With Zhuang Jing and the others present, the mixed bathing ended very smoothly. The women left first, and Gu Ran last.
He had given up controlling his thoughts—once reality exceeded certain limits, he no longer cared about propriety.
Back at 'Between the Lakes', everyone quenched their thirst with either liquor or milk; Gu Ran chose liquor.
He wanted to drink himself into a drowsy stupor, to skip 'tonight' altogether, avoiding entertaining dismal thoughts when he was alone later in the evening.
Having no confidence in himself, he resorted to getting drunk as a means of escape, like a college student incapable of controlling their cellphone usage, who switches to an old model that can only make calls.
"Gu Ran, I'm asking you!" Gege, who was playing cards, suddenly spoke up, "What comes to mind when you think of 'Karuizawa'?"
"What 'Karuizawa'?" Gu Ran said, sipping the sweet-tasting sake.
