Chapter 46 Unfathomable
“You’re already twenty-six, it’s time to think about it. She’s a good catch, with a stable family and a good job. It just depends on whether you’re willing to meet her.”
A picture suddenly popped into her mind.
After getting married, I spent my days around the stove, doing laundry, cooking, and taking care of the children.
She also has to watch her mother-in-law's expression, and her husband is picky about the saltiness of the food, complaining that she doesn't know how to manage a household.
She felt a sudden tightness in her chest, and her breathing became momentarily slow.
That feeling of oppression spread from the bottom of my heart.
She gently put the chopsticks down, making a soft clinking sound.
The once steaming hot food suddenly tasted bland to her.
Aren't you hungry?
Sheng Tingzhou looked up at her, his eyebrows slightly raised.
He noticed the change in her emotions, and although his tone remained calm, it carried a hint of seriousness.
She stared at him blankly for a few seconds, then suddenly asked, "Do you have any wine here?"
"Would you like a drink?"
Sheng Tingzhou paused, his tone not showing surprise, but rather a hint of understanding.
"Um."
"I was curious about what that stuff tasted like. I heard from others that if you drink it, you won't want to think about anything."
She has never touched alcohol, and she avoids even the smell of baijiu (Chinese liquor).
But at this moment, she longed for that numbing sensation.
She had only heard that getting drunk could relieve a thousand sorrows, and that when you were drunk, your troubles would temporarily disappear.
Sheng Tingzhou looked at her quietly for a while, his eyes darkening slightly, as if he could see through her forced composure.
He didn't ask any further questions or offer any words of comfort. He simply got up silently, walked out of the kitchen, and his footsteps gradually faded into the distance.
A short while later, he returned with two bottles of chilled beer and two clean glasses.
Fine water droplets still clung to the bottle.
He gently placed the cup on the table, unscrewed the cap, and made a soft "pop" sound.
Song Zhiwei took the bottle, her fingertips slightly cool.
She looked down at the clear glass bottle with ancient-style lettering printed on it.
She unscrewed the bottle cap herself, her movements slightly clumsy.
The wine was poured into the glass, making a crisp, clinking sound.
The amber-colored liquid swirls under the light, gleaming with a soft luster.
The aroma of wine is irresistible, with a hint of mellow sweetness.
She took a small sip, and the first sensation on her tongue was a slight astringency.
The liquor slid down my throat and slowly flowed into my stomach, bringing an indescribable warmth.
She finished the entire glass of wine in one gulp, and the bottom of the glass made a soft "thud" as it landed on the table.
My head buzzed, and a low rumble filled my ears.
The world before my eyes suddenly became soft, and it felt like I was stepping on thick cotton.
Her consciousness seemed to be shrouded in a thin mist.
Sheng Tingzhou sat opposite her, his gaze fixed on her.
He looked at her flushed cheeks, the blush spreading from her ears to her neck.
He frowned, his voice deepening, "If you drink like that, you'll definitely get dizzy in a bit."
She ignored him, her fingers trembling slightly, yet she stubbornly reached for the bottle, unscrewed the cap, and poured herself another glass.
Although her movements were somewhat slow, they were without hesitation.
She didn't look up, but kept her head down staring at the swirling liquid in her glass, her gaze somewhat unfocused, yet stubbornly refusing to back down.
Under the light, the amber-colored liquor swayed gently in the glass.
The glass refracted tiny fragments of light.
She looked at him through the cup, her eyes hazy, her voice soft and distant.
"This wine... is actually not bad."
Her tone was soft, but carried a hint of uncertainty.
She was about to tilt her head back and gulp it down again.
Sheng Tingzhou frowned, reached out and stopped him, his movements swift and decisive.
His fingers were long and strong, and he snatched the cup away.
Don't be reckless.
Song Zhiwei was taken aback, then pouted, a hint of resentment flashing in her eyes.
She glared at him and muttered in dissatisfaction, "Stingy."
The two words were spoken vaguely, yet they revealed a childlike coquettishness.
Looking at her like this, he didn't know whether to laugh or cry, and shook his head helplessly.
"I'm afraid you'll regret it and slap your thigh when you wake up tomorrow."
He spoke in a softer tone, as if he were coaxing a disobedient child.
"It's none of your business."
She retorted in a low voice, her voice weaker but still stubborn.
She reached out to grab it, her fingers flailing wildly in the air, but she touched nothing.
He dodged to the side with such a light and graceful movement that it was almost like dancing.
He looked at her swaying body, and his tone softened involuntarily.
"I drank too much, and I have a headache."
Her head felt heavier and heavier, and blinking became an extraordinary effort.
Her gaze was blurred as she stared at the cup in his hand.
Suddenly, as if she had used all her strength, she lunged forward.
Before her hand even touched the cup, she lost her balance and crashed headfirst into his arms.
Her face pressed against his warm chest, and she could hear his steady, powerful heartbeat.
Her breathing hit a jolt, as if something had struck her heart.
A faint, cool fragrance wafted from him.
Song Zhiwei was probably drunk; her head was spinning.
She couldn't help but lean forward, as if searching for a strange sense of security.
Then she took a gentle sniff, her voice soft and slightly drunk: "Mmm...it smells quite nice."
The smell reminded her of walking in the mountains early in the morning.
It was still dark and foggy.
The air was filled with the damp scent of earth and the fresh fragrance of grass and trees.
The feeling was refreshing yet tinged with a vague sense of unease, much like her current mood.
Sheng Tingzhou looked down at her lips.
His Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.
A faint scent of alcohol lingered in the air, mingling with her warm fragrance, slowly seeping into his body with each breath.
He had one arm around her waist, his palm pressed against the thin fabric of her clothes.
He gently raised his other hand, his fingertips touching her smooth, long hair.
"You really like it that much?"
Song Zhiwei gently placed her palm against his firm chest, her fingertips trembling slightly, and tilted her head back.
"Yeah, just like you, you're always unpredictable."
Upon hearing this, Sheng Tingzhou smiled slightly and chuckled softly.
He looked down at her, his voice tinged with a hint of laziness.
"What is there that I can't figure out? Don't you know perfectly well what I've said and what I've done?"
It's possible that the alcohol gradually fermented in his body, making him bolder.
Song Zhiwei no longer avoided his gaze.
Instead, he took a small step forward, his tone somewhat stubborn.
"When we first met, you laughed at me. But I didn't do anything to you, so why did you say that?"
First time meeting?
Sheng Tingzhou was slightly taken aback, and a blurry yet clear image suddenly flashed through his mind.
It was a little girl with two round buns in her hair, wearing a slightly oversized dress, and her eyes were red-rimmed.
He stood in the corner of the banquet hall, and at the time he just thought she was cute, so he casually made a few teasing remarks.
He was about to explain when he saw the woman in his arms continue talking in a mumbled voice.
"It was during my college entrance celebration banquet. The weather was incredibly hot, and I was wearing a white dress. I was so nervous that my palms were sweating. Getting into Peking University is something to be proud of, and I was quite happy... but what did you do? In front of so many people, you said you were waiting to see me make a fool of myself."
Sheng Tingzhou suddenly realized that she was referring to that matter.
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