Chapter 63: I'll Walk You Home

"That works too."

Wen Jianan thought that she didn't have much to do anyway once she got back.

She had already texted her parents, telling them she was having dinner with colleagues tonight and wouldn't be calling.

After tidying up, their group stood up and left. Aside from a few who needed to go home early, the rest, led by Liang Jing, set off for a bar.

Upon arriving at the bar, Liang Jing told everyone not to stand on ceremony, as she was treating tonight.

She immediately ordered a dozen B-52 shooters. Just as the drinks for the others were served, she had already downed hers in a single gulp.

Wen Jianan couldn't help but click her tongue in surprise, wanting to stop Liang Jing out of concern.

Yet Liang Jing merely waved a hand. "We're out drinking, aren't we? What's the point if we don't drink our fill?"

With that, she called over the bartender and ordered several other drinks.

Wen Jianan knew very well that mixed drinks tasted like sweet sodas, but their actual alcohol content was dangerously high. They went down fast, and they went to the head even faster.

Sure enough, in less than half an hour, Liang Jing was already feeling the effects.

The bar was dimly lit, making it impossible to tell how flushed her face was, but her movements and speech had already betrayed her.

The others were also half-drunk, leaving only Wen Jianan. Worried that things might get out of hand if everyone got too drunk, she hadn't had much, merely taking a few symbolic sips.

Once the others had alcohol in their systems, they completely let loose.

Li Yuan and another female colleague held hands and headed into the dance floor, and even Liang Jing wobbled in to bounce around for a bit.

Wen Jianan stood guard at the booth, consumed by worry. She wasn't sure if she'd be able to handle a group of heavily intoxicated people later.

At that moment, she noticed Liang Jing's phone vibrating.

Before heading to the dance floor earlier, Liang Jing had tossed her phone to Wen Jianan.

At a single glance, Wen Jianan saw two formal yet striking characters glowing on the screen: Zhou Xu.

Unsure why he would call at this hour and sensing it wasn't anything simple, Wen Jianan didn't dare answer it casually.

She wanted to find Liang Jing, but after standing up and looking around for a few moments, she realized Liang Jing was nowhere to be seen.

The dance floor was a churning sea of bodies, and Wen Jianan couldn't spot them anywhere.

The calls came in one after another, and Wen Jianan was astonished by the caller's persistence.

With no other choice, she hurried to the entrance of the bar to answer.

"Hello, this is Wen Jianan."

It was nearly half an hour later when Liang Jing and the others emerged from the dance floor.

Wen Jianan had been waiting anxiously, just short of diving in to drag them out one by one.

It was approaching ten o'clock. The moment she saw them coming out, Wen Jianan immediately suggested that it was getting late and perhaps they should call it a night.

Liang Jing was still in high spirits, but the others readily agreed with Wen Jianan's proposal.

"Alright then, please help send off whoever lives nearby. Those with cars, remember to book a designated driver, and everyone text in the group chat once you're safely home," Wen Jianan instructed them one by one.

Liang Jing chimed in from the side, "Remember to screenshot your taxi and designated driver receipts so I can reimburse you."

Wen Jianan didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

After everyone dispersed, Wen Jianan supported Liang Jing as they walked outside.

Having consumed so much, Liang Jing was thoroughly intoxicated, throwing half her body weight onto Wen Jianan, who found the burden quite heavy.

Fortunately, she exercised regularly; otherwise, she truly wouldn't have been able to hold her up.

Just as they stepped out of the bar and Wen Jianan was about to take out her phone to call a designated driver for Liang Jing, a car suddenly screeched to a halt right in front of them, startling her.

Her heart felt as though it had leapt into her throat. She looked up to see Liang Yuxiu and Zhou Xu.

They looked as if they had rushed over in a hurry, bringing a gust of wind with them as they stepped out of the vehicle.

Wen Jianan wore an expression of utter astonishment. "Director Liang? Director Zhou?"

She hadn't expected Zhou Xu to show up, let alone with Liang Yuxiu in tow.

Earlier, when she answered the call, Zhou Xu hadn't said much upon realizing it was her. He merely asked where Liang Jing was. Upon learning they were at a bar, he hung up without another word.

While Wen Jianan had thought his behavior inexplicable at the time, she felt even more baffled now.

Liang Jing was already drunk, draped over Wen Jianan's shoulder and gradually shifting her entire weight onto her. Though Wen Jianan was no fragile flower, she was beginning to buckle under the strain.

Unable to watch any longer, Liang Yuxiu stepped forward and pulled Liang Jing upright.

Before Wen Jianan could open her mouth in startled protest, she watched him unceremoniously shove Liang Jing into Zhou Xu's arms.

"Take her back."

Immediately afterward, Liang Yuxiu snatched Liang Jing's bag from Wen Jianan's hands, fished out the car keys, and handed them to Zhou Xu.

Zhou Xu accepted them, nodded, and with a furrowed brow, scooped Liang Jing up horizontally to find her car.

Wen Jianan: "......"

She was still standing right there!

"Liang Yuxiu, what are you two doing? She's my boss!"

She tried to chase after them, but Liang Yuxiu reached out and caught her by the arm, blocking her path.

"He won't hurt Liang Jing."

"Why should I believe you?"

Wen Jianan was hopping mad. These two men were completely unreasonable!

Liang Yuxiu, however, had no desire to explain further.

Calmly, he said, "In short, neither of us would ever hurt Liang Jing."

During this brief struggle, Zhou Xu had already located Liang Jing's car, bundled her inside, and slid into the driver's seat to drive her away.

By the time Wen Jianan thought to give chase, it was already too late.

"I'll take you back," Liang Yuxiu said from behind her.

Wen Jianan pressed her lips together. "No need."

She pulled out her phone to hail a cab, only to discover that her battery was down to two percent and about to die.

"......"

When a person's luck was bad, even drinking water made their teeth ache!

Liang Yuxiu stepped forward and, taking in the scene, spoke in a low, helpless tone. "It's dangerous to hail a cab in a place like this, and your phone is dead so you can't book a rideshare. I'm driving you."

"No—"

Before she could finish her refusal, Wen Jianan was grabbed by the wrist and dragged toward the car.

Unwilling to let him know where she lived, she immediately yanked her hand back.

"I said, I don't need a ride."

"If you don't let me drive you, I'll just follow your car until I see you safely home. Otherwise, I won't have any way to answer to Liang Jing tomorrow."

Liang Yuxiu's tone was unyielding. "Take your pick."

Wen Jianan bit her lip hard, casting a resentful glare at Liang Yuxiu.

She resented him for always meddling in other people's business.

Knowing he couldn't simply abandon her and walk away, and refusing to humor her any longer, Liang Yuxiu simply took matters into his own hands. He pulled open the front passenger door and shoved her inside.

With a soft slam of the door, Wen Jianan almost immediately considered scrambling back out.

As if anticipating her move, Liang Yuxiu swiftly started the engine and drove off.

When he asked for her address, Wen Jianan dragged her feet, reluctant to tell him.

Liang Yuxiu pulled the car over to the side of the road. The doors were automatically locked, leaving Wen Jianan with no way to escape.

Her phone was dead as well; trying to catch a cab if she got out now was practically impossible.

With no other choice, Wen Jianan finally muttered an address.

Upon hearing the name of the residential complex, Liang Yuxiu paused precisely as she had expected. He instinctively stared at her for a few seconds before saying, "Got it. Sit tight."

The entire journey was shrouded in silence.

Wen Jianan closed her eyes, turning her face toward the car window to feign sleep as if she were deeply intoxicated.

Thus, she remained unaware of the glances Liang Yuxiu occasionally cast her way.

When the car finally rolled to a smooth stop outside the residential gates, Liang Yuxiu glanced twice at the sleeping Wen Jianan, killed the engine, unbuckled his seatbelt, and stepped out.

The sound of the door closing echoed softly. Slowly, Wen Jianan opened her eyes and shifted her gaze to watch Liang Yuxiu's tall, slender figure stride toward the convenience store.