It was only after the theater had cleared out and darkness had fully fallen that Pei Huaiyu and A-Jiu headed upstairs.
Seeing the mother and son sprawled across the table in identical postures, snoring away soundly, Pei Huaiyu realized how laughable his own actions had been. "Just how heartless and carefree does a person have to be to act like this?"
He had specifically arranged this show for Ruan Jiaojiao to watch. He wanted to see if she was truly as heartless as she appeared on the surface, but the facts proved that anyone with the appetite to polish off ten plates of pastries, five large flatbreads, and three jugs of wine was indeed remarkably carefree.
"How did the young master end up drinking, too?" A-Jiu patted An'an’s back in concern. Fortunately, there was nothing amiss; he was simply fast asleep.
"Pei Qi'an has been frail since childhood, so I have always kept him under strict watch and raised him with the utmost care. I never expected that the moment Ruan Jiaojiao returned, she would dare take him out to drink."
Pei Huaiyu knew all too well that his own tolerance for alcohol was poor—he couldn't touch a single drop. In the past, he had made a fool of himself whenever he encountered spirits. This was the first time he had discovered that his son was just like him when it came to drinking: he went down at the slightest touch. After all, under normal circumstances, it was difficult for An'an to even get out of the house, let alone sneak away to drink.
"Have someone boil a sobering soup for him when you get back, and then give him a warm bath so he doesn't catch a chill."
Pei Huaiyu was truly worn thin by his son. Between managing the lawless Ruan Jiaojiao and now looking after the sickly Pei Qi'an, he felt he was going to sprout a few more gray hairs.
A-Jiu easily hoisted An'an onto his back. The boy was well-behaved and didn't stir once he was settled. Ruan Jiaojiao, however, was a different story; she was still rolling around on the table, practically ready to start dancing right there.
"Master, Miss Ruan, she..." A-Jiu dared not touch his master's woman. He knew his master too well—if he didn't ask, his master wouldn't interfere, but he would stare daggers into his back from the shadows, or perhaps seek revenge in some unexpected way.
"You take Pei Qi'an back first."
"Understood!" A-Jiu vanished in a puff of smoke with the young master on his back.
Dazed and confused, Ruan Jiaojiao watched her son disappear and anxiously tried to scramble after him. "Kidnappers! Someone help…!" Still standing on the table, she bolted toward the exit, stumbling straight into Pei Huaiyu’s embrace. A familiar scent washed over her. Pei Huaiyu froze, his grip tightening instinctively as he asked in an unexpectedly soft, murmuring tone, "How much have you had to drink?"
"Just a little bit," Ruan Jiaojiao said, holding up her fingers and waving them in front of Pei Huaiyu. "One jug… two jugs…"
Pei Huaiyu sighed helplessly, scooped her up, and carried her to the carriage. Throughout the journey, Ruan Jiaojiao thrashed about, nearly vomiting on him. "Help! A beauty is being abducted!" She pushed at him, scratching and biting. Passersby turned to look, their gazes filled with curiosity.
Pei Huaiyu could only grit his teeth and growl, "Stop looking! This is my wife, she’s had too much to drink."
Once Ruan Jiaojiao was finally bundled into the carriage, Pei Huaiyu intended to settle her in a corner and leave her to her antics, but she wouldn't have it. She shifted toward the source of warmth and clung to Pei Huaiyu securely.
"Do you love me?" Ruan Jiaojiao began to ramble incoherently.
The scent of alcohol on her wasn't as unpleasant as it was with common drunks. Back when they lived in the village, Ruan Jiaojiao had enjoyed brewing and drinking wine. Whenever she got tipsy, she loved to cling to Pei Huaiyu. Occasionally, the saintly, gentlemanly Pei Huaiyu would clearly enjoy the feeling, though he would never admit it.
Pei Huaiyu had always felt that Ruan Jiaojiao was unlike any other woman in the world. Shameless, unreasonable, and full of lies—that was the deep impression Ruan Jiaojiao had left on him when they first met. She had brandished a marriage contract, thrown herself into his arms, and declared that she was his future bride. Then, she had stubbornly refused to leave his home, insisting that by the order of his parents and the word of the matchmaker, he had promised her he wouldn't show that marriage contract to anyone else.To think she had simply tossed it onto the ground for the villagers to pick up. And then, with a contemptible, smirking shrug, she claimed she hadn't actively shown it to anyone—it was others who had picked it up and stolen a look!
Everything—every single beginning of this—was clearly provoked by Ruan Jiaojiao.
And on what grounds, then, should Ruan Jiaojiao be the one to let go of everything first?
Seeing that Pei Huaiyu did not respond, a drunken Ruan Jiaojiao continued to press him, "I love you. Do you love me?"
Pei Huaiyu was forced to lower his gaze and look straight at Ruan Jiaojiao.
Over these past two years, he had grown a few stray grey hairs.
Yet Ruan Jiaojiao seemed completely unchanged.
In both temperament and appearance, she remained the same.
She was capricious and vibrant, and even when she was being insufferable, she was undeniably the greatest beauty for miles around. The Capital was full of beautiful women, yet none could compare to the smile of Ruan Jiaojiao.
And then there was that mouth of hers, always speaking of love.
She said it so often that Pei Huaiyu always felt it was a lie.
Pei Huaiyu could easily have pushed Ruan Jiaojiao away, but he did not. "Look at me and tell me who I am."
Unexpectedly, Ruan Jiaojiao cupped his face in her hands. Like a newborn calf, she leaned in and sniffed him gently. "Smells good. It’s definitely my Pei Huaiyu!"
"But... shouldn't you be with Princess Changle right now? I heard it with my own ears—they said you were going on a date with the Princess! You scumbag!" Ruan Jiaojiao put her hands on her hips, her brows furrowed with genuine concern. Even in this drunken state, she remembered that particular detail.
For once, Pei Huaiyu offered an explanation: "That's not true. It was just a casual reunion, and besides, His Majesty was there too."
Upon hearing this, Ruan Jiaojiao was pleased. She leaned in again, the tip of her nose gently brushing against his neck. "Very good, I believe you! My dog doesn't smell like any other woman."
The woman’s warm breath washed evenly over his neck, tickling him, rippling through his heart like the light brush of a feather.
Pei Huaiyu was so taken aback by her sudden movement that he couldn't quite regain his composure. Just as he was finally about to push her away, Ruan Jiaojiao seized the opportunity and planted a kiss directly onto his face.
"A kiss for you, so don't be angry anymore."
"I didn't mean to let our son drink. I only gave him a single drop; I never expected him to get drunk."
Pei Huaiyu froze, his earlobes turning a visible, burning red.
He hadn't even heard the rest of her words.
As it turned out, Ruan Jiaojiao became even more uninhibited. She sat directly on his lap, leaned against his chest, and poked him with her finger. "Your heart is beating so fast, Pei Huaiyu."
The woman’s voice was crisp and melodious, yet laced with a hint of mockery.
Her gaze remained fixed on Pei Huaiyu, her lips curling slightly upward, as if she were savoring his discomposure.
If not for the overwhelming scent of alcohol clinging to her, Pei Huaiyu would have truly suspected that everything Ruan Jiaojiao was doing was just to get back at him.
"You don't like me kissing there? Then how about here?" Ruan Jiaojiao stroked his face, her hand coming to rest on his lips.
A hazy, drunken fog clouded the woman's eyes. She blinked softly from time to time, her long lashes seemingly sweeping right into his heart.
Accompanied by her voice, she offered a fleeting, teasing touch.
"Should I kiss you again?"
Ruan Jiaojiao would never realize how many absurd things she did when drunk, or how thoroughly she held Pei Huaiyu in the palm of her hand.
Pei Huaiyu's heart hammered heavily.
In the next instant, his large hand pressed firmly against the back of her head, leaving her no room to retreat.
His kiss was not gentle; it descended heavily, his voice hoarse as he mumbled, "Ruan Jiaojiao, you brought this on yourself. Don't you dare regret it..."
Ruan Jiaojiao was always smiling at others.
She would worry about Pei Qi'an; she would care about her stash of wine; but she would never care about him!
Surging jealousy and lingering grievances poured out through this kiss. He forced her mouth open, and once he managed to breach her teeth, he bit down hard on her lower lip, leaving a mark.
It began to bleed.
Ruan Jiaojiao felt the pain and tried to push him away.
But that only gave Pei Huaiyu the illusion that she was about to leave him again. Pouring out his anger, and spiraling out of control with every inch of his biting and sucking, everything began to veer off course.