Chapter 185

Meng Jue frowned, his eyes filled with worry.

This wine is famously intoxicating; drinking it so boldly in one gulp might be unwise.

Lin Xun was full of admiration, his mouth forming a round ‘O’.

Junior Brother Pei Ji is so responsible and gentle! Isn’t it so cool to block the wine like this!

Pei Ji remained expressionless.

Pei Ji’s eyes turned red.

…So strong.

Pei Ji suddenly placed the wine cup on the round table, trying his best not to throw up. He forced himself to swallow the burning sensation of the “Jiuzhou Spring Return” down his throat.

When he couldn’t bear it anymore, he instinctively raised his right hand to cover his face.

Otherwise, his expression might scare the people around him.

Ning Ning tentatively asked, “Pei Ji?”

Pei Ji did not respond.

Then, with a loud crash, he fell straight back and hit the ground with a thud.

—Help!!!! Pei Ji helped Ning Ning drink the wine, but now he’s down! This is too lame!!!

Cheng Ying was so scared he was trembling, wishing he could kneel and eat dirt, letting out a terrified shriek, “No—! Pei—Xiao—Ji—!”

He Zhizhou was utterly horrified, his mind conjuring up an 800,0000-word detective novel in this mind: “The wine..the wine is poisonous?!”

“What poisonous? You shithead!”

(T/N: the actual translation is (poisonous hammer!) The word ‘hammer’ comes from the internet buzzwords (you know what a hammer?) that come from a popular local dialect..The “hammer” in “You know what a hammer?” is used to emphasize the tone and express disdain. It has a similar meaning to “What do you know?”, “useless,”  “nothing,”  “nothing at all,” or “fart.” This sentence is often used by netizens in online chats, and it is originally a Sichuan dialect… The Sichuanese word “hammer” of course has another meaning that generally expresses a vulgar meaning (male genital organ)…. so I tried to translate this sentence into English words that carry almost the same meaning…. )

Zheng Weiqi slapped the back of his head.

“He’s just drunk!”

“Drunk?”

He Zhizhou couldn’t believe it, his eyes widening in shock as he stared at Junior Brother Pei, whom Ning Ning was hurriedly helping up.

Are you kidding me? This is the overbearing and cool male lead from “Sword Breaking the Heavens”! According to Ning Ning’s spoilers, this guy is ruthless and fierce, chopping down villains like chopping vegetables—practically a walking boss.

And he went down with just one… no, a few sips?!

“This, this, this,” Tian Xianzi was stunned.

“What should we do now? How can Pei Ji be like this…”

Ning Ning saw that he still had his eyes open and seemed to have some consciousness left, so she asked worriedly, “Are you okay?”

Pei Ji still didn’t respond, his dark eyes hollow. After a long moment, he realized she was talking to him and belatedly nodded.

“Could this be his first time drinking?”

Tian Xianzi couldn’t believe the sudden turn of events and hesitatingly said, “Pei Ji… is really a little chick?”

Meng Jue sighed and got up from his seat.

“In this state, Junior Brother Pei shouldn’t stay in Tianxiang Tower. I’ll take him back to the inn to rest. You all continue drinking.”

“No, no, I’ll do it!”

Ning Ning had not wanted to drink the “Jiuzhou Spring Return” in the first place. Now that she saw Pei Ji collapse, she was even more resistant. To avoid getting drunk herself, she seized the opportunity to volunteer to take him back to the inn.

Her reason was legitimate, but Tian Xianzi gave an inexplicable smile, pulling Meng Jue back to his seat while smiling, “Let Ning Ning handle it. They have always been close.”

“Thank you, Master!”

Ning Ning had no idea what he was thinking; she was simply happy she wouldn’t have to drink, so she smiled and nudged Pei Ji’s sleeve.

“Can you still walk?”

Tian Xianzi took a sip of his wine, pleased. Youth is wonderful. Just the chance to escort someone back to the inn could make a young girl this happy. Look at her, smiling so brightly.

=====

“You’ve really never drunk before? Are you feeling unwell anywhere?”

Ning Ning supported Pei Ji’s arm, leading him along the streets of Luan City.

Luan City was brightly lit at night, bustling with people. The eaves of the flying pavilions connected in an unbroken line, stars sprinkled in the sky above, and everlasting lanterns illuminated the streets below. The hawkers’ shouts weaved a dense web, covering the entire city with the wind.

Pei Ji’s expression was dazed, and he seemed to murmur a low “hmm.”

Cheng Ying was still frantically struggling in his sea of consciousness, bouncing around, “Pei Ji, wake up, Pei Ji! Ning Ning is right next to you, don’t do anything embarrassing!”

Ning Ning.

The fiery taste of the wine still lingered on his tongue, spreading waves of irritating heat that made his mind restless and chaotic.

However, when that name reached his ears, Pei Ji’s eyes darkened, his dead heart skipped a beat, and in that moment of distraction, he stumbled.

Ning Ning, who had been supporting him, quickly stepped forward, using her other hand to steady him by placing it on his chest.

Thus, he didn’t fall to the ground but ended up leaning against her shoulder.

He was leaning on her.

And her hand was pressed very close to his chest, feeling the rapid heartbeat of the young man, thump-thump.

Ning Ning’s heart was also thumping along.

In the thick night, Pei Ji’s body was full of cold, fragrant wine, but his breath was intensely hot, all of it spreading over her neck like a boneless hand stroking the most sensitive skin.

Ning Ning almost forgot to breathe, feeling like her heart was being hit hard.

Help, help, This is… what on earth is going on!

“Pei Ji?”

She fought the urge to blush, calling his name softly, “Can you stand up?”

Ning Ning spoke, using both hands to push him upwards, but Pei Ji suddenly moved, raising his hand to rest on her shoulder, straightening his body a little more.

But only a little.

This position made her even more at a loss.

Pei Ji still leaned over her, his clear breath heavy and pressing, with a few strands of black hair falling on Ning Ning’s neck, causing a ticklish sensation. From an outsider’s perspective, it seemed as though he was deliberately holding her, leaning in close.

And their faces were extremely close; the black-haired, black-clothed youth was silently gazing at her for a long time.

His pupils were deep and dark, reflecting the street lights, exuding a layer of ambiguous light. Those eyes, always as still as a deep well, were now dark and complicated, filled with emotions Ning Ning couldn’t understand, or rather, obsessions and desires.

Like two crazy whirlpools.

When Pei Ji’s unblinking gaze locked onto her, she could see her own reflection in the firelight, right in the center of the whirlpool, ready to be swallowed at any moment.

Ning Ning was flustered by his stare and called again, “Pei Ji?”

But Pei Ji didn’t respond.

Instead, he took a step forward, closing the distance between them.

Everything was under his control. Ning Ning wanted to look away, but his deep eyes kept approaching, and her body couldn’t escape his grasp.

His muddled eyes flickered, and it seemed like he was seeing her for the first time, silently observing. In the chaotic mess of his mind, a voice told Pei Ji:

He knows this girl.

No, not “Senior sister,” he didn’t like that title. It should be—

Pei Ji fixed his gaze on her and then, for some reason, suddenly smiled. His warm breath, accompanied by the night breeze, brushed against Ning Ning’s cheek.

His voice, sounding drunk, was light and hoarse, with a slight curve to his lips, and the words flowed out with his breath.

“Ning—Ning.”

He had never said this name out loud before.

And now, in the corner of the bustling streets of Luan City, Pei Ji unskillfully and cautiously repeated those two syllables, as if telling a secret.

Ning Ning’s heart exploded like fireworks.

She heard Pei Ji chuckle softly by her ear, then call out clearly and deliberately, “Ning Ning.”