Chapter Seventy-Four: I’m Coming to Hold You

Wen Yichen was rarely like this… no, to be precise, he had never behaved this way before. Right now, he was like a soft little puppy, his voice so sweet and gentle it seemed to melt into her skin, seep into her bones, making her feel utterly weak and tender.

In all her years, Jiang Muwen had never seen Wen Yichen so clingy. She found herself at a loss in the face of his attachment; after all, there was no harm in letting him stick close: “Wen Yichen, did you bring your keys? I’ll take you home.”

“There’s no one at my house,” Wen Yichen replied immediately.

“No one? Where are Uncle and Auntie?”

“They’re on a—business—trip—” Wen Yichen deliberately stretched each syllable, as if he found it amusing.

It was actually fortunate his parents were away on business; otherwise, she couldn’t imagine how they would react seeing him like this.

“So, did you bring your keys?” Jiang Muwen asked again.

“Why don’t you guess… heh heh…”

Seeing this rare side of Wen Yichen, Jiang Muwen suddenly felt playful herself. As the people around gradually dispersed, she decided to indulge him: “Let me guess… you did bring them!”

No sooner had Jiang Muwen finished speaking than Wen Yichen stopped abruptly. Before she could react, he grabbed her, his gentle but insistent pull drawing her right in front of him.

The next moment, Wen Yichen’s warm hands were suddenly cupping Jiang Muwen’s delicate cheeks. Under the soft light, his face was tinged with a faint blush. He stared at her intently; the playful gleam in his eyes vanished, replaced by utter seriousness. He looked at her as if in disbelief. “Jiang Muwen—when did you get so smart?!”

“I…”

“Jiang Muwen, why are you so cute?” Wen Yichen interrupted before she could finish, his hands gently kneading her cheeks, marveling at their softness.

Flustered by his praise—something he had never offered her before—Jiang Muwen felt embarrassment creep over her.

“Huh? Jiang Muwen, why is your face so hot?” Wen Yichen asked curiously, then leaned in closer, lowering his head toward her. “Is it because my hands are too warm?”

As Wen Yichen leaned in, the faint scent of alcohol on him washed over Jiang Muwen. He gazed at her, eyes clear and bright, filled with concern, curiosity, and a deep tenderness. The air was still, and after a moment, Wen Yichen spoke softly, “Jiang Muwen…”

The way he called her name piqued Jiang Muwen’s curiosity. She looked at him and responded with a quiet “Mm.”

“I just realized today—you’re really, so—adorable—” Wen Yichen stretched out the last few words, as if afraid she wouldn’t catch them. But then he suddenly changed his tone, “But you’re still not as cute as me… heh heh…”

Jiang Muwen couldn’t help but laugh and cry at the same time. If she could capture this moment and show it to him once he sobered up, he’d probably go mad.

Since he was already this drunk, she figured there was nothing to worry about—she’d heard people rarely remembered what they did when drunk. If that was true…

“Yes, yes, you’re the cutest…” Jiang Muwen echoed from the side.

“Then does that mean I’m always right?” Wen Yichen asked in that same sweet, childish tone.

“Yes—you’re always right.”

“So does that mean you’ll say yes to anything I ask?”

“Yes—I’ll say yes to anything you ask.”

Drunk Wen Yichen was like a clingy little puppy that simply begged to be spoiled.

“Then will you play ‘Statue’ with me?” Wen Yichen gazed at her, a faint, mischievous smile dancing at the corner of his eyes.

“If you lose, I get to give you a hug; if I lose, you get to hug me,” Wen Yichen explained the rules with utmost seriousness. He raised his hand, “In a moment, I’ll call it. Whoever reaches there first wins!”

As he spoke, he pointed to the bench not far away, then staggered a few steps in that direction.

Watching him struggle to walk straight, Jiang Muwen felt genuinely worried. As for the rules he’d just set… was there really a difference between winning and losing?

While she was still pondering, Wen Yichen had already started: “Three, two, one—Statue!”

The moment the word left his lips, Wen Yichen obediently froze in place.

He was seldom childish, but right now, his childishness was utterly endearing. After he finished, Jiang Muwen played along, standing perfectly still.

A moment later, the boy turned around slowly, as if to check whether she had moved. He swayed unsteadily, looking as though a mere gust of wind would topple him.

Neither of them spoke; they simply gazed at each other in silence, unaware that Wen Yichen was swaying more and more with every passing second.

The next instant, it seemed he could barely remain upright. His feet stumbled, nearly causing Jiang Muwen to panic. “Wen Yichen—!”

Instinctively, Jiang Muwen took a step forward, ready to rush over and catch him. But just as she moved, Wen Yichen froze again, a satisfied smile blooming on his flushed face. “Jiang Muwen—you moved!”

“…?”

Jiang Muwen stared at him, bewildered, just about to point out that he’d moved first when Wen Yichen continued, “You have to stand still—I’m coming to hug you!”

His words were a little slurred, but Jiang Muwen understood him well enough. She stood there in a daze, her mind blank—would he really come and hug her?

Just as she was wondering, Wen Yichen suddenly spread his arms wide, swooping toward her like a little bird with soft wings. Before Jiang Muwen could react, she found herself wrapped in a warm embrace.

His arms smelled faintly of alcohol, but beneath that lingered a sweetness uniquely his own, with a hint of milk.

Unlike the last time, this hug was tight—he buried his face in the curve of her neck, his warm breath tickling her skin, making her shiver involuntarily.

“Wen Yichen… are you uncomfortable like this?” Jiang Muwen tilted her head up. Wen Yichen was much taller; to hug her like this, he had to bend down.

“A little…”

Right now, Wen Yichen’s honesty was simply adorable.

“Jiang Muwen, I have a secret to tell you…”

His breath was warm and soft against her neck, making her squirm. His words were muffled, but she could just make them out.

“What secret?”

“Jiang Muwen… I li…ke… you…”

Wen Yichen’s words were so slurred that Jiang Muwen didn’t catch his confession at all—I like you.