Chapter One Hundred Ninety-Two: The Happiest Day
Sang Zhe guessed that the house the company provided for him wouldn’t be small.
Since Tang Yubbing could firmly say it was the largest residence near the branch company, Sang Zhe imagined that even if it wasn’t a lavish place, it must be a large multi-story villa.
It seemed they really didn’t care about having one more person living there.
However, seeing Yan Rouwan’s somewhat expectant expression, Sang Zhe suddenly felt a bit uneasy and couldn’t help but ask:
“Um… Senior Sister Yan really wants to move in with us?”
“Yeah. It’s also convenient to take care of Jiao Jiao and Xiao Hei,” Yan Rouwan blinked.
Sang Zhe couldn’t find a reason to refuse.
Besides, Yan Rouwan was already quite familiar with everyone, and no one would have an issue with it.
Moreover, Yan Rouwan was the head of the Heavenly Punishment Department at the branch, so she definitely wouldn’t default on her rent.
After some thought, Sang Zhe could only agree.
“Alright. We’ll see the size of the house when the time comes; you can pick a room.”
A glimmer of joy passed through Yan Rouwan’s beautiful eyes.
“Let’s go; we’re almost done packing. Time to head home for dinner.”
——
——
After days apart, they all gathered for dinner again.
Yu Xia and Little Ying had deliberately gone out early to buy a mountain of ingredients and prepared a lavish feast that filled the entire table. Sang Zhe even found a few bottles of fine wine from his colleagues.
It was a rare gathering, and seeing the spread of delicious food, Si Jingzhu was already drooling, trying multiple times to sneak a bite only to be stopped by Shi Qingyan.
Yu Xia served dish after dish on the dining table, while Yan Rouwan, after feeding the cat, poured drinks for everyone. Little Ying was busy chatting and laughing with Gu Yingmian.
Sang Zhe, feeling refreshed after a bath, blissfully sat at the table in his pajamas.
Once everyone settled down, Sang Zhe slowly raised his wine glass, feeling pleased, and said:
“So, here’s to myself finally getting a promotion and a raise, becoming the head of the Punishment Department at the branch!”
“Cheers, everyone!”
“Cheers!”
This was the happiest meal Sang Zhe had since arriving in this world.
He actually quite enjoyed the lively atmosphere of a big group eating and chatting together.
Not the boring work-related dinners.
Not the perfunctory family meals.
More like those nights back in school, hanging out with a few buddies at the night market, grilling skewers.
Everyone was relaxed, chatting wherever their thoughts took them.
Sang Zhe wasn’t much of a drinker.
But under the circumstances today, he unconsciously drank a few more glasses. By the end, he was feeling a bit tipsy and more talkative.
At the table, everyone was varying degrees of tipsy.
Little Ying and Yan Rouwan held their liquor well—though their cheeks were a bit flushed, they quietly whispered to each other.
After drinking, Gu Yingmian seemed a little dazed. Her face was red, her eyes hazy, occasionally letting out adorable little hiccups. Sometimes when Sang Zhe called her, she took a while to turn her head and reply.
Yu Xia had a low tolerance and leaned back in her chair, a bit dazed after just a few sips.
Shi Qingyan was the clearest-headed of them all; as a secret guard, her drinking capacity had been specially trained, as if nothing fazed her.
The one who couldn’t handle liquor at all was Si Jingzhu.
After getting completely drunk, this little fiend tore off the last bits of her mask and shame, clinging to Sang Zhe like a koala bear.
“W-h-y!”
She drunkenly cried, rubbing her little head against Sang Zhe’s arm. “You finally took me out to play, yet why did nothing happen?!”
“Wah, where’s my nighttime ambush? My unexpected romance? Why didn’t anything I imagined happen?!”
“Am I really that unlikable? Even if my chest is a bit smaller, it’s not like I have zero femininity!”
As her drunken state intensified, her already flushed face became even more hazy, her collar loosened, and she buried her face in Sang Zhe’s arms, crying loudly.
“Don’t! I want to do some adult things too!”
“Don’t treat me like a child and always push me aside!”
Watching Si Jingzhu completely lose her mind because of the alcohol, Sang Zhe felt a bit overwhelmed by her clinginess and could only helplessly ask Shi Qingyan to help take her back to sleep.
Si Jingzhu still wouldn’t let go, clinging to Sang Zhe’s arm, tears and snot all over his sleeve.
“Don’t! I don’t want to go back to sleep! I want to sleep with Sang Zhe!”
“Please sleep with me! I’m begging you to be rough with me, woo woo woo!”
Pffft.
The table erupted in quiet laughter.
Sang Zhe’s face turned as hot as a furnace. With no other option, he stood up and carried her back to the room.
Struggling, he tossed her onto the bed, but before falling asleep, Si Jingzhu clung desperately to his hand, barely able to keep her eyes open while still murmuring:
“My body… is very soft…”
“Give me a hug too… it feels nice…”
Sang Zhe felt a bit exasperated.
He wondered what expression Si Jingzhu would have when she remembered what she said tonight after sobering up.
After dealing with Si Jingzhu, Sang Zhe didn’t return to the table to drink but instead went outside alone.
The night air was cool, and as he sat on the steps, he looked up at the moon, enjoying the gentle breeze.
“What are you thinking about?” Suddenly, Little Ying’s voice came from beside him.
“Oh, nothing much; just feel like today was quite happy.”
Sang Zhe thought for a moment and said, “I haven’t felt this happy in a long time.”
“The last time was probably the day you accepted my confession.”
Zhang Xiaoying playfully lifted her skirt and leaned against him, sitting beside him on the steps.
“Seems like my husband really values this position of head of the Punishment Department.”
“Not really valuing it,” Sang Zhe chuckled, “It just holds special meaning for me.”
Counting both his past lives, it was a total of two lifetimes.
But for Sang Zhe, his real life began when he entered the Punishment Department.
For him, it was more than just a job like in his previous life. It was more like a spiritual anchor.
Here, he knew everything he did mattered.
For others.
And for himself.
“If it weren’t for the Punishment Department, I probably wouldn’t have met so many people.”
“Yeah. Unknowingly, it seems the family has suddenly grown in number.” Zhang Xiaoying suddenly spoke in a feigned cold tone.
Sang Zhe cautiously turned his head. “Are you jealous?”
“Why would I dare to? I just hope my husband won’t grow tired of me and take a fancy to someone new,” she said with a hint of teasing in her eyes.
“My dear wife sure knows how to joke, haha.”
Sang Zhe gently wrapped an arm around her shoulders, and Zhang Xiaoying naturally leaned into his embrace.
Under the moonlight, Sang Zhe suddenly stole a kiss from Little Ying.
“What are you doing… so shy…”
“Thank you for being such a thoughtful and understanding wife.”
Zhang Xiaoying pouted slightly, her cheeks turning rosy.
In truth, it was the same for Zhang Xiaoying.
Her life truly began after meeting Sang Zhe.
Perhaps it started when she opened her eyes after her injury and saw this man.
“Little Ying… Sang Zhe…”
At some point, a slightly dazed voice came from Sang Zhe’s other side.
Gu Yingmian didn’t know when she had sat down next to Sang Zhe.
She still had that lovely, slightly tipsy look, her face flushed and swaying a bit, occasionally letting out cute little hiccups.
As soon as she sat down, she instinctively leaned her little head against Sang Zhe’s shoulder, mumbling in a sleepy tone:
“I don’t want to go back… I don’t want to go back…”
Sang Zhe exchanged glances with Zhang Xiaoying.
Earlier at dinner, Gu Yingmian had mentioned she would be going back to the Sword Flower Palace in a couple of days.
After all, it was a temporary trip. As the head of the Sword Flower Palace, she couldn’t just leave her disciples to fend for themselves.
But now, mentioning the departure made Gu Yingmian look a bit sad and wronged. Coupled with the alcohol, she leaned against Sang Zhe, clutching his sleeve tightly.
“I can’t bear to leave you two…” she said pitifully.
Sang Zhe wanted to say some comforting words.
But he wasn’t good at comforting people and felt that whatever he said at that moment wouldn’t quite fit.
Zhang Xiaoying lightly laughed as she took Gu Yingmian’s hand: “Gu sister, we won’t be apart for long.”
“When things stabilize at the branch, we’ll prepare to have Sang Zhe go to the Sword Flower Palace to propose.”
“The next time we meet, who knows, it might be for your wedding ceremony.”
Gu Yingmian, with her drunken eyes hazy, seemed to have imagined the scene and couldn’t help but blush even more.
“Mm…”
Zhang Xiaoying gave Sang Zhe a glance.
Sang Zhe coughed lightly and gently hugged Gu Yingmian’s shoulders.
Gu Yingmian leaned softly against Sang Zhe and smiled blissfully.
The cool night breeze calmed Sang Zhe’s tipsiness a little.
With lovely women by his side, soft and fragrant.
The happiness felt almost surreal.
“I’m so happy these days…” Gu Yingmian murmured dazedly, eyes closed, resting in Sang Zhe’s arms.
“I didn’t know there were things in this world that were even more enjoyable than practicing swordplay.”
“Before I leave… in these last few nights… I want to spend them with Little Ying…”
Zhang Xiaoying’s cheeks flushed slightly as she exchanged a glance with Sang Zhe.
Sang Zhe helplessly returned a look.
…During those early days when you were really getting into it, you probably didn’t fare much better than Gu sister, huh?
“But Gu sister, you’re this drunk already. Aren’t you sleepy?”
“Don’t…” She suddenly seemed to muster her spirits, sitting up straight and looking at Sang Zhe with sparkling eyes.
“Just a few days left… I can’t let them go to waste.”
As she finished, she seemed a bit embarrassed, cheeks flushed and ears hot.
Zhang Xiaoying covered her mouth and giggled, softly whispering:
“Husband~ since Gu sister has said that, shouldn’t you hurry up and help her back to bed?”
Sang Zhe glanced at the eager looks on both women’s faces, unable to help but cough lightly.
Sigh.
Time to work overtime again.
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