Bai Tang didn't give him another chance to question her—she downed a whole bottle in one go.
Zhang Xiaochu stared at her, and seeing no reaction, he drank his in one gulp as well.
Bai Tang picked up the bottle and refilled his glass.
The two chatted with great enthusiasm, laughing heartily when something amused them, even slapping the table, completely abandoning any sense of decorum.
Red wine had a strong aftereffect. Bai Tang used to have a high tolerance for alcohol, the type who could drink a thousand cups without getting drunk, but she clearly forgot that this body wasn't her old one. Even though the original host could hold her liquor, she was nowhere near Bai Tang's level.
Still, aside from her flushed face and a slightly dizzy head, she managed to keep a shred of awareness, not completely losing her senses.
The dishes on the table were nearly finished, and several bottles of wine had been emptied. Zhang Xiaochu was also starting to feel tipsy.
"I'm heading back," Zhang Xiaochu said. "Seeing you doing well now puts my mind at ease. Just wait for Brother Chu to help you out."
As he spoke, he let out a burp, stood up unsteadily, and prepared to leave.
Bai Tang looked at him and couldn't help but laugh. "Drunk driving will land you in jail!"
"Besides, I'm afraid you won't see clearly on the road and end up in a crash, and then you'd be gone!"
Zhang Xiaochu absolutely wouldn't allow her to doubt his abilities.
"I'll walk a straight line for you to see!" he declared, stepping forward, but his knee accidentally bumped into the coffee table, making him wince in pain.
Bai Tang burst out laughing without holding back.
"Second guest room down the first-floor hallway. Go wash up and sleep it off!" Bai Tang said, raising a hand to yawn. "I'm going to wash up and sleep too. Tomorrow will be another day of hard studying."
Zhang Xiaochu flopped directly onto the sofa, hugging one knee and rubbing it, looking utterly ridiculous.
Bai Tang got up to head upstairs, but then the doorbell rang.
Frowning, she muttered to herself, "Who's coming over this late?"
She ambled to the door and opened it.
Looking up, her face flushed and her eyes slightly hazy from the alcohol, she recognized the person and her annoyed expression instantly turned cheerful. "Beauty, what are you looking for me so late?"
The smell of alcohol on her breath made Sheng Qi frown in displeasure. "You've been drinking?"
"Nope, I was drinking grape juice!"
The girl giggled, her whole demeanor adorably silly.
Because of the drunkenness, everything seemed to have a hazy, dreamlike filter over it.
The beauty looked even more stunning.
Bai Tang spread her arms and lunged at him, wrapping them around Sheng Qi's waist, then rubbing her head against his chest like a spoiled cat.
Sheng Qi pressed his lips together, staring at the drunk in his arms, his face darkening.
"Who let you drink?!" Sheng Qi asked coldly, but he didn't push her away.
Bai Tang clung to him, thinking that getting drunk made it so easy to cop a feel—it was truly a mood-lifting thing.
Looks like she could drink more often from now on, then casually call Sheng Qi over and take advantage of him!
Bai Tang silently applauded herself for this decision!
The woman in his arms kept rubbing against his chest, and Sheng Qi stared at her flushed face.
The strong smell of alcohol made him think she was truly wasted!
"Go inside, I'll make you some hangover soup!" Sheng Qi said coldly, reaching out to pull her away.
But Bai Tang held on tight, refusing to let go. "I can't stand steady, you hold me!"
Sheng Qi took a deep breath, grabbed her hand to pry her off, but ultimately gave in and helped her inside.
Once they were in, Sheng Qi softened his tone. "Go sit on the couch. I'll head to the kitchen and make you some hangover soup."
"No, I want to hold onto the beauty!"
The girl's voice was several degrees softer than usual because of the alcohol.
Sheng Qi felt a bit helpless and was about to speak when Zhang Xiaochu, whose knee pain had eased, called out from the living room with a laugh, "Which room is mine?"
Hearing the voice, Sheng Qi's gaze shifted to the living room sofa, where he noticed Zhang Xiaochu lying there, and his face instantly darkened.