Chapter 60 Carefree Inn

Chapter 60: Carefree Inn

After Cheng Ge adjusted his diet, Cui Ji's health gradually returned to normal.

Life went on peacefully, and later he heard the young ladies from the other courtyard had been sent away on Cui Ji's orders, their whereabouts unknown.

Cheng Ge figured it was for the best—out of sight, out of mind.

Otherwise, just as Cui Ji was starting to recover, he might lose control and get drained dry by their charms again, making all of Cheng Ge's hard work go to waste.

But one day after work, when he was planning to buy two pounds of lamb for Cui Ji, he got stopped on the way by Zhang Qingheng.

"Mu Yu, it's been a while."

"Ha... looking for a beating again?"

Zhang Qingheng: "..."

Zhang Qingheng's face went sour, but he still braced himself and said, "I have something important to tell you."

Cheng Ge frowned. "Tsk, out with it. I'm busy."

"Mu Yu, last time you pissed off my father. If you come back with me now to apologize, you might still fix things."

Cheng Ge cracked up at that, like it was a joke. "You still living in a dream? Not making him come kowtow to me is me being respectful to my elders."

"You..." Zhang Qingheng's face went red and pale at Cheng Ge's words, unable to figure out how a lowly Fifth-Rank Attendant could be so cocky.

He ground his teeth and said, "Cheng Mu Yu, don't bite the hand that feeds you! If you still won't see reason this time, I won't be able to help you when shit hits the fan."

Cheng Ge's hands were itching to slap that face.

Just as his delicate palm was about to swing toward Zhang Qingheng's big face, Cheng Ge suddenly dropped his elbow, his expression changing, and patted the other's arm instead, saying in a coy voice, "But I'm kinda scared~"

Zhang Qingheng was thrown off by this sudden coyness, suspecting Cheng Ge was pulling his tricks again.

"C-can I skip it? After all, I'm all alone in the capital with no one to turn to. I know I crossed the line last time, and Lord Zhang won't let me off easy. If I go, I'm scared I'll never leave the Zhang mansion again."

As he spoke, Cheng Ge even lifted his sleeve to cover half his face, putting on a pitiful, teary-eyed look.

Zhang Qingheng was half-skeptical at first, but seeing this, he caved. "If you'd listened to me earlier, none of this would've happened!"

He then looked down at Cheng Ge, his thoughts drifting. "Forget it, if you don't wanna go, then don't. I'll talk to my father."

Then he switched gears, "But this time, you can't run off again."

Zhang Qingheng leaned in close to Cheng Ge's ear, his voice dripping with charm. "I'll take Mu Yu to the Carefree Inn for a room upstairs."

Cheng Ge rolled his eyes on the sly, then turned to Zhang Qingheng with a smile. "Sure thing."

And so, the two of them walked into the famous Carefree Inn one after the other...

"Waiter, one order of braised pig trotters, one order of lion's head meatballs, stir-fried cloud beans with dried tofu, and soy sauce chicken..." Cheng Ge said happily to the waiter.

Zhang Qingheng listened to him order, barely keeping a straight face.

But he figured Cheng Ge came from a modest background and probably hadn't had anything good. As long as he got what he wanted, this little expense didn't matter.

The dishes arrived quickly, and Cheng Ge ate with gusto.

Zhang Qingheng sipped his wine elegantly, occasionally glancing at Cheng Ge, his eyes full of determination.

Cheng Ge noticed his gaze, smiled shyly, and picked up a piece of chicken tail to put in Zhang Qingheng's bowl.

"Eat up. You'll need the strength later."

Zhang Qingheng was charmed by Cheng Ge's little act, unable to take his eyes off him.

Without thinking, he grabbed his chopsticks and shoved the chicken tail into his mouth.

"Is it good?"

"Mmm, delicious." How could anything fed by a beauty not be good?

Cheng Ge couldn't help but smile, then picked up the wine beside him, sniffed it, and frowned. He quickly called the waiter over.

"What's this wine? Tastes like water. Bring me your strongest liquor."

The waiter hesitated. "Sir, our strongest is 'Shaodaozi'—most people can't handle it."

Cheng Ge waved his hand. "Less talk, just bring it."

Zhang Qingheng watched Cheng Ge's bold manner, finding him even more endearing.

A little drink wouldn't hurt—if he got drunk, it would be easier to keep him from running away, and then he could do whatever he wanted.

Soon, the "Shaodaozi" arrived.

Cheng Ge poured a cup for himself and Zhang Qingheng. "Come on, cheers."

Zhang Qingheng didn't think twice, clinked glasses, and downed it.

The fiery liquor burned all the way down his throat to his stomach, leaving him feeling hot all over.

Cheng Ge, however, took his time eating, then stood up again. "Another round."

Zhang Qingheng couldn't resist his persistence and drank with him again.

After a few cups, he felt dizzy, his body hot and weak, his gaze growing hazy.

Meanwhile, Cheng Ge had one leg propped on his chair, chopsticks flying as he ate.

Every time Zhang Qingheng finished a cup, Cheng Ge immediately refilled it.

"Mu Yu... I can't drink anymore. Let's get to business. The night is short, don't waste it." Zhang Qingheng staggered to his feet, his wandering hand reaching for Cheng Ge.

Cheng Ge kicked out without hesitation, planting his foot squarely on Zhang Qingheng's big face.

The kick sent Zhang Qingheng stumbling back a few steps before he crashed to the floor.

He looked utterly stunned, sobering him up a bit as he was about to lash out at Cheng Ge.

Cheng Ge simply stood up, grabbed the wine jug beside him, and leaned down to pour it straight into Zhang Qinghang’s mouth, his voice syrupy sweet.

“Qinghang, have another drink with me, alright? The way you gulp it down is damn charming.”

Zhang Qinghang choked and coughed violently, but Cheng Ge didn’t stop, forcing him to swallow several more mouthfuls.

Zhang Qinghang got more and more drunk, and before long, he was completely out of it.

Cheng Ge slapped him hard across the face, leaving several red marks instantly. Zhang Qinghang winced, his eyes snapping open in pain.

Cheng Ge glanced toward the few thugs in the adjacent compartment.

Grabbing Zhang Qinghang by the back of his head, he lowered his voice and demanded, “Spill it for Daddy, what dirty trick is that asshole Zhang Hong planning to pull?”

“Little Gege Theater.

Cheng Ge: After drinking my ginseng soup, you’ll get it up.

Cui Ji: Mm, okay.

Over ten days later…

Cheng Ge opened the door and crawled out with great difficulty, a look of utter despair on his face. “Hah… help… save me!”

The shadow guards all looked up at a 45-degree angle toward the sky: “Look, that cloud looks just like ginseng.”