Chapter 10

Under the lights, Shen Yu lowered his eyelashes, gazing at the wine glass before him.

The transparent glass held a beautiful, watery liquor that shimmered with iridescent hues as the lights filtered through the liquid. Various gut-wrenching spirits mixed together—it was enough to make one’s stomach burn just looking at it.

The rich kids nearby watched the spectacle in shock before giving Yu Tingsi a thumbs-up.

“Fuck, Young Master Yu really knows how to play.”

“The State Guest Hospital is right next door. That’s called being prepared.”

The group laughed and joked around, none of them serious, all eager to watch the drama unfold.

Shen Yu inwardly grumbled: 【If Zhou Jinsheng drank this wine, he’d probably drop dead.】

007 frowned deeply and corrected him seriously: 【If the Host drinks it, you’re not far from dropping dead either.】

007 added: 【If the Host insists on drinking, 007 recommends contacting a doctor first, just in case.】

Shen Yu’s gaze swept across Yu Tingsi’s face, then landed on Chi Xianli, before scanning the relaxed rich kids in the booth who were watching the show.

His eyes were calm and still, carrying an indescribable emotion.

At that moment, no one knew what he was thinking.

Logically speaking, in a situation like this, he should at least fly into a rage from humiliation, right?

Not getting the expected reaction, the troublemakers felt a bit awkward.

Shen Yu’s gaze fell on the glass of wine.

He spoke up to confirm: “If I drink it all, can I leave?”

Yu Tingsi raised an eyebrow and provocatively pushed the glass closer to Shen Yu with his fingers.

“Of course.”

Shen Yu’s eyelashes lowered over his eyelids as he reached out, snatched the glass from Yu Tingsi’s hand, tilted his head back, and downed the distilled vodka mixed with various spirits in one go.

The boy, still in his school uniform, remained expressionless. From taking the glass to draining it dry, his movements were smooth and decisive, without a hint of hesitation.

His pale fingers gripped the chilled glass, high-proof liquor stained his lips, and his throat bobbed as he swallowed. Amid the flashing sea-blue lights and pounding music, it unfolded like a pristine white scroll, creating a stunning contrast that made hearts race.

The crowd was stunned, unsure if it was his sudden burst of unyielding heroism or his striking looks that caught them off guard.

Shen Yu gripped the glass tightly, veins bulging on the back of his hand. He walked step by step toward Chi Xianli.

Shen Yu was clearly the one being bullied, and not a single person in the booth was on his side.

Yet the aura he exuded—pushed to the brink and erupting with pure, serene intensity—made everything around him seem dim. It felt less like he was out of place in the world and more like the world was out of place with him.

In that instant, the entire booth felt like the tables had turned.

It was as if the whole world was a blur of chaos.

And only he remained perfectly clear.

Chi Xianli frowned and finally turned his attention to Shen Yu, scrutinizing him.

Shen Yu stopped in front of him, and everyone looked over.

The boy extended his hand and flipped his wrist downward.

…

With a sharp “thunk,” Shen Yu slammed the glass upside down onto the smooth tabletop.

Everyone followed the sound.

Not a single drop of liquor slid down the inverted glass—it was bone dry. They gaped in disbelief.

He really drank it all?

They glanced at Shen Yu. The man himself looked calm, his steps steady, his expression unchanged. He showed no signs of distress. Even if they couldn’t stand him, a spark of admiration rose in their hearts.

Badass.

The glossy, water-like surface of the table reflected everyone’s faces clearly.

Shen Yu withdrew his hand and asked Chi Xianli: “Can I leave now?”

Yu Tingsi had said he’d let him go after drinking, so Chi Xianli had to give the Yu Family some face. Besides, with that much hard liquor down his throat, he didn’t believe Shen Yu could walk away unscathed—it was probably just adrenaline holding him up.

Chi Xianli shook his glass, a smile on his handsome face: “Of course.”

With the answer he wanted, Shen Yu turned and strode through the middle of the booth, passing Yu Tingsi.

Yu Tingsi hadn’t fully grown into himself yet—he was half a head shorter than Shen Yu—but his presence was no less imposing, his eyes full of wild arrogance.

As Shen Yu passed, Yu Tingsi looked up and quickly scanned him.

That probing glance was fleeting, withdrawing the moment Shen Yu might notice.

Yu Tingsi had never faced setbacks in the first half of his life. Unlike Zhou Jinsheng and Chi Xianli, who were groomed as heirs from childhood, he was the late-born son of the Yu Family, protected by his older brother in a harmonious home. Spoiled with love, he fell hard and fast, hated just as quickly, and loved surrounding himself with friends.

Little Master Yu’s heart raced.

He had to admit, just a tiny bit—fingernail-sized—that Shen Yu’s mesmerizing aura while drinking had drawn him in.

This time, the two burly bodyguards at the door didn’t stop him.

Shen Yu didn’t look back as he pushed open the booth door and left. The clamor and glamour behind him receded like the tide.

Inside the door and outside were now two different worlds.

Once outside, the color drained instantly from Shen Yu’s face.

He closed his eyes, intending to lean against the wall for a rest, but a passing server noticed his pallor and kindly asked if he needed help.

Shen Yu smiled and shook his head, declining the server’s kindness. He wove through the crowd and left Blue Sea Bay.

Outside Blue Sea Bay, Shen Yu’s tense back finally relaxed. He clutched his stomach, cold sweat beading on his smooth forehead.

Distilled vodka mixed with other spirits wasn’t a joke—the aftereffects were brutal. His abdomen felt like it was on fire, the burning surging from his churning stomach up to his chest.

The server who had greeted him earlier spotted Shen Yu again.

It was hard not to—Shen Yu stood out like a model. In a crowd of ten thousand, he’d be the first one noticed.

Seeing his pale face and distant expression, the server felt an inexplicable pang of sympathy, though he didn’t know what had happened.

After a moment’s thought, the server told his colleague: “Cover for me. I’m going to get this guy some hot water.”

His colleague glanced at Shen Yu and teased: “You’re such a bleeding heart. He might not even appreciate it.”

The server just smiled without responding. He poured hot water into a disposable cup and walked over to hand it to Shen Yu.

Shen Yu stared at the sudden offering of hot water, about to refuse, but when he looked up and saw it was the same server from earlier, he felt an odd sense of familiarity.

Two encounters made him a familiar face, at least.

Shen Yu took the cup, his voice hoarse as he thanked him: “Thanks.”

The server smiled, his gaze gentle: “No problem, young sir. It’s getting late—head home soon.”

Shen Yu blinked: “Home?”

The server nodded: “Yeah. Everyone’s got to go home sometime.”

Shen Yu lowered his eyes and fell silent for a moment.

“Finish this hot water and head home.”

Nighttime Blue Sea Bay bustled with people. The server had only spared a moment to deliver the water before leaving.

Shen Yu made his way to the street side and leaned against a lamppost, his long, thick eyelashes lowered. He cradled the disposable plastic cup and sipped slowly to soothe his stomach.

Fortunately, the passersby were all drunks in no better shape than him.

A lone figure drinking hot water by the street didn’t look out of place.

As Shen Yu eased his pain, he suddenly heard the roar of an engine. He forced himself to look up.

In the distance, a sports car drifted around the corner, tires screeching against the pavement before slamming to a halt in front of Blue Sea Bay Club.

The door swung open.

Zhou Jinsheng wore a casual black hoodie and leaned against his flashy silver sports car. Tall and slender, he held his phone in one hand, typing messages with his head down.

Someone hurried over eagerly, but Zhou Jinsheng didn’t even look up, just gave a cold “Mm.”

His black hair fell casually, his vibe lazy. The dazzling lights of Blue Sea Bay’s sign illuminated his sharp features, making his eyes seem even more aloof and profound.

Perhaps sensing the prolonged stare, Zhou Jinsheng turned his head toward Shen Yu.

A flash of silver glinted before Shen Yu’s eyes. Before he could react, his stomach convulsed in agony.

His face went deathly pale. He wanted nothing more than to curl up on the ground, ignoring all dignity—the pain mixed with nausea surging to his chest.

Holding back a breath, Shen Yu bolted to the trash can and vomited his guts out.

The server who had given him water had left, but he was stationed nearby at the entrance and kept an eye on Shen Yu. Seeing him suddenly dash to the trash can and retch violently, looking in bad shape, the server’s heart tightened. He instinctively wanted to rush over, but his colleague grabbed his arm and hissed:

“Hey, fuck! What are you doing? This is some rich people drama—is that our business? Look at the kind of guy he is. You gonna risk getting in trouble for a nobody like us?”

The server froze and looked up.

He saw the extraordinary young man who had just stepped out of the convertible sports car frown, turn on his heel, and head straight for Shen Yu.

After vomiting while bracing against the trash can, Shen Yu felt his stomach ease a bit.

But his energy seemed drained in an instant. His limbs were ice-cold, strengthless, soaked in cold sweat. The biting chill pierced his thin school shirt, raising goosebumps.

Oblivious, Shen Yu kept his head down.

A clean white handkerchief appeared before his eyes, held out by a hand.

Shen Yu followed the hand up, and another flash of silver made him realize the earlier glint hadn’t been his imagination.

Zhou Jinsheng bent slightly at the waist, silently watching Shen Yu.

On his right earlobe gleamed a finely crafted silver earring—a round clip-on with two pea-sized silver studs dangling below, reflecting icy silver light under the lamps.

The Zhou family rules were strict. Even if Zhou Jinsheng was wild outside, he belonged to Sihua Gardens Zhou Mansion, under Old Master Zhou’s watch. He wouldn’t pierce his ears, so it had to be a clip-on.

Shen Yu hadn’t expected young Zhou Jinsheng to have this hobby.

On second thought, even if Zhou Jinsheng seemed brooding and deep, he was only seventeen or eighteen—a teenager bound to have some rebellious streak.

Would Zhou Jinsheng look back years later on his edgy teen phase with the same embarrassment as anyone else?

Probably. Shen Yu began pondering the odds of Zhou Jinsheng silencing him if he ever brought up this youthful black history.

Amen.

Perhaps Shen Yu stayed silent too long. Zhou Jinsheng lowered his eyelashes, gestured to the handkerchief with his eyes, and asked: “Don’t want it?”

007 reminded him: 【Host, this isn’t the time for reflection.】

He hadn’t waited at Blue Sea Bay’s entrance for so long on a whim.

Shen Yu mustered his emotions.

His dark lashes filtered the light, fluttering slightly. His bloodless face tried to form a smile but failed.

His pale lips parted.

He wanted to say: Zhou Jinsheng, Young Master Zhou Da, you really have no idea?

We were classmates. Even if he offended you somehow, was there any need to push him this far?

But in the end, Shen Yu said nothing.

He snatched Zhou Jinsheng’s handkerchief and tossed it into the trash can. He gave Zhou Jinsheng a cold look, brushed past him, reached a taxi, opened the door, slumped wearily inside, and slammed it shut.

The taxi merged into traffic and vanished quickly.

Zhou Jinsheng watched it go, his face darkening.

The moment he spotted Shen Yu at Blue Sea Bay, plus Chi Xianli’s invite, he knew exactly what had happened. It wasn’t his doing—he’d come to help out of kindness, only to get misunderstood.

When had he, Zhou Jinsheng, ever stuck his hot face to a cold ass? His brows furrowed sharply, a flash of cold malice crossing his mind.

Zhou Jinsheng stood on the street, lit a cigarette with a cold expression, but didn’t smoke it.

His phone buzzed nonstop—a group chat urging him on.

The spark at his fingertips flickered.

Annoyed by the noise, Zhou Jinsheng answered Chi Xianli’s call.

“Hey hey, Young Master Zhou Da, how come you’re not here yet? You missed a hell of a show—”

Zhou Jinsheng furrowed his brows and coldly cut him off.

“Shut up.”