Chapter 165: Chapter 76: The Top Star of the 1960s Song and Dance Troupe (15)

The men drank, ate skewers, and chatted, occasionally letting out a wild howl and breaking into a chaotic dance.

The women were more subdued, eating barbecue and drinking Peach Blossom Brew from clay jars.

Xia Zhaoyun took a delicate sip. The cool liquid was clean and crisp, with a hint of refreshing sweetness and a faint bitterness. It was much better than the red wine from lunch!

Maybe it was because the twelve hundred yuan and various coupons in her bag had solved her most pressing problems. Or maybe it was because she had finally had a falling-out with the Song Family after her new memories surfaced. Whatever the reason, she had been on edge for too long and was utterly exhausted.

Now, Xia Zhaoyun finally let herself relax, happily eating skewers and sipping her Peach Blossom Brew.

Huo Tianhao wasn’t a man of many words.

He rarely attended events like this. In his youth, he had either been busy filling his head with knowledge or strengthening his body. Now, he spent his days driving all over the country, making a hot meal and a hot shower a rare luxury.

He wasn’t drinking, just devouring meat and occasionally gulping down some tea. When he’d nearly had his fill, he glanced to the side. The corner of his mouth twitched, and a rare hint of amusement colored his eyes.

Xia Zhaoyun had managed to get herself thoroughly drunk!

Her eyes were misty as she stared at the meat skewer in her hand, muttering under her breath. Every so often, she would lunge forward to take a vicious bite, all while teardrops streamed down her face.

He couldn’t resist leaning in to listen, and the more he heard, the darker his expression grew.

"Men are all damn pigs... Empty-headed, with nothing to them but the meat between their legs..."

"I’m going to castrate every man on earth and gouge out their eyes..."

’Didn’t this woman have a boyfriend?’ he thought. ’She was so worried about her reputation, she made her stance clear several times. But listening to her now, it sounds like she’s been badly hurt by a man before.’

He stared at her pitiful state, an indescribable feeling stirring within him. ’She’s normally so capable. And she starts crying after a little Peach Blossom Brew?’

’He just couldn’t tell if she was genuinely crying or about to pull another one of her stunts.’

Just then, however, Xia Zhaoyun turned her head and saw him. Smiling, she reached out with a greasy hand and ruffled his hair. "This one’s a good boy, though," she slurred. "Why didn’t I meet you sooner?"

Her smile was radiant against the flickering bonfire behind her. The scene truly brought a classic poem to mind: *I searched for him in the crowd a thousand times. Suddenly, I turned, and there he was, where the lantern lights were dim.*

Huo Tianhao’s heart skipped a beat. Damn it. He was captivated.

While he was still stunned, Xia Zhaoyun staggered to her feet, planted a smacking kiss on him, and mumbled, "There. Stamped you as mine. I’m taking you home with me in the next life..."

Then, she went completely limp and fell asleep in his arms...

Huo Tianhao’s lips pressed into a thin line as he glared down at her, his expression as dark as a gathering storm.

Liu Mingkun, who had witnessed the entire exchange, instantly lost any courage to go over and tease him.

When Xia Zhaoyun opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was a pale pink bed canopy.

She blinked a few times and then shot upright, a dull, throbbing hangover headache pounding in her forehead.

She rubbed her forehead, staring in disbelief at the scene before her. Her brain struggled to process the antique, exquisitely tasteful room.

But a moment later, she remembered the barbecue at Liu Mingkun’s ancestral courtyard house. Xia Zhaoyun frantically looked down at herself. Her clothes were wrinkled, but all the buttons on her shirt were securely fastened.

Aside from a headache and a parched throat, she didn’t feel any other physical discomfort.

Xia Zhaoyun let out a long sigh of relief, but at the same time, a wave of lingering fear washed over her. She wanted to take a knife and crack her own head open to see what on earth was wrong with her.

’After everything I went through in my past life, how could I still not have learned my lesson?’

’Even if I trust this Brother Hao, men are just wolves in sheep’s clothing. Who knows what kind of filth is hiding under that righteous-looking exterior?’

’And even if he’s one of the good ones, what about the others?’

’Those compound kids drank so much, and they’ve always been careless when it comes to men and women. There was no guarantee that a single oversight wouldn’t send me down the same disastrous path as my past life.’

’One minute I was telling others not to drink, that alcohol is still alcohol no matter how weak it is. The next, I was turning around and chugging Peach Blossom Brew like it was soda!’

Xia Zhaoyun got out of bed and grabbed her bag. Even with over a thousand yuan inside it, her mood was anything but pleasant.

"You’re up? Come wash up. I’ll take you back after breakfast." Huo Tianhao had already returned from a morning workout, carrying fried dough sticks, steamed buns, soy milk, and savory tofu pudding. As he saw her, his gaze swept coolly over her soft, pink lips.

Xia Zhaoyun knew she couldn’t blame him for any of this. Taking a deep breath, she suppressed her turmoil of emotions and gave a listless nod.

After quickly washing up, she straightened her appearance and ate in silence. Putting down her bowl and chopsticks, Xia Zhaoyun lowered her gaze and said, "I’m already absent from work today anyway, so... Brother Hao, you can just drop me off at the main bus terminal. There’s a bus that goes directly to my factory from there. I won’t trouble you any further."

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