Drinking Together

[Print edition contracted with Dayu Literature and now available] There’s a bar tucked away in a residential alley called At Will. It has a distinctive style, and every employee is one of a kind. By day, Jiang Zhen works herself to the bone as an office drone. At night, the bar is her hideaway, a sanctuary for her soul. She’s gotten rowdy and made a fool of herself here while drunk. She even stole a kiss from the owner. She thought he didn’t know. Later, Ji Hengqiu cornered her in the back kitchen and confronted her in a cold voice. “If you don’t mean anything by it, stop showing up in front of me every day. Stop sneaking kisses while I’m asleep. Stop flirting with me, then turning around and flirting with someone else.” Jiang Zhen blushed at his words, but she wasn’t intimidated. She’d just had a couple of sips of sweet rice wine, and with the alcohol going to her head, she felt like she owned the world. She returned his words one by one. “Then if you don’t mean anything by it either, Ji Hengqiu, stop staring at me all the time. Stop deliberately putting roselle roses on the table. Stop treating me differently from everyone else. Stop making me feel like I’m special to you.” The surging undercurrent of flirtation broke into the open, and two hearts, trembling on the brink, drew close. They were two timid souls longing for love, embracing as they fell, lost themselves, and gave in to ecstasy. *The title was inspired by a little bar called “Gulu Gulu, the Land of Shared Revelry.” Note: There are a few BL-style scenes (Zhou Minglei x Chen Zhuo), but the two are not lovers in this story. Please proceed with caution if that bothers you. Minglei and Zhuo’er’s bonus chapter is in my column. Theme: Drink responsibly and live well.