Chapter 72: Adorable Qin Puppy Begs to be Fed While Drunk

Inside a top-tier luxury residence.

“Mr. Ji, these are the photos you requested.”

Ji Xian hadn’t had a good night's sleep in over ten days. The dark circles beneath his eyes had deepened, and his mental state was abysmal.

Forcing himself to remain composed, he frowned as he enlarged the photos.

In the snow-white expanse of the ski resort, a young man and woman slid downhill hand in hand, their posture intimate, the atmosphere romantic;

At a tourist attraction, the two of them, dressed in matching traditional outfits, wandered through a lantern festival, exchanging smiles that could only belong to lovers basking in the throes of romance...

Bang!

Ji Xian suddenly snapped the pen in his hand. He felt as if he’d been plunged into an icy abyss, his back stiff, his eyes on the verge of cracking with rage.

He stared fixedly at his phone screen, unable to tear his gaze away from the figures in the photos.

A tide of emotion churned violently in his chest, agony twisting his heart like a knife. His eyes began to redden, jealousy threatening to drown him entirely.

The scene of Qiao Zhen tearing up the tickets not long ago replayed vividly in his mind.

Now, the radiant smile on the girl’s face in these photos became a sharp blade, stabbing deep into Ji Xian’s eyes, slashing apart every self-deceiving thought he had.

How could this be, how could this be...

Blood seemed to flow backwards through Ji Xian’s veins. His throat was parched, and a dazed bewilderment flickered in his pale eyes as he muttered in disbelief, “How could she go skiing with another man?”

The towering confidence he’d always held collapsed in an instant, crumbling to dust.

The world spun wildly around him, and Ji Xian staggered weakly backwards.

From somewhere deep within his mind, a distant voice seemed to call out, urging him to lower his head, to plead, to never regret…

Two young men at his side quickly caught him, unable to keep the words they’d long buried from escaping: “Ji, I honestly think Qiao Zhen isn’t coming back. She seems to be doing pretty well now.”

“Yeah, I feel the same. Especially after Yuwen Jian used to mock her right in front of her, day in and day out. If it were me, I’d have left long ago. Ji, if you really like her, you need to say it out loud!”

In the next instant, Ji Xian spun around, grabbing the speaker by the collar and staring him down with icy eyes, his lips pale as death. “Me? Like her? Ha, she’s the one who likes me. She’s the one who chased after me relentlessly!”

He shoved the young man aside and strode forward with long, determined steps, but his figure was lonely and shattered, as though he might collapse at any moment.

The boys were left speechless.

Bro, are you out of your mind?

He’d seen through Ji Xian’s feelings for Qiao Zhen long ago—so deep they were etched into his bones. Otherwise, why would Ji Xian allow her to follow him everywhere? But this emotionally stunted guy’s way of liking someone was all wrong—he refused to admit it, insisted on playing it cool, always testing her, waiting for Qiao Zhen to coax him first.

This is a one-way ticket to heartbreak!

Wouldn’t it be better to bow his head, admit his mistake, and start dating sooner? Why be so stubborn? Serves him right if he ends up alone!

...

Spring Festival arrived, and the streets were adorned with red lanterns, every household decorated with window flowers and couplets, creating a lively, warm atmosphere.

But Qiao Zhen spent the entire holiday alone at home.

After showering and drying her hair, she didn’t check her phone for a long time, having set it to silent.

February was bitterly cold, and after eleven at night, a sudden downpour began, the rain intensifying into a curtain that beat against the leaves.

Suddenly, there was a rapid, urgent knocking at the door.

Baffled, Qiao Zhen walked over and peered through the peephole, spotting Niu Yifeng pressed up against the door, calling out:

“Qiao! Chi’s drunk—please, you’ve got to help him!”

Drunk?

Qiao Zhen immediately opened the door, her expression growing tense.

Four or five familiar boys crowded her doorway, all wearing “what do we do” and “save us” expressions, looking at her as if she were their last lifeline.

At the center of the group, Qin Yichi stood with his head bowed, dark hair obscuring his face, half of him lost in shadow.

He wore a black down jacket, his body nearly collapsing against Zhang Yu, exuding a faint aura of intoxication—he really seemed drunk.

Zhang Yu propped him up by one arm, his expression solemn and serious. “Qin Yichi got drunk out of nowhere, Qiao Zhen. We’ve all decided, he’s your responsibility now!”

Qiao Zhen nodded, then hesitated, confusion flickering in her eyes. “Huh?”

Why her?

Qin Yichi rarely drank, so why so much tonight, and so drunk, too?

Was he about to get rowdy?

Qiao Zhen couldn’t help stepping forward, closing the door behind her. The air was faintly tinged with the scent of alcohol—not the harsh, overwhelming kind, but a subtle, almost pleasant aroma.

She eyed him uncertainly. “Is he really that drunk?”

The boys nodded frantically. “Of course! He’s out cold! You could do anything to him right now!”

Before she could react, Zhang Yu gave Qin Yichi a hard shove. Qin stumbled sideways, crashing into the wall and nearly collapsing.

Qiao Zhen’s nerves snapped taut, and she instinctively rushed forward to steady him.

Half his weight fell on her, his head buried in her shoulder, breath coming in soft pants.

He was heavy—like a steer!

Qiao Zhen braced her hands against his chest, hastily propping him up, nearly in tears under the pressure. She urged quietly, “Don’t just stand there—help me get him inside…”

But in the next moment, the boys scattered in a flash, calling over their shoulders as they ran:

“No, no, we have urgent business—have to go! Qiao, we’re counting on you!”

Qiao Zhen stood dumbfounded, “Wait, don’t go…”

But the boys only picked up speed, practically taking flight.

“I really do have something! I think my house is on fire! I’m outta here!”

“And I just remembered my dog hasn’t eaten—gotta feed him or he’ll starve! Qiao, we’re leaving him in your care!”

In the blink of an eye, their figures vanished, swift as the wind, as if they’d never been there at all.

Qiao Zhen stood rooted to the spot, her almond eyes widening in disbelief. “Huh?”

Ugh, how could they just abandon him like this? So unreliable…

Her shoulders tingled with numbness. Glancing at the young man leaning on her, her heart softened with sympathy.

No one was willing to stay and help!

She sighed and called softly, “Qin Yichi? Are you alright?”

But the man remained silent, simply resting against her as if she were his only anchor.

Qiao Zhen pressed her lips together.

Aunt Qin was working the night shift, and with this cold winter rain outside, she couldn’t just leave him, drunk as he was.

Drawing a deep breath, she steeled herself and reached into his coat pocket. There was only a phone and some tissues—no key.

…Could it be in his pants pocket?

Her heart pounded as she, resigned to fate, reached into his trouser pocket.

The world fell silent, the air so still a pin-drop would resound. Suddenly, the motion-sensor hallway light went out.

Everything plunged into darkness.

Her senses sharpened, her heartbeat quickened.

As she fumbled in his pocket, a tiny figure in her mind spun anxiously.

Suddenly, Qin Yichi stiffened, a muffled groan escaping his throat, his breath growing heavy.

A rush of hot air fell across Qiao Zhen’s neck, the scent of his cologne and the heady masculinity of him lingering, making her shrink back.

Her legs nearly buckled, her mind went utterly blank. How could he be this alluring even when drunk—an effortless, unconscious seduction…

Clearing her throat, she heard the light click on again, white light illuminating them both, casting his sharp jawline in relief.

Her fingertips trembled as she quickly extracted the key, unlocked the door, and half-dragged, half-shoved Qin Yichi inside.

But he was so heavy. It took all her strength to maneuver him onto the sofa.

After closing the door, she switched on the lights, changed into slippers, and knelt to remove his shoes, muttering softly:

“Qin Yichi, I really owe you…”

But it was a debt she was more than willing to carry.

Her lashes fluttered as memories from the last hot springs trip surfaced.

That night, after she’d gotten drunk, she’d thrown a tantrum, clinging to Qin Yichi and demanding he stay with her:

—“Qin Yichi, you promised you’d stay, don’t leave me behind…”

—“Qin Yichi, come closer, just a little closer…”

—“Mmm, let me touch you!”

Recalling the embarrassing scene, Qiao Zhen opened her eyes in agony, wishing she could disappear.

As expected, what goes around comes around. The boomerang always comes back.

Catching her breath, she walked into the kitchen as if on autopilot, making a cup of honey-lemon water to help him sober up.

Seeing him sprawled crookedly on the sofa, she tugged him straight and sat beside him. “Drink!”

At her words, Qin Yichi raised his eyes in a daze. The sharp, deep phoenix eyes now held confusion and helplessness; his long lashes trembled like butterfly wings.

A few raindrops still clung to his face, the water trailing from his tousled fringe down his cheeks.

He seemed just like a pitiful puppy abandoned in the rain, wagging his tail twice at her, earnest and lost, pleading for a home.

Qiao Zhen had never seen this side of Qin Yichi.

She froze, her eyes widening as unfamiliar feelings welled up inside her.

She could hardly believe this was truly Qin Yichi.

He was…adorable.

Suddenly, she remembered what strategist Sheng Lulu once said:

“When you start thinking a guy who’s cool, handsome, and a little fierce is suddenly adorable, that means you’re doomed! Utterly done for!”

But how could she be doomed…

At that moment, Qin the little puppy’s eyes reddened slightly. His voice was hoarse and low, tinged with grievance and confusion:

“Can you feed me?”