Chapter 34: Chapter 34
TangShi had had enough. A night of noise, invasive people around her, dancing on a crowded floor while surrounded by drunk women she barely knew, and Rhea was clinging to her and pulling her around like a puppy dog. Rhea was so drunk she had begun to behave like a needy child and TangShi seemed to be her anchor. It was suffocating and she longed to leave and go back to the peace of home.
Her head was aching, her body hurt, and her stomach was cramping like crazy due to having her time of the month at the worst moment. She was tired, fed up, and emotional about being bombarded all night with questions, interrogative stares, and constant alcohol pushed her way which she tried to dodge. In the end she had drunk maybe three red wine tops all night and was feeling woozy and unsteady on her feet, but she was sober enough to still have her senses. It didn’t taste good, and she didn’t like the sensation of dizziness or dreaminess.
YuZhi had stayed mostly with the men at the table, throwing back beers and seemingly having a good time. Oblivious to this hell she was being subjected to, or that he really didn’t care. He barely looked her way in the last hours and she had the urge to go over and ask him to take her home. She was so over this play, and she was sure many pictures had been taken all night of her and Rhea cuddled up dancing, whereas none of YuZhi, given his distance. That had been the whole point of this!
TangShi wasn’t happy. She didn’t care if he got mad at her saying she wanted to go. She had cash on her and a credit card and would leave alone if he was difficult. Worst case scenario, she could call a cab or phone Linlin to come get her. She lived in this region of Shanghai and would drop everything even if it was getting to the early AM’s.
TangShi managed to uncurl a very intoxicated Rhea from around her, with a guise of going to the bathroom again. She had been possessive of her all night and seemed like she didn’t want TangShi straying back to YuZhi’s side, the drunker she got. TangShi knew in her heart it wasn’t Rhea’s fault. That level of insecurity and growing jealousy was only natural, especially as she was drinking and losing her sense of reality where emotions were bubbling up uncontrolled. TangShi was to monopolize and play at love with her soul mate, and nothing could be done about it. TangShi felt for her and understood and had tried all night to pacify her, but it wasn’t easing her heartache. Being obedient and staying over here wasn’t helping TangShi any.
YuZhi looked up just as TangShi pulled out of the heaving crowd and made her way towards him on shaking legs, visibly exhausted and he noticed she seemed paler than before. His attention was pulled her way despite himself, distracted by how she looked, and when she slid up and into the booth to get closer to him, he became aware of eyes turning his way from nearby club customers. Stiffening up because he knew he had to continue with the loving boyfriend act.
“Hey, baby.” YuZhi laid it on as naturally as he could and reached up to catch her by the wrist and waist to guide her to sit beside him as she closed the gap. She was like a newborn deer on fragile legs, and he managed her weight with zero resistance. TangShi wasn’t expecting the sudden affection or help but was too tired to react and flopped down against him. Her weight pulling her so she couldn’t stop the way she collapsed against his shoulder like a filled sack of rocks. She didn’t care anymore about this fake concern or intimacy, she wanted to sleep, and he was a warm and safe harbor.
“I want to go home. I’m drained and my feet hurt.” She barely managed a whisper, but he heard her, and slid an arm around her back and hauled her up against him in a hug. So her head was tipped to his upper arm, and she ended up leaning in cozily looking to all eyes like a couple who were comfy with touching one another. It wasn’t entirely untrue. TangShi was used to YuZhi’s presence after the last two months of sharing a bed most nights. It meant she trusted he would never do anything inappropriate to her and she was acclimatized to his presence, even if it usually came with a bad attitude.
“Hey, TangShi. Finally, I get a chance to say hello properly. I have a feeling we’ve met before. Do you remember me?” ZhengLi wasted no time in leaning over YuZhi to get her attention, now she was within range. It had been on his mind all night, how much he got that inkling of familiar, and his gut was still holding onto some connection to Alice of eight years ago. She had something about her that brought that girl to mind, and he wanted to know if he was right.
“I don’t remember if we have. It’s possible.” TangShi deflected, not willing to rekindle those memories. Sighing and keeping her chin tilted down so he wasn’t seeing her full face.
“I can’t place you but you’re so familiar to me. Maybe a few years back….”
“We’re going.” YuZhi cut in coolly, killing the interaction dead. Knowing exactly what ZhengLi was going to ask her and didn’t want to deal with this. ZhengLi was like a dog with a bone sometimes. He had already told him the subject of Alice was mute, and TangShi was not her. He knew what he was doing and didn’t want it to continue. Some things were better left in the past.
“So early? Or are you taking your girl home for extracurricular activities?” A male from further along the seating leaned forward to wink at them both, a welcome interruption, and YuZhi batted his face away.
“None of your business. ZhengLi take Cheng back to his own club and get him away from unsuspecting patrons. He’s starting to turn feral.”
Cheng gave him a thumbs up with a goofy smile and laughed at YuZhi’s weirdly blank reaction. Normally they could banter and joke about most things, but tonight YuZhi had seemed tense and distracted and barely drunk anything by his normal standards. The laid-back seasoned drinker and regular to his club, had spent the night acting like he didn’t want to be here.
He had noticed YuZhi had kept one eye on the dancefloor all night and at first wondered if it was regret at breaking up with Rhea. Maybe his emotional state wasn’t good, and he had longing to get back together with his girlfriend of three years. That was until he saw his focus had followed TangShi always, without deviating to Rhea once, and he was wondering if his buddy was really falling hard for this new girl. That maybe it was more a matter of being hyperaware and watching over her, feeling nervous someone may charm her away from him in their early dating days. He had never been the possessive or overly watchful type with Rhea and always so confident in their relationship. It was a weird contrast.
“Come on.” YuZhi moved and pulled TangShi with him, knowing they should go without a show. It was almost as though she weighed nothing as he slid his arm around her waist to pull her up and keep her pinned to his side. Her feet didn’t really have any impact on her moving. She covered her mouth with a balled fist as she yawned and nodded but never responded verbally. Going with the flow and relieved he was taking her out of this place. He could feel her lack of resistance and the sluggish way she moved and ducked down to see if she was even conscious.
He could smell the slight scent of wine from her, and as her eyes were heavy and her cheeks rosy from an alcohol reaction, he realized she was close to falling asleep. He cursed her under his breath at the fact she drunk and now she was barely awake so he would have to cradle and baby her out of the club. He wasn’t in the mood to be a nanny for a drunk girl, but he had no other option.