Chapter 66: Chapter 66

Joel walked away in annoyance, not looking back. He slammed the door with force, creating a loud echo that made Primrose furrow her brows. Was her reaction not what Joel had expected, so he was angry now? But where was the problem? Why did Joel's face shift from frustration to anger just now?

Primrose's ability to interpret others' intentions had always been murky, so she quickly brushed off this matter and continued with her dinner. After finishing the meal, she cleaned up the table and put the dishes in the dishwasher. As per her routine, she lies on the sofa to watch her favorite TV show.

Joel had prepared some fruits that Primrose liked, so she just picked up a plate of fruits and leisurely enjoyed them while watching TV.

As for Joel, his mood remained sour throughout the meal, and his expression grew colder, resembling an icy abyss. His friends around him exchanged confused glances, wondering who might have upset Joel before he arrived here.

"Joel, you seem to be in a bad mood. Do you want some wine?"

Whenever Joel's group of friends gathered, they liked to drink together. Normally, Joel didn't join in, but today he seemed eager.

"Sure, pour me a glass, thanks."

Primrose didn't really mind him drinking, so she thought she'd make him angry by doing so. At least, that's what Joel thought.

Throughout the meal, Joel paid little attention to his friends' conversation, occasionally responding with a few words when asked. Those around him had grown accustomed to this behavior. After dinner, they eagerly invited each other to a nearby bar.

"Joel, are you coming? We're heading to the 'Happy' bar nearby."

Joel didn't want to go home too early, and the bar's name sounded intriguing, so he nodded. The person who asked was Jack, and even he was taken aback when Joel agreed to join them.

Joel and his friends have had a close relationship since childhood. They used to play together, but Joel usually didn't participate in their entertainment or indulgence, maintaining his cool and professional demeanor. So, it was unexpected for them that he agreed to go to the bar with them.

At the bar, everyone was having a good time, chatting and enjoying their drinks, even placing bets.

"Here's the plan: tonight we'll play a game. Everyone puts their phones in one corner. Whoever gets a call from their lover or spouse asking them to go home first will have to pay. Agreed?"

A stylish and beautiful girl named Angela stood up cheerfully and proposed the idea. Everyone enthusiastically agreed. Even Joel didn't object, casually handing his phone to Angela.

While everyone continued chatting and drinking, Joel became bored and kept on drinking. The slightly spicy wine made him feel a bit more comfortable, at least distracting him from Primrose's cold demeanor. He drank a lot, and as his mind started to blur, he quietly listened to the stories of those around him.

"My boyfriend is so annoying. We've only been dating for a year, and he's already trying to control me. He wants me to report my whereabouts and even dictate what I should wear. If he weren't good-looking and caring for me, I would have broken up with him long ago."

The speaker was Angela, who leaned back in her chair with a dissatisfied expression. Jack seemed empathetic as he chimed in.

"It's the same with my wife. Whenever I go out to hang out with friends, she always asks if there are any women around. When I mention that there's a female friend, she gets angry and keeps reminding me to maintain distance from the opposite sex. If I come back with a hint of a strange perfume, she'll blow up."

Others also expressed their dissatisfaction in unison. Only Joel sat there, listening intently and feeling somewhat envious. If only Primrose were like the wives of his friends, he thought. If she were worried about him when he met friends of the opposite sex and asked about his whereabouts, that would be ideal.

But Primrose didn't do any of that. Joel smirked and resumed drinking.

The conversation ended when Angela's girlfriend called her, asking her to come home soon. Angela grumbled a few dissatisfied words before standing up, saying she would settle the bill, and leaving. The others also left one by one after a few phone calls. In the end, only Joel and Jack remained.

"Hey Joel, your wife is really understanding. It's so late, and she hasn't urged you to go home yet. I admire you. If it were my wife, she would have been calling me constantly," Jack said.

Joel quietly drank another glass of wine. Perhaps due to his inebriation, he was no longer in control of his speech. Slowly, he voiced his thoughts.

"Well, I admire all of you. Actually, my wife is too distant. She doesn't care to control me, and it feels like she doesn't even love me."

Jack was surprised by Joel's response, even more so by what he said next. Joel fell silent for a moment and then patted Joel's shoulder, trying to console him.

"It's okay. Maybe your wife trusts you so much that she wants to give you the freedom to hang out with friends. That's a kind of love too."

Joel nodded without saying more. He continued to drink with Jack, glass after glass as if he were drinking water.

Late into the night, Joel's mind became foggy, and everything around him started to spin. He wanted to stand up, but his balance was shaky. Jack, who was also quite tipsy, asked a male staff member at the bar for help getting Joel on his feet and then assisted him to head home.

Around thirty minutes later, while Primrose was still engrossed in watching a movie on the sofa, the doorbell outside kept ringing. She hurriedly slipped on her fuzzy slippers and opened the door. The door swung open, bringing with it a strong smell of alcohol that made Primrose instinctively wrinkle her nose.

"Sweetie, I'm back. Did you miss me?"

Joel's gaze was dazed, his face slightly flushed from the alcohol. He tried to open his eyes wider to look at Primrose. His speech was slurred, and he reached out in front of him to try and reach Primrose. She quickly caught him, supporting his weight and allowing him to rest his chin on her shoulder.

"Primrose, Joel, and I drank a lot tonight, so a staff member from the bar helped me to take he comes home. Can you take care of him? I'll go home now."

Jack's condition wasn't much better than Joel's. He said his piece and stumbled forward, and a male staff member at the bar also helped him, preventing him from falling backward. Primrose closed the door, looking at the person leaning on her shoulder, carrying not a small weight, and emanating a strong scent of alcohol. She couldn't help but sigh.

"Are you still sober? Can you make it up to the bedroom?"

Primrose gently patted Joel's cheek to wake him up. He slowly opened his eyes, gazing up with a harmless smile.

"Yes, I'm very sober, sweetie. I can stand up and make it to the bedroom."

Primrose guided Joel step by step to his room. Fortunately, Joel's drunken state didn't cause any trouble. The process was slow but still very safe. Once inside the room, Primrose helped Joel sit on the bed, and she handed him a damp cloth to freshen up. She also prepared a glass of honey lemon water for him.

"Joel, drink this. It will make you feel better."

Joel, lazily resting his head against the bed frame, heard the familiar voice of Primrose and lazily opened his eyes. His gaze was filled with a dreamy haziness, but he still obediently complied, not resisting as he drank the whole glass.

"This doesn't taste good."

In his intoxicated state, Joel's behavior was not as controlled as usual. He placed the glass down and stared at Primrose with a lingering gaze. Then, as if remembering something, his gaze gradually turned more somber, and the corners of his lips drooped slightly. He exuded an air of despondency.

"Sweetie, can you show some concern for me sometimes?"

Joel's voice carried a hint of emotion, causing Primrose to shiver. She thought she might have misheard and slowly moved closer to Joel, asking again.

"What did you say? I didn't hear clearly."

Joel repeated his words seriously and couldn't help but add a touch of frustration.

"Why don't you call me? It's already so late, and the girlfriends and wives of others are urging them to go home."

Joel's voice was softer than usual, and his everyday-styled hair now fell across his forehead, making him look slightly younger and more gentle than usual. He appeared a bit adorable. His tone seemed to be playfully scolding Primrose, but at the same time, there was a subtle demand for more affection. Primrose's emotions were in turmoil, but she managed to calm herself and gently stroked Joel's hair to ease her inner turmoil. She lowered her voice, leaning closer to him as she asked.

"Are you feeling jealous of them? Next time, I'll make sure to call you whenever you're out, okay?"

"I'll keep asking where you're going, with whom, and when you'll be back. Is that alright?"

Primrose didn't want to argue with a tipsy person, so she agreed to all of Joel's requests. At this point, Joel looked content, nodding happily at her response. Primrose added.

"Do you have any more requests? If not, let's go to bed. It's late."

Indeed, it was getting late, and based on their usual routine, she and Joel would have been preparing for bed. Joel pouted slightly at the mention of bedtime, his lips curling up in a slightly disappointed expression.

"No, I have one more request."

Primrose had no choice but to ask again.

"What is it that you want?"

A gentle breeze swept through, causing Primrose's soft hair to brush across her face. She moved closer to Joel, their eyes meeting in a haze of emotions. Joel's gaze remained dreamy as he spoke, with a hint of a sulky tone in his voice.

"I want to kiss you. A goodnight kiss before going to bed."

Primrose was rendered speechless.