Unfairness, reluctance—those were the roots of all conflict.
Jiang Ruoqi couldn't help testing him.
"I had plenty of chances to back out, but I was the one who got the appointment for the marriage license." Meng Shang pinched her soft cheek gently, tugging it. "Besides, I can't guarantee I'll do a perfect job."
"Jiang Ruoqi, don't keep talking about regret anymore. I won't either. Let's try to move forward together, okay?"
Jiang Ruoqi nodded in agreement, but looked dazed—hard to tell if she understood or remembered.
"And you say you're not drunk. You've turned into a little fool." The contrast of Jiang Ruoqi, usually sharp-edged, now soft and pliable under his touch, amused Meng Shang immensely.
"Meng Shang, I'm tired from running around today." Jiang Ruoqi suddenly said something out of nowhere.
Meng Shang didn't understand, but seeing her drunkenness deepen, he decided to call it quits. "Then go to bed. I'll take you to your room."
"No." Jiang Ruoqi waved her hand weakly. "Just a hug. A hug and I won't be tired."
"What kind of reasoning is that?"
Foul play—who gets this clingy when they're drunk?
Meng Shang studied her seriously, trying to determine if she was really drunk.
Her legs were weak; she needed to lean on him to stand. Her cheeks were flushed bright red, but thankfully no other allergic symptoms.
She must be drunk.
Clearly, Dr. Meng couldn't reason with a drunk.
He removed one hand and wrapped it around her waist. Suddenly, the distance between them closed, and the scent of her unfamiliar body wash intensified.
The embrace came abruptly. Jiang Ruoqi hugged him tightly around the waist, resting her head on his shoulder, and a wave of drowsiness overtook her.
Her breathing evened out into long, steady breaths. Meng Shang realized the drunk was out cold.
"Sleeps like a log."
Resigned, he carried her to the bedroom, gently covered her with the blanket, and tucked her in on three sides.
Jiang Ruoqi slept so peacefully—half her face buried in the soft blanket, completely still. It was hard to imagine how much she'd regret missing the chance for "drunken indiscretion" when she woke up.
Meng Shang checked again for any allergic symptoms, then finally prepared to leave.
He stood by her bed for a long time. In the end, he only restrainedly lifted her hand, which lay outside the blanket, pressed it against his cheek for a moment, then put it back under the covers.
Footsteps receded. A moment later, the door clicked softly shut.
Jiang Ruoqi's eyes snapped open. There was no trace of drowsiness or alcohol in her gaze.
She hadn't been drunk at all.
The smell of alcohol all over her was just from "accidentally" spilling it on her clothes.
She stared at the ceiling for a while, then grabbed a pillow from beside her and hugged it under the covers. She rolled over, pressed it down, and wrapped herself up like a cocoon.
The pillow was just right, the blanket soft and fluffy, but she couldn't sleep at all.
Jiang Ruoqi cursed inwardly.
Meng Shang really was a blockhead!