159: Chapter 159 Don't Go

The elevator came to a steady stop on the first floor, and Jiang Chen half-supported, half-shielded Shen Xi as they walked out of the building.

The night breeze, carrying a hint of cool moisture, brushed against their faces, dissipating the varying degrees of intoxication in their eyes.

He had also drunk a fair amount today; a faint flush tinted his handsome face, and his eyes held the unique laziness that follows alcohol, yet his demeanor remained steady.

Shen Xi's steps were slightly unsteady, so he merely extended a hand to lightly support her elbow from the outside, his strength firm yet without overstepping any boundaries.

He held her form steady while always maintaining a proper distance, natural and appropriate.

The two walked side by side into the night.

The dim yellow streetlights stretched their shadows long and thin. Jiang Chen turned his head to look at her, hazy with drink, his voice low and slightly hoarse from the alcohol, though his tone remained as usual: "Which way is your home? I'll take you back."

Shen Xi looked up at him, her clear eyes clouded with a misty drunkenness. She obediently pointed in a direction and recited the address of her residential complex in a soft yet clear voice.

It was a well-regarded residential complex in the area; not far from the banquet venue, it was only a few minutes' walk away.

The night was quiet. Neither of them spoke along the way, yet it didn't feel awkward.

Jiang Chen stayed by her side the entire time. Seeing her stumble, he would reach out to support her at the right moment, then naturally withdraw his hand.

He didn't say much throughout, but he was thoughtful and considerate—neither too far nor too close, just right.

Before long, the two arrived at the base of her apartment building.

The complex was quiet, with a comfortable atmosphere of daily life peeking through the greenery.

Jiang Chen escorted her all the way to the entrance of her unit and into the elevator, his gaze occasionally sweeping over her condition without lingering.

Upon reaching her door, Jiang Chen reached out and pressed the doorbell.

In the few seconds of waiting, a subtle hesitation suddenly flickered through his heart.

She was this drunk; if a family member came to open the door, the situation would be somewhat awkward.

A man bringing a girl home late at night, half-supporting and half-holding her—no matter how he explained it, it would seem abrupt.

He subconsciously adjusted his cuffs, already mentally rehearsing what to say.

The doorbell rang, but there was no movement.

He waited a few more seconds, but it remained quiet behind the door, as if no one was home.

That bit of hanging anxiety finally settled.

He turned to look at Shen Xi leaning against him; she was already quite dazed, her eyelids drooping heavily, with most of her weight resting on his arm.

He paused and asked in a low voice, "What's the code?"

Dazedly, Shen Xi lifted her eyelids and mumbled a string of numbers. After speaking, she buried her face back into his shoulder as if she might fall asleep at any moment.

Jiang Chen reached out and pressed the numbers on the keypad. With a soft "beep," the door lock clicked open.

The moment the door opened, warm yellow light poured out.

A fresh and simple two-bedroom apartment unfolded before his eyes.

The overall theme was light white and mint green, with sleekly lined furniture arranged neatly. A soft fabric sofa was paired with a few simple throw pillows, and the greenery on the coffee table was full of life.

There was no redundant luxury; instead, every corner exuded a refreshing elegance, just like Shen Xi herself—capable and sharp in the workplace, yet gentle and clean in private, possessing a style and confidence uniquely her own.

Jiang Chen supported her as they entered the bedroom. He leaned over to gently settle her onto the soft mattress, then stood up and took half a step back, preparing to tell her to rest well before leaving.

But just as he was about to move his feet, his waist was suddenly encircled by a pair of arms.

There was a hint of desperate trembling in the strength of the embrace.

Shen Xi hugged him tightly from behind, her arms circling his waist, her cheek buried deep into his back, which carried the crisp scent of cedar.

Her warm breath seeped through the fabric, its heat causing him to freeze instantly.

Her body trembled slightly, yet she didn't retreat in the slightest. Her voice, husky from the alcohol, was tender and persistent as her words broke the silence of the room.

"Jiang Chen, don't go, okay?"

The air seemed to freeze in an instant.

Jiang Chen's eyes flickered slightly, and he seemed to sober up a bit.

He didn't push her away, nor did he respond; he simply stood there silently, waiting for her to continue.

Shen Xi closed her eyes, her tears quietly soaking into his clothes, yet her back remained ramrod straight.

Stripping away her capable workplace shell, she used her most sincere self to lay bare her long-hidden feelings, word by word.

"In all my years, I, Shen Xi, have never been this proactive with anyone. Never."

"I admit, I've been drinking, and it's only with the help of the alcohol that I have this reckless courage."

"But I know better than anyone that even without the alcohol, these words have been bottled up inside me for far too long. If I don't say them now, I'll go crazy, and I'll regret it for the rest of my life."

She tightened her arms, holding him a bit closer. Her tone carried the pride and openness of an independent professional, without a hint of being humble or fawning.

"I know you are dazzling enough, holding capital and calmly controlling everything, never lacking excellent people around you. But I'm not bad either. I've stood my ground through my own abilities, managing my life and work well enough. I have never been a dodder flower clinging to you."

"My feelings for you weren't an impulse. It was from watching you resolve crises time and again, seeing your steadiness and certainty, and watching you take control of situations without a word—that's how I fell in, step by step. To me, you are an irresistible attraction, the only exception beyond my rationality."

At this point, she choked up slightly, yet her gaze remained one that dared to love and hate, firm and without a hint of evasion.

"I don't ask for any title, nor do I ask for some unique position. I just want to be by your side."

"In any capacity! Even if you have someone else in the future, even if you find your own home, I don't care. I only need to stay where you can see me and be with you; that's enough."

Her confession was fiery, sincere, clear-headed, and brave.

There was no dependence, no coercion—just an independent woman's unreserved pursuit of her heart's desire.

Every word struck heavily against Jiang Chen's heart.

Internally, he was also lamenting his own damn charm!

The man who had just looked normal, as if merely taking someone home, could no longer maintain his composure.

Already tipsy, his hands at his sides clenched abruptly, and his Adam's apple bobbed violently.

Various fragments of their past interactions flashed through his mind. Those moments he had dismissed as ordinary now took on a whole different meaning.

A scalding realization surged in his heart: so she had harbored such feelings for a long time, yet he had never noticed.

Perhaps he had noticed something, but Jiang Chen didn't like doing things that would break a girl's heart.

He slowly turned around.

His previously calm and ordinary gaze now became dark and burning, as if he were truly seeing the person before him for the first time.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Shen Xi's eyes were rimmed with red, tears hanging from her eyelashes, yet her gaze was stubborn and firm, without a hint of evasion.

It was a clear-headed and persistent bravery unique to her, a side of her he had never seen before.

After a long silence, Jiang Chen spoke.

With the alcohol and surging emotions mixing together, his voice was incredibly hoarse. Every word carried an uncontrollable throb of excitement, solemn as if it were a formal confirmation: "Shen Xi, are you sure... you've thought this through?"

It was no longer an ordinary question, but a serious confirmation filled with emotion now that the thin veil between them had been pierced.

Shen Xi looked up, staring straight into his suddenly burning eyes without the slightest hesitation.

Her amber eyes were filled with a do-or-die determination.

As tears fell, she smiled with exceptional openness: "I've thought it through very clearly. More clearly than ever before."

"I like you. It has nothing to do with status, distance, or whether you have someone else. I just want to stay by your side, as myself, and be with you."

"This is my own choice. I am willing, and I will never regret it!"

Looking at the undisguised determination and heat in her eyes, Jiang Chen's slightly tipsy heart grew completely scalding.

Everything else followed naturally.