I Snatched the Overbearing President’s Canary [Transmigration] - Chapter 23

Chapter 23: Drunk

What on earth did that mean?

Ning Chen kept his head down and remained silent, not wanting to answer at all.

Seeing his silence, He Shenyu said hesitantly, “I accidentally saw someone asking you to a movie just now. I didn’t mean to pry. It’s just… Do you plan on going?”

“What do you think, Shenyu?” Ning Chen let out a cold laugh. “Given my current ‘status,’ it doesn’t seem appropriate for me to go on that kind of date, does it?”

This time, Ning Chen was truly angry.

Why was He Shenyu’s focus there? He didn’t seem jealous at all… was his intuition wrong?

“No…” Shenyu was a bit dazed. “That’s not what I meant.”

He scratched his head, struggling to organize his words. After a long pause, he continued, “I didn’t mean to bring that up. What I wanted to say was that I actually support you having normal social interactions, it’s just that, we…”

Shenyu suddenly remembered a convenient excuse: “Aren’t we already ‘dating’? You should probably wait until our relationship ends before… before saying anything to others…”

What a perfect reason, He Shenyu thought, mentally patting himself on the back for his quick wit.

Ning Chen stared at him fixedly. Honestly, He Shenyu was completely confusing him. What was going on in that head of his? One moment he was like this, the next…

“I’m not going, Shenyu,” Ning Chen said, taking a deep breath. “She’s just a junior student. I barely know her.” No matter what, he needed to make that clear.

“Mhm, I understand.” Shenyu looked at him and added, “Actually, I didn’t think the worst. I knew you wouldn’t go.”

Unfortunately, He Shenyu couldn’t say more. He wanted to tell Ning Chen that once the contract ended, he’d support him dating whoever he wanted—he just needed to wait for now. But he had no standing to say that. The “Plot God” was still hanging over them like a guillotine, and Fu Hengzhan was even harder to deal with. He couldn’t set Ning Chen free just yet.

Shenyu didn’t realize that Ning Chen was dissecting his every move, wondering: Does He Shenyu actually like me?

Ning Chen still didn’t have an answer. He felt that He Shenyu’s attitude toward their relationship was incredibly complex. Beyond a simple financial arrangement or romantic interest, there were other things mixed in that he couldn’t grasp.

But he couldn’t get more information out of He Shenyu’s expressions. He just wanted to know if the man liked him; he couldn’t exactly launch a private investigation into a wealthy man’s secrets. What if he found something he wasn’t supposed to know? How would he handle the fallout? Besides, what was the point? He wanted an answer, but he didn’t dare expect a future.

Based on He Shenyu’s words, he had already accepted that their relationship would end one day. Ning Chen couldn’t let himself hope for more. Yet, if He Shenyu did like him, would he really be so willing to let him go? He hadn’t seemed sad at all when mentioning the end. Was his affection just that shallow?

Ning Chen was melancholy and confused. He felt like he was in a debate where both sides were equally convincing, and he didn’t know which side to root for. He wanted to ask the person directly, but he wasn’t crazy enough to do something that stupid.

…

“In love, even the smartest person becomes a fool.”

The lyrics from a passerby’s ringtone caught Ning Chen’s ear as he waited at a crosswalk. He actually felt like looking up the song. In this new subject called “Love,” he really was a fool. It was a course he had never touched in his life; how could he expect to understand it without studying?

His phone buzzed, interrupting his thoughts.

“Hello, Shenyu?”

“Mhm,” He Shenyu’s voice came through with a chuckle. “Ning Chen, are your exams finished for the day?”

“They’re done. I’m on my way back,” Ning Chen replied.

“Oh, then eat something on your own tonight. Don’t wait for me. President Fu invited me to dinner, so I won’t be bringing you this time.”

“Alright, Shenyu.” Ning Chen understood. After the incident with the contact info, things had been a bit unpleasant. Ning Chen had already deleted Fu Hengzhan; he didn’t know what the man’s goal was, but he sensed a lot of malice toward He Shenyu. He didn’t like it.

“What time will you be back?” Ning Chen asked. He didn’t want to wait around aimlessly like before.

“Ah, I don’t know,” He Shenyu sounded troubled. “Apparently we’re going to a manor for a wine tasting. Not sure how late it’ll be. Don’t wait until it’s too late, just go to sleep!”

Ning Chen agreed, but he still waited. Since he stopped his part-time jobs, he had too much free time. Even when he filled it with online courses, he felt restless. Without He Shenyu there, the apartment didn’t feel like home.

It was nearly 11:00 PM. Shenyu hadn’t sent a single update since a few photos of a wine cellar an hour ago.

Vibrate—

Ning Chen’s phone lit up with He Shenyu’s name.

“Hello, Shenyu?”

“Is this Ning Chen? It’s Guan Heng. You remember me, right?”

“Of course. Why do you have Shenyu’s phone?”

“He Shenyu drank too much. I got a designated driver to bring his car to the garage and I brought him up. I can’t get past the building security, could you come down and get him?”

“I’ll be right there.”

Ning Chen rushed down. When he arrived, Guan Heng handed over a slumped He Shenyu. “Here he is. Oh, and the keys.”

Ning Chen supported He Shenyu, who seemed to be fast asleep. “How did he get this drunk?”

Guan Heng laughed. “Doctor, he doesn’t usually drink much. His tolerance is terrible. We were mixing drinks; everyone else is fine, but he’s wasted. Anyway, I’m heading out!”

“Thanks for bringing him back.”

“No problem. Doctor He did me a favor today.” Guan Heng waved and drove off.

Ning Chen tried to lead He Shenyu forward, but the man was dead weight. He simply bent down and carried him upstairs in his arms.

Back in the living room, he laid He Shenyu on the sofa and poured a glass of water. “Shenyu? Do you want some water?”

“Ning Chen?” Shenyu recognized the voice but didn’t open his eyes.

“It’s me,” Ning Chen leaned in closer to hear the faint voice. “Are you okay? Do you feel sick?”

Shenyu leaned toward the familiar sound, murmuring, “Ning Chen, Ning Chen…”

He was clearly not lucid. Ning Chen hesitated—should he help him shower? He knew of Shenyu’s germaphobia; the man probably wouldn’t be able to sleep without washing.

Ning Chen sighed and helped him drink some water. He then wiped a stray drop from He Shenyu’s lip and whispered, “Shenyu… how do you really see me?”

He was just talking to himself, not expecting an answer.

But He Shenyu spoke slowly: “Ning Chen… actually, I’ve known you for a long time…”

“What?” Ning Chen froze. “From before you ‘kept’ me?”

“Yeah…” Shenyu lolled his head. “Back when you didn’t even know me, I already knew you… a long, long time ago…”

What did that mean? Ning Chen’s brain was completely short-circuited.