Chapter 39

6 PM, Saturday.

After the party, the class took the bus to the school gate, dropping off several students on the route. Ding Jianhui reminded everyone to be cautious as they walked home after getting off the bus. The students loudly thanked Teacher Ding for the treat before heading off in small groups for dinner and to go home.

Jiang Zhihuo and the class monitor, along with around eight or nine other boys, shared knowing looks and headed to a barbecue restaurant near the school for their second round.

They arrived shouting, each one looking quite imposing and proclaiming their desire to get drunk. “Alright! No one leaves until we’re all drunk!” And, “Anyone who doesn’t drink is a coward!” They ordered a box of alcohol but embarrassingly only took out two bottles; each person poured a little, barely filling half a cup, and as they shouted louder, they drank less.

Jiang Zhihuo looked at the plastic cup on the table with a puzzled expression. “…Is this really what you mean by drinking until we’re all drunk?”

The boy chuckled and said, “If we get drunk, how are we getting home?”

Boy 2 suggested, “Huo-ge, you can drink first to warm up the atmosphere!”

“Perfect!” Jiang Zhihuo instantly nodded, got to his feet, and gulped down the small amount of alcohol in his cup in one go. He then pulled out a second bottle from the box, tapped it on the table, and removed the cap. With his head tilted back, he swiftly finished the whole bottle and slammed the empty one on the table afterward. “Is that enough?”

“Huo-ge is brave!” The boys all stood up together and finished off the meager amount of alcohol in their cups.

At that moment, the song ‘Break Up Happily’ began to play in the restaurant.

The class monitor was hit by a wave of emotion as the sad music started playing. He uncorked a bottle of alcohol, filled his cup to the brim, and downed it all at once while thinking about the goddess who had just announced her marriage.

Class monitor: “You might find this childish, but during junior high, I wasn’t interested in studying. I just wanted to spend time with my friends. I even got the lowest math score in my grade. However, the goddess’ voice inspired me! I can honestly say that her voice changed my life! I’ve liked her for years, and now she’s unexpectedly getting married. It’s making me really depressed.”

The boys were quite emotionally clueless. They thought those feelings were just nonsense and couldn’t grasp the class monitor’s idea of ‘liking.’ To them, if the first goddess got married, they should simply move on to the next one. With so many voice actresses out there, it wasn’t like there was just one. Despite their attempts to comfort him, their advice was merely to “forget about the current one; the next one will be cuter,” a sentiment that felt superficial and barely touched the surface of his emotions.

Only Jiang Zhihuo raised his cup for a toast, quietly refilled the class monitor’s drink, and said, “I get what you’re feeling! If you truly, deeply admired a goddess, then her getting married? That’s really heartbreaking.”

The class monitor finished his drink and nodded repeatedly, saying, “Right, right.”

“Again!” Jiang Zhihuo poured another cup, downing it first himself, “To drink away all sorrows!!”

The class monitor also responded, “Okay!”

Jiang Zhihuo replied, “But consider it this way, even if she’s married, she’s still your goddess and will keep doing voice acting! It doesn’t seem like you like her just for her looks or because she’s single.”

“That’s right!” the class monitor said, sighing, “But it still sucks.”

Jiang Zhihuo filled the drink once more. “The character she voiced is still around. If you’re truly upset, just listen to it and watch it again and again. A married goddess is still a goddess!”

Class monitor: “Okay!”

The two of them went back and forth, consuming several drinks. With his stomach already full of alcohol, the class monitor began to feel dizzy. He hiccupped when he saw Jiang Zhihuo raise his hand again and mumbled, “Huo-ge, do you want more?”

Jiang Zhihuo: “It’s fine, you don’t need to; I’ll drink by myself!”

He continued to pour himself several more cups in a row, and the boy next to him couldn’t stop him, no matter what.

The class monitor wasn’t good at drinking, and the other boys weren’t exactly the type to handle alcohol either. Jiang Zhihuo suggested they get completely drunk, but he had selfish motives from the very beginning.

These past few days, he has been pondering the same question—

Jiang Zhihuo held a bottle in one hand and a cup in the other. “Let me ask you all. Can people who have held hands, kissed, and shared a bed still be considered friends?”

The boys: “???”

Another cup.

“How come he is so calm?!”

Yet another cup.

“Will it kill him just to greet me? Did he pretend not to know me?”

The last time Jiang Zhihuo drank with Bai Yujun, he mixed all the drinks himself. The alcohol content wasn’t very high, but Bai Yujun got drunk since she couldn’t handle it, while he just felt a little dizzy.

He was feeling quite grumpy this time, irritated for no clear reason. He found Yan Mu annoying when he was there and even more annoying when he wasn’t. Whether Yan Mu greeted him or not, it only intensified his frustration. What frustrated him even more was not being able to communicate at all.

Hanging out with a number of guys was simply his way of venting his frustrations.

Several consecutive questions left the boys completely bewildered.

One of the boys, his face twisted in horror, asked, “Who have you kissed, held hands with, and shared a bed with, Huo-ge?”

Boy 2 quickly stated, “I don’t think it’s the class monitor who’s heartbroken; it’s Huo-ge, isn’t it?!”

Chang Luo stopped Jiang Zhihuo, saying, “Don’t drink any more, Huo-ge. You’re drunk, really drunk!”

Jiang Zhihuo brushed Chang Luo’s hand aside and passed the cup to the class monitor. “Cheers! To hell with whether we’re friends or not!”

The class monitor went along with him. “Cheers!” he said but only took a small sip afterward.

Jiang Zhihuo emptied his cup and said, “Who worries about marriage? Let’s enjoy ourselves!”

Class monitor: “Okay!”

He then followed that with another tiny sip.

Jiang Zhihuo: “Continue!”

The class monitor noticed something was wrong. “…Huo-ge, isn’t this a bit too much?”

Jiang Zhihuo replied, “It’s fine; you’re the unhappy one!”

The class monitor replied swiftly, “I’m really happy!”

Jiang Zhihuo said with doubt, “It doesn’t seem that way.”

The class monitor shouted enthusiastically, “I’m fine now! I’m not sad anymore! Studying is what matters most! I want to focus on my studies!!”

“……” Jiang Zhihuo lowered his hand, looking somewhat lost.

It had been difficult to express this strange feeling for days, and there was no one to share it with.

“Exactly, same here. Why the hell am I even feeling down?” He sat down and downed another cup in one go.

Then, noticing there was too little alcohol in the cup and that pouring more was too much trouble, he lifted the bottle to drink straight from it. Chang Luo and another boy nearby quickly intervened. “Huo-ge, Huo-ge, you’re drunk!”

Jiang Zhihuo laughed coldly. “Drunk? Your Huo-ge can drink a thousand cups and will not get drunk!”

Chang Luo: “Huo-ge, isn’t it just a heartbreak? It’s no big deal. Are you worried about not finding a partner? Let’s go home first.”

Chang Luo was about to say, “I’ll help you call a cab to get you home,” when he suddenly realized he had no clue where Jiang Zhihuo lived. He turned to the others at the table and asked, “Does anyone know where Huo-ge lives?”

The boys shook their heads. Huo-ge had never mentioned his address before.

Jiang Zhihuo couldn’t tell whether he was drunk or not; his head felt heavy and cloudy. He was already restless before coming out, and drinking made him feel warmer but more anxious. Chang Luo kept bringing up going home, and without much thought, Jiang Zhihuo grabbed his phone and slammed it on the table.

“Let that damn dog, Yan Mu, come and pick me up!!!”

The boys: “???”

Damn dog, Yan Mu?!

How come Huo-ge and the God of Learning have a connection?

The God of Learning actually knows where Huo-ge lives?

Thinking again about those questions he just asked at the table…

A wave of confusing thoughts swept through several boys, and their faces gradually revealed expressions of panic.

Was it the God of Learning Yan, who held hands with him, kissed him, and slept together, then remained friends afterward?

So, because God Yan has an omega, is Huo-ge supposed to step back???

What about their pursuit of the school beauty?!

Is it because they are love rivals that they got tangled up?!

In the end, it was Chang Luo, who had already been asked once, that returned to his senses first and said, “Huo-ge, the lock screen password… Huo-ge?”

There was no response. Chang Luo nudged Jiang Zhihuo, who then turned his head blankly. “?”

Chang Luo waved his hand in front of him. “Password?”

Jiang Zhihuo: “?”

Chang Luo: “……”

Okay, I understand.

His face wasn’t red, and his eyes weren’t closed, but he was drunk.

He grabbed Jiang Zhihuo’s finger to unlock the phone, found Yan Mu’s number, swallowed hard, and only after mentally preparing himself did he dare to call.

Yan Mu picked up quickly; the background noise was very loud, like he was in a bar.

Chang Luo was astonished.

God Yan went to a bar?

Before he could think it over, a deep and sullen “Hello” came from the other end of the line.

Chang Luo came back to his senses and quickly said, “Yan… God Yan, Huo-ge is drunk and specifically asked for you to come and pick him up. How about… you come over for a bit?”

Given the usual tension between Huo-ge and the God of Learning, he probably wouldn’t come. He believed making the call would likely be a waste of time. But just as he finished that thought, Yan Mu asked, “Where?”

Chang Luo: “!”

There was no answer from the other side. Yan Mu asked again, “Where?”

Chang Luo quickly gave the address. “Second floor, room 215.”

After hanging up the phone, the boys were all surprised.

“God Yan is coming?”

Chang Luo nodded. “Seems like it.”

“Really? When did Huo-ge and God Yan become so close?”

Chang Luo: “Don’t know.”

“……”

Fifteen minutes later, Yan Mu pushed open the private room door. Upon seeing God Yan, who radiated a powerful aura, the boys instinctively leaned back. Remembering the string of questions Jiang Zhihuo had just asked, they couldn’t help but steal a glance.

God Yan reached out his hands to steady Huo-ge. Unexpectedly, Huo-ge, who had been unresponsive to anyone’s touch, straightened up and bit God Yan’s hand, shouting fiercely, “You old dog! Don’t touch me!”

Yan Mu: “……”

The boys: “……”

Yan Mu glanced around, using his eyes to inquire about what was going on. The class monitor replied, “Today is my goddess’s wedding. This meal was originally intended to console me in my heartbreak, but… based on what I see… it looks like Huo-ge might be heartbroken as well?”

Everyone was observing Yan Mu’s expression, hoping to glean some answers from his face. However, Yan Mu gave them no opportunity; his expression remained unchanged. He gently ruffled Jiang Zhihuo’s hair and said, “Let’s go back.”

The fierce Jiang Zhihuo, a moment ago, instantly softened upon hearing these words. “Oh.”

As Yan Mu helped him out of the private room, he turned back one last time and said, “This meal is on me. Come to me to settle the bill later.”

The boys watched as Yan Mu and Jiang Zhihuo left. After a moment of silence in the private room, Chang Luo quietly asked the question on everyone’s mind, “So… is that referring to God Yan, the one who held hands, kissed, and shared a bed but still wants to be friends?”
*
When they came down, Wen Da’s car was already parked in front of the barbecue restaurant.

The moment he received the call, Yan Mu left without hesitation. Noticing his anxious expression, both Wen Da and Qu Xiao felt a bit flustered and quickly called for a driver. Unfortunately, since it was the weekend, the traffic was terrible, and even after passing several traffic lights, the car was still moving slowly.

Just as they parked the car and were about to call Yan Mu out of concern for his safety, they saw him emerge from the barbecue restaurant, supporting Shin by his side.

Wen Da: ?

Qu Xiao: ?

Qu Xiao: “Didn’t the two, like, fall out or something?”

…And he even supports Shin?

Wen Da couldn’t shake the feeling that something was seriously wrong with this scene. Having had a bit to drink earlier, his reaction was slow, but soon his eyes widened. “Young Master Yan?! He touched you?! What about your hand? Does it hurt? Is it red?? You’re actually fine?? What the hell?????”

Young Master Yan ignored Wen Da’s surprised questions entirely. He got into the car, closed the door, and told the driver, “Take me home.”

After driving a few times, the driver roughly knew where Yan Mu lived and drove toward the direction of No. 1 High School.

The strong aroma of rose-scented essential oil permeated the car, carefully chosen to appeal to Young Master Wen. Jiang Zhihuo, drowsy from drinking, felt an itch in his nose. Ignoring everything around him, he leaned against Yan Mu, lowered his collar, and sniffed his neck, taking in his pheromones.

Yan Mu didn’t stop him at all. He remained patient and calm, allowing him to touch freely.

Wen Da and Qu Xiao remained utterly astonished.

Qu Xiao: “Young Master Yan?!”

Wen Da: “What on earth is going on?!”

Qu Xiao: “You were in such a hurry; was it Shin you picked up?”

Wen Da: “Why can he touch you? Are you already cured?!”

Yan Mu: “…I don’t even know how to explain.”

Qu Xiao: “If you don’t know, just think! There’s no question you can’t solve!”

Wen Da: “Mhm, mhm, mhm.”

Yan Mu lowered his gaze.

Jiang Zhihuo showed no signs of intoxication, quietly leaning on his shoulder with his eyes closed.

Yan Mu said, “Once I’ve figured it out, I’ll tell you.”

The barbecue restaurant wasn’t far from the neighborhood, and soon they arrived. Yan Mu patted Jiang Zhihuo. “Wake up.”

Jiang Zhihuo looked perplexed. “We’ve arrived?”

Yan Mu: “Mhm.”

Yan Mu helped him out of the car and said to Qu Xiao and Wen Da, “Thanks, let’s talk later.”

Just as Qu Xiao was about to go with Yan Mu, the phrase “let’s talk later” pushed him back into the car.

What’s going on, what’s going on, what’s going on?!

What exactly is going on between Young Master Yan and Shin?!!

“……”

“……”

After dozing off in the car for a while, Jiang Zhihuo appeared to regain his senses. Once they entered the community, he shook off Yan Mu’s hand and walked steadily, displaying no signs of drunkenness and seeming completely sober.

He went upstairs, opened the door, changed into slippers, and walked into the room.

The whole process was perfectly normal.

After spending some time in the room, Jiang Zhihuo stepped out and confronted Yan Mu, looking confused and slightly annoyed. “Where’s my suitcase? If you don’t want me to stay, then don’t drop hints for me to leave like this, okay?”

Yan Mu: “……”

He was still drunk, not at all sober.

---

The author has something to say:

Hahaha, I was wrong…

McDonald’s was giving out burgers on Monday, so I had a happy McMeal with my roommate, and when I got home, the hot searches had exploded. I only… peeked at the gossiping for a little bit…

Hahaha… hahaha…

Tomorrow’s going to be long! And sweet!! Trust me!!