Volume 1, Chapter 55: Green as I Am

Lin Feifei's pretty face flushed instantly, and she made a move to tickle me again. Amidst our playful bantering, Zhao Yue and Lü Jingjing exchanged glances. Lü Jingjing smiled and said, "Zhao Yue actually asked me earlier if I wanted to set you up on a blind date! Looks like that won't be necessary now."

After finally "subduing" Lin Feifei, I smiled at Lü Jingjing and said, "Don't say that! You should still set me up. How else would I know how wonderful Feifei is without comparing?"

Zhao Yue let out an immediate "Damn it!" Then he blurted, "Damn it! How did you become so shameless?"

"Though his assessment of me just now was quite objective, to be fair," Lin Feifei unexpectedly stepped in to speak up for me.

While we were chatting animatedly, Wu Shuang finally arrived fashionably late.

"Sorry, sorry, I'm late. I'll penalize myself with a drink!"

As soon as he set his glass down, Zhao Yue quickly chimed in, "A single drink isn't enough! You organized this gathering tonight, and you're treating us—you're the rich guy here, after all."

Wu Shuang glanced at me. The dim lighting swept across his face, and whether it was my imagination or not, his gaze carried a profound and meaningful undertone.

"Bulls***. Yu Bin should be the one treating tonight. He brought a female companion for us to meet, so if he doesn't treat, who will?"

By this time, I finally understood—this bastard was actually trying to fleece me for a meal.

Before I could say anything, Lin Feifei took the initiative. She glanced at Wu Shuang and said with a bright smile, "I was brought here by Yu Bin, but I only came to this bar for your sake. If you don't treat, who does?"

Wu Shuang burst into hearty laughter, giving me a thumbs-up. "This girl is something else. If I'm treating tonight, then I'm treating."

We ordered a crate of beer and some juice for the two girls. Lü Jingjing couldn't hold her liquor well, so she had no objections, but Lin Feifei wasn't having it.

"Why are you guys drinking alcohol while I get juice? I want to drink beer too."

With that, she picked up a bottle of beer, brushed aside the bottle opener Zhao Yue handed her, and popped the cap off directly with her teeth. The entire sequence of movements was smooth and fluid, leaving the rest of us completely dumbfounded.

Wu Shuang chuckled and looked at me. "Not bad, brother! You've got game!"

We drank as we chatted. The topics we discussed whenever we got together were always the things from our university days—we must have repeated them countless times by now. But this time, with Lin Feifei present, she listened with rapt attention.

Resting her chin in one hand, her eyes curved into two crescent moons, Lin Feifei smiled and said to me, "So you used to be so deeply devoted back then!"

I took a small sip of my beer, the taste in my mouth full of bitterness. Thinking about it now, I felt both foolish and ridiculous.

Before I could reply, Wu Shuang curled his lip and said, "What's the use of that? When all is said and done, a man still needs money. Once you're wealthy, what kind of girl can't you find?"

With that, he tilted his head back and polished off half a bottle of beer in one go. He wiped the alcohol stains from his mouth, let out a drunken hiccup, and continued:

"Forget it, let's not talk about her anymore. Binzi, have you thought about your future? Are you going to keep renting?"

I cracked a grin, forcing out a bitter, self-deprecating smile. "Land in this city is worth its weight in gold. How could I ever afford to buy a place here?"

Wu Shuang took a casual sip of his drink, unimpressed. "What's the big deal? Have your old man pitch in some cash. If worst comes to worst, sell your family home back in the countryside, borrow a bit more, and you'll have enough for a down payment."

A surge of bitterness welled up inside me, and I quietly picked up my beer bottle, remaining silent. From the bottom of my heart, I didn't want to return to my hometown to live, but drifting away in the city made housing prices feel entirely out of reach. Some of my drifting friends had already packed up and returned home one by one, long ago slipping into a peaceful and steady life, while I still had no idea how much longer I could hold on here.

Fingering the beer bottle, I smiled wryly and said, "We'll see. Who knows, maybe one day I'll just pack up and head back home."

As I spoke, I almost instinctively glanced at Lin Feifei. Her expression remained completely normal, betraying no emotion whatsoever, which inexplicably left a lingering melancholy in my chest.

Wu Shuang curled his lip. "I'm being serious with you. If you want to put down roots here and find yourself short on cash, just say the word. Zhao Yue and I can chip in to help you out."

Biterness filled my heart, but a smile still hung on my face as I bantered, "Don't you guys worry yourselves blind. I actually do own a house—two of them, in fact!"

Wu Shuang paused, then chuckled. "Are you talking about your family's apartment and single-story house back home?"

"No. My left atrium and my right atrium."

"I'll be damned..."

Wu Shuang shot me a look of exasperated disappointment, curled his lip, and dropped the subject.

The conversation had grown a bit heavy. Sensing that I didn't want to dwell on it, Lin Feifei skillfully steered the topic back to our university days.

"Let me see some pictures of you when you were younger!"

I chuckled dryly. "To be honest, I really don't have any on my phone. I'm not someone who likes taking selfies."

Lin Feifei nodded. "Is it because hardcore straight guys all hate taking selfies?"

"No, I'm just afraid of being blinded by my own handsomeness."

"..."

At that moment, Wu Shuang suddenly pulled out his phone and handed it to Lin Feifei like he was presenting a prized treasure. "I've got pictures of this bastard back in college."

That bastard!

Back in university, my styling had been somewhat alternative and edgy. I had no desire for Lin Feifei to see my past photos, but unfortunately, this jerk Wu Shuang showed no understanding of my protective instincts and sold me out straight away.

Now I finally understood the profound truth of the saying: "Brothers are meant to be betrayed."

After looking through the photos, Lin Feifei's eyes instantly curved into crescent moons, and she smiled as she said to me, "I never expected you to look so fresh and innocent back then! Unlike now, when you're just pure sleaze."

"..."

I was left speechless and amused; this young lady could deliver quite a sharp sting when she wanted to.

We chatted and laughed, feeling as though we had traveled back to the past. Reminiscing about the clumsy stumbles of my relationship with Kuang Li stirred up plenty of emotion, but more than anything, what I wanted now was a calm and ordinary future.

Yet when that future came, who would be standing by my side?

After drinking a little longer, my phone suddenly chimed. I unlocked it to find a message from Zhou Shutong. She said she wasn't feeling well and wanted to pause the livestream early to rest, intending to resume it after midnight.

My head buzzed. That was when I remembered there was a livestream scheduled for tonight! Moreover, a new product drop was set for precisely midnight.

Knowing her as I did, she wouldn't have asked for leave unless she genuinely couldn't push through it.

I had been completely consumed and overwhelmed by family matters over the past couple of days, casting livestreams entirely to the back of my mind. Even though I was officially taking the day off, seeing that message still left a twinge of guilt in my heart.

After a brief hesitation, unable to shake my worry, I decided I needed to go check on her.

I raised my beer bottle. "You guys go ahead and drink. I have to head out; something came up with the livestream."

"Didn't you take the day off today? What does that have to do with you anymore?"

"Damn it, this gathering was specially arranged for you! How boring is it if you bail now?"

Neither Zhao Yue's couple nor Wu Shuang wanted to let me leave. I understood the logic behind everything they said, but I couldn't just pretend not to care.

Smiling, I shook my head, stood up, and made a move to leave. "You guys keep drinking. I really have to go."

Just as I turned to look at Lin Feifei, she stood up as well, as if reading my mind.

With a gentle smile, Lin Feifei said to Wu Shuang and the others, "I'm heading back too. Tonight's bill is on me."