Chapter 217: 216 Does This Count As A Night Raid?
Accompanying Pei Ningle out of the recording venue, Han Yixuan noticed that this girl’s emotions seemed particularly high-spirited.
“Where’s Wang Heng? Where did he run off to?” Pei Ningle shouted, “Tonight I’m treating, big meal, let’s go eat a big meal together!”
Han Yixuan kindly reminded her: “Xiao Le, it’s almost ten o’clock now…”
Pei Ningle: “Perfect timing for a late-night snack, not late at all! Mutton hot pot, mutton hot pot!”
Just then, the two girls heard Wang Heng’s voice:
“The mutton hot pot shop is already closed, but barbecue is still open. Wanna go?”
The two of them turned slightly and saw Wang Heng walking over from the crowd exiting the audience entrance.
Before he even reached them, Pei Ningle impatiently said: “Barbecue works too, where’s a good spot nearby?”
Wang Heng: “Let’s go, I’ll lead the way.”
The barbecue shop where they had eaten skewers with Wei Kai last time was a chain in the Imperial Capital. They took a taxi, and the three arrived at the shop, sat down, and ordered. After ten o’clock, there were still quite a few people in the shop, making it lively.
Wang Heng originally didn’t want to order alcohol, but Pei Ningle slapped the table and clamored: “Baijiu, no getting drunk tonight, no returning sober!”
Han Yixuan held down this overly excited girl and said: “Skip the baijiu, trouble to bring three bottles of beer, thanks.”
The waiter smiled and asked: “What brand? Wusu, Yanjing, or Snowflake…”
Pei Ningle: “Brave the Horizon!”
The girl had no knowledge of beer brands; she just thought that product name sounded cool.
Wang Heng handed over the marked-up menu paper and hurriedly said: “We’ll have these, grill them well done.”
“Got it, mister…” The waiter glanced down at the menu, “What you’re ordering seems to be all grill meat. Want some vegetable dishes and seafood?”
At this moment, Han Yixuan quietly said: “Do you have chives and oysters?”
The waiter nodded: “Yes, I’ll add them for you.”
“Great.” As soon as Han Yixuan finished speaking, she caught Wang Heng’s gaze from the corner of her eye. She pretended not to notice and started chatting with Pei Ningle beside her.
Pei Ningle didn’t know the implication of chives and oysters, but Wang Heng certainly did. So he looked at Han Yixuan, his gaze slightly complex—did two girls sharing a room really need this kind of supplement?
Of course, since he could spot Han Yixuan secretly observing, it wasn’t hard to understand that these dishes weren’t for her, but a hint for him.
But in Wang Heng’s view, this kind of hint clearly wasn’t useful at all…
After a while, once the skewers were served, Pei Ningle suddenly sighed: “When will I need to wear sunglasses on the street?”
Han Yixuan: “Sunglasses? To fend off entertainment reporters and paparazzi?”
Wang Heng complained: “Probably in your dreams. As for now, wait until the program airs.”
Pei Ningle asked eagerly again: “So when will the program air?”
Han Yixuan: “I asked the program group’s staff; it should be in ten days. Anyway, we’ll head back to Rongdu first and discuss with Brother Tao at the bar—either raise the price or reduce the performance frequency a bit.”
Pei Ningle picked up a skewer of grilled ribs and handed it to her best friend beside her: “Thanks to Xiao Xuan’s help… This trip to the Imperial Capital, when asking Brother Tao for leave, Xiao Xuan was right there speaking up for me!”
Han Yixuan smiled: “No big deal, it’s what I should do.”
After hugging her good best friend, Pei Ningle let go and turned to Wang Heng, saying: “I owe my success today even more to you, older brother…”
Wang Heng raised his wine cup and interrupted: “No need for words, it’s all in the drink!”
Pei Ningle, who was about to pour out her thoughts, was instantly choked up. Stunned for two seconds, she could only raise her wine cup: “Cheers!”
————
After finishing the skewers, they returned to the hotel near midnight, close to zero hour.
Pei Ningle’s alcohol tolerance was clearly not great, only slightly better than Tang Hexing’s. By the time they reached the hotel, she was half-drunk; luckily, Han Yixuan was supporting her, with Wang Heng escorting beside them.
Their two rooms were adjacent, next door to each other, so Wang Heng escorted them all the way to the room doorway, waved, said goodnight, and closed his door.
Back in his own room, Wang Heng quickly brushed his teeth, washed his face, undressed, showered, and got into bed.
But just then, the most melancholy thing happened—after settling into the covers, he heard a knock at the door.
In the late night past midnight, who could be knocking?
Wang Heng’s sleepiness vanished instantly.
He sat up and listened carefully. The knocking paused for a moment, then resumed.
“Knock knock knock, knock knock knock…” Steady and rhythmic; the knocker seemed quite patient.
Wang Heng got out of bed, put on a T-shirt and long pants, walked to the door, and peeked out through the peephole.
Sure enough, it was Han Yixuan.
In the dim corridor light, the girl’s face was shadowed in backlit darkness, appearing somewhat dark. But those peach blossom eyes remained as bright as ever… or perhaps even brighter than usual.
Wang Heng opened the door halfway, standing in the doorway asking: “Something wrong?”
Han Yixuan seemed a bit embarrassed, slightly lowering her face, and said softly: “I went out earlier to buy something, and when I came back, I realized I forgot my room card again. Xiao Le seems to be asleep and didn’t open the door for me. So I had to come find you…”
Would she forget her room card?
Wang Heng glanced again at the plastic bag in the girl’s hand; it contained canned beer.
Didn’t drink enough during skewers, so bought more?
The question was, did she really just want to drink alone?
“Haven’t you had enough?” Wang Heng asked casually, “You drank a whole bottle during barbecue, and now you want more?”
Han Yixuan smiled: “I’m happy today; Xiao Le’s matter went so smoothly. You don’t know, after she sang, that assistant director came to find us. He said Xiao Le’s performance will definitely make it into the program, airing on CCTV. He mentioned there’s a one- or two-month gap before the quarterfinals; if there are music festival invitations or such, Xiao Le can totally agree.”
Wang Heng: “The program group’s attitude is encouraging?”
“Not exactly encouraging, just not opposed. Contestants on this program get no announcement fee, but the fame gained here is the best remuneration…” At this point, Han Yixuan gazed at him and asked, “Can I come in?”
Midnight, half past zero, man and woman alone in a room—this development was way too risky. But Pei Ningle next door was sound asleep and couldn’t open the door, and he clearly couldn’t leave a girl standing outside.
So, what to do?
Specifically going to the receptionist for help opening the door… wasn’t impossible, but wouldn’t that seem too cowardly?
Han Yixuan asked softly again: “Can I come in?”
Wang Heng: “Yeah, come in.”
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PS: New week, seeking recommendation tickets!
