Chapter Sixty-One

Chapter Sixty-One

When they met for the first time, Jiang Yiyan was not only unfamiliar with Xu Qing but also with Wen Mochuan. Therefore, she mostly kept silent and did not interact much with Xu Qing.

Now it was their second meeting, and after more than a month of getting to know each other, she had become quite familiar with Wen Mochuan. She had also gradually adapted to this world. So, when facing Wen Mochuan's friends, Jiang Yiyan was not at all nervous.

In response to Xu Qing's enthusiasm, Jiang Yiyan replied gracefully, "Hello, Master Xu."

Xu Qing was naturally skilled in social interactions. Even if someone didn't respond to him, he could still talk non-stop. Now that Jiang Yiyan had engaged with him, he continued talking incessantly as he followed her.

Finally, by the time they reached the private room entrance, they had exchanged WeChat contacts, concluding their conversation.

"Sister-in-law, if you bring friends here to dine in the future, just let me know," Xu Qing said, standing at the door and personally opening it for them.

Jiang Yiyan nodded and smiled, "Rest assured, there will be many occasions where I'll need your help."

Xu Qing responded, "I'm afraid Sister-in-law won't come to bother me..." But after receiving a sharp glance from Wen Mochuan, he finally shut his mouth.

He made a gesture as if sealing his lips with tape and then quietly retreated.

Seeing this, Wen Mochuan calmly withdrew his gaze. Turning around, upon seeing Xie Mingfeng and his girlfriend, Wen Mochuan changed his demeanor.

Instead of entering the private room first, he gently placed his hand on his wife's lower back, guiding her inside before following her.

Inside the room, Xie Mingfeng and Yun Lan stood up to greet them. As they approached, Xie Mingfeng took the initiative to introduce everyone.

Jiang Yiyan couldn't help but scrutinize Yun Lan, and Yun Lan did the same, secretly observing Jiang Yiyan. Although it was their first meeting, neither of them was shy, and after a few words, they quickly became comfortable with each other.

Jiang Yiyan proactively asked Yun Lan for her WeChat contact. Though Yun Lan was a bit slower in responding, once she took out her phone, she immediately said, "I'll add you."

After confirming their WeChat friendship, Jiang Yiyan shook her phone, "It's good to have someone in the hospital; if I ever have any health issues, I can reach out to you."

Yun Lan smiled, "I hope you never need to come to the hospital, but if anything happens, feel free to contact me. If I can help, I will."

The two of them hit it off so well that they even went to the restroom together. After they left, Xie Mingfeng chuckled, "I didn't expect them to get along so well."

Wen Mochuan hadn't anticipated such smooth progress either. The purpose of organizing this dinner was to hope that his wife would become friends with Yun Lan. He thought it might take several meetings before they truly connected.

But unexpectedly, they seemed like friends after just one meeting.

"Maybe it's fate," he mused. "Not everyone can enter the same family, but since Mingfeng and I have been close friends for years, and now our wives get along so well, it seems some things are meant to be."

"Now you really care about Sister-in-law," Xie Mingfeng nudged him playfully, winking suggestively, "What's going on? Suddenly becoming a henpecked husband?"

Wen Mochuan smiled but shook his head, "I don't know either." He didn't deny being a henpecked husband.

"It feels different, doesn't it?" he said softly.

Xie Mingfeng, having been in several relationships, understood the feeling deeply and had a lot to say on the matter.

"For example, with Lan Lan and me, we were introduced through mutual acquaintances. Honestly, our first impression wasn't great." He laughed, "To be honest, compared to my previous girlfriends, our first impression wasn't pleasant. I found her too serious and cold, and she thought I was too frivolous and not steady enough. But later, when I had an acute appendicitis attack and stayed in her hospital for a few days, spending time together day and night, I realized she was a wonderful person."

"Even though she can still be cold and serious sometimes, I find her adorable. It's like... I can't lose her even if I lost everything else. I used to love hanging out with friends and drinking, but knowing she didn't like it, I gradually stopped."

"But she isn't unreasonable either. She manages me without being too controlling. We've both adjusted our habits to fit each other's lifestyles. Now, I feel I can't live without her. If she ever left me, I'd die."

Xie Mingfeng spoke with a dreamy expression, completely immersed in his own love story. Wen Mochuan looked at him with a cold expression, as if looking at a stranger.

"You deserve it! You needed someone to keep you in check," Wen Mochuan said, raising his glass again, "Congratulations on finding such a wonderful girl."

"Same to you," Xie Mingfeng teased, "I always wondered how you would end up, but I didn't expect you to fall for my sister-in-law. Let's enjoy it together."

Everyone was happy today, each for their own reasons. Since it was a drinking session, they inevitably got drunk.

With Xu Qing around, they didn't need to call a designated driver. He arranged everything smoothly.

Jiang Yiyan had some tolerance for alcohol, but this body seemed weak. A few drinks down, and with the evening breeze blowing, she started losing her sense of direction.

She was conscious, but her steps were unsteady. She tried to walk straight, but her legs wouldn't listen.

But Jiang Yiyan was stubborn by nature. The more she couldn't walk straight, the more determined she was to try.

"Don't touch me! Don't touch me! Don't hold me!" Pushing away the hand trying to support her, Jiang Yiyan staggered, moving sideways like a crab.

Seeing her reluctance, Wen Mochuan didn't insist. Instead, he silently followed behind her, ready to catch her if she stumbled.

Though Wen Mochuan had also drunk a lot and was tipsy, he remained sober-minded. Perhaps it was a habit formed over the years or because there was no one he fully trusted, he always kept his wits about him.

At any drinking session, he appeared drunk but was actually only half-drunk. He preferred to stay alert, ensuring his safety.

Business dinners were like this, and so were gatherings with friends.

Fortunately, Jiang Yiyan remembered the way home. Stumbling into the villa garden, she smiled triumphantly.

"See, I did it! I knew I could," she said proudly, turning to show off to those behind her before climbing the steps.

Seeing her wobbly ascent, Wen Mochuan quickly reached out to support her.

"Be careful," his tall frame provided a solid support and a sense of security. He echoed her words, "You're very capable. Drinking so much and still knowing which way home is shows you have a remarkable tolerance."

Jiang Yiyan's previous job often required her to drink at business dinners, where people tended to compete a bit.

So Wen Mochuan's praise pleased her greatly.

"I'm better than Yun Lan, right? Xie Mingfeng said Yun Lan can't drink, but I think she's pretty good, just a little less than me. We agreed to continue next time."

Wen Mochuan agreed with his wife, "Xie Mingfeng was unfair, trying to drink for her. Girls' matters don't need his interference. He ended up embarrassing himself."

"Exactly!" Jiang Yiyan concurred, "Girls' matters don't need his input. How rude!"

At this moment, in another car, Xie Mingfeng was consoling another drunk girl: "..." Suddenly, he sneezed for no reason.

Yun Lan couldn't help it and kept shouting loudly: "I can't take it anymore, I can't take it anymore."

Just as Xie Mingfeng was anxiously asking her if she was feeling unwell and whether he should take her to the hospital, Yun Lan suddenly made a "retching" sound and vomited precisely onto his shirt.

Xie Mingfeng: "..."

Though it was unexpected, Xie Mingfeng didn't feel disgusted at all and certainly didn't blame her. He simply adjusted his hold on her to avoid getting the vomit on her clothes.

"If you feel better by vomiting, just let it all out." He gently patted her back, his voice soft and indulgent with a hint of reproach, "I told you I would drink for you, why did you insist? Now you know how uncomfortable it is, right?"

Yun Lan mumbled something incoherently, and he could barely make it out, so he conceded, "Alright, alright, I won't say anything more."

On the other side, Wen Mochuan wasn't faring much better. Jiang Yiyán hadn't vomited outside, but as soon as they got home, before she could reach the toilet, she started retching violently.

Wen Mochuan could have dodged, but his instinct was not to avoid her. Instead, he feared her frail body might collapse, so he held her arm tightly. Jiang Yiyán's vomiting became uncontrollable, and the vomit splattered, staining Wen Mochuan's white shirt bit by bit.