Immediately it struck 8:00 p.m., the alarm clock on Mo Yichen's desk rang. He didn't even look at it, just reached out and shut it off while continuing to flip through the documents spread across his table.
A minute later, Lu Zikai entered the office without knocking. He was the only person allowed to do that in the entire company.
"Boss… it's time to go home," Lu Zikai said carefully, his voice trembling slightly.
Mo Yichen slowly looked up, his expression dark behind his golden-rimmed glasses. Even with the glasses on, Lu Zikai could feel the pressure coming from him, but he forced himself to continue.
He ignored him and continued what he was doing.
"Grandma Mo said… she'll refuse to do her checkup this month. And she's threatening to stop her medication" Lu Zikai reported again heart pounding hard enough to explode.
Mo Yichen's eyes narrowed. He understood immediately.
That old lady was full of tricks.
He let out a low sigh, stood up, and grabbed his small black office bag from the desk.
The second his boss walked out, Lu Zikai sagged against the wall and clutched his chest.
Grandma Mo had told him to use this excuse just to force Mo Yichen to leave work at 8:00 p.m. every day due to his health. She even made him set the alarm. Of course Mo Yichen always ignored the alarm completely. So she resorted to threats, and it worked perfectly.
Lu Zikai quickly arranged the documents on the desk and followed behind his boss.
*******************************
"I said take Yuqi home. I'm fine. I can handle myself " Mianmian slurred as she shoved Yuze's hand off her.
"You're drunk. It's dangerous out there for you alone" Yuze insisted.
"Can't... you understand words? Yuqi needs your help more," she said, pointing toward Yuqi, who was bending over on the pavement.
Yuze sighed helplessly. "Promise me you'll get home safely."
"I promise, okay?" she said, waving him off.
Reluctantly, Yuze picked up the completely wasted Yuqi, shot Mianmian one last worried look, and hired a taxi.
Once the taxi disappeared, Mianmian began walking. She staggered left and right, almost falling multiple times. The stares from strangers only made her regret sending Yuze away.
Then she finally tripped and fell to her knees.
"Ouch… it hurts…" she whimpered, sitting on the pavement while tears suddenly spilled down her cheeks. She held her knee tightly as people walked past without helping.
Meanwhile, Mo Yichen was seated in the back seat when a figure on the pavement caught his eye through the right-side window. A lone woman sitting on the ground, crying.
He recognized her immediately.
The woman from earlier.
"Stop the car. Turn back," he ordered sharply.
Lu Zikai, confused, immediately obeyed and drove back.
Mo Yichen stepped out the moment the car stopped, with Lu Zikai hurrying behind him.
They approached her.
"Miss Wen?"
Hearing her name, Mianmian looked up with teary, unfocused eyes, and something inside Mo Yichen's chest tightened unexpectedly.
Without a word, he bent down and lifted her from the ground in a bridal style.
"W... Where are you taking me? I don't know you…" she slurred, then turned to look at his face.
Her eyes widened dramatically.
"Wow… perfection…" she gasped. "I promised Yuze I'd go home… but I don't care about home anymore. I'll go anywhere with you, Mr. Handsome."
Mo Yichen's expression darkened at the drunken flirtation.
"I... I want to… to..."
She didn't finish.
She suddenly grabbed him by the collar and pressed her lips against his.
Mo Yichen froze and his heart started fluttering.
Lu Zikai gasped loudly behind them.
A few seconds later, Mianmian pulled away, pouting. Mo Yichen suddenly dropped her down clearing his throat with his face red like a tomato.
"You… you didn't like it?" she said sadly.
Then she suddenly gulped and gulped again.
Oh no, Lu Zikai thought. She's going to...
And without warning, Mianmian grabbed Mo Yichen's suit...and vomited.
Mo Yichen closed his eyes and lifted his head toward the sky as retching sounds filled the street.