Did My Wife Break Up With Me Today? - Chapter 45

Chapter 45: “Do You Still Like Ling Xiao?”

The sound of breathing in his ear was heavy and deep, trailing with the sharp scent of alcohol.

The exhaled breath was so hot it easily dyed the Rabbit’s cheeks red.

Chen Kongqing felt an itch at the base of his ears; he couldn’t hear clearly. Or rather, he was currently unable to think.

Until the man leaning over him spoke again: “Hmm?”

It was a very soft sound, just a vibration from the back of his nose.

“Dr. Xu, you… you’ve had too much to drink.” The Rabbit struggled, extending his paws.

He felt he was putting in effort, but the effect was negligible. He suspected that in Dr. Xu’s eyes, he was just like “Black Cat Detective”—no matter how much he bared his claws, he only looked cute.

At this thought, the Rabbit wanted to prove himself. He pushed against the “iron plate” on top of him with greater force: “Let’s go over there first.”

“Go where?” Dr. Xu’s voice was still thick with airy undertones.

Go where…

It seemed Dr. Xu really was drunk. These were all nonsensical questions.

“To the sofa first. Sit for a while, and I’ll get you some sobriety soup.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the man who had been dominantly pressing against him finally pulled back slowly, appearing as if he were about to collapse.

Before Chen Kongqing could even catch his breath, he hurriedly reached out to support Xu Jingmo.

He didn’t know how he managed to transport this tall, heavy “iron plate” to the sofa. He only remembered letting out a long sigh of relief once they arrived.

As soon as the man leaned against the sofa, he half-collapsed. Chen Kongqing quickly placed a few pillows behind him. Once settled, he prepared to go to the kitchen for the soup.

“Black Cat Detective” trotted over to join the fun, tail held high, staring at the man on the sofa with a majestic air: “Meow!”

The meow wasn’t “cute”—it sounded a bit rugged.

Chen Kongqing blinked, looking down to find the kitten. The cat meowed twice more urgently, as if it had something to tell the Rabbit.

Unfortunately, the language barrier remained.

Chen Kongqing thought the cat was just seeking attention, so he leaned down to pat its head: “I’ll play with you in a bit, don’t be in such a hurry.”

After soothing the cat, he went to the kitchen.

The person slumped on the sofa, eyes closed, slowly opened them and narrowed his gaze.

His vision was actually quite clear, not shaky at all.

His eyes reflected the figure busy in the kitchen. The man’s lips curled into a smile—very slight, very faint, easily hidden.

Moments later, Chen Kongqing emerged from the kitchen carrying a bowl of steaming sobriety soup.

He looked up to see Xu Jingmo, looking so drunk he had fallen asleep, leaning against the pillows. His thick brows were furrowed for some reason, as if he were in great discomfort.

Well, after drinking so much, it was bound to be uncomfortable.

Chen Kongqing sat on the sofa, blowing on the steam, and then softly called out: “Dr. Xu, do you want to drink some sobriety soup? You’ll feel better.”

Actually, asking that felt a bit strange. If the man was passed out, how could he answer?

Should he try to pour it in? But would he vomit?

While the Rabbit was debating his plan, a muffled male voice came: “Mmh…”

Along with the sound, the man’s tightly shut eyes opened.

Chen Kongqing: “?”

How did he wake up so fast? Can a drunk person just wake up like that?

He remembered that when he got drunk, once he went down, he didn’t wake up until the next day.

“Everything I see is blurry.” The man still frowned, his voice sounding pained. “I can’t… hold the spoon.”

Chen Kongqing immediately replied: “I’ll feed you. I put some shredded ginger in it; it might be a bit spicy.”

The man, who had just spoken a few coherent words, closed his eyes again and tugged at his coat: “Hot…”

“Then let’s take it off first. Drink it without the coat.” The apartment was well-heated; wearing a heavy coat would indeed be hot.

Chen Kongqing patiently put down the soup and reached out to help the man out of his coat.

Underneath, the man wore a tight-fitting, high-necked pure black sweater. Because it was form-fitting, it highlighted his physique exceptionally well. The black knit fabric traced clear muscular lines—especially across his chest and shoulders.

They were bulging, as if they might burst through.

When Chen Kongqing realized what he was focusing on, he quickly looked away. He picked up the soup, scooped a spoonful, and brought it to the man’s lips.

The “drunk” Dr. Xu had a faint red flush on his face, and his brows carried a hint of a dazed expression that would never normally appear.

His brow twitched slightly, but he didn’t drink. Instead, his lips moved: “Did you make this for me?”

The Rabbit nodded obediently: “Yes. I thought you’d be uncomfortable after drinking. Whenever Ling Xiao drank too much, he would drink this.”

A cold, damp atmosphere instantly seeped into the man’s drunken eyes, clearing some of the haze: “Ling Xiao…”

Chen Kongqing met the man’s damp, phoenix eyes with a look of confusion.

“Do you still like Ling Xiao?” After a several-second pause, the man finally completed the sentence.

Chen Kongqing couldn’t help but smile. Dr. Xu really was drunk, asking all these strange questions.

“Of course not.” The Rabbit gave a firm answer and coaxed: “Hurry and drink some.”

“Did you… want him to stay and spend the New Year with you?” Xu Jingmo still didn’t drink. His voice sounded intoxicated, but those phoenix eyes grew increasingly deep.

Chen Kongqing: “…??”

How are these questions even related?

Chen Kongqing put down the soup; he felt it was necessary to answer this formally: “Of course I don’t.”

After all, while the question wasn’t physically harmful, it was highly insulting.

Xu Jingmo squinted, a layer of mist clouding his eyes again, making them unreadable: “Then… who do you want to spend the New Year with?”

Puzzlement reappeared on the young man’s face. He didn’t quite understand the point of this question.

Who do I want to spend the New Year with?

It seemed he hadn’t thought of anyone. His only remaining relative in this world was his mother, but he didn’t want her there. As for someone he liked… he didn’t have anyone he liked anymore.

Just then, the soft cow cat rubbed against his ankle, and he found the answer instantly: “Black Cat Detective. I want Black Cat Detective to spend the New Year with me.”

Xu Jingmo: “…”

The “drunken” man finally went quiet for a while.

Chen Kongqing prepared to pick up the ginger soup again. But as he reached out, his wrist was suddenly caught.

It was hot and powerful, pressing tightly against his skin. If he hadn’t taken his medicine earlier, Chen Kongqing felt that such a simple touch might have overwhelmed him.

The air wasn’t just filled with alcohol mixed with Earl Grey; a “damp” scent was added—like a long-restrained urge that could no longer be held back.

Chen Kongqing felt hot. His wrist was hot, and heat rose in his throat, yet he forgot to pull away.

“What about me?” The drunkard exhaled after a long silence. “Why… don’t you want me to stay with you?”

The Rabbit blinked his willow-leaf eyes, still not quite processing it.

“Do you hate me?” The man seemed very hurt, his gaze weakening. “Chen Kongqing.”

‘Hate’ was much easier to say than ‘like.’

“Of course I don’t hate you. Why would you think that, Dr. Xu?” Chen Kongqing’s eyes widened in surprise. How could he possibly hate Dr. Xu?

“You don’t hate me?” The man still didn’t let go of the slender wrist. “Then why… didn’t you want me to stay for the New Year?”

Xu Jingmo’s tone was fragmented and soft; it didn’t feel like he was “acting” aggrieved. It just naturally made one feel he was being wronged.

“Because… didn’t you say you only stayed because you couldn’t get a ticket?” Chen Kongqing felt a bit misunderstood. “I saw tickets were available, so… anyway, it’s not that I don’t want you to stay. It’s because I wanted you to be able to go home for a reunion.”

He thought Dr. Xu would want to be with his family. He thought he would be happy. As for whether he had company himself, it didn’t matter.

“Then what if I said…” Suddenly, the man let go of the slender white wrist and moved slightly closer on the sofa, leaning into the Rabbit. “It wasn’t because I couldn’t get a ticket?”

Though his wrist was free, the scent of Earl Grey became stronger, and the surrounding temperature climbed. He didn’t dare look at the Dr. Xu beside him, so he straightened his back and stared fixedly at the TV: “Then… then why was it?”

So strange. The atmosphere is so strange.

Is it because Dr. Xu drank too much?

The Rabbit swallowed and tried to steady his breathing.

Suddenly, his earlobe was pinched. The force wasn’t heavy—just a very light squeeze. It didn’t hurt; it just itched.

“Hmph… nnh.” The Rabbit couldn’t help but let out a muffled hum, and his body shivered.

Chen Kongqing had always known his ears were sensitive. Usually, if someone spoke too close to his ear, it would itch so much his hair would stand on end. Let alone being pinched and kneaded like this.

The man’s thumb lightly rubbed the fleshy earlobe—something Xu Jingmo had wanted to do for a long time.

“Because of you… Chen Kongqing.” These were also the words Xu Jingmo had wanted to say for a long time.

The Rabbit was completely stunned.

Because of him?

Dr. Xu wanted to stay because of him?

Not because of the tickets. Because of him.

Why would he stay because of me? Because he thinks it’s pitiful for me to be alone?

“Mmh…” The earlobe was suddenly pinched a bit harder.

The Rabbit tilted his head, trying to hide.

But Xu Jingmo didn’t let go of the soft earlobe: “Are you even listening to me?”

The man’s tone still carried a heavy “drunkenness.”

Chen Kongqing paused for a long time before whispering: “I’m listening…”

“Then why don’t you answer me?” Since the Rabbit wasn’t looking at him, Xu Jingmo didn’t hide the clarity in his eyes. “…Can I stay and spend the New Year with you now?”