Li Jie hosted the dinner in a private room at a local Sichuan restaurant. Although the gathering wasn’t large, it was grand enough. As Shen Xi Fan entered, the first person she noticed was a petite, pretty girl holding Li Jie’s arm and laughing with Qiu Tian.
Li Jie, ever sharp-eyed, spotted Shen Xi Fan immediately and waved his arms excitedly. “Over here! Over here!”
The girl turned around. “Li Jie, is this Miss Shen? She’s so pretty and elegant!”
Having worked in the hotel industry for years, Shen Xi Fan immediately pegged her as a lively Sichuan native—bold, straightforward, and easy to get along with.
She smiled warmly. “Hi, I’m Shen Xi Fan, Li Jie’s last blind date.”
Everyone burst out laughing. The girl’s eyes lit up as she introduced herself. “I’m Su Shan—‘Shan’ as in the cedar tree, not the Su San from Su San Leaves Hongtong County.”
More laughter followed. As Shen Xi Fan took her seat, she glanced around the room.
Wait—where was He Su Ye?
Qiu Tian chuckled slyly. “Jian Jian Jiao is still in the lab. Apparently, the boss scolded the graduate students and asked him to stay and watch the show. He’ll be here soon.”
Shen Xi Fan rolled her eyes. “Why do you call He Su Ye Jian Jian Jiao?”
“Because of the phrase ‘Xiao He Cai Lu Jian Jian Jiao, Zao You Mei Ren Li Shang Tou’” (a poetic line meaning "Young lotus buds just emerging from the water already attract admiration"). He gestured toward the door. “Speak of the devil—here he comes, looking radiant and otherworldly as always. Honestly, it’s annoying how good he looks!”
It had been a while since Shen Xi Fan last saw He Su Ye. He’d lost some weight, which only made his features more striking—his nose sharper, his jaw more defined. He looked vibrant, brimming with confidence and charisma.
She felt a twinge of frustration. Why did he seem even more handsome each time she saw him? She had warned herself repeatedly to keep her distance, not to fall too deeply. Yet, as soon as she saw him, all her resolve flew out the window. She silently scolded herself for being so weak-willed.
He Su Ye, oblivious to her inner turmoil, greeted her cheerfully. “Long time no see, little girl. I’ve been so busy I could die—so exhausting!”
Li Jie, standing nearby, interjected with mock indignation. “Oh, so I’m that insignificant, huh? Senior Brother, could you at least acknowledge me first? I’m the one treating you to dinner today!”
* * *
The dinner was lively and enjoyable. During the meal, Shen Xi Fan learned that Li Jie and Su Shan were planning to get married. As the evening progressed, they toasted one another, using bowls instead of glasses to measure their drinks. Su Shan, who had taken a liking to Shen Xi Fan, toasted her the most.
When it came time to toast He Su Ye, Qiu Tian intervened, waving his hands. “He Su Ye can’t drink. If he does, none of us will make it home tonight!”
Li Jie quickly caught on and explained to Su Shan, “Senior Brother has no tolerance for alcohol. If he drinks, there’s no one left to play the responsible adult. Let him use tea instead.”
Qiu Tian, however, was having none of it. He filled a bowl with Wuliangye and handed it to Shen Xi Fan with a mischievous grin. “Drinking is a must, but someone can drink on his behalf!”
The crowd erupted in encouragement, except for Fang Ke Xin, who watched with a faint, cold smile. Shen Xi Fan caught the subtle hostility in her gaze and sighed inwardly. There was no way out—she had to drink.
When He Su Ye reached for the bowl to stop her, Shen Xi Fan held his hand down firmly. Taking a deep breath, she declared boldly, “He Su Ye, revolutions need you to stay sober. Whether or not I make it home depends entirely on you!”
With everyone laughing, she lifted the bowl and downed the contents in one gulp, flipping the bowl over to show it was empty.
The room erupted in cheers. As Shen Xi Fan downed bowl after bowl, her head grew foggy. By the time the party ended, she realized she was leaning heavily on He Su Ye’s arm just to stay upright.
In the end, He Su Ye was the only one completely sober. After ensuring everyone else was taken care of, he returned to help Shen Xi Fan. By the time they left the restaurant, she could barely keep her eyes open. When they got into a taxi, she had already drifted into a light sleep.
Sitting beside her, He Su Ye felt a pang of heartache. Silly girl, why drink so much? She had even taken most of his drinks for him. Despite his concern, a sense of warmth and contentment washed over him. Gently, he pulled her closer, letting her rest against his shoulder. At least this way, she’ll sleep more comfortably.
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