Zhang Zhaomu is not someone who is easily troubled.
Anyway, things will work themselves out. Knowing Chen Zhen as he does, even if he has something on his mind, he won't be able to hide it for long.
Therefore, I'm too lazy to make unfounded guesses and cause unnecessary trouble.
I had just reached my front door when my phone suddenly beeped.
"That guy can't possibly only hold it in for a few minutes, can he?"
He smiled and took out his phone.
It wasn't Chen Zhenzhen's message, but Xiang Qing's.
It's a voice message.
Zhang Zhaomu clicked on it.
" Zhang Zhaomu, waaaaah~ Where are you?"
Her voice was choked with emotion, carrying a softness that was completely different from her usual tone.
Zhang Zhaomu was stunned for a moment.
No, why are they crying here too? What's going on tonight?
He replied, "What's up? I just got home."
The Little Mute: "I... I feel so awful! I feel like throwing up, but I can't..."
The Little Mute said, "I'm not drunk! I can still drink!"
"But... I feel nauseous!"
" Zhang Zhaomu, am I sick...? I need to see a doctor..."
Zhang Zhaomu pressed the voice call button directly.
After two beeps, the call was disconnected.
Then the Little Mute sent another message: "Someone suddenly called me with a voice message, it scared me to death!"
"Mom said not to answer calls from strangers at night... I'm being a very good girl!"
"No, I was naughty... I secretly drank alcohol, Zhang Zhaomu, please don't tell my mom..."
Zhang Zhaomu felt a black line appear on his face. He immediately replied with a voice message: "Is it possible that I typed that voice message?"
The Little Mute: "Huh?"
Zhang Zhaomu dialed again.
The call finally went through.
" Zhang Zhaomu, I'm sorry..." Xiang Qing's pitiful voice came through. "I didn't notice it was you..."
Zhang Zhaomu didn't dwell on this trivial matter and went straight to asking, "How are you feeling right now? Besides feeling nauseous, is there anything else that's bothering you?"
"Yes~" Xiang Qing's voice was a little unclear. "I feel uncomfortable. Why am I the only one left here... I'm unhappy... Zhang Zhaomu, can I come to you...?"
"No." Zhang Zhaomu refused outright. "You can't go out anymore. Just go to sleep and you'll be fine tomorrow morning."
"Then I'll go find Zhenzhen ~" Xiang Qing sniffed.
"Don't look for her," Zhang Zhaomu quickly said.
Chen Zhen is in a bad mood right now, and if you bother her with something like this, she'll probably explode instantly.
"Okay..." Xiang Qing paused, "Then I won't look for her... nor will I look for you..."
Her voice trembled slightly as she said, "I will be obedient. Qingjing has always been obedient..."
Zhang Zhaomu's fingers, gripping the phone, began to turn white.
There's no need to make it sound so pitiful...
This guy claimed he might have a naturally high alcohol tolerance, but three bottles of beer turned him into this mess?
I was just thinking she'd only be slightly tipsy, since she didn't seem to have any symptoms... but it turns out this girl is the type who doesn't blush when she drinks, and she drinks so fast, I bet a gust of wind will hit her and knock her out in one go.
"Good boy/girl," Zhang Zhaomu coaxed. "Go to sleep, I'll pick you up tomorrow morning."
"Okay, Mom..." Xiang Qing mumbled sleepily, "I'm going to sleep now..."
Then, lowering his voice, he muttered to himself, "Hehe, I'll sneak out to find Zhang Zhaomu later."
"I won't be an obedient child..."
Zhang Zhaomu:
Can she really tell who she's talking to on the phone?
No, if she's in this state now and her mother actually calls, the consequences could be very serious, right?
Based on her descriptions of her aunt during this period, if her aunt knew that she had skipped class, been drinking, and even booked hotel rooms outside, then...
Wouldn't she come to the school to confront me and demand an explanation? We'd definitely be done being deskmates; she might even be transferred to a different class or school!
Thinking of this, Zhang Zhaomu sighed and said, "Never mind, don't sleep yet. I'll buy you some hangover medicine and I'll be right there."
"I'm not sleeping anyway~" Xiang Qing chuckled, "Those who go to bed early are good kids... I'm not, I'm super awesome today..."
"That's nothing to be proud of." Zhang Zhaomu quickened his pace and went downstairs.
Fortunately, the nearby pharmacy was open 24 hours. Zhang Zhaomu bought a box of Sobering Golden Goblet Capsules. Since he wasn't sure if they actually worked, he also bought a carton of yogurt and a large bottle of mineral water.
Then we rushed to the hotel without stopping.
Standing in Xiang Qing's door, Zhang Zhaomu was already a little out of breath. He raised his hand and knocked on the door.
I could hear a gasp from inside the door, and then my phone started ringing with a voice call.
Zhang Zhaomu glanced at the caller ID and answered with a hint of helplessness.
" Zhang Zhaomu!" Xiang Qing's terrified voice came from inside. "Someone's knocking! I'm so scared!"
"It's me," Zhang Zhaomu said. "Didn't you just say I was bringing you medicine?"
"Oh right..." Xiang Qing paused for a moment, "But... how can I be sure it's you outside the door? If it's a bad person, I can't open the door!"
Zhang Zhaomu took a deep breath.
Be patient! You must be patient with drunk people!
"There's a peephole on the door, so you can see outside."
"A cat?" Xiang Qing muttered, "Where's the cat?"
"The peephole! Look above the door, it's at the top, in the middle." Zhang Zhaomu tried to keep his tone gentle.
"Oh, oh." Then he heard footsteps approaching the door.
For a long time, there was no movement.
"Hello?" Zhang Zhaomu asked tentatively, "Did you find it?"
"Found it... found it!" Xiang Qing's tone suddenly became a little happy. " Zhang Zhaomu... you looked so funny in there~"
"Her nose is huge!"
Zhang Zhaomu: "... Open the door! Now! Immediately!"
"Oh..."
The door clicked open, but it was locked shut again by the security chain just a crack in the door.
Zhang Zhaomu felt a sense of relief; this person's safety awareness was indeed quite good.
Xiang Qing peeked through the narrow crack in the door and saw that it was indeed Zhang Zhaomu. She smiled happily, "You're here! Wait a minute, let me fix... this security lock..."
"Huh? Why... can't I open it?"
She fiddled with the security lock with it, the chain rattling loudly.
Zhang Zhaomu could only see a pale, lotus-white arm, and then he suddenly realized a serious problem.
"Wait a minute!" He couldn't help but swallow hard. " Little Mute, are you... dressed yet?"
"Huh?" Xiang Qing said blankly, "Of course I'm wearing clothes! How could I not be wearing any?"
" Zhang Zhaomu is a boy, I can't not wear clothes in front of you!"
Zhang Zhaomu breathed a sigh of relief, "That's good."
Otherwise, he was really afraid that he might accidentally see something he shouldn't have. Embarrassment was a minor issue; if he couldn't control himself, that would be a much bigger problem.
"But I just washed my school uniform, it's not dry yet~" Xiang Qing continued.
Zhang Zhaomu:
A simple question: if this person's school uniform is washed and unwearable, then what exactly are they wearing when they say they're "wearing clothes"?
Zhang Zhaomu dared not think about it anymore.
With a click, the security chain was finally unlocked. Xiang Qing was about to pull the door open when Zhang Zhaomu reflexively raised his hand and grabbed the doorknob, stopping her.
"What's wrong?" Xiang Qing poked her head out. " Zhang Zhaomu... you can come in now?"
"No... no need!" Zhang Zhaomu could see half of her smooth shoulder, and suddenly felt a heat in his nose. He quickly turned his head away, not daring to look anymore. "I just brought you something. Drink it and go to sleep early."
As he spoke, he handed over the plastic bag he was holding.
No way!
A soft hand grasped Zhang Zhaomu's wrist. "I don't want to be alone~"
Zhang Zhaomu couldn't help but shudder.
No, this person is like a demon when they've had a drink!
He tried hard to stop himself from thinking about what lay behind that door, but those alluring thoughts just wouldn't stop.
" Zhang Zhaomu?" Xiang Qing was still gently tugging at him. "Why aren't you saying anything?"
"Cough cough," Zhang Zhaomu shook his head vigorously, "I really can't go in, Little Mute, you've had too much to drink, can't you go to bed early?"
"No!" Xiang Qing's inexplicable stubbornness resurfaced. She gripped the doorframe with both hands, struggling against Zhang Zhaomu: "Come in, you're already here!"
Holy crap! You even used that reason? What China person could refuse that?
Zhang Zhaomu took another deep breath, barely managing to maintain her fragile sanity, and said, "Don't try to open the door yet. Go back to bed, cover yourself with the blanket, and then I'll come in."
"Really?" Xiang Qing immediately relaxed her grip. "Okay then... Zhang Zhaomu, you can't lie to me, okay?"
"Don't worry," Zhang Zhaomu tried to reassure her, "I never lie."
"Hehe, okay!" Xiang Qing ran lightly into the room, and after a short while, her voice came. " Zhang Zhaomu, I'm ready to lie down."
Zhang Zhaomu didn't open her eyes, but simply asked, "Have you covered yourself up properly?"
"Um... I forgot."
Then there was another rustling sound, Xiang Qing said, "It's covered now."
Zhang Zhaomu confirmed, "Is the whole body covered?"
"Should I cover it all up?" Xiang Qing's voice began to sound muffled, " Zhang Zhaomu... it's a bit stuffy, can you leave your head uncovered?"
"... Can."
Then Zhang Zhaomu opened her eyes.
He stood at the door, pressed his hand to his chest, felt his heart pounding rapidly, and tried to mentally prepare himself for a while.
"I'm a decent person, I'm a decent person..."
" The Little Mute was just drunk..."
"You absolutely cannot be a beast who takes advantage of someone in distress! The Little Mute was only unguarded with you because she trusted you!"
"Don't be impulsive! Even if the Little Mute doesn't pursue the matter, if your aunt finds out, she definitely won't let it go!"
" Zhang Zhaomu, you don't want to spend the rest of your high school years in prison, do you?"
With that thought in mind, he finally suppressed the romantic feelings in his heart.
Then he slowly walked into the room and closed the door behind him.
He glanced quickly at the bed and thankfully, the other person was indeed covered by the blanket, with only their small head showing and a pair of slightly blurry eyes staring at him.
" Zhang Zhaomu ~" she murmured almost, her voice soft and alluring at the end, "Am I a good girl?"
This is killing me!
How could someone who is usually so innocent and pure turn out like this after drinking alcohol!
Looking at the other person's classically beautiful face, Zhang Zhaomu finally understood why the ancient emperors' deeds had been passed down through the ages.
What about "lighting the beacon fires to amuse the feudal lords," what about "a rider raising dust to bring a smile to the concubine's face," what about "from then on, the emperor no longer held morning court"?
If you put Xiang Qing's face in that picture, it feels perfectly reasonable!
Even emperors who ruled the world couldn't withstand it, so how could an ordinary modern high school student like myself possibly do?
He couldn't help but reach out his hand.
Just as he was about to touch Xiang Qing's face, he suddenly pulled back and slapped himself.
We have to hold on, even if we can't!
Zhang Zhaomu, Zhang Zhaomu, how could you be so depraved!
Those kings could do whatever they wanted because those women were originally someone else's concubines, while the Little Mute was just a friend. How can you convince yourself with such an excuse?
Moreover, if a monarch can't withstand the pressure, at worst he'll lose the empire, but if he can't, he'll go to jail!
" Zhang Zhaomu ~" Xiang Qing asked, a little confused, "Why did you suddenly hit yourself?"
"There are mosquitoes." Zhang Zhaomu covered up her embarrassment, placed the plastic bag on the bedside table, then took out some hangover medicine and water, saying, "Here, take your medicine first."
"Oh." Xiang Qing propped herself up on the bed and tried to sit up.
"Wait!" Zhang Zhaomu was startled and quickly grabbed her shoulder.
Xiang Qing looked over in confusion. "What's wrong?"
"You... wrap yourself in the blanket before sitting up." Zhang Zhaomu took a deep breath. "Otherwise, you'll expose yourself."
Xiang Qing lifted the blanket slightly to look inside, then looked as if she had just realized something. "Oh right! I was only wearing underwear!"
"Thank goodness you reminded me, Zhang Zhaomu, hehe... Zhang Zhaomu, you really are super innocent!"
Zhang Zhaomu:
Please don't misunderstand!
If I were to put my idea into practice, you'd be in deep trouble tonight!
He forced out two hoarse words from his throat. "Drink the medicine!"
"Okay." Xiang Qing sat up wrapped in the blanket, then stretched out a jade-like arm to take the hangover medicine Zhang Zhaomu handed her, obediently put it in her mouth, and drank a sip of water to wash it down.
"Drink some more yogurt, it'll soothe your stomach." Zhang Zhaomu helped unscrew the bottle cap.
"Okay." Xiang Qing obediently took it, then suddenly smiled happily, "You're so nice~"
"Besides Mom, Zhang Zhaomu, you're the best to me!"
Zhang Zhaomu's lips twitched slightly, and he said, "Don't be so trusting..."
He was indeed a little worried; Xiang Qing was too trusting of people, so he raised his voice slightly. "Also, you can't drink anymore!"
"With your alcohol tolerance, have you thought about what would happen if I wasn't the one drinking with you?"
Xiang Qing immediately felt wronged, pouting, "How could I drink with someone else... It's because of you that I dared to!"
"I'm very safety-conscious... I'll stay home and call you first if someone knocks on the door. I listen carefully to everything you say..."
As she said this, she grabbed Zhang Zhaomu's arm, looking like she was about to cry, "So, Zhang Zhaomu, please don't be mean to me, okay?"