Chapter 29 I Think I’m Drunk

Chapter 29: I Think I'm Drunk

Xie Fengshi stared at the string of numbers on his phone screen for a long time, his alcohol-numbed brain making the digits blur and dance before his eyes, impossible to count.

"That's too much," Xie Fengshi mumbled.

Lu Shiyan took the phone away, gently patting Xie Fengshi on his cowlick. "Too much? This is the market price."

Xie Fengshi wanted to argue, but his tongue wouldn't cooperate. He blinked, his gaze falling back onto the empty plates on the table, and a slow smile crept onto his lips. The food he made had been cleaned up.

"Xie Fengshi? Xie Fengshi!"

Lu Shiyan's voice went in one ear and out the other. Xie Fengshi turned his head slowly, meeting Lu Shiyan's face leaning in close, his round eyes full of concern. "Are you okay?"

Xie Fengshi mumbled a vague "Mm," and shrank deeper into his chair. The chair back was dark gray, and his clothes were light-colored, the contrast at the side of his neck making the exposed skin glow white.

Zhou An whispered to Song Zhiyuan beside him, "Does he usually look like this?"

Song Zhiyuan quietly looked away. "He looks good normally too."

Cheng Lang had his phone halfway up when Lu Shiyan smacked it down. "What are you taking pictures of?"

"Just one to remember it by."

"No pictures."

Cheng Lang sulkily put his phone away, but couldn't help sneaking a few more glances at Xie Fengshi.

Xie Fengshi was oblivious to all of this. His attention was on his uncooperative fingers as he played with the chopsticks on the table, trying to line them up parallel to each other. But his fingers seemed to have a mind of their own, crossing the chopsticks crookedly, never getting them straight.

He frowned, the corners of his mouth turning down in dissatisfaction.

Lu Shiyan couldn't stand it anymore. He pulled the chopsticks away from Xie Fengshi. "Stop playing. Your hands aren't listening to you now."

Xie Fengshi looked at his empty hands, then at Lu Shiyan, his eyes, hazy from alcohol, full of confusion. "You took my chopsticks. What do I play with now?"

Lu Shiyan's heart softened at the sight. "Hang on, I'll get you some water."

Xie Fengshi obediently nodded, nodding so vigorously his whole body swayed. Lu Shiyan quickly steadied his shoulder, and only after confirming Xie Fengshi wouldn't tip over from the chair did he head to the kitchen.

Cheng Lang couldn't help but remark, "The Xie family really is blind."

Gu Huaixu paused with his wine glass at his lips, a faint, knowing smile directed at Cheng Lang. "Are you saying that hoping he'll hear it, or are you hoping he won't?"

Cheng Lang was taken aback. "I was just commenting. Don't make a big deal out of it."

Gu Huaixu said nothing more, his gaze drifting past the living room toward the kitchen. Xie Fengshi was still sitting at the dining table, and Lu Shiyan had brought water, coaxing him to drink as if he were a child.

When Xie Fengshi took the cup, his hands were still shaking, water spilling onto his hand. Lu Shiyan quickly handed him a napkin, but Xie Fengshi lowered his head, pressed his lips to his own hand, and sipped off the water.

After two sips, he put the cup back on the table, then curled up in his chair again—this time especially tightly, his knees touching his chest, his hands hidden in his sleeves, only his fingertips showing.

Lu Shiyan felt his forehead and let out a sigh of relief. "He really can't hold his liquor. Just two cups, and he's like this."

"Some people are extremely sensitive to alcohol. It might be a body chemistry issue," Song Zhiyuan said.

Cheng Lang stood up. "What do we do now? We can't just leave him sitting here, can we? Can he go back like this?"

Lu Shiyan was also troubled. All of them had been drinking, so none could drive. They could call a ride, but in Xie Fengshi's current state, he really didn't feel comfortable letting him go home alone.

"Let him stay here for the night. I have a guest room with clean sheets. He can leave tomorrow."

Everyone agreed this was the best plan. Just as Lu Shiyan was about to go check the guest room, Xie Fengshi's phone, which was on the table, suddenly vibrated.

The caller ID on the screen was an English name. Lu Shiyan hesitated, unsure whether to answer.

The phone kept vibrating. Xie Fengshi, hearing the noise, lifted his head dazedly, his unfocused eyes landing on the screen with no intention of picking up.

Lu Shiyan sighed, picked up the phone, and answered. "Hello?"

There was a brief silence on the other end, then a low voice came through. "Excuse me, is this Xie Fengshi's phone?"

Lu Shiyan was momentarily stunned. He recognized that voice—he had heard it before, downstairs at Xie Fengshi's building. "You're... Kaelen?"

"I am. Is Feng Shi there?"

Lu Shiyan told the truth. "He's here, but he can't talk right now. He had a few drinks and is drunk."

The line was quiet for two seconds. When the voice spoke again, Lu Shiyan felt something suppressed beneath it. "Where are you?"

Lu Shiyan gave his home address, then immediately thought, *Why am I being so obedient?*

There was a sound on the other end, like something being picked up and put down. "I'll be there in about forty minutes."

"Wait, wait!" Lu Shiyan was shocked. "Where are you coming from?! Aren't you in... the...?"

"I'm at the airport."

"The airport?! You just landed?"

"Yeah. I'll contact you when I arrive."

"No, you don't have to—"

Before Lu Shiyan could finish, the other party had already hung up.

Cheng Lang spoke first. "Who was that?"

Lu Shiyan's expression was indescribable. "A friend."

"What kind of friend comes from the airport? What an amazing friend?"

When he first got the call, Lu Shiyan hadn't had time to think. But now it dawned on him: the person on the phone said he was at the airport, meaning he had already landed—maybe even been there for a while. The first thing he did after landing was call, only to have someone else answer.

Who he had wanted to talk to was obvious.

Lu Shiyan stood up and started ushering them out. "Alright, alright, stop crowding. Time to clean up, time to sober up. Don't let it be that when he arrives, the whole place still reeks of alcohol."

...

When the doorbell rang, Lu Shiyan rushed to answer it. The person standing outside nearly made him do a double take.

He had only met Kaelen once before, but in Lu Shiyan's memory, Kaelen was well-groomed. Now, his disheveled hair surprised him.

Kaelen said, "Hello, I'm here to pick up Feng Shi."

Lu Shiyan stepped aside. "He's inside."

As Kaelen walked in, everyone in the living room fell silent at once. Gu Huaixu was the only one who didn't look surprised.

Kaelen's goal was clear as soon as he entered. He walked quickly to the dining table, where Xie Fengshi was still curled up in a chair. Kaelen crouched down beside Xie Fengshi and said, "Feng Shi."

Xie Fengshi's head, buried in his arms, moved slightly. Kaelen called again, "Feng Shi."

Xie Fengshi slowly lifted his head, revealing a face flushed with drink. The redness at the corners of his eyes had spread to his temples. His black pupils, moist with a watery sheen, wandered aimlessly before finally focusing on Kaelen.

Xie Fengshi stared at Kaelen for a moment, then his rosy lips slowly curved into a smile. "Kaelen."

His honeyed voice sounded as if it had been scooped from a honey jar, each word drawing out into a soft, lingering tone. "Why are you here?"

Kaelen's Adam's apple bobbed. He reached out and brushed the stray hair from Xie Fengshi's forehead, revealing a bare forehead. "I'm here to take you home."

Xie Fengshi tilted his head, rubbing his cheek against Kaelen's palm, and once he found the source of warmth, he pressed his cheek deeper into Kaelen's palm.

"Okay," Xie Fengshi replied obediently.

Kaelen's hand slid from Xie Fengshi's cheek to the back of his neck, giving a slight lift. "Can you stand up?"

Xie Fengshi tried to push himself up, but his knees gave way and he pitched forward. His forehead rested against Kaelen's shoulder, and he simply refused to move, burying his cheek in the crook of Kaelen's neck. His nose nuzzled the high collar fabric as he let out a muffled laugh.

Kaelen tightened his arms and lifted him steadily. "It seems you can't."

Lu Shiyan covered his face, peeking through his fingers at the scene, thinking that if Xie Fengshi remembered any of this when he sobered up tomorrow, he would probably want to bury himself in the ground.

Kaelen showed no sign of discomfort. With one arm around Xie Fengshi, he picked up Xie Fengshi's jacket with the other and turned to Lu Shiyan. "Are all his things here?"

Lu Shiyan handed over Xie Fengshi's phone and keys. "Yes, everything's here."

Kaelen took them. "Thank you for taking care of him."

"N-no need to thank me," Lu Shiyan stuttered. "It's only right. We're friends."

Kaelen nodded and looked down at the person in his arms. Xie Fengshi had somehow lifted his head from the crook of Kaelen's neck and was looking up at the ceiling, the light of the crystal chandelier reflected in his pitch-black eyes.

Xie Fengshi asked, "What are you looking at?"

"You," Kaelen said.

Xie Fengshi blinked. He reached out and poked Kaelen's nose, then his brow, and finally said dead seriously, "You're so handsome."

Kaelen's lips curved upward. "Thank you. You're very handsome too."

Xie Fengshi was satisfied with this reply. He nodded, then buried his face back in Kaelen's shoulder, tucking himself entirely into Kaelen's embrace, giving up any idea of walking on his own.

Kaelen steadily lifted him in his arms. Xie Fengshi found a comfortable position in his arms and closed his eyes.

After they had left, Cheng Lang asked, "Who was that guy?"

Gu Huaixu, who had been silent all along, said, "Kaelen Zephyr."

Cheng Lang frowned. "Which Zephyr?"

Gu Huaixu gave him a look. "How many Zephyrs do you think there are?"

Lu Shiyan followed behind to see them out. When Kaelen carried Xie Fengshi into the elevator, just before the doors closed, Lu Shiyan saw Xie Fengshi stir in Kaelen's arms and say something. Kaelen lowered his head and pressed his lips to Xie Fengshi's forehead.

The elevator doors closed.

Lu Shiyan leaned against the doorframe and let out a breath. Cheng Lang had somehow come up behind him. "What's their relationship?"

"They're just friends."

Cheng Lang didn't believe it. "What if I carried you like that?"

Lu Shiyan: ...

"Come on, whatever their relationship is, it's none of your business."

Cheng Lang raised his hands in surrender. "I'm just curious, nothing more."

Lu Shiyan returned to the living room and called their regular cleaning lady. Gu Huaixu sat on the sofa, lost in thought. Lu Shiyan approached him. "What are you thinking about?"

Gu Huaixu looked up. "I was wondering if Xie Fengshi knows who that guy really is."

"Of course he does. Isn't he the neighbor who's like a big brother to him?"

Gu Huaixu's expression turned unreadable. "Is his neighbor named Isaac?"

"I think so. Do you know him?"

Gu Huaixu's expression said it all.

The fact that the youngest son of the Zephyr family had run away from home months ago was no secret. It was just that nobody knew where the rebellious teenager had been hiding.

So he had been hiding right next door to Xie Fengshi.

Gu Huaixu recalled Kaelen carrying Xie Fengshi off. The Zephyr family heir, known for being calm and restrained, wore an expression Gu Huaixu had never seen in public.

That expression made Gu Huaixu think of one word:

home.

...

Inside the elevator, Xie Fengshi woke up briefly.

He opened his eyes and reached up and touched Kaelen's chin. His fingertips brushed against the slight stubble, rough under his fingers. Xie Fengshi complained, "You didn't shave."

Amusement flickered in Kaelen's eyes. "I shaved this morning. It's already grown back."

"It grows way too fast."

"Mm, my bad."

Xie Fengshi was quite satisfied with him taking the blame. He pulled his hand away and curled back up in Kaelen's arms.

As Kaelen was about to buckle Xie Fengshi into the passenger seat, Xie Fengshi threw his arms around Kaelen's neck.

"Don't leave," Xie Fengshi said, his cheek pressed against Kaelen's throat, his breath warm on Kaelen's neck. "You always show up, leave, and then vanish."

Kaelen tilted his head slightly, his lips against Xie Fengshi's ear. "I'm not leaving. I'm taking you home, and I'll stay till you're asleep."

Xie Fengshi wasn't totally happy with that answer. He tightened his arms, clinging to Kaelen. "And tomorrow?"

"I'll be there tomorrow."

"What about the day after?"

"The day after that too."

Xie Fengshi finally let go and allowed Kaelen to fasten his seatbelt for him. The car rolled down the road; it was already dark, and streetlights flickered on one by one, making a river of light.

Xie Fengshi stared at the light spots outside the window for a moment. "Kaelen."

"Hmm?"

"Am I drunk?"

"What do you think?"

"I think I might be drunk. My brain's not really listening to me. When I see you, I get really happy, and I want to keep looking at you. But if I was sober, there's no way I'd act like this."

Xie Fengshi pressed his face against the cold glass. The cold seeped in, but it couldn't put out the heat on his face or the fire in his heart. "I don't want to pretend anymore."

The car stopped at a red light. Kaelen turned to look at Xie Fengshi, who had his face pressed against the window, little specks of light flickering in his eyes.

Kaelen said, "You never have to pretend around me."

Xie Fengshi lifted his head from the window and smiled as he looked at Kaelen.

That smile was one Kaelen had never seen before. His eyes turned into crescents, showing off his straight white teeth, and his whole self emerged from its shell, laying bare his softest side without any guard up.