The group polished off several dozen beers, but it wasn't enough; they wanted to order some whiskey.
"Forget it, we’ll be wasted if we drink more. I’ve heard there are plenty of creeps hanging around KTVs specifically to 'pick up corpses,'" one girl said worriedly.
"There are so many guys here, what are you afraid of?" a boy replied dismissively.
"Hey, who drew the Ghost King?" Lin Qingqing asked.
Lin Murun placed his card on the table. It was indeed the Ghost King.
"Don't change the subject!" The boy, seeing it was someone he didn't know well, lost interest in asking a question. "Is anyone having whiskey?"
"Aren't you afraid of getting thrashed if you go home smelling like a brewery?" someone asked.
"My dad’s on a business trip, and my mom can outdrink me," he replied.
Seeing no objections, the boy opened the ordering interface.
"Have you guys thought of a question yet?" Yu Wenbo tapped the table. "Don't keep him waiting."
"Thought of one ages ago!" a girl said with a giggle. "We’re just waiting for the handsome guy to choose Truth or Dare."
Over twenty pairs of eyes turned toward Lin Murun.
"Dare," Lin Murun answered.
"I wouldn't have guessed!" someone exclaimed. "I thought a refined guy like him wouldn't have any secrets to hide."
The girl who had asked for Lin Murun’s contact info earlier slapped the table and announced loudly, "Then you’re not getting away! I’m confessing on behalf of my bestie—the one right next to me!"
The girl beside her had a baby face and looked harmless, but her first words made several boys whistle.
"Lin, handsome, how about being my boyfriend for three days? I won't let your girlfriend find out."
"What do you mean, 'won't let his girlfriend find out'?" Yu Wenbo was stunned and turned to look at Lin Murun.
Lin Murun’s impression on Yu Wenbo was that of a loner. He spoke very little, and even though his grades were excellent, he didn't like to show off. Occasionally, when he heard Si Bin mention this transfer student, it was always about studying or raising a cat. Yu Wenbo had never heard of Lin Murun being close to any girl.
*Tsk... could he be like Lin Qingqing, secretly in a relationship?* Yu Wenbo thought, stroking his chin.
"After all, it wouldn't be good for his reputation if word got out," the girl opposite them clearly misunderstood his silence.
Just then, a waiter entered with the liquor and ice.
Seeing Lin Murun remain silent, several girls continued to egg him on.
"You chose the Dare yourself, don't back out now!"
"Don't worry, we all know where to draw the line. We definitely won't tell anyone."
"Do you know how many guys at No. 5 High are chasing Jiajia? Be a man and go for it!"
Because he had been drinking, Lin Murun’s face was slightly flushed. Although he looked more spirited than when the party started, he still carried a sense of aloofness when he wasn't speaking.
Having received no response for a while, the girl named Jiajia felt her pride wounded.
"Well? Do you agree or not? It’s not like you’re losing out by being my boyfriend."
Si Bin sat on the sofa, pretending to scroll through his phone while keeping one ear sharply tuned to the situation. Lin Murun’s back was stiff; he looked quite unhappy.
"No."
Hearing his refusal, the tension in Si Bin’s nerves finally relaxed.
He simply exited the app he had been aimlessly clicking through and leaned back against the sofa to watch the crowd.
The atmosphere turned cold.
"People refuse Truths, but how can you refuse a Dare?" a boy muttered. "Besides, you aren't losing anything. Are you really that afraid of your girlfriend?"
"That’s enough." Si Bin put away his phone and walked over.
He looked down at Jiajia and said coldly, "You’re high schoolers now. Have some self-respect."
Most people in this small circle had interacted with Si Bin and had figured out his temperament over time. This young master never meddled in others' business and rarely gave anyone a cold shoulder. He seemed like he didn't take anything seriously and could befriend anyone, but he certainly didn't have a "good" temper.
For a moment, the faces of those who had been egging them on turned red. No one dared to speak, and the atmosphere became awkward.
"Forget it, forget it," Yu Wenbo stepped in to smooth things over. "Top Student Lin, have a drink." He handed Lin Murun a bottle of beer and poured a glass for Jiajia.
"You have one too. You’re welcome to come to our school next time to discuss competition problems with Top Student Lin."
Under Si Bin’s gaze, Jiajia didn't dare look up. She reached out and cautiously took the glass from Yu Wenbo.
"I’ll finish this; you drink as much as you like," Lin Murun said to Jiajia, taking the bottle.
"Drink less," Si Bin warned with a frown.
"It’s fine, I have a high tolerance." Lin Murun lightly clinked his bottle against her glass. "I hope you find the boyfriend of your dreams soon." With that, he downed the bottle.
"Nice!" Lin Qingqing and Yu Wenbo clapped to support him.
Several boys joined in the cheering. "Another one! Another one!"
Jiajia let out a laugh and finished her drink as well.
The tense atmosphere was broken, and the group began fooling around again.
After being pressured into another bottle, Lin Murun shook his head and sat back down on the sofa.
"Thanks for earlier..." Jiajia took advantage of the start of a new round of the game to quietly sit beside him. "I drank too much today; my head wasn't clear."
"It’s fine."
At that moment, Wu Yichen, who was sitting across from Lin Murun, picked up his phone and headed out. Lin Murun glanced at him and then waved a hand at Jiajia, who seemed to want to say more. "Sorry, I need to use the restroom."
Wu Yichen’s phone was vibrating incessantly. He trotted all the way to the restroom before pressing the answer button.
The sound of a girl sobbing was amplified in the quiet restroom.
Lin Murun stood by the sink, turned on the faucet, and splashed water on his face.
He rarely drank, let alone had a high tolerance. Due to the alcohol, the flush on his face had spread from his ears down to his neck.
Ten minutes later, Wu Yichen stepped out of a stall. Before he could put his phone away, he saw Lin Murun, whose face was covered in water droplets.
"Brother Lin," he greeted with a smile.
Lin Murun turned and asked, "Was that a relative calling?"
"No..." Wu Yichen’s expression turned awkward. "It was a friend. She messed up her exams and is in a bad mood."
Lin Murun straightened up and wiped the water from his face. "I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but there are some things I want to ask you."
"Go ahead." Wu Yichen put his phone away.
"You and Qingqing haven't told anyone about your relationship?" he asked.
"It’s not good to get caught having a puppy love romance," Wu Yichen said with a forced laugh as he turned on the faucet to wash his hands.
"Is that so?" Lin Murun raised an eyebrow. "Your reason and Qingqing’s don't seem to match."
"What did she say?" Wu Yichen asked.
"She’s afraid other girls will be sad if they find out." After a pause, Lin Murun asked again, "Do you always tell her about your other pursuers?"
Wu Yichen grabbed a paper towel to dry his hands and said vaguely, "I’m afraid she’ll get suspicious, so I mention them occasionally."
"Because no one knows about your relationship, they make jokes about Qingqing and Yu Wenbo." Lin Murun’s tone was somewhat cold.
"They don't know; I don't blame them," Wu Yichen replied in a low voice.
"And what about you?" Lin Murun asked.
Wu Yichen didn't understand. "What?"
"They don't know, but don't you know yourself?" Lin Murun narrowed his eyes.
"If you’re that bothered by the phone call just now, I’ll apologize to Qingqing and tell that friend not to call me anymore," Wu Yichen said with a hint of impatience, tossing the crumpled paper towel away.
Lin Murun didn't speak; he just looked at Wu Yichen in silence.
"That’s not what I meant." After a long while, Lin Murun looked away.
Wu Yichen didn't respond.
Lin Murun pulled out a paper towel and turned to leave.
When the two returned to the private room one after the other, the game was still ongoing. Lin Murun felt a bit dizzy, so he declined Yu Wenbo’s invitation to play and sat alone in a corner of the sofa to rest with his eyes closed.
After an unknown amount of time, phones began ringing one after another as parents called to urge their children home.
"Time to go," a girl said, patting Lin Qingqing’s shoulder.
"Huh?" Lin Qingqing had a low tolerance; she had just downed a glass of Black Label and was completely dazed.
"I’ll walk you guys back." Perhaps the earlier conversation had an effect, as Wu Yichen stepped forward proactively.
Lin Qingqing looked at her boyfriend and agreed with a giggle.
At exactly midnight, the birthday party finally ended.
Just as they stepped out of the KTV, Lin’s uncle called.
"Qingqing, do you want Dad to come pick you guys up?" his uncle asked.
"No, no!" Lin Qingqing stole a glance at her boyfriend and said with a blush, "We’re carpooling back. Don't bother."
Her father gave a few more instructions before hanging up.
By now, most of the people had left, and no one noticed them. Lin Qingqing suggested, "Let’s walk back. It’s not far from home, and we can walk off the alcohol."
the young girl wanted to spend more time with her boyfriend.
Wu Yichen had no objections. Lin Murun hadn't spoken since leaving the KTV, so Lin Qingqing took his silence as agreement.
"I’ll come with you," Si Bin followed them.
"Bin-ge, I remember your house isn't in that direction?" Wu Yichen said in surprise.
"I have something to do." Si Bin didn't explain further. He turned to Lin Murun and said, "Let’s go."
Lin Murun didn't move.
Si Bin looked at his expression and finally understood—he was drunk.
Mixed drinks go to the head easily. Lin Murun had fallen asleep in the noisy room, and now that he was awake but not sober, he stood there in a daze, looking exactly like Xiao Bai being woken up from a nap.
*He really is like a cat,* Si Bin thought, unable to stop his lips from curling upward.
Lin Qingqing and Wu Yichen had already walked ahead.
Si Bin raised his hand and snapped his fingers in front of Lin Murun, saying softly, "Time to go home, Student Lin."
"Oh..." Lin Murun looked at him with a delayed reaction. "You’re Si Bin."
"Yeah, I’m Si Bin," Si Bin replied patiently.
"Where are we going?" he asked fuzzily.
"Home." Si Bin thought for a moment and pulled out his phone anyway. "I’ll call a cab. You’re so drunk you probably can't walk."
"Who says I can't walk?" Lin Murun frowned and took a large stride forward. His steps were a bit floaty, making Si Bin’s heart leap into his throat for fear he would fall.
"Weren't you quite heroic earlier when you were drinking to make that girl happy?" Si Bin joked. "How did you end up this drunk the moment you turned around?"
"I’m not drunk," Lin Murun said, nearly stumbling off the sidewalk as he spoke.
Si Bin caught him, caught between laughter and concern. "Okay, okay! You’re not drunk. Just take it slow."
"Wait, don't talk yet." Lin Murun crouched down as he spoke. Si Bin thought he was feeling nauseous from the alcohol and gently patted his back.
"Don't move... Si Bin, don't move." Lin Murun grabbed his wrist.
The boy’s fingers were long, his knuckles tinged with a faint pink. The temperature of his palm was slightly low, making Si Bin’s heart skip a beat at the sudden contact.
"Are you feeling really sick?" Si Bin felt a pang of worry.
Lin Murun didn't speak; he just remained crouched on the ground, motionless.
"What is it?" Si Bin asked anxiously.
"Shh..." Lin Murun looked back, acting mysterious. "I’m observing the Coriolis force."
Si Bin: "..."
Si Bin: "Student Lin, how many is this?" He held up four fingers.
"That’s a hand."
It seemed he was well and truly wasted.
It took a fair amount of pulling and dragging for Si Bin to rescue him from the topic of the Coriolis force. The young master Si looked at Lin Murun, who was now standing obediently beside him, sighed, and called Lin Qingqing. "Your brother is drunk. I’m calling a car for you guys."
