Chapter 75 The Boss's Gift

When Tang Zhichu returned, Jiang Lan was crying again, sobbing softly. Tang Zhichu had thought that Jiang Lan’s earlier claim about talking nonsense when drunk was a joke, but it turned out to be true! Still, it was fine as long as she didn’t throw up.

“I can’t help it… I didn’t mean to, I’m not even sad, but… but I just want to cry… I drank too much!” Seeing Tang Zhichu approach, Jiang Lan tried to explain between her tears.

“Then go ahead and cry, I’m not blaming you.”

“All right… wuwu…”

Tang Zhichu had already found Jiang Lan’s flushed, tipsy state hard to look at directly before; now she thought it was truly adorable. After wiping her other hand clean, Tang Zhichu reached out to support Jiang Lan.

Jiang Lan lifted her own hand and sniffed the one Tang Zhichu had just cleaned. Her tears stopped.

“It smells so nice!”

Supporting Jiang Lan’s arm, the two were practically pressed together. Jiang Lan’s body radiated heat, like a little furnace.

“Sister Lan, you really shouldn’t drink outside.”

Jiang Lan lowered her head, murmuring, “I won’t, I can’t handle alcohol.”

She seemed to have sobered up a bit, no longer crying or speaking. Once seated on the sofa, she became very well-behaved.

Tang Zhichu glanced at the dining table, reluctant to move, and decided to clean up later. She picked up the remote and was about to hit play when she noticed the TV was showing the second episode of a romance reality show.

“I don’t want to watch this,” Jiang Lan mumbled, rubbing her eyes.

Tang Zhichu switched the channel.

Jiang Lan leaned back on the sofa, her eyes shifting, not watching the TV at all. Gradually, she leaned closer to Tang Zhichu.

Tang Zhichu tensed at first, her mind flashing with endless images of Jiang Lan over the past days; her hand reached out naturally and held Jiang Lan’s.

She turned her head, meeting Jiang Lan’s gaze.

Her delicate oval face was flushed with a rosy hue, and her eyes seemed to shimmer with a captivating light, making Tang Zhichu swallow involuntarily.

“Sister Lan, I’ve had too much to drink.”

Jiang Lan tilted her head slightly, not answering, but slowly closed her eyes.

Tang Zhichu leaned in, her breath growing soft, afraid to disturb her. Jiang Lan’s long lashes trembled in a gentle arc.

Their lips met—soft, and warm.

When Jiang Lan opened her eyes again, they had separated. She pressed her moist lips together, unable to hide a faint smile. Quickly, she grabbed a small blanket from the sofa and covered her head with it.

Tang Zhichu was trying to steady her breathing, her mind racing with urgency—should she go downstairs herself, or ask her aunt if she had any at home?

Suddenly, Tang Zhichu felt a tug at her clothes. She turned around and saw a fair hand reaching out from under the little blanket, holding a small, flat, dark blue, square box.

“I… the shopkeeper gave it to me when I bought drinks.”

…

At dawn, sunlight streamed in.

Tang Zhichu opened her eyes, a deep, bone-melting comfort spreading through her entire body.

She hadn’t slept so well in ages.

She drew a gentle breath, not daring to move, for she could distinctly feel a warm body half draped over her.

Complicated thoughts whirled in her mind—alcohol really did cause trouble!

What now?

Just thinking of Jiang Lan brought an involuntary smile to her lips. Jiang Lan drunk was, in Tang Zhichu’s eyes, simply unbeatable.

He’d never met anyone like her in his previous life, and she was such a wonderful person too—truly one of a kind.

But then there was Chen Siyang, whom he’d managed to temporarily placate. Even if things between them weren’t entirely real, he couldn’t bring himself to make a clean break.

Tang Zhichu gritted his teeth and closed his eyes again, deciding not to move.

Jiang Lan opened her eyes, planning to stretch in a grand, all-encompassing lazy sprawl, only to freeze.

Scenes played through her mind like a movie, one after another.

Her face flushed crimson—alcohol really did cause trouble!

What should she do?

Had she taken advantage of someone in a vulnerable state? Should she feel guilty about Chen Siyang?

She knew full well that Chen Siyang had feelings for Tang Zhichu; theirs wasn’t a simple breakup—at most, it was a temporary missed connection.

Jiang Lan bit her lip. Why back down now?

Nothing was settled yet; everyone had a chance.

She spent three hundred sixty-five days a year revolving around her company, and finally, a man made her heart race—why shouldn’t she reward herself?

Chen Siyang wasn’t her concern!

Jiang Lan had never been afraid of difficulties; if there was a problem, she’d solve it—just as she did in business.

So, don’t back down, don’t run away.

With that, Jiang Lan closed her eyes and lay still.

Tang Zhichu sensed something was off—she must be awake; why else would her body be heating up again?

With no other choice, Tang Zhichu carefully and quietly slipped out of bed.

Fortunately, Jiang Lan played her part thoroughly, and Tang Zhichu managed to make his escape from the bedroom.

Once outside, he sucked in a breath—his waist ached, and so did his legs.

He remembered trying to carry Jiang Lan back to the bedroom, only to fail. He felt so annoyingly weak he could hardly stand it.

Stretching his waist a bit to recover, he began picking up clothes and blankets strewn across the floor.

The dining room was a mess too. Tang Zhichu covered his face, but instead of cleaning up right away, he headed to the kitchen.

Shortly, he emerged with a plate of warm bread and fried eggs.

He set the plate on the dining table and noticed his clothes left on the sofa. Scratching his head, he realized, if he didn’t take them in, how would she get dressed? Was he brainless?

But his shirt and trousers were all wrinkled.

What to do?

She was the boss; she couldn’t go out looking like this.

Remembering the steam iron he’d seen while cleaning the utility balcony, Tang Zhichu went to iron Jiang Lan’s clothes.

In the bedroom, Jiang Lan wrapped herself in the blanket, searching for her clothes but couldn’t find them.

She opened the wardrobe, only to see it full of Tang Zhichu’s clothes. With no other option, she put on a pair of Tang Zhichu’s shorts, which reached her knees.

But finding a suitable top became a problem.

Tang Zhichu was too slim—his T-shirts clung too tightly. Jiang Lan blushed just looking at herself, let alone going out.

She had to settle for one of his oversized shirts as an outer layer.

Cautiously opening the door and not seeing Tang Zhichu, Jiang Lan frowned. Had he run off?

“Unbelievable—didn’t even clean the table. At least he left me something to eat,” she muttered.

About to head to the bathroom, Jiang Lan heard noises. The utility balcony was large, connecting the kitchen and bathroom, accessible only from the kitchen. The washing machine and such were out there.

Entering the kitchen, Jiang Lan saw, through the glass door, Tang Zhichu hunched over, ironing clothes. He was rubbing his back now and then, clearly uncomfortable.

A slow smile spread across her face, and she quietly withdrew.

In the living room, Jiang Lan made a quick phone call to let her staff know she’d be late to the office, then began tidying up the table.