After Han Ru left, Song Meiling grabbed two jars, placing it over the table. "Let's play Truth or Dare," she said.
"I don't like this," Su Xiang replied.
"Oh, don't worry, Xi if you have nothing to hide, then there's nothing to worry about," said Song Meiling.
Su Xiang releases a deep sigh.
Lan Shufen was the first one to pick something from the jars; she chose a dare. "Put on lipstick," she said aloud. Fuck! She thought. "I don't have any."
"I have one!" said Su Xiang, passing it to her.
Lan Shufen was sweating. She hoped that it didn't make her look more womanly than she already did. She had trouble concealing her face for nearly a year because of how soft her features were. She put on the red lipstick, smacking her lips.
"You look...pretty," Su Xiang said, almost confused.
Lan Shufen turned her head slightly, but Song Zhen grasped her chin, looking at her face directly. His penetrating eyes stared at her, causing her to flush deeply before he let go. Shit! She thought. She wondered if he could see through her disguise. After all, he had the most inquisitive stare she'd ever seen.
It was then Su Xiang's turn, and she picked truth.
"Talk about your first kiss," Su Xiang read. She supposed she could tell them about her first kiss without saying as to who her first kiss was. "Definitely in the moment, heated and passionate," she answered.
Song Meiling pouted. "Wow. That was your first? My first was planned with some boy in high school who thought using a lot of tongue before I even opened my mouth was a good idea. And he sucked on my lips too hard."
Su Xiang laughed at her.
It was then Long Jie's turn. He selected a dare and read, "Draw a tattoo on your body." He then looked at Song Meiling, "Can I get Luli to do it?"
Song Meiling smiled. "All right. I will allow it."
Long Jie opened some of his shirt, revealing his shoulder. Song Luli took out a black marker to draw something on his body.
Song Meiling stood up. "Wait...Do you have one already?" she interrupted. She could see the head of a dragon starting from below his collarbone.
Long Jie nodded, loosening a few buttons. His tattoo ended at his torso, but he only showed half of it. Song Meiling whistled. "Holy shit, that's so cool."
Xun Zichen gaped at the tattoo. It was a dragon, but not just any dragon. It was the same serpentine creature that Long Yuntian had in his wallpaper, carved in many places throughout the house. He understood that Long Jie was his grandson, but to have that tattoo meant—
Song Luli finished drawing a flower on Long Jie's shoulder, and then she buttoned the rest of his shirt.
Song Meiling then urged Xun Zichen to pick one, but he decided to pass up his turn. She then looked at Zhang Enyu, and he drew out a dare, reading out loud, "Kiss the prettiest girl in the room."
He awkwardly looked at each woman in the room. He would never ever kiss another man's wife, but he also couldn't think of Su Xiang because the man next to him was glaring at him hard. So, he took a shot of alcohol before standing, taking Song Meiling's face, planting a kiss on hers. Song Meiling's eyes widened, looking into the grey specs of his. His lips were incredibly soft and mature, but Zhang Enyu pulled away quickly before she could fully grasp it.
Song Meiling felt the mood shift, so she challenged Lan Shufen. "Let's spin around ten times without trying to fall after."
Lan Shufen drunkenly agreed, spinning in circles with Song Meiling until they stopped to balance themselves. They attempted to stand still, but everything felt dizzy, and they fell to the ground, entangling their legs. Song Meiling giggled, and Lan Shufen couldn't stop laughing.
Song Meiling glanced at Zhang Enyu, who stood up immediately, leaving the room. She frowned. She wanted to chase after him, but what could she say?
She also didn't want to tell him that Lan Shufen was a girl, and that's the secret she told her; it wasn't something she could tell others without her permission.
So, she stayed put and spoke to her siblings instead. By the end of the night, Long Jie said to Song Meiling. "Thank you for tonight. I have to take my wife home since she's a bit drunk," he said.
"All right," replied his sister-in-law. "Get home safe."
Song Luli and Long Jie left, and not long after, so did Su Xiang and Xun Zichen.
Song Meiling laid down on the couch to rest, swinging an arm over her face, annoyed by the bright light of the chandelier above.
Lan Shufen was on the ground, and she felt thirsty, so she rose from her spot, heading towards the kitchen. She passed by a hall with large windows. And she caught a glimpse of Long Jie's car. Didn't they leave? She stepped closer, noticing fog on their car windows. After realizing what that meant, she covered her eyes. "My eyes! My poor fucking eyes!" she said, dashing away, bumping into something hard and firm; her feet slid across the floor slightly.
She then slowly uncovered her face, afraid to look up at the person she bumped into. She glanced at him carefully, meeting Song Zhen's golden eyes. She covered her face again, hoping that if she walked away slowly, he wouldn't notice her anymore.
She stepped to his side, walking away when she heard him ask, "How are you getting home?"
"I can walk," she responded.
"While drunk?" he questioned.
"I can call for a driver," she said.
"Let me take you," he told her.
Lan Shufen felt defeated. "Fine," she said, turning around.
Song Zhen went to get his keys, and they stepped outside. But Lan Shufen looked out cautiously, realizing that Long Jie and Song Luli finally left; they weren't very subtle when it came to affection, but she supposed it wasn't a bad thing.
Song Zhen drove her home, and she stumbled out of the car. Song Zhen stepped out, helping her up the stairs.
Lan Shufen fumbled with the keys, so Song Zhen had to help her into the apartment.