Fortunately, Xi Yan only took a small sip before putting down his wineglass.
Even so, the Wu family was overjoyed. After all, this showed that Xi Yan had given them face. Under normal circumstances, Xi Yan never touched alcohol.
After putting down his glass, Xi Yan lifted his eyelids and said calmly to the newlyweds in front of him, "Congratulations on your marriage."
Everyone froze at his words. No one had expected to hear such a blessing from him. Once they recovered, the Wu family was delighted, their smiles impossible to hide.
"Thank you, Fourth Master, thank you."
Wu Hua muttered, "What's gotten into Fourth Master? He doesn't seem like himself." After a pause, he seemed to think of something and clicked his tongue. "I know. Is it because he's getting married too, so he was moved to say it?"
He spoke very quietly, and he and Bai Le were sitting in a corner. He had also leaned close to Bai Le's ear, so no one else heard him talking about Xi Yan.
When Bai Le heard him mention marriage, he thought of Xi Yan and his younger sister, and his expression grew even worse.
Fuck, he'd thought sleeping with his brother-in-law was outrageous enough, but something even more outrageous was waiting for him.
All he could do now was pray that things weren't as he imagined.
After the banquet, Bai Le practically fled the hotel. A light drizzle had begun outside. He stood at the entrance and absentmindedly held out a hand to catch a few drops, wondering whether to have the driver pull up.
"What are you doing standing here?"
A familiar, low voice suddenly came from behind him, exploding in his ear like a thunderclap out of a clear sky.
Bai Le stiffened and slowly turned around. Sure enough, Xi Yan was behind him.
He sat in his wheelchair, his dark hair falling loose and making his complexion look even paler. His eyes were calm and dark as a deep pool, concealing feelings no one else could understand.
Bai Le was at a loss. He raised the phone in his hand and stammered, "I... I was just about to call someone to pick me up."
Xi Yan tilted his head slightly and glanced at the pattering drizzle. "I'll take you home," he said calmly.
Bai Le hurriedly refused with an awkward smile. "I couldn't possibly trouble you."
How could he share an enclosed space with Xi Yan now? Just seeing him made him feel uncomfortable all over.
But since Xi Yan had offered, how could he possibly change his mind? He seemed rarely to be defied, and his gaze turned cold.
Bai Le's heart skipped a beat. Those descriptions of him from the original novel popped into his head again, making his heart skip a beat in fright.
He had no choice but to grit his teeth. "All right."
It was just a car ride together. What was the big deal? Xi Yan wasn't going to eat him, and besides, what if he was just overthinking things?
After getting into the car, Bai Le deliberately put some distance between himself and Xi Yan, sitting far away on the other side. He clutched his seat belt pitifully, not daring to speak.
He couldn't make sense of Xi Yan's offer to take him home either. Was he looking out for his future brother-in-law?
The silence lingered for a while before Xi Yan suddenly turned to look at him sitting so far away, his tone giving no hint of his mood.
"You always seem to find a way to make me angry."
Bai Le couldn't help tightening his grip on the seat belt. He felt flustered, unsure what Xi Yan meant by starting with that.
When Bai Le didn't answer, Xi Yan didn't seem to care. It was as though he had never expected an answer at all and was merely stating a fact.
"Come here."
Bai Le froze, then cautiously scooted toward him, barely moving at all.
"A little closer."
Bai Le clenched his fists and forced himself to scoot a little closer.
"Keep going."
Only when Bai Le was nearly pressed up against him did Xi Yan tell him to stop in an indifferent tone.
Bai Le felt humiliated by his own lack of backbone. He looked up and, sure enough, saw the corners of Xi Yan's mouth curve up slightly. Though the change was barely perceptible, he had indeed smiled.
He really was toying with him.
"Were you feeling unwell earlier?"
A moment later, Xi Yan's expression returned to normal. His jaw tightened slightly as he asked the question in a cold voice.
The question touched on what concerned Bai Le most at the moment. His expression turned somewhat panicked, but he knew he couldn't lie to Xi Yan, so he had to admit it. Afraid Xi Yan would ask why, he hurried to speak first.
"I was like that because I saw someone."
He wasn't lying. He really had acted strangely because he had seen the person Wu Hua's older brother was marrying.
"Who?"
Bai Le was wondering how to answer when the car slowly came to a stop. Without his realizing it, they had arrived at his front door.
He quickly pushed the car door open and got out, shielding his head with his hand. He bent down and waved at Xi Yan.
"Thanks, Fourth Master. The rain's coming down hard, so I'll go inside first."
After entering the villa, Bai Le slammed the door shut, startling Bai Yin, who was watching television in the living room.
He wiped the rain from his face, then went upstairs with his face taut. He spent a few minutes in his room before immediately coming back down fully equipped.
Bai Yin stared speechlessly at the person in front of her, who wore a bucket hat and sunglasses and had half his face covered with a scarf. The corners of her mouth twitched.
"What's wrong, Brother? What are you going out to do?"
Bai Le went to the entrance and opened the door again, an umbrella in his hand. Then he looked back at her, his voice carrying a note of desperation.
"I'm going to the pharmacy."
Bai Yin was utterly baffled. "What are you going to buy at the pharmacy?"
Bai Le opened his umbrella. "Something that could decide whether I live or die," he said in a solemn tone.
Author's note: Everyone should know what Lele is going to buy, right? 233. Also, don't blame Lele for not catching on. Please understand that right now he's just an innocent boy who thinks he's straight [strikethrough]. Thank you to the little angels who sent me overlord tickets or irrigated me with nutrient solution between 2020-02-17 23:14:32 and 2020-02-19 00:00:02~
Thanks to the little angels who irrigated me with nutrient solution: Heaven, grant me a cat wife, 6 bottles; Kazami Arisa, 1 bottle;