264: Chapter 264 Shen Na is drunk

Soon, the waiter walked over with a large platter of grilled skewers. As the iron tray was placed on the table, the oil was still sizzling and bubbling, and the aroma of chili powder and cumin wafted up, dispersing into the summer night breeze.

"Eat, Sister Na," Chen Fan said.

Counselor Shen Na did not stand on ceremony; she picked up a meat skewer, took a bite, chewed twice, and squinted her eyes, seemingly very satisfied.

She put down the skewer, took a sip of beer, then leaned back against the plastic chair, watching the people coming and going on the street. Her tone carried a hint of nostalgia: "It's been a long time since I've had barbecue like this."

Chen Fan also picked up a skewer, blew on it, and took a bite. The meat was grilled just right—crispy on the outside and tender on the inside—with the flavors of the seasoning seeping into the meat, neither too salty nor too bland.

He chewed and swallowed, then nodded: "It really is quite good."

"Well, of course. Could the place I choose be bad?" Counselor Shen Na's tone carried a touch of pride. She immediately raised her glass and gestured: "Come, let's have a toast. I'm proud to have such an outstanding student like you."

Chen Fan picked up his glass and clinked it against hers, the rims making a crisp sound upon contact. He tilted his head back and took a large gulp; the ice-cold liquid slid down his throat, bringing a refreshing sensation.

Counselor Shen Na also took a sip. When she put down her glass, a bit of beer foam was left on the corner of her mouth. She wiped it off casually with the back of her hand and then looked at Chen Fan: "To be honest, among the students I've taught, you are the most worry-free, but also the most capable of causing a stir. Other students cause a stir for themselves, but you cause a stir by starting a company."

"Being young is all about causing a stir, isn't it?"

"That's true. Young people should stir things up." Counselor Shen Na said as she raised her glass: "Come, let's drink."

Chen Fan hadn't expected Counselor Shen Na to be completely different outside of school compared to inside. At this moment, she seemed more real and more vibrant.

Honestly, Chen Fan quite liked this side of Counselor Shen Na.

He also raised his glass and clinked it against Counselor Shen Na's, the rims making a crisp sound upon contact.

The two of them just ate and drank like that.

The number of empty beer bottles under the table grew, and soon, a whole crate of beer was finished.

Counselor Shen Na held her last glass, lowered her head to swirl the foam at the bottom, then looked up and called the waiter directly: "Bring another crate."

Chen Fan was about to stop her, but Counselor Shen Na blocked him and waved her hand: "I'm happy today, it's fine to drink a bit more."

Chen Fan glanced at her, and seeing that her eyes were still clear, he didn't say anything more and let the waiter bring over another crate.

The sound of bottle caps being popped echoed crisply in the night breeze. Counselor Shen Na filled two glasses and pushed one toward Chen Fan: "Come, let's continue."

The two of them continued to drink like that. The pedestrians on the street became fewer and fewer, and the waiter began to clear the plates from the neighboring table; the sound of bowls and chopsticks clashing seemed exceptionally crisp on the empty street.

Counselor Shen Na's speech gradually slowed down, and there were more pauses when she spoke compared to before.

She picked up her glass, took a sip, and when she put it down, she steadied herself against the edge of the table, as if she wasn't very stable.

Chen Fan also put down his chopsticks. He glanced under the table; more than half of the second crate of beer had already been consumed.

He reached out and pressed down on Counselor Shen Na's wrist as she prepared to pour more beer: "Sister Na, that's enough."

Counselor Shen Na looked up at him, her eyes a bit more unfocused than before, but she wasn't completely intoxicated yet.

She looked at him, as if trying to discern the expression on his face. After a moment, she spoke, her voice much softer than before: "I can still drink."

"I know you can drink, but that's enough for today." Chen Fan's tone was flat, leaving no room for negotiation.

He called the waiter and paid the bill.

The waiter took the money, gave the change, and placed it on the table. Chen Fan didn't look at it and put it directly into his pocket.

He stood up, and Counselor Shen Na followed suit, her movements slower than she expected, needing to support herself on the table to stand steady.

Chen Fan didn't leave; he stood where he was and looked at her: "Where is your home? I'll take you back."

Counselor Shen Na looked at him, as if trying to process what he had said. After two seconds, she reacted and hazily gave an address.

Chen Fan nodded, reached out to hail a passing taxi, opened the back door, and helped her sit inside. He followed her in, closed the door, and told the driver the address.

Half an hour later, the car stopped at the entrance of a residential area called Banshan Community.

Chen Fan turned his head to look; by this time, Counselor Shen Na's head was resting on Chen Fan's shoulder, and she had fallen asleep.

Chen Fan paid, got out of the car, walked around to the other side, opened the door on Counselor Shen Na's side, shook her awake, and then supported the hazy Counselor Shen Na as they walked into the residential area.

Arriving in front of one of the buildings, Chen Fan supported her as they walked into the unit door and pressed the elevator button. The elevator door opened, the two walked in, and Chen Fan pressed for the 12th floor.

The elevator arrived at the 12th floor, the door opened, and Counselor Shen Na opened her eyes, walked out of the elevator, and stopped in front of a door at the end of the hallway.

Chen Fan followed and asked her where the keys were. Counselor Shen Na hazily pointed to the bag she was carrying.

Chen Fan unzipped the bag. There weren't many things inside: a wallet, a pack of tissues, a set of keys, and some cosmetics like lipstick.

He fished out the keys, opened the door, and turned on the living room light.

As the light came on, Chen Fan saw clearly that Counselor Shen Na lived in a one-bedroom apartment. The area was very small, estimated to be only about thirty square meters.

Chen Fan supported Counselor Shen Na as they walked into the bedroom. The bedroom was even smaller, with a bed taking up most of the space.

Chen Fan supported her as they walked to the bedside; Counselor Shen Na could barely stand and leaned her whole body against him.

He helped her lie down slowly, resting her head on the pillow, and then lifted her legs to lie flat.

Chen Fan supported Counselor Shen Na as they walked into the bedroom, helped her lie on the bed, then knelt down to take off her shoes and placed them by the bedside.

Her feet were fair and clean, her toes neat, and her nails trimmed cleanly.

Chen Fan pulled the quilt over to cover her, then picked up Counselor Shen Na's high heels and walked out.

In the entryway, there was a pair of pink slippers, fluffy, with a kitten printed on the upper; they looked like the ones Counselor Shen Na wore often.

He placed the high heels by the shoe rack, picked up the slippers, walked into the bedroom, and bent down to place them by the bedside.

At this moment, Counselor Shen Na was lying on the bed, breathing evenly, her chest rising and falling gently with her breath, her brows relaxed, as if she had completely relaxed.

Chen Fan stood by the bed for a while, confirming that she was fine.

He nodded, turned to leave, but paused when he reached the bedroom door, as if he had thought of something.

He turned into the bathroom, washed his hands, then went to the living room, picked up the white ceramic cup on the coffee table, went to the kitchen to get a glass of warm water, and placed it on the bedside table in the bedroom, right next to the lamp.

After doing all this, Chen Fan walked out the door.

After coming out of Counselor Shen Na's home, it was almost twelve o'clock. Chen Fan didn't want to go home just yet, so he walked in the direction of his home.

As he walked, he thought of the intoxicated Counselor Shen Na.

He hadn't expected that the first time he treated Counselor Shen Na to a meal, he would get her drunk—no, wait, she got herself drunk.

But Counselor Shen Na's behavior after getting drunk was actually quite good; she was quiet and calm.

Come to think of it, if the students in the class saw what Counselor Shen Na was like after getting drunk, who knows what their reaction would be.

Chen Fan felt a bit regretful; why did he forget to take a photo just now?

Just as he was thinking this, a taxi drove over, and Chen Fan quickly waved it down.

The taxi stopped, Chen Fan got in, gave the address of his own residential area, and the driver stepped on the gas, driving toward the destination.