Chapter 136: Is This Fun?

Guan Wei poured herself another glass and drained it in one go. “I have no idea what she wants me to wait for.”

Qiao Jiu blinked. “Perhaps, like they said at dinner today, she wants Mr. Liang to resolve the complications involving Xu Yi first, and then discuss the matter between the two of you.”

Guan Wei smiled faintly. “But once our relationship is settled, wouldn’t the complications involving Xu Yi be resolved as well? He already has a marriage arrangement. That gives him even more reason to fend off that woman’s advances.”

That did seem to make sense. Qiao Jiu suddenly did not know how to answer.

Guan Wei took a breath. A few seconds later, she managed to put on another smile. “It’s fine, it’s fine. His mother has never liked me anyway. I’m not surprised she would say things like that. It proves A-Jin didn’t lie to me. He really did go home and bring up the engagement. That’s enough.”

Qiao Jiu let out a soft sigh. Guan Wei really was easy to satisfy.

In some ways, the two of them were quite alike. At first glance, both were fiery and unreasonable, yet once they fell in love, they were both the passive ones.

Qiao Jiu could not use her own experiences to lecture Guan Wei. She wanted her to be happy, so all she could say was, “As long as he has you in his heart, that’s enough. Given enough time, his mother will naturally come around.”

Guan Wei hummed twice and lifted her glass. “Drink.”

They drank for an indeterminate length of time before the private-room door suddenly opened.

Qiao Jiu assumed it was a server bringing in more alcohol. Without even looking up, she said, “We’re not drinking anymore. Put away the expensive bottles and save your manager Guan some money.”

The newcomer said nothing. He walked straight to Guan Wei’s side, bent down, and touched her cheek. “How did you end up drinking so much?”

Qiao Jiu was so startled she nearly jumped up. “Mr. Liang?”

Guan Wei was already drunk. Everything before her eyes had split into doubles. She lifted her head and stared at Liang Xiujin for quite some time before recognizing him. Her eyes immediately curved into a smile. “You’re here.”

Liang Xiujin sighed and asked Qiao Jiu, “How much did she drink?”

Qiao Jiu glanced at the bottles beside them. Almost all of them had been consumed by Guan Wei. Though she claimed not to care, Madam Liang’s rejection had clearly left her upset.

“A lot,” she said.

Liang Xiujin sat down beside her and pulled Guan Wei into his arms. “You fool.”

After waiting for a while, Qiao Jiu suddenly spoke. “Mr. Liang, have you really decided that you want to stay with Guan Wei?”

“Of course.” Liang Xiujin did not look at Qiao Jiu. He merely smoothed Guan Wei’s hair and took the glass from her hand, setting it aside.

Guan Wei whined softly, “I’m happy. I’m not working anyway, so it doesn’t matter if I drink too much.”

Liang Xiujin’s voice was subdued. “I don’t see that you’re happy.”

Guan Wei wrapped her arms around his neck and nestled deeper into his embrace without saying anything else.

Qiao Jiu pressed her lips together. Once Guan Wei had quieted down, she asked, “There are some things I shouldn’t be asking, but Guan Wei is my friend, so I still want to say a few words. Mr. Liang, do you really no longer like Miss Xu? Not even a little?”

Liang Xiujin paused and turned to look at her. “Why do you ask that?”

Qiao Jiu smiled. “That day in the hospital, you seemed to care quite a lot about Miss Xu.”

Liang Xiujin looked at her. “I didn’t.”

His brows drew together. “I didn’t feel sorry for her.”

Half of the wine remained in Qiao Jiu’s glass. She tipped back her head and drank it all, then set the glass down. “Then have you been to the hospital again these past few days?”

He turned toward Liang Xiujin with a smile. “Whatever the reason, have you gone to see her?”

Liang Xiujin stiffened and fell silent.

Qiao Jiu sighed. “Men are truly impossible to understand.”

She stood and straightened her clothes. “I believe that you love Guan Wei, and I believe you’re willing to stay with her. But I still hope you’ll think carefully about what Guan Wei wants. Don’t assume that promising her marriage is the greatest proof of your sincerity.”

That was all she could say. She then turned and left the private room.

As she closed the door, she saw that Guan Wei had curled up in Liang Xiujin’s arms and fallen asleep.

Liang Xiujin held her and kissed her forehead. There was love in his eyes.

Qiao Jiu did not know how to judge it. Perhaps everyone loved another person in a different way. As an outsider, she had no right to comment.

After leaving the bar, Qiao Jiu pulled her clothes tighter around herself and walked for a while.

She had not drunk much. She was merely a little overheated, and the breeze felt refreshing against her skin.

After waiting for a while, she took out her phone. The screen was completely empty, and she smiled.

She walked on a little farther. Just then, a taxi drove over. Qiao Jiu raised her hand to hail it and gave the driver her home address.

Once the car started moving, she browsed through her social-media feed. She did not have many friends, and after falling on hard times, those few had avoided her even more assiduously. These days, the only people who liked or commented on her posts were Liang Xiujin and Liang Xiucheng.

Liang Xiucheng had apparently realized that she was in Guan Wei’s private room at the bar. He even teased them for living so freely.

Qiao Jiu sent him a smiling emoji. As it went through, she felt a little more at ease.

The taxi drove all the way to the entrance of the residential complex. After paying the fare, Qiao Jiu headed inside.

But after only a few steps, she stopped and turned around.

Few taxis lingered outside such an upscale residential complex waiting for passengers, and private cars were even rarer. The parked car therefore stood out conspicuously.

Lu Fengzhou had changed cars. He really did like showing off.

The moonlight was poor that night, and the streetlamps cast a dim yellow glow. Qiao Jiu could not see clearly into the car.

After thinking it over, she turned and walked toward it, circling around to the driver’s side and knocking on the window.

The person inside seemed determined to ignore her. There was not the slightest response.

Qiao Jiu gave a mocking laugh and turned to leave.

She had taken only two steps when she heard the window behind her roll down.

Qiao Jiu looked back. “Did you come here for something, Mr. Lu?”

Lu Fengzhou had a cigarette between his lips, though it was unlit. Perhaps because of the lighting, his expression appeared somewhat sinister.

He said nothing, so Qiao Jiu shrugged. “It seems you weren’t here to see me. Then I’ll be going. Bye.”

She even waved at Lu Fengzhou with exaggerated seriousness before turning and continuing toward the residential complex.

A few steps later, she heard a car door open behind her. Lu Fengzhou had gotten out.

Perhaps he moved swiftly, because Qiao Jiu could clearly hear his footsteps drawing nearer.

Only a few seconds passed before someone suddenly seized her arm.

Lu Fengzhou’s grip was strong. He pulled her directly toward him.

He led Qiao Jiu to the car, opened the door, and shoved her inside.

Qiao Jiu did not struggle. She obediently climbed in, and when Lu Fengzhou got into the car, she even shifted farther inward to make room for him.

As the door slammed shut, Lu Fengzhou leaned over her.

Qiao Jiu grinned. “There may not be many cars around here, but this is still a residential area. Aren’t you afraid someone will notice and gather around to watch?”

Lu Fengzhou gripped her chin. “How much did you drink?”

Qiao Jiu smacked her lips. She had not drunk much, but she certainly smelled of alcohol.

“Let me count,” she said. “Two bottles of red wine, and a few cans of beer. The beer was one, two, three…”

She counted on her fingers, though in truth, all of it had been Guan Wei’s.

Lu Fengzhou naturally saw that she was deliberately playing dumb. He tightened his grip slightly.

“Qiao Jiu, is this fun?”