It was around 8:30 pm when everyone finished eating their meals. Lin Yuerong sat back on her chair and rubbed her belly for the second time today. They even had dessert this time.
Honestly, she was beginning to feel a little sick.
Seeing everyone was done, Zhou Ye quickly stood and went to the door of the private room, "I'll go settle the bill. You guys can take your time and come down later."
Looking at him leave quickly, Du Wei stood up worriedly, "Should we go with him? It's very expensive…"
"Hmm…nevermind. It's not a big deal, we're all friends anyway." Lin Yuerong thought about it and sat her down. "Right, Ning Qing?"
Ning Qing also agreed, "Senior Zhou is probably happy to treat us since we haven't seen each other in a long time, it's not bad once in a while."
"But still, he really doesn't pay much mind to his senior anymore, does he?" Thinking the whole night seemed to be led by Zhou Ye, Lin Yuerong couldn't help but feel that her status was beginning to shake.
However, Student Du didn't seem to care about her worries. She was speaking excitedly while messaging on her phone, "Ahh, Senior Zhou is so cool! I can't believe we're having dinner with him, the girls in my seminar class are going to be so jealous!"
Hearing this Lin Yuerong's face became worse.
What's so good about that kid?!
Just because he became a bit more handsome? In the past if I said go left, he wouldn't dare go right!
It was around 9:30 pm when Lin Yuerong dropped everyone off at the university. Ning Qing was also staying at her dorm tonight.
Standing outside her car, saying final goodbyes, Lin Yuerong felt like something was missing.
"Hey, it's still early, I think I'll go for some drinks…" She glanced around and locked on to Zhou Ye, "You'll join me, right Junior Brother?!"
Seeing Lin Yuerong staring at him, Zhou Ye coughed, "Uh, I'm sorry-"
"-Don't be so quick to reject." Lin Yuerong didn't let him finish. She continued meaningfully, "Come on, we still have a lot to catch up on, right?"
"..."
"Ahah, okay Senior, I'll be your designated sober driver tonight!"
"I'll join you guys as well." Ning Qing added.
Lin Yuerong rejected her instantly, "But you don't drink, it'll be boring for you."
"What about Senior Zhou?"
"We only need one designated driver."
"I'll come anyway, this way Senior Zhou can also drink."
"Didn't you hear him before? He doesn't drink anymore."
"..."
"A girl shouldn't drink alone." This time Ning Qing dropped all pretense.
"Haha, come on, you know Zhou Ye, he doesn't have the guts!"
"No, it's dangerous."
Zhou Ye and Du Wei stood at the side watching the exchange awkwardly. Zhou Ye wasn't sure who to get upset at.
Lin Yuerong looked at Ning Qing's calm face, she knew that this girl was really stubborn. She sighed and said seriously, "It's fine, trust me."
"..." Ning Qing was silent for a while.
"Alright." She nodded, then she took out her phone, "But I'll message your brother first."
"Huh?! You're really talking to that brat?"
"You're calling him a brat? I should tell him." Ning Qing had a deep smile on her face as he played with her phone.
"Hehe, I was joking just now. I was joking. Do you like my joke? Hehe." Lin Yuerong was sweating.
She smiled ingratiatingly as she cosied up to Ning Qing, "Aha, my sweet Qingqing, you don't need to tell him that, right?"
Dammit, I'm not even drunk yet. Why am I so quick to speak nonsense?!
"Hmmm…I'll think about it." Ning Qing had her head down and was concentrating on her phone. She was waiting for Lin Yuan's reply.
Lin Yuerong instantly got behind her and began massaging her shoulders.
Meanwhile, Zhou Ye and Du Wei looked at each other and still didn't speak. It felt like they really couldn't butt in to this conversation.
After a few minutes, Ning Qing stopped typing.
"Your brother said he'll wait up for you."
Hearing this Lin Yuerong was excited again, "Haha, okay! Come on, Zhou Ye! The fun begins now!"
Then she turned to explain to everyone, well mainly Du Wei, "By the way it's not like I'm a brother-con or something, haha I just feel bad for him, he's always worried about his elder sister!"
She quickly pushed Zhou Ye into the car before Ning Qing could speak.
Later.
A high end bar near the city centre.
Lin Yuerong didn't usually go to bars, so she had to text Du Wei on the side to find a good place. Looking at the elegant decor and furnishing, she secretly cursed her.
It was still early all things considered, so the bar was sparsely populated, but when she was getting a private booth she did notice quite a few people glancing at Zhou Ye.
"You're pretty popular now, huh?" Lin Yuerong was resentful.
Zhou Ye just laughed and led them to the private booth.
When the server came over, Lin Yuerong took over, "Just get us a bottle of scotch and ginger beer. You guys have ginger beer, right? Non-alcoholic."
The server left with a strange expression on his face.
"Why did you order ginger beer, Senior? I'd rather just drink water."
"It's not for you. It's for me."
"..."
"I don't drink."
Lin Yuerong just ignored him, "So how was Germany? You finished your masters' right? It's really changed you, especially your hair. I'll miss that emo hair."
"It wasn't emo, it was just long!"
Zhou Ye glanced at Lin Yuerong, "....Anway, it's not like anyone missed me…"
"Yeah that's probably right!"
"Senior!"
"Of course we missed you idiot! Even Ning Qing."
Zhou Ye sighed as he slumped back on his chair. He loosened the top button on his shirt and ruffled his well styled hair.
"I'm so jealous of you Senior, you can talk to her like that."
Lin Yuerong had to think for a bit to understand what he was talking about, "You mean when I get teased? What are you, a masochist?"
"Hehe, actually Ning Qing only teases people she's close with, I guess you two are not very close!
Zhou Ye fell silent.
Seeing this Lin Yuerong felt awkward, "Okay, okay don't be so serious, I was just joking! Come on, we have a long night of drinking ahead of us!"
Thirty minutes later.
Looking at Zhou Ye who was already red in the face and beginning to slur his words, Lin Yuerong had a bad face, "Seriously you haven't changed at all."
Zhou Ye leaned against the table, his eyes hazy.
"…By the way, why did Ning Qing change her mind before…" From what he knew of Ning Qing, she could be very stubborn.
Actually during her time as an undergraduate student, even though Ning Qing was very popular, for various reasons boys didn't bother her. There were more physical reasons, but around campus, especially the liberal arts department, she was known as the 'smiling dagger'.
Just because she was polite didn't mean she couldn't also be strong handed.
Lin Yuerong drank her ginger beer calmly, "Two reasons."
"First one…I mean look at you."
"Hmph, this alcohol is just a little stronger than I expected."
"Second reason…" Lin Yuerong was silent.
"…Does she think I still like her? She thinks I'm going to pour my heart out to you about her doesn't she? Ahh this is so embarrassing!"
Zhou Ye's face turned even more red.
"Well… I mean do you?"
"..."
"Actually, even back then I never got to tell her anything, one day she just started treating me so distantly."
"Well, Ning Qing is very perceptive, she can read people."
"Why did you still help me out then?"
"Because you call me senior, of course I have to help out my junior brother, and anyway I'm used to it. Remember Qiqi in freshman year?"
Lin Yuerong laughed thinking about it, "You were so heartbroken when she got a boyfriend even though you followed her out of highschool. You were crying all the time!"
"I didn't cry!"
"Then how about that girl from the student council?"
"Chen Hua."
"...Zhou Ye, actually, you're a bit of a player, aren't you?"
"Like you can talk."
"I'm pure unlike you."
"So am I!"
"Ehhh…" Lin Yuerong found that hard to believe.
Zhou Ye sat straight up, "Anyway, I don't like her anymore! I've moved on!"
Suddenly, his face slammed onto the table and his voice grew soft, "So we can go back to being friends now, back to how things were before…"
Seeing that Zhou Ye seemed to be out cold, Lin Yuerong was about to call the waiter when she got a message notification on her phone.
Ning Qing: Do you need me to drive you home?
Lin Yuerong: I didn't drink anything
Ning Qing: …
Lin Yuerong: Zhou Ye is out cold.
Ning Qing: …
Ning Qing: Are you going to bring him back to the dorms?
Lin Yuerong: Yeah, can you wait for us, I'll need your help to carry him.
It was almost midnight when the two women carried Zhou Ye, who was now somewhat awake, back to his place. Thankfully, he lived in a single room apartment instead of the shared dormitories, so the curfew was less strict.
"Damn it, you live in a single dorm?! I'm so jealous!"
Zhou Ye, who was leaning against her shoulders just groaned loudly.
"Sister Yuerong, your house is much bigger."
"It's different! Ning Qing you don't get it, a single dorm is a sign of status in university!"
When they got to his door, Zhou Ye crouched down against the wall and held his head in pain.
"A passcode? Is it your birthday?" Lin Yuerong glanced down at Zhou Ye but he was silent.
"May 21st." Ning Qing said.
"You remember it?"
"Of course. Senior Zhou is a good friend."
"..."
"Ah, it worked."