Chapter Fifty: After the Wine...

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“Xiao Ye, why are you drinking again?” Just as Zhang Ye was lost in a drunken haze, Wang Mengzi’s concerned voice suddenly sounded at his ear.

She frowned deeply, propping Zhang Ye up and nearly carrying his whole weight across her shoulders, a hint of anger in her tone.

“Heh, it’s Aunt Wang. What brings you here?” Without the slightest courtesy, Zhang Ye leaned against Wang Mengzi’s shoulder, exhaling a dense cloud of alcohol.

The reek of spirits was so pungent that Wang Mengzi wrinkled her nose. Rolling her eyes in exasperation, she pinched Zhang Ye’s waist hard and dragged him towards home, complaining as she went, her voice still full of worry. “Who told you to drink? You’re a grown man, don’t you know how to take care of yourself? What if you fall asleep outside again? If I hadn’t happened to see you, what would you have done?”

She didn’t know what was wrong with her today—just a restless irritation, even sitting at home trying to write, she could hardly settle, a strange anger bubbling up as if someone had provoked her. She couldn’t write a word, barely touched her food. Now it was already eleven at night, and she was standing on the balcony, bored, letting the wind breeze over her. Out of nowhere, she found herself thinking of Zhang Ye, and as she thought of him, her lips involuntarily curled up, only for annoyance to follow—though she couldn’t even say why.

At that moment, she saw Zhang Ye staggering from the street below, clearly drunk, tottering as if he’d collapse at any second. Her inexplicable irritation melted away, replaced by a pang of concern. She rushed down the stairs and ran straight toward him.

“I’m happy today—everything’s resolved. Your troubles are over, my troubles are over, I’m happy!” Zhang Ye was truly on the verge of being blackout drunk. His voice was loud, echoing far into the night.

Fortunately, most people were asleep, and the house was a good distance from the residential area, so the noise faded enough not to incur any curses, though he did startle a couple of neighborhood dogs into howling—whether in reply or warning.

“Everything’s resolved? My troubles? What troubles?” Wang Mengzi asked, puzzled, but seeing how wild Zhang Ye was acting, she decided to drop it.

Dragging and supporting him all the way, she finally managed to get Zhang Ye into the room. Only then did she take a deep breath, sinking onto the sofa to catch her breath.

With Zhang Ye in this state, she didn’t dare bring him home—there’d be no end of explaining, not to mention the certain scolding and beating from Zhang Haiguan. So young and already drinking, drinking himself into such a stupor—anyone would be furious at the sight.

Thinking of this, Wang Mengzi felt a headache coming on. “You’ll stay here tonight,” she decided. Rising again, she helped Zhang Ye into her own bedroom.

Seeing Zhang Ye’s flushed face, she simply couldn’t let him sleep on the couch—if he fell and caught a chill, that would be even worse.

“Aunt Wang, you’re so beautiful, I really like you!” Just as Wang Mengzi leaned in to help Zhang Ye up, he suddenly slumped into her arms and hugged her tightly, mumbling his confession as his arms clenched even tighter.

Wang Mengzi stiffened, frozen in place.

“Don’t… don’t talk nonsense…” she said, patting Zhang Ye’s back, her own cheeks burning.

But the words had shaken her to the core, stirring something in her heart that almost made her blurt out a reply. But then she remembered her role, remembered that she was his elder—his aunt—and hastily tried to push him away.

“I’m not talking nonsense. I like you. I love you. I’ve loved you since I was a child,” Zhang Ye insisted stubbornly, holding her as if he wanted to merge their bodies into one.

“You don’t understand, it’s not the same. That kind of liking is not real love. I’m your elder, don’t think such things…” Wang Mengzi tried desperately to explain, flustered and at a loss for words.

“I know. This is real love, not the kind you feel for an elder. I love you. I want to take care of you, to marry you.” Suddenly, Zhang Ye let go of her with one hand, cupped her head, and pressed his lips to hers.

Buzz.

Wang Mengzi was stunned.

She stared blankly at Zhang Ye, forgetting to evade, her mind a complete blank.

Her first kiss—gone.

And it was Zhang Ye, her junior, who had taken it.

After a dizzy pause, her body reacted violently. She pushed against Zhang Ye’s chest, twisting her head to break away. But Zhang Ye seemed ready for this, holding her even tighter, and slowly probing with his tongue.

Wang Mengzi wanted to resist, shoving at his chest, but her strength faded, her whole body going limp, until she could no longer even stand, draping herself helplessly against Zhang Ye, her breath quickening.

All she could do was clamp her teeth together to keep Zhang Ye’s tongue from entering her mouth.

After a couple of failed attempts, Zhang Ye realized he wouldn’t get her to part her lips easily. He released her head, and his hands began to wander over her body.

First the smooth curve of her back, then down to her rounded hips and her long, delicate legs.

It was the height of summer, and for the sake of coolness, Wang Mengzi was dressed in thin clothes—a snug blue T-shirt and light, loose trousers. Zhang Ye could feel the heat radiating from her skin, the exquisite softness beneath the fabric.

His other hand slid from her soft stomach, up beneath her shirt, inching towards her chest.

“No… mm…” Wang Mengzi tried to block his arm, calling out, but Zhang Ye seized the chance to slip his tongue into her mouth, exploring and stirring within.

Zhang Ye knew when to stop—he realized that going further tonight was impossible, so he withdrew his hand from its imminent destination, instead kneading her hips as his tongue ravished her mouth, their saliva mingling.

Only after a long while, when both their lips tingled and Wang Mengzi was almost gasping for breath, did Zhang Ye finally let her go.

“I’m sorry, I—” Zhang Ye had sobered a little, and as the realization of his impulsive actions hit him, he broke out in a cold sweat, nervous and anxious.

“You’ll be the death of me!” Wang Mengzi raised her hand as if to hit him, then let it fall in frustration, her face scarlet. She stamped her foot in anger, turning away so Zhang Ye wouldn’t see her expression, and muttered through gritted teeth, “You’ll be the death of me!”