024 Gentle Tang Shu

Wen Min's elegant eyebrows furrowed slightly as she inwardly cursed, "Lecherous scoundrel." Her eyes wandered as she looked at Tang Shu, and she spoke, "I've considered what you said earlier. Just as you mentioned, this matter is insignificant. Let's all just let it go. We can spare your friends, but I hope you won't go looking for trouble again."

"Is it settled?"

"It's settled!"

"Very well. Tonight, I'll pretend nothing happened. You attend to your business, and we'll continue with our drinks. Let's not interfere with each other." Tang Shu's eyes flashed with a hint of relief, having managed to handle the situation with no harm done.

Wen Min couldn't miss the expression in her eyes, which made her feel quite uncomfortable. She felt like she had lost in tonight's showdown, but she couldn't shake the feeling that she hadn't lost to the pretty girl in front of her, but rather to the stinking rascal who always ignited her anger whenever she saw him. It was a feeling of frustration without remedy.

"Inspector Wen, is that it?" Yang Wei seemed even more reluctant than Wen Min.

Wen Min cast him a cold glance, ignoring him, and turned to Tang Shu, saying, "Alright, that's settled for tonight. Keep an eye on your friends. It's our duty as the police to remind you. It's best to recognize the people you associate with, lest you unintentionally befriend the wrong person and regret it later." Wen Min didn't want to associate herself with Zhang Ziwen. Perhaps Tang Shu seemed too innocent. Even Wen Min herself found this well-intentioned reminder rather inexplicable.

"Officer, sister." With the matter resolved satisfactorily, Tang Shu changed her address. "I'm well aware of the friends I have. But thank you for your reminder. As for my friendships, you don't need to worry about that, Officer." Tang Shu's last sentence clearly disregarded Wen Min's sentiment.

Further delay here clearly served no purpose. Wen Min glanced at Zhang Ziwen, seeing him still gazing at Tang Shu infatuatedly. She coldly snorted and ordered everyone to disperse. The police officers sitting around the booth immediately left. As Yang Wei was leaving, he cast a fierce glare at Zhang Ziwen. Seeing his expression, it was evident that the animosity between them had deepened tonight. Unfortunately, Zhang Ziwen didn't notice his malicious gaze. At this moment, he was looking at Tang Shu with a somewhat bewildered and infatuated gaze.

As the police left, Tang Shu breathed a sigh of relief. Turning around, she saw Zhang Ziwen sitting there, staring at her dreamily. The affection in his eyes made Tang Shu's delicate face blush vividly, radiating a charming and shy demeanor that was both endearing and captivating.

"Bro Wen," Tang Shu called out coyly. The shy expression of the beautiful girl was truly bewitching, causing Zhang Ziwen's heart to tremble. Even his two accompanying friends seemed to exude a crystalline hue from the corners of their lips, revealing their lecherous faces without a doubt.

Suddenly, Zhang Ziwen felt an urge to hug her, and he involuntarily stretched out his arms. "Xiao Shu, let Bro Wen give you a hug," the words came out abruptly, his voice trembling oddly.

Tang Shu blinked in surprise, seeing his serious expression, which lacked the lecherous gaze. Although his words seemed abrupt, Tang Shu still blushed and walked over to sit next to him obediently, nestling into his arms as he extended them. Her cheek leaned against his solid chest.

Tang Shu could feel his heartbeat, and the man's breath seemed to penetrate her delicate nose. Tang Shu's heart fluttered like a small deer, jumping incessantly. She enjoyed the feeling of being in Zhang Ziwen's arms, her eyes dazed, showing a hint of intoxication and contentment.

In Zhang Ziwen's embrace, Tang Shu, like warm jade, was gently held. Zhang Ziwen gently caressed her fragrant shoulders and back with his large hands. The warmth and smoothness of her skin where his fingers touched made Zhang Ziwen's heart sway. He gently lifted Tang Shu's chin with his fingers, gazing into her slightly bewildered eyes. Slowly, he leaned in closer.

Tang Shu blushed, closing her captivating eyes, anticipating his tender affection. Her heart raced wildly, and her delicate body trembled slightly.

A kiss, tender and affectionate. Zhang Ziwen's lips imprinted on Tang Shu's smooth forehead, lingering there for ten seconds.

A hint of disappointment flashed through Tang Shu's heart, but she could feel Zhang Ziwen's tenderness toward her—the warmth and breath on her forehead—all of it made her heart tremble.

The dim and hazy lights in the bar, coupled with the timely soft music, seemed to envelop the two, who were now immersed in this subtly romantic atmosphere.

"What's going on here?"

"Damn, what a mood killer, bro."

Suddenly, discordant voices broke the spell, startling the intoxicated couple. The voices belonged to Pang Dahai and Kaizi. From the moment Zhang Ziwen suddenly mentioned hugging Tang Shu, the two friends had watched the situation unfold with gaping mouths. They had eagerly awaited the exciting moment, only to be sorely disappointed. Not only did the two not make any further moves, but they also seemed to be tightly hugging each other without any movement. Pang Dahai and Kaizi, although synchronized in their reaction, couldn't help but feel envious and dissatisfied.

"Hey, are you two lovebirds done being mushy? Neither here nor there, it's really testing one's patience," Pang Dahai remarked, picking up a die from the table and tossing it over.

Kai Zi chimed in, "Behaving like this is really ruining the atmosphere. Mosquito, come over here and have a drink. You can be mushy at home later."

"Exactly, just heartless fellows obsessed with the opposite sex," Pang Dahai grumbled, then with a slobbery expression, he said to Tang Shu, "Xiao Shu, come give Big Sea a hug," attempting to put on a kindly expression, though it seemed to have a wolfish undertone.

"Haha, Kai bro wants one too," Kai Zi chimed in, joining in the fun.

The deliberate disruption by the two friends made Zhang Ziwen and Tang Shu unable to maintain their affectionate demeanor. With great reluctance, Zhang Ziwen released the soft and fragrant Tang Shu from his embrace, giving the two troublemakers a displeased glance.

Seeing the successful separation of the lovebirds, Pang Dahai and Kai Zi exchanged victorious glances and simultaneously glanced provocatively at Zhang Ziwen, as if to say, "What now? Not going as you hoped, huh, kid?"

What else could he do? Zhang Ziwen smiled bitterly at Tang Shu, then moved to sit between his two friends. The best course of action now was to salvage the situation with more drinks.

"So, you guys want to drink, huh? It'll be strange if I don't knock you two joykillers out with booze," Zhang Ziwen gritted his teeth.

"Bring it on! Who's afraid of who? Kai, you go first."

"I'm on it, I'm on it. Mosquito, let's start with a round between us."

Pang Dahai, being the challenger in spirit, never shied away from a real battle.

Meanwhile, the three men on the other side were fervently engaged in drinking, while Tang Shu lay back on the sofa, reminiscing about the scene earlier. So many firsts tonight: the first time she had hugged a man of her own accord, the first time she had been held so gently by a man, the first time her forehead had been kissed by a man, and the first time she had obediently listened to a man's words. So many firsts.

Tang Shu's beautiful eyes glanced at Zhang Ziwen's back, which seemed to captivate her. The first time she hid behind him at the club, she had been fascinated by his broad back. And his eyes, dark and deep, seemed to hold many stories. His seemingly impulsive nature, his carefree attitude towards everything, his restrained and handsome face, his somewhat charming and lazy demeanor, and the masculine aura he exuded—all of it piqued her curiosity, fascinated her, intoxicated her, made her blush whenever she saw him, and made her heart beat uncontrollably faster.

What's happening to me? Could it be that I've fallen for him? Tang Shu thought, her face flushing, her heart pounding like a small deer.

They drank until three in the morning. Zhang Ziwen emerged victorious, leaving Pang Dahai and Kai Zi collapsed on the sofa, unable to get up.

"Let's go, Xiao Shu, let's go home," Zhang Ziwen stood up unsteadily, sticking out his tongue as he tried to pull Tang Shu along.

Tang Shu quickly got up and supported him, saying softly, "Bro Wen, are you okay? Can you still walk?"

"I'm fine, I can walk."

"What about Big Sea and the others?"

"Let's not worry about them, can't do anything about it."

"Then let me take you home first."

"No, I'll... I'll take you," Zhang Ziwen stood there, swaying.

Tang Shu supported the swaying Zhang Ziwen as they walked out of the bar. A gust of night wind blew, and Zhang Ziwen felt nauseous as the alcohol surged in his stomach. He shook off Tang Shu's support and staggered to a tree, bending over and retching.

Tang Shu quickly walked over to him, gently patting his back. Tonight's feast was all coming back up from his stomach. What went in so delicious was all coming out, leaving a sour taste in her mouth.