Chapter 41: Let Go

【Ming You: Drink less. I’ll worry.】

【Ming You: If it hasn’t wrapped up by ten and you can’t leave early, just let me know.】

Yan Ningxi looked up at the private room door. Sounds of laughter and chatter drifted out. But the revelry was theirs, not what she wanted. She typed: 【It won’t be too late.】

The birthday banquet for Professor Zhang had been going for three hours by nine at night, and people still weren’t satisfied. They were arm-in-arm, playing drinking games.

Yan Ningxi’s head felt a little dizzy. Qi Xuexin had exaggerated when she said Yan Ningxi didn’t touch a drop of alcohol. Normally, she avoided drinking if she could, but on special occasions, she would take a symbolic sip or two to avoid giving anyone fodder for gossip.

The drink she had tonight had been tampered with by someone with ulterior motives. It wasn’t drugged—just mixed in a way that made it easier for her to get drunk.

Everyone was an adult, after all.

Single men and women, familiar faces, potential scandal partners—what happened if passions flared after a few drinks? Who could anyone blame?

Professor Zhang had been picked up by his son, leaving behind a group of stumbling, drunk alumni from past years. Luo Yongjun and a few others who were still somewhat sober called cars for them.

Someone who hadn’t had their fill grumbled, “Head back to the hotel? It’s such a rare chance to get together—why not hit up a nightclub?”

“Bar? KTV? Club? Dance hall? Let’s change venues and keep the party going.”

“Send the ones who are out cold home first, then we switch spots.”

“It’s not every day we get to reunite. We’ve entertained the professor—now it’s time to hang out with old classmates and exes, right?”

With Professor Zhang gone, Yan Ningxi rubbed her throbbing temples. She had no interest in carousing with this crowd anymore. “You all go ahead and have fun. My head hurts from the alcohol—I’m heading back to the hotel first.”

A senior from the class above grabbed her. “Don’t go, Junior Sister Yan. We haven’t seen each other in years. Who knows if we’ll get another chance after this? Don’t kill the vibe. If you leave, Luo Yongjun will just follow you. He’s the main guy organizing this whole thing—he can’t go…”

Another junior brother sidled up. “Senior Brother Luo’s been busting his ass. For the second half of the night, we all owe him a few drinks. Senior Sister Yan, you can’t just whisk Senior Brother Luo away…”

Yan Ningxi, already weak from the alcohol, staggered as the senior sister tugged at her.

“Careful.” Luo Yongjun appeared behind her right on cue, his right hand hooking around her waist.

She steadied herself and brushed his arm away, her voice icy. “Sorry, I’ve got an early flight tomorrow morning. Have fun, everyone.”

With that, she walked out without looking back.

“What are you standing around for? Go after her!” The others, eager for drama, egged him on. “Luo Yongjun, if you don’t win Yan Ningxi back tonight, you’ve got no hope for life!”

“Hey, we’ve done all we can to help. This is your last shot—no second chances!”

“Even Professor Zhang ships you two. What are you scared of? Teacher Yan’s just got that cold exterior but a warm heart. She’s probably playing hard to get.”

“Senior Brother Luo, no time like the present. If you don’t seal the deal with Senior Sister Yan while the iron’s hot, I’ll step up. She’s always been my goddess. If you weren’t in the way, I would’ve made my move ages ago to avoid awkwardness…”

Buoyed by the crowd’s hype, Luo Yongjun waved them off with a laugh. “Alright, alright. You lot are really getting into these roles, huh?”

A woman shoved him. “Look at you, no spine at all. The emperor’s not worried, but the eunuchs are.”

“Fine, fine. I’ll go chase her. You guys pick a spot and book it—text me when it’s set. I’ll do my best to bring her back, okay?” If he didn’t go after her, he’d lose face completely.

…

Luo Yongjun bolted out of the restaurant and spotted Yan Ningxi standing alone by the roadside, hailing a cab. He reeked heavily of alcohol, and once outside, the smell became sharp and unmistakable.

Yan Ningxi smelled of booze and smoke too—unavoidable after sharing a private room. What annoyed her was that she hadn’t brought a change of outer clothes. Would she have to meet Ming You tomorrow in dirty ones?

She should’ve packed an extra outfit, knowing Professor Zhang would let them cut loose like this.

Back in school, Professor Zhang had always earnestly warned students against smoking and drinking. But these were all graduates now—he didn’t bother.

“Ningxi, it’s still early—not even ten. Come hang out with everyone a bit longer? I promise we’ll all head back to our hotels by midnight.” Luo Yongjun tried to persuade her.

“I said I’m not going. I won’t repeat myself a third time.” Yan Ningxi snapped, unusually angry. “Luo Yongjun, you’re you, and I’m me. If you want to play the gentleman and leader in front of them, that’s your business. Don’t drag me into it. We can’t have any relationship beyond classmates.”

“Yan Ningxi, do you really have to be so harsh? Are you even sober right now?”

“I’m perfectly sober.”

Rejected to her face, Luo Yongjun felt the alcohol fueling his boldness. He grabbed her wrist. “You’re drunk. It’s not safe alone—come with me.”

“Let go!”

“I’m not letting go.”

Yan Ningxi wasn’t strong to begin with, and the alcohol had left her limp and powerless. She stood no chance against a tall guy like Luo Yongjun.

They tugged back and forth on the roadside, neither backing down.

In a fit of anger, Yan Ningxi stomped hard on Luo Yongjun’s foot. He instinctively dodged, loosening his grip for a split second. She yanked hard, lost her balance, and tumbled backward.

…

That night, Ming You didn’t linger on campus. She skipped the evening gatherings at the universities and headed straight back to the dorm after dinner to rest.

She washed up at nine, changed into pajamas, and planned to video call before bed, then get up early to recharge.

By ten, with no WeChat message, Ming You stepped outside the dorm as planned and called Yan Ningxi for a video chat.

“Hello?” The screen showed a strange woman, a white wall behind her.

Ming You, wearing earphones, adjusted the volume. “Hello, where’s Yan Ningxi?”

“Who are you to her?”

“I’m her sister. I know she was at her teacher’s birthday banquet tonight—this call was scheduled.” Ming You grew uneasy. “What happened to Sister Yan? Why isn’t the phone with her?”

After confirming her identity, the woman got straight to the point. “Senior Sister Yan accidentally fell down some steps. We’ve brought her to the hospital. The doctor says there’s signs of a mild concussion—she needs to stay for observation. She also had a bit too much to drink tonight and hasn’t woken up yet.”

“Fell? Which hospital?” Ming You panicked.

“S City Third People’s Hospital. You coming over? We’re short on her family or friends’ contacts.”

“I… I’m not in S City.” Ming You hesitated, reason kicking in. “It’s almost dawn—no flights. I can catch the earliest one tomorrow, but tonight… could you please…”

“No need to be so polite, sister. Senior Sister Yan got hurt at our gathering—we wouldn’t just leave her.”

“Thanks.”

“Take down my number. We’ll stay in touch.”

“Okay, go ahead.”

After noting the number, the woman said “Goodbye,” but Ming You blurted out in panic, “Wait—don’t hang up. Let me see Sister Yan. I just want to look at her.”

“The room light’s off. Don’t say anything—I’ll shine the phone flashlight so you can see.”

One glance, and Ming You’s composure shattered.

The call ended. Her hands shook uncontrollably. She looked down at her feet in flip-flops and kicked the wall hard, hoping the pain would bring her back to her senses, clear her head.

But the scraped toe and bleeding nail edge couldn’t drown out the ache in her heart.

She hugged her knees on the floor, the pain growing sharper.

Gritting her teeth, she opened the map app and checked the distance between Hengyuan and S City. It estimated a six-hour drive.

She checked flights too.

The early one left at 7:10 a.m., a one-and-a-half-hour flight landing at 8:40, then a cab to the hospital… Assuming no delays or traffic, 9:30 was the best-case arrival.

But if she called a ride now, she’d get there by four or five in the morning.

Calming down, Ming You gave in to her heartache and chose the drive—it got her to Yan Ningxi hours sooner.

She had to see her, be by her side. She couldn’t wait another moment.

Seeing Ming You change clothes, Gu Xirui climbed down from her bed. “Ming You, it’s so late—where are you going?”

“Xirui, my sister’s alone out of town in the hospital. I have to see her to feel at ease.” Ming You’s voice trembled.

“Sick? Or…?”

“The doors are about to lock.” Ming You grabbed a backpack from the closet and stuffed her small crossbody bag inside. “I’ll let you know when I get there tomorrow.”

The other two roommates overheard and leaned over their beds.

“Tomorrow? Ming You, you’re going far away? What about tomorrow’s competition…”

“It’s the championship tomorrow. With your skills, first place is a lock. If you can’t make it back, all your hard work goes down the drain…”

“Okay, be safe.” Gu Xirui waved off the other two.

She didn’t stop Ming You.

She trusted that Ming You knew what she was doing, that she’d weighed the costs. And she believed whoever could warm Ming You’s heart, make her lose all reason and rush over without hesitation, was worth any price.

…

At two in the morning, Yan Ningxi woke up. Her phone was right there on the cabinet, within reach.

She opened her chat with Ming You. The latest record showed 【Call duration: 04:56】.

Who answered?

Luo Yongjun?

Before she could dwell on it, just glancing at the screen made her nauseous. She stumbled to the bathroom and dry-heaved for a bit. She felt deeply unwell, though she couldn’t pinpoint why.

Before passing out, she’d fallen backward, head hitting the ground.

Waking up in the hospital wasn’t a surprise. She had some vague memories of what happened after the fall, but she’d been too dazed to process them.

There were other patients in the room, so Yan Ningxi turned on the bathroom light to check herself over.

Her head hurt, her elbow hurt, her butt… hurt too.

Her head was wrapped in a layer of bandage—she couldn’t tell if it was scraped or bleeding. But she’d woken up quickly, and no other parts were bandaged. She could move normally, so it wasn’t serious.

Back at the bed, using the light seeping through the door crack, she found her bag by the bed and pulled out some wet wipes to clean her face.

The coolness cleared her mind a bit. She knew Ming You always kept her phone on silent at night—no ringtones to disturb her or her roommates—so she sent a message anyway.

【Yan Ningxi: Just had too much to drink. Don’t worry too much. We’ll talk in the morning if you’re free.】

After sending, she clutched the phone, touched the bed, and drifted back into a hazy sleep.

…

Ming You called a ride-share. Shortly after getting in, Gu Xirui called with a voice message, asking for the vehicle details—even the license plate.

In the car, Ming You kept hypnotizing herself: I’m not scared something happened to Yan Ningxi. I’m not worried about her health. I’m doing this to make her feel guilty.

She didn’t sleep a wink all night.

At 5:10 a.m., Ming You arrived at Yan Ningxi’s hospital, travel-worn.

The hospital at dawn wasn’t the deathly silent, eerie void some imagined.

There were faint coughs, groans, and murmurs from rooms in unknown directions. On-duty doctors and nurses gave instructions, families asked questions, and machines beeped and pinged.

These hospital sounds wove a vast net overhead, far more chilling than simple spookiness.

The long corridor, oppressive air, dim lights, and that unmistakable smell—every tangible and intangible thing made Ming You’s pain unbearable.

She leaned against the wall, the world spinning. A dull ache gripped her heart as nightmare loomed.