After Getting Bound to Both the Protagonist and the Villain at the Same Time - Chapter 21

Even with her exquisite makeup, Gu Mian’s lips couldn’t hide a touch of dryness, betrayed by the frantic anxiety of her own heart.

As the intoxication surged, Gu Mian leaned in and kissed Lin Chuyi directly. Lin Chuyi reflexively tilted her head to avoid it, causing the kiss to land on the back of her neck. The sudden, jolting sensation made Lin Chuyi gasp—a soft, involuntary sound that left her feeling weak and strangely flushed.

Lin Chuyi arched her back. She hadn’t realized she was so sensitive there; a feeling both foreign and familiar surged through her nerve endings like a sudden burst of fireworks.

Lacking any way to soothe the sensation, she could only push the dazed Gu Mian away and sit carefully on the edge of the sofa, trying her best to steady her breathing.

“Sister came home late today.” As Lin Chuyi tried to distance herself, Gu Mian’s hand brushed against something in her pocket. Still lost in a drunken haze, Gu Mian grabbed Lin Chuyi’s hand with one hand and reached out with the other to investigate.

Caught in a daze and pinned down, Lin Chuyi felt the unbridled strength of a drunk Gu Mian. To Gu Mian, it felt like a light brush, but to Lin Chuyi, it was a heavy, dominant pressure laden with unspoken meaning.

A deep blush crept up Lin Chuyi’s face, and her voice came in broken fragments. “Gu Mian, don’t. I—I’ll give it to you.”

Gu Mian didn’t let go; her grip grew firmer, leaving Lin Chuyi increasingly flustered. Eventually, Gu Mian fished out the small square box herself. She opened it to find a pair of rings—the promotional gifts from the performance at the amusement park.

Lin Chuyi hadn’t given the little trinkets much thought after receiving them, casually slipping them into her pocket. She never expected Gu Mian to find them.

Gu Mian stared at the rings. In her drunken state, her mind was simultaneously clear and muddled, rational yet absurd. She asked, “Why did Sister buy rings?”

Then she asked another question. “This ring, who is it for?”

“It was a prize from a game,” Lin Chuyi explained, suppressing the strange flutter in her chest. “It’s not for anyone.”

“Then can you give it to me?” Gu Mian asked. It sounded like she was seeking permission, but her grip on the rings didn’t loosen in the slightest.

The mere thought of Lin Chuyi giving the ring to someone else allowed a surge of hostility to escape through her drunken state. To Lin Chuyi, these might just be ordinary trinkets, but to Gu Mian, they held a profound, singular meaning.

Lin Chuyi glanced at her, assuming she was just talking in her sleep, and offered no reply. Breathing softly, she gently pushed Gu Mian away, intending to go to her room to wash up and sleep. Between the thrills at the amusement park and the emotional intensity of the day, she was exhausted and yearned for a hot shower.

Looking at Gu Mian’s current state, Lin Chuyi knew she’d likely have to take care of her after washing up. She couldn’t bring herself to scold her; after all, Gu Mian was an adult and one of her “kids.” Having a few drinks wasn’t a crime, especially since she at least knew to come home.

Just then, Gu Mian’s phone, left on the sofa, began to ring. Gu Mian made no move to answer it. The caller tried several more times, appearing urgent.

Lin Chuyi stopped and handed the phone to her. “You have a call.”

“Sister, answer it for me,” Gu Mian murmured.

Lin Chuyi had no choice but to pick up. A pleasant female voice spoke before Lin Chuyi could say a word: “You’re the guest of honor at today’s birthday party! Why did you slip away halfway through?”

“Birthday party?” Lin Chuyi repeated blankly.

“Yeah, you only stayed for the first half before making a run for it, wait, who are you?” The voice paused, then quickly realized. “You must be Gu Mian’s ‘Sister.’ If she’s with you, I’m relieved. Please take good care of her.”

The woman hung up before Lin Chuyi could respond, as if the phone had suddenly become a hot coal.

“I knew she hurried back for that sister of hers,” Cheng Mingli muttered, raising an eyebrow. Someone nearby leaned in and asked, “I heard Miss Gu was an only child. Where did this sister come from? I hope she isn’t being scammed.”

“You don’t understand. This sister is more important to her than her own life.”

Cheng Mingli didn’t elaborate. She simply waved them off, put on her social smile, and returned to the party. Today’s event was meant to introduce Gu Mian to old acquaintances and those on the fence, letting them know the Gu family had a new leader. Those parasites who tried to take over the company could rot somewhere else.

Lin Chuyi hung up, her gaze complicated as she looked at Gu Mian leaning against the sofa. She had no idea it was Gu Mian’s birthday. Mengmeng and 0927 had been so busy lately she had barely seen them, so she had missed the notification entirely.

Feeling a pang of guilt, she sat back down, pressing close to Gu Mian.

Gu Mian felt the warmth again. She tried to steady her thoughts, but she had consumed a fair amount of alcohol. Earlier, her self-control had kept her somewhat lucid, but as the intoxication deepened, she felt light as a cloud, drifting into an increasingly hazy state.

“Is it your birthday today?” Lin Chuyi nudged her gently.

“Mm,” Gu Mian hummed. She instinctively leaned toward Lin Chuyi, still clutching the ring box. Her eyes were moist and bright, shimmering like polished glass. “Sister, give it to me,” she pouted, a soft plea for the gift.

Gu Mian’s vulnerability only deepened Lin Chuyi’s guilt. She knew Gu Mian was going through a critical period and likely had to endure business socialites even on her birthday. She felt a sudden wave of sympathy.

She and Shen Qing could have come home earlier; the three of them could have ordered a cake and celebrated together. Lin Chuyi had given Shen Qing an unforgettable birthday, but she had failed to do the same for Gu Mian. Her heart felt a soft, aching hollow.

“Happy birthday,” Lin Chuyi whispered. Looking at Gu Mian, her throat felt tight for some reason. Under Gu Mian’s expectant gaze, she took out one of the rings to put it on her.

Gu Mian reached out. Though she tried her best to be steady, her drunken state made her hand wobble. Lin Chuyi gently slid the ring onto her finger. Even though it was a bit too large, Gu Mian raised her hand to the light, admiring it.

“It’s beautiful,” she murmured, her eyes narrowing with satisfaction.

The warm glow of the alcohol began to nurture the hidden desires within her. She looked at the second ring, picked it up quietly, and said, “Now I’ll put the ring on Sister, too.”

The ring was made of brass—hardly a masterpiece—but it was polished to a high shine and had a certain weight to it.

As if under a spell, Lin Chuyi didn’t refuse. She felt a cool sensation on her finger, and in a daze, the ring was on her hand.

“Sister, can I make a birthday wish today?” Gu Mian leaned in, taking Lin Chuyi’s ring-clad hand with her own and squeezing it tight.

With her long, slender fingers laced through hers, Lin Chuyi felt a sudden wave of dry-mouthed tension. Unable to explain the physical change, she looked to Gu Mian for help.

Gu Mian offered a playful, teasing smile.

She adjusted her grip, sliding her fingers into the gaps between Lin Chuyi’s until their hands were firmly interlaced.

“What, what wish?” Lin Chuyi’s heart was racing.

Gu Mian chuckled, their palms pressed together. Lin Chuyi looked so incredibly sweet and compliant before her. Gu Mian’s thoughts flickered before she whispered, “I’m a bit curious.”

“About what?”

“Curious about what a kiss between ‘good friends’ feels like,” Gu Mian said. “Can I kiss you, Sister? Just this once as my birthday wish, okay?”

The atmosphere grew thick and heavy with a sweet, lingering tension. The temperature in the room seemed to rise.

Lin Chuyi instinctively licked her lips. Her floral scent was intoxicating. A dark, stormy intensity slowly brewed in Gu Mian’s eyes as she leaned in closer, nearly pinning Lin Chuyi into the sofa cushions.

“Can I Sister?” Gu Mian asked softly.