Chapter 25: The Prince in Hans Christian Andersen’s Fairy Tales is Unworthy of You

By the time they left Futing Hotel, the sky had completely darkened.

Tan Weiwei instantly put away the composed, mature expression she had been wearing earlier. A sharp, throbbing pain spread through her chest, and only then did she truly realize that her relationship with Chu Yan had come to a complete end.

More than two years of love, just like that, couldn’t withstand the most primal impulses of a man and was stolen away by a woman who was more carefree.

Tan Weiwei’s expression was unusually calm, but the light in her eyes seemed to disappear in an instant.

Shang Li took Tan Weiwei’s hand, and the coldness of her touch made Tan Weiwei involuntarily shiver.

“Weiwei, what do you want to eat? Let me accompany you for a bite,” Shang Li said gently.

Tan Weiwei stopped in her tracks, her body swaying slightly, and her hands tightly grasped the edge of her clothes, trembling.

“Li Li, I want to drink,” she replied quietly.

Shang Li blinked her soft, clear eyes. “Do you want to go to a bar?”

“Mm,” Tan Weiwei nodded. “A sister should accompany me!”

Shang Li had only had a sip of beer occasionally during holidays and didn’t know how well she could handle alcohol. But since her best friend had asked, there was no reason to refuse, so she nodded in agreement. “Sure, which bar do you want to go to? It’s on me.”

“Baolong Bar, it’s not far from here, and the atmosphere is nice.”

Baolong Bar was one of the favorite hangouts for the rich second-generation kids from Jingbei. The private booths required reservations and had a minimum consumption, so for someone like Shang Li and Tan Weiwei, they’d likely have to sit at the bar or stand.

Shang Li paused for a moment, then nodded. “Alright, I’ll go with you!”

After a short while, the two hailed a taxi and arrived at the entrance of Baolong Bar.

The parking lot was filled with luxury cars, and everyone getting out of the cars—men and women alike—were all dressed fashionably and elegantly, as if attending a grand celebration.

Shang Li looked down at her own T-shirt, denim skirt, and canvas shoes. “Weiwei, I should’ve gone home to change before coming.”

The lively atmosphere at the entrance had already carried away much of Tan Weiwei’s sadness. She tilted her chin toward Shang Li and teased, “Don’t worry, with your looks, even if you put on a garbage bag, someone would still fancy you.”

As soon as the two entered the bar, their appearance immediately attracted the attention of several men. They whistled arrogantly, the sound flirtatious and suggestive.

Fortunately, they arrived early, and Shang Li and Tan Weiwei found two empty seats at the bar. Shang Li took out her phone and scanned the QR code.

“Weiwei, there are so many types of drinks. Which one should we order?”

Tan Weiwei glanced over briefly and casually pointed to two glasses of whiskey. “Let’s go for the strongest one.”

Soon, two glasses of golden-yellow liquid with ice cubes were placed in front of them.

Shang Li carefully took a sip, and a sharp, spicy sensation hit her head, making her feel as though her brain was about to explode.

“Oh my god, this is so spicy!”

Tan Weiwei half-closed her hazy eyes, lifted her head, and elegantly downed the whiskey in one go.

With a loud clap, she placed the glass back on the table. “Another one!”

Shang Li: “…”

In the dizzying main hall, men and women were pouring drinks for each other, dancing wildly to the deafening rock electronic music, twisting their bodies without restraint.

It was a world of bright lights, alcohol, and indulgence.

Shang Li felt out of place, as though she were detached from reality, experiencing a sense of surrealism.

She was thinking of maybe having a couple more drinks and leaving when, suddenly, she heard Tan Weiwei crying beside her.

Whether she was sober or drunk, Tan Weiwei was crying uncontrollably, her face a mess of tears, gasping for breath, as if she had swallowed all the pain in the world and was desperate to let it all out.

“Li Li, do you think I’m useless? I can’t even keep a man…”

Shang Li, heartbroken, pulled Tan Weiwei into her arms, gently patting her back. “No, you’re the best. There’s no one in this world better than you.”

“I thought I could be with Chu Yan until the end, but who knew he would betray me like this…”

Tan Weiwei lifted her tear-streaked face from Shang Li’s embrace, her eyes completely soaked. “So… when he said he was going to buy me a house, give me a home, and that he would love me forever, was that all a lie? Just because I wouldn’t sleep with him, he stopped wanting me?”

Shang Li tightened her hold on Tan Weiwei, her voice soft but firm. “Weiwei, don’t think about him anymore. He’s not worth it. You’re smart and beautiful, and so many people like you. You deserve someone better.”

Tan Weiwei, perhaps a little too drunk, began to slur her words. “I’m not as great as you say… I’m not as smart, I’m not as pretty…”

Shang Li quietly listened, biting her lip as she gazed steadily at her friend.

“I’m not that great either. My family isn’t well-off. Our house in Jin City is still rented. I work part-time every day to pay for my tuition. It’s tiring, but I have no choice. I liked a boy for three years, but I never dared to say anything to him. I was afraid he’d laugh at me, make fun of me for not knowing my place, like a toad dreaming of eating swan meat…”

Perhaps because of the alcohol, Shang Li’s head felt dizzy as her emotions grew more intense. Soon, tears began to fall from her eyes, one by one, landing on the bar, forming a small pool of water.

Tan Weiwei, her eyes blurry, didn’t seem to fully understand what Shang Li was saying.

Sitting up, she downed a third glass of whiskey, wiped her mouth, and said, “Li Li, what are you thinking? You’re so great. I think even the prince in Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tales wouldn’t be good enough for you. You’re like a princess who stepped out of a fairy tale book!”

Hearing this, Shang Li wiped her tears and let out a small laugh. “Only you can make me feel better.”

“Tonight, we won’t stop drinking until we’re drunk!”

“Right, we won’t stop until we’re drunk.”

—

Meanwhile, in the VIP room on the seventh floor.

Lu Tinghe, wearing a black shirt tucked neatly into his trousers, had two buttons of his shirt undone, revealing his smooth collarbone.

His handsome profile was almost too eye-catching. Beside him, Bo Xingyin couldn’t help but click his tongue. “Why are you putting on this seductive act? At this rate, you’re going to make me and Tang Yu question our sexuality.”

Lu Tinghe slowly swirled his wine glass, not bothered by the teasing. “Has anyone ever been more seductive than me?”

Tang Yu frowned slightly. “Young Master, I like women.”

Lu Tinghe gave him a sidelong glance. “Do you think I like men?”

Bo Xingyin took a sip of red wine, half-smiling. “He likes Shang Li.”

Lu Tinghe paused for a moment, and a ripple of gentleness passed through his eyes before he regained his usual calm. “She’s just a classmate.”

Bo Xingyin raised an eyebrow playfully. “Oh? Is that so?”

Lu Tinghe coolly responded, “Pick one. Either hand over the shares of Heshuo or hand over your ass.”

Bo Xingyin chuckled, shaking his head. “You’re something else.”

The three of them had been sitting in the bar for a while, discussing matters related to the successful listing of Heshuo Technologies. They had come here to drink and also to plan for an upcoming celebration party.

Bo Xingyin finished the last sip of his wine. “Maybe we should head back early. There’s something I don’t quite understand from Professor Ning’s CRISPR gene-editing lecture today.”

Lu Tinghe gave him a dismissive look. “I researched this back in high school. I’m here at Jing University to accompany you for grad school. Got it?”

“Why? Is it because you’re in love with me?”

Lu Tinghe: “Our personalities complement each other.”

Bo Xingyin looked puzzled. “Explain that.”

Lu Tinghe smirked. “Take away the fifth word.”

Bo Xingyin blinked, confused. “???”

As they were joking, Tang Yu, who had been sitting quietly drinking a non-alcoholic cocktail, glanced down at the bar. His eyes quickly locked onto a figure with long hair that reached her waist, standing by the bar. It was Shang Li.

He turned to Lu Tinghe. “Hey, Young Master, isn’t that the girl you were with the other day when she got on the bus?”Chapter 25: The Prince in Hans Christian Andersen’s Fairy Tales is Unworthy of You

By the time they left Futing Hotel, the sky had completely darkened.

Tan Weiwei instantly put away the composed, mature expression she had been wearing earlier. A sharp, throbbing pain spread through her chest, and only then did she truly realize that her relationship with Chu Yan had come to a complete end.

More than two years of love, just like that, couldn’t withstand the most primal impulses of a man and was stolen away by a woman who was more carefree.

Tan Weiwei’s expression was unusually calm, but the light in her eyes seemed to disappear in an instant.

Shang Li took Tan Weiwei’s hand, and the coldness of her touch made Tan Weiwei involuntarily shiver.

“Weiwei, what do you want to eat? Let me accompany you for a bite,” Shang Li said gently.

Tan Weiwei stopped in her tracks, her body swaying slightly, and her hands tightly grasped the edge of her clothes, trembling.

“Li Li, I want to drink,” she replied quietly.

Shang Li blinked her soft, clear eyes. “Do you want to go to a bar?”

“Mm,” Tan Weiwei nodded. “A sister should accompany me!”

Shang Li had only had a sip of beer occasionally during holidays and didn’t know how well she could handle alcohol. But since her best friend had asked, there was no reason to refuse, so she nodded in agreement. “Sure, which bar do you want to go to? It’s on me.”

“Baolong Bar, it’s not far from here, and the atmosphere is nice.”

Baolong Bar was one of the favorite hangouts for the rich second-generation kids from Jingbei. The private booths required reservations and had a minimum consumption, so for someone like Shang Li and Tan Weiwei, they’d likely have to sit at the bar or stand.

Shang Li paused for a moment, then nodded. “Alright, I’ll go with you!”

After a short while, the two hailed a taxi and arrived at the entrance of Baolong Bar.

The parking lot was filled with luxury cars, and everyone getting out of the cars—men and women alike—were all dressed fashionably and elegantly, as if attending a grand celebration.

Shang Li looked down at her own T-shirt, denim skirt, and canvas shoes. “Weiwei, I should’ve gone home to change before coming.”

The lively atmosphere at the entrance had already carried away much of Tan Weiwei’s sadness. She tilted her chin toward Shang Li and teased, “Don’t worry, with your looks, even if you put on a garbage bag, someone would still fancy you.”

As soon as the two entered the bar, their appearance immediately attracted the attention of several men. They whistled arrogantly, the sound flirtatious and suggestive.

Fortunately, they arrived early, and Shang Li and Tan Weiwei found two empty seats at the bar. Shang Li took out her phone and scanned the QR code.

“Weiwei, there are so many types of drinks. Which one should we order?”

Tan Weiwei glanced over briefly and casually pointed to two glasses of whiskey. “Let’s go for the strongest one.”

Soon, two glasses of golden-yellow liquid with ice cubes were placed in front of them.

Shang Li carefully took a sip, and a sharp, spicy sensation hit her head, making her feel as though her brain was about to explode.

“Oh my god, this is so spicy!”

Tan Weiwei half-closed her hazy eyes, lifted her head, and elegantly downed the whiskey in one go.

With a loud clap, she placed the glass back on the table. “Another one!”

Shang Li: “…”

In the dizzying main hall, men and women were pouring drinks for each other, dancing wildly to the deafening rock electronic music, twisting their bodies without restraint.

It was a world of bright lights, alcohol, and indulgence.

Shang Li felt out of place, as though she were detached from reality, experiencing a sense of surrealism.

She was thinking of maybe having a couple more drinks and leaving when, suddenly, she heard Tan Weiwei crying beside her.

Whether she was sober or drunk, Tan Weiwei was crying uncontrollably, her face a mess of tears, gasping for breath, as if she had swallowed all the pain in the world and was desperate to let it all out.

“Li Li, do you think I’m useless? I can’t even keep a man…”

Shang Li, heartbroken, pulled Tan Weiwei into her arms, gently patting her back. “No, you’re the best. There’s no one in this world better than you.”

“I thought I could be with Chu Yan until the end, but who knew he would betray me like this…”

Tan Weiwei lifted her tear-streaked face from Shang Li’s embrace, her eyes completely soaked. “So… when he said he was going to buy me a house, give me a home, and that he would love me forever, was that all a lie? Just because I wouldn’t sleep with him, he stopped wanting me?”

Shang Li tightened her hold on Tan Weiwei, her voice soft but firm. “Weiwei, don’t think about him anymore. He’s not worth it. You’re smart and beautiful, and so many people like you. You deserve someone better.”

Tan Weiwei, perhaps a little too drunk, began to slur her words. “I’m not as great as you say… I’m not as smart, I’m not as pretty…”

Shang Li quietly listened, biting her lip as she gazed steadily at her friend.

“I’m not that great either. My family isn’t well-off. Our house in Jin City is still rented. I work part-time every day to pay for my tuition. It’s tiring, but I have no choice. I liked a boy for three years, but I never dared to say anything to him. I was afraid he’d laugh at me, make fun of me for not knowing my place, like a toad dreaming of eating swan meat…”

Perhaps because of the alcohol, Shang Li’s head felt dizzy as her emotions grew more intense. Soon, tears began to fall from her eyes, one by one, landing on the bar, forming a small pool of water.

Tan Weiwei, her eyes blurry, didn’t seem to fully understand what Shang Li was saying.

Sitting up, she downed a third glass of whiskey, wiped her mouth, and said, “Li Li, what are you thinking? You’re so great. I think even the prince in Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tales wouldn’t be good enough for you. You’re like a princess who stepped out of a fairy tale book!”

Hearing this, Shang Li wiped her tears and let out a small laugh. “Only you can make me feel better.”

“Tonight, we won’t stop drinking until we’re drunk!”

“Right, we won’t stop until we’re drunk.”

—

Meanwhile, in the VIP room on the seventh floor.

Lu Tinghe, wearing a black shirt tucked neatly into his trousers, had two buttons of his shirt undone, revealing his smooth collarbone.

His handsome profile was almost too eye-catching. Beside him, Bo Xingyin couldn’t help but click his tongue. “Why are you putting on this seductive act? At this rate, you’re going to make me and Tang Yu question our sexuality.”

Lu Tinghe slowly swirled his wine glass, not bothered by the teasing. “Has anyone ever been more seductive than me?”

Tang Yu frowned slightly. “Young Master, I like women.”

Lu Tinghe gave him a sidelong glance. “Do you think I like men?”

Bo Xingyin took a sip of red wine, half-smiling. “He likes Shang Li.”

Lu Tinghe paused for a moment, and a ripple of gentleness passed through his eyes before he regained his usual calm. “She’s just a classmate.”

Bo Xingyin raised an eyebrow playfully. “Oh? Is that so?”

Lu Tinghe coolly responded, “Pick one. Either hand over the shares of Heshuo or hand over your ass.”

Bo Xingyin chuckled, shaking his head. “You’re something else.”

The three of them had been sitting in the bar for a while, discussing matters related to the successful listing of Heshuo Technologies. They had come here to drink and also to plan for an upcoming celebration party.

Bo Xingyin finished the last sip of his wine. “Maybe we should head back early. There’s something I don’t quite understand from Professor Ning’s CRISPR gene-editing lecture today.”

Lu Tinghe gave him a dismissive look. “I researched this back in high school. I’m here at Jing University to accompany you for grad school. Got it?”

“Why? Is it because you’re in love with me?”

Lu Tinghe: “Our personalities complement each other.”

Bo Xingyin looked puzzled. “Explain that.”

Lu Tinghe smirked. “Take away the fifth word.”

Bo Xingyin blinked, confused. “???”

As they were joking, Tang Yu, who had been sitting quietly drinking a non-alcoholic cocktail, glanced down at the bar. His eyes quickly locked onto a figure with long hair that reached her waist, standing by the bar. It was Shang Li.

He turned to Lu Tinghe. “Hey, Young Master, isn’t that the girl you were with the other day when she got on the bus?”