After several glasses of wine, this body’s tolerance for alcohol was poor to begin with, and Ji Xueli was already feeling a bit lightheaded.
Rubbing her temples, Ji Xueli walked unsteadily toward the restroom, hoping to clear her mind. She couldn’t be bothered with Duan Qingyu and those women anymore.
Staring at her reflection in the mirror, she couldn’t help but recall the rules Duan Qingyu had imposed on her. It was obvious—he intended to humiliate her, treating her like one of those who would strip naked for status.
Cold water flowed over her fingertips, the sound of the stream temporarily clearing her muddled mind.
What other tropes were there in those old-fashioned novels? The substitute trope, the transactional trope… It seemed this kind of humiliation trope was quite common in those stories.
“Young Master, you really can hold your liquor. Have another glass,” the woman beside Duan Qingyu smiled coquettishly.
Duan Qingyu pushed them aside with an indifferent expression, the perfume on them giving him a headache.
He glanced at the seat beside him—empty, though he didn’t know since when. Staying here had grown somewhat dull, though he didn’t know why.
Duan Qingyu set down his glass, watching the others revel. The person who had been beside him still hadn’t returned.
“I’m leaving,” he said, picking up his coat and standing. His expression was cold, his interest in this place completely gone.
“Leaving already?” Cheng Du wasn’t particularly surprised. After all, Duan Qingyu was unpredictable, his moods shifting like the weather.
“Hey, where’s Li Li?” He frowned, not seeing Ji Xueli beside Duan Qingyu.
Duan Qingyu didn’t care. Ignoring the question, he headed straight for the door. Right now, he just wanted to be alone and sober up.
But an oblivious woman stepped forward, clinging to his arm and whining, “Young Master, won’t you stay a little longer? Let’s play another game…”
The moment she touched him, he ruthlessly shook her off. “Get lost,” Duan Qingyu said coldly.
The woman fell to the floor, stunned. Weren’t they saying the Young Master was the most gentlemanly, that he pampered his female companions? Everyone who was with him rose to prominence without exception.
Cheng Du glanced at the woman on the floor, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. Another poor soul who believed the rumors. Gentlemanly demeanor, gentleness, elegance—it was all an act. Among them, Duan Qingyu was the craziest, cold-hearted and ruthless to the bone.
That’s why he was so shocked and incredulous when he heard Ji Xueli was pursuing Duan Qingyu. Back in middle school, they had known each other well. If she liked him, why had she chosen to be with Ji Yanzhou in the middle of it all…
As Ji Xueli stepped out of the restroom, she saw Duan Qingyu walking toward the exit. Puzzled, she quickly followed.
After all, she had come here for him, so naturally, she had to go where he went.
Duan Qingyu took the car keys from the security guard and was about to open the car door when a warm hand suddenly pressed down on his.
A woman’s voice spoke up: “Driving after drinking?”
Duan Qingyu looked over. Ji Xueli had somehow appeared beside him.
“What, are you going to drive instead?” Duan Qingyu lowered his gaze to look at her.
“Sure.” Ji Xueli raised an eyebrow and pulled the car door open with his hand still on it.
Duan Qingyu glanced at his hand, then at her, already seated in the driver’s seat. His eyes darkened slightly. It seemed she had forgotten she had also been drinking.
(Remember! Never drink and drive! Don’t take fictional actions seriously!!)
Duan Qingyu circled around and sat in the passenger seat. Things were starting to get interesting again.
Ji Xueli gripped the steering wheel, her gaze shifting slightly. It just so happened that she had been holding back a surge of frustration inside, and now was the perfect time to let it all out.