Chapter 6: Escape

If someone had told Guan Xi over a month ago that there would be a day when she couldn’t bring herself to return home, she would have vehemently denied it. But now, after aimlessly driving for an hour, she found herself hesitant to go back. After wandering for a while, she went to the bar she often frequented, asking the bartender to mix her a drink.

“You haven’t been here in a long time,” the bartender recognized her, not just because she often came with a group of high-spending customers, but also because of her unforgettable beauty.

Guan Xi rested her chin on her hand with a single hand, “Seems like it.”

“Why are you here alone today? Where are your friends?”

Guan Xi stared at the bar counter in a daze. Friends? She could call friends, whether it was Zhong Lingfan or Lang Ningyi, and they would surely come to accompany her. But, proud as Guan Xi was, she couldn’t explain why she felt so desolate at this moment.

“Feeling not so great today, want to drink alone,” Guan Xi tapped her fingers on the table twice, raising an eyebrow, “What? Can’t I?”

The bartender, almost thrown off by her eyes, chuckled, “Sure, of course you can. Just be careful, don’t drink too much.”

Two minutes later, Guan Xi received the drink he pushed over.

She drank quickly, finishing it in three sips, and then said, “Another one.”

The bartender raised his eyebrows slightly, “This liquor has a high alcohol content.”

Guan Xi impatiently replied, “I know, just get it quickly.”

“Alright…”

Although he said that, she continued to drink at a rapid pace. At first, she didn’t feel much, but the strong aftertaste of the alcohol slowly caught up with her.

Guan Xi propped her head up, feeling dizzy, “Another, another one.”

The bartender, seeing that she was already drunk, didn’t mix another one, saying, “Guan Xi, let your friend come and pick you up.”

Guan Xi waved her fingers, about to collapse. Worried that something might happen if she stayed there drunk, the bartender quickly took her phone from the table.

“Come on, unlock it,” he held the phone in front of her.

Guan Xi looked up at the phone, smiled slowly, and made a victory sign, “Remember to use the beauty mode—”

Click. The lock was undone, face recognition successful.

The bartender opened the contacts and couldn’t help but laugh, “You’re even beautiful in the original camera. Hey, who should I call to pick you up? Dad… Can I call your family?”

“You dare!” Guan Xi’s expression changed instantly. “If you dare to make that call, I’ll smash your shop—”

“Alright, alright. So, who should I call? I’ll make the call for you.”

She didn’t want to leave at all and didn’t respond to his words. The bartender had to go through the recent calls himself. Among the top three numbers, only one had a name attached to it.

Jiang Er Gou.

Friends often teased each other like this, so the bartender didn’t hesitate to make the call. While waiting, Guan Xi started urging him to make a cocktail, but the bartender didn’t dare to let her drink again and could only dodge with laughter.

“Beauty, want a drink? How about I treat you to one?” Over ten minutes later, a man came over from the nearby seat. He had been eyeing Guan Xi for a while, noticed she was alone, and couldn’t resist approaching.

Guan Xi heard the voice and glanced at the man. A stranger, and he looked a bit oily. She waved her hand dismissively, “No need.”

The man moved closer, “Come on, let me buy you a drink.”

Guan Xi shifted back, finding him overly fragrant in an attempt to be seductive. “Who are you?”

“New friend, let’s get to know each other.”

Guan Xi was already annoyed and had no patience at the moment. “Don’t want to know you, stay away from me.”

“Such a temper,” the man chuckled, “Coming to a bar alone, aren’t you here to make friends?”

He deliberately emphasized the word “friends,” probably implying something more than just friendship.

Guan Xi glanced him up and down, forming a grin more peculiar than his own, “I have to find you worthy first, and you are just a nobody.”

The man paused, unable to keep up his pretense, “What do you mean by that!” He tried to reach for her wrist, but his hand was pushed away before he could touch her.

Surprised, the man looked at the person who had appeared beside them. The newcomer had a slightly cold expression, staring at him without any emotion.

The man frowned and was about to tell him to back off when Guan Xi loudly shouted, “Er Gou! Er Gou, you came at the right time! Quick, bite him!”

“…”

In the dimly lit bar, Guan Xi grabbed Jiang Suizhou’s sleeve, pointing her hand towards the man who was trying to hit on her.

The bartender cleared his throat, politely saying, “You must be Mr. Jiang… I mean, Er Gou. Uh, I made the call for you.”

Jiang Suizhou pulled Guan Xi off the chair, nodding towards the bartender, “Thanks.”

“No problem.”

Jiang Suizhou led Guan Xi out.

The man trying to hit on her was stunned, “Hey, you—”

“Get lost.”

“…”

Feeling frustrated, the man, fueled by alcohol, was about to charge forward.

“Hey, sir!” The bartender reached out, grabbing his sleeve.

The man turned angrily, “What are you doing!”

“Just calm down, that’s Guan Xi. Don’t get agitated.”

Flirty Guy: “What’s up?”

Bartender: “I’m just kindly reminding you, don’t mess with that girl from earlier, and her friends too. None of them are ordinary people. Uh, if you insist on causing trouble, our bar won’t take responsibility for what happens next…”

**

Guan Xi managed to stand somewhat steadily and was half-dragged, half-supported by Jiang Suizhou out of the bar. But before they reached his car, she felt uncomfortable and crouched down, sitting by the flowerbed. “I didn’t say I wanted to go home. Where are you taking me?”

Jiang Suizhou happened to be with some clients nearby tonight, and he was somewhat surprised to receive a call from the bar. Guan Xi was versatile in enjoying life, going to a bar was nothing new, but he was surprised she was alone tonight.

“Just you?” Jiang Suizhou stood in front of her and asked.

Guan Xi rested her head on her hand, “Yes, just me… Can’t a person drink alone? Can’t someone go to a bar alone? I haven’t had enough, I want to go back…”

“You’ve had too much, it’s not safe alone.”

“Oh, then accompany me to drink?”

“No, I have things to do.”

“Then just leave.” Guan Xi lowered her head, feeling dizzy from the alcohol, murmuring, “I don’t need anyone to control me…”

Jiang Suizhou didn’t move, only said, “I’ll call someone to pick you up. Should I call Lang Ningyi or directly call your dad?”

“No!” Guan Xi suddenly looked up, grabbing the hem of his clothes, “Don’t make a call!”

Jiang Suizhou, impatient with dealing with a drunk person, only wanted to hand her over to Guan Xinghao to ensure her safety so he could continue with his own affairs. However, when he lowered his gaze, he noticed that Guan Xi’s eye sockets were filled with tears, and a few more drops were about to fall.

Jiang Suizhou paused, and his fingers, ready to dial a number, came to a halt.

“Why are you crying? Uncomfortable?” Jiang Suizhou crouched down in front of her, frowning as he looked at her.

Guan Xi shook her head, “No.”

“Don’t want to go home?”

“…Mm.”

“Then what do you want?”

“I want to go back and drink.”

Jiang Suizhou coldly refused, “Impossible.”

Guan Xi, still holding onto his clothes, huffed, “If it’s impossible, then it’s impossible. Otherwise, just take me to your place. Going to your place should be fine.”

Jiang Suizhou, looking at her teary eyes, unexpectedly softened. He had never seen her like this before, and it felt like he didn’t recognize her.

“I have a few clients waiting for me,” he said.

“Are your clients more important, or is your girlfriend more important?” Guan Xi sniffed, glaring at him fiercely, “I can just not let you buy things for me later. Can’t I save you some money? Don’t just focus on work in the middle of the night.”

Retracting his previous words, Guan Xi remained true to herself, confidently and willfully walking down this stubborn path, blocking it off completely.

Jiang Suizhou chuckled helplessly, “Alright, stop shouting.”

He turned around, “Get on.”

Guan Xi looked at his back without reservation and directly climbed on. Jiang Suizhou stood up, carrying her on his back, heading towards where he had parked his car.

“Did you have a fight with your dad?” he asked on the way.

“No.”

“With friends?”

“No.”

“Then who did you fight with?”

Tears welled up in Guan Xi’s eyes, “Do I have to have a fight with someone?!”

Jiang Suizhou fell silent, “Then what?”

Guan Xi leaned on his shoulder, taking advantage of the fact that he couldn’t see her, letting tears flow freely.

“I have nothing to say to you.” The drunk voice carried a hint of sobbing.

Jiang Suizhou stopped in his tracks, glancing sideways. The person on his back was crying with a runny nose and teary eyes, wetting his shoulder. “Guan Xi, calm down.”

“Sob sob… Ah ah ah ah—” Quiet sobbing suddenly turned into loud wailing.

Jiang Suizhou took a deep breath and quickened his pace to get to the car.

“Don’t you want to ask me why I’m crying? Sob sob sob.”

“If you want to say, go ahead.”

Guan Xi slapped his arm hard, “Then can’t you ask me!”

Jiang Suizhou sighed, “Fine, why are you crying?”

But she remained silent on his back.

As they were about to reach the car door, Jiang Suizhou thought that she had just drunk too much and was causing a scene, expecting her not to say anything more. However, as he reached for the car door, he heard her low and particularly aggrieved voice, “Jiang Suizhou, I’m scared…”

**

The next day, when Guan Xi woke up, she was startled by her own appearance. She looked in the mirror at her smeared eye makeup, messy hair, and the smell of alcohol clinging to her. She had to exert a great deal of effort to suppress the urge to scream. So, this was the ghostly image she presented when Jiang Suizhou had brought her back yesterday?

Oh, not only that, she had also cried and acted like a fool. Her expression stiffened further as she felt her glamorous and enchanting image as a beautiful young girl collapsing. She wondered if Jiang Suizhou had once again consulted the almanac overnight, checking for an auspicious day to break up?! 

No, no, no, she had just given him twenty-eight gifts a few days ago; he wouldn’t be so heartless. Guan Xi quickly took a shower and applied exquisite makeup, creating a flawless natural look, then walked out of her room.

At that moment, Jiang Suizhou was having breakfast outside.

“Morning.” Guan Xi sat down across from him, pretending that nothing had happened, and picked up a fork to eat breakfast.

Jiang Suizhou said, “Sober now?”

Guan Xi hesitated slightly, “Of course.”

“Yesterday, you—”

“I didn’t do anything yesterday. I just drank too much. You know alcohol messes with people’s minds. I’m not usually like that!”

A faint smile appeared on Jiang Suizhou’s lips, “Hmm, it was the first time I heard you cry so loudly.”

“…”

“So, what did you want to say yesterday in the end?”

Guan Xi looked at him, “What did I say?”

Jiang Suizhou glanced at her, and she had mentioned being scared but didn’t say more. Jiang Suizhou remembered her expression at that moment. In his eyes, it wasn’t the typical expression for Guan Xi.

“Drunk nonsense. You probably forgot.” Guan Xi herself couldn’t remember, but she felt guilty, thinking that even if she had said something, it was probably something embarrassing.

Jiang Suizhou nodded and added, “Your dad called yesterday. I answered.”

“How did he…?”

“He didn’t say much, just asked where you were. I told him you were with me, and he was relieved.”

“Oh.”

The two continued with their breakfast.

Guan Xi still felt embarrassed about her behavior from the previous night. While eating, her eyes were glued to Jiang Suizhou, wondering if he was silently mocking her for acting irrationally. Guan Xi possessed fox-like eyes, with a glance or a stare exuding charm effortlessly, quietly captivating people.

Jiang Suizhou couldn’t endure her gaze throughout and finally set down his knife and fork, saying, “There’s some work at the company this morning, I don’t have time to stay. Tone down that look of yours.”

Guan Xi exclaimed, “Huh?” in confusion. After several seconds, she realized that her friend was making suggestive remarks.

She laughed and decided to go along with the script in his mind, “Is that so? Not even ten minutes, Mr. Jiang?”

Jiang Suizhou wiped his hands with a napkin, “Ten minutes is enough.”

Guan Xi found it reasonable, “Right, Mr. Jiang, how could you possibly be limited to just ten minutes? Mr. Jiang, majestic and awe-inspiring, shaking the world with a single roar, mastering the eight women in a night—”

“You’re insane, take your medication.” Jiang Suizhou interrupted her, giving her a stern look, then got up and left the dining table.

“Hahaha—” Guan Xi burst into laughter, watching his retreating figure.

Jiang Suizhou couldn’t be bothered to respond to her extravagant words, grabbing his things and preparing to leave. After laughing for a while, when she gradually calmed down, Guan Xi glanced towards the living room.

Jiang Suizhou had already left. She pinched a piece of toast from the plate, feeling a bit sad but also somewhat relieved: Sad because she had actually gotten drunk last night and started avoiding things. Relieved because she still had Jiang Suizhou’s home to escape to.

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