Chapter 12: Dear Sister

The atmosphere was a bit awkward, so Lu Kuan decided to use a bit of reverse psychology: "Sister Jiang, how about I head back first?"

"No way! I’ve been drinking too, and I’m already rusty at driving. I’m afraid..."

In her urgency, Jiang Qinqin grabbed the young Daoist’s arm, but seeing him looking at her with a half-smile, she hurriedly let go and pretended to straighten Zhou Xun’s posture.

"Then you two go into the inner room to sleep. I’ll make do on the sofa for the night and act as your door god for once."

Jiang Qinqin’s voice was as soft as a mosquito’s buzz now: "Mm... let her stay here for a while first, so she doesn't throw up inside later."

"Mm."

Another deafening silence followed.

"Um, how about we have a little more to drink? It’s still early."

Looking at the neatly arranged wine glasses and the generic red wine in the suite, Lu Kuan carefully tested the waters.

"Oh? Sure."

Today, Jiang Qinqin had shed the fiery, bold nature of a Sichuan girl; she didn't even take off her coat after entering the room, only removing her scarf, and the two of them sat before the large floor-to-ceiling window to drink.

"Little Lu, your judgment is truly sharp, it’s just a pity about Xun-ge’er’s temper..."

Recalling the scenes from the hospital earlier that day, she couldn't help but feel dejected—not just for Zhou Xun, but for herself as well.

Lu Kuan chuckled lightly: "In the world of men, one is often not the master of one's own fate. Xun-ge’er’s personality is actually very good; she has a very strong sense of 'dullness'!"

"Dullness?"

Lu Kuan had accidentally let slip a term from a later era and explained patiently: "The 'dull' as in slow-witted. It means that outside opinions and evaluations have very little impact on her; she has high psychological resilience."

"Do you believe that when she wakes up tomorrow, she’ll be the same lively Xun-ge’er again? I don't think Qu Ying can compete with her."

Jiang Qinqin gently swirled her red wine glass with her fair wrist, the scarlet liquid shimmering under the moonlight, leaving her somewhat intoxicated and dazed.

"I..."

"I did as you said and made a clean break with that person."

Jiang Qinqin seemed somewhat ashamed to bring up her own sordid past, especially in front of such a handsome and wise young man.

Lu Kuan gently clinked his glass against hers: "That’s a good thing. Congratulations, Sister Jiang."

With this preemptive cleanup, the impact of this scandalous gossip on her would likely be smaller.

The first wife of the later-era Bay Province director Zhang Xiaozheng, Ms. Yu, held deep resentment.

Not only did she expose and bombard him through the media in 2002, but she also left a note accusing him after committing suicide by charcoal burning in 2014; the impact on her was undeniably significant.

Especially at the critical juncture in early 2002 when Jiang Qinqin was preparing to transition from period dramas to modern urban series, it discouraged many production crews from extending offers.

Seeing her drinking glass after glass with endless sorrow, Lu Kuan thought to himself that she must be feeling triggered by Zhou Xun’s situation.

It is too difficult to judge right from wrong in the relationships of the entertainment industry; there is no shortage of brave souls who dare to challenge and try, but most end up shattered and covered in wounds.

Especially for a clear-headed person like Lu Kuan, who was well-versed in all kinds of public relations matters and unspoken rules, it was hard for him to fully immerse himself in this big dyeing vat; most of the time, it was just about seizing the day.

"I should be congratulated, but I also have to thank you."

She looked at the young Daoist’s sharp-angled profile, the reflected light from the building across the street illuminating the high bridge of his nose, and thought that if she weren't an actress, finding a young lover like him wouldn't be bad at all.

The two finished the whole bottle of red wine quickly. Whether it was because the wine was of poor quality or the room's heating was turned up too high, Jiang Qinqin complained of feeling stifled, and fine beads of sweat seeped onto her forehead.

She stood up, took off her coat, kicked off her thin-heeled shoes, and stumbled toward the door to turn down the air conditioning.

Zhou Xun on the sofa was already snoring softly; having accompanied her boyfriend in the hospital for two days, she could finally get a good night's sleep today.

"I'll go turn it off!" Seeing that she couldn't even stand steadily, Lu Kuan stood up to support Jiang Qinqin, gently pressing on her shoulders.

But how could someone who had been drinking listen to anyone? Once her rebellious streak kicked in, she staggered even more toward the end of the sofa.

The room was dark, and in her stupor, Zhou Xun suddenly gave a start and stretched out a leg, tripping the two of them.

Jiang Qinqin gasped and grabbed Lu Kuan’s shirt, falling onto the carpet in a position with the woman on top and the man on the bottom, their bodies almost completely pressed together.

Lu Kuan looked at her dazed, mesmerizing eyes, which now held a hint of clarity; fine beads of sweat on her smooth forehead were visible, and her thin, pink lips parted, as if they could hook a person's soul away.

As their eyes met, the young Daoist looked at her apricot-faced, peach-cheeked, and radiant appearance, and his blood surged; in this life, he absolutely could not be a man worse than a beast.

He reached out a large hand to press the back of Sister Jiang’s elegant head and just went for it. After some struggle, she was moved by passion and hugged him back, their lips only parting after a few moments with a lingering thread of saliva.

"Little Lu, carry me inside."

A lonely man and a resentful woman, like thunder meeting fire.

The female star gritted her teeth and said hatefully: "Young Daoist, I’m letting you off easy today, don't let it happen again!"

Lu Kuan chuckled and ignored her.

The delicate warbling of an oriole, a soft sound, a night of dancing dragons and phoenixes—this shall not be described here.

The biggest annoyances for a heavy drinker are two things: it is easy to get thirsty in the middle of the night and easy to need the bathroom.

At the first light of dawn, the hungover Zhou Xun woke up from the large bed, propping herself up with slender arms to open her bleary eyes; beside her was Jiang Qinqin, wearing a bathrobe.

She only felt that her smoky voice was truly about to smoke; she got out of bed to find water, her cervical spine and the back of her head aching like they were being pricked by needles.

"You're awake, Xun-ge’er?"

She turned over and barely managed to prop herself up on her lotus-root-like arms, feeling as sore as if she had been run over by a large truck. Trying to stand on the floor, another wave of indescribable pain struck.

Zhou Xun remembered what happened last night and knew her best friend had taken care of her, so she asked with concern: "What's wrong, Qinqin?"

"Ah, um, it’s just from taking care of you yesterday; I fell several times, and my legs are still weak now."

Jiang Qinqin was putting on her undergarments with her back to Zhou Xun, her pretty face already a sheet of red.

Zhou Xun turned around apologetically to look at the bruises on her knees and said awkwardly: "I’ll never drink again, I’ve troubled you, Qinqin."

Jiang Qinqin thought to herself, you’d better mean it; it’s one thing for you to get drunk, but it dragged me into being...

The two had just finished tidying up when the doorbell suddenly rang.

"Ding-dong! Ding-dong!"

"Who is it?"

"Lu Kuan, I asked him to pick us up."

The young Daoist brought in two portions of breakfast and opened the window with a look of disgust: "Xun-ge’er, your alcohol tolerance is too poor, look at the smell in this room!"

"Less talk, are you here early in the morning to see your sister make a fool of herself?"

Lu Kuan smiled: "I’m wronged! It was Sister Jiang who said you drank too much last night and asked me to come over early to lend a hand."

"Right, Sister Jiang?"

Jiang Qinqin, who was eating savory tofu pudding, was suddenly put on the spot; she hurriedly looked up, rolled her eyes at him, and reached out to brush a few strands of fine hair behind her head.

Lu Kuan clicked his tongue in admiration to himself!

(End of chapter)