How come you're also my ex-girlfriend?

The bar wasn't well-lit, but fortunately Xu Yan had good eyesight.

There wasn't much noise inside as one might imagine, and most of the customers passing by were young people around the same age as me.

It seems we can draw a 99% accurate conclusion... this bar is definitely not cheap.

But this isn't something Xu Yan should worry about; he can't possibly pay for it himself, can he? Sigh, another day with an upset stomach.

"Miss Shu, you've arrived."

A well-dressed waiter quickly stood next to the two of them with the wine list.

Xu Yan clearly saw the young waiter look at him with a surprised expression before turning his gaze to Shu Ying.

He glanced furtively at Shu Ying's face, then cautiously lowered his head and maintained his smile.

"Um."

Shu Ying took the wine list and looked at the somewhat curious young man across from her.

This appearance is quite interesting, like a rabbit leaving its burrow for the first time.

In the dim light, she said languidly, "You said it was your first time at a bar, really?"

"Um."

"Then let me order for you."

"A lower prescription would be better, that way I might be able to hold on a little longer."

Shu Ying thought to herself, whether she persists or not doesn't seem to affect her ability to drink...

However, because of this, the factors to consider have changed. "You definitely can't drink neat whiskey anymore. In a cocktail bar, a sweet drink like a mojito might be more suitable for you now."

"I'll listen to you."

Xu Yan had already started scrolling through videos on his phone, as if the woman in front of him was so beautiful that she couldn't arouse his interest anymore, and he didn't have the restraint he would have when dealing with a 'new friend'.

This made the waiter glance at him again, perhaps already silently wondering what kind of relationship the two had.

In the end, Shu Ying ordered herself a Martini, Xu Yan a Gin and Tonic, and then some beer and a fruit platter.

The waiter personally brought the wine, maintaining politeness and a smile, with a very respectful attitude, without saying anything unnecessary, and left after delivering it.

Seeing Xu Yan's curious gaze, Shu Ying took the initiative to speak, "I used to find it troublesome and often asked one of the waiters here to make a reservation for me, but he soon felt that he had me under his control, asking me to store certain wines, and even wanting to drink my wine with me."

"and then?"

"And then he wasn't here anymore."

"oh."

Xu Yan didn't seem surprised. Shu Ying scoffed, "What, do you think I'm scary?"

The boy thought to himself, "Your fist is indeed something."

However, even if many men find this face intimidating, there would certainly be no shortage of 'brave warriors' willing to fly into the fire like moths to a flame.

He shook his head. "I just sensed that you seem to drink a lot."

Is drinking frequently a special thing?

"I'm just curious, do you have so many worries that make you drink so often? The adult world is truly terrifying."

The thought that she was deliberately trying to look younger made Shu Ying's lips curl up slightly.

She thought about the word "trouble," then said with a strange look in her eyes, "It's not just when I'm feeling down that I want to drink; often it's just when I'm bored and have nothing else to do."

Xu Yan picked up his wine glass and looked at the other person, "You rich people are quite strange. One minute you're saying you're very busy with work, and the next you're acting like your life is empty."

This caused Shu Ying to pause unnaturally for a moment as she picked up her wine glass, and she looked up at the boy.

Those deep eyes seemed to hold surging waves.

It's like the novelty and excitement one feels when encountering a new species.

"Bang."

But the glasses still clinked crisply. Before taking a sip, she narrowed her long, sharp eyes, which seemed rather aggressive. "You may not have been to a bar before, but you must have charmed plenty of girls, right?"

Xu Yan blinked. "You're not a girl."

Shu Ying: ...

The drink he took almost made him spit it out in the other person's face.

Seeing the somewhat resentful look in her eyes, Xu Yan smiled and said, "You're the older sister."

She swallowed the complex-tasting liquor, narrowed her eyes, and said, "You're really too familiar with people. We've only known each other for a few hours and you're already calling me 'sister.' Do you think all women like smooth-talking men?"

"It has nothing to do with being glib or smooth-talking; it's all about looks."

"You're quite confident."

"Otherwise, if you ask me to drink after boxing, should I think I'm particularly funny or rich?"

This person...

Although every sentence seems normal, why does it always make people inexplicably angry but unable to find a reason to blame it?

Would you consider this another kind of "interesting" approach?

She wasn't sure, but Shu Ying could conclude that all the men she encountered in her daily life were like zombies compared to him, including that man.

But it seems they don't even know each other's names?

She took another sip of her martini, this time finishing most of it, and the world around her seemed to become more pleasing to the eye.

"You've been calling me 'sister' for so long, what should I call you?"

Taking the initiative to ask someone how to address you... this seems to be quite rare in my life.

However, there were so many things that happened that night that the minor details didn't matter.

"Xu Yan".

He took a sip of the gin and tonic that the other person called "sweet water." The alcohol taste was still obvious, so he drank it slowly, feeling like one glass could last all night.

"Shu Ying".

After saying her name, she finished her drink in one gulp.

Xu Yan asked, somewhat surprised, "Drinking so fast?"

Shu Ying smiled tenderly, "A martini doesn't taste good if you don't finish it in three sips. Actually, most of the time I prefer to drink it in one sip."

Is demonstrating her drinking capacity something to be proud of? Her expression even seemed a little smug.

Xu Yan didn't understand any of this; he just drank his sweet drink and sipped his beer in small sips.

She was very relaxed, but drank with great delicacy; this contrast made Shu Ying unable to help but ask.

Are you still a student?

"Yeah, my clear eyes don't look like that, do they?"

They are indeed college students, still carrying that pure, youthful spirit.

"I didn't realize you were so cunning when you were boxing."

Still seemingly resentful about what happened before, Shu Ying ordered another Long Island Iced Tea.

Xu Yan blinked innocently. "It's a normal strategy. If I acted like a brute, wouldn't you just beat me to a pulp?"

Pressed to the ground...

It accurately captured the keyword vocabulary.

Shu Ying recalled the moment when she was lying on the ground, the other person was straddling her waist, and then swung their fist at her.

It's hard to pinpoint exactly what emotion triggered that terrifying moment—was it shame, fear, tension, or anger?

You just can't say he's taking advantage of you...

But a strange color appeared on the woman's face, much like the perfect intoxication from alcohol.

"You're so despicable towards me, a woman. It's hard to imagine how you usually deceive other women."

Xu Yan chuckled silently. "People usually only emphasize gender disadvantage when they can't gain any advantage."

The woman rolled her eyes.

"Don't take it too seriously. I'm not throwing that punch; I was just being sarcastic."

So, does that mean I overdid it in self-defense?

Xu Yan took another sip of the sweet juice, seemingly unconcerned.

"Then why would a student like you think of boxing?"

"Hunting aliens to protect Earth."

Shu Ying: ?

"There are no aliens in this world."

Have you ever seen aliens?

"Of course not."

"You're welcome."

Xu Yan leaned back against the spacious and comfortable back of the booth sofa, a Nike lipstick curling up in his mouth.

Shu Ying opened her mouth as if to say something, but in the end she sighed and said, "You're really shameless."

"It's no longer an era where you care about your reputation, it's an era where you judge people by their appearance, sister."

The smiling face opposite me had a slight blush on its cheeks.

He keeps saying strange things, and he even uses such a title... I've already told him his name, does he think he's particularly susceptible to this?

"You really like calling me 'older sister' that much?"

She couldn't help but ask.

Without even realizing it, as he asked the question, his body was almost touching the table, and his cheek was quite close to it.

The subconscious act of closing the distance seemed to be clouded by the effects of alcohol.

Xu Yan seemed oblivious, simply smiling at the other person. "Should I call you 'Mom'?"

"...I have no interest in raising a son."

Strange, my cheeks feel a little hot and itchy, and I want to reach out and touch them.

So she rested her chin on her hand, trying to make her movements appear normal and casual.

"So, should I call you Sister Shu?"

"...Never mind, just call me 'sister' then, let's drink."

She always tells others that she's not young anymore, as if she doesn't care about her age at all.

But at this moment, I don't want to be called so old.

So they pushed their glasses forward, and their glasses collided gently like ice hockey pucks, the liquid sloshing around, the not-so-transparent liquid reflecting Shu Ying's slightly downturned eyebrows and eyes.

The bar is playing a piano version of Birdsong.

……