Ma… don't worry," Su Mei and Wang Lai said in unison.
Su Mei looked up and blinked in surprise when she saw Wang Lai.
"Time out," they both said again at the same time, then burst out laughing.
Chen Xi raised a brow. "Why do you two act like you know something I don't?"
"It's nothing, let's just have our seats," Su Mei said quickly, guiding her back to the table.
Meanwhile, Li Hao, who had rushed straight to the food section after the ceremony, was piling food on his plate when he overheard two girls chatting behind him.
"Did you see the new assistant?" one asked, serving herself.
"Yes, I did! Someone said he got drunk and broke a glass on Zixuan's head. Zixuan dragged him out right after," the other replied.
"Really? I also heard blood was dripping from Zixuan's head!"
Li Hao froze mid-scoop, his hand trembling. No way. He dropped the food bag instantly and sprinted out of the hall.
"Ma, you are worrying about it too much, besides if zixuan was angry he would have dragged him out, but he didn't," su mei said.
"Right wang lai," su mei said looking at him but his attention was somewhere else.
Wang Lai spotted li hao running out of the hall and immediately followed.
"Where are you going?" Chen Xi called out, startled.
Su Mei forced a laugh. "These boys and their business—hahaha."
---
At a corner in the hotel reception, Zixuan positioned Yuhan in front of a chair.
"I can hold myself," Yuhan muttered, still staggering.
"I know, I know," Zixuan said softly, pulling him close until Yuhan's head rested against his chest. He helped him sit down and knelt in front of him, his taller frame shielding Yuhan as he rested yuhan head on his chest.
"Don't lift your head from my chest, okay?" Zixuan whispered, wrapping Yuhan's bloody palm carefully with a handkerchief.
"If you had seen the blood, you would have fainted and I can't bear that," zixuan said softly as he wrapped yuhan wound.
"Good boy," he murmured with a faint smile—then froze as yuhan raised his head.
"F*ck," he hissed under his breath. Vomit stained his chest.
"No wonder you were so quiet." zixuan said as he used the edge of his sleeves to clean his mouth.
Yuhan chuckled weakly, barely able to keep his balance. "Bleh," he teased, covering his mouth as he laughed.
Before Zixuan could scold him, his phone rang.
"I'm here, sir," came Driver Guo's voice.
"Alright, I'll be right outside," Zixuan replied.
---
Elsewhere, Li Hao was still searching frantically, phone pressed to his ear.
"Please pick up, please," he muttered as the line went unanswered. He can't have said anything… Yuhan wouldn't—he just wouldn't.
Then he froze. A few meters away, he spotted Zixuan walking toward the exit—someone beside him staggering as they walked.
"Yuhan?" Li Hao whispered, eyes wide.
He watched, dumbfounded, as zixuan picked up yuhan effortlessly and walked towards the door.
Li hao thought he was going crazy as he saw yuhan giggling in Zixuan's arms, kicking his legs like a child.
"He seems to be enjoying this," Li Hao muttered, jaw dropping.
But then his expression hardened. "No. What matters now is stopping him from babbling before he—"
Before he could finish, someone's hand grabbed him from behind, pulling him back. He felt the person arm wrapped around his waist conveniently, and his palms landed on their chest.