“Have you been drinking?”
“It’s just juice, just juice,” Chen Tangtang mumbled.
“Alright, alright. I’ll take your word for it. I’ll walk you back to the guesthouse now,” Zhou You replied with a helpless sigh.
“I don’t want to go back,” Chen Tangtang tightened her grip on him. “I want you to sleep with me tonight!”
...
Zhou You saw Chen Tangtang was confused, her words jumbled. He’d meant to steady her and talk calmly—but she clung to him so tightly he couldn’t pull away.
Seemed he had only one choice: find somewhere to wait until she sobered up.
He glanced around, then at the bar behind them now buzzing with noise, and carried Chen Tangtang into the hotel next door.
After explaining the situation to the manager, Zhou You secured a double room. He laid Chen Tangtang on the bed and watched the woman still clinging to him—like a child refusing to let go of a treasured toy.
“I already said I’d play with you when I’m free, Sister Bing. Why drink yourself silly?”
Chen Tangtang was simple at heart: she loved joyful things and people who brought her joy. For her, happiness was enough.
Zhou You barely freed one hand from her embrace and brushed the hair from her forehead. Her cheeks were puffed up mid-dream, translucent like a water balloon—tempting to poke.
“Sister Hua… Sister Hua… You only care about Sister Hua…”
...
“Sister Bing, if you keep this up, I might get the wrong idea,” Zhou You sighed. He leaned down, wrapped his arms around the soft, warm Chen Tangtang, and lay beside her.
The clingy young mistress just needed someone to keep her smiling. What else could he do?
“I hope you won’t slap me tomorrow like those drama heroines.”
He watched her press against him like an octopus, then closed his eyes and murmured softly:
“Good night.”
Chen Tangtang rested her head on his chest, a sweet smile blooming in her sleep.
...
...
Dawn hadn’t broken yet, but pale light and distant car horns seeped into the room.
Chen Tangtang cracked her eyes open, breathing in the warm, comforting scent. Her cheek nuzzled unconsciously against Zhou You’s chest.
After a few moments of nuzzling, she froze. Wait… what was she hugging?
“Awake?”
“Hm? Why are you in my bed?” Hearing his familiar voice, she didn’t panic—just frowned, piecing together last night.
She recalled seeing Zhou You with Yun Mingyue… not wanting to intrude, feeling oddly down, then drinking that “juice.” After that? Blank.
“So you came to find me?” A flicker of joy lit her face. Him choosing her after parting with Yun Mingyue was enough. And he’d stayed the night? She felt lucky.
“You were the one who stumbled over drunk and wouldn’t let go,” Zhou You said plainly, recounting everything.
Chen Tangtang threw back the covers, fumbling for her phone. The motion stirred the air—mingling their scents across the room.
Zhou You straightened his clothes, glancing at her staring blankly at her chat history. *Feeling ashamed?*
“Hehehe~~”
She scooted close, phone in hand, zero shame on her face. “I think I’ve added a new dream.”
“Hm?”
“I want to nap with you on a sunlit afternoon. Wake up to you kissing my forehead… give you the sweetest smile… then hug you again…”
“Mm.”
Zhou You’s eyes flickered. He turned serious. “Sister Bing… are you saying you like me?”
Chen Tangtang hesitated. She’d never felt this before. But just talking about it with him made her heart flutter.
“Liking to cling to you… feeling happy… is that ‘like’?”
Zhou You shook his head. “If you don’t know, how should I?” He paused. “If I could tell real liking from illusion, I wouldn’t have been toyed with for three years.”
Liking someone is complicated.
It tricks you into believing forever—living together, forgiving every flaw.
Three hundred sixty-five days a year. Three thousand six hundred fifty in a decade. It makes you dream far ahead… yet some things stay regretful.
Chen Tangtang tilted her head, hangover blush still faint on her cheeks. She blinked her big eyes, innocent and slow. She didn’t understand—and somehow, it didn’t matter.
“I like clinging to you. You don’t mind. That’s perfect.”
She pounced, wrapping him tight, cooing in a big-sisterly tone:
“Don’t be shy, little god~ Big sister will cherish you~~ Let’s create something beautiful togeth—”
Ding-ding~~ Ding-ding~~
The ringtone cut her off.
Zhou You checked the screen, signaled quiet—caller: Yun Mingyue.
“Sister Hua?”
“Why didn’t you come to work today?”
“I-I’m scouting Hangcheng Z University early. School starts soon.”
Yun Mingyue sensed something off, but his words held no flaw. Still… he’d stammered.
“Sounds like someone’s there with you.”
“Mm.”
Zhou You glanced at Chen Tangtang pressing close to eavesdrop—Yun Mingyue must’ve heard her muffled giggles.
To stop another blunt remark:
“Sister Hua, subway signal’s bad. Gotta go.”
Beep beep beep~~
Yun Mingyue set her phone down, signed the document, and returned to work. Occasionally, she’d pause, open her photo album, and stare awhile.
*I’ll message him tonight. I’m busy now—it’s just daytime. He won’t feel lonely.*
Meanwhile, Chen Tangtang hugged Zhou You again the moment he hung up. He pushed gently, saying he needed to wash up—but she clung tighter, nuzzling persistently.
He wasn’t lonely at all.
If anything… wonderfully, overwhelmingly occupied.
