Can following the rules be called rebirth?

Chapter 218, Section 216: Social Mechanics
"I'm going to the bathroom."

Although it was just a small gathering among high school classmates, there were no obligatory drinking sessions or annoying toasting rituals.

But Liu Zhe was somewhat drunk.

He stood up and staggered toward the restroom not far away, his hands involuntarily clenching.

Why?
Liu Zhe was unwilling to accept this.

Unwilling to accept that the goddess he had long coveted was getting closer and closer to Zhou Mingyuan.

They were unwilling to accept that they had once spent lavishly, yet now they had lost the ability to even pay the bill.

Unwilling to accept everything they want, they can only bury it deep in their hearts.

"Eh?"

"What's wrong with Liu Zhe? Why hasn't he come back yet?"

"Did you drink too much?"

The atmosphere at the table remained harmonious and joyful.

About five or six minutes had passed, and the iron pot in front of them was still bubbling and steaming when someone suddenly said this.

"It's alright! That guy's much better at drinking! I know him too well."

Qin Weifeng smiled and waved his hand, completely ignoring it.

During high school, Liu Zhe often boasted about his high alcohol tolerance, saying that a few bottles of beer could not possibly knock him out.
nonexistent.

"How about you guys go check on him?"

"It would be dangerous if he got really drunk."

As the organizer, Lu Shiya raised her wrist to check the time and couldn't help but frown.

It's been ten minutes. They should be back by now, right?

"also."

Zhou Mingyuan shook his wrist, stood up, and walked towards the restroom.

This iron pot stew restaurant is a long-established business.

The handwashing stations in the public area are decorated in a down-to-earth double style, with soft lighting overhead, and the faint smell of disinfectant mixed with hand soap fills the air.

He lit a cigarette and went inside.

The doors to the first few rooms were open, but the door to the innermost room was tightly closed.

"Are you OK?"

Zhou Mingyuan raised his voice.

"it's okay no problem!"

Inside was indeed Liu Zhe, followed by the sound of rushing water, making it unclear whether he was simply unable to hold his liquor.

As soon as the door opened, Liu Zhe's expression tightened slightly, and his first reaction upon seeing Zhou Mingyuan was to walk out.

They thought you were drunk.

"You absolutely must send me to take a look."

Zhou Mingyuan chuckled and patted Liu Zhe on the shoulder, then loosened his belt and took care of his personal matters.

"It's only a few bottles of beer! I won't get drunk at all. It's probably because I ate seafood for lunch and my stomach is a little upset now, damn it!"

When you're out and about, nobody wants to show their disheveled side to others.

Liu Zhe casually shrugged, stood side by side with Zhou Mingyuan, aimed, and released his weapon as well.

"By the way, Lao Zhou, your business is doing well now. I was wondering if it would be convenient for you to lend me some money?"

A series of rustling sounds rang out in their ears.

"Why do you need to borrow money? What, is your online loan limit not enough for you?"

Zhou Mingyuan looked over with a half-smile.

"No, no, I don't touch those anymore. I borrowed the money to pay the bill."

Liu Zhe looked very serious.

This was the second time Zhou Mingyuan had brought up online loans with him, both openly and subtly.

He wasn't stupid; he naturally knew that this classmate who had interned at the court probably did know some of his little secrets.

Regardless of how Zhou Mingyuan found out, Liu Zhe still had to maintain a basic level of politeness with him.

Otherwise, if he gets upset, his public image might collapse on the spot.

"Didn't Lu Shiya say she would treat us to this meal?"

Zhou Mingyuan looked on with curiosity.

"I was just thinking that since we all finally get together, we should all have a good time. There's no reason for a girl to pay the bill, is there?"

Liu Zhe had only spoken halfway when he immediately saw an expression of disbelief in the other person's eyes.

Are you fucking an idiot?

Upon hearing this, Zhou Mingyuan was on the verge of PTSD.

"What era are we living in? Still acting like a coward? Are you used to kneeling? You feel bad about people offering to pay you?"

"."

Liu Zhe had never seen Zhou Mingyuan speak in such a disdainful tone before, and he stood there stunned.

Why is Lao Zhou so agitated?
When we go out together, we either split the bill or take turns paying.

"You're unbelievable! You insist on paying even if you have to borrow money. Do you know how much this market is ruined by people like you?"

"Don't ask anymore, I won't lend it."

It's no wonder Zhou Mingyuan was lost in memories.

In fact, a large portion of the men who flocked to Lawyer Zhou's live-streaming rooms for consultations in later generations shared the same mentality as Liu Zhe.

Boys should offer to pay the bill. Men should be generous.

Such ideas have poisoned generations of people.

Until the sparks of awakening began to ignite a prairie fire, more and more boys grasped the mechanics of social interaction, discovering that a give-and-take approach was essential for long-term, sustainable relationships—a scientific and rational approach.

When the times abandon traditional men, they don't even say hello.

If you offer to pay the bill, will others remember your kindness?

not necessarily.

Later, a prominent figure on Bilibili even conducted a controlled experiment to document the dating practice of suggesting splitting the bill (AA) with girls.

Its results and their value are truly outstanding, comparable to a sociology SCI paper.

One of the girls was originally willing to split the bill, but when she was used as a control group, she experienced a process where a large number of boys offered to pay for her, and she was successfully brainwashed by reality to the other side.

That's how the market gradually becomes unbalanced.

".All right."

Liu Zhe never expected that Zhou Mingyuan would reject him so directly at this moment.

Is a meal of stew cooked in an iron pot very expensive?
There are only six people in the group, which is not expensive at all compared to gathering places like crayfish, hot pot, and Haidilao that often cost four figures.

For an expense of two or three hundred yuan, let alone Zhou Mingyuan being the big boss of Jieyou Media, even if he were still just an ordinary high school classmate, lending it to me would be effortless.

But he refused to lend it!
You won't even lend me this little bit of money?
Liu Zhe, still a student, seriously underestimated Zhou Lü's high level of socialization.

"Old Zhou, to be honest, you're really not a good friend."

"If you don't want to lend it, then don't lend it, but you still have to yell at me."

"Hold!"

Liu Zhe grew angrier the more he thought about it, and couldn't help but rattle off several sentences in quick succession. Then he shook himself and prepared to fasten his belt.

"I'm not insulting you, I genuinely think you're an idiot. Hahahaha!"

Just as Zhou Mingyuan was about to continue outputting his message, he turned his head, glanced down, and couldn't help but laugh out loud.

What are you laughing at?

Liu Zhe suddenly fell silent.

As soon as he was in sight, Zhou Mingyuan did the same thing.

The man's hand was fastening his belt, and his pupils slowly dilated.

Damn it? !
"It's okay, brother. There's no need to feel inferior or discouraged."

Zhou Mingyuan suppressed a laugh and delivered a final, sharp blow to Liu Zhe's heart.

"Even the small ones are cute."

"Fuck your mother!" Liu Zhe was so angry that his face turned red, but he couldn't utter a single word.

he.
Why should he?

"Liu Zhe! Liu Zhe! Have you had too much to drink?"

"why are you not speaking?"

"Hey!"

"Are you even letting the waiter serve more drinks?"

After a while, everyone finally saw Zhou Mingyuan and Liu Zhe return.

But for some reason, Liu Zhe seemed to have suffered a huge blow, looking like a wilted eggplant, completely lacking energy.

"Hmm, let's not drink it anymore."

Unable to refuse any longer, Liu Zhe lowered his head and spoke to everyone in a hoarse voice.

"Are you okay?"

Zhong Yujun couldn't help but ask, "How about we skip the second show after everyone leaves?"

"It's alright, it's alright, don't worry."

Liu Zhe waved his hands repeatedly, his gaze darting left and right, his cheeks flushed an unnatural red, and he didn't dare to look up at Zhong Yujun at all.

Fuck!
Recalling the scene he had just witnessed, his heart felt as if it were bleeding.

My thoughts wandered uncontrollably, and I felt so uncomfortable that I couldn't look Zhong Yujun in the eye.

"Let's have some fun!"

Zhou Mingyuan maintained his smiling expression and patiently explained to everyone.

"It's alright now. Liu Zhe just told me that he ate seafood for lunch and his stomach was a little upset, but he's feeling much better now."

"Everyone knows he's a proud man, so of course he wouldn't intentionally spoil the pianist's fun."

"Go, go, go!"

Although the people at the table were full of doubts, they didn't press Zhou Mingyuan for answers given his serious demeanor.

Lu Shiya smiled and poured Liu Zhe a cup of barley tea, trying to liven up the atmosphere again.

"Yes, yes, it's good that you're alright."

Do you know Liu Zhe?

"Old Qin was just making a bet with us. He insisted that, given your personality, you'd most likely sneak out to pay the bill!"

"That won't do! I promised it would be my treat today, I'll definitely be angry if you pay!"

"Tsk tsk tsk, look at our Sister Ya, she won't even let others pay the bill. That's really classy!"

Gu Wanwan clapped her hands with a smile and winked at Lu Shiya.

"Stop pretending! Did you go or not?"

Qin Weifeng put his arm around Liu Zhe's shoulder and shook him, then grinned and asked.

"Old Qin, you really have no tact. Do you think I'm such a spoilsport?"

Liu Zhe remained silent for a long time, barely touching his chopsticks, mechanically drinking several mouthfuls of water before finally managing to force a smile.

He couldn't laugh at all.

"Damn! I really misjudged you!"

Qin Weifeng slapped Liu Zhe hard on the back, looking at him with disdain, and said, "So stingy today? Where's your usual generosity?"

"I'll be generous to your mother!"

Liu Zhe's anger, which had been building up all night, finally exploded.

Zhou Mingyuan has his own weaknesses, so it's one thing to be mocked by him, but who does Qin Weifeng think he is?

To say you're stingy?
I've treated him to meals countless times, and this ingrate actually calls me stingy?

"I've treated people to meals before, but what about you? I've never seen you be generous."

Liu Zhe's voice was quick and precise; he was truly furious this time.

"I don't have money, I don't have your family's financial situation."

Qin Weifeng shrugged; physical education students are always straightforward in their speech.

"Why are you pretending to be rich when you don't have any money?"

"Who's showing off? No, you're always the first one to insist on paying the bill. Everyone knows you're generous, is there a problem with that?"

"."

Liu Zhe's eyes turned red with anger, and his fists clenched tightly.

In that instant, he had an impulse to smash his fist, as big as a sandbag, into Qin Weifeng's unreasonable pig head.

But he couldn't do that.

They were all classmates who knew each other well. Qin Weifeng was a very strong athlete, and he could knock Qin Weifeng unconscious with one punch.

When a scholar encounters a soldier, reason is useless!
As his emotions surged, he deeply understood Zhou Mingyuan's words in the restroom.

Yes.

What's the point of voluntarily paying the bill?

At this moment, he observed Lu Shiya and Gu Wanwan's expressions from a different angle.

Both of them spoke, but they just watched the commotion with smiles on their faces.

Watching himself and Qin Weifeng locked in a fierce battle, exchanging words back and forth.

He's been invited to meals so many times, but what's the result?
Even Qin Weifeng felt that it was only right and proper!

"Alright, alright, buddy, stop arguing."

"Let's go, let's do something else."

Qin Weifeng and Liu Zhe argued all the way from the restaurant to the door.

Singing? Clubbing? Playing board games?

Lu Shiya enthusiastically suggested that everyone walk side by side on the sidewalk of Optics Valley World City, with the streetlights casting long and short shadows.

It's still early.

After all, it's Friday, and there's nothing special going on when I get back.

"How about we go play board games?"

Zhong Yujun turned her head to look at Zhou Mingyuan. The halo of light outlined a small part of his profile, making him look extremely handsome.

She didn't want to drink, nor did she really want to go clubbing.

Since it's a group activity, find a partner who supports you first.

"agree!"

Zhou Mingyuan nodded, a very slight smile curving his lips.

He understood her unspoken meaning.

"I know there seems to be a new board game cafe that just opened around the corner up ahead. My classmates mentioned it, and they said the place is pretty nice. Shall we go check it out?"

"I can."

"I can too."

"Shall we go then?"

The minority submits to the majority. Lu Shiya raised her head, smiled, and opened the navigation software.

They tacitly changed direction and headed towards the board game store not far away.

Pushing open the glass door adorned with a bell, a wave of heat, a mixture of coffee aromas, the scent of wooden board game boxes, and the boisterous noise of young people, hits you, creating a stark contrast to the outside.

The store is lit in a warm yellow tone, and the walls are covered with various board game posters. Rows of shelves are filled with a dazzling array of board game boxes.

Several large solid wood wooden tables were set up in the public area, and many college students sat around them, creating a lively atmosphere.

"welcome!"

A shop assistant wearing black-rimmed glasses came up to us.

"Please come this way."

The shop assistant led them to a spot with a large window facing the street, where they could see the street view. A thin layer of mist covered the window glass, which was tinged with the glow of the neon lights.

"Are there any small games that require some logical reasoning and a bit of psychological game strategy?"

Zhong Yujun raised her chin, smiling broadly.

(End of this chapter)