Free Web NovelChapter 172: Chapter 172: Drunk?
After taking the group photo, Uncle Gao and Aunt Gao wanted Shi Lan and the others to stay for fruit, but He Hanshi discreetly brushed the pad of his finger against her palm. He lowered his voice and said, "Lanlan, there’s something I want to tell you."
His voice was low and pleasant, his tone laced with a subtle hint of anticipation and allure. They were so close that Shi Lan could even smell the faint scent of alcohol on him. As if the aroma itself had intoxicated her, she felt a little dazed, her palm tingling as she curled her fingers.
She gave He Hanshi a suspicious look. Thinking of his subtle gesture just now, she couldn’t help but wonder if he was actually drunk. ’This isn’t something he’d normally do.’
But when she looked up, her gaze was met by his blue eyes, which seemed veiled in a misty haze. He had an uncharacteristically dazed look, yet his eyes were bright as he stared right back at her.
Shi Lan was once again reasonably convinced that he was drunk, so she firmly declined Uncle Gao and Aunt Gao’s invitation.
Back at her place, she had Xiao Ou prepare a cup of honey water. Since Jiang Xia and Mu Tangfeng hadn’t been drinking, the honey water was just for He Hanshi.
He Hanshi sat on the sofa and calmly took the water she offered. He watched her with a gentle gaze, the corner of his lip tilting upward. He was so quiet and composed, showing no trace of drunkenness, that Shi Lan began to think she was imagining things again.
But she could sense it—He Hanshi’s movements seemed half a beat slower than usual. As he drank, he appeared to be carefully savoring the flavor. His pale pink lips, pursed lightly, were dotted with glistening droplets of water. He then looked at her, his eyes deeper and brighter than normal. "The water at Lanlan’s home is sweet."
"I like it a lot."
Shi Lan smiled and explained, "It’s honey water. It’s supposed to help with the alcohol."
"Oh, I see. No wonder it tastes so good."
At her words, He Hanshi started drinking even more slowly, as if reluctant to finish something so precious. He then offered the cup to her, saying, "Something this delicious is for Lanlan."
Seeing him hold the cup of honey water out to her, Shi Lan finally couldn’t stifle her laughter. "He Hanshi, are you drunk?"
She had been skeptical before, but now that he was trying to give her his own cup of honey water, she finally had her answer.
The sofa was a bit cramped, so with Shi Lan and He Hanshi sitting on it, there was no room for anyone else. Jiang Xia and Mu Tangfeng had to sit elsewhere, feeling jealous yet forcing themselves to graciously watch the two converse.
Hearing Shi Lan’s question, the two men couldn’t help but exchange a look, their gazes shifting curiously toward He Hanshi.
’Hm? Is Admiral He drunk?’
’Why couldn’t we tell?’
If Jiang Xia was picky about anything, it was alcohol. He hated its pungent smell, so he had only taken a single, tentative sip at dinner and hadn’t touched it since.
As for Mu Tangfeng, he disliked smelling of alcohol, so he hadn’t drunk anything either.
However, most people had been toasting He Hanshi. Uncle Gao had started it, and Chen San and Liu Si had also raised a glass to him.
Later, as He Hanshi and Uncle Gao’s conversation grew animated, Uncle Gao, who had started to see him as a kindred spirit, toasted him several more times.
All in all, He Hanshi must have had quite a bit to drink.
Jiang Xia and Mu Tangfeng had been impressed by He Hanshi’s high tolerance, but now that Shi Lan had said something, they realized he must have been drunk all along.
He Hanshi seemed to consider this for a long moment before nodding slowly. "Yes, I am a little drunk."
He seemed to be speaking both to himself and in response to Shi Lan. He rubbed his forehead before bringing the cup of honey water back to his lips.
Shi Lan had never expected to see this side of He Hanshi. The powerful image of him exiting the Hovercar, transforming into his beast form, and roaring was still vivid in her mind. But now, that image was being replaced by the sight of him holding a cup, taking small sips of water, and pausing every so often to savor the taste.
She found it amusing. Then she remembered what He Hanshi had said back at Aunt Gao’s house. ’What did he want to tell me?’
However, seeing that he was drunk and not thinking clearly, Shi Lan suppressed her curiosity for the time being. She turned to Mu Tangfeng and Jiang Xia and said, "He Hanshi is drunk. Why don’t you take him to your room to rest for a bit?"
The two men had no objection. Mu Tangfeng even reached out a hand to help him up.
But He Hanshi seemed to remember something and drew back slightly, avoiding his hand. "I’m not going to rest. I still have something to say to Lanlan."
Shi Lan coaxed, "He Hanshi, whatever it is can wait. Why don’t you get some rest first?"
He Hanshi shook his head again, his expression uncharacteristically stubborn. "No. If I wait any longer, Lanlan might run away."
Shi Lan laughed at his absurd accusation. "I’m right here. Where could I possibly run off to? If anything, you’re the one who has to leave later."
She still wanted him to go rest. She could tell he had been working hard recently, and she worried he wasn’t getting enough sleep.
But He Hanshi refused again, even grabbing her hand tightly. "I’m not going," he said with a rare, childish pout.
Shi Lan couldn’t win the argument, so she relented.
After finishing the honey water, He Hanshi led Shi Lan directly to his Hovercar. Jiang Xia and Mu Tangfeng started to follow, but he stopped them, his voice laced with a forlorn tone. "You two have been with Lanlan for so long. It’s rare for me to have time to come all the way to Yaoxing. It should be my turn to be with her."
When he put it like that, Jiang Xia and Mu Tangfeng felt they had no ground to follow.
He then quickly got into his Hovercar, and the door shut in front of Jiang Xia and Mu Tangfeng in the blink of an eye.
Although He Hanshi was a little drunk, he wasn’t completely out of his mind. Especially with Shi Lan in the vehicle, he was sensible enough to engage the Hovercar’s autopilot, setting it to fly straight in a random, aimless direction.
In the Hovercar, Shi Lan sat in a passenger seat, gazing curiously at the passing scenery. For some reason, she felt a flutter of nervousness. Perhaps it was because they were the only two people in the Hovercar.
The interior of He Hanshi’s Hovercar was actually quite spacious, with room for over a dozen people. Yet she could smell the faint scent of alcohol on him, mingled with his natural, crisp pine fragrance. The blend created a pleasant, cool aroma that seemed to surround her, seeping in from all sides until she felt inexplicably breathless, the large space suddenly feeling cramped.
Just then, He Hanshi sat down in the seat beside her. Seeing that she was focused on the window and not him, he pursed his lips. His voice was raspy with a hint of hurt as he asked, "Lanlan, why are you ignoring me?"
Shi Lan’s heart gave a heavy thump. She had been lost in the fragrance filling the vehicle, and he had caught her completely off guard by sitting so close. The scent seemed to intensify, boiling up and rushing into her lungs with reckless abandon.
She turned her head, her gaze wandering slightly. "What’s wrong?"
He Hanshi shook his head. Whether it was out of sheer happiness or the catharsis of finally letting out his longing, he suddenly let out a pleasant, husky laugh. He reached out, pulled Shi Lan into his arms, and rested his chin on the top of her head. Inhaling her sweet scent, his mind was suddenly hit by another wave of intoxication, and he felt a fresh rush of dizziness.
His arms around her tightened instinctively. "Lanlan," he breathed out in a sigh, "I missed you so much."
