Chapter 559: Chapter 559: What’s the Wager

Upon arriving at the gathering spot, Yu Xia and Xie Qingci softly entered the private room hand in hand.

The people from the studio were already there. As she entered, she waved her hand and had the dishes served.

There were three tables in total, and at their table were just her, Xie Qingci, He Ci, Mei, and Mr. Yang.

Xie Qingci had also changed his outfit, swapping his sharp suit for a similarly black t-shirt, looking like a couple’s outfit. With so much space at the round table, the two of them insisting on sitting so close together made it resemble a low-key engagement banquet.

Because she was happy, Yu Xia even ordered some wine. The pale yellow liquid, sparkling, splashed into the glass goblet. Xie Qingci lifted his glass with her, listening to her speech once more. It felt more like a wedding banquet, where Yu Xia was leading a socially anxious man to toast relatives and elders.

He Ci and Mr. Yang sat opposite them, their faces full of complex emotions.

Yu Xia didn’t know what they were thinking, but she stood with her glass to respond to the congratulations from the other two tables.

"I couldn’t have won this award without everyone’s support and help. Besides this meal, everyone will receive an additional bonus this month! Here’s to more enjoyable collaboration in the future!"

"Xiaxia, you’re amazing!"

People from the studio cheered, and Yu Xia downed a glass of wine before sitting down with a smile.

As soon as she sat down, Xie Qingci leaned over, gently clinking his glass with hers, making a soft clinking sound.

He turned his head to look at her, in the special lighting of the private room, his eyes seemed to sparkle with a peculiar light.

"Have a drink with me?"

Yu Xia looked at him slowly, "Aren’t you still growing? Drinking might hinder your growth."

The way she looked at him seemed to imply that "drinking milk with calcium isn’t that different from being underage."

Xie Qingci narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze dangerous. "I’m not growing taller anymore. But if you insist that I shouldn’t drink, I’ll listen. I promise to take good care of you when you get drunk and we go home."

"...What do you mean by taking care of, don’t be so formal," she poured another glass of wine but didn’t lift it. Instead, she leaned over, tilting her glass to clink with his, "If you want to drink, just drink. I can’t stop you, 21-year-old college students haven’t even passed their rebellious stage yet."

Xie Qingci chuckled ambiguously, raised his glass, and drank.

His Adam’s apple bobbed a few times, draining the glass in one go, he waggled the rim of the glass, indicating it was empty.

"Oh no, I’m going to get drunk. Looks like you’ll have to take care of me later," he said casually.

Yu Xia rolled her eyes at him, thinking he won’t get drunk even after ten more glasses, totally putting on an act.

They refilled their glasses and clinked again.

Yu Xia raised an eyebrow at him and said, "How about a drinking contest?"

Being challenged to a drinking contest by his girlfriend, and treated like a rebellious college kid who drinks milk to grow, this experience was quite novel.

Xie Qingci smiled, rubbing his finger along the rim of her glass.

"How about a wager?"

"What kind of wager?" Her skin tingled slightly at that contact as she felt her eyelids twitch.

Xie Qingci leaned closer to her, whispering under the watchful eyes of the two managers across from them.

"If you win, I’m at your disposal. If I win—aside from agreeing to what I asked in the car, you have to accept another request. Sound good?"

His warm breath brushed past her ear, and his attempt to lure her in with a low voice was very effective, a rare occasion where she couldn’t resist.

Yu Xia felt as if the two glasses of wine just then suddenly started taking effect, her head getting a bit hot.

She agreed to this slightly embarrassing wager.

Then Xie Qingci called the waiter to bring two more bottles of red wine.

The restaurant’s private reserve red wine, a single bottle worth more than the entire meal tonight.

He Ci and Mr. Yang watched the two of them stick together and drink, assuming it was just their little couple’s quirk, they simply glanced occasionally, not minding it much.

As fellow managers, the two of them were also drinking and chatting, having lots of industry topics to share.

Mei focused on eating, occasionally glancing at the sticky couple and chuckling.

The atmosphere was very harmonious.

Yu Xia had already downed another two glasses, chomped on the dish Xie Qingci fed her, and even her breath carried the rich aroma of red wine when she spoke.

"I don’t want to eat this."

After drinking, her words came out lazily soft, sounding coquettish.

"Okay, you don’t have to eat it—" Xie Qingci hadn’t stopped smiling with his eyes, and chose another dish for her, casually clinking glasses with her again and reminding her to "Drink slowly."

The clinking of glasses sent ripples through the wine in the glass. As Yu Xia drank, her peripheral vision locked onto him, watching him down his drink like he was drinking plain water, without even a frown, showing less reaction than when he drank ice-cold soda.

She sipped her wine, then set the glass down to question him, "Did you learn to drink somewhere? Have you drunk when discussing work?"

Every industry involves drinking culture. When dining with clients, crew, production, or investors, drinking is unavoidable. Those who are more successful in the industry usually have strong drinking skills. She had previously seen Shu Ran drink steadily until her tablemate had to run to the restroom to throw up.

Xie Qingci shook his head, "I learned when I graduated."

Participating in various dinner gatherings and graduation parties, going through numerous BBQ sessions with beer.

Yu Xia was somewhat skeptical.

"I suspect you’re hiding your drinking capacity to trick me. Maybe you’re actually drunk now but pretending not to be until I get drunk and you win. So, are you really almost drunk?"

As she spoke, she reached over, feeling his forehead and cheeks, not sensing any drunken heat.

Xie Qingci allowed her to touch him as she pleased.

He Ci and Mr. Yang, caught up in their conversation, glanced over and saw Yu Xia groping Xie Qingci like a drunken girl trying to take advantage.

He Ci promptly called out to her.

"What are you doing? Are you drunk already? Don’t act crazy just because you’re drunk."

"...I was just checking if he was drunk," she withdrew her hand silently.

He Ci gave her a look that said "Don’t I know you."

"You need to touch him to see if he’s drunk? We’re outside with so many people watching, can’t you control yourself?"

Yu Xia opened her mouth, unsure how to argue back. Xie Qingci let out a muffled laugh, drawing a chilly glare from her.

He Ci merely gave a reminder before resuming the chat with Mr. Yang.

Xie Qingci raised his glass again, muttering softly, "It doesn’t matter if you can’t control yourself, I don’t mind."

"...Who couldn’t control themselves? Just drink your wine!" 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Red wine doesn’t hit you quickly, but its strength sneaks up on you. At first, both of them maintained a look of ease, as if saying "This wine is nothing," but eventually struggled to hold their ground.

Xie Qingci’s face took on a faint flush, even the corners of his eyes turned a little red. It was hard to tell if it was from the warmth or the alcohol.

Yu Xia propped her head, watching him with half-closed eyes, sipping wine at a leisurely pace, her reactions slightly delayed. It was clear she was at least tipsy.

Xie Qingci was still able to drink, his actions unaffected. He even managed to have a couple of drinks with Mr. Yang across the table, listening to his advisories.

When Mr. Yang said, "You should learn from Yu Xia and be more ambitious," Yu Xia grinned along, although her reaction was tardy enough for her laughter to come out prominently in the silence after they’d stopped talking.