Soon, a 500ml bottle of beer was chugged down. Tang Yumeng put down the bottle and wiped the corners of her mouth with a napkin.

Zhou Rui was filled with frustration, still unable to accept Tang Yumeng's biting retort, indeed it was quite hard for her to accept. Zhou Rui had always had a crush on Lin Chuan, but all of a sudden, Lin Chuan had a new girlfriend. She couldn't stand it.

"Good, good!" The crowd clapped their hands.

"Secretary Tang, what a drinker!" Zhou Kai chuckled: "Who would have thought Secretary Tang could really hold her liquor like one of the guys."

"You flatter me." Tang Yumeng's face blushed slightly.

Zhou Rui drank alone from a bottle.

"Xiao Rui, stop drinking." Lu Dapao tried his best to persuade her, but Zhou Rui was not having any of it. Although Lu Dapao had strong feelings for Zhou Rui, he never dared to express them. He knew that Zhou Rui liked Lin Chuan, and there was such a vast difference between himself and Lin Chuan. Besides, Zhou Rui herself was so outstanding, not only did she study abroad, but she also graduated from a renowned university in the United States – many people envied her.

"Don't touch me." Zhou Rui pushed Lu Dapao away and said, "Let me drink, I want to drink."

"You'll get drunk if you keep drinking." Lu Dapao quickly added: "Beer is still alcohol, you know. Don't treat it like a soft drink."

"I won't get drunk!" Zhou Rui shook her head.

Lin Chuan sat opposite Zhou Rui and really could not bear to watch her like this, frowning, he said, "Xiao Rui, stop drinking. Drinking too much is bad for your health!"

"Who are you to tell me what to do?" Zhou Rui retorted angrily: "What are you to me, what right do you have to order me around!"

The scene once again fell into silence, everyone was dumbfounded, their faces filled with surprise, afraid to make a peep. The atmosphere became somewhat bizarre. That Zhou Rui had feelings for Lin Chuan was a fact that everyone knew in their hearts. However, they also knew that Lin Chuan had no interest in Zhou Rui, as his girlfriend was Tang Yumeng. And indeed, with Tang Yumeng being such an outstanding and beautiful woman, anyone would like her.

It was just a pity about Zhou Rui's unrequited love.

Zhou Kai and the others dared not make a sound, fearing they might stir up trouble. Zhou Rui was someone who could do anything, and once she exploded, it was likely that no one could calm her down. Therefore, Zhou Kai and his friends wore worried expressions, afraid that something unexpected might happen.

"Let's eat, don't just sit there!" Lin Chuan called out.

"Yeah, yeah, let's eat, let's eat!" Zhou Kai quickly nodded in agreement.

The group immediately got busy, all revved up. Everyone started to eat hungrily. The atmosphere finally began to ease. Tang Yumeng sat next to Lin Chuan, her face always maintaining a polite smile, while Zhou Rui looked decidedly gloomy and sullen as if others owed her a lot of money.

Lin Chuan knew he couldn't stay any longer, so after a short while, he immediately proposed leaving.

"Guys, keep eating, I'm going to take Xiao Yu home first." Lin Chuan stood up.

"Okay." Everyone nodded and said, "Safe travels, Brother Chuan!"

Lin Chuan nodded and took Tang Yumeng's hand as they left the barbecue joint, leaving Zhou Rui looking even more annoyed and unhappy.

Leaving the barbecue joint.

Lin Chuan was holding Tang Yumeng's hand, walking slowly along the roadside, both of them silent.

After a while, Tang Yumeng spoke up: "Lin Chuan, Zhou Rui must really like you, right?"

"Not at all!" Lin Chuan quickly shook his head.

"Not at all?" Tang Yumeng tilted her head and blinked as she stared at Lin Chuan, saying: "Lin Chuan, you have to believe in a woman's sixth sense. It's never wrong."

"Hehe..." Lin Chuan grinned and said: "That girl Xiao Rui... is still young, she doesn't understand. In her mind, her feelings are still lodged in childhood memories. When she meets a more outstanding man in the future, she will naturally forget those childhood emotions."

"Really?" Tang Yumeng asked curiously.

"Of course!" Lin Chuan nodded, saying: "That girl is not even twenty yet, what does she understand?"

"And you? Just over twenty yourself, what do you understand?" Tang Yumeng smiled and looked at Lin Chuan before saying: "You speak as though you're an old hand when it comes to love."

"How could I be." Lin Chuan shook his head, he held Tang Yumeng's delicate and smooth hand, smooth as silk. Lin Chuan smiled and said: "It was only when I met you that I experienced the dawn of love, only then did I come to understand what love is, to understand what it means to love."

"Really?" Tang Yumeng looked at Lin Chuan curiously, saying: "Then tell me, what is love?"

"Simply put, love can be a feeling, when two people feel it, when you like me and I like you, and you start dating, that's called love." Lin Chuan smiled and gently hugged Tang Yumeng, continuing, "Of course, love can also be fate, which brings together two people from the ends of the earth to know each other, to love one another, and to stay with one another. Love is also a life journey, being there for each other through thick and thin, holding hands till old age! To be with you until we're old, and never let go!"

"What a phrase, 'to be with you until we're old, and never let go.'" Tang Yumeng looked at Lin Chuan gratefully, saying: "Lin Chuan, thank you for letting me know what love is."

"Fool!" Lin Chuan tightly embraced Tang Yumeng.

Under the dim streetlight, their two shadows were stretched out long and far.

In the veil of night, it seemed nothing could pull these two apart. In this moment, they appeared as if they would never be separated.

Lin Chuan escorted Tang Yumeng back to the City Committee Courtyard, then turned back on his own.

"Lin Chuan." Out of the darkness, a figure appeared under a nearby streetlight. With her back to the light, Lin Chuan couldn't make out her face clearly, but from the silhouette and clothing, it was undoubtedly Fang Yuan.

"You... are you Fang Yuan?" Lin Chuan furrowed his brows.

"Yes." The figure walked slowly towards him, dressed in a stylish, revealing pink outfit, holding a cigarette. Parked beside her was a Beetle car. She took a drag and asked, "Are you free?"

"What's up?" Lin Chuan asked curiously.

"Keep me company for a bit." Fang Yuan's expression was somewhat downcast and lonely.

Seeing her expression seemed truly amiss, Lin Chuan asked with concern, "Did something happen?"

"Just feeling a bit annoyed." Fang Yuan sighed.

"What on earth happened?" Lin Chuan asked with curiosity.

"Nothing. Just... some family conflicts!" Fang Yuan said with a wry smile, "How about we find a place to have a few drinks?"

Lin Chuan thought for a moment, glanced back at the City Committee Courtyard not far away, then nodded, "Alright."

Lin Chuan really saw Fang Yuan as a friend, and besides, Fang Yuan's first time had been with him, which filled him with a sense of guilt. Now that she was in trouble and coming to him for a talk seemed perfectly normal. After all, he was her first man.

Lin Chuan got into the car, and Fang Yuan drove him to the Night Color Bar.

Whenever Lin Chuan went out for drinks with Fang Yuan, he never had to pay. She covered all the expenses, though Lin Chuan had never actually seen her pay; perhaps she kept a tab for her daily expenditures.

Upon reaching the bar, the usual loud and lively atmosphere greeted them. What piqued Lin Chuan's curiosity was that today the rock band seemed to have a new lineup. Inside the dance floor, many were shaking their heads to the rock rhythm, while some drug-induced youths looked as if they were about to shake their heads off. Drunken people lay on the floor like dead dogs, with pools of vomit at their lips. In the bar, pairs of sharp eyes were on the prowl for prey, fully prepared for the hunt.

In a dark corner, successful Hunters were already indulging in their prey. A sleazy-looking man was making a move on a drunken girl in red, his filthy hands furiously kneading inside her dress while he lifted her skirt. The man had his pants half down, ready to attempt his first assault.

Fang Yuan ignored all this, and Lin Chuan followed her in without comment.

There were already quite a few people sitting at the bar, but as soon as they saw Fang Yuan approaching, they immediately made way, respectfully calling out, "Sister Fang."

Fang Yuan paid them no heed, sitting down arrogantly. The very moment she did, her barely contained chest trembled violently. She ordered the bartender, "Bring two bottles of Charming Blue."

"Right away!" The bartender nodded immediately.

Behind the bartender, on the very top of the shelf, stood two bottles of Charming Blue. To Lin Chuan's surprise, the bar never had Charming Blue whenever he came alone, but if he came with Fang Yuan, the shelf would never be without it. It was quite baffling.

Fang Yuan opened a bottle and poured it into a glass.

The fragrant aroma of the liquor instantly filled the air, unrestrained. Many nearby couldn't help but look over curiously.

"Wow, see that? That's Charming Blue."

"Is that the signature treasure of the Night Color Bar?"

A crowd of people looked on with curiosity as the light blue liquid flowed from the blue bottle. Fang Yuan slid one of the glasses toward Lin Chuan, saying, "Come on, have a drink."

Lin Chuan smiled and replied, "Every time I come with you, I'm in luck, always getting to drink Charming Blue."

"Really?" Fang Yuan's lips curled slightly, "Cheers."

"Cheers!" Lin Chuan nodded, "Put all the unpleasant things into the drink."

"Okay." Fang Yuan smiled.

They both drank head back, consuming most of the glass.

The strong burn of the alcohol rushed down into their guts. Even Lin Chuan, a man who had his share of strong spirits, felt it stinging his nose and burning his throat. Fang Yuan seemed unfazed, without a change in expression, while Lin Chuan was already starting to blush.

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