A deathly silence fell over the glasshouse courtyard.
Only after witnessing everything did Min Zhengyue lean in curiously. “What’s going on? Drunk? That can’t be right. This alcohol has a strong kick, but it shouldn’t get someone drunk this fast. Meng-ge’s tolerance must be pretty bad then. Wait, didn’t he just say he could drink a thousand cups without getting drunk?”
Meng She surprisingly answered immediately. “Because I was lying.”
Min Zhengyue: “?”
That honest?
Was that six-digit number really his bank card password?
Min Zhengyue laughed, amused like he had just stumbled into gossip in a group chat. “Bro, do you have any embarrassing stories? Tell me.”
Ming Qi: “……”
Before anyone could stop him, Meng She blurted out, “Back in high school, I once asked out a girl I liked. On the way there, I got chased by two big yellow dogs, slipped into a sewage ditch, and got pinched on the butt by crayfish until it swelled for two days.”
Min Zhengyue’s jaw dropped in shock. Then he gave a thumbs-up again. “Anything else?”
Seeing things spiraling out of control, Ming Qi quickly stepped forward and covered Meng She’s mouth, cutting him off.
He then looked at Min Zhengyue’s disappointed face and Yu Qinzhou’s mildly amused expression and chose to preserve whatever dignity was left.
“Meng-ge is drunk. I’ll take him home.”
Meng She struggled, muffled under his hand.
Ming Qi hesitated for a second, then slightly loosened his grip—only to hear him say seriously, “Then I want the Cullinan.”
Ming Qi: “……”
Even drunk, he still remembers the Cullinan.
Min Zhengyue burst out laughing and nudged Yu Qinzhou. “Bro, hurry up and give Qi-ge the Cullinan keys.”
Yu Qinzhou, however, said calmly, “It’s late. Driving isn’t safe. Let him stay here.”
Then Cen Jing added, “Guest rooms are already prepared. Bedding and supplies are brand new. Both Mr. Meng and Min Shao can stay here tonight.”
Ming Qi glanced at his phone. It was already 11:20 p.m.
Indeed, it was late.
Noticing his hesitation, Yu Qinzhou said, “If you’re really worried, I can take him back.”
Ming Qi immediately shook his head. “I’ll do it.”
Yu Qinzhou replied lightly, “Then I’d be the one worried.”
As far as he knew, Ming Qi did have a driver’s license—but barely ever drove. And the weather forecast said it would snow in half an hour. Letting him drive out would be far too reckless.
Min Zhengyue looked between them and suddenly had an idea. “Why are you two even doing this? Just call a driver. Doesn’t your family driver get paid to sit at home doing nothing?”
Cen Jing adjusted his glasses, hiding a hint of sympathy. “Min Shao, the driver is off duty.”
…Really?
But last time they drank until midnight at a bar, wasn’t it still the driver who came to pick them up?
Min Zhengyue started doubting his memory.
Before he could confirm anything, Meng She suddenly grabbed Ming Qi’s arm again.
He looked extremely serious. “Shouldn’t you at least ask for my opinion?”
“You’re drunk.”
“But my mind is clear. Ask me anything—I guarantee I can answer.”
His face was only slightly flushed under the warm lights, showing no obvious signs of intoxication at all.
After a few seconds of silence, he urged, “Qi-zai, hurry up and ask.”
Ming Qi didn’t ask him any questions, but instead asked, “Brother Meng, do you want to stay here or go home?”
Meng She said matter-of-factly, “Of course I’m staying in the big villa.”
He had already ridden in a Rolls-Royce Cullinan—he still hadn’t stayed in a big villa yet.
A rare opportunity like this couldn’t be missed.
Ming Qi just knew it.
He gave up and looked toward Cen Jing for help. Cen Jing suppressed his smile, stepped forward, and supported Meng She’s arm. When the other looked over in confusion, he said gently, “Mr. Meng, do you still recognize me? I’m the housekeeper of the Yu family. I’ll take you to your guest room to rest.”
Meng She replied very politely, “Thank you.”
Cen Jing found the people around Ming Qi quite interesting. He had never seen anyone get drunk like this before. After responding to the thanks, he and Ming Qi escorted him to the guest room together.
After leaving the room, Cen Jing went to prepare honey water, while Ming Qi also headed out.
Walking down the stairs, Yu Qinzhou was coming up at the same time, while Min Zhengyue had just passed by him, waving goodbye.
“Brother Qi, you and my brother should get some rest too. I’m going to sleep first.”
He walked familiarly into a third-floor guest room, leaving only his back view to Ming Qi and Yu Qinzhou.
Yu Qinzhou stopped beside Ming Qi.
“Get some rest early, so you don’t really turn into a panda tomorrow. Meng She has Cen Jing taking care of him.”
Ming Qi thought to himself that he was still remembering the dark circles thing.
He touched the area under his eyes and nodded. “Mr. Yu, you should also go to bed early.”
“Mm. Good night.”
Watching the young man’s figure turn into the bedroom, Yu Qinzhou leaned against the railing and waited for Cen Jing to come upstairs.
“Give it to me.”
After taking the honey water, Yu Qinzhou walked toward Meng She’s guest room. He knocked on the door, and after receiving permission, he entered.
At this moment, Meng She was sitting on the sofa. Recognizing who it was, he greeted him warmly, “Mr. Yu, good evening.”
“Good evening,” Yu Qinzhou said with a faint curve at his lips, handing him the honey water before sitting down opposite him. He didn’t waste time and went straight to the point, mentioning Ming Qi’s name.
“As a fan of Ming Qi, I’d like to know more about him. I wonder if Mr. Meng would be willing to give me that opportunity?”
Meng She’s eyes lit up instantly. He clapped his hands together and said enthusiastically, “Of course! Mr. Yu, you really have good taste. Let me tell you, our Ming cub—”
A long string of praise burst out of Meng She’s mouth, filling the quiet room and drifting away into the warm air.
Yu Qinzhou leaned back against the sofa, looking relaxed, though the faint smile at his lips never faded.
…
The deep winter night was especially quiet.
Yu Qinzhou stood outside Ming Qi’s secondary bedroom door, glancing down at his watch.
Everything Ming Qi had said about Meng She getting drunk and enthusiastically promoting him turned out to be completely accurate. The drunk man showed no sign of fatigue at all, instead remaining energetic for a full two hours, enthusiastically praising him while recounting even the smallest everyday details.
Yu Qinzhou listened carefully the entire time, able to clearly imagine the scenes from Meng She’s descriptions.
It was like watching a film slowly unfold the years that Ming Qi and he had crossed paths without truly meeting.
He gently pushed the door open.
Since Ming Qi had started letting Xiao Ba sleep in his room, he kept the door slightly ajar at night in case the cat wanted to wander out. Taking advantage of this, Yu Qinzhou softened his steps and walked toward the bed.
The room was warm, the heater on full blast. The blanket only covered Ming Qi’s waist. He had changed out of his usual fluffy sleepwear into thin cotton clothes, which loosened and spread slightly as he lay on his side, revealing soft pale fabric under the warm light. A thin red cord around his neck was like a red plum blooming against snow outside, the ring hanging down and resting in the hollow of his collarbone, casting a faint shadow.
Xiao Ba lay sprawled beside his head. Noticing a familiar presence, it opened its eyes groggily, glanced at Yu Qinzhou, and then had its fur gently stroked by him before letting out a satisfied purr and falling back asleep.
Seeing how defenseless both the person and the cat were, Yu Qinzhou smiled silently.
Kind of adorable.
He casually turned on the humidifier. A faint sleep-inducing fragrance slowly filled the air before he turned and left.
Ming Qi tugged at the blanket and rolled over. Through half-lidded eyes, he caught a glimpse of Yu Qinzhou’s tall, straight back and thought dazedly—
Why am I dreaming about Yu Qinzhou again?
At least this time, the dream is clean, without anything inappropriate.
Morning came in a blink.
Ming Qi opened his eyes and reached for his phone. Before fully waking up, he saw a message from Bu Hongfang. They had added each other during the filming of Death Notice, though they didn’t usually interact. Now, Bu Hongfang had come to him with something important.
Bu Senior: Ming Qi, I heard you broke your leg? “Undercover” is probably starting in about half a month—will you make it in time?
Ming Qi was instantly wide awake.
He was surprised that Undercover was starting so soon, and even more surprised that news of his injury had spread so quickly.
He typed back: It’s not as serious as a broken leg. Don’t worry, Senior Bu, I’ll make it in time.
Bu Senior: That’s good. Take care of your injury. See you on set then.
77.: Okay, see you on set.
Now fully awake, Ming Qi remembered that Meng She was still in the guest room next door. He hurried to wash up and went over. When he opened the door, the person inside was just about to come out.
They both had their hands on the door handles and stood facing each other in silence.
After a moment, Meng She gave an awkward laugh. “Morning, Ming cub.”
From his condition, Ming Qi could tell he was completely sober now.
He replied quietly, “Morning, Brother Meng. Did the wine taste good last night?”
Meng She: “……”
It was good, but he didn’t dare say so.
After a few seconds of silence, Meng She cautiously asked, “So… did I end up promoting you to Min Shao and Mr. Yu yesterday?”
Although he seemed unusually clear-headed when drunk, he had no memory of anything after waking up.
In other words—he had blacked out completely.
His tone carried a careful probe, and in his mind he was already considering whether playing the pity card would work on Ming Qi.
Before he could think further, Ming Qi answered:
“Not at all.”
Meng She suddenly let out a breath of relief.
Ming Qi said, “But you also said that in high school, you had arranged to go out with the girl you liked, but halfway there you were chased by two big yellow dogs. You weren’t paying attention and fell into a stinky drainage ditch, and a crayfish pinched your butt so badly it swelled for two days.”
Meng She immediately sucked that breath right back in.
What!!!
Ming Qi, as if the shock he had given Meng She still wasn’t enough, asked with curiosity, “Are crayfish claws really that powerful?”
Meng She: “……”
Everyone, move aside. He’s preparing to die.