"Let's go." Chen Linyun coaxed the drunken lady to go home. "Can you stand? Can you walk?"
She could stand but she could not support herself for long. She was wobbling too. 'This lady can't really handle her alcohol.' Chen Linyun wrapped his right arm around her shoulders and held her arm, then he grabbed both her legs and carried her.
It turned out that this strong lady which he loved so much also had a weakness. This lady's kryptonite was her family. In this lady's line of vision there was only her family and nothing else. Even taking over the business was done for her family. He pondered, 'If her family required her to do something will she blindly do it?'
The girl wrapped her arms around his neck. She buried her face deeper to his chest. As usual, his face turned bright red again. But, he's becoming immune of it too. Not that he's used to it, but it's becoming part of him already. He could not possibly be surprised or uncomfortable with something that's already part of him.
They returned in their apartment. He drove her home with his car. He had clicked the doorbell in Apartment 301. Guangxi opened the door. He was surprised at the sight – his sister was being carried home because she drank too much.
Chen Linyun asked, "Where's her room?" Guangxi pointed the room to the left. He entered and laid her gently on the bed.
Then he invited Guangxi for a talk in the living room.
"Xue Guangxi."
The boy gulped.
"Do you know why your sister drunk too much tonight?" Chen Linyun started.
The boy nodded his head. His face was crumpled.
"To put it simply, your sister is not ready yet to share you with anyone. You did not even prepare her enough before you break news of you having a girlfriend. Your timing was off. You were her baby brother after all. As for me, I don't think there is anything wrong with that. I've also relayed my opinion to your sister."
"However, Guangxi, please be considerate with your sister. She's doing a lot for your family already, and for your business. She's not even thinking about herself anymore. Please stay out of trouble or from anything that will harm you or her or your family."
"Can you do that?"
The boy nodded.
"I know I'm not really in position to meddle, but I've promised your sister to talk to you, after all, I'm your teacher."
He ruffled the boy's head. It was difficult on his part to control his words and his emotions. In his head he added, 'If you make your sister cry again, you will have to answer to me.' He gritted his teeth.
Several days passed and somehow the situation had mellowed. Xue Jinxu had been given her brother the cold shoulder and it was worrying him, but people around him including Chen Linyun and Butler Lee had given advice to let it be in the moment.
Butler Lee's investigation came out. He reported to Xue Jinxu in the office.
"Big Miss, I found out that Su Jingjing is the niece of the current Marketing Director. He was grooming her to enter the company once she finished her studies. They were not related to the Su Family of the Imperial. I've also looked into the Marketing Director, there were shady transaction led by him, but there is no concrete evidence yet."
"Thank you Butler Lee. Please continue with your investigation. Please don't let the elders know about this. And Guangxi too. Don't tell him."
"Understood, Big Miss."
'The girl's background is shady. Guangxi..' Her eyes were troubled.
The past days after work, both siblings went to Apartment 201, but on different intervals. As usual Xue Guangxi went there at few minutes past five for his tutorials. The older sibling, Xue Jinxu dropped by almost every day at a later time, around nine in the evening. She went there for a chat with the grown men over tea. She went there to unwind for a bit.
She rang the doorbell of Apartment 201. It was Chen Linyun who answered. Upon seeing him, she instantly fell into a daze. She stared blankly at him, the same way she did back at the restaurant when she was drunk.
She heard his words that night echo in her head that very instant.
"Even if other people told me that I was stupid or crazy for liking a girl I just saw for the first time, and had been with for a short time, and even if I did not know whether I will still see that girl or not, I could not help it. It's beyond reason. I chose to listen to my instinct, to what my inner being was telling me."
"I have not regretted ever since."
She was still staring at him blankly.
Chen Linyun cleared his throat. "*Ehem* *Ehem* Is there something on my face?" His face was tomato-red again. He would never have predicted how his woman would act around him.
The lady snapped back to reality. "Uhm, no, I was just lost in thought." She said while strolling inside the apartment. Where's Wenbin?"
"Still in the office. He's on overtime shift." Chen Linyun answered, realizing that they were alone in the apartment tonight. His heart was beating fast. There's a level of black belliness that seemed to be slowly appearing in his mind. It would be hypocrisy if he would say that he's not pushing his expectations up.
"I see." She seated herself on the couch – her right elbow propped on the edge of the couch while one of her legs were folded underneath the other. It was her signature position on the sofa. It was casual, with a little touch of arrogance and dominance.
She was gazing at Chen Linyun again. It seemed that she could not help it. She shook her head.
Ever since they became neighbors, the two had become so much closer. It was an enigma to her how much of an influence this Chen Linyun had to her. She listened to his advice, and now, she's beginning to get drawn to him.
"Have you thought about the picnic? Let' proceed with it."
Chen Linyun served her jasmine tea then seated himself opposite her. "Okay, we can schedule it next Saturday."
"I'm thinking of inviting the girl, Su Jingjing." Xue Jinxu opened up slowly. She seemed to be seeking Chen Linyun's opinion.
"That's a great idea! Guangxi will be glad to hear it! That's good for the both of you too." Chen Linyun approved.
She smiled and felt at ease. Honestly she had been sullen and tired out by the little emotional faction she and her brother were at.
She stood up. "Alright, you can arrange the details of the picnic. Any park will do. I'll go home now. I'm tired." She said still smiling, but her eyes were drooping low. She passed by Chen Linyun while walking towards the door.
"Wait." Chen Linyun stopped her in her tracks. His hand had grabbed her left wrist.