A-Heng knew Yan Xi had regained consciousness. Knowing his childish nature, he would overthink things endlessly. Her gaze dimmed as she grasped the cuff of his shirt when he tried to retreat in panic. Standing on tiptoe, she pressed her lips to his once more.

Yan Xi’s entire body went rigid, his back pressed against the washbasin. As he opened his beautiful eyes wide and tried to speak, A-Heng steeled her resolve. She wrapped her arms around his neck, her cool lips deepening the kiss.

She had no escape route left. In the meeting of their lips and tongues, like cups of wine being exchanged, the intoxication deepened.

The youth’s pupils constricted, her reflection in his eyes.

A-Heng’s gaze was clear as mountain streams. She slightly lowered her brows and eyes, then pushed him away with lightning speed. In the darkness, she stumbled to the sink, making exaggerated retching sounds. She quickly stuck her finger down her throat, inducing nausea, and vomited up the wine she had just drunk.

The youth turned on the light to find A-Heng violently retching, her face flushed with heat. The smell of alcohol in the bathroom suddenly became very strong. He stepped forward to pat A-Heng’s back, but she choked on the remaining liquid and began coughing violently.

Yan Xi helped her up, but A-Heng collapsed softly in his arms, eyes half-closed, face crimson, appearing completely drunk and unaware.

The youth turned on the tap and cupped some water in his hand, sighing slightly: “A-Heng, open your mouth.”

A-Heng mumbled incoherently and obediently opened her mouth, taking water from his hand.

“Be good now, rinse and spit it out.” Yan Xi gently patted her, coaxing her to spit out the water, then used a clean tissue to wipe her mouth.

A flash of clarity crossed A-Heng’s eyes before she lowered her head, mumbling drunken nonsense.

Yan Xi’s heart was filled with mixed emotions. He knew A-Heng was genuinely drunk – otherwise, someone as normally composed as her would never kiss him the initiative. However, he felt he could never forgive himself for doing such a thing to A-Heng, even if she was drunk.

This was A-Heng, not just anyone else. It couldn’t be dismissed with four simple words like “drunken sexual misconduct,” nor could it be justified with romance.

If A-Heng hadn’t been drunk and knew he had forcibly kissed her, given her personality, there would always be a barrier between them.

Perhaps she would even seize any cold opportunity to cut ties completely.

So, he felt somewhat relieved that she was drunk.

He was anxious, thinking only about taking advantage of A-Heng, going around in circles without realizing that he too had been taken advantage of by A-Heng.

“Yan Xi, are you alright? Did you throw up the wine?” Outside the bathroom came Si Wan’s clear voice.

“I’m fine, but A-Heng is drunk.” Yan Xi supported A-Heng as they came out. Si Wan’s eyes widened in surprise.

“How did she get this drunk? Isn’t A-Heng usually good at holding her liquor?”

Yan Xi shook his head: “I don’t know, probably drank too much. I’ll take A-Heng home first. Please let Auntie and grandfather know.”

Si Wan looked out the window: “It’s snowing. She could easily catch a cold when drunk like this. Let’s have her rest here first until she sobers up. She just threw up the alcohol anyway, she should wake up soon.”

Outside the window, snowflakes were falling like goose feathers. In just that short time, something seemed to have changed.

Yan Xi felt irritated but kept his face expressionless, nodding calmly as he supported A-Heng back.

Si Wan wanted to help, but Yan Xi imperceptibly frowned, holding A-Heng closer as he walked faster.

Si Wan smiled. His expression returned to his usual warm gentlemanly manner, as if the person who had been at odds with Yan Xi moments ago didn’t exist.

A-Heng kept her eyes closed, somewhat troubled about when would be the most appropriate time to “wake up.” Yan Xi was so thin – she worried her gravitational pull might accidentally flatten him back to the earth’s surface.

She returned to the noisy crowd. Though her eyes remained closed, she was aware of the lively, harmonious atmosphere of the banquet.

Yan Xi handed her over to her mother, who held her hand with such warmth. She fussed: “How did A-Heng get so drunk? If I’d known this child would try to show off, I wouldn’t have let her drink. But Si Wan, you too – you were so busy drinking with Old Meng you didn’t even help look after your sister.”

Si Wan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry: “Mom, weren’t you the one who told me to properly accompany Old Meng? How is it all my fault that little sister got drunk?”

Mother Wen was also annoyed: “How did I end up with two such stubborn children? When I told you to accompany them for drinks, did you have to drink from start to finish? And A-Heng too, accepting every drink with that blank face when anyone offered!”

Listening to this, A-Heng smiled and wrapped her arms around her mother’s neck like a spoiled child, resting her head in the crook of her neck: “Mom, mom, mom, mom…”

Mother Wen’s heart ached: “Look how drunk the child is. A-Heng, does your stomach hurt? Tell Mom, and I’ll rub it for you.”

A-Heng smiled, tears almost forming in the corners of her eyes: “Mom, I feel so awful, so awful. But if you hug me, I won’t feel bad anymore.”

Mother Wen froze, her chest aching terribly as if someone had carved out her heart and put it back, leaving a wound that could never fully heal.

She smiled, a truly gentle and beautiful smile: “Alright, mom will hug you, mom will hug her little A-Heng.” For a moment, her daughter seemed to become very small and fragile, unable to survive without her protection.

For the first time, she felt herself so cruel.

Madam Sun, sitting at the same table, envied them: “Yun Yi, you’re truly blessed to have such a thoughtful daughter.”

But Mother Wen’s eyes reddened, her voice tinged with sadness: “My A-Heng is wonderful, but I haven’t been good enough to her.”

Madam Sun was stunned, then after a while smiled: “What nonsense is this? Between family members, there’s no need to speak of who’s good to whom. As a mother, as long as you keep your priorities straight and treat your children fairly, that’s enough.”

Mother Wen pondered this, feeling increasingly ashamed as she looked at her daughter with even more tender concern in her eyes.

A server brought over some sobering tea. Mother Wen helped her daughter drink it, and A-Heng seized the opportunity to demonstrate the tea’s miraculous effects by “sobering up.”

Madam Sun, who loved to smile, looked at Yan Xi in the distance as he played around with her son, maintaining perfect propriety throughout the banquet. She gave A-Heng a meaningful look: “Yun Yi, what are you worried about? Your son is so good, and your son-in-law is so outstanding – you’re set to enjoy good fortune.”

A-Heng blushed, remembering Yan Xi’s earlier impropriety, her lips tingling.

Another lady at the table, who was close to the Meng family, shook her head and spoke smugly: “Yun Yi, I think you should let A-Heng spend less time with Yan Xi. The Meng family’s daughter has taken a liking to him. Old Master Meng always indulges his granddaughter, and he’ll agree. Don’t let your family end up in an awkward position.”

Both Mother Wen’s and Mother Sun’s expressions darkened, hearing these words that seemed to suggest everyone should fear the Meng family.

The Wen and Sun families were neighbors in the same compound and already had good relations. Mother Sun, somewhat disgusted by these people’s fawning attitude toward the Meng family, smiled coldly: “That’s quite inappropriate to say. Everything has its proper order – Xiao Xi and A-Heng have been engaged since childhood. When did this Meng girl suddenly appear? Moreover, what kind of relationship does Old Yan have with Old Wen, and what kind of relationship does he have with Old Meng? Who knows who’s closer to whom!”

Old Yan and Old Wen were sworn brothers for life, while Old Meng came from a civil service background with an air of pretentiousness that both generals looked down upon.

That lady knew Mother Sun spoke the truth and awkwardly changed the subject.

As they say, three women make a play, and N women make a TV drama. Especially when these women were all educated and experienced, the drama gained both depth and breadth.

A-Heng listened with great interest, reminded of when her father would take her to teahouses and the storytellers from neighboring cities.

The banquet had been proceeding harmoniously with elegant language and dramatic plot twists as the ladies subtly criticized the political rivals of each other’s husbands when suddenly a discordant element appeared.

None other than Miss Meng Li Mei.

A-Heng was puzzled – how did this girl appear like a haunting spirit, materializing as soon as she was mentioned?

She pointed at A-Heng, emotionally agitated and angry: “Wen Heng, what exactly is your relationship with Yan Xi? Why does everyone say you two are having an affair?”

A-Heng spat out her water. Miss, is that how you use the word “affair”?

Of course, “everyone” referred to the numerous young masters who had suffered under Yan Xi’s torment, led by Sun Peng, who delighted in stirring up trouble.

Sun Peng smiled and pulled aside Young Master Yan, who was struggling with the profound ethical question of “I kissed my daughter, does this count as incest, does it or doesn’t it?” He asked: “Yan Xi, your concubine is challenging your first wife’s authority. Are you going to defend your legal wife’s dignity, or firmly abandon old love for new passion?”

Yan Xi gazed into the distance, immediately vomiting blood as he kicked out: “Sun Big Bird, you’re just stirring up trouble for no reason, aren’t you? I’ll finish you off one of these days.”

Sun Peng sighed helplessly: “I don’t know why, but whenever I see you smile, my whole body feels uncomfortable.”

Yan Xi was depressed: “When did this young master smile?”

Sun Peng grabbed his cheeks with both hands, still smiling: “You were blushing and grinning stupidly for ages just now, think I’m blind?”

Yan Xi spat, knocking away his hands: “Damn it, your hands are still as disgusting as when we were kids! Always pinching my face back then, what the hell is wrong with you!”

Rolling his eyes, he turned and strode toward A-Heng’s table.

Meanwhile, the Meng family’s daughter continued with deep concern: “Young lady, wake up! You’re not worthy of Yan Xi. Even though Si Wan and Yan Xi are good friends, you can’t use that to seduce him. Listen to me, happiness gained through seduction isn’t true happiness.”

But A-Heng just smiled slightly and addressed Miss Meng: “Miss Meng, are you thirsty after talking so much?” She leisurely offered a cup of water.

Miss Meng gulped down the water, wiped her mouth, and continued: “Did you even understand what I was saying? I’ve been talking for so long – are you wooden-headed?”

A-Heng smiled: “Miss Meng, you’re very cute, very similar to Yan Xi, and very well-matched with him.”

A-Heng suddenly felt cold as a plaintive voice drifted from behind: “A-Heng, how is she anything like me…”

Turning around, tilting her head, it was Yan Xi.

A-Heng pinched her left hand with her right, forcing down the sudden heat in her face, and laughed: “Making sounds while drinking water – that’s very similar.”

Yan Xi felt guilty and couldn’t look at A-Heng, but timidly held her hand under the table: “Have you sobered up?”

A-Heng felt the cool touch between her fingers – Yan Xi’s naturally cool body temperature. She frowned slightly and gently squeezed back: “Did you drink again just now?”

Such warm, soft hands.

Yan Xi felt he might have a hand fetish – from long ago, he had been unable to resist A-Heng’s hands. They weren’t particularly beautiful, but her fingers were long and slender. When holding hands, the slight calluses would rub against his palm, but they were irresistibly warm.

The various aunties saw this and wore knowing gossip-ready expressions. A-Heng coughed lightly and used the white silk of her long dress sleeve to cover their hands.

Miss Meng lost her composure: “Wen Heng, you, you, you, how dare you molest Yan Xi’s hand!”

A-Heng was speechless, quickly withdrawing her hand.

The aunties rolled their eyes: between a young married couple that’s called intimacy – where did this simpleton come from!

Yan Xi twitched and faced Miss Meng with a forced smile: “Old Master Meng seems drunk, shouldn’t you go check on him, Little Raccoon?”

Miss Meng held her head high: “No! My grandfather told me to come ask Wen Heng about what relationship you two have. I won’t go back until I get a clear answer.”

Then, she thought for a moment and said shyly: “I’ll go if you hold my hand too.”

Yan Xi’s face turned completely green.

A-Heng held her head. Mother Wen asked: “A-Heng, what are you doing?”

A-Heng wanted to tell her mother to prepare for Yan Xi’s spit take, but before she could speak, Young Master Yan exploded: “Meng Raccoon, who the hell do you think you are, demanding to hold my hand? You’re taking yourself too seriously – give yourself an inch and you want to open a dye shop! If you keep spouting nonsense, I swear I’ll kick you to the other side of the earth to hold hands with African tribesmen – hold hands hold hands hold hands, hold to your heart’s content!”

Little Raccoon raged: “Then why do you hold Wen Heng’s hand?”

Then, Yan Xi shouted something that the elders would mock as an after-dinner joke for the rest of their lives: “Damn it! Do I need your permission to hold my own wife’s hand?!”

A-Heng furiously beat him up.

Yan Xi wept: “Wife- ah no, daughter, I didn’t mean to! Please forgive me, everyone keeps saying you’re my wife, and I’ve heard it so much that it just slipped out as a conditioned reflex…”

A-Heng continued beating him furiously.

Yan Xi wailed: “A-Heng, I never thought about incest, believe me!”

A-Heng paused for three seconds, then continued beating him furiously.

Much later, he smiled mischievously and innocently: “A-Heng, you don’t know, but that day when I was drunk, I kissed you.”

A-Heng, that was my first kiss, not just any first kiss, but the first kiss I had saved for my future wife.

So, if you find another prince, and he’s not as good as me, what will you do?

If he’s better than me, then… what should I do?