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When it came to filtering out the attractive men from the crowd, Xu Le found it somewhat bewildering. After chatting for two days, this man had started seeking him out frequently, inviting him for drinks and conversations. But Xu Le couldn't help but wonder what attracted the man to him. It was quite remarkable how he seemed unaffected by Xu Le's reluctance to engage with him. Perhaps it was because the man exuded a sense of pessimism and weariness, something that resonated with Xu Le.
Xu Le handed over the drink he was holding to someone nearby and lowered his voice, pleading, "I apologize for vomiting last night. I have a low alcohol tolerance, and I couldn't handle it."
"Put down that broken thing and say it again," Shi Qinghai smiled as he looked at Xu Le. His handsome face radiated a gentle light under the sunlight. "Today we won't be drinking. I'm taking you to meet a woman."
"A woman?" Xu Le opened his mouth, unable to respond for a while.
"Do we have to be so close for that to happen?" Xu Le reluctantly looked at Shi Qinghai. "Calling me 'Young Master'... Are we that familiar?" Shi Qinghai referred to Xu Le as "Young Master," as if he yearned for the feudal society of the wicked empire.
"We've been drinking together for two months. Isn't that close enough? Besides, in this world, who can truly be understood?" Shi Qinghai asked.
"Is friendship really that simple?"
"Of course. It's about finding a place that feels pleasant and comfortable with someone."
Xu Le nodded with a smile, finally understanding. Shi Qinghai pushed his bangs aside earnestly and said, "I'm bored being alone. I see you spending your days working, attending classes, and doing experiments, eating bread in the library. It seems even more boring than my life. I can't stand it anymore. So, I've decided to show you what real life is like."
"Is real life about women?"
"No." Shi Qinghai shook his hair, which was slightly greasy, and said earnestly, "It's about beautiful women."
...
...
Near the liveliest street in Hai State, the largest nightclub, Thirteen Front Doors, remained tightly shut. Behind the iron gates, the rhythm of music resonated, filling the place with a blurred melody. In this extravagant gathering place, dazzling spotlights illuminated the dim environment, creating a contradictory yet captivating ambiance. The amber liquid in the cups emitted an intoxicating aroma, blending with the seductive perfume that permeated the entire nightclub.
"Before, when we drank at the tavern, I thought you were a simple retired soldier. I didn't expect you to be so familiar with this sensual place," Shi Qinghai said as he lowered his head to examine the drink in his cup, trying to discern the various colors in the dim light.
Xu Le, on the other hand, was looking at the waitresses dancing on the bar counter, revealing their snow-white thighs. He squinted his eyes, trying to concentrate, but he didn't understand what Shi Qinghai had just said. After a moment of confusion, he turned his body and looked at Shi Qinghai, asking, "Familiar?"
Shi Qinghai's black hair fell onto the table, and he replied wearily, "An 18-year-old retired soldier who remains calm and composed. I find it hard to believe that you've never been to a place like this before. I know you've been to similar places. I just don't believe it."
"I just recently turned legal drinking age," Xu Le said with a smile as he sat on the sofa. He was not entirely unfamiliar with the nightclub scene, despite rarely going. Since his childhood, he had mingled with Elder Brother Wei and a group of orphans in the society. Though they were from a remote area, they still experienced the lively atmosphere. Xu Le's sincere and simple face might reflect some of his thought processes, but it successfully masked the calm and resilience inherent in an orphan, making it difficult for others to guess his true story.
"You appear much younger than your actual age," Shi Qinghai raised his wine glass and gestured towards a table of females nearby. However, his gaze soon returned to Xu Le's face after a brief moment of silence. He had shared 23 drinks with Xu Le, and it seemed that each time the young gatekeeper came close to getting drunk, he managed to avoid mentioning anything related to his past. This small detail struck Shi Qinghai as peculiar, and although he didn't directly inquire about it, he was determined to unravel the mystery from that fateful day.
As a young federal official, immersed in his university studies, and the young gatekeeper, existing in two different worlds, Shi Qinghai found himself befriending Xu Le. On one hand, it was because he was bored, and on the other hand, he felt a certain connection with Xu Le. But the fact that Xu Le dared to be his friend made Shi Qinghai reevaluate him. From the beginning, he had underestimated Xu Le. While Xu Le may appear open and transparent, he possessed a resilience that belied his outer appearance. If one wanted to penetrate his external facade, it would prove to be quite challenging.
"I know you have your secrets," Shi Qinghai leaned forward, his upper body resting on the table as he lazily gazed at Xu Le, away from his wine glass. "I never believed that someone would simply give you money as a gift, allowing you to comfortably sit in a first-class cabin... without any concerns. You're not a government official, so no one would be interested in checking up on you."
"Are you not interested in me?" Xu Le looked at him, a moment of silence passing before he continued, "If you hadn't asked about my past in the beginning, perhaps I wouldn't have bothered with you. After all, we come from two different worlds."
"I don't know which world you belong to, and especially don't know which world I belong to," Shi Qinghai sneered, looking at Xu Le with one eye while sipping his drink. "I find you pleasing to the eye. Oh, by the way, leave a tip today. The monthly bonus hasn't been paid, so you, young wealthy person, have to bear with it."
Xu Le carefully examines the label on the beverage bottle on the table. After experiencing the drinking scene in recent days, he can finally estimate the price of this particular bottle of liquor. Though it is somewhat expensive, he can't afford it. The money left by the boss is meant for his own expenses anyway, and there doesn't seem to be any other use for it at the moment. He is about to say something when he suddenly notices a group of young men and women at a nearby table drinking a blue liquid, seemingly enjoying it.
"What's that? Can we try it?" Xu Le asks.
"It's a new drug, Sky Blue," Shi Qinghai mocks, looking at him. "Do you want to give it a shot?"
Xu Le shakes his head, thinking that the capital star is a lively yet dangerous place. It's unbelievable that people dare to consume drugs in broad daylight. He sighs. Another pleasant breeze passes by, swirling in his clear mind. He sighs again, feeling like a country bumpkin who comes from an underdeveloped and remote area, struggling to adapt to this environment.
Shi Qinghai is long and handsome, or rather, very attractive. Although he doesn't wash his hair regularly, his deep and electrifying eyes are captivating. Under the dim lights of the nightclub, the electric gleam in his eyes gradually blurs, attracting the attention of many females. Over the past few days of drinking together, Xu Le has noticed Shi Qinghai repeatedly casting longing glances at the waitresses with a pitiful expression. Tonight, he witnesses the scene of the delinquent girl seducing the men.
But Xu Le can sense that Shi Qinghai is not happy. If he were truly happy, he wouldn't have invited Xu Le to drink with him. Shi Qinghai claims to be lonely. How can a government official express such poetic sentiments? Although he says he guards the government's front door, who would believe that? However, since Shi Qinghai hasn't probed into his past, Xu Le doesn't want to delve into Shi Qinghai's details either. It has been a long time since he left Eastwood, and the camouflage chip inside him hasn't caused any problems. Xu Le has learned to face life naturally, rather than perpetually seeing himself as a fugitive. Living naturally and being more cautious is a good approach. What meaning would life have if one treated everyone and everything with suspicion and vigilance?
As the night grows darker, Shi Qinghai becomes engrossed in the dim light and the company of beautiful women, mumbling indistinct words before finally collapsing on the sofa. Xu Le, who has consumed most of the bottle of strong liquor, doesn't feel drunk. In fact, he becomes slightly exhilarated due to the alcohol. He gazes longingly at these attractive women and calls the waiter to settle the bill, respectfully handing his card to the waiter. Supporting Shi Qinghai, he walks toward the exit of the nightclub.
At this moment, the nightclub was at its liveliest, but Shi Qinghai and Xu Le had consumed their drinks too quickly. As a result, they stumbled along, with Xu Le, in his intoxicated state, accidentally bumping into people along the way and repeatedly apologizing. He knew that under the influence of alcohol, even a minor altercation could lead to trouble amidst the countless gazes of the opposite sex.
Finally, they managed to reach the entrance of the nightclub, and the refreshing breeze brushing against Xu Le's face temporarily sobered him up. However, he couldn't ignore the scent of danger lingering in the air. He looked up and saw three luxury sedans parked at the entrance, from which about 7 or 8 people disembarked and made their way toward the nightclub. Among them were several individuals dressed in black, their statures even, and their expressions indifferent, resembling bodyguards or similar roles. At the center of the group were two men and a woman who exuded an understated elegance. The woman wore a red windproof coat and possessed a charming yet haughty countenance. The two men donned matching azure suits, while the other, quite audaciously, wore a student uniform. The commonality among them was their forward gaze, walking with confidence, their eyes fixed straight ahead without wavering.
These were not ordinary people, and they didn't follow the usual path. Xu Le had no intention of crossing paths with these audacious characters. He quickly dragged the intoxicated Shi Qinghai closer to the corridor, hoping to avoid any trouble. However... unfortunately, just as a strikingly beautiful woman, who possessed a captivating presence, was about to pass by them on either side, Shi Qinghai, as if catching a whiff of her perfume, opened his blurry eyes and let out a whistle towards her, saying unclearly, "Beautiful woman, your DVC is spraying too much..."
Upon hearing these words, footsteps came to a halt. The leading man turned around, his smile concealing a faint trace of coldness, seemingly curious about who had the audacity to sexually harass his younger sister.