Because I had been drinking continuously for several days, and on this last day mixed many kinds of alcohol together.

It was one of the rare times I got really drunk. Coming out from Sister Shen’s club, I felt like I was staggering with every three steps. When hailing a cab, my hands kept shaking, seeing double.

I had also brought that little top student out. He was tactful and understanding, supporting me and asking, “Jie, where do you live? I’ll take you back?”

I said, “No need… you go back to school… remember, if anyone asks, just say you went back to the hotel with me tonight, okay?”

He nodded. He really was a smart kid, no need for extra words.

I understood the rules of this world very clearly—sometimes you have to let loose to enter certain circles.

For example, if I had enjoyed this handsome young man tonight, then Sister Shen and my relationship would advance further.

Because we would share a secret, and also share the worldview of carpe diem.

But I still didn’t want to be like that.

I remember when I was a newcomer, the way those in power looked at me—I had to mobilize every brain cell to disguise the disgust and contempt I felt from the bottom of my heart.

Cheng Xia once told me something: You fought them for so long, but in the end became just like them. There is no ideal in this world worth such degradation.

I hadn’t read that book, but I knew it must have been written by a learned person. They could always write out feelings I couldn’t express.

At any time, I didn’t want to become the kind of person I found disgusting.

I staggered off the taxi in three wobbly steps, almost falling on the hotel steps. Someone came out of nowhere to support me, asking, “How much did you drink? Do you have a death wish?”

I struggled to open my drunk eyes to identify him. Oh, it was that little top student. Hadn’t he left? Why did he come back?

“None of your business, go away, go—” I shooed him away in confusion.

He didn’t leave, directly pulling me into the hotel. I struggled for a while but couldn’t overcome the dizziness in my brain, so I closed my eyes for a moment.

When I opened my eyes again, I was already in the hotel room.

That little top student was taking off my shoes.

“What are you doing!” I kicked him away: “I’m telling you, don’t come over, I, I have a husband!”

“What nonsense are you talking!” For some reason he seemed quite righteous, shouting at me: “Lie down!”

I don’t waste words with criminals. I directly called the police. Holding my phone I said, “Hello, police? I was brought to a hotel by a strange man, and he’s taking off my clothes!”

He just stood there watching me make the call, not stopping me.

After calling for a long time, I realized my phone was dead, the screen had long gone black.

I could only sheepishly put down the phone. Inside my head it felt like a hundred airplanes were roaring.

He came over again, brought me a glass of water to rinse my mouth, then brought a wet face towel for me to wipe my face. It was very cool, making me grimace.

At this moment, my phone finally charged and turned on. I picked it up but forgot what I wanted to do, just scrolling randomly, and happened to scroll to a photo of Zhou Ting and me.

It was from when we went out together once, he had taken it with my phone.

I held it up to show that little top student: “This is my husband, you still don’t believe me… I’m telling you, people call him the Northeast Wolf, someone like you, he could punch ten with one fist!”

For some reason, he stood there quietly for a long time before saying, “Do you really like him?”

“Of course.”

I treasured the phone against my chest and even kissed it: “He said he’s liked me for a long time… someone like me, there’s actually someone who likes me…”

“I like you too.” He smiled bitterly and said, “I like you so much I’ve become neurotic. Can’t you just try to look at me again?”

I looked at him sideways. His appearance finally came into focus in my vision—jet black hair, camel-colored sweater, a gentle and clean face, clearly smiling yet carrying sadness.

I smiled. It was a face I had liked for many, many years.

“Being together would only bring us pain, no matter how many times we try, it’s the same.” I said seriously, word by word: “Because we’re from two different worlds.”

I closed my eyes. A physiological tear slowly flowed down from the corner of my eye.

The world swayed, finally falling into gentle darkness.

When I woke up the next day, it was already noon.

My head was splitting with pain, my mouth dry as a desert. Eyes closed, I reached for water but didn’t find any.

Someone helped me sit up, tucking a cup to my lips. It was cool, gentle Longjing tea.

“Thank… who the fuck are you!” I shrieked like a rooster crowing in alarm.

“Who do you think I am?”

I finally became completely awake. Before me was actually Cheng Xia, alive and in the flesh, wearing a white athletic outfit, calmly drinking tea.

And I, under the covers, was only wearing a camisole!

“Why are you here!” I was so shocked my eyeballs almost fell out.

Cheng Xia said irritably, “Yesterday I sent you a WeChat message, you told me your address, so I came over. Good grief, your phone just wouldn’t connect!”

“So…”

“So I waited at the door, finally waited until you this drunkard came back.” He said, “Why did you drink so much for no reason?”

He was genuinely a bit angry. I felt guilty, but this wasn’t the fucking time to feel guilty!

A double bed, blackout drunk, not wearing clothes…

Although I didn’t feel anything, but, but you’re not afraid of ten thousand, only afraid of that one chance…

“You, you should have, because I vomited, so you helped me take off my clothes, right? Nothing happened that would make the legal news, right?”

“Why wouldn’t anything happen?” He said through gritted teeth, “A single man and woman alone, you were unconscious from drinking, it would be too normal for me to want something to happen.”

“You!”

I was so startled I almost coughed out my lungs.

He quickly poured me water, saying irritably, “You should just be grateful it was me today. If yesterday had been any other man, what would you do now?”

I finally breathed a sigh of relief, slowly recovering from this explosive situation before my eyes.

When I was drinking, I had received Cheng Xia’s WeChat asking which hotel I was staying at. I was troubled and irritated at the time, so I casually replied, not at all thinking he would come over.

While washing up, I asked, “So why did you come?”

“There’s an academic conference here.”

“Such a coincidence?”

“Mm, otherwise I’d say, because I was really worried about you.” He leaned against the doorway, smiling, “Wouldn’t you find that awkward to hear?”

That’s true…

While tying up my hair, I changed the subject, saying, “There’s an acquaintance here who introduced me to quite a few construction company bosses. Their circle really relies on alcohol to talk. I drank until my stomach hurts.”

Cheng Xia frowned slightly: “What acquaintance? Don’t go to these things alone next time.”

“Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing.”

Actually this time I had gone a bit overboard. I kept myself conscious until getting in the taxi, then completely blacked out after. If it had been a strange man pulling me into a room, I would indeed have been in danger.

I half-jokingly asked again, “So you really didn’t take advantage of me, do some forced love or something?”

His character was quite trustworthy after all.

But I still remembered his crazy energy back then. On that boat, aside from eating it was just doing it. I felt like I was going to die in bed.

“Don’t worry.” Cheng Xia chuckled softly, walking to my side: “If I wanted to do something to you, would I need to take advantage of someone in distress? Besides, in this regard, you’re… not really someone who can resist temptation.”

“Me?” I was about to say I had just refused a fresh and tasty university student, but when the words reached my lips I realized that at this moment, we were too close together.

He braced both hands on the sink, embracing me from behind. We looked at each other in the mirror, his breath hitting the back of my neck.

“We did this once facing the mirror, you cried and begged me…” he said softly in my ear, “Do you remember?”

Those absurd, indulgent images involuntarily appeared in my mind. I should have immediately pushed him away, scolded him not to mention these things anymore, but as if possessed, I stood there frozen and unable to move, only able to let the circle of his embrace grow smaller and smaller.

This is all hormones, I thought sadly. I really hadn’t done it in too long.

Just then, the doorbell rang.

I pushed Cheng Xia away and went to open the door like I was being rescued.

It was Sister Shen. As soon as she came in she said, “Oh, you look pretty good! Seems like that little guy yesterday was quite sensible. I told you women should enjoy more. Today I’ll take you to play some new tricks.”

Her words came to an abrupt halt because Cheng Xia came out from the bathroom. He had obviously heard her words and completely understood, but he calmly greeted her, saying, “CEO Shen, hello.”

“Uh…”

Sister Shen looked at him, then looked at me, her usually shrewd face showing a trace of bewilderment.

I didn’t know how to explain, when Cheng Xia walked to my side, gently putting his arm around my waist. He said, “I am Dongxue’s lover. My name is Cheng Xia. I just came over yesterday.”