Did You Feel My Affection?

Chu Tianqing's face was pale as she picked up a glass of liquor with a heavy heart. She still remembered to smile at Young Master Xiao before steeling herself and bringing it to her lips, drinking hard.

Whiskey was strong liquor. One sip burned all the way from her throat to her stomach, and after three she couldn't take it anymore. She relied on sheer willpower to keep swallowing.

She had to put the glass down and rest for a moment. "Don't rush me," she apologized to Xiao Junyi. "Let me catch my breath. Just a moment."

The mocking smile was still on Xiao Junyi's face, but inwardly he had begun to waver.

He had been a little interested in Shen Xixi to begin with, and seeing her so obedient and easy to bully made him itch inside.

What if he stopped making her drink and had her keep him company for a little fun instead?

Xiao Junyi was mulling it over when a figure suddenly came up and snatched the glass from Chu Tianqing's hand.

The amber liquid sloshed, wetting the front of Chu Tianqing's clothes.

She looked up and asked in surprise, "Brother, what are you doing here?"

As for why Shen Heng had come, they had Jiang Lean to thank. She had run upstairs to the private room to tip him off.

He wasn't the only one who had come. Ye Mingchen, Yan Ruyu and the others were there too.

Shen Heng strode into the lounge area and saw at a glance that she was being forced to drink. Anger flared up in him at once.

More than her causing trouble, he couldn't stand her being stupid.

He was right here, so why hadn't she asked for help? Why insist on toughing it out and drinking? She was hopelessly stupid.

Chu Tianqing saw that her dear big brother's face was livid and he looked ready to kill. She shrank back with a shiver, not daring to speak again.

Shen Heng withdrew his frightening gaze and composed himself a little. Then he turned to Xiao Junyi and offered his hand in a friendly gesture. "Hello, I'm Shen Heng."

Xiao Junyi looked him up and down, uncertain of Shen Heng's identity.

Yan Ruyu was sociable and knew Xiao Junyi. She quickly stepped in with a smile to smooth things over. "Young Master Xiao, this is Shen Heng, the heir to Dingsheng Group. He grew up in Hong Kong, so he isn't familiar with our circle."

"Mr. Shen," Yan Ruyu said, leaning closer to introduce Xiao Junyi in a low voice, "this is Xiao Junyi, the only son of the chairman of Zhiyuan Real Estate."

Now both men knew what the other was made of.

Xiao Junyi smiled, shook Shen Heng's hand and greeted him politely. "So you're President Shen. A pleasure to meet you."

"The pleasure is mine." Shen Heng gave a casual smile and soon got to the point. "I don't know how my sister offended you, but I apologize on her behalf."

"No need. We're old acquaintances, just fooling around." Xiao Junyi had already wanted to call it off, so this was a good chance to give the heir some face. He turned to Shen Xixi with a smile. "Isn't that right, Miss Shen?"

Chu Tianqing was already a little slow to react. She nodded silently, then added loudly, "Right!"

Xiao Junyi burst out laughing, while Shen Heng's face grew darker and darker.

What does she mean, right? She really can't tell good from bad. She doesn't have a shred of self-respect!

Shen Heng was furious and no longer in the mood to stay. He said goodbye to everyone, then pulled Shen Xixi along by the arm.

Yan Ruyu was a little disappointed and hurried after them in quick little steps. "President Shen, are you leaving already? We so rarely get together. Stay a little longer."

Shen Heng stopped and patiently explained, "She can't hold her liquor. I'll take her home first. Miss Yan, we can talk another day."

"She can't hold her liquor?" Yan Ruyu found that funny. She grabbed Shen Xixi's other arm and reached up to pinch her cheek. "Xixi, stop pretending. She's a regular at bars and is known for being able to drink a thousand cups without getting drunk."

Shen Heng was taken aback. So she could hold her liquor very well. Had she been pretending that night when she cried and made a scene?

Why would she pretend?

Shen Heng's expression suddenly turned complicated. He didn't dare think too deeply about it.

Chu Tianqing slapped Yan Ruyu's hand away. "Stop it," she mumbled. "I'm so sleepy. I want to sleep."

With that, she started to lie down on the floor.

Shen Heng lowered his gaze and studied her closely, wanting to know whether she was really drunk or faking it.

Chu Tianqing closed her eyes, paying no attention at all to Shen Heng's expression. She lay flat and went straight to sleep.

When Ye Mingchen arrived after settling the bill, he saw a bizarre scene: Shen Heng and Yan Ruyu were standing there, watching Chu Tianqing sleep soundly on the floor.

"How can you let her sleep on the floor?" Ye Mingchen's heart ached for her. He reached down and picked her up. "I'll take her home. A-Heng, you take Miss Yan."

Yan Ruyu had been feeling quite disappointed, but when she heard that Shen Heng would take her home, she immediately agreed. "All right. Sorry for the trouble, President Shen."

Things had taken an unexpected turn, and by the time Shen Heng came to his senses, it was settled.

He couldn't refuse; that would make both Yan Ruyu and Ye Mingchen lose face.

But the thought of Shen Xixi being alone with Ye Mingchen made him feel as if a stone were lodged in his chest, a discomfort he couldn't put into words.

Although he trusted Ye Mingchen's character; the man wasn't one to fool around.

Just as he was feeling anxious and at a loss, he spotted Jiang Lean walking over and Shen Heng immediately spoke up. "Miss Jiang, Xixi is drunk. Sorry to trouble you, but could you look after her?"

Then he said to Ye Mingchen, "Mingchen, let Miss Jiang go with you, in case there's anything inconvenient."

Jiang Lean had just gone upstairs to get her own coat and bag and Shen Xixi's.

She took it for granted that the two of them were together, so of course she didn't mind looking after her.

Ye Mingchen thought the same. He thanked Jiang Lean and picked Shen Xixi up, and the three of them left together.

Shen Heng watched their retreating figures, lost in thought.

Yan Ruyu's gaze moved back and forth, and she broke the silence with a smile. "You and Xixi are really close, President Shen. Those rumors going around really were all lies."

Shen Heng came back to his senses and smiled faintly. He didn't want to talk more about it. "Let's go, Miss Yan. I'll take you home."

After he dropped Yan Ruyu off at home, the driver headed straight back to the hotel as a matter of course, and Shen Heng didn't stop him.

Back at the hotel, he took a shower and checked his phone. Ye Mingchen had sent him a message saying he had settled Xixi in and telling him not to worry.

Not worry? Can I really stop worrying?

After drying his hair and changing his clothes, he stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, lost in thought.

He stood there for half an hour.

Suddenly, as if possessed, he threw on a coat, grabbed his car keys and headed out the door, straight for the apartment in the city center.

It was late at night, and the lights were green all the way. Shen Heng drove faster and faster.

In less than twenty minutes, he reached the apartment door and entered the password with practiced ease.

The apartment was quiet, a night-light casting a dim yellow glow. Hearing the noise, the dog raced to the entryway.

Catching the familiar scent, he happily stuck out his tongue.

"Good boy, Rocky." Shen Heng patted his head and lightened his steps as he walked toward the bedroom.

When Shen Heng gripped the metal handle, a battle raged within him.

If she was pretending to be drunk, he would demand answers and bring everything out into the open in due course.

If she was really drunk, she wouldn't remember that he had come, and it wouldn't affect anything.

Having thought it through, Shen Heng steeled himself, opened the bedroom door and went inside.

There was a night-light in the room as well, outlining the figure on the bed. She was sleeping soundly on her side, hugging a pillow.

She had changed into pajamas. Jiang Lean had probably helped her change.

Shen Heng sat on the edge of the bed, slowly pulled the pillow from her arms and called to her softly, "Xixi, wake up."

As if she would wake up. Chu Tianqing had drunk more than half a glass of whiskey; even if the sky fell now, she wouldn't get up.

Shen Heng waited a while, then couldn't stop himself from touching her forehead and gently stroking her cheek.

If she was pretending to be drunk, or rather, pretending to be asleep, she should have jumped up long ago at such an intimate gesture that went beyond what was proper.

Shen Heng slowly leaned closer, his large hand brushing her hair aside, his gaze burning as he fixed it on her peaceful sleeping face. The air of danger suddenly intensified.

If Chu Tianqing could wake up now, she would surely scream and then faint again.

But there were no ifs. The reality was that she was fast asleep. She merely felt a little itchy, raised a hand to scratch her chin, then buried her face in the pillow and slept even more soundly.

"Xixi," Shen Heng said in a restrained voice, murmuring in her ear, "if you're awake, there's something I want to ask you. Have you felt... my affection for you?"