wrist and twisted it hard.

"Ah!" he yelped in pain.

The man turned and froze when he saw who it was—Fuhan. His expression was calm but his eyes were cold. "She said stay away," he said quietly.

The man tried to pull back, but Fuhan’s grip tightened just enough to make him wince again. "Apologize," he said.

"S-sorry! I didn’t mean anything!" the man stammered.

Fuhan released his wrist and gave him a sharp look. "Then leave."

The man quickly backed off, returning to his friends. They muttered angrily under their breath but didn’t dare come back.

Fuhan then turned to Yan Mei, who blinked at him with a slightly dazed smile. "Y-you... really came back?"

She stared at him, half-conscious as Fuhan immediately carried her in his arms, placing some coins on the table to pay for the wine.

Fuhan adjusted his hold on Yan Mei as she mumbled something under her breath. Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes half-closed. She weakly pushed against his chest.

"Put me down..." she slurred, hitting him lightly on the chest with her fist. "I can walk... you idiot..."

Fuhan looked down at her, unbothered by her weak hits. "You can’t even stand straight," he said calmly.

"I can!" she said, trying to lift her head but wobbling immediately. "You... you think you’re so cool, huh? Always showing up whenever you want... leaving too... you left me..." she mumbled, her words mixing together.

He sighed quietly. "You talk too much when you’re drunk."

"Who’s drunk?" she shot back weakly, pointing at him—or trying to. "I’m... perfectly... fine..."

Fuhan couldn’t help a small, helpless smile as she leaned her head against his shoulder, completely losing the strength to argue. "You’re impossible," he muttered, shaking his head.

Reaching her room, he gently kicked the door open and walked in. He laid her down carefully on the bed, pulling the blanket over her.

As he straightened up to leave, Yan Mei grabbed his sleeve weakly. "Don’t... go..." she murmured, her voice barely audible.

He froze for a moment, staring at her. Before he could stand up, Yan Mei immediately gripped him. He didn’t know how she did it but she managed to pull him into the bed, sitting on top of him.

He was beneath her, completely shocked as Yan Mei sat on him, not really in a calm state at the moment.

She stared at him with her half-conscious eyes, "You idiot, after leaving me for three years you want to leave me again? You’ll marry me here whether you like it or not."

Saying that she took hold of his collar as she forced their lips together.