133: Protecting the drunken Mingyu, revealing true feelings

Friday at 8:00 PM, in a private booth for the Hengtong Electronics cooperation celebration banquet, the lights were so bright they made one's head spin. Su Mingyu held her wine glass, forcing a smile as she toasted with clients. The pungent taste of the white liquor burned her throat, yet it couldn't suppress the exhaustion accumulated over the past few days—the new energy project had just launched, and on top of that, there were matters regarding the Zhou Family's old house; she had been working non-stop for half a month. The clients were still clamoring for more drinks. Just as she was about to raise her glass again, her mobile phone suddenly vibrated. It was a WeChat message from Zhu Li: "Mingyu, drink less. Mr. Xie said he is waiting for you downstairs at the hotel, worried that no one will take you home if you get drunk."

Seeing the words "Mr. Xie," Mingyu's eyes inexplicably grew hot. Her fingers clutched the mobile phone as she paused, but she still drank the wine in her glass—the project had just been signed, and she couldn't afford to offend the clients. However, as this glass went down, the figures before her eyes instantly blurred. She leaned against the edge of the table, trying to stand steady, but she began to fall straight down. Fortunately, the quick-witted Zhu Li beside her caught her: "Mingyu! Don't drink anymore, Mr. Xie is coming up!"

The booth door was pushed open, and Xie Hui walked in quickly, still carrying the chill from outside. He immediately saw the pale-faced, bleary-eyed Mingyu and rushed over to take her: "I'll take her home." The clients still wanted to keep her there, but Xie Hui shook his mobile phone: "I just received a call from the hospital; there's an issue with her family. My apologies." Saying this, he half-supported and half-carried Mingyu out. Zhu Li helped carry her bag and whispered to Xie Hui, "She drank nearly half a catty of white liquor today. I couldn't stop her; she said she only dared to breathe a sigh of relief once the project launched."

Xie Hui nodded and looked down at Mingyu in his arms—she was leaning against his shoulder, her brow furrowed, murmuring softly, "Mom, don't make me go to a Normal School... I want to go to Tsinghua University..." Her voice was as thin as a mosquito's buzz, yet it pierced the heart with pity.

After tucking Mingyu into the car, Xie Hui fastened her seatbelt and pulled a thermos from his inner universe, pouring out some warm honey water: "Open your mouth, drinking this will make you feel better." Mingyu opened her mouth dazed, took two sips, and then turned her head away, leaning against the car window with a vacant stare: "Mr. Xie, I'm not drunk... I can still negotiate projects..."

"I know you can. Sleep for a while; I'll wake you when we get home." Xie Hui adjusted the seat to a flatter position, covered her with a blanket, and started the car to drive toward Mingyu's home. On the way, Mingyu didn't speak again, only occasionally furrowing her brows as if having a bad dream.

Half an hour later, the car stopped downstairs at Mingyu's apartment. Xie Hui carried her down and found the keys in her bag to open the door—Zhu Li had told him before that Mingyu was afraid of forgetting her keys and always kept a spare in the side pocket of her bag. As he pushed the door open, the sensor light in the entryway turned on. The living room was very tidy, with only a photo frame on the TV cabinet showing a photo of Mingyu as a child with Deceased Mother. The little girl in the photo wore a faded dress, her gaze timid.

Xie Hui helped Mingyu onto the sofa. Just as he was about to straighten up to go make some hangover soup, his wrist was suddenly grabbed. Mingyu's eyes were open, but they lacked their usual sharpness, filled only with deep grievance as tears fell down her cheeks: "Mr. Xie, tell me... am I really very unfilial?"

Xie Hui knelt down and pulled out a tissue to help wipe her tears: "Why would you think that?"

"When my mother passed away, I didn't cry... They all said I was cold-blooded..." Mingyu's voice trembled, and her tears fell even more fiercely. "When I was little, she always said I was a money-losing commodity. She let Mingcheng study but wanted me to go to a Normal School. I secretly tested into Tsinghua University, but she tore up my admission letter... I hate her, yet I miss her..."

She became more agitated as she spoke, her shoulders shaking uncontrollably: "I worked so hard to earn money, wanting to prove I'm not inferior to boys, but Su Daqiang is always asking me for money, Mingcheng hits me, and Short for Su Mingzhe only says I'm unfilial... Sometimes I feel like I only live to spite them..."

Xie Hui didn't interrupt her, just listened quietly. Only when her emotions had calmed slightly did he take a small porcelain bottle from his inner universe and pour out a nine flower jade dew pill: "This is a pill that can calm the mind. Take it and sleep, and you'll be better tomorrow." He held the pill to Mingyu's lips and brought over some warm water, watching her swallow it.

After taking the medicine, Mingyu's gaze gradually softened. Leaning in Xie Hui's arms, her voice was as light as a sleep-talker's: "Mr. Xie, why do you always help me... I have a bad temper and I'm always causing you trouble..."

"Because you deserve to be treated well." Xie Hui gently patted her back, like soothing a child who had been wronged. "You aren't wrong. You don't need to be spiteful toward anyone, and you don't need to force yourself to be a strong person. If you're tired, then rest; someone will help you carry the burden."

Mingyu didn't speak again; her breathing gradually stabilized, and she fell asleep in his arms. Xie Hui carefully carried her to the bedroom, placed her on the bed, and covered her with the quilt. On the bedroom desk sat a stack of old textbooks, with "Su Mingyu" written on the title pages in very immature handwriting. Pressed beside them was a yellowed note written by Deceased Mother years ago: "There is no money at home; don't attend high school."

Looking at these things, Xie Hui understood that Mingyu's strength was all a facade; those childhood grievances had never truly passed. He gently tucked the note away, went to the kitchen to cook some hangover soup, poured it into a thermos to place by the bed, and then quietly closed the door and left.

The next morning, Mingyu woke up in the sunlight. Her head ached terribly, but she remembered what happened last night—crying in Xie Hui's arms, his comfort, and that pill with the faint fragrance. She sat up, saw the thermos by the bed, and poured out a bowl of hangover soup; it was still warm.

Just as she finished the soup, her mobile phone rang. It was Xie Hui: "Are you awake? Does your head hurt? I brought you breakfast; it's at your door."

Mingyu hurried out of bed to open the door. Xie Hui was holding a breakfast bag containing her favorite soy milk and vegetable buns: "I saw you didn't eat much last night, so I specifically bought these while they were hot."

Looking at the concern in Xie Hui's eyes, Mingyu's nose suddenly felt tingly, and all her previous strength instantly collapsed: "Mr. Xie, about yesterday... thank you."

"Why be so polite with me?" Xie Hui handed her the breakfast. "Zhu Li said you don't need to go to the company today. Take a good day's rest. I've already spoken to General Manager Meng about the project for you."

Mingyu took the breakfast and lowered her head to bite into a vegetable bun. Tears suddenly fell onto the packaging—from childhood to adulthood, no one had ever looked after her so meticulously, no one had picked her up and taken her home when she was drunk, no one remembered what she liked to eat, and even more, no one was willing to listen to her cry about those grievances she didn't dare speak of.

Seeing her cry, Xie Hui didn't say much, only handed her a tissue: "If you want to cry, just cry it out. Don't hold it in."

Mingyu wiped her tears and looked up at Xie Hui. Her gaze was no longer the previous aloofness but was filled with a bit more dependence and softness: "Mr. Xie, in the future... can I occasionally not be so strong?"

"Of course you can." Xie Hui nodded with a smile. "My shoulder is always here for you to lean on; you don't have to force yourself."

These words were like a reassuring pill, allowing Mingyu to completely lower her guard. She knew that starting from last night, her relationship with Xie Hui had changed—it was no longer just his one-sided help, but her willingness to show him her most vulnerable side and her willingness to depend on him.

In the morning, Mingyu rested at home. Xie Hui didn't leave; he helped her tidy up the living room and categorized the project materials scattered in her study. At noon, Zhu Li and Wu Fei brought Xiao Mi over. Seeing that Mingyu was in much better spirits, they all breathed a sigh of relief. Xiao Mi ran over and handed Mingyu a drawing: "Auntie, I drew you and Uncle; you're both smiling."

On the drawing paper, two small figures were holding hands, with a sun and little flowers beside them. Mingyu looked at the drawing, then at Xie Hui, who was helping Wu Fei cook in the kitchen, and her lips couldn't help but curve upward—she knew that she finally didn't have to carry everything alone. With Xie Hui here, and with Zhu Li and Wu Fei, she was no longer alone.

In the evening, when Xie Hui was preparing to leave, Mingyu called out to him and took a small hand-sewn wallet from her bag. It was embroidered with a small character for "Hui": "Mr. Xie, this is for you. Thank you for... staying with me last night."

Xie Hui took the wallet. His fingertips could feel the delicate stitching, and his heart felt warm: "I like it very much. Thank you."

Watching Xie Hui's departing back, Mingyu leaned against the doorway with a long-absent smile on her face—she knew that the warmth belonging to her had finally arrived. And this warmth would support her in completely escaping the shadow of the Su Family and living as her true self.