The food was brought up very quickly. Sun Laohu paid the bill out of his own pocket and ordered a table full of delicious dishes. However, I didn't have much of an appetite, probably because Huang Xiaotao was there. Wang Dali sat between us, so we didn't chat at all during the meal.
Sun Laohu and Wang Yuanchao were very lively on their side. Halfway through the meal, the two started drinking and competing with each other. Although Wang Yuanchao was just an ordinary police officer now, I noticed that Sun Laohu respected him a lot and treated him as an equal.
Both were battle-hardened soldiers. After competing for a while, they got bored and turned their attention to us.
I had never touched cigarettes or alcohol since I was young in order to protect my senses. So I politely declined, and unfortunately Wang Dali became their target.
Sun Laohu's way of persuading people to drink was very crude, saying things like "One more cup to deepen our friendship" and "Drink if you regard me as a brother." Wang Yuanchao's method was even more aggressive. As soon as Wang Dali finished one cup while holding his nose, Wang Yuanchao would pour two more cups, drink his cup in one go, and slam the empty cup heavily on the table, not allowing any refusal.
Although Wang Dali could boast about his alcohol capacity a bit at the university, how could he withstand the bombardment from the two uncles?
After half a catty of Maotai liquor, he was already staggering and his face was flushed purple. Then his head collapsed onto the table.
Huang Xiaotao smiled and glanced at me. Our eyes met briefly and I smiled back, but she looked away immediately.
I wondered what I had done to offend her. Could it be because of my conversation with Sun Laohu about his daughter earlier?
As the meal drew to an end, Sun Laohu was already a little tipsy. He patted my shoulder and slurred, "Nephew, I'm a cannon when it comes to drinking. When I was young I offended countless people, even more aggressive than Brother Yuanchao! When I was in my thirties, I thought this would be my whole life. Then a fortune teller said I would meet a benefactor when I turned 40. That benefactor was your grandfather. Without your Song family, there wouldn't be today's me. I drink this cup to your grandfather, and also to you. No refusal!"
After saying that, he filled up his own cup.
I didn't want to reject him, so I poured myself a cup of tea. "Uncle Sun, I'll drink tea instead of alcohol."
"Fine, bottoms up!" Sun Laohu clinked glasses with me and downed his drink in one go.
Near the end of the meal, a somewhat drunk Sun Laohu and Wang Yuanchao supported each other into a cab and left first. I supported the passed out Wang Dali, and Huang Xiaotao drove us back to school.
On the drive back, Wang Dali kept sleeping soundly in the back seat while Huang Xiaotao drove silently without saying a word to me. Seeing that we were nearing the school, I plucked up the courage and said, "Uh...remember I said I would treat you to a meal last time?"
"Sure, I'm off tomorrow. Tomorrow's not a weekend right? Are you free?" Huang Xiaotao asked lightly.
"Yes, I'm free!" I nodded again and again.
I didn't expect her to agree so readily. My courage grew: "There's something I have to explain. I knew Sun Laohu's daughter when we were young, but we were just childhood playmates."
Huang Xiaotao rolled her eyes at me. "Are you an idiot? You think I'm jealous? Why would I be jealous of you, we aren't in that kind of relationship."
I scratched my head awkwardly, not knowing how to continue. Huang Xiaotao suddenly stopped the car by the roadside and said, "Hey, I noticed you've been acting weird lately, sending me text messages every night asking if I've slept.
My face instantly turned red to the tips of my ears. Damn, could I have been deluding myself all this while?
The shame was so great I wanted to crawl into a hole in the ground. Just then, Huang Xiaotao said something even more shameful: "Song Yang, could it be you're trying to pursue me?"
I felt all the blood in my body rush to the top of my head in an instant. My cheeks were so hot they could probably fry eggs.
"No...no..." I stammered. "Just casual questions...I won't send you texts anymore if you find it annoying."
"I didn't say it was annoying," Huang Xiaotao said.
"Huh?" I was puzzled.
Huang Xiaotao laughed. "You have to be more proactive pursuing girls, you know? If you're so timid, how could it work out? Just waiting for the girl to pursue you?"
My face probably looked redder than a monkey's butt by now. Just then, Huang Xiaotao pressed her cool little hands against my cheeks. I was startled, and she actually put both her hands on my face, giving a nice cooling sensation that calmed my heart as well.
Since we were sitting in the car, maintaining this position inevitably required turning our upper bodies to face each other, so we were looking into each other's eyes at very close range. It was the first time I examined Huang Xiaotao's face so closely for so long. Her eyes were clear and clean like flawless gems. Looking closely, her pupils were not completely black but had some light gray, very attractive.
Her skin was fair and delicate, obviously well maintained without any flaws even up close.
Below her exquisite nose was a pair of pink delicate lips. Under the car's interior light, they shone like cherries, curled up charmingly at the corners.
I thought to myself, Huang Xiaotao is so beautiful. Is this a case of love beautifying the beloved? No, her looks were outstanding to begin with.
"Do you know which part of you is most adorable?" Huang Xiaotao suddenly asked a question that puzzled me.
"What?"
Huang Xiaotao laughed. "When I say anything casually, your face turns red immediately. Everything shows on your face, more straightforward than a thermometer. Teasing you is so fun."
"Teasing me? You were teasing me just now!" I exclaimed.
"Yes I was!" Huang Xiaotao nodded.
"You're toying with my feelings!"
"Toying with your feelings?" Huang Xiaotao burst out laughing, slapping her leg as she laughed for a long time. "Song Yang, you're too funny! Alright alright, can't I make up for teasing you a bit?"
"How...make up?" My heart beat faster and my throat dried up. Our faces were only centimeters apart now. Was this going to escalate into something more? I wasn't mentally prepared yet.
"Close your eyes first!" Huang Xiaotao said playfully.
I obediently closed my eyes and felt Huang Xiaotao's face gradually getting closer. It was so close I could feel her fragrant breath.
Just then, Wang Dali in the back seat suddenly let out a moan. Huang Xiaotao quickly moved away from me. "Hey, don't throw up in my car!"
We hurriedly helped Wang Dali out of the car and brought him to the roadside to vomit for a while. Wang Dali sobered up a little and mumbled, "Bro Song Yang, where are we?"
"You're drunk. I'm sending you back to school," said Huang Xiaotao.
"Sister Xiaotao, I'm really sorry about this." As he spoke, Wang Dali heaved again, vomiting until only sour fluids were left. All the food he ate tonight was wasted.
The atmosphere was completely ruined after Wang Dali's interruption. On the rest of the drive, Huang Xiaotao and I didn't speak. Near the school, Wang Dali and I got off, Huang Xiaotao simply reminded us to "Walk slowly", then drove off.
I felt disheartened. Would tomorrow's date still happen?
Just then, a text message arrived on my phone. It was from Huang Xiaotao, saying "8am tomorrow, meet at Jinlong Mall entrance. Don't make me wait!"
I was elated immediately, nearly wanting to pump my fist towards the sky and yell "Oh yeah!"