I Became the Eye Candy: Four Bigshots Claimed to be My Dad?-Chapter 99: Refusing to Leave the Carriage
"If it’s inconvenient, I can go ask somewhere else," the young man said, noticing his hesitation.
"It’s convenient," Xiang Minghou said without turning his head. "Wait here a moment, young man."
Inside the carriage, Ye Qianning stood in a corner. Zhan Chi was sprawled out across the carriage floor, with Gu Shuo holding him in a headlock and clamping a hand over his mouth.
Boss Gu, normally a meticulous neat freak, now had bruises mottling his handsome face. His hair was a mess, and he looked rather disheveled.
"Get out of the carriage," Xiang Minghou ordered coldly.
"MMPH, MMPH, MMPH..." Zhan Chi struggled, his large hands clawing at Gu Shuo’s arm.
Gu Shuo tried to haul him out, but a drunkard is heavier than a dead pig, and the man’s writhing was more than he could handle.
"Gu Shuo, you get out," Xiang Minghou singled him out.
"What about him?"
"When he sobers up, I’ll deal with him myself."
Zhan Chi’s mention of Nanyuan had stirred up old memories for Xiang Minghou. He recalled how close they once were. Now, seeing him dead drunk and refusing to leave the carriage, he figured he couldn’t bring himself to drag the man out, even if he wanted to.
"So you’re saying he’s not getting out?" Gu Shuo raised an eyebrow.
"If you think you can, then you drag him out."
"I don’t have what it takes," Gu Shuo said bluntly, releasing his hold on Zhan Chi’s neck. "Since Young Master Zhan is drunk, I suppose I don’t mind being charitable and looking after him."
Xiang Minghou fumed. ’So they’re both just going to stay in the carriage and refuse to leave?’
He glanced back at the young man standing before the carriage, his face full of anticipation. Deciding to just throw caution to the wind, he raised a hand and beckoned him aboard.
"Get in!"
’The fellow came all this way to greet me,’ he thought. ’If I don’t even offer him a ride back, won’t I seem incredibly petty?’
A look of delight crossed the young man’s face, and he hurriedly climbed into the carriage.
Ye Qianning surveyed the disastrous scene. In an instant, however, the men had all rearranged themselves. With a SWISH, Gu Shuo opened his folding fan, using it to half-cover his face as he took a seat on the left.
One second, Zhan Chi was throwing a drunken tantrum, kicking and flailing on the floor. The next, though still lying in the carriage, he had quietly shifted into a more dignified position.
He was now pressed up against the right side of the carriage, facing the wall, and had stopped his incoherent shouting.
’This is a little...’
The corner of Ye Qianning’s mouth twitched. ’This guy isn’t drunk at all. He’s just using it as an excuse to cause a scene.’
Gu Shuo saw through the charade as well. ’So he even knows enough to turn away from a guest? Well played, Zhan Chi. But I didn’t take those punches to the face for nothing!’
Xiang Minghou stepped into the carriage, gave the man on the floor a kick, and also sat down on the left side.
The young man ducked into the carriage and froze, visibly startled by the scene inside. A thick stench of alcohol washed over him, making him choke as his cheeks flushed red.
"Come, young man." Xiang Minghou, seated near the door, patted the spot beside him.
The young man couldn’t make out who was lying on the floor, but he recognized the man sitting further in—Gu Shuo, the most prominent figure in the world of commerce!
"Mister, come sit over here," Ye Qianning said with a grin, waving her chubby little hand.
The young man looked from side to side. The only spacious spot was the soft divan at the back.
"All right... actually, no thank you. I’ll... I’ll just sit here." Just as he was about to accept her offer, he met two intense gazes and flinched, squeezing himself into the spot between Xiang Minghou and Gu Shuo.
Only then did Xiang Minghou look satisfied.
Ye Qianning saw her dad’s little trick and felt a mix of amusement and exasperation. ’Luckily the carriage is big enough that three in a row isn’t too crowded,’ she thought. ’Otherwise, how awkward would that have been for him.’
"Mr. Gu," he greeted politely, feeling as if he were sitting on pins and needles.
Gu Shuo gave a slight nod, his folding fan still half-hiding his face.
Once the young man was seated, Xiang Minghou called out, "Let’s go."
The carriage began to move at a slow trot. The streets outside were bustling, but inside, the atmosphere was terrifyingly heavy. The strong stench of alcohol filled the air, soon making everyone feel a little drowsy.
