Chapter 48: After Sobering Up

Song Waning pointed to herself, then to Wen Jingxing. “Is there anything impossible between us?”

“I… alright.” Wen Jingxing closed his eyes and nodded.

On the seventh day, at five in the morning, Song Waning woke up early. Perhaps it was because she had drunk the night before—her head felt dizzy, and even her hand burned with pain.

Curious, she lifted her hand for a look and saw her right hand had been wrapped in bandages, like a tangled bundle. Song Waning was momentarily speechless. “How ugly.”

With a few swift movements, she unwrapped the bandages and found a dark ointment smeared underneath. She turned to the bathroom and washed it off. Examining her fingers, she discovered her knuckles were swollen and red.

“How odd—did I get hurt? Did I hit someone last night?” Such things had rarely happened before. Now she felt a pang of guilt for the poor stranger she might have harmed.

“But who bandaged my hand?” Song Waning glanced around the unfamiliar room.

Looking out the window, she realized she was still at sea, and the sky was only just beginning to lighten.

On the table lay a set of clothes, and as she reached for them, she noticed a note pinned underneath.

There’s honey water in the thermos on the table for you to drink if you wish. The clothes are for you to wear—I asked the staff to bring them. Message from Wen.

Yes, Wen Jingxing had left the room last night without changing Song Waning’s clothes. He had only wrapped her hand again and again, then tricked her into believing she had changed. Feeling the difference in her hand, she believed him, rolled over, and slept on, leaving Wen Jingxing unbothered.

Wen Jingxing remained in the room for nearly half an hour, watching Song Waning sleep. When he saw the time was getting late, he finally departed.

Song Waning raised her brows, covered her face, and vowed not to drink again. She used to have Wen Hang to shield her, and never worried about drinking. Yesterday’s drink had been careless!

She had no recollection of what happened, nor who brought her back. When drunk, she always clung to Wen Hang—she wondered if she’d troubled whoever brought her back last night.

But judging from the note, Song Waning guessed Wen Jingxing was aware of everything. She decided to confront him directly.

However, the ship’s cabins were large, she had no phone, and no idea how to find him. She changed her clothes and drank the honey water in one gulp.

Just as she stepped out, she found the cameraman slumped at her door, asleep with his camera beside him.

Song Waning hurried to wake him. “Why are you sleeping here? You should find a proper room. The floor will chill you.”

The cameraman groggily opened his eyes and exclaimed, “Miss Song, you’re up so early!”

Song Waning tried to help him up.

“I really shouldn’t—yesterday because of me, you were put in danger. I couldn’t rest easy all night. Only by guarding your door could I sleep.”

Song Waning was bewildered by his words. “What danger?” She glanced at her hand—could it be related? Had she really injured someone?

The cameraman began to recount everything he’d witnessed the previous day.

Song Waning was left speechless, even amused, by the tale. But when he mentioned that he and Wen Jingxing’s driver had left, leaving her alone with Wen Jingxing, her expression changed instantly. “I didn’t do anything, did I?”

The cameraman spread his hands. “I don’t know, aren’t you two engaged? Anything you do is normal.”

“…It’s nothing.” Song Waning covered her face, unsure what to say. There was no need to discuss details with the cameraman.

She should hurry and find Wen Jingxing to ask him directly; guessing would lead nowhere.

“Do you know where Wen Jingxing is staying?” she asked.

He pointed across the hall. “Very close, just there.”

Without waiting for her to speak, he knocked on Wen Jingxing’s door. “Young Master Wen, Miss Song is looking for you.”

Sounds came from inside, and soon Wen Jingxing opened the door.

Song Waning saw that his lips were pale, and faint shadows lingered beneath his eyes. She felt a little embarrassed.

“Sorry to disturb you so early.”

Wen Jingxing glanced at his watch. “Not at all. The timing is perfect.”

“Why?” Song Waning asked, puzzled.

“We’re heading back. We need to leave early to catch the morning card-draw task.”

“Oh… What time did you sleep last night? Isn’t it tiring to get up so early?”

Wen Jingxing looked at her oddly. “The time depended on you.”

Song Waning: ???

“What do you mean, depended on me? Explain yourself before you leave.”

Wen Jingxing strode ahead without answering, and Song Waning hurried after him.

It was a repeat of the night before, but as Wen Jingxing walked, he slowed his pace, waiting for her to catch up.

“I didn’t do anything yesterday, right?” Song Waning asked again.

Wen Jingxing answered deliberately, “Shouldn’t you ask whether you said anything to me last night?”

“Then… did I do anything to you?” Song Waning pleaded inwardly—please, no!

She was always composed, except when she drank, then she became uninhibited. How uninhibited depended on how much she drank.

Song Waning dared not recall, though it felt as if she could remember if she tried.

Wen Jingxing stopped teasing her and replied seriously, “Last night, someone, though clearly drunk, insisted her tolerance was superb, challenged me to a drinking contest, and said whoever lost would be penalized with more drinks.”

“That’s all?” Song Waning’s eyes widened. “Really, that’s all?”

“Really. What else did you expect?”

“Oh… alright.” Seeing Wen Jingxing’s demeanor—so sincere—Song Waning believed him almost entirely.

“But who brought me back to my room last night?”

“It was a room arranged by the staff.”

Wen Jingxing answered ambiguously. Song Waning recalled the young staff member in his twenties and breathed a sigh of relief.

“Alright, then I’m at ease.”

Once Song Waning stepped off the deck, she realized the yacht had long since docked. Her room had faced the sea, making her think they were still afloat.

Yesterday, the beach had been bustling and crowded with luxury cars; now, only a few vehicles remained.

Most people had chosen to leave at dawn.

After getting into the car, Wen Jingxing finally asked the question he had held in all morning. “Do you have any friends whose name contains the character ‘xing’?”