C13 It Was Familiar

As Shan Ruoshui hesitated, Xi Mu noticed her discomfort and was about to take the glass to help her out. But Qiao Faang wasn't about to let her off the hook so easily.

"The Great Movie King is playing the knight in shining armor, huh? On such a joyous occasion, Ruoshui, you have to have a drink with me! I'll go first as a gesture of respect," Qiao Faang said with a broad smile, leaving no room for Ruoshui to refuse.

Everyone laughed along with Qiao Faang's words, egging them on.

"Yeah, yeah! The Great Movie King can save her next time! Hahaha..."

"Come on, Ruoshui, don't be shy! Drink up!"

The atmosphere at the table became even more lively. Shan Ruoshui couldn't let Xi Mu step in for her. Since Qiao Faang insisted, she decided to drink. Dragging it out would just seem pretentious. She wasn't sure how well she could handle alcohol, as she hadn't drunk much before. Jian Yan used to drink quite a bit, and she had a habit of getting chatty when tipsy. Hopefully, she wouldn't spill anything embarrassing at the table this time.

With that thought, she raised her glass and said brightly, "Thank you all for your support during this time, especially Director Liu Ann, our scriptwriter, and the Great Movie King Xi Mu. It's an honor to have your appreciation... This is my first show, and I hope to have more opportunities to work with you all in the future!" With that, Shan Ruoshui tilted her head back and downed half a glass of vodka with flair.

Her words drew applause and cheers from everyone, while Qiao Faang secretly gritted her teeth, determined to find a way to make Ruoshui drink more and embarrass her, hoping for something that would make it hard for her to stay.

But Shan Ruoshui wasn't one to back down. Remembering the rumors Qiao Faang spread about her on set, and perhaps fueled by the alcohol, she ended up in a drinking contest with Qiao Faang, downing both red and white wine. Xi Mu, sitting next to her, was amused and exasperated, trying to persuade her to stop, but to no avail.

Shan Ruoshui's pale cheeks were flushed, her beautiful, narrow eyes slightly squinted, clearly tipsy and resembling a classic image of a beauty inebriated. Some men couldn't help but stare.

Even Shan Ruoshui probably didn't expect her body to be so weak and sensitive, becoming limp and powerless after just a few drinks.

Xi Mu thought this newcomer was quite bold, getting so drunk without worrying about anyone taking advantage of her, and without even an assistant by her side.

"Director, it looks like everyone’s had a great time. Let's meet again soon. I'll take Shan Ruoshui back to the hotel," Xi Mu said to the director, making his farewells. He didn't waste any time, grabbing the limp Shan Ruoshui with one hand and her bag with the other as he headed for the door.

After placing the alcohol-scented Shan Ruoshui in his car, he initially planned to call her assistant to pick her up but couldn't unlock her phone. So, he drove to a nearby hotel with a decent environment and got her a room.

Xi Mu was well-disguised, wearing a hat and sunglasses, and wasn't recognized. He slung Shan Ruoshui's bag over his arm and half-carried her into the room, dropping her onto the bed. He carefully removed her shoes and covered her with a blanket. Despite being drunk, Shan Ruoshui was unusually docile, letting Xi Mu do as he pleased.

Just as Xi Mu was about to leave, thinking she would soon fall asleep, he heard Shan Ruoshui tugging at her hair and singing off-key, "I still... hic... want to live for five hundred years!"

"Summer... summer quietly passes, leaving little secrets!"

"My home is on the loess plateau, ah ah ah!"

She had no image to maintain. At first, she sang softly, but her voice grew louder and louder.

Xi Mu listened to this medley, feeling a sense of familiarity. Upon closer listening, it was exactly like his friend Jian Yan when she was drunk! His mind unconsciously merged the images of Shan Ruoshui and Jian Yan, and as he recalled his recent interactions with Shan Ruoshui, a startling thought emerged...

"That's just not realistic," he thought to himself.

On a whim, he called out to the singing Ruoshui, "Jian Yan?"

There was no response.

Xi Mu shook his head with a bitter smile, realizing he missed Jian Yan so much that he was imagining things. He turned to leave the room, deciding not to worry about Ruoshui anymore. Just as he was about to reach the door, he paused, thinking he heard something.

Was he just hearing things?

Xi Mu quickly left, as if trying to escape from something.

The next day, Ruoshui woke up groggily. She slowly opened her eyes, taking in the unfamiliar hotel room decor. She vaguely remembered Xi Mu bringing her to the hotel. She raised a hand to her throbbing head, feeling the pounding headache and the overpowering smell of alcohol on her clothes, making her feel utterly uncomfortable.

Ruoshui tried to recall the events of the previous day, filled with regret. She was always composed and calm, so how did she end up in a drinking contest with Qiao Faang? She sighed, realizing the truth in the saying, "Impulsiveness is the devil." She resolved to stay away from alcohol in the future.

However, considering how drunk she was, she figured Qiao Faang probably wasn't in great shape either. With that thought, Ruoshui felt a bit more balanced.

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