Electronic Nezha

Chapter 197 Bad Friends

After a few rounds of drinks, the people at the table started chatting casually. My dad, having learned from Zhao Jun's dad's experience, had only drunk less than two ounces, so he was still in good shape. He wanted to take my mom out for another round of drinks; after paying such an expensive room, it would be a waste not to make it worthwhile. I persuaded him against it; it was already completely dark, and with the alcohol on his hands, I was worried something might go wrong.

Zhao Jun said, "Uncle, we run this business, so you don't have to worry about not having enough to eat. Here's what we'll do: you two elders and Fengzi can stay here for the New Year. Anyway, your whole family will be here together, so you don't have to worry about going back."

Zhao Jun had a few drinks and was a man of strong emotions, so I knew he was probably telling the truth. I pulled him aside and said, "Your sister still has work to do, and I have to go back to my stall too. We're free to do whatever we want tomorrow. I won't say goodbye when I leave. We'll have plenty of opportunities to visit each other in the future."

After a drinking session, he learned about my situation and Ma Chaoran's situation. He looked at Ma Chaoran with lingering fear and said, "Reporter Ma, have you ever investigated illegal coal mines or interviewed illegal workshops before? How can a reporter be so skilled?"

He brought up the old story again, and Old Ma couldn't dodge the question any longer, so he chuckled and said, "It's a family heirloom."

"No wonder then." Zhao Jun winked at me and said, "You'd better not make Reporter Ma angry in the future."

The banquet ended happily. Zhao Hanyu was going to take Liu Zhenhua to his dad's office to play games. We all went back to our rooms and agreed to continue soaking after we woke up the next day.

Upon returning to the room, the first thing that caught my eye was the dim lighting and the wild mannequins on the wall. Besides a huge local waterbed, there was also a strange little sofa next to it, its protruding shape clearly intended for couples to explore different positions. I had completely forgotten about the couples' room while I was out for half a day, but after dealing with Zhao Jun, everything seemed normal.

"I'm going to change my clothes." As soon as Ma Chaoran said that, I turned my head away again.

She quickly changed her clothes, wearing a bear-themed short-sleeved top and loungewear shorts, which made her legs look even longer.

After having nowhere to look, an even more practical problem is: I have nowhere to be myself. There's only one bed, and although I'm confident that we can each have our own quiet corner while sleeping, the problem is it's still early, and lying in bed with a girl, even watching TV together, would feel awkward, wouldn't it?
I took out my phone and pretended to be busy scrolling through it, then casually sat down on the sofa.

The sofa was filled with a fine, sand-like substance. When I sat down, my body slumped down in part while being supported in another part, maintaining a posture facing the enemy...

Ma Chaoran said, "You'd better come up here. You're even more perverted sitting there."

I awkwardly got up and muttered, "You're actually quite thirsty after drinking so little. Are you thirsty?"

"Kind of."

I handed her one of the two bottles of water, and then we sat back-to-back, half-lying down and half-sitting, playing on our phones.

This is the first time it's been so quiet when we're together. Usually, she likes to say "hehehe" and I like to talk nonsense. We're always laughing and joking wherever we go. Now, I feel a little uncomfortable...

I think the feelings between us are pure. The main reason for this situation is the environment. For ordinary people, the feeling brought by the environment cannot be ignored. When you spend money to go on a haunted house adventure, isn't it to feel the thrill of the eerie wind, the corpses covered under the sheets, and the NPCs that suddenly jump out?
Even ghosts can't be too picky about their living environment, right? Sadako lives in a well, and Kayako lives in a detached house, but they don't make their dwellings incredibly abstract. As for the monsters in "Journey to the West," they live in caves and have fires burning all year round, barbecue, and sing and dance.

Just then, Zhao Jun sent an audio message.

"Why are you so reluctant to part with me after just one meal?" I joked, then answered the phone, "Hello?" I secretly breathed a sigh of relief. At times like this, I just needed someone that both Ma Chaoran and I knew to chat with.

Zhao Jun let out a burp, but said in a steady tone, "Fengzi, some of my friends want to discuss a business deal with you. There's a private room on the fourth floor of the hotel. When you get there, the waiter will lead you over—well, business matters are probably quite boring, so you can let Reporter Ma go to sleep first. You can come alone." "Well... okay." I was looking for somewhere to go.

After hanging up the phone, I felt something was off. Why didn't we discuss business earlier?
Ma Chaoran said, "Let the koi fish accompany you."

As I stepped out of my room, the koi fish waved to me from the other end of the corridor.

When I got to the fourth floor, a waiter led me into a private room.

It turned out that this room was a KTV. When I walked in, Zhao Jun was sitting in the middle of the large private room, and several of his friends were also there. The two who were "oxygen-deprived" were busy serving customers. There was a bottle of liquor on one end of the coffee table and a bottle of beer on the other, as well as fruit platters and snacks.

Zhao Jun stood up with a smile to greet him, saying, "We've been waiting for you!"

Now I'm even more confused. Although I've never done big business deals, I know that contracts are usually discussed at formal dinners, and the second party is for celebrating the successful cooperation and getting to know each other better. Singing karaoke while discussing business? Sure, it's fine, but isn't it a bit too noisy...?

While I was still in a daze, Zhao Jun clapped his hands, and then a long row of young and beautiful girls walked in from the door of the private room. They were all wearing tight-fitting, short skirts, and each of them had a rosy face. As soon as they entered, they greeted each other in unison: "Good evening, sir."

I was stunned for a moment and asked Zhao Jun, "You still have this here?"

Zhao Jun laughed and said, "I really don't have any. I specially brought this from the city for you. I thought you came all this way, so you can't just have a meal and leave. I should at least show you some hospitality."

I said, half-laughing and half-crying, "My girlfriend is still upstairs—you won't get away with it if Reporter Ma gets angry."

Zhao Jun was speechless and said, "Is it really necessary to sing and chat?" He leaned closer to me and whispered, "Could you call your old man down too? I noticed he wasn't having enough fun while drinking."

I shook my hand and said, "Let the old man rest!"

Good heavens, a father and son drinking and carousing together, what an extravagant family they must be!

Zhao Jun said, "Alright, next time, two for each of us, and no one is allowed to fight over them. Fengzi will choose first."

"No, I really don't have that hobby."

Zhao Jun said unhappily, "What are you talking about? What kind of hobby is this? It's just having someone pour the drinks."

Zhao Jun's friends also joined in the persuasion. Apart from Zhao Jun, I haven't even added them on WeChat. That's how men's social interactions are. Most people you meet at a dinner party are just passersby, unless you see them again at another dinner party soon afterward. That means your circles overlap significantly and there's a possibility of cooperation. Do I count as meeting these people a second time?
Zhao Jun isn't a bad person, he's straightforward and a bit reckless. He's the kind of guy who'd help an old lady who's fallen down, but if you tried to extort money from him, he'd beat you to death. As a friend, he's a typical "bad friend," always urging you to smoke, drink, and enjoy life to the fullest. His values ​​aren't exactly righteous either. In his view, letting friends eat, drink, and have fun is being a good friend, and having a few pretty girls accompany you for drinks is simply a way of showing hospitality—like when you're eating barbecue and someone's selling yogurt, they'll insist on buying you a can even if you say you don't want any.

I met this "bad friend" far too late.

(End of this chapter)