Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Lin Yu could tell that Gu Man was interested in Shi Nian, so she smiled and said, âShi Nian has high standards. Now that you mention it, Iâm also curious. Come on, Shi Nian, tell us! We all want to know: who is this outstanding lady?â
Shi Nian smiled and kept quiet. Xi Cheng carefully studied Shi Nian before stating, âKeep her safe. Donât let her get hurt unnecessarily.â
Shi Nian nodded. âIâll let you guys know as soon as I have good news.â
Gu Man glanced at Xi Cheng and tartly remarked, âXi Cheng, you talk like youâre a protective lover, but I havenât seen you protect our dear Lin Yu in all these years! You should be grateful for her; Lin Yu is a sweet girl. She suffered a lot for your sake.â
Xi Cheng mockingly commented with a slight smile, âIâm indeed a blessed man. I had my mother in charge of me when I was young, and now I have Lin Yu.â
âAt least you know your place,â Gu Man snorted, and Xi Cheng knocked back another swig of alcohol.
Seeing Xi Chengâs doleful expression, Ye Kun sedately said, âXi Cheng, youâve always put the bigger picture ahead of your own feelings and sacrificed yourself for others. Youâre willing to march into hell for your friends and family, and we salute you for that. Hereâs a toast to our buddy, Xi Cheng! I just wanna say that I wish for your happiness!â
Ye Kun raised his glass as he finished speaking. Xi Cheng was about to take another gulp from the bottle when he heard Ye Kunâs words and froze. Shi Nian and Liang Han also raised their glasses, and clinked them against Xi Chengâs bottle.
âCome, drink up. Letâs drink the night away!â Liang Han exclaimed. The four men knocked back their drinks as the three women staredâentrancedâat their bobbing Adamâs apple.
Shi Nian finished his drink and snatched Xi Chengâs bottle away. He poured it out into a glass before handing the glass to Xi Cheng and uttered, âDonât try to bluff us with the bottle!â Gu Man thought Shi Nianâs unique wav of advising people not to drink was cute and became even more interested in him.
She decided to start a conversation with the man and said, âMr. Shi, you should dissuade Xi Cheng from drinking so much. He wonât listen to Lin Yu no matter what she says, and sheâs even helping him hide his drinking habits from his family. Itâs really infuriating,â So saying, she raised her glass to Shi Nian.
Shi Nian ignored her, and stared straight into Lin Yuâs eyes. âWhy hide it? Just go to his parents and tell them. Theyâll teach him a lesson, and thereâs your problem solved.â
Lin Yuâs eyes narrowed, and she snapped, âI canât do that!â
âWhy not?â Shi Nian said nonchalantly. âItâs the best way to restrain his drinking. He might not listen to anyone else, but he would definitely obey his parents.â
Lin Yu didnât say anything, and Gu Man quickly retorted. âTheyâre engaged; it would be unseemly for her to tattle on her fiancé to his parents. You guys should do your brotherly duties and talk to him.â
Shi Nian lowered his eyes and chuckled. âYou wonât take this up to his parents because you donât want them to think you canât keep him in line. Youâre afraid theyâll think youâre not suitable to be their daughter-in-law!â
Lin Yuâs face turned red, then white, and then red again. When Shi Gao saw this, she hastily commented, âLin Yu and Xi Cheng grew up together; Xi Chengâs parents naturally wouldnât blame her for such a small matter. Lin Yu is too niceâsheâs always indulging Xi Cheng.â
She then turned to Xi Cheng and admonished, âXi Cheng, youâre not a child anymore; youâre an adult. You shouldnât behave so wilfully. You two are already engaged, so you should prepare to live your lives together. Although weâre your friends, we have no right to criticize or butt in on your personal matters. Isnât that right, Mr. Shi?â
Shi Nian and Ye Kun shared a look. âOoh, looks like we have a tough opponent here.â
Ye Kun smiled and replied, âYou may not know this, but weâve been friends with Xi Cheng since we were kids. We would give our lives for each other. Youâll have to go through us if you want to criticize him. Weâre best budsâweâll be there to applaud and learn from him when heâs done something right, and if heâs done something wrong, weâll stubbornly support and stand by him to the
end. â
âLin Yu knows us well since she was a child, donât you, Lin Yu?â Ye Kun remarked. âEven we canât stand Xi Chengâs attitude sometimes. That manâs a mess, and I donât know why you insist on marrying him. Girls, instead of trying to get this drunkard to shape up, I think itâs best to just give up on him and leave him to his fate. Heâs really not marriage material! I wouldnât pick him if I were a girl. Isnât that right, Shi Nian, Liang Han?â
Liang Hanâs spirit lifted, and he grinned. âThatâs right. Who would want to put up with someone like him? Lin Yu, youâve tolerated him for all these years, so you know what youâre getting yourself into.. Itâs nothing you canât handle, am I
right?â