After drinking to their heart's content, the table was left in disarray. Song took Jiang and Minren to the car, and they were seen off by others.
Zoe sat alone in the private room, feeling a little dizzy. As soon as the others left, the room grew eerily quiet, amplifying her sense of stillness. The calmness made her rest her head on the table for a moment, closing her eyes.
A stretch of blankness passed by, and suddenly, she heard Song's voice from afar.
"Zoe."
Zoe blinked, lifting her eyes to meet his.
He was standing beside her, one hand resting on her shoulder as he bent down to look at her. Both of them were slightly drunk, their movements a little slow, their gazes more languid than usual. They stared at each other for a few seconds in a quiet, dazed silence.
"Let's go." Song finally spoke.
Zoe nodded.
She stood up too quickly, and the world went black for a moment. She lost her balance, stumbling a bit.
Song quickly steadied her by holding her arm. His eyes softened, and he grinned. "Can't stand straight again, Zoe? You're not trying to make me hold you up on purpose, are you?"
Zoe shot him a defiant glance. "I've done you a huge favor today, so what's the harm in you helping me out a bit?"
"Yes, yes, you've helped me a lot today. Thank you," Song replied helplessly.
Zoe steadied herself and said, "Alright, you can let go now. I'm fine, let's go."
Song cautiously released her.
Zoe focused on the door, walking in a straight line, step by step, but soon her body started to veer off course. If she kept going like this, she would crash straight into the window.
Song, from behind, grabbed her hand.
Zoe immediately lifted her hand to swat him away. "What are you doing? Trying to take advantage of me?"
Song chuckled. "I was just trying to help since you're stumbling all over the place. Don't accuse me falsely."
Zoe huffed, her neck turning in a sharp motion. "Who's stumbling? I'm walking perfectly fine!"
Song raised an eyebrow. "Are you drunk? You don't even sound clear anymore."
Zoe grinned sheepishly. "I'm just happy today, so I may have had a little too much to drink, just a little." She raised one finger, emphasizing that it was really only a tiny bit.
Song sighed.
"Alright, let's get you home. I'll make sure you don't fall," he said, gently holding her arm. "But don't say I'm taking advantage of you. I'm much cleaner than the men you've mentioned."
Zoe muttered something under her breath, but Song didn't catch it. As they walked, the cool night breeze swept by. In her hazy state, Zoe took in the peaceful surroundings—the small yard, the stone garden, the flowing water, and the bright moon hanging high in the sky. The air was calm and serene.
"It's so beautiful." Zoe suddenly spoke up.
Song, still supporting her, watched her for a moment. His voice was low. "Mm, it's beautiful."
Zoe smiled, then turned to him, asking, "Song, am I the boldest celebrity you've ever met?"
"What do you mean bold?"
"I'm just a small-time actress, but I'm not afraid to talk back to you, always pushing your buttons."
Song raised an eyebrow. "So you do have self-awareness."
Zoe laughed lightly, a little embarrassed. "The truth is... I don't want you to think I'm trying to suck up to you. I've already taken so much from you, but I never intended to. I don't want to trouble you, but sometimes, when the opportunity presents itself, I... I just can't resist."
Zoe lowered her voice, "You don't even know—because of you, even He Yong talks to me politely now."
Song chuckled softly. "The opportunities you're talking about, you can take them if you want. It's all for you."
Zoe shook her head, her expression serious. "No. I can't keep taking advantage of it."
"Why not?"
"Because I want to stand tall and proud in front of everyone. I don't want to be known as someone who succeeded by depending on others. I want to succeed on my own."
Song gave her a gentle look. "Zoe, I wasn't always so smooth-sailing either."
"Oh?"
"I've had my share of help from others, too."
"Oh."
"No one's success is entirely their own doing."
"Oh."
"So, if you're being given something for free, you might as well take it."
Zoe paused for a moment before saying firmly, "No."
Song raised his hand to rub his forehead, a soft laugh escaping him as the moonlight illuminated his clean, sharp features. He didn't press her further, and neither of them spoke for a while. In the stillness of the night, they sat quietly, letting the alcohol wear off, waiting for Zoe to feel better before they slowly made their way out.
Song contacted Lan, who was waiting for them at the door. As soon as they stepped outside, Lan approached.
"Why did you drink so much?" Lan frowned, concerned.
Zoe, seeing Lan, broke into a bright smile and rushed into her arms.
"Lan Jie, I love you so much!" she cooed, her voice soft and playful.
Lan's irritation melted away instantly.
"I'll leave her to you." Song said, turning to Lan.
Lan nodded. "Thank you."
"No, it's me who should be thanking her," Song said, his tone warm.
That night, Zoe didn't remember how she got home or how she made it to bed.
The next morning, she was woken by the alarm, her head pounding with a terrible hangover.
She groaned, holding her head, when suddenly, a familiar scent wafted into the room.
Who was in her house?
The events from the previous night rushed back to her mind, and her eyes widened. Had she… been with Song last night? What had they done?
She couldn't remember Song handing her off to Lan. Confused and anxious, she got out of bed and cautiously walked toward the kitchen, her steps hesitant and her heart pounding with anxiety. As she approached, she felt a mix of dread and uncertainty.
But all her worries disappeared when she saw the familiar figure of Zheng Xiaoju standing at the kitchen counter, chopping vegetables.
"Xiaoju?"
Zoe asked in disbelief. "What are you doing here?"
Zheng Xiaoju turned around and smiled warmly. "Zoe Jie, you're up! Lan Jie called me early this morning. She said you came back late last night and drank too much, so she asked me to check on you."
"Oh, so Lan Jie brought me home last night?" Zoe asked, a little unsure.
Zheng Xiaoju nodded. "I think so. I made some chicken soup for you. It'll be ready soon. Just wait a moment."
"It's fine, you keep doing your thing. I'll go brush my teeth first."
Zoe felt a sense of relief, her biggest fear not having come true. But at the same time, there was an odd emptiness in her chest.