Chapter Fifty-Eight: Drunk Once Again

After dinner, I first took Lin Xingfan back to the company dormitory.

Zhao Xinze and I didn’t rush to leave; we parked the car under the shade of a tree. A cigarette after a meal is better than any elixir of life.

As usual, I still pilfered a cigarette and lighter from him.

“Jiang Jian, if you really want to quit smoking, just hold back and don’t light up. I suspect you’re just using quitting as an excuse to steal my cigarettes.”

The last time I saw Zhao Xinze, he was smoking Fuchun Mountain Residence cigarettes. This time, I noticed he still had several left; it seemed he truly couldn’t bear to smoke them all.

No matter. If he’s reluctant, I’m willing. Haha, the brave enjoy life first, the shameless enjoy good smokes first.

Without hesitation, I snatched the cigarette pack from his hand and pulled out a cigarette, putting it directly in my mouth to prevent him from grabbing it back.

“Light it for me.”

“You’re so lazy it’s unbearable. Here, light it yourself.”

The two of us sat under the tree, exhaling smoke. I pulled out my phone and found the number I saved earlier, calling the project manager in Long’an.

The phone rang for over ten seconds before being answered. Li Xu was very polite, and we set the contract signing for 10 a.m. the day after tomorrow in Long’an.

Just as I hung up, Zhao Xinze had already booked his flight to Rongcheng for tomorrow morning.

With the tickets booked, neither of us had anything urgent to do, so we chatted casually.

Suddenly, Zhao Xinze’s phone rang. The moment he answered, I heard Uncle Zhao’s firm and forceful voice from the other end.

“You damn brat! Taking the lighter is one thing, but not leaving a single good cigarette in the warehouse for your old man?!”

“And you’ve even taken two fewer cases of liquor! Next time you come back, I’ll beat you until your backside’s all bruised. You’re like a locust swarm, leaving nothing behind!”

“Ah, Dad, it’s just a few cigarettes and some liquor. I’ll pay you back later. I’ve got something to do now, so I’ll hang up. By the way, I’m going on a business trip to Rongcheng these days, I’ll bring you some local specialties!”

Zhao Xinze hurriedly hung up and, seeing the look of glee on my face, said irritably, “What, you’re happy hearing me get scolded?!”

“You said you only pilfered a lighter and a pack of Fuchun Mountain Residence from your dad, but judging by his tone, you must have taken a lot more?”

As I spoke, I grabbed the cigarette pack from his hand. “Don’t hide things from me. The rest are mine!”

Zhao Xinze reached out to snatch it back. “Jiang Jian, hurry up and give it to me. I took those smokes for my dad’s health; he’s getting old and shouldn’t smoke or drink anymore!”

“Cut the act. You swiped a whole carton of Fuchun Mountain Residence but won’t even share half a pack with me. I’m not giving it to you. Keep barking and I’ll take your lighter too!”

“Jiang Jian, you’re such an animal. I just treated you to dinner and you’re already messing with me, you dog!”

I pulled out a cigarette from the pack and stuffed the rest into my pocket, then teasingly handed him one. “Here, I left you one. No need to thank me.”

“You bastard! Jiang Jian, I swear I’m going to kill you today!”

“There’s nothing else going on now, and it’s still early. How about we find somewhere to hang out?”

Zhao Xinze suddenly suggested this, and I was just as reluctant to return to that stifling villa so early, so I nodded in agreement.

“Alright, what do you want to do?”

Zhao Xinze was silent for a moment. It seemed he was acting on impulse and hadn’t decided what to do, especially since it was just the two of us.

Eventually, the two of us sat in the gaming chairs at an internet café, exchanging glances.

“Do you still remember your account and password?”

“Well… maybe.”

After saying this, we both lowered our heads to check the verification codes on our phones.

“Haha, let’s have a thrilling brawl. Watch me crush the other side… Are these new heroes? I don’t recognize any of them.”

“Is this how you play this game? It feels so unfamiliar…”

Eight minutes later, Zhao Xinze and I were leaning on our crossed arms, pursing our lips and frowning at the gray screen.

“Can you really surrender this quickly in this game?”

“Did I just imagine it, or did I hear a lot of people insulting my ancestors?”

“You didn’t imagine it. I heard it too…”

Is this normal? It can’t be!

It’s just been a few years since we last played games, why do we feel like cave dwellers now?!

Zhao Xinze looked at me with a bewildered expression. “How about we try another game?”

“Alright.”

Half an hour later, the two of us stared at the lopsided score caused by our poor performance, while teammates “kindly and warmly” insulted our ancestors.

“Kids these days swear so foully…”

“I think so too…”

“Maybe we should…”

I cut him off. “If we switch again, we’ll only have childhood web mini-games left. How about we just find another place to hang out?”

Zhao Xinze sighed heavily, as if unable to accept that he had gone from a top e-sports player to a ridiculed “elementary school student.”

“Forget it, I’m done. My spirit’s broken. I’ll go back and sleep. Let me take you back so you don’t have to take a taxi.”

“Alright, but first come with me to buy some groceries.”

“What, you’re still going to cook for Xu Zhixia?”

I gave Zhao Xinze a glare. “You mean I don’t need to eat?”

“Ah, that’s not what I meant…”

After buying a few simple ingredients, Zhao Xinze drove me back to the villa.

“I won’t go inside to avoid making things awkward for Xu Zhixia if she finds out.”

“Alright, see you at the airport tomorrow.”

That evening, I cooked mushroom with bok choy, minced meat tofu, steamed a single serving of rice, and made seaweed, dried shrimp, and egg drop soup.

I finished brewing today’s herbal medicine, but Xu Zhixia hadn’t returned. She was probably unable to resist and had gone back to the club to drink and mingle with male models again.

After tidying up, I was about to go upstairs to my room when my phone rang—it was Xiao Zhu calling.

“Brother Jiang, General Xu got drunk and insists you come pick her up. Are you available?”

It had only been a few days, and Xu Zhixia was already losing control. Who exactly was at that club, making her risk undoing all her progress just to boost sales at this critical moment?

Recalling last time when Xu Zhixia also had Xiao Zhu use the same tactic to lure me over, I was smarter this time and said, “I’ve already gone to bed, so it’s inconvenient for me to come. Just take her back yourself.”

“Using the same trick again won’t work. If she refuses to come back, let her sleep it off at the club and come back when she’s sober—if she’s not afraid of being photographed.”

On the other end, Xiao Zhu looked at the drunken Xu Zhixia slumped on the sofa like a puddle of mud, struggling as he tried to help her.

“Brother Jiang, General Xu is really drunk this time. Whenever I touch her, she resists. I’m really at my wit’s end…”

Listening to Xiao Zhu’s near-tearful voice, I remained indifferent.

“Xiao Zhu, you’re a man. You should be able to handle a drunk woman.”

Xiao Zhu abruptly hung up and switched to a video call.

Seeing his persistence, I answered. In the video, Xu Zhixia was slumped on the sofa. Xiao Zhu was holding his phone, trying to help her up, but she waved him away.

“Go away… Where’s Jiang Jian? Why hasn’t he come yet?!”