Can't Hide My Love for You - Chapter 39

After being patted several times by Cheng Papa—who didn’t know his own strength while drunk—the burning pain on Chi Yi’s shoulder helped her maintain a sliver of sobriety. By the end of the meal, the two of them had finished the entire bottle of Moutai between them.

Once Cheng Papa was led to his room to sleep, Chi Yi remained sitting stiffly in her chair, her face flushed deep red and her eyes glazed. She had consumed nearly half a pound of high-proof white spirits.

“Chi Yi has had too much,” Cheng Mama noted. “Yixin, help her upstairs. Let her sleep here tonight; it’s not safe for her to be alone at her place like this.”

In the bedroom, Chi Yi curled into a ball on the bed, whimpering in pain. “I feel so bad… Yixin, it hurts…”

“Where does it hurt?” Yixin asked, grabbing a trash can just in case. “Are you going to throw up?”

“No… it’s my stomach… my head… and my shoulder,” Chi Yi said, her voice laced with a drunk person’s grievance. “Uncle hit me so hard…”

Yixin unbuttoned Chi Yi’s shirt to check her shoulder. Sure enough, there was a large red mark on the right side. “That old drunk! Why didn’t you dodge? And why did you keep drinking when you knew you couldn’t handle it?”

“Uncle offered a toast… I had to drink,” Chi Yi whispered. “He’s your father!”

“Even if he’s my father, you can say no!”

“I couldn’t… I didn’t want him to have a bad impression of me.”

Yixin felt a mix of pity and amusement. She spent the next hour cooling Chi Yi down with wet towels and soothing her. In her drunken state, Chi Yi was “rule-breakingly” cute, even giving Yixin a “good person card” by calling her the “best friend she’s ever had.”

“Aren’t we dating?” Yixin corrected her.

Chi Yi blinked, then suddenly lunged forward to hug her. “Then I’m way too happy!”

After Chi Yi fell into a deep sleep, Yixin went downstairs to help her mother. They ended up eating sunflower seeds and watching Cheng Papa perform “Drunken Fist” in the living room until he passed out.

When Yixin finally returned upstairs to take her own bath, she found the bed empty.

Panic flared for a second until she found Chi Yi in the bathroom. The CEO had managed to strip her clothes and was half-asleep in the bathtub, a washcloth still in her hand. Even drunk, her hygiene instincts were impeccable.

“The surgery was a success,” Yixin teased as Chi Yi woke up.

“What surgery?” Chi Yi blinked, her eyes clearer now.

“Sterilization surgery,” Yixin joked.

Chi Yi’s pupils dilated in shock for a few seconds. “I don’t believe you.” Then, she grabbed Yixin’s arm. “My legs are numb. Help me.”

Before Yixin could react, she was pulled right into the tub. Splash!

Water overflowed everywhere. Before Yixin could protest, Chi Yi’s lips were on hers, tasting of honey and sweetness. The kiss grew intense, their wet clothes clinging to their skin.

“What… what are you doing?” Yixin gasped when they broke apart.

“Checking to see if you were lying about the surgery,” Chi Yi said earnestly. The haze of alcohol had mostly dissipated through the bath. Then, her voice dropped. “Being drunk was easier… sometimes it’s better not to be sober.”

“Why? Do you need ‘liquid courage’ to be brave around me?”

“Yes,” Chi Yi looked away, showing a rare moment of vulnerability. “I’m afraid of being rejected by you.”

Yixin silenced her with a kiss. That night, the ripples in the bathtub were followed by a quiet night of shared warmth.

The next morning, Yixin woke up feeling refreshed. She watched Chi Yi sleep for a moment, marveling at how safe this “younger” woman made her feel.

Downstairs, Cheng Mama was cooking porridge.

“Mom,” Yixin said, leaning against the counter with a wide smile.

“You’re up?” Cheng Mama glanced at her. “You look happy.”

“I have to work today, but Chi Yi wants to take you and Dad to the botanical garden.”

Cheng Mama stopped stirring. She turned down the heat and looked at her daughter. “What’s your opinion on Chi Yi?”

Yixin’s smile faltered slightly. She explained Chi Yi’s family background—how she was an orphan who had inherited and grown her family’s business.

“So you even know she’s the third-generation only child,” Cheng Mama noted.

“Mom… what are you getting at?”

Cheng Mama laughed. “I just remembered your ‘dating standard’ from when you were a student. You told everyone you wanted someone with ‘a car, a house, and dead parents.'”

Yixin slapped her own mouth. Her stupid mouth!

“Given your reaction,” Cheng Mama said, her eyes sharp, “do you want to re-introduce your relationship to me?”

“We’re… dating,” Yixin whispered.

Cheng Mama sighed and handed Yixin a bank card. “This is the money I saved for you. The password is your birthday. If your partner is someone of her status, you might need your own funds. We aren’t a wealthy family, so you have to work harder to keep up.”

“I know, Mom! Thank you!” Yixin hugged her.

Before leaving for work, Yixin went upstairs to say goodbye to Chi Yi. She didn’t tell Chi Yi that her mother already knew—she didn’t want to add to her pressure. Instead, she just told her that her parents were planning to leave today.

Chi Yi sat up instantly. “So soon? I wanted to take them to the park!”

“I convinced them to stay one more day so you could take them out,” Yixin laughed. She leaned down, and Chi Yi naturally held her face for a goodbye kiss.

After Yixin left, Chi Yi went downstairs to meet the parents. Cheng Papa was rubbing his sore shoulders from his “Drunken Fist” performance.

“Uncle, Auntie, I’ll take you to the botanical gardens today. We can take beautiful photos, and I’ve booked a massage for you afterward.”

They were about to leave when Cheng Papa’s phone rang. It was the annoying cousin, Cheng San.

“Hey, Brother! I’m in Jingning with a few of the other relatives. We’re on our way to the Jade Hotel right now to meet up with you! See you downstairs!”

Cheng Papa and Cheng Mama froze. They could practically hear Cheng San’s inner thoughts: Let’s see how much I can fleece you for today.

If they had known, they would have bought a train ticket home last night!