Chapter 11: Don’t Trust That Bad Woman

Jiang Yichen arrived at the Nine Block Tavern after having called Jiang Suihua more than ten times, all unanswered.  He’d rushed over at breakneck speed, sending at least eighty messages.

“Big Sister, don’t scare me,” he muttered.

Jiang Yichen put away his phone and began a meticulous search of the tavern’s main hall.

The lighting was dim, making his search difficult. He checked the left side, then the right, then the center, practically approaching every patron.

This made many people think he was acting strangely.

Upstairs, on the second floor:

Liu Rong: “Hey, Ling, has your family been pressuring you to find a partner?”

Qin Ling: “They used to, but not anymore.”

Liu Rong: “Why not anymore?”

Qin Ling: “Because I told them I found a boyfriend overseas.”

Liu Rong: “Won’t that be exposed eventually?”

Qin Ling: “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it…”

Qin Ling had a considerable alcohol tolerance, but even she felt the effects of the evening’s drinking.  It had been a long time since she’d enjoyed such unrestrained revelry.

Liu Rong looked at the woman beside her. If before, Qin Ling had exuded a cool, goddess-like aura, now, with the blush rising on her cheeks, she possessed a seductive, enchanting allure… like a celestial being fallen to earth…

*Tsk tsk tsk…* Liu Rong sighed inwardly.  God was truly unfair; she wondered what window had been closed for Qin Ling.

Slowly, Liu Rong noticed Qin Ling’s gaze following a certain young man downstairs.

The young man appeared to be about six feet tall, handsome, and quite refined, though his face held a worried expression.

“Another student from your school?”

Liu Rong immediately recognized him as a university student. The naivete in his clear eyes was identical to their own youthful days.

“Mm, my student,” Qin Ling replied, only now noticing Jiang Yichen’s frantic movements within the tavern.

“It’s past ten,” Liu Rong checked the time. “I remember our university closes its dorms at eleven… Should I have someone tell him to hurry back?”

“No need,” Qin Ling shrugged, unconcerned. “If he can’t make it back to the dorm, he can just spend the night at an internet cafe.”

“Tsk tsk, you’re quite the teacher…” Liu Rong shook her head.

“Why? They’re university students, adults, not high schoolers…” Qin Ling pouted.

“Ling, I’ve recently learned two new cocktail recipes. Would you like to try them? They’re delicious!” Liu Rong said excitedly.

“No, I’ve had enough for tonight,” Qin Ling waved her hand.

“Tsk…” Liu Rong felt a little disappointed, but when her gaze fell upon the lonely figure of Jiang Yichen downstairs, her eyes lit up. “Hey, why don’t we call your student up here? Let him try my new cocktails?”

Qin Ling turned her head sharply, surprised. “You’re really drunk.”

“Who’s drunk? I, the owner of a respectable tavern, drunk!?!” Liu Rong puffed out her chest. “I just want a guinea pig to test my new cocktail recipes.”

Qin Ling raised an eyebrow. “You mean, you want to use me as a guinea pig?”

…

Liu Rong’s face flushed, whether from drunkenness or embarrassment, she couldn’t tell.

Downstairs, on the first floor:

After searching everywhere, Jiang Yichen found no sign of Jiang Suihua. His gaze slowly drifted upward, towards the second floor.  His heart sank. According to the original story, after Qin Ling encountered Jiang Suihua, she first took her to a private room on the second floor and then took her home…

Qin Ling’s eyes were half-closed, but even in the dim tavern light, she sensed Jiang Yichen looking at her.

“Liu Rong, are you sure this glass is one-way?” Qin Ling asked.

“Of course,” Liu Rong replied.

As soon as she spoke, Qin Ling saw Jiang Yichen heading straight for the second floor.

And he found their private room directly.

Knock knock knock—

The knocking echoed.

“Come in,” Liu Rong called out cheerfully.

As soon as Jiang Yichen entered, he saw two women sitting on the sofa.

Qin Ling was facing away from him, leaning against the sofa, holding a wine glass… presenting a captivating back view.

The other woman, examining him, was likely Liu Rong, Qin Ling’s best friend, as mentioned in the original story.

“Young man, are you lost? How did you find this place?” Liu Rong teased.

“Boss Liu,” Jiang Yichen greeted respectfully. “I’m looking for someone.”

Liu Rong chuckled. “Oh, you know me? But I don’t think I have the person you’re looking for here.”

Jiang Yichen quickly scanned the room. Although he didn’t see Jiang Suihua, his intuition told him these two women knew her whereabouts.

“Then, Boss Liu, have you seen a girl, about 5’6″, wearing a white dress today…”

Jiang Yichen pulled out his phone and opened a selfie Jiang Suihua had sent him earlier.

“I can’t see it. Bring it closer,” Liu Rong beckoned from the sofa.

Jiang Yichen took a few steps closer.

Liu Rong immediately saw the girl’s photo on the phone screen.

The girl had just left; she and Qin Ling had watched her leave with her roommate moments ago.

“What’s your relationship with her? Boyfriend?” Liu Rong asked.

As she spoke, she glanced at Qin Ling.

But Qin Ling acted as if she were a stranger, completely indifferent.

“She’s my sister,” Jiang Yichen explained.

He had noticed Liu Rong’s sideways glance.

This confirmed his suspicions; they definitely knew Jiang Suihua’s whereabouts.

Since Qin Ling was still here, Jiang Suihua might be nearby…

“Professor Qin…” Jiang Yichen greeted respectfully. “It’s you. I thought that back view looked familiar…”

“Professor Qin, have you seen my sister?” Jiang Yichen continued.

“She went back to school,” Qin Ling said.

Jiang Yichen clearly didn’t believe this answer.

“Hey, hey, hey, wait, young man, don’t believe her; she’s lying to you,” Liu Rong interjected.

This not only caught Jiang Yichen’s attention but also Qin Ling’s.  She looked at Liu Rong with questioning eyes, asking ‘What are you doing?’

Liu Rong responded with a reassuring glance, ‘Don’t worry.’

Then she turned back to Jiang Yichen, beckoning him. “Come, come.”

Liu Rong walked to a nearby table. She enjoyed making cocktails, so her private room was stocked with various tools and ingredients.

Jiang Yichen went over and sat at the bar.

“Jiang Yichen,” Qin Ling repeated seriously. “I told you, your sister has already returned to school.”

“Hey, hey, hey,” Liu Rong quickly interrupted. “Don’t trust her; this bad woman is lying to you.”

Qin Ling didn’t respond this time; she’d said what she needed to say.  Believe it or not.

“Hehe…” Liu Rong chuckled slyly, picking up the cocktail tools and getting to work.

Moments later, three cocktails were placed before Jiang Yichen. “Drink these, and I’ll tell you your sister’s whereabouts.”

“Boss Liu, I don’t drink much…” Jiang Yichen politely refused. He’d never had alcohol before; wouldn’t three drinks knock him out?

“Oh, come on,” Liu Rong explained with a smile. “This is our tavern’s upcoming new product. The alcohol content is low, maybe only five percent, less than a bottle of beer; it won’t get you drunk. I just want you to help me taste-test it.”

“Really?” Jiang Yichen questioned.

Liu Rong nodded firmly. “Of course.”

“Alright.”

Jiang Yichen hesitantly picked up the first drink and slowly drank it. He didn’t feel anything, so he picked up the second and third, drinking them down in one go.

His enthusiastic consumption earned Liu Rong’s approving gaze.

“Not bad, not bad, young man, you’re quite good,” Liu Rong clapped.

“Okay, where’s my sister?”

“Hehe, actually, what your teacher said was true; she did go back to school.”

“What the f*…”