Chapter 23: Seated in the midst of great chaos

  The private room suddenly became eerily quiet, and everyone stopped talking. All that could be faintly heard was the ethereal singing drifting from the main hall, perhaps sung by a melancholic woman who was deeply and softly chanting with emotion.

  Xu Chen sat quietly beside Xu Shao Yan, seemingly wanting to comfort him but not knowing how to speak. After a while, he finally stood up and gently patted Xu Shao Yan's shoulder before pushing the door open and leaving. The worry in Xu Shao Yan's eyes grew thicker, like a dark cloud pressing down on the sky, making it hard for people to move forward.

  Cheng Zhiyi didn't want to break the unusual silence, so she just held her cup and took a sip of water from time to time, stealing glances at him - under the lamp light, his perfect profile was as beautiful as a sculpture, truly breathtaking!

  "Have you had enough? Haven't you ever seen such a handsome man?" Xǔ Shǎoyàn suddenly turned his head, meeting Chéng Zhīyī's gaze. Chéng Zhīyī's face immediately flushed red as she lowered her head, not daring to look at him - she was afraid that the sorrow in his eyes would make her heart ache, and even more afraid that his sharp gaze would see through the turmoil deep within her heart.

  After a few seconds, Jing Yi finally regained her usual calmness and pride, stood up to bid farewell: "We should go! Trouble Mr. Xu to help support Mo Wei."

  Xu Shaoyan put down the wine glass in his hand, stood up and slowly walked to Cheng Ziy's side. Then, he suddenly stretched out his long arm and hugged Cheng Ziy into his arms - just like when they first met, he unexpectedly kissed her.

  This sudden hug scared Cheng Zhiyi, she instinctively put her hands on her chest and struggled to escape his arms. However, the more Cheng Zhiyi struggled, the tighter Xu Shao Yan held her.

  Finally, Jing Yiyi didn't dare to struggle anymore, she could only breathe lightly and quietly let him hold her - at least, his embrace wasn't unpleasant, and even... made her feel at ease. Moreover, it seemed that she somewhat liked the faint scent of tobacco on him, liked his long and powerful arms.

  Suddenly, Xu Shaoyan gently rested his chin on her head and said in a low, melancholic voice: "Don't move... just let me hold you for a while, just for a moment..." His words seemed to carry boundless sorrow, enough to overwhelm Cheng Ziyue. Indeed, weak women are pitied, but weak men also possess an irresistible power!

  What's wrong with him? Why doesn't he look like his usual self, that cheerful and annoying guy who won't leave you alone? Who was it that called on the phone? Cheng Yiyi still had doubts in her mind, but then she thought again - could this sudden call and sadness be one of his tricks? Maybe he wanted to trick her into sympathizing with him? At least for now, she felt a little bit sorry for him, didn't she?

  Cheng Zhiyi, you foolish woman, quickly wake up and don't be deceived by his dying expression!

  Jing Yiyi suddenly came back to her senses, pushed Xu Shaoyan away with a palm, and retreated continuously, standing one meter away, glaring at Xu Shaoyan with anger and hatred - angry about Xu Shaoyan's invasion and rudeness, hating that she was actually bewildered in his arms!

  Xu Shaoyan stared at Cheng Zhiyi in confusion, clearly still not understanding - this woman, how could she one moment be kicking and punching to break free from his embrace, the next moment be gentle and obedient, allowing him to hold her in his arms, and now, with eyes wide open, looking as if she wanted to bite him to death?!

  But her angry look is really much cuter than when she's cold and unsmiling!

  Xu Shaoyan couldn't help but burst out laughing, then softly apologized: "Sorry, I lost my composure just now!"

  But to be honest, her body was really fragrant and soft... And, unbelievably, the moment he hugged her, it was like hugging a stove in the cold winter, or holding onto a piece of driftwood in the deep sea. He felt an enormous sense of security, as if time stood still, and the world was at peace. For this lifetime, as long as he could hold her hand, that would be enough...

  Jing Yiyi pretended not to hear Xu Shaoyan's apology and deliberately walked over to stomp on his right foot. A loud "Ah yo" cry of pain was heard, as Xu Shaoyan hopped around on one foot, clutching the other in agony, while saying: "This is murder... indeed, a woman's heart is the most poisonous... Ah yo, Ah yo, please can you be gentler next time..."

  It's probably Xu Shaoyan's wailing that was too shocking, even Xu Chen and Guo Zhengzheng outside the private room came over. Guo Zhengzheng pushed open the door of the private room and asked anxiously: "Brother, what's wrong? What happened?"

  Mavis, who was sleeping on the sofa, was also awakened, and she got up with a frown, her right hand pressing against her slightly painful head.

  Perhaps, Cheng Zhiyi's "foot" was indeed a bit heavy, and Xu Shaoyan was in so much pain that his handsome face was scrunched up into a ball. He sat on the sofa, clutching his foot and wailing repeatedly: "When has Xu Shaoyan ever suffered such humiliation... Ahh, this is simply murdering one's own husband, murdering one's own husband!"

  Seeing Xǔ Shǎoyàn's expression change from being worried and unhappy to his usual carefree and smooth-talking self, Xǔ Chēn finally felt a bit more at ease. He smiled and teased him, saying: "What kind of bad thing did you do, that even Inspector Chéng had to use private punishment on you?"

  Cheng Zhi's face was red, and she ignored the two men's jokes. She gently reached out to help Mo Wei sit up, then helped her put on her shoes: "Let's go, we're going home."

  Mo Wei had just stood up, only to feel her head heavy like a thousand-pound bronze cauldron, with sparks flying in front of her eyes. She directly fell back onto the sofa. All she could see was her closing her eyes painfully, gently rubbing her brow with her right hand, and saying hoarsely: "I...can't take it anymore, I really can't move."

  Cheng Zhiyi sat beside her, at a loss for what to do - alas, what could be done? Obviously Mo Wei was the one who got drunk, yet every time it was she who ended up with a headache!

  Suddenly, Xu Chen took three steps and made two steps, walking straight to the side of the sofa, and with one move, he picked up Mo Wei from the waist, then strode out in big strides. When he reached the door, he suddenly stopped his footsteps, turned his head and shouted at Cheng Zhiyi who was still stunned: "What are you standing there for? Don't hurry to open the door for me?"

  Cheng Zhiyi finally came to her senses, hastily grabbed Mo Wei's handbag from the table, and then hurriedly opened the door for Xu Chen. Seeing them leave, Xu Shaoyan also didn't care that his right foot was throbbing in pain, and he limped out after them...

  Only Guo Zhengzheng was left standing in the box, shocked: Wow! Brother God's nervous breakdown and abnormal behavior are nothing, but when did Xu Chen also go crazy and learn to cherish jade? You know, he has never been soft on women... Even back then, Tian Xing cried her heart out, knelt on the ground and begged bitterly, Xu Chen didn't even turn his head to look at her!