Chapter 32

“Sorry, but I do mind,” Xiao Youqian said, smiling sweetly at the two men. “We chatted nicely just now—don’t ruin it. I need to hang out with my friends now.”

“Then how about we swap WeChat?” one guy asked, unwilling to give up. “Next time we’ll invite you out for drinks.”

“I come here a lot. If we bump into each other again, we’ll call it fate.” She wagged a finger. “I’m a big believer in destiny. When we meet again, we’ll add each other.”

She ushered the two men away.

Kong Fugui watched the whole thing with a grin, never once interrupting. Now he teased, “Since when do you believe in fate?”

“Since about thirty seconds ago.” She shrugged, then lifted her glass, clinked the nearest one—Ai Qing’s—and downed the drink. “My bad, guys. Hope I didn’t kill the mood.”

“Having Sis Qian here is the mood,” Kong Fugui said, sliding her a fresh fruit wine. “Otherwise three dudes like us would’ve skipped the bar and hit a street-side food stall.”

“Honestly, food stalls sound great,” Wu Yong said bluntly.

He’d just finished years in the army; the swirl of neon and bass felt foreign.

“Whatever, let’s finish up and go,” Ai Qing said after a sip. “I want to get home early.”

“What’s the rush?” Kong Fugui raised an eyebrow. “Got a girlfriend waiting?”

“Where would I get a girlfriend?” Ai Qing shot back. “I can’t wreck my body clock. I’m in the new-book period—numbers are everything. If it flops, you supporting me?”

“Sure,” Kong Fugui answered, deadpan. “We’re brothers. If you bomb, I won’t let you starve.”

“Gee, thanks.” Ai Qing rolled his eyes.

Truth was, if the novel cratered he’d just slink home and let his parents feed him while he looked for a job.

Problem was... he had no idea what job.

Aside from generic gigs like delivery boy or waiter, Ai Qing was qualified for nothing.

His college major had evaporated from his brain years ago.

“You could be my pet-hospital receptionist,” Xiao Youqian chirped. “With that face? Shame to waste it.”

They drank, chatted, rolled dice.

Loser picked Truth or Dare—basically a conversation starter.

Kong Fugui lost and chose Truth.

Xiao Youqian leaned in, eyes sparkling. “How old is your little girlfriend, anyway?”

“Cough...” Kong Fugui took a sip. “Younger than you, Sis Qian.”

“You brat.” She pouted. “Please tell me she’s not still in school.”

“Next round.” He tossed the dice into the cup and rattled it. “Just you wait, Sis Qian.”

Next loser: Ai Qing.

“Truth.”

“I’ve got this!” Xiao Youqian didn’t let anyone else speak. “The other day you bought women’s underwear and a dress—what’d you do with them?”

“Gave them away.” Short, sweet, and he immediately started shaking the cup for the next round.

“Seriously?” She squinted. “You hole up writing all day—where do you even meet girls?”

“Why do you care?” Kong Fugui chuckled, enjoying his insider knowledge. “What’d you think, he wears them himself?”

“Er...” She flushed. “I did wonder. People have hobbies these days, you know.”

“Stop right there!” Ai Qing’s face darkened. “I’m not squeezing into women’s sizes.”

Next round, Wu Yong lost.

“What’s the name of the girl you like?” Xiao Youqian asked.

“Pan Hongmei,” he answered, straight-faced.

The other three went silent.

“Suddenly I feel like a terrible person,” Kong Fugui muttered.

Xiao Youqian clutched her chest. “Xiao Yong... my conscience hurts.”

“You just weaponized Truth or Dare,” Ai Qing said, awed. “You broke both of them.”

They raised their glasses to Wu Yong in sympathy.

Round four: Xiao Youqian finally lost.

“Sis Qian...” Kong Fugui cracked his knuckles, rolled his neck, warmed up like a boxer. “Ready?”

“Ask away. I’ve got no secrets.”

“Among your ex-boyfriends, oldest and youngest ages—go.”

She thought. “Oldest was twenty-nine, a senior who’d already graduated. He’d be in his thirties now.”

“Youngest, hmm...” She actually blushed. “A little brother who’d just finished the College Entrance Exam. Didn’t ask his exact age.”

“How many have there been?” Kong Fugui looked her up and down. “You into the younger-man thing?”

“He was cute; I liked them young back then,” she said, unapologetic. “Better body than you lot—well, maybe not quite Xiao Yong’s level.”

“Then how about our Old Wu here?” Kong Fugui slung an arm around Wu Yong.

“I’m open,” she laughed, lifting her glass to Wu Yong. “Lately I’m into the older-man type, but Xiao Yong can cut the line if he wants.”

Wu Yong waved both hands. “I don’t like older women.”

Kong Fugui burst out laughing.

Xiao Youqian only rolled her eyes. “So clueless. Good luck ever finding a wife.”

Dice rolled on.

Round five: Ai Qing lost again.

This time he was ready. “No more truths. I pick Dare.”

“You sure?” Kong Fugui smirked. “Head downstairs and I’ll point out a girl for you to—”

“Hey, hey!” Xiao Youqian cut him off. “Boring. Let me.”

“Hand over your phone. Open Taobao, go to your cart. We pick three items, you buy them right now.” She grinned. “My treat.”

A free shopping spree—anyone’s dream.

But before she finished speaking, Ai Qing’s face went white.

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