Chapter 15: Drunken Frenzy. A straight man? Think again.

The clear, transparent liquid swayed in the mug.

Only He Guan partook in this drinking session, purely experimental in nature, so it was exceptionally quiet.

Without hesitation and almost seamlessly, he gulped down the white liquor in the mug.

Initially, He Guan was conscious—aware that someone was beside him.

But as time progressed, his head grew heavier, and when he finally opened his eyes again, he was greeted by the pattern on the short round table he had moved in earlier.

At some point, his face had already found its way onto the table.

Only when not a single drop could be poured from the bottle did He Guan brace himself against the table, struggling to sit upright, and slurred, "Lou, where are you?"

Everything in his vision was blurred: "So annoying. Why are there three of you? Which one's the real you?"

"None of them. I'm behind you."

A sound emanated from the phone in the responder's hand.

The mechanical voice: "Stop. Thirty-five minutes, thirty-six point five-five seconds."

The intoxicated young man, his face flushed, instinctively leaned backward, getting caught and supported by a sturdy embrace around his waist.

Even in his inebriated state, He Guan remembered Lou Dongzang sitting beside him, not behind.

"When did you... move behind me?"

The one holding him gently stated the fact: "You leaned back into my arms as you drank."

He Guan feigned innocence: "That can't be... How could I..."

But when it came time to explain, he found himself lost for words.

Why wouldn't his mouth cooperate...?

Lou Dongzang: "What's so impossible about it?"

Without replying, He Guan snuggled into Lou's embrace, wrapping around him with arms and legs, surrendering control and opting to follow his heart.

"It's so hot..."

Lou Dongzang had intended to place the phone on the table, but He Guan pressed against him, insisting on leaning back until both of them ended up on the carpet.

Lou Dongzang, sprawled on the carpet without resistance, pointed out: "...You're drunk."

He Guan, with his face buried in Lou's chest, mumbled a laugh: "Mhm, I know."

Lou Dongzang continued: "You were thoroughly intoxicated at thirty-five minutes."

He Guan reminisced with a hint of nostalgia: "I'm such a lightweight... In the past, I could drink like this, and while everyone else would be down, I'd still be standing."

With a hint of curiosity, Lou Dongzang asked, "In the past?"

He Guan: "Yeah, before... when I was still with my family's company."

'My family.'

Another key phrase.

After He Guan uttered those words, he didn't elaborate further. Feeling warm, he shifted a little upwards, nestling against Lou Dongzang's bare neck.

Now, his breath, laced with the scent of alcohol, fanned over Lou Dongzang's nape.

He Guan rubbed contentedly: "It's cool. Nice snake."

Lou Dongzang wondered if he misheard: "Nice what?"

He Guan sounded slightly annoyed: "Snake! A long, icy one, like the one I'm hugging now."

So dense, can't even understand words.

He tried to introduce the creature to Lou: "Good snakes aren't talkative, like my corn snake. But you, you talk too much; not abiding by the snake code."

Lou Dongzang: "...Your corn snake? You keep snakes?"

He Guan: "Mhm... Of course, my corn snake is named Xiao Huang... such a good snake..."

But Lou Dongzang distinctly remembered his father mentioning...

He Guan has ophidiophobia.

Lou Dongzang even recalled the tone He Guan used when he visited the Lou residence.

With a sharp, floaty voice, the young man expressed his aversion to anything snake-related inside the house.

Consequently, the house staff went to great lengths to remove all snake-related paintings, decorations, and luxury items resembling snakes from the house.

In the dark room, Lou Dongzang's eyes suddenly snapped open.

The phone screen's constant glow illuminated his clear, cold eyes, devoid of any hint of life.

His voice carried a dangerous edge, and he pressed harder against He Guan's waist, demanding, "Who are you?"

Where did you come from?

Are you He Guan?

Or a spirit inhabiting someone else's body?

He Guan retorted, "You're a pig."

Lou Dongzang: "..."

He Guan took a playful bite at him: "Me, He Guan. You, pig."

For the first time in his life, Lou Dongzang was bitten this way. He wasn't angry, but rather found the sensation intriguing.

This unexpected reaction dissolved his confrontational demeanor.

Lou Dongzang's eyes, illuminated by the phone's glow, seemed inhuman and hollow, moving with his intentions, yet seeing nothing.

He shifted the topic, "Why aren't you afraid of me?"

To anyone watching, the current scene could easily belong to a horror movie.

Unaware, He Gu hugged him, commenting, "It's cool. I like it."

He had drunk too much and too quickly. With a surge of adrenaline, it felt as if there was a fire burning inside him, so scorching that the heat seemed to emanate from his organs to the surface of his skin.

Lou Dongzang touched his forehead.

No fever.

He Gu warmed a small patch of skin around Lou Dongzang's collarbone and soon grew discontented with the patch he'd warmed with his own body temperature.

He shifted his face, rubbing it from one side of the other's shoulder to the other, in the process causing Lou Dongzang's round-necked shirt to become ruffled and disheveled.

Finding a new cool patch of skin, He Gu sighed in contentment, "So comfortable."

Lou Dongzang remained silent.

Using him as an air conditioner, apparently.

Lou Dongzang closed his eyes, the obsession in them completely gone.

The question he wanted to ask lingered on the tip of his tongue but he chose to set it aside.

What a drunkard.

Expecting answers from a drunk was his oversight.

Lou Dongzang lifted him, suggesting, "Let's go sleep on the bed."

He Gu frowned, tightening his grip due to the movement, clinging to him like a koala unwilling to leave its tree, "I won't."

I promise I won't go crazy from the alcohol.jpg

They drank by the bed. Held firmly by He Gu and unable to move, Lou Dongzang reached out to pull the blanket from the bed.

The blanket wasn't heavy, so it was relatively easy to cover them both.

The carpet had been tidied once, making it just suitable for sleeping directly on the floor.

The blanket, which He Gu had aired out in the morning, radiated the warmth of the sun, so much so that Lou Dongzang paused to touch it, just to ascertain if it was the same one.

It was indeed that blanket.

But it felt different now.

Both the smell and temperature had changed.

After being sun-dried, the velvet seemed like a reservoir of warmth. By night, it became a unique source of energy, continually radiating a gentle warmth.

Feeling too warm under the blanket, He Gu released his hands which had been holding onto Lou Dongzang, rolling off and lying back on the carpet beside him.

After warming up Lou Dongzang, he pushed away the human serpent and chose to sleep outside the blanket.

Even inebriated, his sleeping posture remained impeccable.

Lou Dongzang tuned into his rhythmic breathing, realizing that his mind had gradually become filled with the sound of it.

Chaotic thoughts seemed to be blocked outside a wall, unable to intrude any longer.

On the brink of sleep, he moved closer to He Gu, sharing half the blanket with him.

A dreamless night.

He Gu woke up early in the morning, his head pounding.

The person beside him was still asleep. As He Gu groggily attempted to sit up, before making any move, he opened his eyes to find Lou Dongzang's face right in front of him.

Less than a centimeter away.

He froze, face-to-face at such close proximity for a few seconds, hardly daring to breathe, and slowly slid downward.

Only when he was out of Lou Dongzang's embrace did He Gu take a deep breath.

Lou Dongzang slept beside him, even offering an arm as a pillow for He Gu.

Unsure if Lou Dongzang's arm was numb, and fearing waking him up, He Gu refrained from moving him and instead adjusted the blanket for Lou Dongzang.

While doing so, He Gu noticed that Lou Dongzang was a light sleeper; seeing his brow furrow as if about to wake, He Gu halted his actions.

With such a delicate sleep, better not to disturb him.

He sat on the floor, dazed for a couple of minutes, sobering up, then got up to open a window.

He Gu stood by the window for a few moments, exhaling a murky breath into the fresh air outside.

Still feeling a tad dizzy, he massaged his temples as he made his way downstairs, intending to prepare some honey water in the kitchen.

While waiting for the water to boil, He Gu fetched an apple from the refrigerator to munch on.

Uncle Yue, returning from cleaning outside, entered the kitchen. Their eyes met and he greeted with a gentle smile, "Young Master, you're up early."

Swallowing his bite of apple, He Gu pointed to his head, "A headache. Felt like it was about to split open if I didn't get up."

Anticipating Uncle Yue's concern, he added, "I'm fine, I'm making honey water for my hangover. Eating fruit also helps. I'll just wait here, Uncle. You can attend to your tasks, no need to worry about me."

Uncle Yue sighed in relief.

The kitchen was well-ventilated, with windows typically open. Now, the fresh breeze continuously flowed in, lifting a corner of He Gu's crumpled shirt.

As he watched Uncle Yue busily moving about the kitchen, He Gu remarked softly, "You remind me of an elder I once knew."

Uncle Yue looked surprised, "Do I?"

He Gu began, "Yes, you..."

After uttering two words, he quickly caught himself reminiscing about the past. He swiftly redirected, "On closer inspection, perhaps not quite. You're much more cheerful than he was. Please don't take it to heart."

Uncle Yue simply acknowledged, "Mm."

Once the water had boiled, He Gu discarded the apple core into the trash, poured himself a cup of hot water, and stirred in some honey.

As he stirred, he laughed at his own greed.

Considering the sudden heart attack he had experienced, being alive was already a blessing. Yet here he was, seeking shadows of his past in this world, which felt somewhat unfair to those present now.

Moreover, if he were to recognize someone, his motives would inevitably be questioned.

Would he claim to be from another world?

It sounded monstrous.

With his emotions in check, He Gu inquired, "Uncle, did you just sweep the entrance?"

Uncle Yue nodded, "Yes, I cleared the stubborn fallen leaves. I had to scrape off those sticking to the ground. In a day or so, after a final rinse, the entrance will look as good as new."

He Gu praised, "You're amazing, Uncle!"

Uncle Yue chuckled heartily, tapping the floor with his broom, "You should freshen up too. You reek of alcohol."

He Gu replied, "Alright, I'm just waiting for my drink to cool down."

He blew on the hot honey water to cool it, and holding the cup, headed upstairs.

Upon reaching the second floor, he was greeted by the sight of Lou Dongzang, who had just awakened, standing motionlessly at the bedroom door, holding the empty liquor bottle from the previous night.

It then dawned on He Gu that there was no wastebasket on the second floor for Lou Dongzang.

Lou Dongzang had nowhere to dispose of his trash.

Unsure of what to do with the empty bottle, he just stood there.

He Gu approached, intending to take the empty bottle, saying, "Give it to me. I'll bring a trash bin up later. Did I say anything out of line last night?"

Lately, he felt a tad overwhelmed.

It perplexed him how he could neglect those close to him and yet pine for those he could never see again.

He Gu's question was casual, but to his surprise, Lou Dongzang indeed responded.

However, he gripped the bottle firmly, not allowing He Gu to take it.

His face was emotionless, but the words he uttered made He Gu's blood run cold, "Yes, you asked me who you were."

His tone held a trace of mockery as he continued, "Other than that, nothing else. So, have you drunk so much that you've forgotten yourself? Do you need me to remind you?"

He Gu took a step back. At this moment, all he felt was relief.

Thankfully, Lou Dongzang couldn't see... or he'd notice the sweat beading on his forehead.

Detecting He Gu's labored breathing, Lou Dongzang furrowed his brows, "What's wrong with you? Your breathing's changed."

Scrambling for an excuse, He Gu tried to stabilize his breath, "I'm fine. I just drank some honey water and felt a bit off. I'm better now."

Lou Dongzang calmly advised, "If you have asthma, get it checked out. Then, I'd have a fellow patient. Apart from being a drunkard, you seem alright."

He Gu, heart settling down by Lou Dongzang's tone, chuckled, "Next time if I drink, don't trust me. Kick me out. I've made the room reek."

Lou Dongzang took a step closer, standing right before He Gu, "Reek?"

He Gu pulled at his shirt, "Yes. Don't you smell it? I feel like I'm fermenting."

Lou Dongzang moved in even closer, "Is that so? Let me take a whiff."

Even with his eyes shut, he seemed to navigate effortlessly, leaning in and placing a hand on He Gu's shoulder.

At such close proximity, He Gu now realized...

Lou Dongzang was actually taller than him.

Those pale lips still held no trace of color.

Just as He Gu had anticipated, Lou Dongzang whispered two terse words.

"Stay still."

He radiated a chilling coldness, as if he'd been touched by frost, even as spring was setting in.

Holding He Gu's shoulder, he lightly sniffed near his ear.

His breath was as delicate as falling snow.

He Gu could sense the slight tightening of Lou Dongzang's fingers during the process.

It felt as if Lou Dongzang was subtly caressing the fabric of his shirt.

He wasn't certain.

Quickly straightening up, Lou Dongzang remarked, "It's alright. There's just a hint of a wine scent. I don't mind it."

He Gu responded, "You're too kind. If anyone ever says you're cold, I'll be the first to defend you."

Lou Dongzang passed the bottle to him and inquired casually, "How did you come to hear that people say I'm aloof?"

He Guan silently cursed himself for letting something slip and quickly patched up his mistake, "It's not uncommon to hear whispers before signing an agreement. You're quite renowned, you know."

Lou Dongzang responded noncommittally: "Hmm."

As for the kind of renown, that's another discussion.

He Guan took the bottle from Lou's hand, downed his already cold honey water in one gulp and said as a diversion, "I'll get the trash can from downstairs."

Lou Dongzang: "Mhm."

As He Guan's footsteps faded away, Lou Dongzang slightly curved the corner of his lips.

Surprisingly, he allowed himself a brief smile.

There's some truth to He Guan's drunken words.

He really is akin to a snake.

Snakes often symbolize malevolence and cunning; he was no different.

Now, he was certain that the He Guan before him was not the same one who signed the agreement with his father.

Leaving aside that incident in the bathroom.

From now on, he would give He Guan three chances.

Within these three opportunities...

If He Guan doesn't seize any, Lou Dongzang would let him go.

If He Guan seizes one, Lou Dongzang would treat him with utmost kindness.

If He Guan seizes two, Lou Dongzang would treat him like his dearest kin.

But if He Guan grasps all three...

Lou Dongzang would never release him.

Straight guy?

Bent.

Author's note:

Seeing so many comments on my first V post, I struggled but managed to update. Thank you all for the support!

Not sure why the previous cover wasn't displaying on iOS, so I switched to a temporary one.