Overprotected By My Tsundere CEO
Chapter 57: I Can’t Swallow My Pride Unless I Get You Drunk

Chapter 57: Chapter 57: I Can’t Swallow My Pride Unless I Get You Drunk

"Did you run into some trouble?"

Thinking about it, Nora Scott could only ask this.

Though he’s not here to pick a fight, every move he makes clearly shows—he’s not in a good mood.

Such direct and simple inquiry made Pedro Langley pause and glance at her.

She tilted her head slightly, with a perplexed look but without teasing or a watching-the-show demeanor; she seemed quite serious.

This somewhat eased Pedro Langley’s burning anger.

"Mm."

After hesitating for a few seconds, Pedro Langley confirmed her guess with a peculiar mix of complex emotions.

Yes.

He’s indeed facing a troubling situation, and he’s definitely not in a good mood.

The reporters didn’t track Henry Chapman and Nora Scott after, so he angrily checked the neighborhood’s entrance surveillance cameras, and the result was—

Nora Scott didn’t come home last night and only drove back this morning.

Out all night!

With Henry Chapman?!

Feeling down the entire day, yet all his suppressed emotions exploded thoroughly when he drove back and saw Nora Scott’s silhouette.

After answering, he stared intently at Nora Scott, waiting for her reaction.

Unexpectedly—

"Should have said so earlier!"

Nora Scott raised her eyebrows, her eyes sparkling.

No silence, inquiry, or concern...

The reaction was natural and relaxed, with a subtle dawning realization, it even seemed like she was relieved.

"There’s nothing insurmountable." She raised a hand and patted Pedro Langley on the shoulder, smiled brightly and generously, and said, "Come on, I just bought some alcohol, let’s drink together."

"..."

Just like that?

Just like that.

Nicely put, she’s free-spirited and carefree; bluntly put, she’s bold without a delicate touch typical for women.

Nora Scott walked towards the elevator.

Pedro Langley glanced up and, for some reason, felt small sparks flaring, unlike moments ago when anger filled his chest but just enough to unsettle him.

"Were you at home last night?"

Following behind into the elevator, Pedro Langley half-lowered his eyes, suddenly asked.

"No, went to a friend’s house." Nora Scott answered frankly and directly, then asked doubtfully, "Why?"

Was it an ’ordinary friend’s house,’ ’male friend’s house,’ or ’real boyfriend’s house’...

Can’t she just be less vague?!

With stray hair falling on his forehead, Pedro Langley’s brow furrowed in shadows, thoughts agitated, his tone cool, "Loxley knocked on your door last night, no one answered."

"Oh. What did he want?"

"Small matter," Pedro Langley answered dismissively, then changed the subject, "Do you have many friends in Fenton City?"

"Not too many, but I can count them." Nora Scott replied, pausing slightly, looked over suspiciously, "What are you trying to ask, need help?"

Help...

She’s really generous!

Without denying it, Pedro Langley squinted slightly, continuing, "There’s a movie project, wants Henry Chapman. How good is your relationship with him?"

"Not bad." Nora Scott nodded lightly, then said, "But this is pointless asking me. I can’t interfere with his work."

Can’t meddle with work, what about personal life?!

The assertiveness from when we were dating, where has it gone?

Such inquiry nearly slipped out in an explosion of emotions. But it was halted by Nora Scott’s strange question—

"Are you really this overwhelmed by a movie project?"

"...It’s not that." Pedro Langley felt sharp pangs in his head.

"Is that so?"

Nora Scott eyed him suspiciously, evidently not fully believing.

As the elevator reached the 21st floor, it opened with a sound.

While exiting, Nora Scott paused again to ask, "Do you want Henry Chapman’s number?"

Pedro Langley: "No need."

He doesn’t care for this person at all.

Honestly, at this moment, has her emotional intelligence all gone to waste? After all these years, hasn’t she learned to read the room?

Rarely finding herself concerned for Pedro Langley, Nora Scott didn’t get a straight answer after asking multiple times, so she simply gave him a peculiar look and stopped speaking altogether.

*

In the living room.

Under Nora Scott’s watchful eyes, Pedro Langley gloomily took out can after can of beer.

As it was carried directly, there weren’t many, totaling eight cans.

After taking out the last can, Pedro Langley massaged his temples, "Why is it all beer?"

"If you prefer Erguotou more, you can go buy it now."

Reaching out for a can of beer, Nora Scott popped the tab, hooked it with her finger, pulled with a little force, and swiftly opened it.

"..."

Does her drinks list only consist of these two?

"Here."

Nora Scott handed the opened beer to him.

Pedro Langley frowned, "I’ll open it myself."

"Sure, you’re being formal."

Muttering slowly, Nora Scott brought the beer can to her lips, took a tiny sip.

Pedro Langley: "..." Does he really need a woman to open his beer?

The beer was chilled, the can was layered with cold water beads; Pedro Langley opened a can himself, took a sip, feeling his agitated mood slightly fade away, so he asked, "Why did you buy beer?"

"Miguel Smith was complaining there was no alcohol in the fridge, so I got some for him."

She said, looking down, and pulled out several snack bags from the shopping bag—peanuts, marinated duck tongues, spicy chicken claws. Then, she handed them all to Pedro Langley, suggesting he plate them.

To her habitual gesture, Pedro Langley said nothing and naturally took them.

He asked, "Does he come often?"

"Not often, just occasionally when he runs away from home, he stays for a few days."

"Runs away from home?" Pedro Langley’s brow slightly furrowed.

He checked Miguel Smith’s basic info, twenty-four or five years old, college dropout, former esports player, later the game planner for the hit game ’God.’ He resigned a year ago, and ’God’ nosedived in reputation due to poor planning on monetization and balance control.

Though as Nora Scott said, Miguel Smith is now an unemployed wanderer.

In fact, Miguel Smith’s resume is rather impressive for his age, young and promising. How did he end up associated with ’running away from home,’ something only naïve teenagers do?

"Arguing with his dad."

"..."

What kinds of friends has she made!

Pedro Langley didn’t probe further, turned to the kitchen to find some plates, poured all the snacks onto them, then brought them over to the coffee table.

Nora Scott intuitively arranged the beer into two rows, piling them in front of his spot.

While her spot was empty, with only the beer she had just opened, drinking slower than tea, taking tiny sips like savoring fine tea.

Hesitantly, Pedro Langley sat down.

Ten minutes later.

"You call this drinking with me?" Pedro Langley’s tone was full of mockery.

"Hmm?"

Plopped two peanuts in her mouth, Nora Scott looked at the barely touched beer on the coffee table, understanding.

She said, "I’m no good with alcohol. Don’t mind, just being here doing the drinking counts."

Pedro Langley paused, feeling both amused and annoyed, "Didn’t you claim to be unfazed by thousands of drinks?"

"I suppose I did say that before..." Nora Scott pondered for a moment, quickly chuckled, straightforwardly explained, "In the earlier days, I really enjoyed teasing people."

A foreboding feeling rose inside, Pedro Langley squinted, suspiciously asked, "So?"

"In truth, my limit is about two drinks." She took the beer for a tiny sip, paused, then admitted candidly, "I might even feel a bit tipsy."

Recalling some unpleasant memories, Pedro Langley’s expression turned slightly complex.

Great.

If we don’t get you drunk this time, it won’t sit right.