Chapter 20: Where to Go

“He Yuan, are you really okay?” Wang Tong walked beside him, reaching out to steady him.

 

He Yuan grunted in acknowledgment, his gaze fixed ahead, his steps steady and unhesitating.

 

Relieved, Wang Tong walked beside him, speaking softly, “I don’t think I congratulated you on winning today’s match… You were really strong.”

 

Jian Yanzhi, walking ahead, paused slightly at these words.

 

Another grunt came from behind—He Yuan.

 

“Keep up the good work next time. I’ll be waiting for you in the interview area.”

 

“Mm.”

 

The conversation behind them trailed off. Jian Yanzhi figured He Yuan’s lack of romantic understanding had left Wang Tong alone in the conversation, unable to carry it further.

 

“He Yuan, if you win the next match, can I tell you something?”

 

“Mm…”

 

“Or should I just tell you now?”

 

Jian Yanzhi strained her ears.

 

“Another shot, Mao Mao! Another shot!” Jian Boyi’s high-pitched voice suddenly cut through the air, drowning out the rest of the conversation. Jian Yanzhi couldn’t hear a single word.

 

She turned around and slapped the back of Jian Boyi’s head. “Quiet down!”

 

“Ah! Ow! Who the hell shot me in the back?!”

 

“It was your auntie!” Jian Yanzhi snapped angrily. “Can’t you show some class after drinking? If you sway one more time, I’ll lose my balance!”

 

“Shooting someone in the back isn’t heroic! You shrew! If heaven won’t take you, I will… Ah!”

 

Jian Yanzhi retracted her high heel from his foot. “Say another word and see what happens!”

 

Jian Boyi’s eyes welled up with tears. “I’m going to tell Mom…”

 

“Go ahead. When has that ever worked for you?”

 

Jian Boyi let out a mournful wail, as if recalling his history of failures.

 

Jian Yanzhi couldn’t be bothered with him and wanted to continue listening to the conversation behind them. But now, all was silent. She hadn’t heard a single word of what Wang Tong had said or He Yuan’s response.

 

Still, her woman’s intuition told her that Wang Tong had a thing for He Yuan.

 

Besides her, Wang Tong was the only woman at today’s gathering. Throughout the entire event, she hadn’t left He Yuan’s side, constantly staring at him and seizing every opportunity to speak to him. If Jian Yanzhi’s guess was right, Wang Tong was in love with He Yuan.

 

Perhaps it was the alcohol, but Jian Yanzhi felt a tightness in her chest.

 

To be honest, Wang Tong was quite attractive. Her face and figure met all the requirements of a female celebrity in the entertainment industry.

 

*Damn… Could He Yuan possibly be interested in her?*

 

The base’s vehicle was parked ahead. The other members of the gathering had dispersed, and the driver and Manager Yang Dong had gotten out to help the tipsy players into the car.

 

Jian Yanzhi, carrying Jian Boyi, also climbed into the vehicle.

 

She herself didn’t find anything strange about it, nor did anyone from the base, including Yang Dong. They all knew Jian Yanzhi’s identity, and since she lived across the street and often wandered through the base, they had almost come to accept her as one of their own.

 

But Wang Tong was stunned. She had already accepted Jian Yanzhi’s close relationship with the DSG team, but seeing her climb into the car so casually left her utterly astonished.

 

Wang Tong had known the DSG team members much longer than Jian Yanzhi, and they had become genuine friends. Yet she could sense that they considered Jian Yanzhi to be even closer to them.

 

“Wang Tong, I just saw Xiao You come to pick you up. I’ll take them ahead,” Yang Dong said, leaning out the car window.

 

Wang Tong snapped back to reality. “Oh, oh, right. Be careful on the way.”

 

“Okay, we will.”

 

The car sped off, leaving Wang Tong standing at the door, watching her friend Xiao You get out of a car nearby.

 

“Tongtong, let’s go,” Xiao You said, pulling her arm. “Did you drink too much today?”

 

“Maybe.”

 

“Huh?”

 

Wang Tong smiled but didn’t say anything, instead walking straight toward the car.

 

Perhaps it was the alcohol that made her confess her feelings to He Yuan. But he…

 

He hadn’t reacted at all. Was it acceptance… or rejection?

 

Back at the base, the team members dispersed to their rooms to sleep.

 

“Alright, I have some things to take care of, so I’ll head out first,” Yang Dong said, grabbing his bag in a hurry. “A Yuan, I’ll be back tomorrow.”

 

“Mm.”

 

“Goodbye, Miss Jian.”

 

“Goodbye,” Jian Yanzhi replied, rummaging through her bag for her house keys. “Be careful on the road.”

 

“Okay.”

 

After Yang Dong left, the base fell silent. Everyone was probably exhausted from the day’s festivities, and there was no sound from upstairs.

 

“Where are my keys?” Jian Yanzhi panicked and dumped the contents of her bag onto the ground. “No way… Did I leave them at school?”

 

After rummaging around on the ground for a while, Jian Yanzhi suddenly noticed someone else squatting ahead. She looked up and saw He Yuan, sitting on the ground like a good little boy.

 

“…”

 

“…”

 

“Shen Yuan, go upstairs and sleep. I’ll find the keys and then head home.”

 

“Mm.”

 

The squatting man didn’t move.

 

“I said you can leave. Aren’t you uncomfortable after drinking so much?”

 

She was absolutely miserable. If she could, she’d lie down on the ground and fall asleep right now!

 

“Mm…”

 

Jian Yanzhi paused, finally noticing something amiss in He Yuan’s vacant, slightly dazed gaze.

 

He usually didn’t talk much, but he could at least manage a few words. What did “mm” from beginning to end even mean?

 

Jian Yanzhi stared into his eyes and slowly extended her index finger toward his face.

 

*Poke.*

 

His skin was soft and smooth.

 

*Poke.*

 

The squatting man tilted his head, looking at her with a confused expression.

 

Yes… confused! His dark, deep eyes were fixed on her, like a lost puppy who had finally found its mother!

 

Jian Yanzhi felt her alcohol-induced haze lift halfway. She swallowed nervously and hesitantly asked, “Are you drunk?”

 

He Yuan didn’t reply, his head swaying from side to side.

 

Jian Yanzhi laughed. “No way! That’s why you don’t drink? Because you get cute when you’re drunk? Damn… Shen Yuan, your image is completely shattered!”

 

He Yuan ignored her, initially keeping his eyes fixed on the ground while one hand aimlessly rummaged through Jian Yanzhi’s bag.

 

“Stop, stop, stop! Don’t move!” Jian Yanzhi stood up, using all her strength to drag him to his feet. “Let’s go to sleep, let’s go to sleep. Don’t worry, I’ll definitely forget everything that happened tonight when I wake up tomorrow morning!”

 

“Mmm…”

 

Jian Yanzhi draped He Yuan’s arm over her shoulder and began guiding him upstairs.

 

“Damn, he’s heavy!” Jian Yanzhi had also drunk a lot, and she felt like applauding herself for managing to carry him while still feeling dizzy.

 

“You were walking perfectly fine just a moment ago! Why are you putting all your weight on me now? Hey… be careful!”

 

By the time Jian Yanzhi had dragged He Yuan to his room, she felt like her entire body was about to fall apart.

 

“This… this… the bed is over here… wait!”

 

Instead of being tossed onto the bed, Jian Yanzhi found herself pinned against the wall by He Yuan. Her face was squashed between his chest and the wall, distorting her features. “I… damn it.”

 

The man was clinging to the wall like a gecko, refusing to budge.

 

*Damn it! I’m suffocating!*

 

In a moment of ruthlessness, Jian Yanzhi wrapped her arms around his waist and shoved him with all her might.

 

*Thump!*

 

With an absolute display of dominance, Jian Yanzhi pinned He Yuan to the bed.

 

“Oh, I’m sorry. Did I hurt you?”

 

“…”

 

Half of He Yuan’s legs were still dangling off the bed. Jian Yanzhi lay on top of him, her face filled with guilt. “You were just… pinning me down.”

 

“Mm.”

 

“Why do you just say ‘mm’ to everything? Are you always this obedient?”

 

As they lay close together, she could feel the steady thumping of his chest against hers. Jian Yanzhi lowered her gaze, meeting his childlike, bewildered eyes. “Since you’re being so obedient, let me ask you a few questions. Will you answer honestly?”

 

“Mm.”

 

Jian Yanzhi pursed her lips, emboldened by the alcohol. “Do you… like Wang Tong?”

 

“Mm.”

 

“Say that again!” Jian Yanzhi pinched his cheek, her voice sharp. “Tell me who you like.”

 

“…”

 

He Yuan’s eyes were glazed over, clearly on the verge of passing out. Jian Yanzhi ignored this, continuing to pinch his cheek as she watched him pout helplessly, his expression utterly confused.

 

“He Yuan, I’ll ask you one more time. You *don’t* like Wang Tong, right?”

 

“Mm.”

 

Jian Yanzhi raised an eyebrow and chuckled. “That’s a good boy.”

 

“…”

 

After a moment, the room, which had fallen silent, suddenly filled with a faint voice. “So… you like Jian Yanzhi… don’t you?”

 

*Thump.*

 

*Thump.*

 

*Thump.*

 

The pounding of He Yuan’s heart threatened to drive him mad.

 

“He Yuan, you like Jian Yanzhi. Just nod. Anyway… I’ll forget all about this tomorrow.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Damn it, my head’s about to explode!” Jian Boyi cursed as he stumbled out of the room. “Is anyone making hangover soup? Auntie? Auntie, are you there?”

 

“Auntie took the day off,” Lao Yao said lazily, pressing the power button on his computer. “Brother Dong will be here soon. He can bring some.”

 

“Fine,” Jian Boyi said, rubbing his face. “Ouch… I think someone hit me yesterday. My face hurts like hell.”

 

“Who would bother hitting you? What’s there to hit?”

 

Jian Boyi snorted and massaged his face as he walked downstairs. “Is Eldest still asleep?”

 

“Yeah, probably still passed out in his room.”

 

“Oh, what time did we get back yesterday? I don’t remember a thing,” Jian Boyi said, plopping down on the sofa. “Right, Jian Yanzhi came back with us yesterday, didn’t she?”

 

“Yeah, I remember her being in our car.”

 

“Good,” Jian Boyi yawned. “I was worried that little brat would be so clueless without her entourage of managers and assistants that she’d get kidnapped.”

 

“Tsk, you always worry too much.”

 

Jian Boyi didn’t argue. He glanced at his watch. “Isn’t the coach supposed to be here soon?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

“Then why isn’t Eldest up yet? He used to be so punctual.”

 

“Probably still drunk from last night,” Lao Yao said casually. “Go knock on his door. If he doesn’t answer, just drag him out of bed.”

 

Jian Boyi scoffed. “Heh, drag him out of bed? You’re trying to get me killed, you peasant.”

 

Lao Yao chuckled.

 

Jian Boyi rolled his eyes and headed back upstairs. “Fine, fine, I’ll go wake him up. Otherwise, Brother Dong and the others will start complaining again when they see we’re not all here.”

 

*Author’s Note: Ninth Brother is about to knock on the door. When it opens…*

 

*Captain: Bold peasant! Who told you to come in? Get out!*