Chapter 300 - Friends (1/2)

Animated chatter filled the backyard porch area of Dong Yishan's house as Liam,Ying Sheng ,Dong Yishan, and a few other friends caught up over pizza and wine coolers. After a long week of work and school, it seemed like the perfect way to decompress.

Liam wasn't much for big social gatherings, but he knew everyone at the gathering. Two of the guys, Han Zigao his cousin and Zhao Li his cousin's best friend , were his own friends that became Ying Sheng and vice-versa with Dong Yishan.

”Oh! Let's play a drinking game!” Dong Yishan gasped out, her grey eyes starting to grow glossy as she added to her pile of empty glass bottles near her folding chair. She tossed her blonde hair back over her shoulder before stumbling to her feet, nudging the others to put them in the spirit.

”You just want an excuse to do something stupid,” Ying Sheng smirked before taking a sip of her drink, the red liquid rushing past her lips as she tipped the bottle back. Her cheeks had a light red blush to them, but she was far more lucid than Dong Yishan and the others, who nearly cheered at the prospect of acting up.

Liam smiled to himself as he gazed at Ying Sheng from across the porch in his own folding chair. She had her hair pulled up into a ponytail, a few strands framing her glowing face. He was glad to see her so lively. He could tell that the week had worn her down, even if she tried to not let that on.

”She doesn't need alcohol to do that,” Han Zigao chuckled as he shifted his dark green beanie over his black hair, a few strands falling against his forehead.

Dong Yishan scoffed as she reached out to lightly kick at his ankle.

”Jerk. Zhao Li will play with me, won't you?” She asked in a sickly sweet voice.

Zhao Li was too busy downing the rest of his peach wine cooler to reply, prompting him to merely hum beneath his breath as he tilted the bottle back.

Ying Sheng then turned to Liam, a devilish smile crossing her lips, which were lined in red lipstick.

”Liam?” She asked him.

”He's not interested in your stripping games,” Han Zigao mused as he patted his friend on the shoulder.

”Or your kissing games,” Ying Sheng commented as she leaned back in her chair, her eyes seeming to sharpen slightly as she looked over at Dong Yishan.

”You guys are no fun… but fine,” Dong Yishan huffed as she crossed her arms over her c.h.e.s.t, covering the black, sequined tank top that she wore with white jeans.

When things started getting rowdy enough that bad decisions could be made, Liam tended to tap out. He didn't feel like waking up with a massive hangover on a Sunday anyway, so he finished his second bottle and stood up. He snuck away from the group to stretch his legs as they laughed amongst themselves and voted on what game to play.

Liam didn't want to kill their buzz, and he didn't mind venturing around the backyard for a little while to get some fresh air. Even during big family gatherings, he often snuck away to take a breather. When he was in front of a lot of people, he often felt frozen and nervous of making a fool of himself. He wished that he wouldn't discourage himself so often.

”You don't want to play spin the bottle?”