Chapter 81: Drank the Wrong Thing

Ling Xuan was quite surprised. "You actually do serious work?"

He’d always thought Chi Ye was only focused on chasing women and never did anything productive. He didn’t expect him to actually find something useful this time.

"What’s that supposed to mean? Huh?" Chi Ye’s eyes widened. No matter what, he was still a Beastman. The Critical Stone concerned the entire Beast World, so of course he would take it seriously.

"The fights are held in the early hours of the morning. It’s the perfect time to go now," Chi Ye said.

"Let’s go tomorrow. We need one more person," Yin Zhi replied after a moment’s thought. He then glanced at Qianqian, clearly noticing how sleepy she was.

Wen Qian was clearly struggling to stay awake. She blinked hard, trying to clear her head, before picking up a glass of iced liquid from the table and downing it in one go.

The moment the liquid hit her tongue, Wen Qian was wide awake. It wasn’t water at all... it was alcohol.

Wen Qian held the liquid in her mouth, hesitating for two seconds before finally swallowing.

"Who is it? I can send someone to pick them up right now if need be," Chi Ye said, full of energy. He pulled two cigarettes from his pocket and offered one to Chi Heng.

But a second later, Chi Heng pushed his hand away. "I quit."

Chi Ye looked shocked. ’I was the one who got him started on smoking, and now he’s telling me he quit?’

Yin Zhi ignored him. His gaze swept past Wen Qian, and he said softly, "Let’s head back first."

Chi Heng had intended to leave with Yin Zhi’s group, but Chi Ye grabbed him and wouldn’t let go, insisting they catch up. Left with no choice, Chi Heng had to go back with Chi Ye.

"Not to be nosy, but why do you keep staring at that female?" Once they were outside the nightclub, Chi Ye expertly snuffed out his cigarette.

Chi Heng shot him a sidelong glance but didn’t say anything, clearly not wanting to dignify that with a response.

But Chi Ye wasn’t the type to take a hint. The more Chi Heng stayed silent, the more he pestered him, his persistence his defining trait. Finally, annoyed by the questioning, Chi Heng coldly snapped, "It has nothing to do with you."

"Hey... you don’t have a thing for her, do you?" Chi Ye stroked his chin with a wicked grin. His face was undeniably handsome, but right now, his expression was a little sleazy.

Chi Heng gave him a cool glance, his voice laced with indifference. "You stick your nose in too much."

"Whoa..." Chi Ye was stunned. He grabbed Chi Heng’s arm and declared righteously, "No, absolutely not! I, your uncle, have already been burned once. You can’t follow my lead, little nephew..."

"Shut up." Chi Heng gritted his teeth.

"I’m doing this for your own good!" A flash of anxiety crossed Chi Ye’s face. ’My nephew can’t be allowed to make the same mistake I did.’

"Say one more word and I’m leaving," Chi Heng said, closing his eyes with forced patience. ’I didn’t want to go back with him in the first place. Listening to his endless nagging is just making me more irritated.’

At that, Chi Ye immediately shut his mouth, though he still kept sneaking glances at Chi Heng.

「Autumn had arrived.」

A breeze would blow by from time to time, adding a slight chill to the pitch-black night.

The nightclub was in the most bustling part of South City Center. Even at this late hour, the area was still abuzz with activity, lit as brightly as day.

Yin Zhi pulled the drowsy Wen Qian a little closer. He glanced over at the two tall figures in the distance, his expression impassive. He raised a hand to close the car window, then turned to Ling Xuan. "Drive."

Before the car even started, Wen Qian had fallen asleep against Yin Zhi. Her soft hair rested on his shoulder, rising and falling with each of his breaths.

She had all sorts of strange dreams. The most vivid was of a boundless savanna where tigers and lions galloped about, their tails sweeping from side to side... and wherever their tails swept, piles of gold coins would appear.

Then, jewels of every color began to fall from the sky like an endless rain. Wen Qian ran around with a sack to catch them, a blissful smile on her face...

The scene changed again. Wen Qian was now dressed in glamorous clothes, giggling foolishly in a diamond-encrusted luxury car, waiting for a butler in a suit to approach and say respectfully, "It has been a long time since I have seen you smile so happily, Miss."

Wen Qian really was laughing, not just in her dream but in Yin Zhi’s arms as well. She trembled with giggles, her hands occasionally scratching at him.

A helpless look filled Yin Zhi’s eyes. He gently brushed the messy hair from her forehead. After a moment, as if he’d thought of something, he gave her a soft peck on the lips.

"Hand... handsome..." As if on cue, Wen Qian started groping at Yin Zhi, mumbling about whatever she was dreaming of.

Yin Zhi caught her hands and frowned. Then, as if a thought suddenly struck him, he leaned in and licked her soft lips.

’Whoa, that’s alcohol.’

’When did she drink that?’

"Handsome, let me touch..." Wen Qian’s voice was muffled and indistinct.

Her touch was making him feel hot. Yin Zhi pinned her misbehaving hands and held her firmly in his embrace.

’This is torture...’

’When she’s awake, she won’t touch me even if I let her. But now she’s all over me.’

As he thought this, the young man narrowed his eyes.

His hands were long and fair, but they weren’t soft; his distinct knuckles looked all the more powerful under the lights. He pressed down hard on the pads of Wen Qian’s fingers in a punishing way, not stopping until they turned red and she let out a reluctant grunt.

Yin Zhi eased his grip but didn’t let her go. He pulled her into his arms, his fingertips caressing Wen Qian’s soft, pliant fingers. He stroked them meticulously, one by one, not missing a single digit, before finally kneading her palm.

He frowned, seemingly still not satisfied. He lifted Wen Qian’s hand again and gave one of her reddened fingertips a little bite—not too hard, not too soft.

Wen Qian slept very soundly that night.

She had many dreams, some clear and others hazy, but ultimately, they were more joyful than sad.

All in all, it was a good night’s sleep.

After getting home, Yin Zhi put Wen Qian to bed in her room. He saw that Li Jiu was still awake and briefly told him about the nightclub. Li Jiu had never been to one before. His eyes lit up with curiosity, and he agreed to go with exceptional enthusiasm.

Looking at his carefree expression, Yin Zhi couldn’t help but sigh. ’I wonder if this silly bird will scream his head off when he sees two Beastmen fighting up close.’

’When the time comes, I’ll have to make sure to stand far away from him. If necessary, I’ll just pretend I don’t know him.’

With that thought, Yin Zhi couldn’t help but give Li Jiu another look.

’We’re all Beastmen,’ he thought, ’so why does he look so... weak?’

Li Jiu had no idea what Yin Zhi was thinking. He assumed the other man was concerned for him and looked back gratefully, his big, round eyes shining brightly.

But who would have expected that a second later, Yin Zhi would just roll his eyes and head back to his bedroom to sleep.

This left Ling Xuan and Li Jiu staring at each other in confusion. Neither said a word. Finally, Ling Xuan couldn’t take it anymore. He clapped Li Jiu on the shoulder and said with a straight face, "Remember this: tomorrow, even if you get scared, don’t cry for your mommy."

’That way, people might just think you’re screaming with excitement...’

Li Jiu’s eyes went wide. ’What does he mean? Isn’t a nightclub just a place for singing and dancing? Why would I be scared?’