Chapter 77: Drinking

Although she already clearly knew what she wanted, a pent-up gloom still suppressed her heart, like a volcano that had been dormant for over twenty years, eager to erupt.

Yang Yi walked out of the reception hall, standing blankly at the entrance for a moment, suddenly not knowing where to go or what to do next.

She often felt this sense of confusion and helplessness, as if she were the only person in this vast universe.

Just as she stood there, a group of workers drove in with engineering vehicles carrying cement and gravel, began unloading right in front of her, while other workers started using shovels and other tools to clear the shattered concrete ground.

"Huh—what fell and made such a huge pit..." she heard a worker say.

"Yeah, could stones really fall from the sky? How strange!"

Yang Yi's face instantly turned red; although the workers didn't notice her standing not far away, she was still so ashamed she had nowhere to hide, wishing to cover her face and leave immediately.

Feng Liancheng walked over with a grin, glanced at the workers' construction, patted her shoulder, and said, "Feeling pretty good after showing off, huh?" Then he added with admiration, "The Logistics Department is moving fast!"

Yang Yi's toes were practically digging a castle into the floor. "... Deduct the repair costs from my salary!"

"Hey! Who would dare? Didn't you see the Logistics Department didn't even dare to fart; they just hired workers to start construction immediately. Forget about damaging public facilities; even if you flipped over the entire Awakened Bureau, Director Zhou would say you flipped it well, flipped it great, then apply for funds from above to build an even better one for you to flip, hehe..." Feng Liancheng said with deliberate exaggeration.

Yang Yi covered her face with her hand. "Sigh—stop talking, it won't happen again..."

"Actually, this is quite good! Appropriate venting helps maintain good emotions. You, your personality is too repressed; you hold everything inside your heart. If you keep this up, you'll eventually get sick from holding it in. Actually, I was especially happy when I saw this huge pit today. Why? Because you were willing to express your emotions, and you did it right here in our Awakened Bureau. What does this show? It shows you have a sense of belonging to our bureau! Don't say Director Zhou doesn't care; on the contrary, he's even happier than me!" Feng Liancheng patted her shoulder vigorously, treating her not like a woman but like a brother, carefree and bold.

Yang Yi had already felt a jolt in her heart at his words about "getting sick from holding it in," and hearing his subsequent speech made her heart feel a bit warm, yet she couldn't find words to express her gratitude; she pressed her lips tightly together and smiled silently.

Feng Liancheng patted her shoulder, then put his arm around her back as they walked out. "Let's go drink! Director Zhou originally wanted to come, but he said he was too old and feared we'd look down on him. Actually, he's afraid that being with us young people, he won't be able to let loose!" He laughed heartily. "Haha, actually he's overthinking it; we young people nowadays are the generation straightening out the workplace; are we afraid of leaders? If he dares to come, we'll teach him a lesson!"

Yang Yi understood his intention. Feng Liancheng knew her past better than anyone else and naturally knew her family relationships; this was his way of comforting her.

Yang Yi also appreciated his kindness, so she followed his steps outside. "I'll record these words of yours and play them for Director Zhou later." She also made a joke; she always appreciated others' goodwill.

"Oh no, no, no, that won't do; we can say these things privately, but we wouldn't dare say them in front of a leader!" Feng Liancheng hurriedly made a frightened expression, begging for mercy repeatedly.

After leaving the Awakened Bureau, turning right for a few hundred steps led to a Hunan cuisine restaurant. Entering the private room, Wei Chang'an, Chen Chen Yushu, and Zhang Zhang Ningning were already seated, holding menus and ordering dishes.

"We heard Old Feng was treating as soon as we got off the plane; how rare! Old Feng, Old Feng, you actually have a moment when you voluntarily treat! Yang Yi, you can't go easy on him; this time we must fleece him!" As soon as they entered, Wei Chang'an shouted loudly, looking as if he had gained the upper hand.

Yang Yi smiled and replied, "That is exactly my intention," but her eyes unconsciously drifted toward Chen Chen Yushu's right arm.

Chen Chen Yushu's right arm was fine; the flesh where it had been severed and regrown was very tender in color.

Seeing Yang Yi look at his arm, Chen Chen Yushu paused, raised his right hand, cleared his throat, and explained proactively: "In Mist City, due to the Class-A threat, a large group of Awakened gathered, including one with healing abilities who cured me."

After speaking, he looked up at Yang Yi again, remained silent for quite a while, and said with difficulty: "I'm sorry... at that time... my arm was broken, I felt my whole life might be over, I was a bit stimulated, so I said those things... Although I usually did think that way, at that moment I was too agitated, so..." He was usually silent and inarticulate; for a moment, the more he explained, the more confused he became, until his face turned completely red.

"I understand." Yang Yi smiled.

The two exchanged glances and both couldn't help but laugh; this laughter was full of relief.

Seeing the two reconcile, Wei Chang'an was even happier, almost excited enough to start banging on the table. "Waiter, bring the dishes, bring the dishes, and bring a few more bottles of good wine! White liquor! By the way, Zhang Zhang Ningning, right? Can you drink white liquor? Yang Yi, what about you?"

Being dragged into a team-building event on the very first day of work, Zhang Zhang Ningning felt a bit nervous and quickly said, "Yes! White liquor, beer, red wine, I can drink them all!"

"I can drink too." Yang Yi said, then sat down beside Zhang Zhang Ningning.

"You're back so soon; is everything handled at the school?" Yang Yi asked her.

"Not yet, but most of it is nearly done; the rest can be handled remotely online, and I can just go over to finish the formalities when I have time." Seeing Yang Yi sit beside her, Zhang Zhang Ningning became even more nervous. "Director Zhou said I should report for duty immediately upon my return, so I rushed back in a panic, afraid he would forget to say that..."

"Hahaha, you little girl may look delicate, but you're actually quite impatient!" Feng Liancheng laughed loudly.

Just as they were talking, the waiter brought the dishes up like flowing water, filling a large table.

Feng Liancheng stood up, filled everyone's cup to the brim, held up his own cup, and said, "Why am I treating today? First, to celebrate your handling of two Class-A threats and protecting the safety of the broad masses..."

"Don't say that, I'm blushing..." Wei Chang'an said, nodding toward Yang Yi. "It's all thanks to her."

Yang Yi shrugged and smiled.

Chen Chen Yushu also pouted. "Old Feng, stop singing high praises; there's no one else here."

Feng Liancheng ignored them and continued, "Second, to celebrate Yang Yi breaking free from her past; from now on, the sky is high and the sea is vast, allowing her to roam freely!" Saying this, he finished his drink first.

Wei Chang'an and Chen Chen Yushu both looked at Yang Yi and raised their glasses to finish theirs. Before they arrived, Feng Liancheng had already roughly briefed them.

Only Zhang Zhang Ningning was completely confused; she was a girl, happened to know Yang Yi, and had a good relationship with her, so she was brought along just to make up the numbers; otherwise, with only Yang Yi as the sole woman, it would be inconvenient.

But she was also very perceptive; she quickly understood her role, saw that no one was elaborating on the details, and smiled as she finished her cup.

Yang Yi looked at these colleagues, the few people who could truly be called friends, fully aware of their kindness, and felt a bit moved in her heart.

You see, there are still some things and some people in this world worth it, Yang Yi thought.

"Since you're here today, let's drink until we're all drunk and don't return." Yang Yi said.

Feng Liancheng was right; occasionally, one needs to vent appropriately.

Drinking with everyone was at least more lively than drinking alone countless nights, she thought.