"Like... like, how could I not like you when you're so handsome?" Wei Yumeng said, still affectionately caressing his incredibly handsome face. It was almost an affront to the heavens that someone could be so beautiful.
The smile in Zhan Mohan's eyes deepened. They said that drunk words were true words, and it seemed to be the case.
"But! You have such a bad temper, and your expressions change so unpredictably. You weren't even provoked, so why are you unhappy? You're clearly from a wealthy background and don't understand the harshness of the world. If you were just an ordinary person, who would even pay attention to you?"
The more she spoke, the angrier Wei Yumeng became. All her past encounters with Zhan Mohan flashed through her mind: how he had toyed with her, how he had disguised himself as a mysterious man, leaving her in a constant state of worry.
The smile on Zhan Mohan's face, which had been so radiant moments ago, froze as he listened to Wei Yumeng's accusations. The hand around her waist tightened involuntarily, and his deep voice carried a hint of warning.
"So, you're saying I have to walk on eggshells around you?"
Wei Yumeng flashed a brilliant smile. "That can be arranged."
"Dream on. It seems last night wasn't enough to teach you obedience. We'll have to continue today."
Just as he was about to scoop her up, he heard Wei Yumeng clutching her stomach.
"I need to go to the restroom."
Zhan Mohan watched her rush in and close the door, only then remembering that she had probably had too much to drink.
When Wei Yumeng emerged, she let out a long sigh.
"Much better."
"Shouldn't we settle the score first?" Zhan Mohan hooked his arm around the back of her head, his lips brushing hers in a fleeting kiss, his eyes burning.
Wei Yumeng tilted her flushed face upwards. "Settle what score? Are you really going to make me pay for the alcohol? I don't have any money."
She hadn't received her salary for this month or the last, and sometimes she was even docked pay for being late. How could Zhan Mohan bear to make her pay for drinks?
A sly glint flashed in Zhan Mohan's eyes.
"You don't have to pay, but you'll have to pay with your body."
The way he raised his eyebrows was incredibly alluring, with an undercurrent of forbidden desire. Wei Yumeng's gaze grew flustered.
Perhaps it was the alcohol, but her senses felt heightened, especially when faced with a man like Zhan Mohan, who exuded an aura of abstinence. She found it hard to resist.
But she was a woman, after all, and needed to maintain some composure. She couldn't outright reveal her feelings.
She asked cautiously, "Could I also get a free bottle?"
The taste of that red wine earlier had been quite good, even if it had made her a bit dizzy.
Zhan Mohan scoffed. "You're learning to haggle now."
Wei Yumeng pouted her ruby-red lips, which seemed to glisten with the glow of red wine, making her even more captivating.
"Am I not even worth a bottle of your red wine?"
The man cupped her chin and kissed her soft lips, his eyes filled with doting affection.
"Alright, forget two bottles. You can have them all."
In their own little world, they were inseparable.
When Wei Yumeng woke up, her head was still heavy and a bit dizzy. The lingering effects of the red wine from last night were hitting her hard, almost feeling life-threatening.
Even with her eyes closed, the bed felt like it was swaying.
She vowed never to drink that much again. It wasn't worth it for someone like Wei Anguo.
However, she vaguely remembered seeing Zhan Mohan when she was drunk. He had made her pay for the wine, and it seemed like they had...
Thinking of this, she quickly threw off the covers, and a gust of cold air made her shiver.
Her guess was not wrong at all. It wasn't the bed that was swaying; it was the person in it.
How could she be so weak to his temptations? This was the third time... She seriously suspected she was going to be overdrawn.
Wei Yumeng had to go to work today and needed to get ready quickly.
As she finished getting ready and was about to head downstairs, she received a call from Xin Ran. It had been a long time since she'd spoken to Xin Ran, ever since the Xin family's troubles. She had been avoiding contact to prevent any further misunderstandings.
It was best for them to remain peacefully independent of each other.
She closed the door again, returned to her room, and slid to answer the call.
"Xin Ran."
"Yumeng, how have you been lately?"
Xin Ran's voice sounded quite well, suggesting things had been alright for him recently.
"Alright. How about you? Have your family matters been resolved?"
"Everything's settled. My mother said... my mother said Zhan Mohan backed down. Did he threaten you again about something?"
Xin Ran regretted his own powerlessness, unable to contend with Zhan Mohan. Otherwise, he would never have allowed Wei Yumeng to be with Zhan Mohan. Now, he could only watch as the woman he loved was with someone else.
"No, he didn't threaten me. Please don't help me anymore in the future. Just live your own life well. I heard from Auntie that she's been introducing you to a new girlfriend recently."
Wei Yumeng genuinely wanted to wish him well, but Xin Ran completely misinterpreted her intentions.
"Yumeng, don't listen to my mother's nonsense. I have no feelings for that woman. It's just because our families are old acquaintances, so I have no choice but to meet her. But I absolutely have no feelings for her."
Xin Ran sounded as serious as if he were explaining to his girlfriend.
Wei Yumeng comforted him over the phone. "Actually, I would be very happy for you if you were to date. Don't be so resistant. If you can truly find your happiness, you should seize it."
"No, Yumeng, I..."
"I have to go, goodbye."
Wei Yumeng heard the sound of the doorknob turning outside and, fearing it was Zhan Mohan, quickly hung up.
Xin Ran, looking at his disconnected phone, couldn't help but frown. Had Wei Yumeng become jealous?
He felt he needed to find an opportunity to explain things to her properly.
Wei Yumeng sighed with relief when she saw Zhang Ma entering. She had thought it was Zhan Mohan.
"Zhang Ma, is there something?"
"Madam, Mr. Zhan asked me to bring you some ointment for bruises and swelling. He said you exerted yourself a bit in your lower back last night, and you might be sore today."
Wei Yumeng's face instantly turned beet red, and she looked at the ointment in Zhang Ma's hand with embarrassment.
This Zhan Mohan must be doing this on purpose. He was deliberately saying this, knowing full well they had been intimate quite frequently these past two days, and yet he dared to be so blatant. Was he afraid people wouldn't know he had such vigorous stamina?
If she refused it now, wouldn't she appear guilty? Reluctantly, she reached out and took the ointment from Zhang Ma.
"Thank you, Zhang Ma."
"You're welcome. Madam, you should be more careful in the future. If you exert yourself too much, it could lead to chronic problems."
Wei Yumeng wasn't sure what Zhang Ma's words implied, but at that moment, she wished she could disappear into the ground.
After Zhang Ma left, she didn't apply the ointment. Instead, she placed it on the table and went downstairs. She saw Zhan Mohan sitting alone at the dining table eating breakfast and was about to question him about the ointment.
Zhan Yichen came downstairs, looking as if he had just woken up. The first thing he said upon seeing Wei Yumeng and Zhan Mohan was:
"Can you two try not to make so much noise at night? Please consider my feelings as a single person."