After Murong Ling finished speaking, his entire body collapsed forward again.
Liang Yu saw that the man was drunk enough to lose his mind, so he supported him by the waist, hugging him steadily. With his other hand, he lifted Murong Ling's chin and carefully examined his face.
The man's features were sharp and stern, the kind carved by the hand of God—just like all those overbearing CEOs. Every line on his face was cold and flawless. At the moment, his cheeks were slightly flushed with alcohol, and his brows were furrowed in discomfort.
Hey, what a delicious meal.
Liang Yu finally felt a trace of comfort after the gloomy days he'd been through.
Murong Ling rarely drank to this extent. Although the alcohol had dulled his senses, Liang Yu's invasive behavior made him open his eyes slightly in displeasure.
"What are you doing?" he muttered.
His vision was blurry, and the figure before him doubled.
"You're so drunk," Liang Yu said, lips curving in a smirk. "You should rest first…"
He held the man tighter and led him to the hotel next door, using Murong Ling's own ID card to check them in.
Murong Ling, feeling dazed and heavy, accepted that he probably did need to lie down.
When they got into the elevator, he sensed something else was wrong with his body.
Normally, Murong Ling never drank like this in public. He was known for his self-discipline. But today, the incident with Sophie had disturbed him more than he cared to admit. Not even work could help him refocus. He hadn't gone home after work—he'd gone to the bar.
He needed something, anything, to numb the pain.
Even the advances of a woman at the bar hadn't fazed him—until she got too close. Suddenly, disgust had flared in him, and he left.
Now, leaning against the elevator wall, head propped on one arm, he realized something even more unsettling. His body was reacting in a way it shouldn't. His discomfort deepened.
He tugged at his collar irritably, no longer bothering to suppress himself, and said to the man who had brought him here, "Go find me a woman… she must be absolutely clean…"
Normally, he'd never do something like this.
But tonight, there was too much pain in his chest that needed release. The discomfort clouded his mind and shoved reason aside.
Liang Yu said nothing. He just watched Murong Ling frown in pain, then slowly raised his phone and took a picture.
"In case the mighty president turns his face and denies everything tomorrow, I think I should leave some evidence," he said with a wicked smirk.
He tightened his arms around Murong Ling's waist, and as Murong leaned on his shoulder, Liang Yu snapped another photo of them together.
"…What…" Murong Ling frowned at the flash, barely registering what was happening. He was too out of it, too consumed by the fire in his body to think clearly.
Before he could ask again, the elevator arrived.
Liang Yu guided him into the room, helped him lie down on the bed, then ordered room service. He was genuinely hungry now.
Soon, a hotel staff member arrived with a dining cart. Liang Yu ate casually, drank a few sips of wine, and when he felt the time was right, he took a shower and emerged wearing a bathrobe.
By then, Murong Ling had completely lost his composure. His cheeks were flushed, eyes hazy and red at the corners. The collar of his shirt was torn open, revealing his delicate collarbone.
He lay curled up in discomfort on the bed, a far cry from the usual cold and arrogant man he was known to be. There was a pitiful vulnerability in his posture.
"Murong Ling, are you alright?" Liang Yu asked softly, bending down with a teasing smile.
"You're here? Why so slow…" Murong Ling could no longer tell male from female, but the voice was pleasant. He was faintly irritated at how long it took.
"Murong Ling…" Liang Yu leaned in closer.
As he drew near, Murong Ling caught a faint scent of body wash on Liang Yu's skin. The heat in his body flared again—he reached out and pulled him down.
Murong Ling felt better than ever.
Even though he vaguely sensed something was off, the alcohol made everything feel distant.
Afterward, Murong Ling collapsed in exhaustion and fell asleep.
Liang Yu stepped into the bathroom. When he returned, he dressed quietly and stood beside the bed, gazing down at the man with a satisfied smirk.
He bent close and whispered in Murong Ling's ear, "I hope you won't be too violent when you wake up tomorrow…" The