Seeing that Xia Xin seemed to be contemplating something, Zhao Nan quickly said, "It's fine even if we get drunk. Zhang Liang can take you home."
Xia Xin had no intention of drinking now. She worried that both she and Zhao Nan got drunk and Zhang Liang had ulterior motives. Xia Xin had realized in university how low Zhang Liang's moral bottom line was.
Xia Xin took the cup handed to her by Zhao Nan and took a sip, saying, "It's alright, but I don't really like these two flavors." With that, Xia Xin put down the cup, seemingly indicating that she did not want to continue drinking.
"Huh? You don't like it? Do you want to try other flavors?" Zhao Nan felt a bit guilty. "Ah, I didn't ask you in advance about your preferred flavor. It's all my fault."
Xia Xin shook her head with a smile. She said, "It's alright, let's focus on the food. If I go back after drinking too much, my mom will scold me."
The three of them started eating. Xia Xin did not drink, and Zhang Liang could not drink either because he would be driving. Therefore, Zhao Nan ended up drinking most of the two bottles of fruit wine. Soon, her cheeks started to flush, and her eyes became unfocused.
Xia Xin took away the wine glass from Zhao Nan's table and said, "Stop drinking. If you drink more, you'll get drunk."
"I'm not drunk! My alcohol tolerance is great now!" Zhao Nan said as she tried to grab the wine glass but suddenly leaned against Xia Xin's shoulder, hugging her like a koala.
Xia Xin sighed helplessly. She remembered that Zhao Nan used to not drink alcohol and thought that Zhao Nan must have started drinking after dating Zhang Liang.
Seeing that Zhao Nan was drunk, Zhang Liang walked over, pulled Zhao Nan up, and placed her on the sofa opposite their dining table. Then, he casually sat in Zhao Nan's original seat, which happened to be next to Xia Xin.
Xia Xin started to tense up, and she immediately moved a little to the side.
Zhang Liang did not seem to notice Xia Xin's movement and casually explained, "Nan doesn't have a good alcohol tolerance."
"Who says..." a hand was raised under the table across from them, "I can still drink..."
Zhang Liang ignored the tipsy Zhao Nan, turned his head to look at Xia Xin, and said, "I heard you started working at the zoo and became an internet celebrity. Not bad. Have you considered becoming a video blogger? It's a lucrative profession."
Suppressing her annoyance, Xia Xin casually replied, "I just want to work at the zoo."
I haven't been to the Capital Zoo yet. Once I'm done with this project, I'll buy a ticket to the zoo to see you," Zhang Liang stared straight into Xia Xin's eyes.
'Here it comes again!' Xia Xin thought. She felt like she was back in university when Zhang Liang relentlessly pursued her like this.
Because Xia Xin was not sure if Zhao Nan was conscious at the moment, an increasingly angry Xia Xin had to lower her voice and say, "Zhang Liang, Nan is a good girl. I hope you can cherish her."
Hearing Xia Xin's words, Zhang Liang finally could not contain his inner emotions. His eyes filled with unwillingness and anger. He said, "Xia Xin, don't you understand yet? My heart has always been only for you! I don't like anyone else. Why won't you give me a chance?"
"What about your relationship with Nan? Are you deceiving her feelings?" Xia Xin asked. She was extremely angry and she could not understand what was going on in Zhang Liang's mind.
"Zhao Nan liked me from the beginning. I'm just giving her a chance to fulfill her dream," said Zhang Liang as his anger slowly subsided. He looked at Zhao Nan, who was lying on the sofa across from them, with a cold smile and said, "Besides, don't you really know why I got together with Zhao Nan? If it weren't for her, would I have a chance to sit here and have a meal with you?"
"Zhang Liang, you're really crazy!" Xia Xin had nothing more to say. Her gaze became completely cold and merciless. "I won't like you. I didn't like you before, and I won't in the future. You'd better give up early!"
The atmosphere between the two became tense. The seemingly drunk Zhao Nan on the opposite side seemed to have awakened, opening her eyes drowsily and looking at her best friend and her boyfriend. She asked, "What are you guys talking about? Are you badmouthing me?"
Zhang Liang's emotions instantly converged upon hearing Zhao Nan's words, and he revealed a loving smile. He said, "You guess."
Xia Xin looked at Zhang Liang's smile and felt chills run down her spine, filled with fear. She could not continue eating this meal. Xia Xin picked up her bag without even looking at Zhang Liang and said, "You take Zhao Nan home."
Zhang Liang watched Xia Xin leave without turning back, tightly clenching the bamboo chopsticks in his hand, his gaze cold.
CRACK!
The bamboo chopsticks suddenly broke.
...
Xia Xin returned home, still thinking about Zhao Nan and Zhang Liang. She pondered, 'What should I do in this situation? Should I tell Nan that Zhang Liang had been deceiving her?'