Cocking her head, Gu Nianzhi studied Huo Shaoehng. “Huo Shao, will there be another lawsuit?” She was very excited.
Huo Shaoheng laughed and smoothed her hair. “No, that’s too much trouble.”
Gu Nianzhi raised her brows questioningly, but he answered firmly, “Leave it, ok? This is an internal military affair.”
Since this was related to Grandfather Huo, and because Zhang Feng hadn’t commit murder like Bai Jinyi had, it was better to leave Gu Nianzhi out of it. Huo Shaoheng didn’t want her to be at odds with his family. Gu Nianzhi realized that Huo Shaoheng didn’t want to discuss it any further and stopped asking. She stood quietly beside Huo Shaoheng and obediently gave him company. The pair stood before the French windows in his suite and watched the distant car lights in silence.
Soon after, Zhao Liangze knocked on the door and spoke through the intercom. “Mr. Huo? Nianzhi? Time for dinner!”
Gu Nianzhi rubbed her belly with a giggle, “Oh my, I’m really starving. Huo Shao, let’s have our New Year’s dinner!”
The food was ready around half past seven, and they still hadn’t eaten anything, an hour later due to all the family drama. Huo Shaoheng and Gu Nianzhi left the room separately to head downstairs to the dining room. Huo Guanchen had left too—the Zhang’s had refused to take Huo Jialan with them so Huo Guanchen had to bring her back to the Huo manor for the New Year. The only people in the dining room were the ones from before.
Song Jinning and Yin Shixiong sat at the dining room and waved when they saw Gu Nianzhi. “Nianzhi, come here and sit with me.”
Gu Nianzhi walked over happily and sat besides Song Jinning. Huo Shaoheng eschewed politeness and took a seat at the head of table with Song Jinning and Yin Shixiong at his sides. Zhao Liangze sat across from Gu Nianzhi, and she was next to Yin Shixiong and Song Jinning respectively. The five people were about to eat when a loud noise sounded from the living room door, and a man in a fur lined hooded down jacket, his figure as plump as a ball, barreled inside shouting, “Boss! Where’s the patient? I heard you Grandfather was sick?”
Chen Lie had arrived.
Huo Shaoheng wordlessly set his wine glass down and waved in the direction of the living room. The guards at the dining room quickly ushered Chen Lie inside. Chen Lie walked briskly, his two arms swinging as he removed his down jacket and threw it on the couch. He strode over to the dining room and scratched his head when he counted the number of people in the room and then asked with shock, “Where’s your grandfather? Where did he go? Is he resting upstairs?”
Huo Shaoheng had him take a seat, saying, “Come join us for dinner, since you’re already here. My Grandfather was throwing a tantrum earlier, but he’s ok now and has gone home already.”
Chen Lie sighed in relief. “I should’ve came earlier, but there was something wrong with my car on the way here and it almost didn’t start. I called and Little Ze said it wasn’t urgent.”
Zhao Liangze kept mum and stared studiously into his plate.
Huo Shaoheng looked over at him and Zhao Liangze immediately stood up and stared at his feet while saying, “Grandfather Huo had just woken up when Dr. Chen called, so I told him not to rush.” This was when Grandfather Huo had declared that he’d marry Zhang Feng. Zhao Liangze had seen Grandfaher Huo so energetic and assumed his condition was surely fine, so he hadn’t rushed Chen Lie to come over right away.
“Sit down. He was fine.” Huo Shaoheng raised his wine glass and toasted everyone at the table, “It’s been a long night for everyone, let’s enjoy the food and drink.”
Gu Nianzhi took a sip of red wine and looked at the stewed ribs with lotus roots she had asked for during the day, now placed right in front of her. “This tastes so flavorful.” Gu Nianzhi had a bite of the perfectly soft and fragrant stewed fresh lotus root, then tried some of the rib, with meat that fell off the bone. Her taste buds had been stimulated by the red wine and was more sensitive to the delicious taste—she almost felt drunk and her watery eyes couldn’t help gravitating in Huo Shaoheng’s direction.
Huo Shaoheng remained composed and elegant as usual and chatted with Song Jinning from time to time, then he toasted Yin Shixiong. He didn’t give Gu Nianzhi any eye contact.
Gu Nianzhi snuck many glances at Huo Shaoheng, only to be ignored. She was unhappy and began downing the wine recklessly, ending up quite drunk soon after. Yin Shixiong and Zhao Liangze noticed this and were terrified that she might do something crazy in her drunken state, thereby exposing her forbidden feelings for Huo Shaoheng. Yin Shixiong sat next to her and grabbed her wine glass with a smile and said , “Nianzhi, don’t drink too much now. We still have to go see the fireworks later! You can’t go if you’re drunk.”
Gu Nianzhi shook her head while she slurred out, “I don’t want to watch the fireworks! Who wants to go see that? It only lasts a second no matter how pretty it is, and I don’t want that.” She wanted something that lasted forever, not something that bloomed for a moment.
Yin Shixiong’s mouth twitched and he secretly chided her for being a silly girl. He picked up a large piece of lotus root and put it in her bowl and said, “Eat it! This stewed ribs with lotus root dish, we had the fresh lotus root delivered especially for you!”
“No way!” Gu Nianzhi stares at him, her doe like eyes clouded over with drunkenness. Yin Shixiong was bewitched by them.
“I bought it. D-did you know? I bought it with Huo Shao!” Gu Nianzhi pointed at Huo Shaoheng’s direction but didn’t look at him.
Chen Lie held his wine glass as he looked at Gu Nianzhi, then Huo Shaoheng. He winked at him and almost slapped his knee with amusement.
Zhao Liangze noticed that the situation was getting out of hand and immediately refilled Chen Lie’s glass to get his attention. “Dr. Chen, please have a drink. I’m sure you would want to guess what year this is?”
Chen Lie was a red wine expert, so his interest was immediately piqued. The two men began chatting about the good and bad of red wine, taking no notice of Gu Nianzhi and Huo Shaoheng.
Of course, Huo Shaoheng hadn’t miss any of the constant glances from Gu Nianzhi. He was always composed and didn’t have a habit of giving her flirtatious looks in public, so he continued to ignore her. He watched her from the corner of his eye instead. Gu Nianzhi was growing more and more sad and drinking a lot, so Huo Shaoheng rapped the dining table and lowered his gaze as he poured himself a glass of wine. He began with standing up to toast Song Jinning, “Happy New Year.”
Song Jinning raised her glass to him and said with a smile, “Happy New Year.” She then took the initiative to nudge his shoulder so he would look at Gu Nianzhi and laughed quietly. “Shouldn’t you go console her? The young girl is about to cry.”
Huo Shaoheng frowned.
“Nianzhi, let’s stop drinking now. Your eyes are all red.” Yin Shixiong fussed over Gu Nianzhi and nearly shouted at her in desperation, “Brother Xiong is going to teach you a lesson if you don’t stop acting out!”
“How are you going to teach me a lesson? Are you going to hit me?!” Gu Nianzhi rolled her eyes at Yin Shixiong. Being drunk was nice, she thought. It made her feel especially fearless.
Huo Shaoheng walked over with a wine glass and tapped Yin Shixiong’s shoulder, “Big Xiong, you’ve worked hard this year. Happy New Year.”
“Mr. Huo is too kind! This is my job.” Yin Shixiong quickly stood up and raised his glass to Huo Shaoheng.
Half sprawled on the dining table, Gu Nianzhi stared at Huo Shaoheng as he toasted Yin Shixiong with such poise and had a drink. He then walked over to her. He’s coming, he’s coming over now! He’s finally looking over here! Gu Nianzhi suddenly go so excited that her slight anger towards Huo Shaoheng seemed to immediately dissipate. When a young girl was in love, just one look from her lover could send her to paradise. Gu Nianzhi stood up shakily and supported herself on the dining table, taking her glass and gazing drunkenly at Huo Shaoheng. Her smile was both sweet and bashful.
Huo Shaoheng was entranced by her loving eyes and his heart trembled. He couldn’t help reaching out to touch her cheek, but he remembered that he was still in the dining room by the time his hand was halfway on her face. Everyone was looking, so he suddenly changed directions and clasped Gu Nianzhi’s shoulder and spoke gently, “Sit down, you’ve had a lot to drink already.”
Gu Nianzhi sat down obediently and kept nodding her head as she protested, “It wasn’t that much. I can still drink some more.”
“Shouldn’t you be shaking your head if you’re saying no?” Yin Shixiong chuckled from the side. “And you’re still insisting you didn’t drink a lot! Your brain is out of sync with your body!”
Huo Shaoheng knew about Gu Nianzhi’s alcohol tolerance and bent down to toast her. His voice was deep and endearing as he murmured, “Stop drinking. I’ll drink for you, ok?”
“Hm?” Gu Nianzhi looked up at Huo Shaoheng. “Drink for me?” She raised her glass to Huo Shaoheng’s lips.
Huo Shaoheng finished his own glass first, then took Gu Nianzhi’s hand and emptied her glass as well. As he swallowed the wine, Gu Nianzhi’s eyes were firmly planted on him, taking in his entire form.
Yin Shixiong and Zhao Liangze could only pretend they hadn’t seen anything and chattered away with the others as they busied themselves with the food and drink. Song Jinning smiled but didn’t attempt to intervene.
Chen Lie was the only one laughing loudly and raising his glass, “Boss, what are you doing? You have to at least be drinking wedlock wine [1] when you’re doing it with Nianzhi! Isn’t that right?!”