CHAPTER 45: CHAPTER 45: I’LL CARRY YOU ON MY BACK

"The old madam has already sought renowned doctors to treat the marquis. There’s nothing much I can do, but to pin my hopes on this, even if it can only help a little," Fu Shinian shook her head and said, "If there’s any other way, I will try it too."

"Good child," the old madam said, moved, holding Fu Shinian’s hand tightly.

Xiao Chengyu felt as if his heart had been tapped lightly, soft and a bit painful.

He turned his head to look at Fu Shinian standing beside the old madam, his gaze unable to shift away for a moment.

Although Xiao Chengyu’s birthday carried years of gloom planted deep in everyone’s heart, it was still a birthday, supposed to be more cheerful, or else how could they celebrate for Xiao Chengyu?

Thus, Fu Shinian used all her tricks to amuse, using all her adorable and playful tactics from home.

She made the old madam laugh heartily and continuously.

Being a birthday banquet, although there were few people, drinking was inevitable.

Even Xiao Chengyu was given a cup of specially prepared warming medicinal wine by the mansion’s doctor.

Fu Shinian and others drank the newly released jujube wine from Taste Building.

Wine made from yellow wine and black jujube, served warm, carried the rich aroma of yellow wine and the sweet smoothness of black jujube, easy to drink.

Fu Shinian drank one cup after another, not feeling the alcohol taste, and unknowingly finished a cup.

When Ying Chun was about to pour another cup for Fu Shinian, she was stopped by Xiao Chengyu, "Don’t give her any more, she has a one-cup limit."

The old madam observed Xiao Chengyu’s reaction, her eyes filled with more amusement.

Fu Shinian murmured, "This wine is so sweet, even sweeter than the osmanthus wine on Mid-Autumn, there’s no alcohol taste at all. I can have another cup, right?"

"We’re all family here, so even if she drinks a bit too much, it doesn’t matter," the old madam said, "If she truly gets drunk, she can rest in the mansion for the night."

Upon hearing this, Fu Shinian immediately picked up the wine cup, "Ying Chun sister, pour me another cup."

Ying Chun smiled and poured another cup for Fu Shinian.

Seeing her finish the second cup without any issue, Xiao Chengyu did not stop Fu Shinian when she reached for the third cup.

Who knew, after finishing the third cup, Fu Shinian became a bit dazed.

The old madam, seeing this, was surprised too: "This child, how could she have such poor alcohol tolerance, quickly give her some tea, it will help."

Fu Shinian’s cheeks were flushed red from the wine, her hands obediently cradling the teacup and sipping some tea.

After finishing the meal, she drank tea to sober up a bit.

It was getting quite late and she suggested taking her leave.

The old madam, seeing this, asked, "Are you really okay now? If not, you can rest in the mansion."

It’s really impolite for the young lady to come to the mansion, end up drunk, and head back home.

Fu Shinian stood firmly with effort, her cheeks still a rosy red, and said, "I’m fine, there’s a carriage outside."

She couldn’t honestly stay in the marquis’s mansion.

"I’ll escort you," Xiao Chengyu offered.

Seeing Fu Shinian like this, Xiao Chengyu couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

"Yes, yes, escort Shinian safely back to the Fu Mansion," said the old madam, "Apologize properly to Madam Fu, for letting the young lady drink too much at our place is indeed our fault."

"I’m alright," Fu Shinian argued stubbornly.

Xiao Chengyu suppressed a laugh, the corners of his mouth involuntarily twitching into a smile.

This girl looked like she couldn’t stand properly, yet claimed to be alright.

"Yes, you’re not drunk, you’re very stable," Xiao Chengyu agreed with her.

Chunmian moved to support Fu Shinian, but Fu Shinian thought, since she claimed not to be drunk yet let Chunmian help, wouldn’t it be contrary?

Leaving intoxicated after a banquet, how embarrassing.

So Fu Shinian decisively refused Chunmian, "I can walk on my own, no problem."

Chunmian had no choice but to carefully follow behind, ready to support her at any moment.

Fu Shinian and Xiao Chengyu walked out of the main hall together.

The moonlight cast their shadows skewed on the ground.

Fu Shinian walked, watching the ground, their shadows stretching long and slender, appearing even more elegant than in reality.

She couldn’t help but watch the shadows play.

Tilting her head sometimes, hopping around at other times.

In a moment of forgetful play, she lifted her hand, extending her index and middle fingers, forming a shadow of bunny ears on the ground.

Xiao Chengyu watched silently with a smile, curious about what tricks this girl might play with shadows.

The last time she got drunk during Mid-Autumn, he only escorted her to the carriage, not knowing how she was afterward when she was drunk.

Tonight, she seemed so entertaining.

Suddenly, Xiao Chengyu saw Fu Shinian lift the hand forming bunny ears slowly towards his head, and ended up casting a bunny ear shadow atop his head.

In his ears echoed the girl’s playful and suppressed laughter.

Xiao Chengyu stopped helplessly, turning to look at her.

Just in time to see Fu Shinian half a step behind him, standing on tiptoes with difficulty, raising her hand high behind his head.

Due to his height, for the bunny ear shadow to appear on his head, Fu Shinian had to tiptoe with great effort.

As Xiao Chengyu turned around, catching her in the act, her guilty conscience quickened her heartbeat.

Fu Shinian hastily withdrew her hand but, tip-toeing off balance, waved her arms like swimming to steady herself.

Chunmian hurriedly moved forward to support her.

But Xiao Chengyu was the first to grab her arm, pulling her back just as she was about to fall backward.

"Can’t even walk properly, yet still fooling around," Xiao Chengyu said helplessly.

"Who says I can’t walk properly?" Fu Shinian broke free from Xiao Chengyu’s hand, saying, "Just wait, I’ll walk in a straight line for you to see."

And so Fu Shinian walked ahead on her own.

Xiao Chengyu watched the person who claimed to walk straight veer more off course with every step.

Afraid she’d walk straight into a flower bed, Xiao Chengyu had to speak, "Turn around and see, is it a straight line?"

Fu Shinian stopped, turned around to look, and saw her path was nowhere near straight.

She patted her face, "I’m not drunk."

"Alright, alright, you’re not drunk," Xiao Chengyu said, "So, are you ready to go now?"

Fu Shinian nodded, and Xiao Chengyu added, "Look ahead properly, no more playing around."

Xiao Chengyu paused and said, "If you want to play shadows again, I’ll accompany you next time when you’re sober."

"The marquis is willing to play this with me?" Fu Shinian raised her head surprised, her eyes sparkling brighter than the stars.

Xiao Chengyu chuckled softly, "Yes."

Drunk, Fu Shinian dared to voice whatever was on her mind: "I didn’t think the marquis was so easy to get along with."

Instead, Xiao Chengyu was momentarily taken aback, asking, "When was I ever hard to get along with?"

But Fu Shinian didn’t reply.

She was busy looking down, counting the tiles as she walked.

And as she walked, she veered off again.

Xiao Chengyu had to repeatedly pull her back.

Though the marquis’s mansion was large, with Fu Shinian around, at this rate, they should’ve covered half the path by now, yet not even a fourth was done.

When Fu Shinian veered off for the umpteenth time, Xiao Chengyu shook his head helplessly, taking a few steps forward to her, saying, "Don’t play around anymore, I’ll carry you."