The Daily Life of an Old Hand: Sneaking Drinks in the Room

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[…]

During the car ride with Ye Mengfu,

Maomao had been quite busy at home.

After finishing everything, she didn’t forget to send Lin Yu a message.

Maomao: "Yu, I’ve done everything you asked."

It had been over an hour since Lin Yu had given his instructions.

Today, Maomao had been noticeably slower than usual.

Distracted by her thoughts, she couldn’t focus properly.

Lin Yu: "You’re slower than usual. Be more careful next time."

Maomao: "Got it."

After replying to Maomao, Lin Yu turned his attention to little Fufu (Ye Mengfu), who was sipping water beside him.

Their peaceful break lasted less than ten minutes.

Once the car entered a congested stretch of road,

the driver seemed to flip a switch, entering a full-on rage mode.

He began hurling expletives—some starting with "W" or "N," directed at no one in particular.

Other times, he’d drop the subject entirely and unleash a barrage of "C"-starting verbs like casting skills in a game.

Occasionally, he’d even drop the nuclear option—an "S"-word special attack with no wind-up.

Driver: "I’ll fing—"

Driver: "You mother—"

Driver: "Goddamn—"

Driver: "What a fing idiot—"

Every time he overtook a slow-moving car,

the driver would glare at the other driver with a look so intense it could probably violate their entire family tree through the windshield.

Lin Yu fully grasped the saying:

"If you don’t curse for ten minutes while driving, you’ve already been cursed at for ten minutes."

No doubt about it—this guy was the real deal, a certified veteran behind the wheel.

With such a shocking "stand-up comedy" performance unfolding in the car, Ye Mengfu didn’t dare doze off.

Nervous, she kept stealing glances at the driver,

half-convinced that if she so much as held Lin Yu’s hand, she’d get cursed at too.

Lin Yu gently took her hand and placed it on her lap, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

Feeling the warmth of his touch, Ye Mengfu’s heartbeat quickened.

Fate worked in mysterious ways.

Not long ago,

the boy who had barged into her room had threatened her with a fierce "Watch your legs."

Yet now, without her even realizing it,

he had barged straight into her heart.

……

Meanwhile, in Shen Buyao’s antique shop on the first floor of the apartment.

After a night of minding the store,

Shen Buyao had gone out of her way to bring breakfast back for Shen Jiuyi.

As the saying goes, "Good news brings high spirits."

Under normal circumstances, she’d never do something like this unless hell froze over.

But after making plans with Lin Yu for a date the next day,

Shen Buyao had been buzzing with excitement all night.

Despite pulling an all-nighter, she wasn’t the least bit tired.

She even had the energy to go out for a meal and buy breakfast.

The moment she unlocked the door,

a wave of alcohol fumes hit her like a truck, nearly knocking her out.

Shen Buyao: "Big Cow! Did you fing raid my liquor stash?"

Shen Buyao: "Holy hell, how much did you drink?!"

Shen Buyao: "This is all high-proof aged liquor!"

Her eyes nearly popped out of her skull when she spotted four empty jars—two large, two small—scattered on the floor.

Shen Jiuyi sat perfectly composed on the bed,

not a trace of drunkenness in her demeanor.

She raised a hand and greeted Shen Buyao with eerie calm:

Shen Jiuyi: "You’re back, Yaoyao."

Shen Jiuyi: "You hid them well this time. Took me an hour to find them."

Shen Buyao rushed to the window and flung it open,

then grabbed the AC remote to turn on the air purifier.

Only then did she crouch down,

cradling the empty jars like a mourner at a funeral.

These were rare finds—bottles painstakingly sourced from vendors at the Ghost Market.

She usually only allowed herself a small glass at a time.

But Shen Jiuyi—

this freak of nature who never got drunk—

had downed four whole jars in one go!

Shen Buyao: "Big Cow, get your ass down here. Today, one of us dies."

Her voice was colder than a hitman’s.

Shen Jiuyi remained unfazed.

Shen Jiuyi: "Our parents—your grandparents—buried many jars of liquor in the old family estate when they were young."

Shen Jiuyi: "I’m the only one who knows the exact locations now."

Shen Jiuyi: "If you want them, Yaoyao, I can tell you where they are."

Shen Buyao froze, wondering if she’d misheard.

She stepped closer, scrutinizing Shen Jiuyi’s expressionless face.

Shen Buyao: "You’re bluffing."

Shen Buyao: "Since when have you ever been this generous?"

Shen Jiuyi: "Liquor exists to be drunk."

Shen Jiuyi: "Expensive or cheap, it all meets the same fate."

Shen Jiuyi: "I only realized that last night."

Shen Buyao narrowed her eyes, searching for any hint of deception.

Her instincts screamed that something was off about Big Cow today.

They’d only been apart for one night, yet it felt like…

years of distance had suddenly opened between them.

But no matter how hard she looked, Shen Jiuyi remained as unreadable as ever.

The same old girl, not a single change.

Shen Buyao: "If you’re serious about telling me, I’ll let the stolen liquor slide."

Shen Buyao: "But if you’re lying… watch your scrawny limbs!"

She tossed the breakfast bag onto the bedside table.

Shen Jiuyi glanced at it but had no appetite.

All she wanted was to see if getting drunk—as people claimed—could temporarily numb her troubles.

But her body’s natural resistance to alcohol made it impossible.

In the past, she’d considered this a useful "talent."

Now, it felt like a curse.

If only she could trade it for the ability to feel something—anything.

Shen Jiuyi: "Yaoyao, I won’t lie to you. But before I tell you the locations…"

Shen Jiuyi: "Do you have more liquor hidden elsewhere in your room?"

Shen Buyao’s eye twitched.

Shen Buyao: "You drank all that and still want more?!"

Shen Buyao: "I knew you’d never actually be nice to me!"

Shen Buyao: "Trying to trick me into giving up the rest, huh?"

Shen Buyao: "You’re asking for a beating!"

Shen Jiuyi: "Lin Yu doesn’t like violent girls."

Shen Buyao: "Wha—?! What does he have to do with this? He’s not even here!"

Shen Jiuyi: "If you hit me, I’ll tell him."

Shen Buyao: "…"

Shen Jiuyi: "Hm. Lin Yu is unexpectedly useful."

Shen Buyao: "Don’t talk like you’ve used him or something… At least put on some clothes before you drink!"

……

(First update of the day. One more chapter owed for bonus updates. Will make up for it today. Hope everyone keeps supporting with power stones!)