Stepping off the ride with trembling legs, Cheng Yi was about to speak when suddenly a wave of nausea surged up her chest. Before she could react, her whole body bent over and she vomited loudly onto the ground.
"Yi Yi, are you okay?" Hua Lianxi, who had just steadied herself and was still feeling light-headed as if not fully grounded, saw the person beside her suddenly bend over and vomit, the mess splattering onto her instep.
Holding her stomach and gasping for breath, with vomit even spilling from her nostrils, Cheng Yi opened her mouth in disbelief that she had just thrown up the moment they got off the ride.
"Oh my, miss, why are you vomiting here? If you need to throw up, please do it over there!" An attendant, directing the next group of riders onto the coaster, glanced disdainfully at the mess on the floor and reprimanded Cheng Yi.
"Sorry, sorry…" Hua Lianxi quickly helped Cheng Yi away, not even bothering to think about cleaning the floor as she twisted open a bottle of mineral water and held it out to her.
After finally rinsing away the nauseous taste in her mouth, Cheng Yi looked back at the dirty mess she'd made on the ground, then quickly pulled Hua Lianxi away. "Hua Lianxi, I've never been so ashamed in my life. Even if I don't die, I've lost all face. How'm I supposed to live after this?" Vomiting so openly in public and then walking away like nothing happened—if someone took photos and posted them online, where could she ever show her face again?
"For your dignity, let's leave here now. So, where shall we go for a drink?" Hua Lianxi laughed heartily, looking at her disheveled friend, her mood brightening as she headed toward the exit.
"Drink more? I just threw up what we ate! And now you want to go drink again? Miss, are you torturing me? Can I even drink anymore?" Cheng Yi shuddered just thinking about it. Having just emptied her insides, she was still weak—and yet, they were heading straight to drink again. She wished she could twist Hua Lianxi's head off and examine it—how long was this madness going to last?
Just like at the amusement park's roller coaster, Hua Lianxi ignored her protests and refusals, dragging her to a city five-star KTV and generously booking a luxurious private room.
Still unsteady from the ride and nausea, Cheng Yi collapsed on the sofa the moment they entered. Hua Lianxi boldly ordered a dozen beers without hesitation.
The powerful sound system filled the large room as Hua Lianxi grabbed a beer first and looked at Cheng Yi, slumped on the sofa. "Cheng Yi, this one's for you—toasting our life and death together. Luckily you didn't die midair, so here we are, singing our hearts out!" With that she tilted her head back and gulped beer, downing more than half the can in one go.
Squinting, Cheng Yi slowly sat up, looking at the bucket full of ice-cold beers. "You drink, and I'll carry you home if you get drunk!" Since she couldn't accompany her through death now, she'd just watch her drink.
Smiling faintly, Hua Lianxi finished the remaining beer in the bottle as if it were just water.
Rapidly scrolling through the song list, Hua Lianxi picked one sad, familiar love song after another. As the tunes played, she grabbed the microphone and poured all her emotions into screaming out the lyrics, clutching a beer in the other hand. She paused at the most emotional, sorrowful lines to gulp beer down in big gulps, as if only alcohol could wash away the sadness in her voice.
Quietly sitting on the sofa, silently watching Hua Lianxi's wild singing and furious drinking, Cheng Yi finally pulled out her phone and hit record on the little video, then swiped her thumb to send it out.
"I know this song—I'll sing with you!" Cheng Yi put down her phone and grabbed another microphone, joining in on her friend's frenzy.
In less than two hours, the entire bucket of beer was drained by Hua Lianxi, who was still singing boldly.
"Yi Yi, the beer's all gone?" After shouting hoarsely through the song's chorus, Hua Lianxi blinked back tears at her nose, reaching for the bucket only to scoop up melting ice cubes. Turning around, she looked puzzled at Cheng Yi.
Glancing at the full trash bin stuffed with empty bottles, Cheng Yi paused before saying, "Hua Lianxi, this is the first time I've realized you have such a tolerance for alcohol? You've drunk all that and you're still asking for more?" They both liked to drink a little, but Cheng Yi had never seen her drunk because Hua Lianxi always had superhuman self-control—she never lost control or broke down over any man's heartbreak. She lived always for her mother. But now, at this moment, she was letting herself go, wanting to drown herself in drink.
Could Kong Chengyi be Hua Lianxi's curse?
Still with her hand in the ice bucket, Hua Lianxi smiled resignedly. "Yeah… I didn't even know I had such a tolerance. Isn't it better to be drunk? Drunk life, dream death—why can't I?"
When drunk, the frozen images in her mind would disappear; when drunk, she wouldn't fear waking moments and could let herself fall asleep; when drunk, it's always a kind of release, right?
"Drink on, better to drink till you die!" Pouting, Cheng Yi pressed the service button. "Send another dozen beers over, quick!"
"Yi Yi, shouldn't we change drinks? How about XO? Spicy—sharp—that's the real taste!" Licking her lips, Hua Lianxi suddenly craved that sharpness, like the sting that once burned her throat. Slightly tipsy, the familiar sensation stirred memories.
Clutching the microphone, Cheng Yi shouted "Drink!" but inside she was thinking, "Hua Lianxi, you better drink yourself to death!"
Suddenly the door pushed open, both women turning sharply. Hua Lianxi, still tipsy, puckered her lips, thinking it was the waiter with more drinks.
The door was held open by Cheng Shaobai, who pushed with one hand and carried his suit jacket in the other. His sharp eyes swept the room and immediately locked onto Hua Lianxi's puckered, charming lips. For a moment, he almost forgot to breathe.
"Brother, she wants to drink XO! Spicy and enough to sting!" Cheng Yi couldn't help but complain, wishing she could just tie him up and take him away. This situation of letting her drink or not gave her a headache.
Hua Lianxi relaxed her lips, and suddenly burped. She hurriedly covered her mouth with both hands and smiled slightly. "Hi, Brother Cheng!"
"Are you drunk?" Cheng Shaobai stepped close, his expression serious as he carefully observed Hua Lianxi. Even in the dim light, he could see her flushed cheeks and sparkling phoenix eyes, clearly intoxicated.
"No, not drunk!" Covering her mouth, Hua Lianxi took a step back, then moved to sit down beside them, grinning.
"So happy?" As she sat down, Cheng Shaobai's keen nose caught the strong beer scent on her. Annoyance rose faintly within him.
"Happy! Drinking and singing makes me happy!" Hua Lianxi bobbed her head to the music and glanced casually at the screen as she replied. For a moment, her mind felt blurry, and the smile on her lips seemed not entirely under her control.
Cheng Shaobai remained silent, pulling out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and lighting one, slowly smoking alone.
Still immersed in the song, Cheng Yi turned to see Cheng Shaobai smoking. She shouted into the microphone, "Brother, since when do you smoke? When did you learn?" In her memory, he never smoked and certainly never in front of her.
Taking a deep drag and exhaling a thick cloud of smoke, Cheng Shaobai ignored Cheng Yi. Instead, Hua Lianxi moved closer, gazing at him with watery phoenix eyes.
Meeting her gaze, Cheng Shaobai reached out as if to pull her into a hug. "Xixi?"
Without noticing his hand resting on her slender waist, Hua Lianxi leaned in slightly. "Is smoking fun? Teach me?" She had never smoked before and had once despised smokers, but ever since becoming familiar with Kong Chengyi's tobacco scent, she had strangely grown attached to it.
Cheng Shaobai's fingers stiffened; he hadn't expected her request. Squinting at her, he said, "Why? The smoke will choke you!" The truth was he never smoked regularly—now he only smoked because he missed her, trying to suppress the turmoil and anger inside.
His fingers trembled, and he crushed the cigarette stub in the ashtray with a hiss, then stood up abruptly, fists clenched tightly.
"Brother Cheng, why don't you drink with me?" Hua Lianxi seemed to forget what she'd just said as she wobbled to her feet, smiling sweetly. "I'm not drunk yet!"
She wasn't drunk—hadn't passed out yet; she could still keep drinking. That was her sole, remaining purpose in her mind.
Frowning darkly, Cheng Shaobai grabbed Hua Lianxi's wrist firmly and pulled her toward the door, tossing a line at Cheng Yi: "Cheng Yi, you're paying!"
"Where are you going? Where? We haven't even had a proper drink!" Hua Lianxi cried out, her wrist hurting from his grip as she stumbled along, her mind dizzy and confused by his sudden actions.
"My wrist hurts, it hurts, wah… it hurts…" Like a spoiled child, she whined and fussed.
Grinding his teeth, Cheng Shaobai ignored her protests and cries, swiftly dragging her toward the parking lot. He shoved her into the front passenger seat, then bent down and fastened her seatbelt.
"Where are you going? I don't want to go! I want to drink! Give me alcohol!" She struggled, trying to unbuckle the seatbelt, throwing a drunken tantrum.
Cheng Shaobai climbed into the driver's seat, locked the central lock, and ignored her struggles. His black car sped through the bustling streets, running red lights one after another.