Birthday (2)

Yuan Shun finished using the washroom when he stepped outside to light a cigarette. He glanced over at a trio who were immersed in a conversation. One of them was the man that Shi Yen flirted with earlier. His face was turned back, laughing with his friends.

"Didn't you come with a date?" his friend asked him.

"Yeah," he replied. "But, I sent her home."

"Why?"

"Did you two see Shi Yen? She seems like an easy one to put out. It's been a while since I had a good fuck."

His friends laughed.

"I have to go. She's waiting for me."

Yuan Shun dropped his cigarette, shoeing it to the ground, forgetting about it. He approached the entrance at the same time as him. He entered first slightly but paused at the doorframe abruptly to elbow that man right in the face.

He staggered back, touching his bloody nose. "What's your problem, man?"

Yuan Shun turned to glare at him. He then hauled him up from his feet. The man's eyes widened as he was tossed over the porch into Fang Qi's thorn bushes.

His two friends stepped in front of Yuan Shun as he tucked his hands in his pockets. And one look from his face sent them running.

Afterward, he adjusted his cufflinks before going back inside nonchalantly. Earlier, he was feeling very irritated, but that short encounter made him feel better.

Yuan Shun stepped inside, finding his sister with Shi Yen. The moment he approached them, Shi Yen frowned.

He tried not to wince at her reaction.

"Shun! I was just about to ask Yen if she wants to join us," Yuan Xinyi said.

Yuan Shun looked at Shi Yen. "What about your date?" he asked.

"Who?" Shi Yen said, thinking for a moment. Yuan Shun was taken aback. To think she didn't remember flirting with someone earlier.

"Oh," she said, suddenly remembering. "Hm. He seemed like a jerk and quite persistent; I was going to tell him to fuck off." She then glanced around to look for him. "But he seemed to have done that himself."

Yuan Shun laughed, not being able to hold back. He had never been so amused. His sister gave him a knowing smile, and he glared at her slightly.

Fang Qi then stepped in, grasping Yuan Xinyi by her forearm. "Sorry, I need to borrow her," he said.

He then took Yuan Xinyi away from them to a corner and asked, "What do you think you're doing?"

"What?" she questioned innocently.

Fang Qi held his hips. "You were supposed to intimidate Shi Yen, not become her best friend!"

Yuan Xinyi pouted. "I couldn't help it. She's so nice."

Fang Qi was taken aback. "Yen? Nice?" He laughed and stopped. "Oh, I see what's going on. She seduced you!"

"What are you talking about?"

"What did she tell you? Did she tell you how pretty you are? How nice your hair is? She charms people. That's what she does!"

Yuan Xinyi crossed her arms and furrowed her brows. "I don't see what's the big deal, and look, we've left them alone, and now they are talking." She gestured towards Shi Yen and Yuan Shun.

She then glanced at them. "Wait…Are they…?"

"We've only left them alone for a few minutes!" said Fang Qi.

The two of them rushed over to Yuan Shun and Shi Yen. The enemies cleared the table, pouring two rows of shots. They both immediately started to drink it, seeing who would drink the fastest.

Fang Qi's jaw dropped. He couldn't believe how competitive they were.

Shi Yen and Yuan Shun kept drinking, glaring at each other. Eventually, they went through every small glass, and it was a near-tie when Shi Yen picked up the last one and raised her hands in victory.

"Hah! You lost!" she shouted to Yuan Shun.

"It seems like you've poured most of your drinks on yourself," he teased with a wicked grin. Shi Yen glanced down at her mouth and neck, soaked with alcohol.

Shi Yen gritted her teeth, holding back the urge to strangle him, but she grabbed a napkin, cleaning herself up.

Shi Ailin stepped to Fang Qi's side. "What's going on?"

"Shi Yen challenged Yuan Shun to a drinking contest," Fang Qi replied.

"Oh no," she said.

Both Fang Qi and Yuan Xinyi asked simultaneously, "What, 'oh no?'"

Shi Ailin bit her lower lip. "Yen loses control when drunk. She hates it because it can be quite embarrassing."

Fang Qi clapped and laughed out loud. "Oh, this has to be good." But Yuan Xinyi and Shi Ailin were not amused.

Shi Yen approached Shi Ailin swiftly. "Do you hear this song? Oh my god! It's sooooo good."

Fang Qi furrowed his brows in question.

"She's very nice when drunk," Shi Ailin whispered to him.

"Then why were you worried?" he questioned.

"You wouldn't understand," she said. "Shi Yen doesn't like it when people see her like this." What Shi Ailin did not mention was that she hated seeing a glimpse of this version of Shi Yen because it was only temporary, and she would soon become the reserved person she'd always been.

Shi Yen then hugged and squeezed her tightly. "Ah! I love you, sis!" she said. Shi Ailin smiled against her shoulder.

Shi Yen then turned over to Fang Qi. She giggled and leaned to whisper in his ear: "Is Xinyi the girl you want to bed?"

Fang Qi flushed. "Huh? No. You got it wrong!"

Shi Yen nodded sarcastically. She placed a finger to his lips. "Shhh. I get it," she winked.

Fang Qi felt like he wanted to expire.

Shi Yen moved on, grasping Yuan Xinyi's hands. "I know you're Yuan Shun's sister."

Yuan Xinyi widened her eyes. She wasn't known in the social circles. She avoided many other elites her age. So how did she know? It seemed that Shi Yen read the question on her expression. "He told me about you, and the eyes give it away. They're very distinct," she said.

Yuan Xinyi frowned.

"But don't worry. I still want to be friends. I like you," Shi Yen admitted.

Yuan Xinyi smiled broadly.

Shi Yen then huddled Yuan Xinyi, Fang Qi, and Shi Ailin together. "You are all my best friends!" she said, embracing them at once.

The three of them looked over her shoulders, watching as Yuan Shun looked gloomy, irritated, and out of place.

Shi Yen then turned around, glaring at him. "What are you looking at?" she asked and hiccupped.

"I'm wondering how someone could be so ugly," he replied.

Shi Yen set her jaw. "Says you!" she said, poking his chest. Realizing how firm it felt, she kept poking him. "Whoa…" she said, feeling him up with her palms. "You're so hard."

Yuan Shun stiffened, suddenly not being able to move.

Fang Qi covered his mouth, suppressing a laugh.

Shi Yen giggled too. She then circled his shoulders, gazing up at him with a flushed, sheepish smile.

Yuan Shun felt like he wasn't breathing.

Shi Yen's hands roamed to his tie, tugging it slightly. She pulled him down, nearing his mouth. Yuan Shun's eyes widened. Her lips nearly brushed his when she said, "I still hate you."

She then gave him a deep peck on his lips before she pulled away, wiping her mouth.

Yuan Shun had never been more confused in his life. He saw the others, who were nearly as shocked and confused as him.

Shi Yen attempted to walk away, but she stumbled. She kept stumbling until Yuan Shun caught her. He then picked her up, hauling her over his shoulder. He turned to Shi Ailin, annoyed, "Where's your car? I'll put her in there."

"Let me go!" yelled Shi Yen.

"It's the red Jeep," said Shi Ailin, handing him the keys. "I'll be there in a few minutes."

Yuan Shun nodded. He carried Shi Yen to the driveway.

"Put me down!" she said on the way.

Yuan Shun didn't answer. He unlocked the car, putting her down in the passenger seat.

She then lowered her head, biting him on the neck.

Yuan Shun narrowed his eyes. He faced her, cupping the spot she nipped.

Shi Yen wore a smug grin. And Yuan Shun wiped that grin off her face when he bent down to steal a kiss.

He bit down on her lower lip gently, dragging his teeth over her lush mouth. He peered his tongue as it brushed over hers softly. He then pulled himself away.

Shi Yen opened and closed her mouth, breathing hard.

Yuan Shun's eyes darkened. He then fastened her seatbelt, and Shi Ailin had come around to sit in the driver's seat.

Shi Yen composed herself, sitting up straight, not looking at him.

"Night, Yuan Shun!" Shi Ailin said before he shut the door for Shi Yen, and they started driving away.

Yuan Shun waved at them. He watched the car leave before he headed back inside.