I Fall Every Time I Meet an Alpha [Transmigrated into a Book] - Chapter 7
Meng Yuqing’s attention moved to the dozen bottles of beer on the table. As she looked at them, a plan began to form in her mind. If she could get Zhong Xiaoxiao drunk and have her brother carry her home, maybe their relationship would warm up overnight. She was already hoping that by tomorrow, she would hear that her brother had broken up with Gan Qingyun.
Compared to the female lead, Meng Yuqing disliked Gan Qingyun even more.
They both said one thing but meant another, yet when Zhong Xiaoxiao did it, it felt cute. When Gan Qingyun did it, it felt fake. That was probably the effect of the female lead halo. Female leads were always innocent and kind like little white rabbits. Other people were not so lucky.
Meng Yuqing reached for a bottle of beer and smiled. “Let’s have some drinks. Just singing is getting boring.”
Crystal-clear beer glasses were lined up in two neat rows. The golden beer was poured into each glass, foaming gently at the top. Zhong Xiaoxiao watched her pour and thought, this is bad. She is definitely going to make me drink.
“Hello?” Zhong Xiaoxiao quickly pretended to take a phone call and stood up. “Mom? Oh—”
Just as she was about to walk away, Meng Yuqing pulled her back. She stumbled and fell onto the couch. Meng Yuqing leaned close with one arm around her shoulders, the other holding a glass of beer. She smiled sweetly and said, “Where are you going? We haven’t even started drinking.”
“My mom told me to come home for dinner!” Zhong Xiaoxiao said in a panic, seeing the clear intention in Meng Yuqing’s eyes to make her drink.
Meng Yuqing glanced at her phone and laughed. “Your screen isn’t even on. Were you talking to the air?”
Zhong Xiaoxiao froze in embarrassment. Her fake phone call had been exposed. Please, someone actually call me. Why hasn’t Mom called yet? This stubborn supporting character won’t let me leave. What am I supposed to do?
“Xiaoxiao doesn’t have to drink. She’s still young,” Meng Yuzhou said from the side. He raised his glass and drank it all in one gulp, as if trying to hold back some inner frustration.
Gan Qingyun, already feeling ignored, picked up her own glass and started drinking in silence.
“She’s not that young. We’re all the same age. If I can drink, why can’t she?” Meng Yuqing said, lifting the glass to Zhong Xiaoxiao’s lips. “Come on. Just one drink and you can go home.”
“I don’t want to…” Zhong Xiaoxiao had just started to refuse when the beer was already being poured into her mouth. This was too much. Damn it, Meng Yuqing!
The cold beer had a slight bitterness at first, but it quickly turned refreshing as it slid down her throat. It made her feel unexpectedly light and clear-headed. This beer was unlike anything she had tasted before. There was still a soft fragrance lingering on her tongue, smooth and rich without any harshness. It was actually delicious.
After finishing one glass, Zhong Xiaoxiao did not resist as much. Her eyes drifted toward the other glasses on the table. So this was what rich people drank. It was nothing like the cheap beer she had tasted before. That stuff could hardly be called beer at all.
Seeing that Zhong Xiaoxiao liked the taste, Meng Yuqing was pleased. She handed her another glass and said, “Good, right? Have another.”
“Alright.” Zhong Xiaoxiao accepted it and took another sip. It was just as smooth and flavorful as before.
“Let’s all toast,” Meng Yuqing said cheerfully. She glanced at the others and smiled. “To our friendship.”
Wait, what? Zhong Xiaoxiao paused. Friendship? What friendship? When did we become friends? Are you serious?
It felt ridiculous, but she still raised her glass with them and drank.
Zhong Xiaoxiao had never had such good beer before. She got a little carried away and began drinking one glass after another.
Eventually, whether it was on purpose or not, she got drunk.
Gan Qingyun also appeared to be drunk.
“My brother, they both seem pretty tipsy,” Meng Yuqing said calmly. “You know where Xiaoxiao lives, don’t you? Take her home. I’ll look after your girlfriend.”
“Okay,” Meng Yuzhou replied without hesitation.
Gan Qingyun stared silently. I’m the girlfriend!
Meng Yuqing, hearing her thoughts through the system, chuckled and went over to help her up.
“Come on. Time to go.”
Still pretending to be drunk, Gan Qingyun pushed Meng Yuqing away and leaned toward Meng Yuzhou. “Meng Yuzhou, take me home. Please take me…”
Meng Yuqing blocked her path and said, “It’s the same if I take you. Come on, miss. Let’s go.”
She pulled her away with force, throwing back a final sentence, “She’s your responsibility now. Make sure you get her home safely.”
After they left, Meng Yuzhou looked down at Zhong Xiaoxiao, who was lying asleep on the couch. His heart was beating faster than usual, and his breathing was slightly uneven, maybe because of the alcohol or maybe because of her.
“Xiaoxiao, time to go home,” he said gently.
“Okay.” Her voice was soft and sleepy.
Looking at her round, flushed cheeks, he felt his heart skip a beat. He knelt down in front of her and stared at her delicate face. Maybe it was the way the alcohol had added a gentle pink to her skin, but he felt completely drawn in. Slowly, as if pulled by something, he leaned closer and kissed her lightly on the cheek.
“Meng Yuzhou!”
The door suddenly opened. Gan Qingyun had come back just in time to see the kiss. Her expression turned sharp. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“Gan Qingyun.” Meng Yuqing came back too. She had been unable to hold her off. “Are you leaving or not?”
“Of course I’m leaving,” Gan Qingyun said angrily. “Meng Yuzhou, take me home now.”
Seeing her boyfriend kiss another girl had pushed her to the edge. No one would be able to accept that. Her jealousy exploded. She hated Meng Yuzhou for two-timing her. She hated Meng Yuqing for helping it happen. And she hated Zhong Xiaoxiao, who lay there looking innocent and unaware.
Meng Yuzhou froze. He had been caught red-handed and didn’t know how to respond. He looked at his girlfriend, then at his sister, completely at a loss for what to say.
One girl was asleep on the couch. The other three stood still, locked in a heavy silence.
Meng Yuqing sighed. Clearly, her plan to have her brother take Zhong Xiaoxiao home had failed.
She walked over and gently lifted Zhong Xiaoxiao, who was still sleeping soundly.
“Come on. Let’s go home.”
Meng Yuzhou stood nearby, hesitating. “I’ll go with you. Do you know where she lives?”
“Meng Yuzhou!” Gan Qingyun shouted. She was furious. “Have you even considered how I feel? I’m your girlfriend. I am!”
Meng Yuzhou glanced at her, and a trace of irritation flashed through his heart. Why had he ever brought this upon himself? Why did he choose a girlfriend like her when he clearly did not like her?
“Take me home,” Gan Qingyun demanded in a spoiled tone.
Standing nearby, Meng Yuqing let out a sigh and said, “Brother, take her home. I’ll take Xiaoxiao.”
“Alright,” Meng Yuzhou responded, resigned. He turned to escort Gan Qingyun.
The four of them walked out of the karaoke bar. It was already eleven at night, but the streets were still lively.
Zhong Xiaoxiao’s phone had been ringing over and over again. No one had answered it, and on the other end, Zhong Yuanyuan was growing so anxious she was about to call the police.
“Hello, Auntie?” Meng Yuqing had her brother take out Zhong Xiaoxiao’s phone from her bag. She held it to her ear and answered the call. “I’m one of Xiaoxiao’s classmates. I’m taking her home now.”
“Ah, oh… Where is Xiaoxiao?” Zhong Yuanyuan asked in a panic. “Why isn’t she answering herself?”
“She’s drunk…”
“What?!” Zhong Yuanyuan screamed from the other end. “She’s drunk?!” Her voice shot up in anger, so loud it was as if she wanted to storm through the phone line, grab Zhong Xiaoxiao, and drag her home for a scolding.
“Where are you? I’m coming to get her right now!”
“Auntie, it’s alright. I’ll take her home. We’re almost there…” Meng Yuqing gestured for her brother to hang up the call quickly.
Meng Yuzhou ended the call and said to his sister, “I’ll come with you.”
Meng Yuqing gave Gan Qingyun a quick glance. The girl was watching them like a hawk. “You should deal with your girlfriend first.”
Meng Yuzhou called a ride for them. After helping Meng Yuqing and Zhong Xiaoxiao into the car, he said to her, “Call me if anything happens.”
“I will, brother.”
After sending them off, Meng Yuzhou turned back to face Gan Qingyun.
Now that it was just the two of them, Gan Qingyun softened her tone. She leaned close and said sweetly, “Yuzhou, take me home. I feel a little dizzy…” She wrapped her arm around his and rested her head on his shoulder, looking like a doting girlfriend.
Meng Yuzhou didn’t shake her off. He simply said quietly, “Let’s go.”
“Okay.” Gan Qingyun leaned against him affectionately as they walked, looking like the perfect couple.
But Meng Yuzhou’s heart was not with her. His thoughts had already drifted back to Zhong Xiaoxiao. He was worried that she would get in trouble when she got home. He regretted letting her drink so much.
Zhong Xiaoxiao was sleeping deeply on Meng Yuqing’s shoulder, completely unaware of what was going on around her.
Meng Yuqing felt a little disappointed. The setup tonight had been for the sake of bringing the male and female leads closer together, but it had all gone to waste.
Meng Yuqing spoke to the system. “Why did the male lead get a girlfriend? He clearly likes the female lead.”
System 666 answered, “I’m an artificial intelligence. I don’t understand complicated human emotions.”
Meng Yuqing sighed. “No point asking you then.”
System 666 replied, “The plot has already deviated significantly. You have a new task now. Make the male lead break up with Gan Qingyun and get together with the female lead.”
Meng Yuqing frowned. “I feel like something is working against the story. Like there’s some force trying to keep them apart.”
System 666 asked, “What force?”
Meng Yuqing shook her head. “Never mind. I’ll just try harder.”
“Here we are, ladies,” the driver said from the front seat.
“Thank you.” Meng Yuqing helped Zhong Xiaoxiao out of the car.
They had arrived at the entrance of Zhong Xiaoxiao’s residential complex. Zhong Yuanyuan was already waiting outside, pacing with anxiety. She could not hold back any longer and was dialing the phone again. As the ringtone rang from Zhong Xiaoxiao’s backpack, she turned her head and saw two girls getting out of the car. One of them looked just like her daughter.
“Xiaoxiao?” she called out cautiously, then quickly walked over.
“Auntie,” Meng Yuqing greeted her politely.
“It really is my Xiaoxiao!” Zhong Yuanyuan hurried to her daughter and reached out to support her. As she helped her up, she began scolding her nonstop. “What were you thinking? Drinking like this? You’re getting more and more out of control!” Her sharp, shrill voice echoed through the quiet complex at midnight.