The Villain Mom Awakens — Going Viral by Parenting on a Reality Show-Chapter 323: Celebration

The banquet was filled with laughter and chatter, and over an hour flew by. Naomi Kenway spent most of that time with her head on the table, pretending to be drunk. The people around her were relentless when it came to pushing drinks, and quite a few had already passed out.

After the wrap party ended, Naomi Kenway walked out of the private room, supported by her assistant, Summers. Ruby Preston’s alcohol tolerance was much better; she still wasn’t the least bit flushed or out of breath. She even helped put another actress from the crew into a car.

Ruby Preston turned, saw Naomi Kenway, and walked over. "Did the company send a car for you?" she asked. "If not, I can give you a ride. My driver is waiting outside."

Naomi was just about to shake her head and refuse when she suddenly heard a clear voice call out, "Mommy!!"

Then, a small figure came running over and threw himself into Naomi’s arms. He sniffed at her and tilted his head. "Mommy, are you drunk?"

’Being drunk in front of my child is not a good look,’ Naomi thought, quickly steadying herself. "No, I’m not drunk. Who did you come with?"

Ruby Preston smiled. "Well, since your husband and child are here to pick you up, Naomi, I won’t get in your way."

Naomi nodded. "Thank you, Ruby. Get home safe."

After exchanging a few pleasantries with Ruby Preston, Ethan Shaw strode over. He first caught the faint smell of alcohol, then his gaze fell on Naomi’s obviously drunken state. His expression shifted slightly as he pulled her into his arms. "You’ve been drinking?"

His voice did not sound pleased.

"A little..."

A man staggered over—it was the crew’s field manager. He was being held up by two people, clearly having had a lot to drink. With a flushed face and a silly grin, he greeted Naomi, "HEHEHE, Naomi, we’ll have to go drinking again sometime! Don’t forget us when you make it big! The day you stepped on set, I knew you had what it takes! Your good fortune is just getting started!"

Naomi mumbled in agreement, "Of course, of course!"

Suddenly, she felt Ethan Shaw’s arm tighten, pulling her even closer.

Naomi looked up and, in the dim light from the entrance, caught sight of his hard, set jawline.

Ethan carried Naomi to the car. Since she was playing the part of a "drunkard," Naomi obediently let him.

It wasn’t Liam Sherman driving this time, but the family’s chauffeur.

Ethan Shaw leaned down to buckle Naomi’s seatbelt, his voice laced with frustration and annoyance. "Didn’t I tell you to drink less? Why don’t you ever listen..."

His gaze lowered, and after a moment, he added, "Next time there’s a wrap party, can you take me with you?"

"What would you do there? When they get excited, they just keep pushing drinks on everyone. No one can stand up to that kind of enthusiasm..."

Suddenly, the "drunken" Naomi opened her eyes, her smile both playful and smug. "Good thing I’m smart. If I hadn’t pretended to be drunk early on, I’d probably be dizzy for real by now."

"You’re not drunk?" Ethan Shaw let out a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding, and the tension in his expression eased slightly.

"You looked like you were about to murder someone. I didn’t dare keep up the act."

"I..."

Naomi chuckled. "I was just teasing you. It’s a good thing you came to get me, or I’d have had to keep pretending for a while longer. I did have a little to drink, but truly, just a little. I was keeping track of how much, so I wasn’t drunk at all. Judging by your reaction, my performance must have been a huge success!"

From his car seat, Ian Shaw exclaimed, "So Mommy wasn’t drunk! Mommy’s amazing! You even tricked Ian..."

Naomi hugged him, wanting to kiss his little cheek, but then she remembered she had been drinking and stopped herself.

It was seven in the evening, and the scenery outside was flying by. Naomi, however, noticed they didn’t seem to be on the road home.

"Where are we going?"

"Did you get enough to eat at the wrap party?" Ethan Shaw asked calmly.

Naomi’s stomach rumbled, answering for her. "I didn’t eat much," she said. "They started with drinks right away, so after two sips, I just put my head down and pretended to be drunk."

Ethan Shaw’s brow furrowed. "You drank on an empty stomach?"

"No," Naomi said, thinking for a moment. "I had some snacks beforehand, so it doesn’t count as drinking on an empty stomach. It doesn’t."

The tension that had just seized Ethan Shaw’s heart eased again. He couldn’t help but smile, reaching out to gently tap the tip of Naomi’s nose. "It seems you know how to take care of yourself."

For some reason, Naomi also let out a breath of relief. Realizing this, she found her own reaction baffling. ’Why am I getting so flustered over a few of Ethan’s words?’ she wondered.

She did her best to distract herself, taking Ian’s small, fair hand and playing with it for a moment before asking nonchalantly, "So, where exactly are we going?"

Ethan Shaw cleared his throat and, for some reason, sat up a little straighter. "You said you didn’t eat enough, right? We’re going to get another bite."

Naomi nodded. It didn’t make much difference to her whether they ate at home or out.

The car slowly came to a stop. Naomi noticed they had barely seen any pedestrians after turning onto this street. ’The security here must be excellent,’ she thought. After a moment of consideration, she simply put on her sunglasses before getting out.

As she got closer, she saw it was a high-end Chinese restaurant. The entrance was so elegant and exquisitely decorated that it looked less like a restaurant and more like an intricately carved pavilion.

Naomi breathed a sigh of relief. She much preferred Chinese food, while Ethan was more of a fan of Western cuisine. She had braced herself for having to endure a Western meal after the party. Thankfully, he had chosen a Chinese restaurant.

Ethan, carrying Ian, walked inside with his other arm around Naomi’s shoulders.

"Mr. Shaw, Mrs. Shaw, right this way, please," a server in a hanfu said with a smiling bow.

Naomi noticed there were no other customers around. "Did you book out the whole restaurant?"

Ethan didn’t deny it. "It’s not so chaotic without other customers. A little quiet seems to create a better atmosphere." He then seemed to recall something, turning his head to ask, "What about you? Do you prefer it lively or quiet?"

Naomi nodded. "This is great. I was worried about paparazzi, but now I don’t have to be."

After they were seated, Naomi looked through the menu and ordered a few dishes, making sure to pick something that all three of them would enjoy.

It was a Chinese restaurant steeped in ancient, classical charm. A subtle, elegant scent of incense hung in the air. Naomi guessed it had a calming effect; she could feel her nerves relaxing significantly.

The clear sound of flowing water began to echo, like a stream trickling against green bamboo. Naomi found herself unconsciously quieting her mind to listen, and the longer she did, the more amazed she felt.

"Do you like it here?"

Ethan Shaw sat across from Naomi, and the warm, yellow light of the room softened the handsome contours of his face.

Naomi was momentarily taken aback, then offered her unreserved praise. "This place is truly wonderful. It feels like a hidden paradise..." A dreamy look entered her eyes. "Coming here feels like leaving all my worries behind. It’s so relaxing and comfortable."

She smiled, her gaze falling upon Ian and Ethan Shaw. "I’m very happy."