Chapter 21: Drunkenness

◎ “We’re not just having one night.” ◎

Although it was sparkling juice wine, mixed with alcohol, it was the easiest to get drunk on. Shen Suhui had only had three glasses, but she was already feeling tipsy.

Her brain was spinning, and all she could see was a blurry figure. The alcohol made her feel like crying and laughing at the same time.

“Yu Ran.”

“Mm?”

“If you were Lin, what would you do?”

She was a bit drunk, her speech a little slurred, and she leaned against Yu Ran’s shoulder, her cheek itching, constantly rubbing against Yu Ran’s clothes.

“Are you drunk?” Yu Ran’s tone was gentle. “Why don’t you stop drinking?”

“…I’m not drunk.”

“But you’re crying.”

“…”

“Does Shen Suhui cry when she drinks too much?”

“I used to…” Shen Suhui said slowly, “When I was in college, my roommate took me to a bar, and I got drunk…”

Yu Ran furrowed her brows, looking somewhat upset.

“What kind of bar was it?”

“A quiet bar, don’t worry!” Shen Suhui laughed, continuing, “It was my first time drinking, and I thought it was just an exciting but not very good experience. But strangely, after getting drunk, I started to feel it, and couldn’t stop. When I got drunk, I just wanted to lie down and kept crying and crying. My roommate couldn’t do anything about me.”

“At that time, I was really curious if everyone cries when they’re drunk.”

“No,” Yu Ran said, “It’s because you had something on your mind.”

“Mm, my roommate said the same thing.”

Yu Ran asked, “What happened after that?”

“I just remember acting like a crazy person, crying and laughing, with a crowd of people around me.”

“Why was everyone around you?”

“Because I was crazy!” Shen Suhui wrapped her arms around Yu Ran’s arm, reminiscing about the scene, realizing it was just like her current state.

“I was crying so hard, and a few boys were standing in front of me, mocking me, saying that only a few bad guys could hurt a person so much!”

Yu Ran laughed. “Really? Was what they said true?”

“Of course not!” Shen Suhui glared at Yu Ran. “I hadn’t even touched a boy’s hand, okay? With you… this is my first time… being in a relationship…”

“Mm,” Yu Ran hugged her. “So, I need to cherish it.”

“Really?”

“Do I look like someone who would lie to a girl?”

“…..”

Shen Suhui thought for a moment and shook her head.

“So, you have something on your mind…” Yu Ran paused, “Can you tell me what it is?”

“….”

At this moment, Shen Suhui couldn’t respond.

What else could it be? She had always been forced to be a good girl. Places like bars, music halls, and dance floors were far out of her reach. Wang Lanzhi had always controlled her too strictly, making her feel like she would be punished if she ever stepped into those areas.

Her university roommates worked part-time in bars, but not in classy ones, rather the late-night dance clubs. They worked at night and attended classes and slept during the day. Shen Suhui, who was short on money in college, was often encouraged by her roommates to join them in part-time work, but she always refused. Instead, she handed out flyers and worked as a restaurant server.

With the money she earned, Shen Suhui would buy a train ticket, taking the day and night-long ride to the city where Yu Ran was studying, just to see her for a moment.

It was during one of these visits to see Yu Ran that Shen Suhui, feeling exhausted, agreed to go out with her roommates to a bar for a night out.

Her roommates, considering her situation, chose a small pub near their school, not a loud club.

As long as you weren’t completely drunk, you could still maintain some awareness. Shen Suhui thought of her family, the unreachable unspoken love, and the moment she saw Yu Ran.

Yu Ran was holding Du Qiuyan from behind, smiling joyfully.

Tears flowed down, unstoppable. Shen Suhui cautiously, softly, repeatedly called Yu Ran’s name.

“Yu Ran, Yu Ran, Yu Ran…”

After loving her for so long, it was the first time she called her name.

The past and present overlapped, with the same uncontrollable tears. The difference was that now, Yu Ran was right there beside her.

“Why are you so sad?” Yu Ran asked gently, “Does it have to do with your secret?”

Shen Suhui shook her head, choosing to avoid the question.

“I was just thinking about the movie.”

“The movie had a good ending. Why are you sad?”

Yu Ran put down her laptop, hugged Shen Suhui, and sat her on her lap, holding her in a safe embrace.

“I think they shouldn’t be together…”

“Why?”

“Wen loves Yu too much. Yu is her unattainable first love. Even though Yu loves someone else and married them, the imprint of the first love will always stay deep in Wen’s heart.”

“The bond between people is actually destined from the first meeting. Lin has been by her side for so long, but even earlier, she couldn’t see it. Can we expect her to wake up later?”

“….”

Yu Ran looked at Shen Suhui blankly. Shen Suhui, drunk, was being extreme and pessimistic in her reaction.

“When we were young, I was the extra one. Will Wen ever cherish Lin more than she cherishes Yu, her first love?”

“Even if Yu is buried in her heart for a long time, if she ever thinks of her years later, it will still hurt, deeply…”

Shen Suhui cried, her reaction growing more intense. She kept murmuring, “It’s absurd. They shouldn’t be together. Wen shouldn’t fall in love with Lin…”

Yu Ran hugged her tighter, continuously caressing her face and hair. “Don’t think too much, don’t be too sensitive, baby.”

“Yu Ran…”

Yu Ran pushed her away, looking at her wet eyes.

“Did you think of yourself?”

“….”

“Alright, I won’t ask,” Yu Ran said seriously. “I want to tell you, Shen Suhui, love is complicated and simple. Sometimes, we don’t need to overthink or just measure it by how deep it is.”

“Hmm?”

“Love is the bond between two people. Since the people are different, the feeling it gives is also different. Everyone loves and is loved in their own way. Just because it’s different doesn’t mean you love her more than you love me.”

“Also, timing matters. The timing of meeting someone is crucial. If we’re not in love, maybe it’s just not the right time.”

“You see, we went to the same high school, even had the same friends, but we had no intersection. Now that we’ve met again, it doesn’t change how much I love you, more than anything before.”

Yu Ran pinched Shen Suhui’s cheek, speaking softly, “So, their love is natural, inevitable. Don’t be sensitive anymore, okay?”

Shen Suhui nodded blankly, unsure if she understood, but stubbornly asked, “You haven’t answered me. If you were Lin, what would you do?”

Drunk, with a thick nasal tone, she was both stubborn and cute.

“I would wait for the right moment after they break up, then boldly confess.”

“Aren’t you afraid of rejection?”

“Rejection is just about not getting it. Isn’t unrequited love about not getting it too?”

“….”

“If Wen is willing, I should pursue her passionately, until she gets tired of me.”

Shen Suhui laughed. “Like how you pursued Du Qiuyan?”

Yu Ran was almost in tears. “Why did you bring up Du Qiuyan? Are you jealous?”

“Mm-hmm.”

Yu Ran pinched her nose. “Drunk Shen Suhui is more honest than usual.”

She leaned in and kissed Shen Suhui on the lips.

“Time to rest.”

“Mm-mm!!!”

Shen Suhui obediently responded but suddenly wrapped her arms around Yu Ran’s neck, forcefully pressing her onto the soft bed.

Yu Ran lay beneath her, gazing at her with a smile that seemed to hold a secret.

Tears brushed against Yu Ran’s neck, and Shen Suhui tightly hugged her waist, as though trying to squeeze the breath out of her.

“I really like you, Yu Ran. I really like you…”

Yu Ran lovingly returned the embrace. “I know. I like you a lot too.”

With the influence of the alcohol, Shen Suhui became bolder than usual. She kissed Yu Ran’s ear and side of her face, deliberately exhaling hot breath over her sensitive spots.

“Yu Ran, do you want to… tonight?”

Yu Ran turned her face, letting the little “kitten” nibble on her neck, laughing as she said, “You’re so drunk, do you think we still have the energy for this tonight?”

“We do!” Shen Suhui insisted. “Why else did you buy all those things?”

“We’re not just having this one night.”

Yu Ran flipped over, pinning Shen Suhui beneath her, and kissed her forehead.

“Let’s rest well tonight. Good night.”

“…”

Although Shen Suhui was unwilling, she was truly exhausted. She slowly closed her eyes under Yu Ran’s tender and gentle gaze.

Late at night, Yu Ran couldn’t sleep. She went to the balcony and turned her phone on. There were several missed calls, all from Du Qiuyan.

After so many years of separation, Du Qiuyan still hadn’t changed her number. With a serious face, Yu Ran blocked the number.

—–

The next morning, Shen Suhui woke up feeling cramped. When she turned her head, she saw Yu Ran hugging her tightly, sound asleep.

Her head was still dizzy, and she tried to move, feeling sore and aching, with some bruises on her body…

Could it be?!!!

“Yu Ran…”

Her voice was hoarse.

Her small movements quickly woke Yu Ran up. Yu Ran opened her eyes and sleepily murmured, “Baby.”

Shen Suhui’s ears immediately turned red.

It was the first time she had seen Yu Ran in the morning. Typically, when someone wakes up, they’re at their most vulnerable and unguarded.

“Still drunk? Should I order you some honey water?”

Yu Ran sat up and called room service.

“We… last night…”

At this, Yu Ran smiled. “You were so drunk last night, I didn’t dare do anything.”

“…Huh?” Shen Suhui’s mind was in chaos, and her tone was almost regretful. “Then why does my body hurt so much?”

“Hey…” Yu Ran shook her head. “I should’ve recorded how drunk you were last night. You were crying like a little kitten and causing such a scene.”

“…”

Shen Suhui knew how ridiculous she must have looked when she was drunk, so she lowered her head and didn’t dare speak.

“Alright. I told you, we’re not just having one night.”

Yu Ran stopped teasing her and pulled her into an embrace.

“I’ll remember everything from last night.”

“What?”

“The topics we discussed, and what you said while drunk.”

The café was still closed, and Shen Suhui had plenty of time to rest. Since it was near the hospital, she stayed there, waiting for Yu Ran to finish work.

They had officially confirmed their relationship, and every time she thought about it, Shen Suhui couldn’t help but smile.

It was the weekend, and Shen Dongting likely didn’t have class. Shen Suhui thought for a moment and then called him.

“Why are you answering so slowly? Busy?”

“I’m on a date with my girlfriend,” Shen Dongting answered excitedly. “Sis, you sound really happy today.”

“Did you notice?”

“Of course, I know you so well. Your tone is clearly different today.”

“Mm-hmm.” Shen Suhui nodded, feeling even happier. “I’m in a relationship.”

“What…?!!!”

Shen Dongting shouted.

“Hey, is it really that rare for your sister to be in a relationship? You’re making such a fuss…”

“It’s pretty rare, okay?” Shen Dongting lowered his voice. “You’re almost thirty, and you really don’t like meeting new people. I thought you’d be lonely forever…”

“Are you cursing me?” Shen Suhui giggled as she switched her phone to the other ear. “Didn’t you tell me your girlfriend is a tattoo artist?”

“Huh?”

“Can you ask her if she can do a tattoo for me?”

“You want a tattoo?”

“Why not?”

“Sis,” Shen Dongting said incredulously. “Where do you want to get it?”

Shen Suhui: “On my stomach.”

“Well, that’s fine, that’s fine…”

“What’s with that reaction? You think helping your girlfriend with business is a bad thing?”

Shen Dongting replied, “I’m just worried that it’ll be too obvious, and Mom will…”

Realizing his words weren’t appropriate, Shen Dongting quickly stopped.

Shen Suhui wasn’t bothered by it.

“Alright, send me your girlfriend’s contact info.”

—–

Orthopedic doctor’s office.

After finishing surgery, Yu Ran was busy, aiming to finish on time so she could leave work early. Jian Ming tapped her from behind. “Take tomorrow off.”

“Did you finish your stuff?”

“Mm, I can handle the divorce paperwork in a couple of days. Are you free tonight? Let me treat you to dinner.”

“Not tonight.” Yu Ran raised an eyebrow and said proudly, “I have to leave work on time to accompany my girlfriend.”

“Dating? No wonder you were writing medical records during your lunch break. Who is it?”

Yu Ran smiled. “That friend who gave me the umbrella.”

“Indeed, it’s her!!!”

Jian Ming thought of something and reminded, “It seems like someone is waiting for you outside, it’s a woman. Is it one of your old patients?”

“…” Yu Ran paused her typing. “Don’t mind her.”

She was busy until 5:30, and only then did she feel at ease to change her clothes. Du Qiuyan hated waiting, and two hours was more than enough to drain all her patience.

To her surprise, as soon as she stepped out, someone excitedly stood up from a chair and jogged toward Yu Ran.

“You’re finally off work! I’ve been waiting for you for so long.”

Du Qiuyan grabbed Yu Ran’s arm, but Yu Ran coldly pulled away.

“Weren’t you the one who hated waiting?”

“Do you still remember us?” Du Qiuyan misunderstood and laughed, “I knew it, Xiao Ran, you haven’t forgotten the little things between us.”

“You’re overthinking. What you brought me was all pain. Why would I remember? What exactly do you want?”

“I just want to talk to you.”

“…”

Yu Ran frowned, her face full of impatience. Du Qiuyan also truly understood that when you love someone, you can be consumed with them, but when you don’t, you can discard them without a second thought.

“Miss Du, you’re already harassing me. If you keep going, I’ll call the police. Besides, aren’t you most concerned about your celebrity status?”

“Xiao Ran.”

“I have an appointment. Excuse me.”

Yu Ran swiped her phone and saw a message from Shen Suhui sent 15 minutes ago. Even she didn’t realize it, but the corner of her mouth curled up, and her expression softened.

-yr: Waiting for me at the hotel.

“Who are you messaging?!”

Yu Ran looked up, and Du Qiuyan’s face was twisted, her voice trembling.

She stuffed the phone into her pocket. “None of your business. Don’t come to the hospital looking for me again, I’m very busy.”

“Is it your girlfriend?”

As they moved past each other, this question made Yu Ran stop in her tracks. She suddenly smiled.

“You must know me somewhat. I’ve always kept my emotions hidden. The only person who can make me this happy is my partner, no one else.”

“So…”

“So, you guessed right. But you don’t have the right to ask. I will be very happy in the future, so there’s no need for you to worry about me.”

She left quickly, leaving Du Qiuyan standing there, pale and stunned.