ushernet Chapter 91: Drunk
Chapter 91: Drunk
Chapter 91: Drunk
Wang Zijun really did bail on them.
The banquet was about to end, and there was still no sign of him.
“Hiss~ What’s up with you today? You seem out of it. Not like you at all.”
“Just a bit tired lately.” Xu Qing smiled faintly, picked up the coat draped over the chair, and put it on. As he stood up, the slight buzz of alcohol hit him, causing him to sway briefly. He steadied his feet, straightened his sleeves, and asked, “Where to next?”
“Karaoke and more drinks. You’re not done, are you?” His friend casually slung an arm over Xu Qing’s shoulder.
“I’m done, I’m done. You guys go ahead. I need a breather.”
Xu Qing shook his head with a smile. The thought of going out no longer interested him. He just wanted some peace and quiet, time to reflect on the changes that had happened recently.@@@@
Influence is mutual. It wasn’t just Jiang He who was influenced by him—unknowingly, he had also been influenced by Jiang He quite a bit. He just couldn’t tell whether it was the impact of his feelings or Jiang He herself.
He glanced at the dishes on the table, barely touched and already wasted, feeling an indescribable emotion.
It wasn’t awkward or jarring, but there was a faint, soft thorn pricking his heart. It didn’t seem like a big deal, but he couldn’t help noticing it.
What was the point of this dinner gathering?
Around him, people were getting up in twos and threes, still laughing and joking. The sound of chairs scraping, cups hitting tables, and bottles falling to the ground mixed together into a noisy hum.
Xu Qing suppressed his discomfort, left the private room, and stepped outside. The chill in the air cleared his mind a bit.
“You guys go on, don’t worry about me,” he told the friends who followed him out.
“Really drank too much? Come on, let’s have some fun. You don’t have to drink, just sing a couple of songs.”
“No, another time.”
Xu Qing refused, pulled his coat tighter around himself, and said, “I’m off.”
“Hey...”
Their voices were carried away by the cold wind. He squinted, exhaled a long breath, and watched the white mist drift from his mouth, feeling a moment of serenity.
Just then, his phone rang. He took it out and saw it was Wang Zijun, the serial flake, calling.
“Hello?”
“Qingzi, help!”
Xu Qing froze. A series of thoughts flashed through his mind.
“Where are you?”
“At Ru’s Hotel by Grand Plaza. Hurry!”
“What happened?” He paused, looked at the street on both sides, and asked, “Should I call someone?”
“...”
There was a moment of awkward silence on Wang Zijun’s end. “No... just come alone.”
Half an hour later, at Grand Plaza.
After a night of eating and drinking, all that was left was the smell of alcohol. He’d rather save the money and buy a couple of pounds of ribs to make soup for Jiang He.
“Had too much to drink?”
“A little... Mostly, I just don’t feel like it. Lately, I don’t enjoy being in big, rowdy groups. It feels pointless. Look at the past six months; I’ve barely gone out.”
He opened his eyes, staring at the ceiling. “How does that saying go? Human sorrow and joy are not connected. To me, they’re just noisy. Too noisy...”
“You really are drunk,” Wang Zijun concluded. “Just go yell a few songs, and you’ll feel better.”
“Not interested.”
Xu Qing closed his eyes again and, after a moment, said, “In the future, let’s just stick to small gatherings with close friends. These big events are pointless.”
He no longer wanted wild nights out. He just wanted a stable life.
“Why the sudden change?” Wang Zijun asked, puzzled.
“Sudden?”
“...Maybe not.” Wang Zijun scratched his head. This had started a few months ago. Before, Xu Qing would join nine times out of ten. Since winter began, though, he’d barely shown up.
“You go ahead. I just need some quiet.” Xu Qing’s eyes held a trace of confusion. There were things he needed to think about.
After a pause, he turned his head and asked, “How long did you book this room for?”
“The whole afternoon.”
Wang Zijun didn’t leave immediately. He sat down and glanced at Xu Qing. “If you’re drunk, just go home. What are you doing here... Did you fight with your girlfriend?”
“No. Just go.”
“Alright. Want me to extend the booking for another night so you can rest?”
“No need. I’ll leave after I sober up.”
“Alright, I’m off.”
The door clicked shut.
The hotel room fell into silence.
Xu Qing turned over on the soft bed, staring at a corner of the room.
Meaningless socializing didn’t compare to quality solitude. Reading a book, watching a movie, or browsing trending topics was far more fulfilling than aimlessly partying. He’d always known that, but never cared before.
That wasn’t what he was thinking about now.
In a fleeting moment earlier, he realized there was a difference between getting by and living life. Having someone wasn’t just about an extra pair of chopsticks.
For Jiang He, this place had everything. But for a young woman, he had nothing.
Attachment, responsibility, family...
He often joked about tricking Jiang He into marrying him. But was he really ready?
Setting aside Jiang He’s complicated identity, the word marriage felt surprisingly heavy.