040. Bar
Ning Chu had never been to a bar before, but the ones in TV shows usually had music blaring and a bunch of guys and gals letting loose on the dance floor, which he found messy and unappealing.
However, the bar they were at today was quite different from his expectations.
The music was soft and mellow, the patrons were a bit noisy, and the bartender was showing off his flashy cocktail-making skills, leaving a few young ladies utterly starstruck.
Ning Chu settled into a corner booth, awkwardly leaning back on the sofa.
Zhang Shaoqing, on the other hand, acted like he had returned home, stretching out comfortably and waving like a wealthy playboy as he ordered a plethora of cocktails. In no time, the coffee table was teetering under an array of drinks and snack platters.
Wang Jie appeared just as reserved as Ning Chu, but after sipping a few drinks, his cheeks flushed with alcohol and his tense body relaxed, laughing and chatting with Zhang Shaoqing.
Wen Yang sat calmly to the side, sipping his drink and glancing around the bar with a look of mild boredom.
“This is a quiet bar, so it’s a bit more laid-back, but the service could be a tad better,” Zhang Shaoqing said with a cheeky grin to Ning Chu. “Otherwise, we could’ve hired a couple of girls to liven things up.”
“……”
Ning Chu had completely forgotten that bars had waitresses. After all, he’d never been exposed to that realm.
“Want a drink?”
“No, thanks.” He turned his head away with a blank expression.
Zhang Shaoqing stubbornly held out a glass: “Coke, no alcohol, I promise.”
“Ha~”
They say many girls in bars fall for this line! A few drinks in, and they’re out cold, ready for anything.
Even though he’d known Zhang Shaoqing for a while, Ning Chu still couldn’t let his guard down around the villain. He didn’t even glance at the drink in front of him.
“Who comes to a bar and doesn’t drink?” Zhang Shaoqing murmured and then ignored Ning Chu, picking up a d*e and challengingly looking at Wang Jie and Wen Yang. “Care to join?”
“Sure, why not.”
Not that exhilarating… just a place to drink and snack.
Ning Chu reclined on the sofa, slowly munching on a bag of chips while feeling out of place next to the dice-throwing crew.
He had initially hoped to see bunny girls or some bizarre performances at Little Emperor Wen’s bar… instead, there was only a middle-aged uncle crooning love songs in a hoarse voice.
After a few drinks, Wen Yang, feeling a bit tipsy, turned to Ning Chu and asked, “Join us?”
“What if I get drunk too? The four of us will end up sleeping on the street.”
“Not happening, this drink is really just a soda!” Zhang Shaoqing pushed the drink forward again. “Ask Wang Jie if you don’t believe me.”
Wang Jie nodded and said, “I’ve had so many, and I don’t feel anything.”
“……”
Watching them, it seemed they needed to stay at the bar for at least an hour, and with nothing to do, that was a tad too boring.
Ning Chu cast a glance at Wen Yang and pursed his lips.
The protagonist wouldn’t lie, right?
He picked up the glass and took a small sip; it didn’t taste like alcohol at all, more like sparkling water mixed with Coke—sweet with a hint of aftertaste.
He really shouldn’t have come to a bar.
Letting Zhang Shaoqing attend a villa party was not a big deal; after all, this guy wouldn’t turn cynical just because he didn’t have a gaming team.
Ning Chu rubbed his temples in frustration and took a selfie with his phone to check his face.
His eyelashes were long, the corners of his eyes subtly tinted pink, the flaws on his face decreased, but his more refined features and softer facial contour made him look even more like a girl.
He wondered if his roommates had picked up on any changes.
He sipped his drink again, unknowingly finishing one glass.
“Get me another!”
Chugging this much soda would normally cause bloating, but he felt nothing from this drink; his complexion didn’t change a bit.
Even if there was alcohol in it, the content was probably lower than beer.
“More?” Wen Yang paused, looking a bit surprised as he saw the slightly dazed look in Ning Chu’s eyes. He chuckled and handed over another drink, saying, “Come on, let loose today, you’re always so closed off. Keeping things bottled up isn’t good.”
“Drinking to drown sorrow is the least reliable solution,” Ning Chu shot him an eye-roll and muttered, “I don’t want to touch alcohol, but here we are breaking my rule.”
“It’s just a drink,” Wen Yang corrected.
“Think I’m naïve?”
Sighing heavily, Ning Chu turned to scan other booths, hoping not to find too many pretty girls around, feeling a bit relieved.
There was no need to worry about anyone trying to flirt with Wen Yang while he was drunk.
Besides, other than scripted characters, girls here probably wouldn’t dare to make the first move on men.
After just two drinks, Ning Chu restrained himself from wanting more, munching on snacks to pass the time. He didn’t know how long had passed when suddenly, Wen Yang’s head fell onto his shoulder.
Startled, Ning Chu looked down only to find Wen Yang’s flushed face, half-closed eyes, and the unmistakable sound of him burping from the alcohol.
Wow, is he already drunk?
No wonder the twins in the dramas have it so easy; their alcohol tolerance is pretty abysmal!
“Wen Yang, you’re really something,” Zhang Shaoqing commented after glancing over, teasing, “With a tolerance like yours, you might end up in the hospital after a business meeting. You need to practice more.”
“Maybe we should invite him to the bar every weekend to drink a little?”
Ning Chu shot him a look: “You just want to corrupt Wen Yang.”
So heavy…
In just under two minutes, his shoulder was numb from supporting Wen Yang’s head. Ning Chu awkwardly tried to adjust his position, but as soon as he moved, Wen Yang slid off his shoulder, his head plopping directly onto Ning Chu’s lap.
Whoa!
Ning Chu froze up, unsure of how to help Wen Yang up. A drunk person is surprisingly heavy, and no amount of effort seemed to budge him.
He couldn’t just push Wen Yang to the floor, could he?
So, he resorted to casting a pleading glance at Zhang Shaoqing, but Zhang Shaoqing was too engrossed in playing poker with Wang Jie to pay attention.
Well, Wen Yang was still a little out of it…
Even if there was some unintended intimacy, he was still a guy; Wen Yang wouldn’t think of doing anything to him.
Ning Chu decided to give up, leaning back on the sofa and staring blankly at the ceiling.
So hot… his vision was becoming hazy.
The effects of those two drinks were creeping up on him, and before he knew it, his face was flushed. He felt an overwhelming heat coursing through his body, and his consciousness began to waver.
Just two drinks! Is the alcohol this potent?!
Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he rubbed his temples to stay aware.
But a mix of alcohol and some strange scent was wafting into his nose.
He reflexively looked down at Wen Yang; the guy’s breath was warm against his lower abdomen, and the sensation of heat intensified.
That unfamiliar feeling was creeping back!
Ning Chu nervously rubbed his thigh, his breathing becoming noticeably heavier, the corners of his already flushed eyes glistening with moisture as his ears burned red.
A subtle movement brushed against his chest, sending a mix of discomfort and pleasure shooting up his spine.
He wished someone would just hold him…
