After Wu Shao left, Gu Yi let out a long sigh of relief. The three drunkards were finally quiet.
Turning to look at Zheng Yu, who had collapsed on the table, he felt a heavy responsibility.
He walked over and woke Zheng Yu. Although Zheng Yu wasn't as severely drunk as Lu Yu and Gu Yitong, she was still quite intoxicated.
Feeling Gu Yi beside her, wanting to help her up, she felt in her heart that she shouldn't trouble Gu Yi. With a jolt, she stood up, almost hitting Gu Yi's chin.
Gu Yi instinctively recoiled, feeling a cool sensation on his chin. Fortunately, he had reacted quickly enough.
"Slap!"
Gu Yi flinched, looking at Zheng Yu's hand patting his shoulder, and swallowed.
"I can't let you be troubled! I'll do it myself!"
Gu Yi wished he could cover her mouth and stop her foolishness.
Gu Yitong, who was not completely asleep, heard Zheng Yu's shout and thought they were back to drinking. She sat up straight in bed, responded, and then fell back down just as abruptly.
Gu Yi pressed his forehead. He was already overwhelmed managing one person. If Gu Yitong were to join in, he would truly be at his limit. Fortunately, Gu Yitong had fallen back asleep.
"Miss Zheng, let me help you to bed," Gu Yi negotiated with Zheng Yu in a gentle tone.
"No need! I'll go myself!"
Zheng Yu, after getting drunk, was completely unlike her usual composed self. Instead, she seemed a bit wild?
Had she been suppressing herself for too long?
Or perhaps Miss Lu had a better tolerance for alcohol.
Gu Yi followed the swaying Zheng Yu and finally saw her safely to bed.
Gu Yitong's room happened to have three beds, one for each person. Gu Yi's bed was a little further away from theirs. He fell asleep directly in his outer clothes.
When Afu laboriously helped Lu Yu into the room, Shen Xuan remained in the same posture as when Afu had left. The tear stains on his face had dried, and he sat there blankly, lost in thought.
Seeing Afu help Lu Yu back, he seemed to come alive again. He quickly got out of bed to support Lu Yu. Looking at Lu Yu, who was so drunk she was unconscious, his brows furrowed, and a hint of worry appeared in his eyes.
After Afu relayed Wu Shao's message to Shen Xuan, he left. He knew the two of them likely had more to discuss.
"Xuan'er, I... I didn't go to the brothel, hic... uh... don't misunderstand, don't be sad." Even though Lu Yu was completely drunk and unconscious, she still remembered the misunderstanding caused by her previous visit to the brothel.
She had firmly imprinted in her mind that she was not allowed to go to the brothel when she was sad in the future, otherwise her husband would be angry.
Hearing Lu Yu's words, Shen Xuan's body stiffened for a moment, and tears began to fall onto the floor again, "There's no misunderstanding. Even if you went, I wouldn't think too much of it anymore."
I believe you.
Shen Xuan wanted to nestle in Lu Yu's arms as he used to, like before, but he also knew that things wouldn't be the same as before.
His wife was angry and disappointed.
The next morning, when Lu Yu woke up, her head was pounding, and her mind felt groggy. After a long while, the memories of yesterday finally returned.
Shen Xuan was already sitting up, his head bowed, lost in thought, as if he hadn't slept all night. The dark circles under his eyes were obvious.
Whether it was Lu Yu's illusion or not, Shen Xuan seemed thinner than yesterday. Perhaps it was his haggard face that caused this impression.
Sensing Lu Yu waking up, Shen Xuan turned his head as if startled, his eyes meeting Lu Yu's directly before quickly looking away.
Only then did Lu Yu clearly see Shen Xuan's red and swollen eyes. It looked like he hadn't just stayed up all night, but had also cried.
Not wanting to bring up yesterday's topic, Lu Yu pretended not to notice and slowly sat up. "Why are you up so early?"
"I... I'm not sleepy anymore." Shen Xuan was surprised by Lu Yu's question and hesitated.
"Then get up. I need to go to the medical clinic today." Lu Yu's tone was still very calm, but Shen Xuan could hear a coldness in it.
After many attempts to speak, as Lu Yu walked out the door, Shen Xuan finally decided to voice what was on his mind.
"Wife, I'm sorry. I... I should have listened to you. I..." Shen Xuan couldn't continue.
Lu Yu didn't turn around, continuing to walk forward. Her head hurt terribly, and she just wanted to go outside and get some fresh air.
"Can we be like we were before? I won't do this again..."
Shen Xuan bit his lip, mustered his courage, and chased after her. He tightly wrapped his arms around Lu Yu's waist from behind, pressed his cheek against Lu Yu's back, and kept apologizing.
"I'm not angry at all, and I've never blamed you for not listening to me. I'm just a bit helpless. I don't know what I need to do for you to trust me."
Shen Xuan stood there, self-reproach washing over him like a tide, almost drowning him.
"I'm sorry."
I'm sorry, I was wrong. I truly believe you now. Please don't leave me.
Lu Yu couldn't bear to see Shen Xuan like this, nor did she want to hear him apologize. He hadn't done anything wrong in the first place.
She gently pried Shen Xuan's arms from her waist and turned to wipe his tears. "Don't overthink it. I just have a headache and want to go out for some air."
"I'll bring you pastries when I get back tonight. Be good."
Lu Yu couldn't stand seeing Shen Xuan like this. As soon as Shen Xuan started to speak, her heart softened. She cupped Shen Xuan's tear-streaked face and spoke softly.
"Don't cry anymore when you're home. Your eyes are all swollen. Get some good sleep and wait for me to come back."
This time, Shen Xuan didn't stop Lu Yu. He obediently walked back to the bed himself, pulled the quilt over himself, and gave Lu Yu a placating smile.
Lu Yu's heart ached completely. How could she have pushed her little husband to this point?
Unable to resist, she walked back to the bed and pulled him out from under the quilt. "Eat breakfast first, then sleep."
Shen Xuan immediately sat up obediently with Lu Yu's pull, nodding pitifully.
"Zheng Yu! What did you do to my brother!" A roar echoed from the medical clinic.
Gu Yitong was seen dragging Zheng Yu off the bed, her eyes blazing with anger.
Gu Yi, though blushing, still stood in front of Zheng Yu, trying to placate Gu Yitong.
"Sister, Miss Zheng was drunk last night."
"Drunk? If you're drunk, you can just run to my bed? I was drunk too, why didn't I run to her bed!" Gu Yitong's face turned green with anger. And yet, Gu Yi was siding with this... this brazen woman.
Zheng Yu knew she was in the wrong and didn't dare to speak. She could only offer a smile. She, the dignified town mayor, was in such a pathetic situation. But the other party was Gu Yi's sister, and she did have some feelings for Gu Yi. It was fine to be a bit pathetic.
"Yitong, don't get so agitated. I think she was just disoriented from drinking and didn't know where the beds were. She must have gone to the wrong one when she got up to use the facilities."
"Not agitated, my foot! If your brother was taken advantage of while sleeping, wouldn't you be agitated?" Gu Yitong unleashed the anger that had been building in her throat onto Zheng Yu.
"Then I would definitely be agitated." Zheng Yu actually thought about it seriously and gave a thoughtful answer.