Everyone was stunned, suddenly remembering—yes, the person who drew the punishment card could also refuse the punishment, as long as they drank twenty glasses of wine.
It was just that everyone had instinctively assumed no one would choose that option.
Out of consideration for Ling Jue’s status, the punishments set for tonight weren’t too extreme.
Twenty glasses of strong liquor, compared to a one-minute hug that could easily be brushed off, was simply not worth it.
Zhong Mingzhou’s expression changed.
What was this? His attempt to stir trouble had indirectly proven just how deep their feelings were?
Jue Ye, who had once had countless women, was now so chaste that he wouldn’t even spare a single hug.
Qin Shuyi must be feeling smug now.
Amidst the atmosphere of disbelief, Ji Xiuheng, with his legs crossed, sneered, “Don’t you get it? Your Miss Qin doesn’t mind, but Jue Ye can’t bear to let his precious feel jealous for no reason.”
Xie Muchen acted even faster, elegantly mixing drinks.
He adjusted his glasses. “Twenty glasses—it’s not every day we get a chance like this to make Ling Jue drink.”
No one knew the limits of Ling Jue’s alcohol tolerance because no one dared to force him to drink.
Moreover, he never got drunk in public and rarely drank much.
In Ling Jue’s view, alcohol was for savoring, not for guzzling, and drowning one’s sorrows in drink was the weakness of the incompetent.
This meant that even Xie Muchen and Ji Xiuheng had no way to test his limits.
Hearing this, everyone suddenly understood and grew eager.
It was rare for Jue Ye to be so accommodating today.
Ling Jue smiled and wrapped his arm around the woman nestled in his arms, who was watching everyone with amusement as they plotted to get him drunk.
“Sweetheart, your boyfriend is going to have a rough time today.”
He kissed her ear. “Can you make it up to me tonight?”
Qin Shuyi gently stroked his handsome face. “Poor thing.”
The two whispered intimately as the atmosphere grew lively.
Only Zhong Mingzhou looked displeased.
Tang Wei, relieved she had made the right choice, glanced at him sympathetically.
This person seems like a clown.
When the colorful glasses were lined up on the table, the sight was truly staggering.
These people really went all out, choosing only high-proof drinks—it seemed they were determined to get Ling Jue drunk.
Ji Xiuheng grinned and gestured. “After you.”
Ling Jue remained unfazed. He kissed Qin Shuyi’s cheek, straightened up, and decisively reached for a glass.
He didn’t seem worried at all.
Instead, the others were uneasy—would they really not face retribution later?
However, just as everyone was feeling excited, anxious, or exhilarated, and just as Ling Jue was about to touch the glass, a calm, unhurried female voice spoke up.
“Wait.”
Everyone paused.
Another card was placed on the table.
The woman’s beautiful eyes were gentle and lively.
“Sorry, everyone, but you’ll have to enjoy the drinks yourselves.”
“Holy shit!” Ji Xiuheng exclaimed in surprise, slumping back into his chair with a mix of resentment and envy. “You’re way too composed.”
The card Qin Shuyi had drawn was today’s reward trump card.
It granted the authority to control everyone’s drinks at the scene.
Not only could it exempt Ling Jue from the punishment drinks, but it could also make the wine in his glass end up in someone else’s mouth.
Yet, holding such a powerful card, from Ling Jue’s hug punishment to his refusal, and even Xie Muchen’s scheming to make him drink, she had calmly watched from the sidelines, waiting until the very last moment to play her card and completely turn the tables.
Xia Zhiyue whistled. “So cool!”
Ling Jue was also somewhat surprised, a smile softening his stern features.
He picked up the card, raised an eyebrow, and said with certainty,
"If I hadn't refused the punishment, this card would have been used on me too?"
Qin Shuyi lifted her gaze, her long lashes framing dark eyes that sparkled with amusement. "Of course."
He hadn’t accepted the punishment, so it became a treasure to save the prince; but if he had chosen the embrace, those twenty glasses of alcohol would still have been unavoidable.
She patted his short hair. "Poor souls who take the punishment don’t get rewards—only well-behaved boys who uphold their virtue receive such favor."
The strong liquor prepared for Ling Jue was poured and drunk by the sighing crowd themselves.
And Ling Jue, under the gentle evening breeze, met those bright almond-shaped eyes, feeling as if he were floating in a tipsy haze.
He thought to himself, it seemed he was drunk too.