Chapter 426 - 424: I Can Take Care of Him Alone
At Zhong Hailan’s enthusiastic invitation, Cui Hao stayed at Xue Yang’s home.
Upstairs, Lin Xi was taking care of Xue Yang.
"Xiao Xi, it’s late. You go to sleep first, I’ll take care of him."
"Auntie, I’m not sleepy. You should go to bed. I can just watch over him."
"Taking care of a drunk man all by yourself is not an easy task."
"Auntie, I’ve taken care of him like this before in Yancheng. Believe me, I can do it."
Seeing Lin Xi’s insistence, Zhong Hailan didn’t press the matter further.
"Well, if you get sleepy, just come down and get me. I’ll come right up to take over."
Lin Xi nodded obediently. "Okay, Auntie."
After Zhong Hailan left, only Lin Xi and Xue Yang remained on the second floor.
Lin Xi carefully took off Xue Yang’s leather shoes, then helped him out of his suit jacket. Next was his tie. Worried he might be too hot, she also undid a few buttons on his shirt, revealing his strong chest.
She stroked his chest inch by inch, gazing lovingly at the sleeping man before her.
This is the first time I’ve seen him dressed so formally in all the time I’ve known him. Compared to his usual t-shirts and tracksuits, this gives him the air of a successful elite, exuding an aura that commands respect. Yet, he’s so young. He’s both boyish and mature. For a girl, it’s a fatal attraction.
Lin Xi often felt grateful for the courage she had summoned to run away from home back then.
Otherwise, I never would have crossed paths with Xue Yang in this lifetime. If that had happened, how much would I have missed out on?
Lin Xi went to the bathroom, fetched a basin of warm water, dampened a towel, and carefully wiped the sweat from his body.
Xue Yang was compliant, letting her wipe him down. When she needed him to turn over, he cooperated obediently. If she didn’t know he was drunk, she might have suspected he was only pretending to be asleep.
"Was Cui Hao lying? Xue Yang handles his liquor pretty well," Lin Xi muttered to herself.
Just then, Xue Yang suddenly murmured something.
Lin Xi couldn’t quite hear him. She leaned over him, trying to make out his words. The next second, a warm hand pulled her into his embrace.
And then, Lin Xi finally understood what he was saying.
"Xiao Xi..."
She had initially intended to struggle free, but after hearing his whisper, she let him hold her.
"Mhm, I’m here."
Xue Yang reached out and caressed her cheek, a naive smile spreading across his handsome, flushed face. "It’s not a dream."
Lin Xi grasped his hand, pressing it tightly against her own cheek. "You silly goose, of course you’re not dreaming."
"Don’t leave me."
"I won’t leave you. Never."
Seemingly satisfied with her answer, Xue Yang fell into a deep sleep once more. Lin Xi lay on his chest, unable to sleep for a long time.
After about ten more minutes, she carefully pried his hand away, got up, and brought a fresh basin of hot water to continue wiping him down. At times, she would also pour him some warm water to drink.
She continued until the early hours of the morning, by which point the smell of alcohol on him had mostly faded. Finally unable to stay awake any longer, she slumped over by the side of the bed and fell asleep.
Lin Xi hadn’t been asleep for long when Xue Yang woke up.
He pressed his temples, which didn’t ache as much as he’d expected. He turned his head and saw Lin Xi slumped over by the bed, sleeping soundly. She was still holding the towel she had used to wipe him down, which had left a large wet patch on the floor. Behind her sat a basin of water that had long since gone cold. His suit and shoes were in a messy pile.
It didn’t take a genius to figure out this young woman had been too worried to tidy up.
Xue Yang gently caressed her cheek. Due to the all-nighter, there were distinct dark circles under her normally beautiful eyes.
He didn’t wake her. Instead, he cautiously got out of bed and went to the restroom to relieve himself. After he came out, he gently lifted her onto the bed, then climbed in, held her close, and fell back into a deep sleep.
Worried about Xue Yang, Zhong Hailan got up early and went to the second floor to check on them.
Seeing the two youths sleeping soundly and that Xue Yang’s face was no longer flushed but had returned to its normal color, she breathed a sigh of relief. She then carefully tidied up the room before quietly leaving and closing the door behind her.
By the time they woke up, it was already past one in the afternoon.
Downstairs, Cui Hao and Xue Yuanqing were on the sofa, sipping tea and talking animatedly. The guy seemed to have an endless supply of topics, one after another. Even Xue Yuanqing, a slick veteran who had navigated society for decades, wasn’t as talkative. But what interested Xue Yuanqing the most was how his son was doing at school.
"So, the three of you started a game company together. Is the business good?"
"It appeals to all ages," Cui Hao commented objectively.
"You young people are so sharp, knowing how to seize opportunities to make money. We old folks just can’t keep up."
"Uncle, you and Auntie should come visit Yancheng sometime. There’s a lot of fun stuff to do there."
"Sure. When winter comes, we can go see the snow. Your auntie has never seen snow in her entire life."
"Does it really never snow in Hui City?" Cui Hao asked curiously.
"Hui City is in the south, so of course it doesn’t snow. At most, some remote towns might get a little frost. Occasionally we get some hail, but it’s very rare."
Hail also falls in the north, so that’s nothing special.
"Then you and Auntie must come to Yancheng in the winter. Xue Yang can take you skiing."
"Ah, that’s for young people. These old bones of ours can’t handle that sort of thing."
"You can watch the young people have fun. That’s an experience in itself."
"Uncle, Xue Yang and I have been skiing before," Lin Xi said as she came down the stairs.
"Xiao Xi, you’re awake! Has that rascal Xue Yang sobered up yet?"
"He’s awake, Uncle. He’s in the shower right now. Cui Hao, you said last time that he’s a bad drunk, but I think he handles himself just fine."
"Really?" Cui Hao was skeptical.
Lin Xi blinked. "Yep. He slept peacefully all night."
"Amazing! It must be because the boss lady was here. Last time, when you weren’t around, his soul practically flew away," Cui Hao said with certainty.
"What are you guys talking about?" Xue Yang asked, coming downstairs with his hands in his pockets.
Dressed in loungewear, he was a far cry from the elite figure he had been. Now, however, he had a much more down-to-earth vibe.
"We’re talking about your drunken embarrassments," Cui Hao said deliberately.
"I handle my liquor just fine."
"That wasn’t the case last time, someone..."
"Last time was last time. Shouldn’t you be at work by now?" Xue Yang said nonchalantly, glancing at his watch.
Cui Hao instantly exploded. "FUCK! I’m here on a business trip! Do you have to be so strict about the time?"
"You still get paid for a business trip."
"Fine, fine. You’re the boss, so you call the shots."
Muttering curses, Cui Hao left Xue Yang’s home.
...
PS: I recommend the book "This Young Master is Done Playing, the Campus Belle is Panicking".