Du Lanxing was helped home.
At first, she refused, saying excitedly, "I want to drink more, I'm not drunk."
"Sister, stop yelling. The whole island will know," Du Lancheng frowned and quickly stopped her, then awkwardly explained to Gu Qingcheng, "She made money and feels independent, so she's very happy."
"I understand. I was the same. The first time I made money without asking my parents for anything, I felt like an adult," Gu Qingcheng said with a smile.
Du Lancheng felt relieved upon hearing this. He was afraid Gu Qingcheng would think his sister was ill-mannered, and then he wouldn't be able to face Gu Qingcheng anymore.
"No, I'm not going. I'm really not drunk. I can even sing a folk song. Do you want to hear me?" Du Lanxing struggled and said.
When drinking, excitement could easily get the better of someone. At such times, one had great strength and was difficult to subdue. Fortunately, Du Lancheng was much stronger than her, and he finally subdued her and put her into the carriage.
The two maids, using all their might, managed to hold her down in the carriage.
Du Lanxing woke up the next morning with a splitting headache and aching all over, as if she had been beaten. Most importantly, when she lifted her sleeve, she discovered bruises on her arm.
"What happened?" Du Lanxing asked the maid.
"Miss, you drank too much last night. You were so strong, yelling and making a scene, and refused to come back. We had to force you into the carriage to bring you home." Seeing the bruises on Du Lanxing's arm, the maid was shocked and worried, and quickly went to get some medicated oil for her.
"Then tell me from beginning to end, what was I like when I was drunk?" Du Lanxing's head was throbbing, and she couldn't remember what had happened.
"Miss, you talked a lot when you were drunk, and you said you wanted to sing a folk song for everyone." The maid had not been present for the entire time; she only came in to fetch people when they were leaving, so she could only recount what she had seen. Naturally, the maid did not know about Du Lanxing's conversation with Gu Qingcheng.
Upon hearing this, Du Lanxing's face turned red and white, and she wished she could disappear into a hole. After the medicated oil was applied, she buried her face in the quilt and wailed, "I can't face anyone. Everyone will laugh at me."
The maid was both amused and exasperated.
Just then, Du Lanyue heard the commotion and came in. Seeing her awake with her head buried in the quilt, she couldn't help but smile. "You're awake. How are you? Still feeling unwell? I've asked someone to make hangover soup." As Du Lanyue spoke, a maid came in with a bowl of hot soup.
"Sister, I can't face anyone. I've lost my composure." Du Lanxing wanted to cry. Where was her elegant ladylike demeanor? Now everyone must be laughing at her.
"It's alright. You just flailed around a bit, and everyone quickly brought you back. It's fine. No one will dwell on it. It was only young master Gu and Mi Guo there! They won't spread rumors." Du Lanyue had absolute faith in Gu Qingcheng's character.
"Really? That's true." Du Lanxing finally struggled to get out of bed. After all, the deed was done, and she had to face it. Moreover, after a night of heavy drinking, her stomach was growling. The aroma of the soup made her feel a little hungry.
Seeing her sister like this, Du Lanyue was both amused and annoyed. She threw back the quilt and said, "You've learned your lesson. Don't drink so much in the future. Everyone present yesterday was one of us. If it had been a scoundrel from outside, what would you have done?"
"Oh, it was because everyone was one of us that I dared to drink so much. Besides, I was hosting young master Gu. How could I not be enthusiastic?" Du Lanxing mumbled.
"Well, just don't drink like that outside in the future," Du Lanyue admonished.
"Sister, it's over. I think I said something to young master Gu last night. What was it? I vaguely remember it was about your business." A memory flashed through Du Lanxing's mind.
"Ah? What did you say?" Du Lanyue became nervous.
"It's over. I think I said you liked him and that you broke off the engagement because of him." Once Du Lanxing sobered up, she knew such things shouldn't be said casually, especially to Gu Qingcheng, who was the person involved. In her drunken state, a surge of impulsiveness had driven her to speak up for her sister. Her sister had sacrificed so much, yet Gu Qingcheng was so insensitive. Her sister had even paid the price of trial and error, getting engaged and then breaking off the engagement with young master Wang, suffering great reputational damage. Yet Gu Qingcheng acted as if nothing had happened, which made Du Lanxing very unhappy, leading to her impulsive behavior after drinking.
"Oh, you said that? I saw you whispering in his ear and thought you were chatting about something happy?" Du Lanyue recalled the scene from last night. No wonder Gu Qingcheng kept looking at her secretly after her sister whispered in his ear. This was terrible! Gu Qingcheng knew? Du Lanyue's face turned red instantly, and she felt lost.
Seeing her sister's shy and guilty expression, Du Lanxing felt a pang of sympathy. "Sister, it's already said, let's see his reaction," Du Lanxing said resolutely.
"Oh, silly sister, what reaction could there be?" Du Lanyue said softly.
"Perhaps, by breaking the ice, he'll understand your feelings? It can't go on like this forever, can it?" Du Lanxing felt indignant for her sister. With her sister's beauty and talent, she deserved to marry anyone. However, Gu Qingcheng was endlessly enjoying her sister's pampering, letting her dote on him without giving any response. Du Lanxing found it hard to watch. Since she had already said something she shouldn't have in her drunken state, it might as well be a good thing, perhaps to bring about a new change.
Unexpectedly, Du Lanyue just walked away dejectedly and said, "It's useless. He and I can never be together."
"Why? What did you find out? Did you confess to him and get rejected?" Du Lanxing was utterly bewildered. Seeing her sister's somewhat pale face, she suddenly felt that she might have guessed correctly.
"I, oh, forget it. In any case, you know we can never be together," Du Lanyue said dejectedly.
Seeing her sister so distressed, Du Lanxing didn't dare to ask further, fearing she would be stabbing her in the heart. However, seeing her sister's expression, she understood that her sister certainly cared about Gu Qingcheng, but for some reason, they couldn't be together. After much thought, was it still because young master Gu was unable to... perform? Forget it, she couldn't ask about this anymore, or her sister would get angry. Du Lanxing quickly picked up the hangover soup and started drinking it in large gulps.
Du Lanyue, however, was not embarrassed. After the engagement and subsequent breakup, her disposition had inexplicably strengthened. People grow through experiences. Now, it seemed that Du Lanxing breaking the ice was a good thing.