Chapter 19

Translator: Larbre Studio

Editor: Larbre Studio

The incident didn’t attract Yu Xiaoxuan’s attention at all. She took the orange fruit wine and drank one sip after another while Shen Qinglan’s wasn’t paying attention.

After Shen Qinglan was done dealing with the nasty guy, there were already four empty glasses in front of Yu Xiaoxuan.

Shen Qinglan, who didn’t show her mood openly, couldn’t help but lean her forehead against the palm of her hand: she could already anticipate the uncontrollable situation that would ensue later.

Seeing Yu Xiaoxuan reaching for the fifth glass, Shen Qinglan quickly moved it away. There were already men around intending to strike up conversations with them—such a beauty was indeed rarity.

Looking at Yu Xiaoxuan’s blurred eyes, Shen Qinglan knew that the girl was drunk. Taking out several notes and throwing them on the table, Shen Qinglan pulled Yu Xiaoxuan up and hurried straight for the door. No one stopped them along the way, so they managed to get out. 

Just as Shen Qinglan was about to hail a taxi, she saw Xiaoxuan cover her mouth, bend down, and throw up against a tree.

Shen Qinglan gently patted her back.

“Well, how can there be two? No, three, Qinglan?” Finally, she spat it all out. Yu Xiaoxuan then looked at Shen Qinglan, swaying and unstable.

Seeing that she was going to fall to the side, Shen Qinglan hurriedly came up to hold her. She shook her head and said, “Oh, Qinglan, don’t move. You make me dizzy.”

“Okay, I won’t move. Stay on your feet.” Shen Qinglan supported her in case she should fall.

“Yes,” Yu Xiaoxuan stood up obediently.

Fortunately, being a street full of bars, many taxis circled around. Shen Qinglan hailed one over, helped Yu Xiaoxuan in and told the driver Yu Xiaoxuan’s address.

“Qinglan, I’m so happy today. Let me sing you a song,” Yu Xiaoxuan smiled and immediately started singing, “The river flows eastward—the stars in the sky join the Big Dipper…” 

Yu Xiaoxuan sang in a high voice, but could not carry a tune at all. Shen Qinglan believed that if there had been birds around then, they would have flown away in shock upon hearing Yu Xiaoxuan’s singing. Even the driver’s hand that was holding the steering wheel shook a little.

Finally, they arrived at the destination. As soon as they got off the car the driver stepped on the accelerator and hurried away, afraid of being stopped.

The girl’s singing was actually frightening. Shen Qinglan was afraid she would have nightmares that night.

It was Yu’s mother who answered the door. As soon as Yu Xiaoxuan saw her mother, her eyes brightened up and she threw herself at her, “Mom.”

Yu’s mother hurriedly got hold of her daughter, “Well, well, how much have you drunk?”

“Aunt, I’m sorry I didn’t keep a close eye on her,” Shen Qinglan apologized.

Not caring, Yu’s mother waved her hand. She knew her daughter well: she was simply a little juicehead, whose eyes shined upon seeing alcohol. It was fine that she got drunk easily; the worst part was that she would end up behaving badly after it, which would cause a lot of trouble. 

Seeing the thin layer of sweat on Shen Qinglan’s forehead, she was afraid that her daughter had caused great trouble to her.

“You should not be to blame, Qinglan. Thank you for sending this girl back. She must have caused you a lot of trouble.”

“How? I’m not a troublemaker. Right, Qinglan?” Yu Xiaoxuan leaned against her mother’s arms, protesting vehemently.

“Fine, fine, you’re not a troublemaker. I am. Okay?” Her mother said so helplessly.

“Auntie, let me help you take her back to her bedroom.”

Yu’s house was a duplex and Yu Xiaoxuan’s room was on the second floor. Considering Yu’s mother’s strength, it might be somewhat hard for her to drag drunk Yu Xiaoxuan back to her room.

Of course, Xiaoxuan’s mother very much appreciated that.

“Thanks a lot, Qinglan.”

“Not a problem, aunt.”

“Mom, I’m so happy today. I love you so much,” Yu Xiaoxuan could not keep still. Instead, she held her mother’s neck and coquettishly rubbed against it.

“Mom loves you, too. Listen, stand still.” 

Her mother’s voice was gentle and full of love for her.

Yu Xiaoxuan stood accordingly.

It took them great trouble to take Yu Xiaoxuan back to her bedroom. Shen Qinglan and Yu’s mother were even sweating: Yu Xiaoxuan, when drunk, was simply a troublemaker.

“Qinglan, it’s late. It’s not safe for you to go back alone. Why not live here at our home tonight,” Yu’s mother tried to keep Shen Qinglan here.

Shen Qinglan, however, shook her head gently, “No need, auntie, my friend is waiting for me outside. He will send me home.”

Knowing that there was someone accompanying Shen Qinglan back, Yu’s mother no longer insisted, “Well, take care on the way back. You are welcome to our home for dinner some other day, and I will make you your favorite pork ribs with honey sauce.”

“Okay.”

Shen Qinglan did not let Yu’s mother walk her out but left the community area alone.

There was actually no one waiting for Shen Qinglan outside. She had merely said that to reassure Yu’s mom.

Yu Xiaoxuan’s home was located in a high-end community area in the capital. There were many private cars nearby, so it was hard to get a taxi.

It was a pleasant night. The dry and scorching heat of the day fading away had left behind a cool evening.

Shen Qinglan initially decided to walk back.

She walked slowly, eyes turning empty. She had been back to the city for six years, but her memory of it was still poor. Her childhood memories of the city had been forgotten as well.

Many figures flashed before her eyes: her grandpa, grandma, dad, brother, mom, Shen Xitong, Grandpa Fu, Yu Xiaoxuan, and Fu Hengyi.

Although it had been a hot summer day, the air at night was still chilly. In the cold street, Shen Qinglan was a lonely figure. The street lamplight drew her long shadow on the ground, extending the cold on her.

Suddenly, Shen Qinglan heard noise of what sounded like a fight—it seemed to come from the small lane ahead.

Shen Qinglan stopped there and stood in the dark corner of the alley. Then, under the dim light, she clearly saw two gangs fighting. To be exact, it was a group of people beating one man.

The man was covered with wounds and cuts, bleeding all over. Even his semi-hidden face was full of blood. Despite that, however, he was still a quick fighter—every time he attacked, he managed to strike down one of the opponents, though a new wound would be inflicted upon him.

Shen Qinglan stood quietly and looked at everything unfolding in front of her, indifferent, neither walking away nor coming up to help.

“Here comes the cops. Run!” All of a sudden, the sound of a police siren rang in the dark night, coming from afar. The gangs engaged in the fight looked alarmed. 

“Here comes the police, hurry up!” One of them cried out, running away with his mates.

Soon, only the bloody man was left in the alley. He leaned against the wall without the least strength, gasping for breath.

The gangs running away hadn’t noticed that they had only heard the sound of a police siren but had not seen any cops. There was no police coming after them.

Shen Qinglan came out of the darkness slowly. She stood in front of the man and looked down at him.

He was badly hurt, exhaling more frequently than inhaling. The wound on his body was still bleeding. When he felt someone approaching, he quickly opened his eyes and looked at Shen Qinglan with fierceness.

After seeing Shen Qinglan’s figure clearly, he suddenly got relaxed and reached out his hand, seemingly intending to pull Shen Qinglan. His hand had only reached midair before dropping, his head tilting aside: he had passed out.

Shen Qinglan figured out the two words he hadn’t managed to speak.

Help me.