Chapter 298: Frantic
Xu Qingyan, after listening to Pei Muchan's rambling, was merely slightly startled.
He reorganized her words from the beginning and then picked out a key sentence. A worry, a turning point—both combined to make tonight happen.
So, before Pei Muchan decided to do all this, there was a catalyst. It was his idleness in the past few days, not taking big steps to take risks and save up for the "Immortal Sword" crew.
"In short, it's because of me…"
When Xu Qingyan finished speaking, Pei Muchan quietly hummed in agreement. He couldn't help but feel somewhat amused and confused, wondering why Pei Muchan had been acting strange tonight.
"Then why did you drink, getting yourself drunk? Aren't you afraid that when you wake up tomorrow, we'll see each other's true feelings?"
"You won't." Pei Muchan squeaked out.
"Oh~, so you found out I wasn't focused solely on making money and decided to strike first and seduce me with your charm?" Xu Qingyan said, his face showing no embarrassment.
Upon hearing this, Pei Muchan immediately stood up, stuttering over her words.
"What sedu... seduction! You... you you you…"
By the time the conversation reached this point, she couldn't hold her composure, her face flushing and spreading to the base of her neck. Although she did have some ideas, she couldn't possibly admit it.
It wasn't about seduction; it was just that without being drunk, some heartfelt words simply couldn't be spoken. She had thought about clarifying their relationship directly, but she didn't expect to just pass out from the alcohol.
It was already the middle of the night, and the two of them sat idly on the couch. In the dimly lit living room, only the background noise from the nature documentary and the flickering glow of the TV illuminated the walls.
Some words, once pointed out, become harder to say.
Neither of them had showered yet, and Pei Muchan's thoughts were a mess. Though she was inexperienced, it didn't mean she understood nothing; yet now she felt somewhat panicked. In fact,
if Xu Qingyan asked once more, she would definitely have to agree. After getting together, they should probably take a shower, but now it was too late.
Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire
Feeling nervous for the first time in her life, the thought of being in this place at this time made her uneasy. She felt sticky, probably from the red wine spilled on her chest, and she hadn't changed clothes yet.
"You should go take a shower, your clothes are dirty." Xu Qingyan suggested.
As expected, it came.
Pei Muchan tensed up, standing in place without moving for a long time. Before taking a shower… shouldn't they clarify their relationship first? Or was it taken as a given? But that would be too rushed.
"What's wrong?" He asked.
"Aren't you going to say something?" Pei Muchan pursed her lips, her gaze lingering on him briefly before shifting away, her arms folded together.
Huh? There's something to say about urging you to shower?
Xu Qingyan was somewhat bewildered, surely he didn't need to give a speech before she showered, did he? In the middle of the night, what's there to say? Just wash and sleep?
"Well… wanna shower together?"
"No." Pei Muchan was somewhat dissatisfied, although they could skip formalities, there should still be some clarity; what did he mean by this?
Click, the bathroom door closed, and the bright yellow light fell on the floor.
Xu Qingyan lay on the couch, pondering what to do the next day. With things having reached this point, there wasn't much left to consider, it certainly wasn't time to confess now.
The timing was off, the place wasn't right, Pei Muchan hadn't fully sobered up from her drunkenness. Even if he wanted to take the next step now, he wouldn't resort to a confession as the means.
All along, Xu Qingyan might be sharp-tongued, but he was always clean in his physical interactions. Even today, he only touched her after she fully accepted him.
Pei Muchan had a big heart, and she didn't bring it up afterwards, which meant she truly consented.
Just like needlework, where others might sew in large patches, anxious for swift progress, he patiently stitched carefully and firmly, reinforcing the foundation.
Moreover, other factors contributed to a slower progress.
In fact, when it came to their relationship, he had always been very cautious.
However, if the time truly came to advance their relationship further, he would certainly make the necessary decisions. Not choices, but decisions to give up some things of his own.
After their candid conversation just now, he was clear. The progress in his relationship with Pei Muchan was still a bit short of that of lovers', but it was close enough to start getting serious.
However, this wasn't entirely a bad thing; women only slowed down his draw speed. Back then, he could stay up all night and produce three songs in one go.
Being single meant strong drive and little distraction. Once caught in a love triangle, it was less viable.
If entangled in trivial matters, both Xu Qingyan and the two women's careers might stall or even collapse, something the three, who were at the peak of their careers, couldn't afford.
The current situation, on the other hand, seemed like a balance acceptable to all three.
Due to the slow progress, it was merely a simple flirtation. After all, they weren't boyfriend and girlfriend, and most of the time, all three were focused on their work, with no psychological burden.
Xu Qingyan was pragmatic and did not overthink things. Thinking too much and doing too little was just asking for trouble; there was no turning back once the arrow was shot.
He liked both of them, but only them. A person's energy was ultimately limited, it was not possible to like too many people at once, and liking both of them was also...
The reasons were too complex, indistinguishable in terms of precedence. If either had not appeared, it wouldn't have been so difficult to choose, and now he could only take risks.
The decision had already been made in his mind the moment he decided, with that mental arrow already released.
Facilitating this matter was difficult, especially in today's society. Social opinion was one aspect, and with Lin Wanzhou having cut ties with relatives, it was less of a hassle.
With Pei Muchan's background in a civil servant family, no matter how many times you argue, her parents would never agree. Decades ago, it would have been grounds for a shooting target.