The two clinked glasses and downed another drink.
Shen Yi felt a fiery line drop into his stomach, the sharp spiciness rushing straight to his nasal cavity. In contrast, Shu Yunyi seemed completely unfazed.
She drank quickly and eagerly, and Shen Yi, struggling to keep up, decided to slow things down by changing the subject.
"Teacher Shu, I've never understood why alcohol tastes good," he said.
Shen Yi genuinely didn’t care for alcohol. He could drink, but he never sought it out.
Shu Yunyi didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she swirled the clear liquor in her glass before replying,
"Alcohol is a wonderful thing."
"You don’t understand. It’s not about the taste; it’s about the emotions."
"Euphoria, excitement, intoxication, freedom, that half-dreaming, half-awake state..."
She seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the moment, as if what she was drinking wasn’t alcohol but a sense of detachment from reality.
Shen Yi watched as she downed one glass after another with ease, realizing she wasn’t joking.
After several glasses, her complexion remained unchanged, save for a faint blush on her cheeks, which brought a lively glow to her mature and graceful face.
No wonder people say beer is as light as a soft drink. At this rate, she was treating it like a thirst-quenching beverage.
Shen Yi thought for a moment and decided to caution her,
"Alcohol is fine, but it’s best to drink in moderation. Too much can harm your health."
Shu Yunyi, thoroughly enjoying herself, naturally didn’t want to hear such a buzzkill remark. However, since the alcohol had been brought by Shen Yi, she held back from saying anything harsh and instead pushed her glass toward him,
"Fill it up."
Once Shen Yi poured her another drink, she immediately raised her glass to clink with his.
Shen Yi had just set down the bottle and hurriedly picked up his glass again, only to see Shu Yunyi finish hers in one go. He couldn’t help but click his tongue in amazement.
His constitution had improved, and he could handle alcohol better than before, but judging by Shu Yunyi’s pace, he wasn’t sure he could keep up for the entire session.
Shu Yunyi finished her drink and noticed Shen Yi still hesitating. She frowned slightly,
"Can you handle this? If not, go sit at the kids' table."
"Of course I can handle it. I’ll drink now."
Shen Yi couldn’t let that slide, especially not in front of someone he had once admired. He chuckled and downed his glass in one go.
Shu Yunyi watched Shen Yi’s reaction and smiled. Her life was monotonous and dull, and aside from drinking, nothing else interested her. But teasing Shen Yi gave her a unique kind of pleasure.
She leaned sideways against the table, her foot idly swinging her slipper as she gazed at Shen Yi and asked,
"You said you like me?"
Shen Yi was busy eating some cold dishes to ease the spiciness in his mouth. Hearing her question, he nodded firmly,
"Yes, I like you."
Shu Yunyi asked lightly,
"So what exactly do you like about me?"
"My looks? My figure? Or my status as a teacher? Surely it’s not my age, is it?"
Her tone was casual, but her words were pointed, even casting doubt on Shen Yi’s motives.
A former student she hadn’t seen in years shows up, drinking and reminiscing with her—anyone would naturally feel suspicious.
Although Shen Yi had openly expressed his admiration, it didn’t fully dispel Shu Yunyi’s doubts. She loved drinking, but she wasn’t foolish.
Shen Yi fell silent for a moment, carefully considering his response before speaking earnestly.
Looking into Shu Yunyi’s eyes, he smiled softly and said,
"People tend to cherish and embellish beautiful memories, revisiting them over and over."
"So rather than saying I like you, it’s more accurate to say I like the fleeting moments from my youth—that brief glance, those soft words, that radiant smile."
Shen Yi spoke slowly, his eyes filled with nostalgia.
"A lonely, sensitive teenager can develop feelings from just a glance, a greeting, or a smile from someone else. Liking someone is a very subjective thing."
"Of course, that was back then. Now, all the reasons you mentioned apply."
"It’s not your fault you’re beautiful, so there’s nothing wrong with me liking you."
He ended with a small joke, laying his feelings bare.
Shu Yunyi’s emotions were hidden beneath the surface. Her fingertips lightly traced the texture of the table, as if feeling something, her thoughts swirling.
After a moment of silence, she downed another glass and wiped her mouth casually, muttering,
"Little brat..."
"Consider yourself passed."
Back when Shen Yi was eighteen or nineteen, he had come to Jingyuan alone. Coming from a poor background, he was naturally sensitive and insecure. He had so little to call his own that his heart could only hold onto a few things and a few people.
Shu Yunyi wasn’t someone special to him, nor did she go out of her way to care for him. But her small, unintentional gestures had given him great comfort, leaving a lasting impression that stayed with him until now.
Three rounds of drinks and five dishes later,
Shen Yi had brought four bottles of alcohol, and two were already empty. Shu Yunyi was now reaching for the third.
Each bottle held about a pound of liquor, meaning the two had already finished two pounds. This was far beyond Shen Yi’s usual limit.
He was starting to feel the effects, his head spinning, while Shu Yunyi’s eyes sparkled with excitement.
Seeing her reach for the bottle again, Shen Yi quickly covered his glass and shook his head,
"Too... too much. If I drink any more, I won’t be able to leave."
He had already drunk more than usual, and since he wasn’t accustomed to strong liquor, he suspected that if it weren’t for his naturally fast metabolism, he wouldn’t have been able to handle it.
With the alcohol taking effect, Shu Yunyi was in high spirits. She pried Shen Yi’s hand off his glass and coaxed,
"If you drink too much, just sleep here. It’s fine."
Shu Yunyi’s face was close now, her breath laced with the scent of alcohol. Her mature charm was overwhelming, and Shen Yi found it impossible to resist.
Unable to withstand her persuasion, Shen Yi reluctantly drank another three or five glasses.
By this point, his vision was blurry, and he sat there in a daze, unsure of what he was thinking.
Shu Yunyi, on the other hand, was even more relaxed. She folded her arms on the table and rested her chin on them, leaning forward.
She teased Shen Yi with a smile,
"What’s wrong? Is that all you’ve got?"
Shen Yi wasn’t completely drunk yet, but his eyes were glazed over, and he looked utterly dazed. At this point, he couldn’t even muster a retort, let alone drink any more.
His dumbfounded expression seemed to tickle Shu Yunyi in some way, and she burst into a fit of giggles.
Her silk nightgown clung to her figure, smooth as flowing mercury. Her curvaceous body, with its slender waist and graceful lines, exuded an air of elegance even as she simply leaned on the table.
Her laughter caught Shen Yi’s attention, and he slowly turned his head to look at her. One glance was all it took to captivate him.
Shen Yi’s heart clenched, pounding wildly. The calm surface of his emotions suddenly rippled with waves of turmoil.
Perhaps it was the alcohol, but Shu Yunyi seemed completely unguarded. Her low neckline revealed a breathtaking sight.
Shen Yi stared, unable to speak, his mind inexplicably conjuring an image of pearls resting on a jade plate.
Round, smooth, radiant, and overflowing with beauty.