Chapter 78: The Road to Embarrassment

Lu Chuan’s face was practically being held hostage—just like that, Fang Yuan cupped it in her hands.

But after that, Fang Yuan, with a completely serious expression, started to investigate whether Lu Chuan’s mouth actually smelled like alcohol.

So in the end, was it him flirting with Fang Yuan, or Fang Yuan teasing him?

Fang Yuan looked at Lu Chuan, who was staring blankly, and switched from cupping his face to patting it: “Hey, hey. You really drank too much, your eyes are glazed over.”

Lu Chuan still hadn’t snapped out of it. The scene was too beautiful, beyond his comprehension.

Fang Yuan frowned. “Still say you’re not drunk? If I’d known, I wouldn’t have let you bring me here just now. It’s too dangerous.”

She didn’t hesitate, simply took the bike from Lu Chuan’s hands. “Get on, I’ll take you. With you like this, if you took me, we’d both end up in a ditch.”

Lu Chuan moved a bit mechanically, honestly no different from being drunk. But as for what exactly he was drunk on, only Lu Chuan himself knew.

Whatever Fang Yuan said or did, Lu Chuan wasn’t really conscious of it—his mind was still stuck on the moment when she’d held his face.

Fang Yuan: “Get on the bike, what are you standing there for?”

Lu Chuan didn’t dare admit he wasn’t drunk—he could feel the heat on his own face. “Uh, I’m fine to ride.”

Fang Yuan swung a leg over the bike without even looking back. “If something happens, who am I supposed to blame? Sit tight and hold on.”

Lu Chuan wanted to say, I’m not drunk, I can take you.

But hearing that, he just got on the bike and, without hesitation, put his hands on Fang Yuan’s waist.

Honestly, it wasn’t even a conscious decision—he just did it instinctively.

Asking Fang Yuan to hold his waist? Not likely. If the mountain won’t come to me, I’ll go to the mountain. Lu Chuan figured the romantic effect was the same either way.

They were husband and wife, after all—they couldn’t just muddle along like this forever. Someone had to take a step forward.

So Lu Chuan boldly reached out and took that step.

Fang Yuan, big-hearted as ever, didn’t think much of it. “Hold on tight.”

Lu Chuan was especially obedient, his heart pounding, and wrapped his arms around Fang Yuan’s waist. “Okay.”

Fang Yuan felt a little awkward, but started pedaling anyway, thinking to herself that this guy really shouldn’t drink anymore.

For the first three miles, Lu Chuan’s mind was in a daze, everything felt unreal, like it wasn’t really happening.

When he finally came to, he realized his arms were still around Fang Yuan’s waist. His mouth was dry, and he felt like he’d gone too far.

He’d never even held a girl’s hand before—how did he dare to put his arms around a girl’s waist? Good thing Fang Yuan was in front and couldn’t see his expression.

Lu Chuan started to lose his nerve and loosened his grip a bit. Liquid courage, he told himself—he’d blame it on the alcohol.

Fang Yuan thought Lu Chuan was too drunk to hold on properly. “Hold tight, or if you fall off, I’m not coming back for you.”

Lu Chuan gritted his teeth and tightened his hold again—after all, Fang Yuan had told him to.

He still managed to ask, “Are you tired? I can ride instead, and you can hold on to me from the back. That way, I won’t end up in a ditch either.”

Lu Chuan was clever—he figured if people saw that, no one could say he was just trying to take advantage of his wife. Plus, if Fang Yuan held onto him, it’d feel the same. He couldn’t help but look forward to it a little.

Fang Yuan, panting, replied, “What’s the point? We’ll be going downhill soon.”

She was already out of breath—she must be tired. Lu Chuan felt guilty. “Let me wipe your sweat.”

Fang Yuan thought this man just couldn’t focus on the important things. If you’re drunk, just sit still, why make a fuss? “It’s not a big deal, just hold on.”

Just then, they started going downhill, and Lu Chuan instinctively pressed up against Fang Yuan’s back.

Fang Yuan: “Are you dizzy? Lean on me if you need to. When we get to my mom’s, have some vinegar and you’ll feel better.”

The wind made her words a bit hard to catch, but Lu Chuan heard her loud and clear.

Lu Chuan thought to himself, it wasn’t dizziness, it was lightheadedness. Shamelessly, he pressed up against her for a couple of seconds, then quickly sat up straight.

He couldn’t help but mutter to himself—turns out he had the potential to be a bit of a scoundrel. Was he taking after Old Man Lu? That wouldn’t be good.

Fang Yuan was starting to get annoyed—this guy really wasn’t much. “Stop moving around, or you’ll fall.”

Alright then. They were almost at his mother-in-law’s house, and Lu Chuan’s face didn’t look too good. If someone saw them like this, what would they think? Sitting in the back was getting uncomfortable.

Fang Yuan was worried Lu Chuan really was drunk and might fall, so she stopped the bike. “Why aren’t you holding on anymore?”

Lu Chuan stammered, his face still bright red. “I—I think I sobered up.”

Fang Yuan: “That fast? Your face is still red.”

Lu Chuan: “The wind sobered me up going downhill. Maybe the wind made my face red.”

What else could he say? He couldn’t let his mother-in-law and brothers-in-law see him getting fresh with their girl.

Even if it was legal, he still had to save face.

Fang Yuan really was tired—riding a bike with a grown man on the back was hard work, and the roads weren’t even paved.

Fang Yuan was completely straightforward, not a hint of romance: “Don’t drink again in the future.”

Lu Chuan grunted in agreement. He needed a moment to calm himself down—his face was still burning red.

As they talked, Lu Chuan took the bike and led his wife down the road.

By the time they got to his mother-in-law’s, Lu Chuan’s face was still red. Fang Yuan said, “Are you sure you’re sober? You don’t look it.”

Lu Chuan: “Ahem, I’m sober, really. It’s the wind.”

Fang Yuan: “Better have some vinegar, just in case.” She went to the kitchen, poured a small bowl of vinegar, and made Lu Chuan drink it.

With the distance so close, and Fang Yuan being so attentive, Lu Chuan’s heart almost jumped out of his chest.

For the first time, vinegar tasted like honey to Lu Chuan. With his wife feeding him at such close range, he couldn’t even tell what he was drinking. After a bowl of vinegar, he felt even dizzier—he looked even more drunk.

Fang Yuan even said to Wang Cuixiang, “Didn’t they say vinegar sobers you up? I don’t think it works—his face is still red.”

Hearing that, Lu Chuan sobered up a bit, but felt even more embarrassed—so he really had no self-control.

Wang Cuixiang noticed her son-in-law’s ears were red—much redder than before. What else could it be?

She glanced at her daughter, lips twitching. One’s a fool, and the other’s clueless. “He’ll be fine in a bit, it doesn’t work that fast.”

Fang Yuan: “It’ll take a while? Then I’ll have to keep giving him a ride.”

Wang Cuixiang turned to look at Lu Chuan. Lu Chuan finally understood what it meant to be so embarrassed you wanted to die. Fang Yuan really didn’t hold back at all.

He didn’t dare look at his mother-in-law, just turned away and coughed awkwardly.

Wang Cuixiang pretended not to notice and changed the subject: “I heard the Li family made a fuss at your place.” She thought to herself, this son-in-law really has it tough.

Fang Yuan lifted her chin. “Yeah, they did. Think I’d be afraid of her?”

Wang Cuixiang: “Those shameless types are like dogs that smell a bone—they’ll sniff out any chance to take advantage.”

Lu Chuan nodded—wasn’t that the truth?

Fang Yuan: “If my eldest brother and fifth brother weren’t away, I’d have made them pay five yuan to leave. Otherwise, do you think I’d have let them go so easily?”

Wang Cuixiang: “Ahem.” Son-in-law’s right here, what nonsense are you talking? Their family is reasonable, after all.

79."

"Chapter 79: The Son-in-Law’s Got Some Skills