Chapter 114: Chapter 114: I’ll Wait for You
Thea Lynch couldn’t tell if Ian Preston was drunk, but as the host, she couldn’t just leave him here unattended at this moment.
"Third Brother."
Taking a deep breath as if facing a formidable opponent, Thea walked over to him. "Fourth Brother and the others have gone back?"
Sean Bell was always mischievous, and with Silas Cheney as an ally, those two together rarely did anything good.
Ian leaned back in his seat, his eyes half-concealing a hint of intoxication. It was unclear if he heard her words, as he didn’t respond, simply gazing silently at her.
As she approached, Thea caught the strong scent of alcohol on him.
Frowning slightly, Thea extended her hand, "Can you walk on your own, Third Brother? I can take you back."
He still didn’t speak, his dark eyes locked onto her, his blazing gaze tracing every inch of her face.
Fortunately, Thea had some experience with this.
The last time at their grandfather’s house, Ian was drunk like this too, saying nothing, just silently watching her.
Looking around, the aunt was still busy in the kitchen, and the aunt hadn’t returned yet.
It seemed she had no choice but to take Ian back herself.
Ian’s jacket was still in the living room, so she turned to get it.
Suddenly, there was a tight grip on her wrist.
Thea turned back, looking at him puzzled, "What’s wrong?"
Pausing, sensing something, she explained, "I’m going to get your jacket; it’s windy outside."
Ian didn’t let go.
Thea knew he had heard her. She tried to pull away, but he gradually increased his grip.
After a few rounds, Thea reluctantly gave up.
"Are you feeling unwell?" She attempted to communicate with him.
"Mm."
Finally, Ian gave her a slight response, a soft sound, like a murmur.
Thea’s heart softened, and with her free hand, she took a couple of tissues from the table to wipe the fine sweat off his forehead.
"You’re sweating; if you go out into the wind now, you’ll definitely catch a cold tomorrow."
"Take a moment and rest, we’ll leave in a bit," she said as she put down the tissues, Ian’s hand grabbed her waist, pulling her a step closer to him.
Before she realized it, his powerful arms wrapped around her waist, leaning his head against her abdomen.
She was only wearing a blouse, and through the thin fabric, his warm breath spread across her skin, brushing lightly, tickling.
Thea just wanted to push him away when she glanced down and saw Ian seemingly exhausted, closing his eyes, and his previously furrowed brow slowly relaxing.
Her hand suddenly paused, hovering in midair, taking its time to drop.
After hesitating for a while, she sighed, silently retracting her hand.
——
Hearing the aunt’s movements coming downstairs, Thea finally nudged Ian’s shoulder, calling him softly, "It’s late, we should go."
She had stood there for nearly fifteen minutes, allowing him to hold her, not daring to move.
Anyone who didn’t know would think she was being punished by standing still.
Before the aunt showed up, Thea exerted her strength to help Ian up from the chair.
"Still here, Ian hasn’t left yet?" The aunt was startled upon entering the dining room and seeing the two of them.
Seeing them both standing there stock-still, the aunt assumed something was wrong with Ian and wanted to step forward to help.
"Third Brother is a bit drunk; he just needed a moment. Now he’s much better. I’ll take him home myself. Aunt, you should rest."
Thea didn’t give the aunt a chance to intervene, supporting Ian as they walked out. Passing through the living room, she called for the aunt to hand over the jacket and draped it over Ian’s shoulders.
Stepping out of the house, Thea breathed a sigh of relief, as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders.
She glanced sideways at Ian, whose eyes were still unfocused, seemingly not quite aware.
She slowed her pace, trying her best to support him. While walking, she silently complained about Sean and Silas.
She didn’t believe for a second they hadn’t done it on purpose.
They could have left earlier or later, but their timing was impeccable.
Even though Ian was drunk, taking him home wasn’t a difficult task for those two.
And it was completely on their way.
Those two guys really weren’t at all polite.
As she was thinking this, the figure beside her stumbled slightly, alarming Thea, who lifted her other hand as well, "Easy, easy."
During this hour, the courtyard’s street lamps had dimmed a bit. Usually, at this time, the people in the courtyard had already gone to bed early.
Most of those living here now were elders.
People around their age, or even younger, were hardly ever seen around here anymore.
Nowadays, the younger generation mostly lived outside, seemingly uninterested in this place. Unlike their generation, who mostly grew up in the courtyard and had some inexplicable attachment to it.
"Thea."
Just as they rounded a corner, Ian stopped her.
"What?" Thea asked, looking up at him.
Ian was much taller than her, and she was bent slightly under his weight. At this angle, she had to look up to meet his gaze.
"You like Sean Bell."
It wasn’t a question; his voice was oddly certain.
"..." Thea: "No."
She thought of the scene just before and, on a whim, explained to him: "I lost my balance back there. There’s nothing going on between Sean and me. How many times are you going to ask that question?"
"You’re angry."
"...No." Thea was just a bit exasperated. "But if you ask like that again next time, I will be angry for sure."
The man softly grunted, articulately asking her, "What did Grandpa talk to you about?"
He seemed drunk but also not drunk.
Apart from the smell of alcohol and the kind of tipsiness in his eyes, he didn’t display any other signs of being drunk.
"Grandpa Preston knows about you being hospitalized. Of course, it wasn’t me who told him. He didn’t say much but was mostly concerned about you."
"Concerned about what?"
"Concerned about your relationship status."
Upon hearing this, Ian chuckled lightly, "Is that so."
"Yes."
At this moment, it felt like any previous tensions had dissolved, and they communicated like old friends.
"At the birthday banquet this noon, they asked when I plan to start a family."
Thea walked on silently. She then heard him slowly say, "I said within a year."
"Mm-hmm." Thea casually responded.
"So, Thea, you can avoid it for another year."
"..." Being addressed suddenly, Thea didn’t quite understand his words. She was forced to stop, staring at him in confusion.
The man stood upright, releasing her support, standing steadily in front of her.
Thea looked him up and down, "Are you drunk or not?"
"It’s not important." Ian picked up the dropped jacket, draping it over his arm. The entire set of movements flowed seamlessly.
Thea suddenly had an answer in her heart.
"One year."
"Thea, there’s only one year left."
Thea partially understood his words, "You’re not thinking of..."
"Yes." Ian replied seriously, his eyes full of heat. His husky voice from drunkenness mixed with a low Beijing accent, somewhat enticing: "I’ll wait for you."
