"Friend?"
"Yeah. She was decisive, highly proactive, hardworking, and dependable. I'm sure you two would get along well."
"Oh, right. Her name is Keqing."
Chapter 40: Let Me Help You Rest for a While
"Cheers!"
After downing several cups of liquor, Ye Ming took a breath. As the fiery alcohol entered his body, he began to feel warm.
"Don't just drink. Drinking on an empty stomach is bad for your stomach. Here, have some food."
Keqing beamed as she placed two chopsticks' worth of food onto Ye Ming's plate. "The chive sea bass and stir-fried pork kidneys here are specialties. Hurry up and see if they taste good."
Unable to refuse her hospitality, Ye Ming took a few bites and nodded in satisfaction. "Yeah, it does taste good. But isn't this place called Cat House Western Restaurant? Why do they sell stir-fried dishes too?"
"Maybe Chinese food sells better."
Keqing pointed at several nearby tables. "Look, everyone who comes here is eating Chinese food."
Following the direction Keqing pointed, Ye Ming found that the guests at the surrounding tables really were all eating Chinese food.
"That's pretty interesting."
Ye Ming found it amusing. He looked away, took off his suit jacket, picked up another couple bites of fish, and undid the top button of his shirt as he ate. "Why is the air conditioning set so high in here?"
The corners of Keqing's lips curled slightly as she feigned surprise. "Huh? Is it? I think it's fine. Did you drink too much?"
"Impossible! I've only had three cups. How could I be drunk?"
Ye Ming retorted. Years of workplace training had made him well aware of his alcohol tolerance. Though he usually disliked drinking, he could normally handle about half a bottle of forty-proof baijiu for business occasions.
He had only had three tiny cups of this liquor. There was no way he could be drunk.
Unless the baijiu Keqing ordered was extremely strong.
But if it really was that strong, then if Ye Ming couldn't handle it, Keqing, as a woman, definitely wouldn't be able to handle it either.
And from another angle, his thoughts were still so clear and organized right now. Didn't that prove he wasn't drunk?
"Come to think of it, what kind of liquor is this? I've never seen it before, but it tastes pretty good."
Ye Ming curiously picked up the bottle and examined it. He couldn't recognize the writing on it at all, not knowing whether it was French or some other language.
"I'm not too sure either. It seems to be imported from France. This is my first time drinking it too."
Keqing wore an innocent expression. "If you think it tastes good, then drink more. Coco is here anyway, so you don't have to worry about driving."
As she spoke, Keqing enthusiastically pushed the plates of stir-fried pork kidneys and chive sea bass closer to Ye Ming. "The food is pretty good too. Eat more."
"Thanks. You should eat too."
Ye Ming pushed the dishes back toward Keqing, took a couple bites of pork kidney, and drank some liquor. As the alcohol entered his stomach, it felt as though a warm current had surged through him, making his entire body pleasantly warm and comfortable.
Ye Ming undid another button and softly exhaled. His gaze swept across the restaurant before inexplicably settling on Keqing.
Today, Keqing wore a silver-gray professional skirt suit, looking capable and dignified. Her delicate, fair, pretty face looked somewhat youthful, while her gorgeous purple hair flowed down her back. She wore striking purple contact lenses, and her refined brows and eyes, cute nose, and tender red lips contrasted with her dignified and competent attire, giving her a strangely captivating charm.
She wore a fitted blazer with a V-neck that revealed the white shirt beneath it. Her waist was slender, while her chest was unexpectedly full and rounded.
Below, she wore a gray straight skirt, sheer black pantyhose, and silver pointed-toe stilettos. Her legs were long and well-proportioned, and her astonishing allure made it impossible to look away.
Perhaps noticing Ye Ming's gaze, Keqing shyly turned her head aside and brushed back the hair by her ear, revealing her long, snow-white neck. A tempting flush bloomed across her smooth, delicate skin.
Keqing's movement startled Ye Ming awake. He hurriedly looked away, feeling parched, and instinctively lifted his cup and drained it in one gulp.
The liquor entered his stomach, and the warmth intensified.
Ye Ming exhaled, feeling as if even the air he breathed out was scorching. Instinctively wanting something cool, he picked up his chopsticks and hesitated slightly.
He didn't dare eat the pork kidneys or chive sea bass anymore. After waving his chopsticks around, he simply picked up two pieces of bitter melon.
The heat-clearing bitter melon entered his mouth, and his mind immediately cleared. Ye Ming finally let out a sigh of relief.
But just then, Keqing suddenly stood up, bent over, and reached out to place her hand against Ye Ming's forehead.
"Are you okay? Why is your face so red?"
Keqing looked deeply concerned, yet she seemed completely unaware that her V-neck was directly facing Ye Ming.
The young woman's soft, warm palm rested against his forehead, and her luscious red lips were close at hand. Because they were so close, Ye Ming could even feel her hot, moist breath and smell the alluring fragrance on her body.
Ye Ming took a deep breath, pushed her hand away, and vigorously shook his head.
"I'm fine. Maybe I really did drink a little too much. Let's call it here for today."
At last, Ye Ming realized that something was off with his condition. Not wanting to continue and risk making a mistake, he straightforwardly admitted defeat and excused himself as he stood up. "Sorry, I'm not feeling well, so I'll be leaving first... Ah!"
Because his mind was muddled, Ye Ming accidentally knocked his chopsticks to the floor as he stood. He quickly bent down to pick them up, but the moment he did, he froze.
Under the table, Keqing's beautiful legs in black stockings extended beneath her gray pencil skirt, smooth and rounded with a soft, delicate sheen. The sheer black pantyhose accentuated the skin of her thighs, making them appear even fairer and more tender.
Ye Ming felt his mouth go dry and his heart race. It took tremendous willpower for him to shift his gaze to the chopsticks beside Keqing's silver stilettos and reach out to pick them up.
But as he rose, for some reason, the hand braced against the table suddenly went numb as if shocked by electricity. Ye Ming staggered involuntarily, and his hand touched Keqing's thigh.
Stimulated, the muscles in Keqing's thigh twitched as if spasming. Her reaction was intense, and even her breathing became hurried, making Ye Ming feel even more parched.
Ye Ming stood up, placed the chopsticks on the table, and shook his head hard. His mouth was dry, the air he breathed was unbearably hot, and his mind felt rusted, slow to react.
Damn it, I really might be drunk!
Ye Ming's heart sank. He wanted to go home, but in this state, he felt that going home would affect Laffey badly. For a moment, he hesitated.
Just then, Keqing made a perfectly timed suggestion. "I think you really are a little drunk. Do you want to get a room at a nearby hotel and rest for a while? There happen to be several hotels around here."
"Really? That's great."
Ye Ming breathed a sigh of relief. "Then, sorry, I'll head over first."
"Wait. You're not in a good state to be alone. I'd better take you there." Keqing was very enthusiastic.
"Sorry for the trouble."
With his head feeling heavy and muddled, Ye Ming did not refuse Keqing's kindness.
"It's no trouble. Not trouble at all."
Keqing supported Ye Ming and spoke meaningfully, a pleased curve forming at the corner of her lips.
P.S. The rankings change on Monday. Please vote, pretty please.
Chapter 41: Master Keqing Locks the Door
After leaving the restaurant, the cold wind instantly cleared Ye Ming's mind considerably.
He glanced at Keqing, who was doing her best to support him.
Perhaps because she lacked exercise, the young woman was delicate and weak, with very little strength. It was difficult for her to support Ye Ming with just her hands, so she had no choice but to press tightly against him and use all her strength just to barely hold him up.
The astonishingly full softness at her chest rubbed against Ye Ming's elbow. He could even feel the shocking heat through her thin shirt.
For some reason, Ye Ming felt a surge of heat rising from within, and he was starting to lose control of his body.
Ye Ming took a deep breath, broke free from the young woman's hands, and forcefully shook his head.
It was April, and the weather outside was still a little cold. After standing in the chilly wind for a while in nothing but a shirt, Ye Ming's mind became much clearer.
He barely regained the ability to think and had no trouble walking by himself. Yet for some reason, the restless fire inside him only grew stronger and stronger, impossible to suppress.
Was it really because it had been too long since I took care of myself?
Ye Ming was helpless.
Come to think of it, he had been busy at work during the day and immersed in games at night lately. He had barely even read novels, let alone done any handiwork. It had been at least half a year since the last time.
When one's energy was too abundant, it naturally needed an outlet. As a healthy adult man, Ye Ming had to find some way to vent it.
Especially after Fu Hua had arrived these past few days. Though Ye Ming had said things like, "Fu Hua is really flat," and, "Having Laffey is enough," he had to admit that Fu Hua was a very beautiful girl.
She had not deliberately guarded herself against him while washing up or sleeping, letting Ye Ming enjoy quite a few accidental sights. On top of that, Fu Hua had proposed marriage to him the moment they met. As a normal person, it was only natural for Ye Ming to feel somewhat distracted.
All those things had built up over time, and today's drunkenness and accidental touch had triggered them, leaving Ye Ming unable to keep them down.
Still, his rationality remained. Ye Ming knew very well what he ought to do.
"Sorry, Keqing. I really haven't been in a good state today. Sorry you had to see me like this."
Ye Ming broke free from Keqing's hands and forced out a smile. "I'm much better now. I can go to the hotel myself, so I won't trouble you. If you don't have anything else to do, go back and get busy. I'll be fine."
Then, he sincerely apologized for touching her upper thigh earlier. "I'm really sorry about what happened just now. Thank you for not holding it against me and helping me out."
Keqing seemed somewhat surprised by Ye Ming's apology. She widened her eyes and stared at him for a long while before replying, "It's fine. It was only an accident. I'm not going to hold such a small matter against you."
Though she said that, Keqing was muttering to herself inwardly.
That shouldn't be possible. So much time has passed. Even if he only drank one cup, he should be out of it by now. How can he still stand there and talk after drinking more than half a bottle? Did I put in too little of the drug?
No, that can't be it. I poured in every bit of the drug I had. Could it have expired?
Keqing was uncertain, and a terrifying thought suddenly arose in her heart.
Could it be... could there be something wrong with his body?
No way!
Keqing was startled by her own speculation.
Before you continue