Chapter 99 You’re Poking Me Again

Chapter 99: You're Digging into Me Again

The tipsy plan seemed to have gone wrong.

Chen Bufan supported Shen Ci, who still seemed relatively sober, and watched Song Qiuchi direct two waiters to set up the scene in a newly booked private room.

"Is this really okay?" Chen Bufan's voice was a bit weak, sounding unconvinced. "Brother Shiyan will kill us..."

Song Qiuchi shook her high ponytail and said confidently, "He wouldn't dare lay a hand on me."

"?"

Chen Bufan felt Shen Ci's legs buckling, starting to slide off. He stepped over the strategically placed empty bottles on the floor and set Shen Ci down on the sofa.

"...Right, smash that bottle." Song Qiuchi said to one of the waiters.

With a crack, the bottle shattered into pieces, glass fragments scattering everywhere. A larger piece flew to Shen Ci's feet, spinning a few times before stopping.

"Good work." Song Qiuchi generously pulled out two stacks of cash and stuffed them into the waiters' hands. "This is for the setup. When you leave, please call in the people waiting at the door."

The money looked like a few thousand bucks. The waiters quickly thanked her and left.

"I don't think we need to pretend anymore..." Chen Bufan kicked the glass fragment away from Shen Ci's feet.

As he spoke, several people with different styles of dress walked in from the door—some men, some women—and stood in a row waiting for Song Qiuchi's orders.

"If you're going to put on a show, you have to go all out, understand?" Song Qiuchi rolled her eyes at Chen Bufan. "If we don't go all out, how will we get Brother Shiyan riled up?"

Chen Bufan: "..."

After Song Qiuchi gave instructions to the extras she had hired, she let out a sigh and sat down. The time at the bottom right of the big screen in the room showed 11:52. "It's time to call Brother Shiyan."

In fact, before Chen Bufan called Shen Shiyan, Shen Ci's phone had already received seven missed calls.

The call was quickly answered. The voice on the other end sounded a bit impatient. "Hello? Is Shen Ci there? Is he with you guys?"

"Yeah." Chen Bufan was a little timid but, after being glared at by Song Qiuchi, quickly said, "Brother Shiyan, Shen Ci seems to be drunk. Come pick him up."

There was a two-second silence on the phone. "Send me the address on WeChat."

"Okay." Chen Bufan hung up and felt like he had broken out in a cold sweat.

After sending the address and the room name, the reply came quickly.

Shen Shiyan: Twenty minutes.

Shen Ci was curled up in a corner of the sofa, looking dazed. He stretched out a finger and tried to count how many people were in the room.

"We'll start rehearsing three minutes early." Song Qiuchi reminded them. "Remember, when he comes, he'll definitely head straight for my friend. To avoid getting hit, everyone run out as fast as you can, as if you're being chased by the police."

But just in case, Song Qiuchi added, "If anyone does get hit, come to me for injury compensation."

The wait dragged on, and the roomful of people exchanged awkward looks.

Song Qiuchi thought she had covered everything, but something still went wrong.

Because Shen Shiyan arrived a full five minutes early.

The second the door pushed open, it was total chaos. It was like a poorly poached egg falling apart in boiling water—utter chaos. Two of the actors suddenly started yelling at each other for no reason, the remaining actors awkwardly wandered around the room aimlessly, and the guy supposed to cozy up to Shen Ci was sitting six feet away from him.

Before he could move closer to Shen Ci, Shen Shiyan was already by his side.

One look from him sent the guy scurrying away in fear.

For a moment it was eerily quiet, then everyone scattered.

Song Qiuchi hadn't seen this coming. She put her hand to her forehead and faked being drunk.

"Your aunt's on her way." Shen Shiyan glanced at her, then turned to look at Shen Ci, whose face was flushed.

"How much did he drink?"

Chen Bufan wanted to fake being drunk too, but he didn't get the chance. He answered honestly, "Six glasses."

Shen Shiyan frowned. "Beer?"

Chen Bufan took a step back. "Fruit wine..."

"...and hard liquor."

Chen Bufan felt he had mustered all his courage just to admit to Shen Shiyan that Shen Ci had been drinking.

Actually, Shen Ci had also eaten a large plate of alcohol-soaked fruit...

Amidst the chaos and rapid breathing, Shen Ci finally saw Shen Shiyan. He reached out and called him "Brother" in a soft voice.

Song Xianghan arrived just at that moment. Shen Shiyan nodded at Song Xianghan and turned to ask Shen Ci if he could walk.

Shen Ci didn't answer, just kept his arm outstretched.

"Let's go, Miss Song. Bufan, come with me. I'll take you home." Song Xianghan twirled her car keys and led the two guilt-ridden people out of the room.

"Shen Ci." Shen Shiyan touched the back of his hand to Shen Ci's face. It was a little warm.

Shen Ci shook his head, bit his lip, and called him "D-daddy," a name he hadn't used in a long time.

Shen Shiyan really didn't want to see Shen Ci like this in some random bar. He sighed, scooped Shen Ci up under his knees, and cradled his head with the other hand, lifting him easily.

Shen Ci was quiet—no talking, no fuss—letting Shen Shiyan carry him all the way to the car. After unlocking the car, Shen Shiyan put him in the passenger seat, pushed down his flailing hands, and buckled his seatbelt.

The hospital wasn't far. About ten minutes later, Shen Shiyan pulled into the hospital parking lot.

The parking lot was dead quiet in the middle of the night. Shen Ci hated being trapped by the seatbelt. He started fumbling around the passenger side, trying to find the release button.

"Shen Ci." Shen Shiyan said his name coldly as he pressed the seatbelt buckle for him. "I can't handle you anymore, can I?"

Shen Shiyan raised his voice a notch. Shen Ci froze, and his eyes quickly welled up.

He was a little afraid of Shen Shiyan right then, but he still wanted to be close to him.

Freed from the seatbelt, Shen Ci scrambled to climb over the center console to the driver's seat.

He wobbled all over. Afraid he might bang into something, Shen Shiyan quickly moved his hands to shield him, practically letting him scramble clumsily over the console and onto his lap.

Shen Shiyan's car was roomy, and with his height, his seat was pushed way back. Adding Shen Ci didn't make it feel tight.

Shen Ci's legs, having nowhere else to go, wrapped stubbornly around Shen Shiyan's waist, locking together like mortise and tenon.

After drinking, he always got thirsty. Shen Ci couldn't stop licking his lips. His bottom lip glistened under the dome light. In the enclosed car, every breath Shen Shiyan took was filled with the fruity, alcoholic scent coming off Shen Ci.

"Shen Shiyan..." Shen Ci murmured his name.

Shen Shiyan's body stiffened. He pinched the back of Shen Ci's neck, pulling him away slightly, forcing Shen Ci to look into his eyes.

His black shirt was already wrinkled by Shen Ci, his tie slightly askew. Shen Ci toyed with the end of his tie, swinging it back and forth like he was playing.

"Who am I?" Shen Shiyan's Adam's apple bobbed as he asked in a low voice.

Shen Ci's senses seemed to go dull. He had no strength at all and fell onto Shen Shiyan before speaking.

A couple of minutes later, Shen Ci propped himself up with one hand on Shen Shiyan's chest, barely supporting himself, and bit the end of his tie.

"......"

"Shen Shiyan." As he spoke, the tie fell and lightly tapped Shen Shiyan's chest.

Shen Ci leaned in again, his breath close to the pulse on Shen Shiyan's neck, opened his mouth and bit at his mole. After drinking, Shen Ci's voice was impossibly soft, like it was laced with water, and his words trailed off with a hook.

"Shen Shiyan..." Shen Ci said intermittently, "Do you like me... or not..."

For a moment, Shen Shiyan felt like he was dreaming.

But soon he heard Shen Ci's voice again, calling him gege or d-ddy

"Like me..."

The air conditioner might as well have stopped working. Both of them were burning hot. Shen Shiyan wanted to keep holding the drunk person in his arms, bring Zhong Yurong along and flee Yuncheng, escape to a place where no one could see them. He hoped, a little ignobly, that Shen Ci would stay drunk forever, always begging for his affection like a pitiful little animal.

But in fact, the one who really wanted to ask for affection had always been himself.

Shen Shiyan never imagined his years-long secret crush could actually come true. It turned out the person who had vaguely teased him before had never been using him as some kind of experiment.

He said "yes" solemnly, his voice hoarse, close to Shen Ci's ear.

Shen Ci's head was now very fuzzy. His limbs were weak and his eyelids heavy.

He pressed his face against Shen Shiyan's shoulder, about to fall asleep.

After a while, as if uncomfortable, he shifted his position, weakly formed a loose fist and lightly hit Shen Shiyan, not hurting at all.

Shen Shiyan caught his wrist, lifted it to his lips, and pressed a featherlight kiss there, hearing Shen Ci's displeased voice.

"Gege... why are you poking me again..."