Alcoholism 02

Hazy and elusive, like a dream.

Shen Yi's heart trembled with Shu Yunyi's laughter.

The faint and indistinct beauty captivated Shen Yi's full attention.

He felt an anticipation to explore, yet strangely, he didn’t want this anticipation to turn into reality.

Sometimes, the vague hope suspended in mid-air is more satisfying than the fulfillment that comes to fruition.

Shu Yunyi noticed Shen Yi's gaze. She put down her glass, licked the remnants of wine from the corner of her lips, and her eyes carried a different meaning.

The alcohol amplified her emotions, and at this moment, she wasn’t annoyed at all. Instead, she teased him with a smile,

"Like what you see?"

Under normal circumstances, Shen Yi would have looked away, either changing the subject or offering a sincere apology. He wouldn’t have been so rude as to stare directly.

But now, with drunkenness surging through him, his emotions heightened, his lips dry, and his throat constantly swallowing, he blurted out bluntly:

"Yes, I do."

His mind was now a straight, unyielding line, unable to bend or turn, so he spoke his mind directly to Shu Yunyi.

Shu Yunyi didn’t expect Shen Yi to be so straightforward, which made her feel a bit embarrassed.

She pulled at the collar of her dress to cover herself, but her mouth still refused to admit defeat,

"You little brat, how dare you take advantage of me."

Shen Yi's silence made her uneasy. After a moment of thought, she hurriedly added,

"Do you even know how much older I am than you? I could practically be your aunt!"

She raised her finger, ready to continue scolding him, but when she turned her head, she found that he had already slumped over the table, fast asleep.

Shu Yunyi's raised hand froze mid-air, and then she let out a soft laugh, giving up.

[After this experience, your relationship developed in a positive direction.]

[She didn’t explicitly accept you, but she didn’t reject you either. You became like friends, comfortable and casual.]

[You exchanged contact information and occasionally chatted, though her past seemed to remain a forbidden topic, never brought up in conversation.]

[More often, you would drink together, talk freely, laugh, and argue.]

[Before drinking, Shu Yunyi was cold and dignified, with an air of aloofness that made her seem untouchable, like a strict teacher peeking through the classroom window, her icy gaze alone enough to make you break into a cold sweat.]

[After drinking, however, Shu Yunyi was a completely different person. The ice on her face melted, replaced by a gentle warmth. Her emotions fluctuated, sometimes high, sometimes low, and she no longer held herself so formally. Her words and actions carried a hint of playfulness, making her easy to get along with.]

[You maintained this strange relationship, meeting up every few days.]

[Drinking, chatting, boasting, laughing—when you got drunk, you’d simply crash on the couch and fall asleep.]

[It was like you were more than friends but not quite lovers. She never brought it up, and neither did you.]

[Gradually, under her influence, you also began to enjoy drinking. The intoxicating feeling was incredibly comforting. Things you wouldn’t dare say or do sober became no problem after a few drinks.]

[What started as meeting every three days turned into meeting every day.]

[You drank together daily, and without alcohol, you felt empty, tossing and turning in bed, unable to sleep.]

[During this time, Shu Yunyi’s mother came by a few times to try and talk sense into her, but Shu Yunyi wouldn’t listen. The two had a big fight and parted on bad terms. You weren’t there at the time and only found out later through Shi Jing.]

[The daily drinking sessions continued happily, and you both lived in a drunken haze in the apartment.]

[She would subtly tease you, giving you glimpses of affection but never letting you fully touch her. Every time she got you worked up, she’d laugh uncontrollably.]

[Just when you couldn’t take it anymore, she’d pretend to be pitiful, muttering about unrequited love, crushes, or teachers, leaving you frustrated but helpless.]

[Gradually, the constant hangovers left you with splitting headaches, and you were always in poor shape during the day, unable to muster any energy.]

[You were consumed by alcohol and desire, and when you looked at your haggard reflection in the mirror, you felt regret. So, you made a silent vow: quit drinking!]

[But as soon as Shu Yunyi called you at night, you’d naturally head to the apartment to drink with her until dawn.]

[When drinking, you indulged without restraint; when sober, you were filled with regret and anger. You’d pick up the glass with excitement, then hesitate as you put it down. Once alcohol entered your system, it clung to you like a stubborn parasite.]

[Repenting during the day, raising a glass at night—your resolve wavered in constant conflict.]

[Some time later, you went to Shu Yunyi’s apartment as usual.]

[The door didn’t open after a long while, so you quickly entered the passcode and pushed the door open.]

[In the bedroom, Shu Yunyi lay on the floor, her face pale. Terrified, you dropped the bottle of alcohol and rushed to call her name, but she didn’t respond.]

[You immediately called an ambulance and took Shu Yunyi to the hospital.]

[The lights in the emergency room flickered above as you paced anxiously back and forth.]

[Shu Yunyi’s mother arrived, her eyes red, grabbing your sleeve and scolding you relentlessly.]

[After what felt like an eternity, a doctor emerged from the operating room, pulling down his mask and shaking his head with a grave expression.]

[Shu Yunyi’s mother turned pale and collapsed, while you stood frozen in shock, unsure of what to do.]

[According to the doctor, Shu Yunyi had suffered a heart attack due to long-term excessive drinking. She had collapsed at home, and because no one found her in time, she missed the critical window for treatment.]

[She was pronounced dead at 9:56 PM.]

"Simulation over!"

"System calculating results..."

...

[Overall Rating: C]

[Reward: Your alcohol tolerance has significantly increased.]

[Your experience in relationships has improved.]

[System Comment: Alcohol is a poison; only by quitting can you find peace.]

[You have completed a simulation.]

[You may now spend 1 relationship point to start from any point in the previous simulation.]

The simulation ended, and Shen Yi sat still, his emotions in turmoil.

In fact, halfway through the simulation, he had noticed that things were taking a wrong turn. The dangers of alcohol were laid bare in that moment.

Shu Yunyi had gone from enjoying alcohol to becoming dependent on it, eventually becoming a slave to it.

Shen Yi had also fallen into the abyss, but thankfully, the simulation only showed him the visuals and didn’t leave him with an addiction. Still, the feeling of losing control lingered, leaving him shaken.

Shu Yunyi had a natural tolerance for alcohol, but even the strongest body couldn’t withstand such prolonged abuse. Even without a heart condition, other illnesses would have inevitably arisen.

Shen Yi, with his special constitution and strong recovery abilities, had been worn down by alcohol, let alone her.

In the later stages, Shu Yunyi’s gradual weight loss was a clear sign of a weakened spleen and stomach, but by then, both of them had ignored it—or perhaps Shu Yunyi had deliberately ignored it, living in the moment and avoiding the truth.

Perhaps, for her, a life without alcohol was worse than death.