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Poof!
Poof!
Yin Shixiong and Zhao Liangze spat out the drinks almost at the same time, and looked at Chen Lie in shock .
Chen Lie blinked his eyes: "Don't you all feel so?"
"No, we don't think so!" Yin Shixiong and Zhao Liangze retorted unanimously .
Yin Shixiong continued: "Chen Lie, you cannot say things like that on a whim . Our Nianzhi is still young; jokes like these shouldn't be made . "
Almost drunk, Gu Nianzhi only had her attention on Huo Shaoheng . However, Chen Lie was laughing too loudly, and his voice was bright . Thus, it caught her attention .
For a moment, her mind was blank .
She turned to Chen Lie mindlessly, and saw his sparkling eyes . She repeated after him: "… exchange of wine between bride and groom? How do we do that?"
Pooooooof—!
Yin Shixiong and Zhao Liangze both spat their drinks again .
Huo Shaoheng straightened himself and walked to Chen Lie . Putting down his wine glass, he picked up the Mao Tai and filled a third of a glass . Next, he picked up the red wine and filled another third . Finally, he filled the glass with tequila .
The alcohol were separated into 3 colors – White, red and green, just like a cocktail .
Huo Shaoheng held the glass, and gave it a little swirl . The three colors blended together and turned into a rainbow .
"Come, Chen Lie; It has been hard on you this year . Let me toast to you . " Huo Shaoheng handed the rainbow 'cocktail' to Chen Lie, and lifted his white wine . "Bottoms up!"
Chen Lie gulped: "Mr . Huo…"
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"Down it! If not it'll mean you look down on me, and don't treat me as a buddy . " Huo Shaoheng showed his wine glass – he had already finished his .
Since he put it this way, Chen Lie had no choice but to drink it .
"You're good…" Chen Lie mouthed a vulgarity towards Huo Shaoheng, and drank the 'cocktail' in one gulp .
Almost immediately after, Chen Lie's fair chubby face started flushing . His focus began to blur . His reactions towards people slowed as well .
Huo Shaoheng went back to his seat, and continued with his reunion dinner, occasionally speaking to Song Jinning and Yin Shixiong .
Using the corners of his eyes, he kept a good eye on Gu Nianzhi, and continued to observe Chen Lie .
After a while, they passed out due to having too much alcohol .
"Just one drink and he got drunk . " Huo Shaoheng shook his head in disapproval . "Soldier, send Doctor Chen to the guestroom please . "
The soldier standing guard at the entrance of the dining hall came over, and helped Chen Lie to the guestroom .
Yin Shixiong and Zhao Liangze knew that it was Chen Lie's "incoherent" words that led to this…
He still felt that it was a taboo to talk about him and Gu Nianzhi in front of him…
Song Jinning finished her dinner, stood up and nodded to everyone at the table: "I'm heading back to rest . You guys enjoy your dinner . "
"Mdm Song, aren't you going to Shousui?" Yin Shixiong and Zhao Liangze both stood up .
Song Jinning shook her head, and touched her warm face: "Nah, it's okay . I'm used to turning in and waking up early . "
She looked at Gu Nianzhi who was sprawled on the table, and told Huo Shaoheng: "Nianzhi is still young . She shouldn't drink so much alcohol . Remember to give her some soup to sober her up . "
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She left after talking .
Even before Huo Shaoheng asked him to, Zhao Liangze had already informed the military chefs in the kitchen to send two bowls of soups for sobering people – one for Gu Nianzhi, and one for Chen Lie .
Gu Nianzhi was feeling horrible due to dizziness; Yin Shixiong spent some time trying to get her up and feeding her the soup .
She felt better after finish the entire bowl of pickled asparagus and chicken skin soup, but still didn't have the energy to move .
"How many times have I said before; don't drink if you can't hold your liquor . " Huo Shaoheng walked over to her and picked her up . "Go and sleep . "
Gu Nianzhi was practically hanging on his arm . Her hair fell on her back, like a waterfall .
Yin Shixiong quickly volunteered: "Mr . Huo, you're busy . Should I send her to the room instead?"
Huo Shaoheng did not reply, only shooting a glare towards Yin Shixiong .
Yin Shixiong froze at the glare, and looked on at Huo Shaoheng carrying Gu Nianzhi out of the dining hall .
"Stop looking…" Zhao Liangze knocked on the dining table . "Let's eat, let's eat . There is still so much food left . They're gone, but we shouldn't waste all these food . "
…
Huo Shaoheng helped Gu Nianzhi out of the dining hall, but it was tough helping her as she was practically knocked out . So Huo Shaoheng just carried her, princess style, up the stairs and to her suite on the second level .
Pushing the door open, he entered and kicked the door close with a thud .
The lights weren't turned on in the suite . The curtains on the French windows were opened . The lights from the street lamps along with the lights from the house poured into her suite from the windows and made it look dull, but not dark; just like the evening hours .
Huo Shaoheng put Gu Nianzhi on the sofa, and sat down beside her . "Awake?"
"Hm," Gu Nianzhi sat up slowly, and placed her head onto his shoulders . "It's not 12 yet; I cannot sleep . "
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"Why were you angry just now?" Huo Shaoheng lowered his voice, putting a hand gently on her cheeks and caressing it .
"Just now?" Gu Nianzhi frowned . "You didn't even look at me just now… People looked at you so many times though…"
"Angry merely because of that?"
"Yeah . " Gu Nianzhi avoided Huo Shaoheng's eyes, "I was indeed a little upset just now, but was all okay after you came over . "
She knew she might not have, but she just couldn't control herself at that moment .
When you truly like someone, you'll realize that your emotions rise and fall according to that one person, and not yourself anymore .
Huo Shaoheng looked at her fixedly, with a gaze that spoke so much, but so hard to understand: "But if you were to be by my side, there'll be many more situations like this in the future . There might even be a possibility where someone else and you fell into the river, but I have to save that someone else instead of you . – You're alright with these too?"
"Huh? You don't have to save me… I can swim, remember?" Gu Nianzhi looked at him with her big round eyes and replied cheekily .
Huo Shaoheng smiled weakly and looked at her . He was still caressing her face, but the temperature from his fingers was falling . Very soon, it felt almost cold . "You don't understand what I'm trying to say?"
Falling into the river together was just a metaphor .
Gu Nianzhi looked at him fondly for a while, and sigh softly, nodding her head . "I understand . I know it all . Your identity is different, status is different, work is also different – different as compared to normal people . It was just – at that moment, I couldn't control myself, that's all . "
"Control yourself even if you can't . " Huo Shaoheng held on to her cheeks tightly, and left a red mark due to using too much strength .
Gu Nianzhi placed her hand over his, and said with a low voice: "I wanted to control, but I was just too full of emotions for you, you get it?"
Huo Shaoheng got a little shocked . He kept quiet .
"I like you so much, if I'm able to control myself in all situations, then I wouldn't be the 18 year old Gu Nianzhi . I would've been the Huo Shaoheng who, at the age of 28, already was ranked a major general and made countless contributions in the army . "
Gu Nianzhi answered earnestly, and had an utterly serious expression on her face . However, it only made her look like a child in adult's clothing .
A smile crept up Huo Shaoheng's face, and bent down to kiss her . His tongue spread her lips open and barged into her mouth, their tongues twirling .
She was so young . Growing up alongside him, she wasn't like the others who were always wary against him .
She was like a perfect piece of crystal, clear and beautiful, and easily seen through .
A young girl's love was passionate and straightforward; it was pure . How can Huo Shaoheng not understand this?
She only had him in her heart, but his heart had too many other things .
She only took up a small area in his heart; even though that was already all he could afford in the area of a romantic relationship .
Huo Shaoheng thought: he was actually a heartless person . Even if he was to give her all he could afford in the area of a romantic relationship, she might not feel that it was enough .
Breaking the kiss, their foreheads met . His hands caressed her back, like he was coaxing a little girl, but Gu Nianzhi was more than contented .
What she wanted wasn't his all .
Some people had a lot of emotions . Like the ocean, it was never ending .
However, some people just didn't have much . Perhaps, all they have just added up to be the amount of water at the bottom of a well .
Huo Shaoheng was the latter .
Even if it was just a tiny well, she wouldn't mind being the frog at the bottom of that well, and could only see a small area of the sky from it, as long as that was his all .
Gu Nianzhi leaned on his chest, and listened to his steady heartbeat . She smiled blissfully .
Huo Shaoheng hugged her, and leaned his chin on her head . "But you have to control yourself . If you cannot do it, then… It'll be hard for us to continue being together . "
"I will do it . " Gu Nianzhi straightened up, and seemed much more matured all of a sudden . "Don't you worry; I will never lost my composure again . "
She looked really determined, but there was still fear deep within her .
"I look forward to it . Huo Shaoheng raised his eyebrows . "Rest early; we're going visiting tomorrow . "