Fearing the lovestruck girls might pounce on Lou Wan and devour him alive, Yun Jia quickly clarified, “His grandmother died, and he promised her he wouldn’t gamble anymore.”
“Wow! So loyal and devoted!”
“So true!”
“So moving!”
Yun Jia finally understood: in the eyes of these lovestruck girls, no matter what Lou Wan did, it was swoon-worthy.
After dinner, everyone except Yun Jia seemed reluctant for the night to end. Lou Wan suggested going to a KTV for karaoke. Yun Jia had never been to such a place with Lou Wan before. As soon as they arrived, the parking attendants greeted him enthusiastically, “Brother Twelve is here!”
Inside the lobby, it became even more chaotic. The manager, flanked by a line of hostesses, bowed in perfect unison and greeted him in sweet voices, “Brother Twelve!” With a wide smile, the manager said, “Brother Twelve, it’s been ages since you visited us. Our Brother Qiang was even asking the other day if we’d offended you somehow. I told him we wouldn’t dare offend Brother Twelve even if we had a thousand lives to spare! You must think our place is too shabby…”
Once inside the private room, the manager beamed. “Brother Twelve, bringing so many beautiful ladies today is truly an honor for us! Ladies, you must enjoy yourselves!” Then came trays of fruits, fresh flowers, and rounds of red and imported wines.
Sitting next to Lou Wan, Yun Jia overheard the manager whispering to him, “Brother Twelve, just say the word if there’s anyone you’d like us to get drunk tonight.”
Yun Jia seethed with anger but kept her face calm. She subtly slid her left hand under her right elbow, reached through his shirt, and gave his arm a hard pinch.
“Hiss!” Lou Wan sucked in air sharply through his teeth.
“Brother Twelve?” The manager, noticing Lou Wan’s pale face, asked nervously.
“It’s nothing, nothing. You can leave now.”
After the manager left, Wan Wan suggested they play Truth or Dare. Yun Jia refused outright. “I don’t know how to play that. Let’s just sing instead.”
“It’s fine! We’ll teach you!”
“Yeah, it’s super fun!”
Their excited chatter left Yun Jia with no choice but to go along with the majority. However, she insisted on one condition: “It’ll just be us. Lou Wan can’t join. If he does, we’re doomed.”
“Deal!”
Wan Wan suggested, “Then let Brother Twelve shuffle the cards for us.”
These lovestruck girls were learning fast, Yun Jia thought indignantly. They’d already started calling him Brother Twelve!
0 Comments