Chapter Eighty: Living a Good Life

"Fourth Brother!" Sun Xing called out to the counter once more.

Li Fourth Brother’s wife stood up from behind. "Oh, isn’t this Director Sun? What brings you here? Fourth Brother is in the back worrying about you."

Sun Xing paused, confused. "What’s he worrying about me for? That woman, really—tell him to bring out the half pot of liquor I left last time."

Li Fourth Brother’s wife nodded. "Alright, I got it."

Moments later, she came out from the storeroom, carrying a wine pot. Sun Xing took it.

"This is something I had a friend bring back from another province. It’s brewed in a Maotai subsidiary, supposedly reserved for city-level officials only." As he spoke, he poured himself a glass, ready to pour for Xu Fei.

"Sun Xing, I won't drink," Xu Fei said.

"What’s wrong? Are you looking down on my liquor?"

"No, I just don’t feel like drinking today."

Sun Xing was somewhat displeased as he looked at Xu Fei. "Xu Fei, what’s our relationship? Are you refusing to give me face?"

Xu Fei waved his hand. "I’ll drink, but let’s switch the vessel."

"Huh?" Sun Xing was about to pour.

Hearing Xu Fei, he froze. "What do you mean?"

Xu Fei handed over the rice bowl he’d just used. "Use this."

Sun Xing glanced down—it was a standard second-sized bowl, only a bit smaller than the large ones. If they poured liquor into this, the half pot would barely fill two bowls.

"This—isn’t that a bit much? I still have a meeting in the afternoon."

"Just pour for me. You can do whatever you like," Xu Fei said coolly.

Sun Xing looked at Zhou Lina. In front of a woman, Sun Xing certainly didn't want to lose face; his so-called meeting was just an excuse. Zhou Lina was looking at him with unmistakable disdain.

He steeled himself.

Sun Xing asked Li Fourth Brother’s wife for a second-sized bowl. He filled both bowls to the brim.

Xu Fei took one. "Come, old classmate. I owe you for helping me at the sugar factory. This drink is my toast to you!"

He tipped his head back and drank the entire bowl in one gulp.

Sun Xing was dumbstruck.

"You finished it?"

"What’s wrong, old classmate? You used to drink much more than this."

Xu Fei was clearly raising the bar. In truth, Sun Xing’s tolerance was average.

"I—I never could drink that much anyway."

Sun Xing looked at the liquor in his hand. "Are you up for it?"

Zhou Lina noticed his discomfort. With her question, Sun Xing, who hadn’t intended to drink it all, could only pinch his nose and nod, "No problem, Lina. This bit of liquor is nothing to me."

With that, Sun Xing lifted the bowl with both hands and drank it down in one go.

Xu Fei picked up his chopsticks, took a piece of dried tofu, and glanced at the liquor trickling down Sun Xing’s neck. He shook his head.

"My old classmate, you’re wasting the liquor, aren’t you?"

Sun Xing barely finished his drink, wiping his chin. "Am I?"

At this moment, the alcohol was hitting him. Sun Xing’s cheeks flushed, and he burped, lowered his head, and pointed at Xu Fei. "I say, Xu Fei, let’s go again!"

"Again?" Xu Fei shook his head. "Let’s not. I think you’ve had enough."

Sun Xing waved his hand. "I’m not drunk, not at all. Even if we go again, I can handle it."

Zhou Lina tugged at Sun Xing’s sleeve. "Enough, stop drinking. You still have work, don’t you?"

"Work? The factory listens to me. If I don’t go, who can say anything?" Sun Xing looked at Xu Fei. "Xu Fei, isn’t that right?"

Xu Fei watched Sun Xing, half drunk, half sober. "Sun Xing, what are you getting at?"

"Hmph!" Sun Xing snorted coldly. "Xu Fei, old classmate, I just want you to know, I’m in charge at the sugar factory. What’s wrong with that?"

"Right," Xu Fei said as he stood up. "Lina, I have things to do this afternoon. I’ll head out."

"Xu Fei, don’t go!" Zhou Lina stood up, trying to stop him, but Sun Xing grabbed her.

"Lina, I—I feel terrible…" He held his head and slumped onto the table.

Xu Fei could tell Sun Xing was pretending, but at this point, there was nothing left to expose.

He walked to the counter, placed the money he’d prepared on it, and left the restaurant.

Behind him, Zhou Lina’s reproachful words to Sun Xing could still be heard. Xu Fei understood that from now on, he and Zhou Lina would have to keep their distance.

When he returned home, Du Man was not there.

The place was empty.

Xu Fei lay on the bed, wondering where Du Man had gone at midday.

The alcohol made his thoughts drift.

Slowly, he fell asleep.

Time passed.

Du Man finally returned, carrying groceries.

"You’re back?" Xu Fei asked as she placed the vegetables in the kitchen.

Du Man entered, noticing the smell of alcohol on him. "You’ve been drinking again?"

She was about to fetch a blanket for him, but Xu Fei pulled her down and embraced her.

"Ah?" Du Man gasped.

Xu Fei’s lips pressed to her neck.

"What are you doing? In broad daylight!"

Xu Fei kissed Du Man. In his heart, there was a vague sense of loss—whether from what had just happened, or from the fact that today he had officially become an independent entrepreneur.

Whatever the reason, he only wanted to hold Du Man.

To breathe in her faint fragrance and feel her warm body.

Only then could Xu Fei find a sliver of security.

Ever since he crossed over to this world, Xu Fei felt, despite having Du Man, Xu Qing, and Xu Yun as family, their connection was little more than physical. He didn’t really know them.

He stopped kissing Du Man as this thought occurred.

"What’s wrong?" Du Man gently pushed him away.

"Nothing, just tired," Xu Fei replied, lying back and staring at the ceiling, as if time itself had frozen.

He truly wished he had never come to this world.

Was he homesick?

Du Man saw his forlorn expression and lay on his chest.

"Tonight, alright?" Her tenderness warmed Xu Fei.

He stroked her hair. "Thank you."

Xu Fei helped Du Man up.

"I’ve taken unpaid leave."

He felt this woman deserved to be the first to know.

"What?!" Du Man was taken aback. "Why?"

Xu Fei smiled and got off the bed. Du Man followed, looking up at him, waiting for an answer.

"For our family. I want to earn more money, so you all can have a good life."