40: Things that one cannot have when young

According to the rules, whoever the bottle points to must choose between Truth or Dare. If neither is chosen, they must drink three penalty cups.

Shen Lian glanced at the cups; they weren't shallow.

It was clear that Feng Yueshan had tried everything: controlling his strength, staring intently, praying to gods and Buddhas, but the bottle mouth always just barely grazed Shen Lian and Chu Yilan.

Feng Yueshan snorted and continued to rub his hands together, "I don't believe you'll be this lucky every time."

Chu Yilan leaned back on the sofa and chuckled softly.

Finally, someone spun the bottle to Chu Yilan.

Feng Yueshan was so excited he almost jumped up: "Pick one! Pick one immediately!"

"Neither," Chu Yilan said, someone who enjoyed games. "I'll drink three penalty cups."

The drinks were already poured, but just as he was about to pick one up, Shen Lian snatched it away.

Shen Lian didn't say anything to Chu Yilan; he tilted his head back and downed it in one gulp.

Feng Yueshan blinked twice: "Why are you doing that?"

"I'm drinking for Master Chu," Shen Lian said, lightly tapping his face as a hint.

Feng Yueshan instantly understood, but... but... Chu Yilan had been either at the company or at home recently, rarely attending gatherings. One might think someone had stolen his soul. When he was first injured, Ning Sixian had practically talked his tongue raw, yet Chu Yilan still didn't abstain from smoking or drinking. How was it that now, having mostly recovered, he had become a 'Pea Princess' around Shen Lian?

Feng Yueshan couldn't help but say, "It's just an occasional drink."

"No," Shen Lian reiterated. "He can't drink."

In the past, Shen Lian couldn't control him, but now that he had opened Chu Yilan's heart, with all the kissing and hugging, Chu Yilan was Shen Lian's person, regardless of their roles in bed.

Feng Yueshan also experienced the feeling of being 'choked' that Ning Sixian had mentioned.

Chu Yilan slightly turned his head, his expression calm, but a light flickered deep within his pupils as he watched Shen Lian finish the three cups of wine.

When it was Shen Lian's turn to spin the bottle, every single person, no matter what they chose, would either get a difficult task or a tricky question. If they didn't play, they drank.

After all the commotion, Feng Yueshan had an epiphany: these two were like Geoducks, neither moving nor opening their mouths.

He lost interest and pushed the bottle aside, "Forget it, let's play cards."

Chu Yilan's next player was Shen Lian. He didn't even look at Shen Lian's cards, but whenever he played a card, Shen Lian would definitely follow suit.

Shen Lian lamented his good luck, while Feng Yueshan almost scoffed aloud, thinking, 'My brother is practically feeding you cards.'

After several rounds, winning more than losing, Shen Lian didn't cheat, accepting all the drinks, whether his own or Chu Yilan's.

Then Shen Lian got up to go to the restroom. Feng Yueshan immediately slammed his bad cards onto the table with a 'bang,' his tone teasing with a hint of gritted teeth: "How does it feel to be protected like that, Master Chu?"

Chu Yilan looked at him: "What, envious?"

"Ha!" Feng Yueshan genuinely laughed out of anger.

Over there, Dai Kangle resolved his conflict with the man, but when he tried to approach again, he was coldly stopped by the Bodyguard.

Dai Kangle didn't dare to force it; he had seen Chu Yilan's methods.

Of those who came to such venues to sell drinks and offer smiles, how many could claim their intentions were pure? Being favored by one or two rich second-generation heirs would make life much more comfortable for the next few months.

Dai Kangle had considered entering the entertainment industry and having Zheng Ge introduce him, but he simply didn't have the talent, nor did he have a Zhou Tangsi as a backer. He spent three weeks trying to make it, only to be completely worn out.

Dai Kangle still preferred life here.

And Chu Yilan, of course, was not only favored by Shen Lian.

Dai Kangle watched from afar, his eyes blank, then saw Shen Lian return, unsteady on his feet. Chu Yilan, though talking to Feng Yueshan, seemed to have eyes on the side, extending his hand. Shen Lian naturally took it and returned to his seat.

That single action startled Dai Kangle.

They played until past ten at night, then Chu Yilan got up to leave.

Feng Yueshan waved his hand, not trying to keep him.

Stepping out of Morning Star, they realized it had been raining for a long time. The ground was completely wet, and accumulated water flowed into the drains.

Chu Yilan took off his overcoat and draped it over Shen Lian's shoulders.

Shen Lian didn't refuse; he indeed needed it more than Chu Yilan.

The cool breeze sobered Shen Lian a bit, but soon, the drunkenness surged back. Shen Lian saw the world as if through a veil, and his temperament became more childish.

He grabbed Chu Yilan's hand, and seeing that the man didn't shake him off, he used his fingertips to scratch his palm.

Chu Yilan helplessly said, "Don't mess around."

The driver hadn't arrived yet. Shen Lian sniffed, about to say something, when he heard a faint meow.

He frowned and scanned forward. The light wasn't bright enough, but he could vaguely make out a dark mass being slowly washed towards a manhole cover.

The driver parked the car at the bottom of the stairs, then hurried over to hand them an umbrella.

Shen Lian took it, said nothing, walked down the stairs to the manhole cover, and looked closely. He confirmed it was a cat, then bent down and poked it with his fingertip, seeing the umbilical cord. The cat was still alive, but if it was washed for another three minutes, that might not be the case.

Shen Lian looked at the tiny bundle, his thoughts suddenly pulled back to a long time ago.

When he first entered the industry, he lived in subsidized housing that cost a few hundred yuan per square meter, eating instant noodles five days a week just to save money. When he felt lonely, he didn't want human company; he wanted to raise a living creature, but his economic conditions didn't allow it, nor could he make it suffer with him. Later, when conditions improved, he was endlessly on the move, and this plan was always shelved until it was completely forgotten. It seemed whether he raised one or not no longer mattered.

But now, that old impulse surged clearly into his heart again.

Shen Lian looked up at Chu Yilan.

Chu Yilan hadn't been drinking. Even from a few meters away, he knew what was lying on the ground.

"No," Chu Yilan flatly refused.

The next second, Shen Lian silently moved the umbrella away, letting the rain patter on him.

Chu Yilan said sharply, "What are you doing? Threatening me?"

"No," Shen Lian's voice was somewhat forlorn. "I just feel that what one could not have in youth will ultimately plague them for life."

Combined with the surroundings, it had an indescribable sense of desolation.

Chu Yilan: "..."

Fake! Chu Yilan thought, this person is best at feigning pity and misery.

But his feet wouldn't listen.

Chu Yilan strode forward, straightened Shen Lian's umbrella, tightened his coat, and finally looked at the weakly crying creature on the ground.

Thinking of how Shen Lian had been shielding it from the rain, Chu Yilan tutted softly, but still had the driver pick it up.

Chu Yilan wasn't particularly sympathetic. The world he knew had always been about the survival of the fittest; he had never considered raising cats or dogs.

The driver wiped the kitten clean. When Shen Lian took it, his movements were full of care.

"Chu Yilan, it's so small."

"Mm," Chu Yilan glanced at it, "It must have been born just a couple of days ago."

"Should we take it to the pet hospital?"

"It's too small; even if it has an illness, we can't give it medicine or perform surgery. Take it home. Aunt Fen is very good at raising these things. If it can survive tonight, then we'll keep it."

"Did you hear that?" Shen Lian gently poked the kitten's head: "Survive."