TNSFC – Chapter 20

The meal lasted nearly forty minutes. By the time Que Yining and Gu Shanxue left the restaurant, it was already close to nine o’clock.

Que Yining, holding her bag, faced Gu Shanxue with a smile. “Thank you for your hospitality tonight, Miss Gu, and for your gift. I like it very much.”

Gu Shanxue replied, “This is a token of gratitude for Miss Que’s help. There’s no need to be so polite.”

Que Yining’s voice rose. “Really no need to be polite? You’ve been very polite calling me Miss Que all this time.”

She complained, almost coquettishly, “Didn’t I tell you last time that you could call me Yining? You’re still calling me so formally.”

Gu Shanxue was momentarily at a loss. Before she could politely decline the idea, Que Yining spoke again with a smile.

“Just kidding, Miss Gu, don’t take it to heart. You can call me whatever you like. It’s getting late, so I won’t keep you any longer.”

Knowing when to advance and when to retreat allowed one to handle situations with ease; this was Que Yining’s consistent tactic.

She wanted Gu Shanxue to feel close to her without feeling like she was trying too hard to get familiar. So, she proactively gave Gu Shanxue the option to call her by her first name, without presumptuously calling Gu Shanxue by hers. This way, it would make the other person feel special without feeling offended.

Gu Shanxue’s words caught in her throat. Seeing Que Yining’s charming smile and tactful demeanor, she felt an indescribable sensation.

Gu Shanxue asked, “Did you drive, Miss Que? I can give you a ride home first.”

Que Yining shook her head, a knowing smile playing on her lips. “No need, I have another engagement tonight.”

Just then, Que Yining’s phone in her pocket rang. The caller ID showed ‘Qiao Yuchu.’

Que Yining waved her phone. “My friend is rushing me. I’ll get going then.”

Que Yining answered the call and stood by the roadside, preparing to hail a cab.

Qiao Yuchu’s background was a bit noisy. “When are you coming? We’re waiting for you. Wang Ruiyuan is here.”

Que Yining: “Soon. You guys can start without me.”

Que Yining hung up and sent a text message to someone in her contact list.

Seeing her about to call a cab to go to her appointment, Gu Shanxue spoke up again, “Where are you going, Miss Que? Let me give you a ride.”

It was getting late. Although Gu Shanxue had confidence in the country’s public safety, she couldn’t help but worry a little. After all, a beautiful woman alone at night could always encounter danger.

Que Yining naturally didn’t refuse this time. “To Chun Chao, the place where we first met. If it’s convenient for you, Miss Gu, then I’ll trouble you.”

Gu Shanxue had driven herself. After Que Yining got into the passenger seat and fastened her seatbelt, Gu Shanxue turned on the GPS.

The night scenery outside flowed past smoothly like water. Lu Su City wasn’t crowded at this hour. A little after nine, Gu Shanxue parked the car at the entrance of Chun Chao.

Que Yining unbuckled her seatbelt, got out of the car, and waved at Gu Shanxue, who was still inside.

She turned and entered the opulent entertainment venue, her figure graceful and beautiful from behind.

Gu Shanxue withdrew her gaze and started the car.

When Que Yining arrived, the drinking party inside had already begun.

Bian Ji’an and Wang Ruiyuan had a row of drinks in front of them on the table and were playing dice.

Seeing Que Yining enter, the smile on Wang Ruiyuan’s face faded somewhat. He looked at Que Yining and sneered.

“Que Yining, which car did you just get out of this time? Still in the mood for drinking, huh? Looks like that guy wasn’t up to much.”

Wang Ruiyuan hadn’t come alone; two of his disreputable friends were sitting beside him, and they snickered at his words.

The room was well-heated. Que Yining took off her coat and rolled up her sleeves.

Wang Ruiyuan remembered the time his forehead was smashed and couldn’t help but become wary.

Que Yining smiled sweetly. “I didn’t expect Young Master Wang to be concerned about my private affairs even while hospitalized. I really must thank you for your attention. What’s wrong? Just out of the hospital, can you even drink?”

Bian Ji’an feigned anger. “Eldest Miss Que, what are you saying? Are you looking down on our Young Master Wang? Of course, he can drink! Isn’t he playing dice with me right now? Loser drinks a shot.”

Bian Ji’an, enjoying the drama and not minding making it worse, first hyped up Wang Ruiyuan, seemingly defending him, but his eyes darted around, and he winked furiously at Que Yining.

Qiao Yuchu said, “Bian Ji’an, you’re wrong there. Wang Ruiyuan can’t hold his liquor that well, can he? He only manages to put on a brave front for Gu Qianqian. Now that Gu Qianqian isn’t here, he’ll probably claim he’s drunk and run off after just a few drinks.”

Wang Ruiyuan snorted coldly. “Who are you looking down on?”

Qiao Yuchu: “Isn’t that the truth?”

Wang Ruiyuan scoffed. “Drink then, drink! You think I’m afraid of you? Today, I’ll drink you all under the table.”

Bian Ji’an clapped. “Exactly! Don’t underestimate us men’s drinking capacity.”

Qiao Yuchu and Bian Ji’an played good cop, bad cop. With their coordinated efforts, Wang Ruiyuan was fired up and ready to go.

Que Yining gestured with her eyes for Bian Ji’an to get up. She sat down in Bian Ji’an’s seat and placed her hand on the dice cup. “Just drinking is boring. How about we play this? If you lose, you drink. If I lose, I drink. Whoever gets drunk first apologizes to the other, how about it?”

Wang Ruiyuan sat up straight. “Bring it on! You’re definitely apologizing to me today!”

The people nearby cheered, and bottles of alcohol covered the table.

When it came to playing dice, although Que Yining wouldn’t dare call herself an expert, she had practiced diligently.

It couldn’t be helped; some people just loved playing it. To avoid embarrassing herself in social situations and to gain the upper hand, Que Yining had practiced this for a long time.

She weighed the object in her hand and casually shook it a few times.

Que Yining: “Let’s get straight to it. Highest or lowest roll?”

Wang Ruiyuan’s friend jeered, “We’re men, of course we go for the highest!”

Wang Ruiyuan: “Highest it is then.”

First round, Que Yining lost. The others enthusiastically urged her to drink.

Que Yining shrugged and downed the strong liquor in the small cup.

Next, Que Yining lost three rounds in a row. The alcohol began to take effect, flushing her face red.

Wang Ruiyuan mocked, “Que Yining, can you even handle this? If you’re that eager to apologize to me, you don’t need to be so roundabout about it.”

The people beside them booed. Qiao Yuchu grew a little worried and tugged at Que Yining’s clothes.

Que Yining gave her a reassuring look with her eyes and flexed her wrist. “Again.”

Wang Ruiyuan thought she was just being stubborn. Although he felt he was winning too easily, he continued to shake the dice cup in his hand.

Qiao Yuchu: “Six, six, six! Three sixes, the highest! Wang Ruiyuan, you’re drinking this time for sure!”

Wang Ruiyuan looked in disbelief. His roll was a three, four, four – a clear loss.

Wang Ruiyuan: “Alright, your luck’s finally kicked in, huh?”

Wang Ruiyuan drank a cup, tossed the empty glass on the table, and wiped his chin. “Again.”

Que Yining rolled three sixes again. Wang Ruiyuan stood up and rubbed his eyes.

“No way, your luck is too good! Did you even shake it properly?”

Que Yining raised an elegant eyebrow. “Everyone saw me shake it. Can’t afford to lose?”

Wang Ruiyuan had no choice but to drink another cup.

But when Que Yining rolled three sixes yet again, he became indignant.

“Are you pulling some kind of trick?”

Qiao Yuchu: “Hey, if you can’t afford to lose, just say so. Why falsely accuse someone? If she was cheating, would she have lost to you three times in a row earlier?”

Wang Ruiyuan: “Then let’s switch.”

Que Yining, completely unconcerned, pushed her dice cup towards him. “As you wish.”

Que Yining made Wang Ruiyuan lose ten rounds in a row. It wasn’t always three sixes; sometimes it was five-six-six, sometimes five-five-six, but she always had the upper hand.

Wang Ruiyuan, in disbelief and frustration, drank ten penalty shots. He irritably shook his head, tugged at his shirt buttons, yet refused to admit defeat. His eyes were bloodshot as he stared intently at Que Yining’s hands.

Que Yining didn’t intend to stop there either. She deliberately let up, flicking her wrist, and allowed herself to lose two rounds.

Wang Ruiyuan immediately vented the frustration from being crushed and humiliated, urging Que Yining to drink.

After losing two rounds, Que Yining had a new proposal.

“Drinking like this, who knows when we’ll determine a winner. How about we mix the drinks? If I lose, not only will I apologize to you, I’ll also apologize to Gu Qianqian.”

Qiao Yuchu: “Yining, don’t raise the stakes so high!”

Wang Ruiyuan, already feeling the effects of the alcohol, slammed the table. “Alright!”

If he could make Que Yining apologize to Qianqian, Qianqian would definitely be happy.

Bian Ji’an and the others mixed several types of strong liquor together, placing them cup by cup on the table. Everyone’s excitement was pushed to a peak by this escalation.

The mixed alcohol was like a bomb, its surface shimmering under the lights.

Que Yining once again rolled three sixes and pushed a glass towards Wang Ruiyuan. “Drink up.”

The others in the private room clapped their hands. “Drink! Drink!”

Wang Ruiyuan, craning his neck stubbornly, said, “Drink, then drink!”

He gulped it down, the strong afterkick making him frown repeatedly.

As Que Yining prepared to shake again, he called out, “Stop!”

“Switch! We’re comparing for the lowest roll now.”

Qiao Yuchu booed him, but he didn’t care.

Que Yining had only drunk five small cups in total. The original owner’s alcohol tolerance wasn’t very good. She felt a little dizzy but was still clear-headed.

“Alright, lowest roll it is then.”

Que Yining raised her hand and shook the dice cup. Unlike Wang Ruiyuan’s repeated shaking, she just casually shook it twice and placed it on the table.

The dice cup was lifted. Three ones.

Qiao Yuchu: “Amazing! Wang Ruiyuan, drink!”

Qiao Yuchu felt her friend was having an incredible stroke of luck tonight. When Que Yining first started playing, Qiao Yuchu had been sweating bullets for her.

Wang Ruiyuan drank three cups of the mixed liquor. His face was flushed crimson, and his head was buzzing, but he still clung to the dice cup.

His speech was slurred. “Again!”

Que Yining: “Come on.”

Que Yining didn’t roll three ones this time, but a low combination that included a two. Unexpectedly, Wang Ruiyuan actually rolled the absolute lowest score: three ones.

Que Yining drank without hesitation. The taste of the mixed alcohol exploded on her taste buds, and a slight burning sensation spread through her stomach as it went down. The afterkick hit her almost immediately, making her head feel a bit fuzzy.

Que Yining didn’t plan to keep toying with Wang Ruiyuan any longer; she decided to go for a quick victory.

Wang Ruiyuan lost three more times in a row. His brain was no longer capable of reacting with shock or anger. By the second drink, he couldn’t hold it down and threw up.

Qiao Yuchu, who had joined in the fun playing finger-guessing games with Wang Ruiyuan’s friends and had also drunk quite a bit, muttered that Wang Ruiyuan was wimping out.

Bian Ji’an: “That’s about enough. Any more drinking and he’ll end up in the hospital.”

Wang Ruiyuan was already dead drunk, slumped on the sofa. Two of the friends he brought had been drunk under the table by Qiao Yuchu, and another one had taken drugs and was swaying his head.

Que Yining pressed her temples, found a contact on her phone, and sent a text message. She looked at Wang Ruiyuan and sneered.

“Tonight’s main event is just beginning.”

Several men pushed open the door and entered. Que Yining tilted her chin up, signaling them to proceed as planned.

When Bian Ji’an saw them starting to undress Wang Ruiyuan, he was scared witless. “Hey, hey, hey! No, this isn’t necessary, is it? Are you going to let his chrysanthemum bloom tonight?”

Que Yining snorted. “I didn’t pay for that. Just sit tight.”

Que Yining had them pose Wang Ruiyuan, making sure not to show anyone’s faces. She took out her phone and snapped three quick photos, then gestured for the men to leave.

Bian Ji’an swallowed hard. “Truly ruthless.”

Que Yining sat on the sofa, holding her head and waving her hand dismissively. Looking at the disheveled idiot lying there, she wanted to grab her phone and post on her Moments.

But her head was spinning too violently. Her body was out of control, and she couldn’t even tap the right icons on her phone.

The world became bizarre and fantastical; lights elongated and blurred in her vision.

Qiao Yuchu helped her up. “Should I call your driver to take you home?”

Que Yining: “No, I want to go to Tianxin Courtyard.”

Qiao Yuchu was bewildered. “Where’s that?”

Que Yining paused, slowly remembering that was from her past life. Where was she supposed to go in this life?

She couldn’t recall the name of her residential complex, couldn’t remember where she was going, and had even forgotten where she was standing.

Qiao Yuchu: “Aiya, I should have stopped you from drinking. Your tolerance isn’t good to begin with. Look at you, you’re completely out of it. Don’t move, I’ll use your phone to call your driver.”

Que Yining shook her head. “No.”

She seemed to remember something else…

Qiao Yuchu: “Alright, alright, then I’ll take you back to my place.”

Que Yining, eyes closed, leaned against her and murmured, “Gu Shanxue…”

Qiao Yuchu: “…Damn, forgetting friends when you see a pretty face, huh?”

Qiao Yuchu: “Fine, I’ll call her, I’ll call her. I’ll call your Gu Shanxue for you, tsk tsk tsk.”