151 Endurance

No matter what else Lu Yichen said, Xia Yuwei offered no response, simply slumping over the table without moving at all.

Was she drunk? Or asleep?

Facing a Xia Yuwei who neither argued with him nor treated him with cold detachment, Lu Yichen voiced the words he had never found the opportunity to speak before, suddenly feeling a great sense of relief.

"Let's go," he said, standing up, walking around to her side, and reaching out to help Xia Yuwei up.

She felt as limp and boneless as if she had no strength to stand. With one arm supporting her back—where most of her weight seemed to rest—and the other arm scooped beneath her knees, he lifted her horizontally. Her head nestled obediently against his chest, and she even gave it a lingering, reluctant rub.

A wave of warmth and softness instantly flooded Lu Yichen's heart. It felt as though time had reversed, carrying him back to a carefree era devoid of estrangement.

After stepping outside and walking to the parking spot, two sharp beeps sounded as he unlocked the door and placed her in the passenger seat, fastening her seatbelt. Her head tilted back against the seat, and in the dim light, her arms were crossed over her chest like a helpless, forlorn little cat. A pang of ache tightened Lu Yichen's chest.

Closing the door, he walked around the front of the car to the driver's side, got in, and started the engine.

"Shall I take you home?" he muttered to himself.

She gave no reply, her sleeping form enigmatically peaceful.

Along the way, Lu Yichen drove very slowly, the air conditioning humming softly within the enclosed space. It was as quiet as another world. She slept serenely as her body gradually tilted to the right—tilt, tilt—until her head suddenly struck the car window with a sharp thud.

Lu Yichen reached out a hand to support her shoulder, and she straightened up again. After a moment, her body began leaning to the left, her head sliding along his arm. If he hadn't been driving, Lu Yichen would have loved to pull her properly into his arms and let her sleep soundly. But for now, all he could do was steady her into an upright position.

Was she really that exhausted? he wondered as he watched her.

"...Mhm... mm..." She began tossing her head restlessly on the way, uttering sounds of discomfort.

"What's wrong?" Lu Yichen asked her.

She didn't answer, merely shifting about with uneasy agitation.

Pulling the car over to the side of the road, Lu Yichen unbuckled her seatbelt and let her rest against his lap, her face pillowed on his thighs. He placed one hand beneath her head as a makeshift cushion while gently patting her back with the other.

He had thought her tolerance for alcohol was quite impressive, but it turned out to be nothing special after all...

Turning off the air conditioning, he rolled down the car window to let the warm summer breeze drift inside. Streetlight illuminated the interior, creating a picturesque scene. For the moment, she rested quietly across his lap, the two of them resembling an intimate couple. Simply caring for her like this filled his heart to the brim.

"...Mhm... mm..." After a moment, she reached out and grabbed the hand he had tucked beneath her head, curling her entire body prone across his lap as if in severe distress.

Then...

She vomited.

She threw up all over his trousers, and then went completely still.

Lu Yichen was left between laughter and tears by her heroic feat. He had never expected this woman's drinking etiquette to be so atrocious. Not only did she curse and pass out when drunk, but she also seized the opportunity to exact revenge by vomiting all over him...

Supporting her with one hand, he wiped the corners of her mouth with a tissue, then pulled out a bottle of water, unscrewed it, and coaxed her to drink a little. She promptly spat it out.

Such an unruly... woman...

He had originally intended to take her home, but now he decided to head to his own place instead. It was the only way he would have spare clothes to change into. He couldn't help it—he wanted to be a good guy, but she hadn't given him a choice. For someone as fastidious as him, wearing soiled clothes for even an extra minute was a form of supreme torture. Had it been anyone else, he wouldn't have tolerated a single second more...

***

18th Floor, Huanlun Apartment.

After rushing through a shower and returning to the bedroom in a bathrobe, Lu Yichen found Xia Yuwei sprawled flat on her back across the bed. Her hair was disheveled and her clothes were creased. Looking thoroughly disheveled, she stirred both amusement and a twinge of heartache within him.

"Come on. Time for a bath."

"No!" she muttered, rolling over and coming dangerously close to tumbling off the edge of the mattress before Lu Yichen reached out just in time to block her.

"Fine, skip the bath," he said, getting up to retrieve a pair of pajamas. They were his own, but the oversized top alone was roomy enough to serve as a nightgown for her.

Reaching out to untie her clothes, she swatted at him in annoyance, shooing him away with the distaste one might reserve for a buzzing fly.

Yet he persisted, untying her white shirt and unzipping her black A-line skirt, peeling them away until she was left wearing only her undergarments.

With her skin exposed, the chill of the air conditioning made her wrap her arms around herself, instantly curling up in discomfort.

Lu Yichen helped remove her bra as well, leaving her flawless, pale skin almost entirely revealed before him. Yet all he did was slip clean pajamas onto her. Then, turning off the lights, he pulled her into his arms to sleep.

Beneath the lightweight quilt, she sensed a warm body holding her like a secure source of heat, prompting her to lean closer and wrap her arms around his waist. She usually slept hugging a body pillow, and today's pillow felt exceptionally comfortable.

Xia Yuwei nuzzled contentedly against his chest, her small hands wandering aimlessly.

Though he had harbored no desires initially, her unintentional warmth easily ignited them. His hand slid up from the hem of her pajama top to stroke her bare skin, cupping the softness of her breast.

...

"You won't take advantage of someone when they're down, right?"

"I won't."

...Recalling their earlier conversation, his hand froze.

"Has anyone ever touched you like this before?" he asked, his hand resting against her chest.