The Sickly Beauty Gives Up Struggling [Rebirth] Chapter 139

As soon as Jiang Xunwei left, Jiang Zheng followed after him.

She worried that Li Rong and Cen Xiao might bring up something unnecessary, letting Jiang Xunwei discover that she had been in contact with her scumbag ex recently.

Fortunately, Jiang Xunwei’s expression remained neutral, not betraying any sign that he knew anything.

Geng An watched as Jiang Zheng and Jiang Xunwei left. He opened the door to see Li Rong lightly stroking the porcelain cup in a daze, his side profile carrying a hint of melancholy.

Geng An quickly glanced at Cen Xiao, who gave him a subtle look.

Understanding immediately, Geng An said, “Alright, I’ll head back first. Something’s come up at home.”

Hearing the voice, Li Rong lifted his gaze slightly, but before he could say anything, Geng An had already slipped out.

Cen Xiao, looking at the untouched tempura and sashimi on the table, didn’t force Li Rong out of his gloomy mood. He simply asked, “You’ve ordered all this, so you might as well eat a little. Looks pretty fresh.”

Li Rong knew he shouldn’t wallow in negativity, but sometimes, even the strongest of people find themselves unable to control their emotions.

He glanced at the food on the table, suddenly taking a deep breath. Pressing his hand against Cen Xiao’s arm, he leaned in close, his eyes narrowing mischievously. “Feel like having a drink?”

Cen Xiao remained unfazed, meeting Li Rong’s gaze calmly.

Though Li Rong smiled, the warmth didn’t reach his eyes.

Cen Xiao could tell that Li Rong, strong as he was, had long come to terms with his parents’ deaths. Yet today was different—Jiang Xunwei’s fierce protectiveness of Jiang Zheng had struck a nerve.

When Cen Xiao didn’t respond immediately, Li Rong gave his arm a gentle squeeze and drawled, “You’re such an enigma. Nobody knows your alcohol tolerance. Care to indulge me?”

Cen Xiao, his expression unreadable, pressed the call button for the waiter. Moments later, the waiter entered politely. “Sir, what can I get for you?”

“Two glasses of milk and two bottles of sake, please,” Cen Xiao replied.

The waiter left to prepare the order.

Li Rong pouted in dissatisfaction, leaning back against the wall behind him. “Milk too? Seriously?”

Cen Xiao said sternly, “No milk, no sake.”

Li Rong couldn’t help but chuckle. The “threat” was weak, but somehow it felt heartwarming.

Cen Xiao knew Li Rong had a sensitive stomach, but he also knew Li Rong wouldn’t relent on drinking. He could only prepare for the inevitable.

The waiter quickly returned with two glasses of fresh milk and two ceramic bottles of sake. “The milk is complimentary. Here’s the sake. We also have freshly brewed bamboo sake. Would you like to try it?”

Before Cen Xiao could refuse, Li Rong eagerly replied, “Sure, bring it on!”

Soon, the waiter returned with a bamboo container filled with sake. The bamboo was a yellow-green hue, its surface glistening with condensation.

The aroma carried a hint of bamboo freshness, giving it a unique appeal. Li Rong hadn’t expected the container to be so large.

Cen Xiao, taking a quick sniff, could tell the alcohol content was high. He pushed a glass of milk toward Li Rong. “Drink this first.”

Li Rong frowned but took the glass.

He wasn’t fond of milk, especially pure milk without any sweetness. But under Cen Xiao’s unwavering gaze, he reluctantly finished the small glass.

The milk settled warmly in his stomach.

Cen Xiao downed his own milk in one go.

Li Rong picked up a ceramic bottle of sake, tilting it slightly between his fingers with a playful smile. “Let’s discuss first, what if I outdrink you?”

Cen Xiao casually picked up his own bottle. “Then what?”

Li Rong’s casual demeanor shifted to something more serious. He stared at Cen Xiao, his hand gripping the bottle a little tighter.

After a brief pause, Li Rong said deliberately, “You’ll answer every question I ask.”

His bright eyes reflected Cen Xiao’s face, sharp and focused.

Cen Xiao smiled. “Deal.”

He had no doubt about his chances.

Li Rong wasn’t entirely sure about Cen Xiao’s drinking capacity. All he knew was that during social gatherings, Cen Xiao always found excuses to avoid drinking too much, leaving his limits untested.

Surely… it couldn’t be that high.

Alcohol tolerance, after all, had a lot to do with genetics. With parents like Li Qingli and Gu Nong, who never got drunk easily, Li Rong prided himself on his ability to handle alcohol.

He gently clinked his cup against Cen Xiao’s. “If I lose… I’ll show you my childhood photo album.”

He remembered that Cen Xiao had once asked to see it, but back then, he had flatly refused.

Cen Xiao took a sip of sake, his tone laced with intrigue. “You think I haven’t seen it?”

Li Rong raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”

The sake was smooth and slightly spicy, warming him as it slid down his throat.

“I’ve never snooped through your albums,” Cen Xiao explained. “But I’ve seen you as a kid in person. Like a little snowman—never smiling.”

Li Rong chuckled as he took another sip, grateful for the earlier milk that tempered the alcohol’s harshness. “No one smiles all the time.”

He knew Cen Xiao had watched him as a child, but he didn’t remember being so serious all the time.

Cen Xiao’s gaze softened. “You were still very good-looking, even without the smiles.”

Li Rong clinked his bottle lightly against Cen Xiao’s again. “Aren’t you going to eat any of that sashimi? I don’t want you running out of energy halfway through our little interrogation.”

Cen Xiao smirked, picking up a slice of arctic clam, dipping it in sauce, and holding it up to Li Rong’s lips. “You’ll need energy to interrogate me too.”

Li Rong obediently opened his mouth, biting down on the clam as his lips brushed against the tips of the chopsticks. His alcohol-kissed lips gleamed a soft red, complementing the clam’s delicate hue.

Cen Xiao used only a small amount of mustard and slightly too much soy sauce, making the dish saltier than he expected. To counter the saltiness, he took another sip of his drink.

Using the same chopsticks that Li Rong had just used, Cen Xiao picked up a piece of salmon sashimi for himself.

Li Rong glanced at the ceramic bottle of sake. “Team Leader Cen, at this rate, it’ll take forever for us to get drunk.”

Cen Xiao chuckled. “You have a lot of confidence in your drinking capacity.”

Despite appearances, sake and bamboo-tube wine have high alcohol content. The first sip might not seem like much, but the effects become apparent over time.

Neither Cen Xiao nor Li Rong had touched alcohol in a long while, and neither knew how long they could last. However, Cen Xiao secretly hoped Li Rong would succumb to intoxication a little sooner.

The two continued drinking, emptying their sake cups one after the other. Most of the sashimi on the table was gone, and Li Rong’s neck had turned red as his body began to warm.

Irritated, Li Rong tugged at his collar, letting the breeze cool his increasingly hot skin.

The cool air steadied him, and he reached for the heavy bamboo tube.

Cen Xiao stopped him with a firm hand. “Still want to drink?”

Cen Xiao’s palm felt unusually warm, and his breath carried traces of alcohol. He could feel a slight buzz but was far from drunk.

“Of course! We agreed to drink until one of us wins,” Li Rong replied, his eyes glistening. While his body showed signs of change, his mind remained clear.

The bamboo-tube wine tasted much smoother than the sake, with a faint sweetness instead of sharpness. Li Rong drank it eagerly, like a parched traveler finding water, needing no back-and-forth with Cen Xiao.

Many who seldom drink believe the lie that alcohol can drown their sorrows. But once they start, they realize it’s merely a temporary distraction.

After finishing half the bamboo tube, Cen Xiao remained steady, while Li Rong started to lose focus.

Li Rong held his cup with both hands, resting his elbows on the table, staying in one position for a long time. Though his vision was clear, his brain processed the images sluggishly.

Cen Xiao realized Li Rong had reached his limit and would feel miserable if he drank more. Without waiting for a protest, he took away Li Rong’s cup and steadied his now-unsupported hands. “That’s enough.”

Li Rong’s eyes, moistened by alcohol, glistened, and his ears turned red. He stared at Cen Xiao for a few moments before leaning against him, trusting and affectionate. Pressing his flushed face to Cen Xiao’s cooler cheek, he murmured, “Why aren’t you drunk yet? If you don’t get drunk, how can I win?”

The sudden warmth and softness in his arms nearly made Cen Xiao drop the cup.

Li Rong’s soft hair brushed against Cen Xiao’s neck, tickling him, but Li Rong, unaware of his actions, continued to nuzzle against Cen Xiao’s cheek and ear, seeking relief from the heat.

Suppressing his desires, Cen Xiao cupped the back of Li Rong’s neck, gently stroking. “If I get drunk, who will take you home, hmm?”

Li Rong suddenly stopped his movements, realizing that Cen Xiao’s cheek had warmed from his touch.

Propping himself up on Cen Xiao’s shoulders, Li Rong gazed into his eyes, their noses almost touching. “Home? I don’t have a home anymore.”

A pang of sorrow hit Cen Xiao. Pressing his lips lightly against Li Rong’s, he whispered, “You do.”

Li Rong’s dazed eyes took a while to savor the kiss.

Cen Xiao’s voice deepened. “You’ve already been brought home by me.”

Li Rong pondered this seriously and found it made perfect sense.

Twice in his life, he had been taken home by Cen Xiao.

Satisfied, Li Rong licked his lips, the tip of his tongue brushing across their redness. However, his innocence quickly gave way to irritation as he frowned. “Then why did you keep it from me?”

Without waiting for a reply, he bit Cen Xiao’s lip in frustration.

The sharp pain was fleeting. Cen Xiao knew Li Rong had held back—there was no blood.

Still, he winced and lightly pinched Li Rong’s chin, teasing him. “Have you won yet, to be this confident?”

Normally cunning, Li Rong became easily provoked when drunk. He eyed the remaining half-tube of wine, ready to continue.

“No more.” Cen Xiao stopped Li Rong’s reaching hand, helped him steady himself against the wall, then retrieved a coat to wrap around him. After zipping it up to his chin, Cen Xiao naturally kissed Li Rong’s pouting lips. “Alright, baby, let’s go home.”

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