Song Liang wasn’t terribly drunk. He had already sobered up somewhat when Xiao Yi pulled him into his arms. But it was comfortable leaning against him, he smelled good, and Song Liang really was a little dizzy, so he couldn’t be bothered to move.
Yet barely a few minutes later, the person holding him changed.
The arms weren’t as solid, the chest wasn’t as broad, and the clean, crisp scent of snow and greenery had become some expensive perfume.
It smelled pleasant enough, but Song Liang could easily identify its ingredients, which made it less interesting.
So he opened his eyes—and found Xiao Ji’s face right in front of him.
Song Liang: “…”
Xiao Ji: “…”
Song Liang frowned. “What are you doing?”
Xiao Ji flushed and turned his head away.
“Checking whether you’re pretending to be drunk to take advantage of my uncle.”
Speechless, Song Liang rolled his eyes and jumped out of his arms.
Xiao Ji had only made up an excuse, but seeing how agile he was, his expression darkened.
“You really are pretending?”
He had barely spoken when Song Liang stumbled forward. He hurried to steady him, and half of that alcohol-scented body collided with his chest.
Xiao Ji’s heart skipped a beat.
Looking at Song Liang’s wine-flushed eyes and furrowed brows, he said quietly, “…Don’t drink if you can’t handle it.”
Song Liang hadn’t expected this body’s alcohol tolerance to be so poor. His mind was clear, yet waves of dizziness kept sweeping through his head.
He closed his eyes with a slight frown, then wearily raised his lids to glance at Xiao Ji.
“Stop talking.”
The low voice, edged with irritation, struck Xiao Ji’s ears.
He stared at that cool, frowning expression. His heartbeat suddenly quickened, and he couldn’t tear his gaze from the face before him.
His eyes passed over Song Liang’s moist, slightly parted lips. His throat moved.
“I… I’ll take you to the lounge.”
Song Liang wanted to say there was no need, but the moment he straightened, the world spun and he toppled backward.
Startled, Xiao Ji quickly pulled him close.
At a glance, it looked as though they were embracing and kissing.
That was the scene Xiao Yi encountered when he arrived.
His steps halted, and he stood motionless.
A moment later, he concealed the emotion in his eyes and asked evenly, “Am I interrupting?”
Xiao Ji startled and looked back.
Seeing Xiao Yi, the words “We weren’t doing anything” somehow became something else.
“Sorry you had to see that, Uncle. He… gets like this when he’s drunk.”
Xiao Yi looked at the small patch of hair visible in his nephew’s arms.
“If he’s drunk, let him go home first. I’ll have Yang Xun take him.”
Xiao Ji had been drinking too, and his assistant Yu Hang hadn’t come because of other commitments. Yang Xun, who never drank, was the only one available to drive. Having him take Song Liang home would be ideal.
Then Xiao Yi added, “I’m heading back too.”
Xiao Ji’s heart jumped.
It wasn’t that he was ready to suspect his uncle’s feelings for Song Liang based on a few uncertain details. But the change in his uncle’s attitude felt far too sudden.
When they first met, the two had been fiercely antagonistic. His uncle had even broken precedent and laid hands on Song Liang, which showed just how much he disliked him.
Yet in such a short time, he had begun actively showing concern for a drunken Song Liang.
It was bizarre.
And then there was Song Liang forcing a kiss on his uncle out on the terrace…
Suppressing the emotions surging inside him, Xiao Ji watched his uncle reach for the person in his arms.
Instinctively, he tightened his hold.
But that only irritated Song Liang, who was already feeling unwell.
Song Liang pushed him away. Then, as though only just noticing Xiao Yi, he raised an eyebrow.
“Xiao Yi?”
His voice was careless and distantly cold, completely unlike his usual teasing tone. It sounded more like the first time they had met at the abandoned Yalong Bay dock—full of indifferent arrogance.
Both uncle and nephew noticed the clear difference.
For a moment, they couldn’t help wondering how much of Song Liang’s usual approachable manner was real, and how much truth there was in the affection and flirtation he directed at them.
Song Liang had no idea what they were thinking.
His head was spinning and his body felt awful. He couldn’t be bothered to keep acting with them as usual, so he walked straight past Xiao Yi.
He didn’t realize how unsteady he was.
A waiter carrying a tray happened to approach from the opposite direction. Just as Song Liang was about to collide with him, Xiao Yi pulled him back.
The waiter startled and hurried to apologize.
“I’m sorry, sir! Are you all right?”
“It’s fine. It wasn’t your fault. He’s drunk.”
Xiao Yi held Song Liang securely with both arms to keep him from wandering off again.
Relieved, the waiter eagerly stepped forward to help support him.
Xiao Yi was about to decline when the man in his arms suddenly opened his eyes and looked coldly at the waiter.
“Who are you?”
The waiter froze.
Xiao Yi and Xiao Ji, who had just come over, also paused and instinctively looked at him.
The waiter’s expression changed.
Then he suddenly pulled a fruit knife from beneath his tray and drove it toward Xiao Yi’s right eye!
With someone in his arms shielding his heart and throat, the attacker had decisively chosen the most vulnerable remaining target—his eye.
And Xiao Yi’s hands were occupied holding Song Liang. He had no chance to block it!
“Watch out!” Xiao Ji cried.
Xiao Yi stood stunned, watching the blade plunge toward his eye.
The next instant, the person in his arms reached out and closed his hand around the blade.
Blood immediately poured out, slipping between his fingers to his wrist and staining his white shirt red.
Xiao Yi’s pupils contracted.
He stared at the blood-covered hand, then snapped back to himself and kicked the waiter hard.
“Ugh!”
The man grunted as he was knocked back, but didn’t give up. He raised the knife and charged again.
Xiao Ji caught his wrist and twisted sharply.
The waiter screamed, the knife clattering to the floor. Xiao Ji kicked him down.
The commotion immediately drew the hotel’s attention. Patrolling security guards rushed over and restrained the waiter.
Even then, he refused to stop, glaring hatefully at Xiao Yi.
“Xiao Yi! You’ll die a horrible death! You’ll pay for this! Your whole family will pay!”
Xiao Yi gave him one cold glance and ignored him.
Still holding Song Liang, he removed his tie and wrapped it around the injured hand.
Blood covered his own hands. His fingertips trembled slightly, but he said nothing as he bandaged the wound.
The pain had sobered Song Liang somewhat. Seeing Xiao Yi’s tightly clenched jaw and severe expression, he raised an eyebrow in surprise.
“You don’t have to be so nervous. My hand hasn’t been cut off.”
Xiao Yi gave him a cold look without speaking.
Supporting the injured hand, he held Song Liang close and strode toward the lounge.
Finding his reaction interesting, Song Liang nudged the system in his mind.
【He doesn’t look like someone who’s going to kill me later. Has something gone wrong?】
3085 was equally confused.
【I don’t know. The Main System doesn’t make mistakes. If this instance is ranked A, it means your main missions are extremely difficult to complete.】
Song Liang didn’t ask further, because his vision was beginning to spin again.
【Is this alcohol really that strong?】
3085 was even more exasperated.
【Alcohol, my ass! You’re losing too much blood!】
Song Liang understood.
So that was it. He had thought his alcohol tolerance was simply that terrible.
His dizziness became so intense that he couldn’t help leaning into the arms holding him.
Through the haze, he seemed to feel a hand touch his face, gently stroking it as though trying to soothe him.
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