People who’ve been drinking know that mixing different types of alcohol feels a hundred times worse than sticking to just one type.
Fu Jichen asked the bartender for a glass, poured some alcohol into it, lifted it, took a sip, and the alcohol glided down his throat with a chill that seeped into his core, followed soon by a burning spiciness.
Only Shen Jianian, who was closest, noticed the slight furrow of his brows, likely because the alcohol was too strong.
Without saying a word, Fu Jichen tasted the flavor and then gulped it down, while Shen Jianian, watching from the side, furrowed her brows tighter and tighter—a big gulp of water would be hard to take, let alone alcohol.
One bottle of alcohol filled two glasses and then some. After finishing one bottle, Fu Jichen picked up the next one, which tasted different. The rim of the glass touched his lips, his deep gaze fell on Shen Jianian’s face, and seeing her look of profound suffering, Fu Jichen couldn’t help but laugh, yet because his lips were hidden behind the glass, no one saw his slightly upturned lips.
Shen Jianian was tightly locked in by his gaze, the guilt in her heart growing deeper, like being pressed by a huge rock.
When Fu Jichen picked up the third bottle, she finally made a decision, raising her hand to rest on his arm, not forcefully but as a gesture to stop him.
Shen Jianian’s brow was furrowed deeply; making this decision took her a long time of mental preparation: "Maybe that’s enough." She was afraid Fu Jichen might get alcohol poisoning or suffer some physical problem and then hold her responsible.
A kiss, at least, wouldn’t be fatal.
The crowd watching them started to cheer excitedly, like gorillas in the forest, making "oh oh" sounds: "Not easy, the beauty finally softened! Buddy, your reward is coming!"
Fu Jichen’s gaze slipped down to the pale, tender hand pressing on his arm. After a while, he finally spoke: "Have you thought it through? Want to complete that challenge?"
Shen Jianian steeled herself: "Yes."
Fu Jichen’s lips couldn’t help but curl, the radius of the curve dazzling, as he gazed at her face for a long time, suddenly leaning in closer to her. Shen Jianian was so nervous, her eyelashes fluttered, her mouth tightly closed, holding her breath, her pupils filled with panic. Read complete version only at Nove1Fire.net
However, the expected kiss did not come. Instead, Shen Jianian heard Fu Jichen say softly by her ear: "I can handle my liquor just fine."
After saying that, he straightened up, returned to his original distance, continued pouring and drinking without pause, and as he swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbed up and down.
Fu Jichen said this just to ease Shen Jianian’s mind. In truth, his drinking tolerance wasn’t great. In his current position, no one dared to make things difficult at a dinner, and only in front of elders did he willingly give face, drinking more to show sincerity and respect.
Everyone watched him drink one glass after another, utterly baffled— the beauty had agreed, yet he remained unmoved, was he even a man?
Shen Jianian watched helplessly as Fu Jichen drank up five bottles, the boulder in her heart not moving away; instead, it sank to the deepest part of her heart.
"Fu Jichen, are you... okay?" She couldn’t quite describe her feelings at that moment.
Fu Jichen’s gaze, at least, was still clear. He rested a fist against his lips and coughed, the hand propped on the edge of the bar made the knuckles taut, the veins on the back of his hand prominent. With a glance to her, his lips, stained with alcohol, merely uttered a vague word: "Go."
Shen Jianian promptly slid off the bar stool, considering whether to support Fu Jichen, but seeing his steady steps, unlike a person drunk and staggering.
She wasn’t relieved, though, shadowing him closely, her mind highly alert, ready to catch him should he stumble.
With her strength, she might not support Fu Jichen, but at least he wouldn’t fall so hard.
Stepping out of the bar, the night breeze blew, Fu Jichen’s stomach churned, his brain felt weighed down, sinking heavily, only managing to stay upright with the remnants of his rationality.
He thought, with Jianian by his side, what if he passed out and she left him? He must hold on until he got home.
The parking spot wasn’t close to the bar, Shen Jianian said: "Wait here for me, I’ll drive the car over."
Fu Jichen looked at her, his thoughts clearly lagging behind.
Shen Jianian didn’t ask again, directly reaching into his pants pocket to find the car keys. Fu Jichen held her hand, finally putting together what she’d said, slowly replied: "No need."
He gripped Shen Jianian’s hand, taking it step by step along the path they’d come.
Shen Jianian did not pull her hand away, though his grip hurt a bit.
Before they reached the parking lot, Fu Jichen’s steps wobbled, not as steady as when they left the bar. Shen Jianian wrapped both arms around his to support him with all her strength, quickly sweating on her forehead: "Hold on a bit longer, almost there."
Reaching the Bentley, Shen Jianian panted heavily, slowly releasing her hold, letting Fu Jichen lean against the car, extracting the keys from his pocket, and opening the back door.
"Fu Jichen, can you get in yourself?" She was entirely out of strength.
Fu Jichen didn’t show his alcohol intake on his face. With five bottles down, he looked the same, only his eyes a bit dazed. His body temperature was higher than usual, she could feel it clearly because he was holding her wrist.
His other hand pressed on her lower back, pulling her into his arms: "Are you really willing?"
On the street, Shen Jianian was startled, bowed her head to peel away his fingers: "Willing or not, let go first, someone might see!"
Fu Jichen was surrounded by a thick smell of alcohol, as if he’d been soaking in a wine barrel for a day and night, just a whiff was intoxicating. His breathing was irregular, hot, his voice deep and mellow, word by word spilling out: "Willing to kiss me."
He meant in the bar, when he was ready to drink the third bottle, she changed her mind, wanting to complete the challenge with him.
"Not willing." Shen Jianian responded perfunctorily, continuing to pry his fingers, "Fu Jichen, you’re drunk, let go of me, I need to drive."
Fu Jichen enclosed her tightly in his arms, as if he wanted to embed her into himself: "What to do? I really want to break the rules." His lips brushed her earlobe, "Your three-Chapter agreement is truly unreasonable."