Jian Ming was momentarily stunned, but quickly regained his composure. His lips curved, and a faint glint appeared in his eyes. "Officer Lu, you live freely indeed, but you pick too many things."

"…….." This perfectly ended Lu Heng's rare moment of genuine reflection. He realized that in terms of verbal sparring, Jian Ming absolutely annihilated him. Thinking this, he downed the glass of beer.

"Counselor Jian, I really admire you," Lu Heng refilled his glass. "How can you always live so rationally and clearly, like an immortal? Do you even know what emotions are?"

Jian Ming chuckled, playfully teasing, "Hehe, didn't you say I was from outer space?"

"Get lost! That was sick talk from when I was ill, don't use it to mock me." Lu Heng's face was slightly flushed. "Try the food. I guarantee it's better than your 'Peach Blossom Haven's' bland soup." He said, placing a large crab leg into Jian Ming's bowl.

"It tastes good." Jian Ming slurped some of the sauce, sincerely complimenting it.

Rarely receiving such approval, Lu Heng beamed. Unconsciously, he began to add other dishes to Jian Ming's bowl. Jian Ming saw the red and green pile level with the rim of his bowl and suddenly lost his appetite. He sipped his plain water, then looked up at Lu Heng. "Do you usually drink this much alone?" In just a short while, he'd already finished nearly two bottles.

"Ah, when it rains, I just feel like having a few drinks… helps me sleep soundly." Lu Heng didn't look at Jian Ming, continuing to eat his food, his tone unreadable. As if to cut off Jian Ming's next words, he abruptly changed the subject without waiting for a response. "Do you have WeChat?"

Jian Ming shook his head. "No."

"Install it, man. What era are we in? Who sends text messages anymore?" Lu Heng copied and pasted Li Wei's words verbatim, even trying to mimic his tone.

Jian Ming found it strange that Lu Heng would proactively mention a social media app, but on second thought, it could aid his treatment. "Okay, for you, I'll give it a try." He accidentally blurted out his true feelings. Jian Ming genuinely wished he had the superpower to turn back time at that moment.

"………" Lu Heng's cheek twitched almost imperceptibly. Before he could process it, the other person continued, "Uh, I'll download it later and add you."

"Oh," Lu Heng murmured, without lifting his head. He then opened the fourth bottle of beer. For me? For me! For me.

The words "for me" echoed repeatedly in Lu Heng's mind. Whether it was the alcohol or something else, his face suddenly flushed crimson.

The meal ended rather abruptly, aside from the minor ripple caused by the WeChat incident, there was also Lu Heng's overestimation of his drinking ability. Four bottles down, his eyes began to glaze over.

"I thought you had a better alcohol tolerance," Jian Ming said, watching Lu Heng stumble, both annoyed and amused.

"Thanks, you paid again. I wanted to treat you." Seeing Jian Ming pay directly, Lu Heng felt a bit ashamed, slurring his words as he patted Jian Ming's shoulder.

"You're welcome, Officer Lu. As long as you had fun drinking." Jian Ming smiled helplessly, not caring who paid, but instead felt a little worried about this guy who couldn't even speak straight. He vaguely wondered if there was some connection between rain and drinking.

Before he could finish worrying, as they stepped out the door, Lu Heng tripped over the doorframe. He pitched forward, falling straight out.

Jian Ming lunged forward, trying to catch him. His hand hadn't even reached his shoulder, his fingers just grazing his neck, yet he watched helplessly as Lu Heng plummeted vertically onto the ground outside, sprawled in a perfectly humiliating "big character" pose.

"Oh, damn…" Lu Heng groaned, trying to push himself up. Jian Ming grabbed his arm, pulling him up. With this assistance, he quickly stood, swaying from side to side. He pretended to ignore the countless curious stares behind him, not even waiting for Jian Ming to open his umbrella. He tugged Jian Ming without looking back, charging towards the main road.

By the time they got into Jian Ming's car, both were a bit disheveled. "Officer Lu, are you alright?" Jian Ming saw some mud still clinging to Lu Heng's face and instinctively reached out to wipe it off. The warmth of his fingertips had just touched Lu Heng's skin when Lu Heng shivered. At that moment, the dim yellow streetlights outside the car window, filtered through the pouring rain, cast light onto Jian Ming. Against the light, even his hair seemed to shimmer with a delicate halo. Lu Heng's heart uncontrollably quickened. He swallowed hard, then haphazardly wiped his face with the back of his hand.

"I… I'm fine. Just a fall. Anyway, I'm used to making a fool of myself in front of you… Sorry for getting you wet." Lu Heng's tone was one of helplessness and embarrassment, but his apology was utterly sincere.

Jian Ming's heart suddenly ached. He just wanted to show concern, but why would Lu Heng perceive it as "making a fool of himself"? Was he giving him too harsh an impression? Or, as Lu Heng had said, did he truly seem like someone devoid of emotions?

Jian Ming deliberated for a long moment, then said, "I've never thought you were making a fool of yourself, Lu Heng."

Lu Heng stared at him, his gaze uncertain. Even Jian Ming, an expert in human psychology, couldn't decipher what Lu Heng's strange expression was trying to convey. He sighed softly, took off his glasses, pulled a tissue from the car's glove compartment, and wiped the rain from his lenses.

"Counselor Jian, do you have a girlfriend?" Lu Heng felt it must be the alcohol speaking, to ask such an abrupt, out-of-the-blue question.

"Hm?" Jian Ming was surprised, not quite catching on.

"…I… just asking. Not trying to pry into your privacy. Forget it if you don't want to say." Lu Heng rubbed his temples, feeling a throbbing ache. What's going on? These few bottles shouldn't be doing this.

"No." He added silently, and no boyfriend either.

Lu Heng squinted at him. "Then… that's a real shame…" Before he could finish, Jian Ming abruptly leaned in close, placing a hand on his face, then touching his forehead. He asked curiously, "What's wrong? Your face is so red? And so hot? Are you always like this after drinking?"

Jian Ming sensed something was off.

The sudden proximity made Lu Heng gasp. "Usually not. Today, I guess I'm just performing poorly." He gave a self-deprecating laugh, feeling the throbbing in his head intensify. He thought, Jian Ming must be toxic. How can he always make me lose my composure and despise myself in front of him?

"I'll take you home first. Do you have a thermometer at your place?" Jian Ming put on his glasses and started the car. "No, better buy one on the way to measure. If something's wrong, we can get medicine or go to the hospital right away."

"Wait, what do you mean? You think I have a fever?"

"Hey, I just got a bit buzzed from the alcohol, it's nothing. Don't make a big deal out of it."

"Hey, are you listening to me?"

Jian Ming ignored him for three consecutive sentences, then finally, like issuing a command, he barked, "Fasten your seatbelt. Shut up."