Four Loko.
A popular American drink that most people who frequent bars and similar establishments know about. Generally, if someone buys you this drink, they’re likely interested in sleeping with you. The alcohol content isn’t that high, only twelve percent. But it tastes like fruit wine, making it easy to drink—you can have several glasses without a problem. This is what foreign playboys specifically use to trick young girls into one-night stands.
Ye Meng didn’t frequent bars much and had never been abroad. She wasn’t very familiar with this type of alcohol.
Looking at this situation, Li Jin Yu was clearly experienced in matters of romance, and well-versed in pick-up techniques used by playboys both domestic and foreign. Ye Meng thought that if he were to seriously pursue a girl, probably no one could resist him.
Ye Meng sat on the sofa outside the dance floor, waiting for him to finish singing. By the time Li Jin Yu came off stage, the music had switched to DJ dance tracks. The white spotlight was turned off, and colorful light balls slowly spun overhead. The entire dimly lit bar was wrapped in a colorful candy shell, with everyone crowding onto the dance floor, beginning their wild, chaotic dancing.
In ten minutes, there would be a band performance. Li Jin Yu put away his guitar and slung it over his shoulder, standing at the edge of the dance floor chatting with the band’s lead singer about something unknown. The lead singer did most of the talking while he listened quietly, occasionally smiling. As they chatted, the lead singer’s gaze suddenly turned toward Ye Meng’s direction. Li Jin Yu also looked over following his line of sight, but quickly looked away, smiling slightly and shaking his head at him. The lead singer showed a slightly surprised expression.
Suddenly, two girls emerged from the dance floor and walked toward them with shy expressions. The lead singer, with a cigarette between his lips, smiled and asked something unknown. The two girls lowered their heads, so awkward they nearly buried their faces in their clothes. Finally, gathering their courage, they asked something.
Li Jin Yu didn’t say a word, just took out his phone to scan something for them.
It turned out they wanted to add him on WeChat.
Li Jin Yu wasn’t considered a professional singer here. His singing was decent and very accurate in pitch—at least he had musical talent. But he lacked extra techniques and emotion; he just sang plainly. His songs didn’t reach people’s hearts, but at least his looks did. Regular bar patrons frequently asked about him, so the owner invited him to perform every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
After they added his contact, the lead singer rubbed his hands together, preparing to go on stage. The stage lights dimmed appropriately, and the men and women on the dance floor swayed like reeds planted in the center. Across the swaying sea of people, Ye Meng saw Li Jin Yu with his guitar slung diagonally across his back. Suddenly, in the dim light, he turned his head as if certain she was watching him, beckoned to her, and without waiting for her response, turned and walked through the back door passage.
Ye Meng finished the drink on her table in one gulp before standing up and unhurriedly following him.
Li Jin Yu was waiting for her by the garbage bin in the alley behind the bar, chewing a milk candy. Seeing her emerge, he crumpled the candy wrapper and tossed it into the garbage bin, asking with a smile: “Where to? Hotel?”
Whether it was the effect of the alcohol or her heart truly racing, it pounded against her chest.
Ye Meng realized that things had already deviated from her initial plan.
Her phone vibrated continuously in her pocket—probably Fang Ya En. While he was singing, she and Fang had been chatting intermittently on WeChat.
Ye Meng took out her phone and looked at it—a series of more than ten pop-up messages.
Fang: You’re saying Li Jin Yu has depression? Fang: Meng Meng, I know you’re troubled by your mother’s death, but your mother did commit suicide. Even if she called you before her death, the autopsy report and all forensic results at the time could only prove that your mother committed suicide. Fang: I can understand your sympathy and pity for Li Jin Yu, but I advise you not to get involved with him. You also said he clearly hasn’t received proper treatment, and perhaps he doesn’t even know he has depression. Fang: You said he’s very similar to how your mother was at that time. But do you know what you’re doing? Are you just attracted to him, genuinely wanting to help him, or are you trying to understand through him whether your mother’s condition was as serious as the forensic doctor said? If it’s the latter, then you’re being too cruel. …
Ye Meng didn’t reply. She discreetly closed WeChat and, under the dim streetlight, opened Didi to call a car, telling him: “Let’s go to the Home Inn nearby.”
Li Jin Yu curled the corner of his mouth but said nothing.
Two streetlights stood at the entrance of the alley, casting soft yellow light on their heads. Several bags of black plastic garbage awaited recycling at the alley entrance, along with a pile of scrap metal that might not be collected for ages. Apart from these, the scene was beautiful—the two of them standing quietly together was unexpectedly pleasing to the eye.
The car was still a kilometer away. Ye Meng noted the license plate number and put her phone back in her pocket, casually asking: “Little brother seems very experienced?”
Li Jin Yu leaned against the wall chewing his candy. Hearing this, the corner of his mouth paused. He looked at her with the candy still in his mouth and said coldly: “What’s the point in asking? You’ll find out soon enough.”
Half a minute later, a black Nissan Teana stopped in front of them. Ye Meng, being particular, had called for a private car.
Li Jin Yu stared at the car for a moment while chewing his candy, then snickered as he got into the back seat, mocking her: “You’re quite particular.”
Ye Meng followed him into the back seat, teasing him with a grin: “Next time I’ll drive to pick you up.”
“You’ve got quite the thick skin,” Li Jin Yu scoffed at her.
Ye Meng smiled without answering, excitedly scrolling through her social media on her phone.
Meanwhile, Li Jin Yu, who was lazily resting his eyes in the back seat, became confused. Why did this woman seem increasingly energetic? Four Loko typically knocks people out with just one glass. When he was in America, someone tricked him into drinking a glass, and if not for a friend’s warning, he would have almost been taken advantage of that night.
He glanced sideways and found Ye Meng still energetically liking people’s social media posts. She was truly bored, liking every post. She was just like his friend, Gou Kai. One thing he used to hate most about Gou Kai was that he was like a human like-button. They had many mutual friends, and sometimes when he carelessly liked someone’s post, Gou Kai’s comments and replies would flood his feed. Since coming here and changing his phone and WeChat, things have become much quieter.
The car stopped at the entrance of Home Inn. Without even completing check-in procedures, Ye Meng familiarly led Li Jin Yu past the service desk and up to a room.
Li Jin Yu waited for Ye Meng to open the door with his guitar bag slung across his shoulder. Leaning against the wall, he made another sarcastic comment: “You seem very experienced, familiar with this place like a staff member.”
Ye Meng looked up at him and swiped the door card with a ding: “Come in first.”
As the door slowly pushed open, Li Jin Yu first saw a pair of old leather shoes. Looking up, he noticed a man sitting on the bed. He turned to leave, saying, “I’m not interested in threesomes.”
He hadn’t intended to do anything in the first place; he just wanted to teach Ye Meng a lesson so she wouldn’t dare bother him again.
Unexpectedly, Ye Meng quickly grabbed him, her foot against the doorframe, turning to call to the older man inside: “Uncle Yang! Help me out!”
Uncle Yang scrambled out from inside, though this older man looked so frail he seemed about to fall apart.
Li Jin Yu, though tall and thin, was still a young man in his prime. Uncle Yang wore a pair of reading glasses and appeared to be in his early sixties. Li Jin Yu was afraid of breaking the man apart with the slightest movement, and he was also afraid of hurting Ye Meng. He could only endure as the young woman and the old man forcibly dragged him into the room.
“Bang!” With a loud noise, Ye Meng used all her strength, almost using both hands and feet to block him at the door. She pushed hard with both hands, and the 184 cm tall man was cornered by her in a kabedon style. Ye Meng was only 164 cm, and the old man was even shorter at less than 160 cm, blocking the outermost area. The three of them looked like a WiFi signal.
“I didn’t expect you had this kind of fetish,” Li Jin Yu’s guitar was thrown to the ground. He leaned against the door, looking down at Ye Meng with some surprise, and coldly laughed, “Let go, I’m not interested in playing with you two.”
The man’s warm breath fell on the top of her head. His entire body emanated a scent—slightly fresh and unfamiliar.
Ye Meng had never smelled it before, but it was unexpectedly pleasant and attractive.
Ye Meng’s heart was beating extremely fast, like a drum. Her head buzzed and swelled as if covered by a layer of gauze. She found she couldn’t see the hazy, handsome man in front of her. She could only feel his breath. It seemed like the Four Loko’s delayed effect had kicked in, causing her heart to race like never before.
“Li Jin Yu, listen to me,” Ye Meng cleared her throat. This alcohol had a strong delayed effect; even her voice had become hoarse. Although his body was as hard as a wall, Ye Meng felt her entire body was as soft as cotton candy. Her voice unconsciously softened, like she was coaxing a child: “Uncle Yang is a psychologist. He was a renowned expert at Beijing’s Sixth Hospital in his early years. He’s truly a very, very authoritative psychology expert! Authoritative. He’s been offering free consultations in our town for the past few years. I knew you wouldn’t agree if I told you directly, but you know you have issues, right? You want someone to help you, don’t you? Would you talk to him, please?”
The reason Ye Meng said Li Jin Yu was similar to her mother was because she could sense that Li Jin Yu’s current state, though seemingly half-dead, still had warmth in his eyes—like that night when he sat on the high bar stool, casually playing escape room puzzles. It reminded her of her mother during those years when she repaired cultural relics at home. He wasn’t beyond saving.
She asked several “don’t you” questions to lower his defenses, her voice softening to his heart, melting into water.
Her mind was foggy. She had used her last bit of strength outside the door, and the next second she seemed about to collapse into his arms. Yet her voice still persistently asked: “Li Jin Yu, did you hear me?” After speaking, she fell straight into his arms.
Li Jin Yu instinctively held her.
He was leaning against the door, one hand still in his pocket, the other around her waist. With a light lift, he cradled her entire body like a soft, warm kitten in his arms. Looking down, he saw the woman’s soft, reddened face resting against his firm chest.
“Yes, I heard you,” he said.
Ye Meng softly fell asleep against his chest, murmuring in her confusion, “Good boy.”
The old man stood behind, completely bewildered, standing motionless. Li Jin Yu, holding Ye Meng, helplessly smiled and took the initiative to greet him.
“Uncle Yang, long time no see.”
Yang Bing Zhang was his earliest psychologist and had watched him grow up. He had witnessed all of Li Jin Yu’s excellence and cautious efforts. At thirteen, to avoid affecting his brother’s college entrance exams, he had been abandoned by his mother, denied the guarantee of attending a top domestic middle school, and instead thrown abroad to live alone for three years.
The memory of that blurry youth rushed into his mind like a mountain breeze, his contours gradually becoming clear and bright.
After several years, he still looked outstanding. His features were strong, having shed the innocence of his youth, but that straightforward youthful spirit remained, and his eyes were still clear and bright. His casual “long time no see” had already made Yang Bing Zhang’s eyes grow hot with emotion.
“Jin Yu, you’ve lost weight.”