Right now, all of them were lying in the bar drunk with the exception of Han Zixin. Although he had a drink or two, he knew that he couldn’t let himself lose and get drunk, given the nature of his job. He didn’t know when he would get a call for a mission and he had to leave. Thus, he usually avoided drinking. He had a good alcohol tolerance but he still avoided it because he could take a chance with his life but not with the life of civilians.
Wang Yuxi was on holiday and was willing to get lost in the effects of alcohol. He even made everyone else drunk with him. Since all of them were together for a long time, they decided to let themselves loose after all they didn’t get much chance to have fun because of their busy schedules. It was funny how they were a group of rowdy teenagers once upon a time and now they had the burdens of such heavy jobs on their shoulders.
Gu Shangyan, Lu Yuan and Shen Yue were at high posts in a multi-billionaire company. Wang Yuxi was now leading a SWAT team. An Xiulan was a successful lawyer and Han Zixin was now the deputy chief of police. It was funny how the group of silly teenagers were now at such important posts.
Han Zixin looked at the girl who was sleeping on the counter of the bar. He told her not to drink or she wouldn’t be able to stand on her feet but she was adamant about showing him that her alcohol tolerance was better than him who rarely drinks. He agreed that she was stubborn and liked to go against him again and again but sometimes it was just so difficult for him to let her do whatever she wished.
She was so busy provoking him that now she was sleeping on the counter without any care in the world. This girl had no sense of crisis. How could she get drunk in the presence of a man? What if they kidnapped her? Did she think the world was not harmful? Even her brothers were so smashed that they wouldn’t be able to move if someone tried to hurt her in the bar. Thinking about this possibility made him mad at her.
“Let’s go, “Han Zixin said as he lightly patted her cheeks.
She shook her head and mumbled something but didn’t open her eyes. It was clear that she had no interest in leaving this hard bed. This hard bed under her cheek was the most comfortable place for her at the moment.
“We are going home, “Han Zixin said again.
An Xiulan made a bad face but didn’t open her eyes. She swatted his hand as if she was swatting a butterfly away.
Han Zixin sighed, looking here and there. He was certain that she was not going to wake up and he had to take matters into his own hands. He leaned down and scooped her in his arms and walked out of there. She wriggled in his arms and began shouting, “Thief! Thief!”
“Where is the thief?” Han Zixin questioned.
“The thief who is stealing me, “An Xiulan said with her eyes closed. “Thief, you don’t know who I’m. You don’t know who my best friend is. He is the police!”
Han Zixin sighed. “Open your eyes and see who it is.”
“I know you are a thief, “An Xiulan mumbled.
“Little blockhead…”He called out his name.
“Cheat prince?” An Xiulan murmured as she opened one eye and saw him. “Did you start stealing people too?”
“I’m not a thief, “Han Zixin said.
“You stole my currency note on the very first day we met, “An Xiulan pouted and closed her eyes again. “You even lied to me about your identity. I thought you were the prince.”
“I still want to ask you why you thought I was the fantasy character in your head?” Han Zixin questioned.
“The Fifth Prince is not a fantasy character, “An Xiulan told him. “He is real. He is very much real. Qiao Wei said he is so handsome and charismatic. Any noble girl who sees him falls in love with him. That’s how handsome he is. When I saw you for the first time, I thought you were him. You have the grandeur, elegance and handsomeness of the fifth Prince.”
“Stop spending so much time with your novelist friend. She has a few nuts lose in her head, “Han Zixin sighed.
“It’s not the Qiao Wei we know…but the Qiao Wei I grew up with, “An Xiulan said in a stern tone. “This Qiao Wei is my Jiejie who took care of me until her last breath.”
“Yes. Yes. I get it, “Han Zixin said with a sigh.
“You don’t trust me?” An Xiulan inquired.
“How could I not?” Han Zixin said. “I trust anything you say.”
“Try sounding more credible, “An Xiulan muttered. “Don’t take me home. Mom will scold me if she sees me drunk. Lu Xuan and Yan Ge will get scolded too.”
“You are drunk enough to not just talk nonsense but also care for your family?” Han Zixin raised his brow. “Also, your brothers should be scolded for letting you get drunk like this. What if someone had harmed you in a bar? Where is your sense of security? You should not get drunk like this and invite random people to hurt you.”
“Why do I need a sense of security when you are with me?” An Xiulan asked in such an innocent voice that he had no way to refute. “You always protect me. I knew that you would protect me tonight too so I was willing to get drunk. I also know that you don’t drink enough to get intoxicated.”
It was true that An Xiulan only drank this much because she knew that he was with her and nobody would be able to harm her. If there was a lesson she learnt as a girl living alone in Boston, it was to always be cautious. However, she was home now and she didn’t need to be cautious all the time. She could get drunk like the girls her age and have fun in the bar without any fear. As long as he was around her, what was there to be scared of?
“Little blockhead, I have no idea if I should be touched and call you silly, “Han Zixin said with a sigh. Looking at her nuzzling her face against his chest, “Can you walk?”
An Xiulan quickly shook her head. “I’m drunk. Drop me at a hotel. I can’t go home.”
“Like hell, I will, “Han Zixin said and walked out of the bar. He made her sit in his Jeep and drove to his place. When they reached his building, she was fast asleep. He got down from the car and removed her seatbelt. As he was helping her get out of the car, he felt her drool against his cheek and groaned.
He could tell that this was going to be one long and aching night.
As he was carrying her to his apartment, she made a face and he could tell that she was about to throw up. He found a trash bin on the way and took her there. “Throw up here. Don’t ruin my clothes.”
Han Zixin had to close his eyes while she was vomiting her guts out. He knew that if he saw her vomiting, he was going to vomit too.
“Are you done?” He softly asked when he saw her tired body. “I told you not to drink so much. How are you feeling now?”
“My stomach…it looks as if someone is squeezing it, “An Xiulan said with tears in her eyes. “I stink. I feel sick. I wanna go home.” After crying for a good five minutes, she whispered, “I want chicken soup.”
He knew that it was her drunk self throwing a tantrum or she would never act like a willful child. He had to appease her or they might have to spend the entire night out sitting on the cold floor.
“This is your home too, “Han Zixin said in a soft tone. “Let’s get inside. I will get you hot chicken soup.”
“I stink too, “She said with the best puppy eyes.
“I will give you clean clothes, “He patiently said.
“I want a hot bath too, “She demanded.
“Alright, I will prepare a hot bath for you, “Han Zixin said, rubbing her back.
“Carry me, “She demanded.
“Alright, “He once again scooped her into his arms and brought her inside. Although he could put her to sleep directly, he did not as he knew that this drunkard never forgot anything. She made her sit on his bed and went inside the bathroom to prepare a warm bath for her.
“You can go inside, “Han Zixin said.
“Take me there, “An Xiulan said, holding up her arms.