Chapter 67: The Terrace

At nine in the evening, Lu Jia got out of the taxi and looked up at the sign for Baijiang Tavern.

She had been here many times before, but always either to pick up Sheng Shubai or dragged along by some woman to drink together.

This was the first time she had come alone.

Calculating the time, her senior sister’s flight was probably about to land soon. Thinking that once Shi Mengxi left, there would be no one left to chat with, Lu Jia let out a soft sigh.

She had been busy all day with the opening ceremony and had planned to rest early when she got home.

But sitting alone in the living room, she couldn’t focus on the materials on her tablet, and she had no ideas at all for that draft that still needed revisions.

After mulling it over, she simply changed clothes, went downstairs, hailed a cab, and came to the bar to find some inspiration.

It was Saturday night, so the tavern was busier than on weekdays.

Sheng Shubai looked at Ji Jinnian and Tang Yue, who were stuck together in front of her, and tsked. “Weren’t we supposed to come keep me company? You haven’t had much to drink, but the PDA never ends.”

She couldn’t outdrink Ji Jinnian, but she knew Tang Yue’s tolerance well.

After winning a round of dice, she had meant to tease the kid a little. But her friend was fiercely protective; she’d barely finished punishing her with half a glass when Ji Jinnian snatched it from Tang Yue’s hand and downed the rest herself.

Ji Jinnian squinted at her. “What’s wrong? Can’t stand seeing couples, yet you still called us out?”

Sheng Shubai looked away and said nothing.

She knew what Ji Jinnian meant.

She had told her friend everything about what happened with Lu Jia during the day, and naturally, Tang Yue knew the whole story too.

Over the years, Sheng Shubai had developed a habit: whenever something bothered her, she wanted to come drink.

She had originally planned to come alone, but sitting by herself would inevitably attract all sorts of women striking up conversations.

Or those bar friends she knew from before, chattering away, leaving her no time to zone out.

Sheng Shubai hadn’t even noticed that her personality had subtly changed without her realizing it.

It wasn’t for anyone in particular that she decided to keep her distance from others. A year ago, she would have naturally plunged into a crowd of women and stayed the whole night.

Now, though, she just found it pointless.

Some people sat quietly without speaking, or their words were as stiff and straightforward as a block of wood, yet they made for comfortable company. The noisy so-called companionship from others? She wasn’t used to it anymore.

In fact, Sheng Shubai wasn’t even sure if, sometimes, she came to the bar to find an excuse to get Lu Jia to come along, or to see the girl rush over in the middle of the night for a single sentence, satisfying some inexplicable sense of fulfillment in her heart.

But there was no point thinking about that anymore.

Seeing her friend block the penalty drink for Tang Yue, Sheng Shubai smiled faintly and said nothing, tilting her head back to down the half glass in her hand.

It was she who had rejected Lu Jia with her own words—what right did she have to wallow in self-pity here?

How pretentious.

Sheng Shubai stood up. The rack of drinks on the table was already half empty. Considering Tang Yue’s tolerance tonight, they hadn’t ordered anything too strong. She planned to go to the bar and order something else.

“Little Sheng, here with friends tonight? Want to join them over there?”

The owner rarely came over, propping her chin and giving her a flirtatious wink. “Those girls at that table were asking about you when they ordered earlier.”

Sheng Shubai smiled back. “Long time no see. Nah, I want some peace tonight.”

Since this women-only tavern opened, Sheng Shubai hadn’t gone anywhere else. Over the years, she and the woman in front of her could be considered friends—they knew each other well.

But the owner had been busy opening a branch elsewhere for the past six months, so they hadn’t seen much of each other.

“Tsk.”

The owner pulled out a card from below the counter, with a few contact numbers written on it, and winked at Sheng Shubai.

“Those girls’ contacts—which one catches your eye? I can point her out.”

Sheng Shubai followed her gaze. They were all young, dressed like students or fresh grads.

In the booth, there was a girl with her back turned, her hairstyle and silhouette just like Lu Jia’s.

Sheng Shubai was certain it wasn’t an illusion from the alcohol. She zoned out for a split second before realizing the side profile was different.

“Hello, one Long Island Iced Tea, please.”

Before she could look away, a more familiar voice coincidentally sounded right by her ear.

Sheng Shubai turned her head.

This time, she really thought she was hallucinating from the drinks.

How could Lu Jia be here?

Unsure how much of the earlier conversation the person beside her had overheard.

Before Sheng Shubai could speak, she saw the owner cheerfully accept Lu Jia’s order. Not only did she mix the drink herself, but she also lavishly praised the girl’s beautiful appearance.

“So, Little Sheng, anyone catch your eye?”

The woman poured tequila into the jigger while still gossiping.

Sheng Shubai wanted to rub her temples but just shook her head and glanced beside her.

The girl gave her a polite smile, her expression perfectly normal. “Professor Sheng, what a coincidence.”

Very polite—Sheng Shubai remembered Lu Jia smiling at Shen Zhiwei the same way: distant, with clear boundaries.

An uncomfortable feeling inevitably rose in her heart, so she replied in an equally courteous tone. “What a coincidence. Here with friends?”

Lu Jia said lightly, “Here to find some inspiration.”

And so they fell silent. Sheng Shubai had already gotten her Manhattan but didn’t turn to leave.

Anyone who could run a place like this was sharp, nine times out of ten.

The owner glanced at the atmosphere between them and sensed something off. Her movements quietly slowed, wanting to watch more of the drama.

But even after handing the Long Island Iced Tea to Lu Jia, there was no new interaction.

“Lu Jia, that one’s easy to get drunk on.”

In the second before the girl walked away, Sheng Shubai couldn’t hold back and softly reminded her.

The first time they met at a bar, she hadn’t known Lu Jia’s tolerance well, and the drink she ordered in return was a Long Island Iced Tea.

That was also the night she first saw what the other woman looked like drunk.

Lu Jia hummed in acknowledgment. “Got it, I’ll be careful. Thanks.”

With a glance from the corner of her eye, she saw Lu Jia heading up the stairs to the second floor. Looking back at the owner behind the bar, who had already pocketed the card and was winking at her. “Something going on?”

Still calling her “professor”—sounded like good gossip.

Sheng Shubai was silent for a moment. “Nothing.”

As if.

The woman grinned. “Should’ve known you’d be stubborn. I ought to have added extra base liquor to that kid’s drink earlier.”

Sheng Shubai shot her a look. “You didn’t, right?”

“Of course not. I wouldn’t ruin my own shop’s reputation.”

The owner glanced lightly at her, her beautiful eyes narrowing slightly, her tone drawn out. “Such a pretty girl, Lu Jia, huh? I know a few who like that type. Want me to hook you up later—”

Sheng Shubai turned and walked away.

Behind her was the woman’s triumphant teasing laugh; a few meters ahead, her two friends wore identical looks of enjoying the show.

Sheng Shubai returned with her drink, and one glance told her they had nothing good to say.

She simply took the initiative. “What do you want to say?”

Ji Jinnian’s eyes hid undisguisable amusement. “Nothing.”

She leaned to Tang Yue’s ear. “How long you betting?”

Tang Yue held up a “ten” gesture, and Ji Jinnian grinned. “Then I’ll bet twenty minutes.”

They acted like they were whispering secrets, but the volume wasn’t low enough to hide from the other side. Sheng Shubai knew full well they were betting on her.

Her brows furrowed slightly. She set down the fresh drink and was even more distracted playing dice than before.

She lost to Ji Jinnian again. After downing her penalty drink, for the who-knows-how-manyth time, she pulled out her phone but only stared at the lock screen, with no intention of unlocking it.

People came and went on the stairs constantly.

Sheng Shubai’s peripheral vision involuntarily flicked over, then casually withdrew, pretending nothing happened as she continued shaking the dice cup.

Until the twenty-first minute.

Right as a round ended, she glanced at the now-empty rack of drinks on the table and stood up.

Ji Jinnian and Tang Yue’s gazes landed on her in unison.

Sheng Shubai: “…I’m going to the terrace to get some air and sober up.”

She had downed several penalty drinks in a row just now, without the banter with her friends like before—instead, she chugged them whole.

When she stood, she even paused slightly to steady herself against the drunkenness.

Hearing the unmasked laughter behind her, Sheng Shubai didn’t look back. Her steps hesitated for a moment before quickening even more.

It wasn’t quite fleeing in panic, but close enough.

Second floor, terrace.

Lu Jia had originally picked a side table inside to drink, not going outdoors.

She hadn’t come tonight entirely for inspiration—part of it was at Shi Mengxi’s urging, hoping to try her luck.

She spotted Sheng Shubai right as she entered, and her mood lifted for a moment. But before she could greet her, she overheard the owner at the bar introducing girls to her.

She heard the whole conversation and even glanced over.

Young and pretty girls—right up Sheng Shubai’s alley.

Even knowing the woman’s personality wouldn’t let her get close to just anyone easily, Lu Jia still felt a twinge of depression.

In that mood, she drank faster than before.

She finished the whole glass in no time and ordered another at the small second-floor bar, equally strong.

Over the time spent with Sheng Shubai, her tolerance had improved somewhat, at least more than before.

But halfway through the third glass, her vision began to blur like a layer of mist.

Lu Jia knew this was about her usual limit. She also knew that in a bar like this, it was best not to get blackout drunk, even if it was all women inside.

So she set down her glass, with no plan to drink more.

Lu Jia slowly stood, weaving past a few nearby tables, and pushed open the glass door to the terrace.

In the cold winter night, even with the windbreak, the chill wind made her shiver, sobering her up a bit.

The terrace had a few square tables and wooden chairs scattered about. The weather was too cold for anyone to drink out here, and the lights weren’t on. It was lit only by the streetlights below, giving it a hazy nighttime ambiance.

She leaned against the railing and looked down at the fairly lively street.

After the wind cleared her head a little, her vision sharpened. This area was near the city center, with pedestrians mostly in small groups, just like inside the tavern earlier.

Solo visitors like her were rare.

She watched quietly for a while, her fingertips growing cold.

When she left home tonight, figuring she’d stay inside all evening, Lu Jia had only worn a thick coat over her shirt. By the second drink, she’d shrugged it off to the side and only put it back on when coming to the terrace.

Now too lazy to bundle up tightly—afraid of catching a cold and affecting her exhibition work—Lu Jia decided to head back in.

But as she turned, she collided right into someone else’s raised glass.