Shen Xi Fan became bolder as the game went on, even winning a few rounds. Meanwhile, Ding Wei, muddled by alcohol, lost several times in a row. Xu Xiang Ya took the opportunity to demand a story about his first love.
Ding Wei drained a glass of liquor in one go before starting. “I grew up poor and didn’t even attend college. Back in high school, a rich girl fell for me—she lived in a mansion and her family drove BMWs. At first, I thought it was just a fling, but I ended up falling for her. We were tangled up in a relationship for years. Of course, her family opposed us, and they even locked her up at home. We planned to elope, but they caught us. Three days later, she married someone else. I left my hometown after that and have never gone back. I don’t want to go back. For years, every time I closed my eyes, I saw her tearful face and heard her screaming my name…”
The atmosphere became somber, and soon, they abandoned the game entirely. Xu Xiang Ya shared her own romantic misfortunes, and Ding Wei kept drinking. Shen Xi Fan listened intently, sighing occasionally, while Lin Yi Shen also seemed uncharacteristically emotional.
The last evening of the old year, with New Year’s Day approaching, turned unexpectedly heavy.
Suddenly, Shen Xi Fan glanced at her watch and snapped back to reality. “It’s already 9:30! Ding Wei, you’re supposed to be on duty!”
Lin Yi Shen gave a bitter smile. “Ding Wei’s drunk…”
Xu Xiang Ya chimed in, “I’ll cover for him!” She tried to stand but wobbled, her legs giving out as she fell back into her seat. She pressed a hand to her forehead but insisted on getting up again.
Shen Xi Fan pushed her back into her seat and turned to Lin Yi Shen. “Senior, take them both home. I’ll go to the hotel and take over the shift.”
Lin Yi Shen hesitated. “Maybe I should go instead.”
She gave him a rueful smile. “And leave me to carry Ding Wei? Not happening. This one’s all yours. I’ll head out now!”
* * *
The winter night was freezing, with gusts of wind cutting through the air. As soon as Shen Xi Fan stepped outside, she felt completely sober. Light raindrops fell on her face, and soon the entire city was shrouded in a misty drizzle. Under the glow of streetlights and neon signs, the hazy colors of the night evoked an inexplicable melancholy.
Outside the bar, lone pedestrians passed by occasionally, while couples kissed unabashedly on the streets. Young, beautiful women clung to older men, coaxing them in saccharine voices. A woman dressed in striking clothes walked past Shen Xi Fan, leaving a lingering scent of perfume—“A Lifetime of Fire.”
The air was thick with a sense of intimacy, frivolity, and decadence.
She wanted to ask herself: In this urban jungle, can love really last forever?
At the hotel front desk, the receptionist was surprised to see her. “Manager Shen, isn’t Manager Ding supposed to be on duty tonight?”
Shen Xi Fan forced a smile. “Manager Ding isn’t feeling well. I’m covering for him.”
After retrieving the master key card, she unlocked the office and dropped off her bag. Just as she settled in, a sharp pain radiated through her stomach. Her heart sank—her period had arrived.
After taking care of it, she found herself laughing bitterly at her misfortune. Yet the pain left her too weak to move. She collapsed onto the bed, propping a pillow under her waist, and drifted off into a fitful, drowsy sleep.
She dreamt a long, fragmented dream.
In it, Yan Heng appeared, looking just as he had in their junior year. Smiling, he said, “Xiao Fan, I need to earn lots of money to take care of you, my little piggy. That’s why I need to focus on my studies.”
She was about to reply when another girl’s voice cut in. “Yan Heng, didn’t you say you already broke up with her?” It was unmistakably Gu Ning Yuan. Furious, Shen Xi Fan turned to shout at her, “What are you talking about? He never broke up with me! You’re the one who stole him! Otherwise, why would he like you?”
0 Comments