Lin Xi entered the kitchen, inwardly admiring Sister Mei's thoughtfulness. Sister Mei's concerned words to Duan Yiheng still echoed in her ears: "He probably drank too much tonight. I'll make some mung bean hangover soup."
"But you have to wait for him to come back before you can make it." "Let him sleep for a while. If he responds when you call him, he can drink the hangover soup."
"This mung bean hangover soup is very easy to make. Put it in a stew pot with dried tangerine peel, sandalwood, orange peel, kudzu flower, and white cardamom. Bring it to a boil over high heat, then simmer over low heat for thirty minutes." Lin Xi followed the steps methodically.
Afraid the soup would overflow, she didn't dare leave, standing in the kitchen for about ten minutes with her phone in hand. After turning the heat down to low and setting a half-hour alarm, she finally turned and went to the living room. Lin Xi really had no experience in taking care of people.
She sat cross-legged on the sofa, searching online, muttering to herself, "How to take care of a drunk person." She glanced at Duan Yiheng and saw his face was flushed and his brow furrowed; he must be feeling unwell.
Lin Xi put down her phone, went to the sofa, and supported his head with one hand while grabbing a cushion to place behind his head with the other. But… Duan Yiheng's head was too heavy. Lin Xi's hand ached from the effort, and she couldn't manage to put a cushion behind his head.
Instead, Duan Yiheng became increasingly uncomfortable, letting out a dissatisfied snort through his nose. "Lying flat isn't comfortable," Lin Xi patted his cheek. "Cooperate a little, I'll put a cushion under your head." Duan Yiheng mumbled a muffled "Mmm."
Because he was drunk on the anniversary of his mother's death, Lin Xi's heart softened. She coaxed him like a child, "Then be a good boy, lift your head slightly with my support, okay?" "Okay," Duan Yiheng replied again.
Lin Xi chuckled, supporting his head again with her other hand, gripping the pillow. Duan Yiheng actually lifted his head with her help. Taking advantage of the moment he turned his head, Lin Xi slipped the pillow under his head.
The cooperation only lasted two or three seconds. Duan Yiheng released his grip, slightly turning his body, pressing her entire palm under his right cheek. The distance suddenly closed, and Lin Xi, caught off guard, leaned against his shoulder.
The strong smell of alcohol wafted from Duan Yiheng's slightly parted lips. Lin Xi stared for a moment, then couldn't help but reach out and curiously poked his long eyelashes. Duan Yiheng impatiently rubbed against her palm, avoiding her teasing.
Lin Xi's fingertips curled, inwardly chuckling at her own actions. She carefully withdrew her hand from under his face and turned to go to the kitchen. The hangover soup wasn't ready yet, and she paced back and forth between the living room and the kitchen several times.
She didn't wait until her phone alarm rang before ladling out the mung bean soup and setting it aside to cool. After about ten minutes, she tasted it; the temperature was just right. Duan Yiheng had been asleep for almost an hour; she wasn't sure if she could wake him.
Lin Xi carried the soup bowl over and placed it on the coffee table, then patted Duan Yiheng's shoulder: "Get up." Duan Yiheng didn't move, seemingly fast asleep.
But she had already made this hangover soup; if he woke up and drank some, he could go back to his room to sleep. Sleeping on the sofa all night on this 188cm tall man would surely leave him with a sore back the next day. After thinking for a moment, she decided to wake Duan Yiheng.
Lin Xi went over, bent down, and turned the side-lying Duan Yiheng over, patting his cheek gently: "Duan Yiheng, wake up... get up and drink the hangover soup..." Duan Yiheng felt like a fish being roasted over a fire, constantly being flipped over.
The heavy effects of the alcohol lingered, making him reluctant to wake up. "Duan Yiheng, wake up." Lin Xi tightened his grip, causing Duan Yiheng to wince in pain. What dared to slap his face? The sound of the slap echoed; it was asking for trouble.
Duan Yiheng grabbed the wrist by his neck and slowly opened his eyes. His eyes were half-closed, clearly still disoriented. Lin Xi smiled: "Good that you're awake. Come, have some hangover soup." The voice was too familiar. Duan Yiheng called out in a low, hoarse voice:
"Lin Xi." Lin Xi hummed in response: "You still recognize me?" "Chole," he murmured with his eyes closed. Lin Xi was startled: "Why are you suddenly calling me that?" Duan Yiheng frowned, tugging at his loosened black tie.
It was too tight! Lin Xi quickly brought over the hangover soup, scooping a spoonful and holding it to his lips. Duan Yiheng smelled an indescribable bean aroma and frowned, tilting his head back to avoid it. "Don't hide," Lin Xi grabbed his chin. "It's all spilled." Duan Yiheng mumbled.
"What is it?" Lin Xi: "Hangover soup." Sister Mei was sick, yet she insisted on waiting for him to come back. If she didn't feed him this soup, how would she explain it to Sister Mei tomorrow? "I'm not drunk," Lin Xi said dismissively.
"Yes, yes, you're not drunk, but this is something I painstakingly made. Would you like some?" Duan Yiheng stared at her, seemingly thinking. Lin Xi didn't care about that. Taking advantage of his slight consciousness, she shoved a spoonful into his mouth. Duan Yiheng instinctively bit the spoon. Lin Xi:
"...Don't bite it! How am I supposed to feed you?" Duan Yiheng released his grip, then coughed violently the next second. Lin Xi patted his back, grabbed his arm, and tried to pull him up: "It's not easy to feed you lying down, why don't you sit up?"
Duan Yiheng, whether he understood her or not, propped himself up on the sofa. One hand rested casually on the edge of the sofa, his fingers long and slender, his wrist prominent.
His usually impeccably pressed suit and shirt were creased, his tie loose, rising and falling on his chest with his breath. Lin Xi was pushed to the side by him, Duan Yiheng's long legs slightly parted, his knees pressing against hers.
The light cast a shadow on his superior features, and when he frowned and tilted his head back, a glimpse of his collarbone and chest would always be visible, exuding an indescribable sensuality. "Lin Xi?" He turned his face, as if confirming. Lin Xi picked up the hangover soup again and said, "It's me."
Duan Yiheng raised his hand to his stomach, "I feel terrible." "Then open your mouth, you'll feel much better after you drink it." Lin Xi scooped a spoonful of mung bean soup and held it to his lips, "Be careful, don't spill it again." Duan Yiheng hummed in agreement.
After much effort, Lin Xi finally managed to feed him all the soup. She was about to take the dishes to the kitchen to wash when Duan Yiheng grabbed her and pulled her down onto the sofa. "Sit with me for a while." Lin Xi glanced at the clock on the wall; it was already one o'clock.
She had to go to work tomorrow. But she was really worried about Duan Yiheng in this state. "Sit." Duan Yiheng, drunk and careless, grabbed her arm and pulled her towards him. "Ouch." Lin Xi cried out, leaning against his shoulder.
She turned and slapped his hand, complaining, "I must have owed you and Duan Mingxuan something in my past life. Last night it was him, tonight it's you." "Duan Mingxuan," Duan Yiheng's voice suddenly deepened, "Did he bully you?" Lin Xi shifted to the side:
"It was clearly you who bullied me." Her arm still ached. "I wouldn't..." Duan Yiheng's drunkenness was undeniable, "I wouldn't bully you, I..." They say people speak the truth when they're drunk, but Lin Xi had never taken that seriously.
Now, arguing with a drunkard word by word, she suddenly became curious again: "How are you?" Duan Yiheng grabbed her hand and placed it on his chest. Lin Xi stared blankly at him, not understanding his drunken antics.
But the next second, he pressed her hand down and said, "I wouldn't bully you, because I couldn't bear to." Lin Xi turned her head in surprise; Duan Yiheng's eyes, clouded by alcohol, held a clear, undisguised descent into despair.