Chapter 392 Are You Single Now

Chapter 392 Are You Single Now

Private Room 3 at Fireside Eatery.

Erik ate quietly while Lily sat across from him, doubled over with laughter at Oscar's jokes.

When Lily stopped laughing, she asked Erik, "Is the food not good?"

Erik looked up and said, "It's good."

Oscar used the serving utensils to add food to Lily's plate. "From your expression, it seems like you don't think it's good."

Erik looked at Oscar. "You're reading it wrong."

He continued eating, chewing slowly and carefully.

Lily hadn't expected Oscar to suggest coming along. She couldn't really refuse, so what was supposed to be dinner ended up being the three of them together.

Oscar poured beer. "Come on, let's have another drink."

Just as Lily was about to raise her glass, Erik grabbed her wrist. "You've had a lot tonight. Oscar and I will finish the rest."

Oscar brought over a bottle of red wine and said, "Here, ladies should drink this."

The two men downed three glasses of beer in quick succession. Lily knew Erik couldn't hold his liquor well—it was completely related to his constitution. He had a mild alcohol allergy and his face turned red immediately after drinking.

Lily had discovered this at the company's annual party. Erik was sitting at the same table as Preston, but there was only a glass of water in front of him. She asked him about it and learned the reason. "Oscar, stop pushing him to drink. Erik can't handle that much."

Being protected by a woman in front of his rival, Erik felt embarrassed, especially seeing Oscar stare at him while tilting his head back and draining his glass in one go, as if challenging him.

Though he couldn't hold his liquor, he couldn't back down in front of a rival.

Erik said, "It's fine. I'm happy today."

Oscar said, "Don't push yourself. If you can't drink, don't."

Lily took the opportunity to grab Erik's glass away. "Your face is already red. If you guys can't finish all this, tell the front desk when you pay and return the unfinished alcohol."

Oscar said, "If I'd known earlier that Erik couldn't drink, I wouldn't have ordered so much."

"Sorry I couldn't keep up with your drinking," Erik apologized.

His words left Oscar momentarily speechless. He laughed and said, "My fault. I forgot you can't drink."

Erik had already had six glasses, and the alcohol was making his head feel fuzzy.

Lily saw his eyes go blank and asked the server to bring water. "Have some water."

Erik took it. "Thanks."

Oscar asked, "With such a low tolerance, how did you handle Mr. Preston Wipere's drinking parties before?"

"Leopold used to handle Mr. Preston Wipere's drinking parties." Lily continued watching Erik's condition and asked softly, "Are you okay?"

Erik smiled faintly, putting on a relaxed front. "I'm fine."

When it came time to pay, Erik had already prepaid at the front desk. All three had been drinking, so they called designated drivers who were waiting outside.

Oscar's driver arrived first. He said to Lily, "Why don't you ride in my car? I'll pick you up at your place tomorrow morning and you can get your car then."

Lily said, "I already called a driver. You go ahead."

Oscar glanced at the two people by the roadside and got in his car to leave.

Now only Lily and Erik remained.

The spring breeze at night still carried a chill, making Lily shiver. Erik noticed and took off his jacket to drape over her shoulders.

Lily felt awkward. "No need, you wear it. I'm not cold."

Erik faced her, looking at Lily's face in the moonlight. Their eyes met, and the atmosphere grew awkward.

He quickly lowered his hand, stepped back half a step, and put his hands in his pockets at a loss. Finally, he pulled out a cigarette pack and lit one.

The smoke blew toward Lily's face with the wind. Erik quickly waved his hand to disperse it and moved to her other side.

Neither of them spoke, yet both seemed to be waiting for the other to say something.

Finally, Erik spoke first. "Lily."

"What is it?" Lily's heart trembled. She felt something was off about tonight's atmosphere, like something was about to happen.

Erik took another deep drag on his cigarette. "Have you and Oscar always been close?"

Lily explained, "Oscar interviewed me when I joined Celestial Waters Group. Later, he took the fall for one of his subordinates and got demoted with a pay cut. When Leopold needed people, I recommended him to Leopold."

Erik nodded. "I see."

He took another drag. Lily caught a whiff of cool mint and asked, "What brand of cigarettes?"

Erik thought she didn't like the smell and quickly said, "I'll stop smoking."

"No need. I mean this mint-flavored cigarette smells nice," Lily said.

A gust of wind passed by. Erik's head felt heavy and his body swayed slightly. Lily grabbed his arm. "Are you okay?"

Erik steadied himself. "I'm fine."

The alcohol was really interfering with his thinking. Erik felt like even his reflexes had slowed down.

They say alcohol gives you courage, so why wasn't it working for him?

Erik's lips moved slightly. He licked his dry lips and was gathering courage to speak when he heard Lily say, "The driver's here."

Erik choked.

Lily handed the car keys to the driver and turned to remind Erik, "Drink some hangover medicine when you get home."

Erik crushed the cigarette between his fingers. He said, "I don't have any at home. Do you?"

Lily: "Yes."

Erik said, "Can I come to your place to get some?"

"What?" Lily froze. That wouldn't be appropriate.

Erik realized how stupid the question was. He laughed and waved his hand. "I'm just kidding. You should go."

He continued smoking and noticed his hands were trembling slightly.

Good thing it was dark, or he would have really embarrassed himself.

Lily got in her car, and Erik's driver arrived too.

The two cars drove along the street one after the other. Lily sat in the back seat when her phone rang with a call from Oscar.

She answered, "What's up?"

Oscar said, "Let me know when you get home, just to be safe."

Lily pretended not to understand and said cheerfully, "You're so naggy, just like my dad. Okay, I got it."

She hung up first, not giving Oscar a chance to continue.

A WhatsApp message from Erik came through.

Erik: [Let me know when you get home safe.]

Lily: [Okay.]

The first thing Lily did when she got home was send Erik a WhatsApp message.

Lily: [I'm home safe. How about you?]

Erik: [I just got home too.]

Erik: [How are you? Not feeling sick?]

Lily: [This amount of alcohol is nothing to me. What about you? Do you have hangover medicine at home?]

Erik: [Yes, don't worry.]

Lily pursed her lips. He really couldn't lie.

Lily: [Get some rest. Good night.]

Erik: [Good night.]

She tossed her phone aside, grabbed her pajamas, and went to the bathroom to shower.

After her shower, while she was blow-drying her hair, she heard the doorbell ring.

Who would come this late?

Lily walked to the video intercom screen and saw Erik's figure. She looked again in surprise. "Erik?"

Erik said, "It's me."

Lily said, "It's so late. Is something wrong?"

Erik said, "There's something I want to tell you."

Lily thought, it's so late, this isn't really appropriate.

Erik said, "You don't need to let me in. I won't come upstairs."

Lily was confused. If he wasn't coming upstairs, what was he doing here?

"What is it?" Lily asked.

Erik took a deep breath and said, "Lily, are you single right now?"

Lily's heart pounded. "Yes."

Erik said, "Can I pursue you?"

The alcohol hadn't made her blush tonight, but Erik's one sentence made her face turn bright red.

The silence over the intercom seemed deafening. Erik knew he had no chance and turned to leave.

"Wait." Lily called out to him. "Why are you leaving?"

Erik stopped in his tracks and heard the door lock click open.

"Come up and talk."