Chapter 520: What Does It Feel Like to Like Someone?

Tonight was really fun; we kept drinking until the State-run Hotel closed, and everyone still didn't want to leave, so we were finally forced out.

Because we were very dissatisfied with the State-run Hotel's service attitude, the drunk Zheng Guoping started shoving the hotel's staff.

"Don't touch me! What kind of attitude is that? We haven't finished eating yet; on what grounds are you kicking us out!"

A few head chefs, holding kitchen knives, stood at the doorway with fierce looks.

"When will this end? It's already so late and you still won't leave. We've been working two hours past our shift; you keep ordering dish after dish—do you expect us to stay on after hours?"

Zheng Guoping swayed unsteadily, "So what? Are we unable to pay, or can't afford the bill? You serve the people, and I am the people…"

The chefs, looking impatient, said, "Stop the nonsense and leave right now. If you don't, I'll chop you up and stuff you into buns to feed the other people."

Zheng Guoping instantly flared up, rolled up his sleeves and was about to start a fight, but Lu Cheng stopped him, a hand still supporting the drunk Yang Yin, waving his small hand and shouting.

"Fight, fight them…"

Lu Cheng gave a wry smile; indeed, alcohol makes the brave cowardly.

The State-run Hotel's service attitude was already poor, and after a two‑hour delay today, they were understandably irritated.

"Comrade, don't resort to violence; they're all drunk."

Lu Cheng said a word, but the chef took it as Lu Cheng being cowardly and instantly got more aggressive.

"Who cares if you get drunk? That's no excuse. Which unit are you from? Tomorrow I'll go find your superiors."

People nowadays are afraid of reporting to their units because it could cause trouble, and since they're already in the wrong, they only acted like this because they were drunk.

Sure enough, Zheng Guoping and the others suddenly sobered up halfway.

"No need, Comrade; we did drink too much earlier, so don't hold it against us."

Considering the repercussions, Zheng Guoping had to start speaking softly.

Instead, it made the chef even more overbearing: "I already said it—being drunk is no excuse. Quickly tell me, which unit are you from?"

A group of youngsters, emboldened by drinking a bit of cat urine, felt they could act recklessly and needed to be taught a lesson.

Zheng Guoping looked at everyone and saw that none dared to speak, evidently fearing that the State-run Hotel staff would report them to their units.

They had just graduated and hadn't achieved anything yet; receiving a sanction now would be very detrimental to their future promotions.

While everyone remained silent, Lu Cheng tightened his hold on Yang Yin and said, "We are from the local Police Substation."

As soon as he said that, Zheng Guoping and the others involuntarily turned to look at Lu Cheng.

Lu Cheng gave them a subtle glance, and Zheng Guoping instantly understood.

"Yes, we are from the Police Substation."

When he heard they were from the Police Substation, the chef was clearly taken aback, but then thought that since these youngsters were in the wrong, there was nothing for him to fear.

"What does being from the Police Substation matter? Just because you're from the Substation doesn't let you cause trouble here. You still have the nerve to ask, what's your name? Tomorrow I'll go find your superiors."

The chef was asking Zheng Guoping, trying to continue intimidating him.

Zheng Guoping didn't dare speak, but the chef pressed on, "Speak up—what happened to the bravado you showed earlier? It was impressive, now you're cowering!"

Zheng Guoping was provoked, opened his mouth to speak, but Lu Cheng grabbed him.

"Who the hell is scared? It's just a name. Listen up, I am Qin Shou."

I am the deputy director of the Police Substation. If you have a problem, you can report to our superiors; if you have the guts, go ahead. If you don't, I damn well look down on you.

Zheng Guoping slowly looked at Lu Cheng, silently giving a thumbs‑up.

The chef, now angry, pointed at Lu Cheng and shouted.

"Hey, you're provoking me, huh? Fine, Qin Shou, right? I've got you memorized. If I don't report this up and bring down your deputy director, I'll be your grandson!"

"You're a grandson, I'll… hit you…" Yang Yin kicked, and Lu Cheng quickly pulled her away.

Over there, Wei Shu hadn't been drinking, so he escorted everyone back; here, Yang Yin lived far away, so Lu Cheng could only ride a bicycle to take her home.

The back seat was unusable; even standing was impossible.

Lu Cheng could only lift Yang Yin onto the front bar, hugging her to his chest so she wouldn't fall.

"You say you drank so much—no one forced you; you were the one grabbing the drinks yourself. Look at how you turned out!"

Yang Yin's drunken eyes were hazy; being so close to Lu Cheng, his exhaled breath, tinged with alcohol, sprayed onto her face.

"Are you being aggressive toward me?"

Lu Cheng sighed, "I'm not being aggressive; I'm just telling you not to drink like this in the future. We're old classmates—if we didn't know each other, it would be dangerous for a girl, you know."

"So you're just caring about me, then. Thanks, and it's not in vain that I drank so much for you."

Lu Cheng gave a wry smile; indeed, whenever he wanted to drink, Yang Yin always snatched his drink away.

He had originally wondered how to get a drunken Yang Yin home and, once there, how to explain it to Professor Yang.

But now Yang Yin drank like that to shield him, so even if Lu Cheng got scolded, he had to see her safely home.

"Hold on tight, I'm taking you home…"

As soon as the words left his mouth, Yang Yin's two arms wrapped around his neck, and the two pressed together.

"This is more stable; you can't sell me out…"

Lu Cheng lowered his head slightly and bumped into her nose; Yang Yin, already delicate, became even more charming under the influence.

Her supple body lay in his arms, and looking at the girl so close, Lu Cheng even felt an urge to kiss her.

"I won't sell you out; if you're sleepy, rest first. When we get home, I'll call you."

Yang Yin tightened her arms even more: "I can't sleep; everything's spinning… I've never seen you from this angle before—why does it feel a bit different?"

Lu Cheng said nothing more, pedaled the bicycle, and took Yang Yin home.

The night streets were much quieter, and occasionally one would see people riding bicycles home after the night shift.

Stars twinkled in the sky.

Yang Yin seemed asleep; the whole ride was quiet until they turned into an alley, where she suddenly started babbling.

"Lu San'er, tell me... what does it feel like to fall in love with someone?"

Lu Cheng lowered his head and took a glance; Yang Yin hadn't even opened their eyes, lying in the crook of his arm like a kitten.

"I know what it feels like: in my eyes there's nothing but him."

"You're drunk."

Yang Yin suddenly opened their eyes, staring straight at Lu Cheng: "I'm not drunk; it's just that now I can't even hold the stars."

Lu Cheng stopped his bicycle; on both sides were two rows of two‑story Soviet‑style small mansions, and on the right stood a black iron gate with a fence.

"We're home. When you sober up, we'll talk again next time."

"Then next time when you come back, shall we go to the Lotus Pond to see the lotus flowers? We should go at night."

Yang Yin specifically added that the reason to go at night was because of Zhu Ziqing's Lotus Pond Moonlight.

Lu Cheng was about to agree when Cai Shengjing's voice rang out first.

"Aiyo, what's this? Why are you still drinking? Look at what you're drinking, what does it look like!"

"Mom, I'm not drunk; I can have another drink…"

Lu Cheng felt uneasy; after all, it's a young lady's family, and making a daughter drink like this would worry any parent.