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97

Translated by Eve

Edited by Kara

“Auntie really said that you had to come back with me.” Song Jiani looked up at Song Xuanhe. Her reddened eyes were especially prominent against her deathly pale face. “Xuanhe gege, trust me.”

Song Xuanhe pulled off Song Jiani’s tight hold on his arm. He said in a flat voice, “I do. But, I already promised Zhou Rong to drink with him today. Go back and tell my mom that I’ll come back a bit later tonight.”

“Exactly.” Zhou Rong smiled. “Er shao and I have plans. Besides, it isn’t very appropriate for you to drink with us, considering you’re a girl. You should head back first.”

“No way. Xuanhe gege, you have to leave with me right now.” Song Jiani held onto Song Xuanhe’s fingers, her own trembling slightly. She held them so tightly that he felt like his fingers were about to snap. Song Jiani looked at Song Xuanhe with her red eyes, a sobbing tone to her voice as she spoke, “Xuanhe gege, as long as you leave with me today, I won’t bother you ever again, okay?”

Song Xuanhe furrowed his brows slightly, and Zhou Rong’s gaze darkened a bit. The latter’s voice gained a few degrees of ridicule. “Jiani, you haven’t even married into the Song Family, and you already want to manage Xuanhe? Are you planning on becoming a strict wife?”

“Enough.” Song Xuanhe pulled his fingers out of her grasp. In a meaningful tone, he said, “I know what I’m doing. Don’t worry about me. Go back and let my mom know I’ll be late. She won’t blame you.”

Song Jiani’s eyelashes trembled. She subconsciously looked up to meet with Song Xuanhe’s eyes. When she saw his face, although his eyebrows were slightly furrowed, there was no impatience in his eyes, her originally reddened eyes immediately teared up. She then threw herself into Song Xuanhe’s arms under his and Zhou Rong’s astonished gazes.

“Zhou Rong wants to hurt you.”

A barely audible sob entered Song Xuanhe’s ears, making his hand freeze in midair. He then patted her on the back. Zhou Rong felt like he had heard someone speak just now, so he turned to look at Song Xuanhe. However, Song Xuanhe only had on a helpless and impatient look as he gestured at him with his chin and pointed to the person in his arms.

The misgivings in Zhou Rong’s eyes disappeared. He smiled. “She’s even crying now. How about you go back with her?”

“It’s been so long since we’ve last seen each other though. I promised not to leave before we’re drunk.” After saying this, Song Xuanhe patted Song Jiani on the shoulder. “I know what you’re worried about. Don’t worry. My mom knows what I’m like. She won’t blame you. I’ll call for someone to take you back.”

Song Jiani hugged Song Xuanhe. She shook her head, face still buried in his chest. Her voice was muffled: “I won’t leave unless you leave too.”

When Zhou Rong heard this, he said, “She’s cried so much, let’s just let her stay. In any case, she isn’t much of a bother.”

“Why would she stay while we drink?” Song Xuanhe pulled Song Jiani off of him. When he noticed that her makeup was ruined from her tears, his lips twitched. He pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to her. He clicked his tongue. “Your makeup is ruined. So ugly. Hurry up and head back.”

Song Jiani stared blankly at the handkerchief Song Xuanhe had handed to her. She remembered that Song Xuanhe had once said in disdain that a manly man like him would never do something as girly as carry a handkerchief with him during one of their etiquette classes in high school. So, why did he have one now?