Blue Cocktail chapter 22
Lu Huaiqian snorted at Cheng Shuo’s words, giving him a sideways glance. “Do you think I’d believe that?”
This time, Cheng Shuo didn’t deny it. He pretended not to hear and had a faint smile on his face at this moment.
Suddenly, he remembered Tang Yi’s way of calling out to his brother Huaiqian with a flirtatious tone, which oddly hit his funny bone. Cheng Shuo shook his shoulders with his head bowed.
“Hey, friend,” Lu Huaiqian spoke frankly, “at a time like this, you should show some sympathy for me, not delight in my misfortune.”
Cheng Shuo thought for a moment before replying, “I really sympathize with you.”
Lu Huaiqian scoffed, “Too perfunctory, show a little sincerity, will you?”
After contemplating for a few seconds, Cheng Shuo added, “I genuinely sympathize with you.”
Upon hearing this, Lu Huaiqian didn’t get angry. Instead, he couldn’t help but chuckle, “Cheng Shuo, sometimes I feel like you’re very much like me.”
Cheng Shuo, unusually piqued by curiosity, asked, “How so? Tell me.”
“Like how I sometimes find my own happiness in others’ misfortunes. It’s a kind of refined selfishness that doesn’t concern oneself with others’ affairs.”
Cheng Shuo could relate to this. “You have quite a clear self-awareness.”
“And sometimes, I consider myself quite immoral. For instance, I also find joy in others’ misfortunes, just like you did earlier.”
Cheng Shuo smiled slightly and glared at Lu Huaiqian reproachfully. “You can call yourself immoral, but don’t drag me into it. When it comes to being a person, it’s best to judge oneself more and others less.”
In this banter, the silver-purple sedan had arrived at the base of the eighth building of Fufu Jiayuan.
Cheng Shuo opened the door and got out of the car.
He thought he would be swiftly whisked away, just as Tang Yi was minutes ago, with Lu Huaiqian turning the car around, leaving Tang Yi in a cloud of exhaust fumes.
But things didn’t go as expected.
Half a minute later, Cheng Shuo watched Lu Huaiqian leisurely exit the car, lock it, and follow him, strolling calmly into the building, climbing the steps behind him.
After a few moments of silence, Cheng Shuo looked up at Lu Huaiqian and spoke with heartfelt sincerity, “You’ve already spent a lot of time taking me home. I shouldn’t keep you from earning money any longer. You can leave me here today.”
Lu Huaiqian lowered his gaze, genuinely replying, “It’s okay. Zhao Ge is at the bar, and he can handle things. Besides, friendship comes first, money comes second. How can I abandon you in a dark corridor just to make money?”
Cheng Shuo’s silence was deafening.
He couldn’t convince someone pretending to be ignorant, so he remained quiet. He thought, if Lu Huaiqian was willing to take him, he would. After all, it wasn’t his time being wasted. He would be dropped off at his door, and then Lu Huaiqian would surely leave, right?
Thinking this, Cheng Shuo remained silent. Helplessly, he walked with the lingering tail behind him—the irremovable landlord Lu —to Apartment 302. He unlocked the door with his keys and stood at the entrance to change his shoes.
Once Cheng Shuo put on his slippers and looked up, he found that Lu Huaiqian was still there.
His eyes darted around, offering a polite thank you and a clichéd “see you later.” Cheng Shuo felt he’d done his utmost.
He held the door handle, about to close it.
Lu Huaiqian, quick to react, grabbed the door’s edge with his right hand. “It’s really cold on rainy days. I’d like a cup of hot water.”
The door was stopped in mid-air, barely an inch from Lu Huaiqian’s fingertips.
Thankfully, Cheng Shuo relaxed and thought he had avoided pinching Lu Huaiqian’s fingers.
“I’ll just have a cup of hot water and leave, alright?”
Cheng Shuo looked through the neatly squared door frame and saw Lu Huaiqian leaning against the wall, smiling inexplicably.
He remained silent for a moment, then sighed softly. His tone was somewhat helpless, “Come in.”
Upon hearing this, Lu Huaiqian gleefully strolled into the living room.
Two minutes later.
Lu Huaiqian lazily leaned on the sofa, toying with a glass of hot water that Cheng Shuo had poured for him.
He took a few sips, occasionally letting out an inexplicable sigh. He managed to turn tasteless hot water into the taste of Longjing green tea from ’82.
Or, raising the glass and examining it against the light, he looked as if he was appraising a colorless gemstone rather than holding a glass.
To have such a show over drinking water, he really knew how to play the part.
Cheng Shuo sat quietly on the side, observing for a long while. After waiting and waiting, seeing no end in sight, he couldn’t help but ask, “Didn’t you say you had a lot to handle at the bar and couldn’t leave?”
“It depends on the situation,” Lu Huaiqian responded, then, pretending to be sad, asked, “Don’t you welcome me to your home?”
Cheng Shuo remained silent again.
“I even drove you home, shouldn’t you be grateful to me?” Lu Huaiqian chuckled.
Haha.
As if he begged Lu Huaiqian to drive him home.
“Of course, I’m very grateful,” Cheng Shuo replied with a forced smile. Suddenly, he thought of something and a mischievous glint flashed in his eyes.
Wearing a poker face, Cheng Shuo tried to imitate Tang Yi’s tone, dragging the last syllables. Unfortunately, he couldn’t quite grasp it, so he forced out a few stiff syllables from between his teeth, “Thank you, Huaiqian brother—”
As soon as the words were out, Lu Huaiqian happily responded, “Oh, no need to thank me. You called me Huaiqian brother, so it’s what I should do.”
Cheng Shuo: “…”
He intended to say something contrary but failed. Instead, he repulsed himself and, seeing Lu Huaiqian smiling with apparent delight, felt a little sick.
After a moment of silence, Cheng Shuo finally hesitated and asked, “…Aren’t you supposed to dislike being called that by others?”
“It depends on who it is,” Lu Huaiqian replied immediately. “Your voice is so pleasant, you can call me however you want. And when you call me brother, it makes our relationship seem close, so of course, I’m happy.”
Cheng Shuo let out a sigh, then looked up, “How much of what you say is actually true?”
Lu Huaiqian’s smiling eyes met Cheng Shuo’s gaze, “Although I deceive people, I never deceive you.”
“Everything I’ve said to you is the truth.”
“Do you believe me?”
Their eyes met. Those black pupils remained as profound as ever, with faint laugh lines at the corners, which hinted at both humor and seriousness.
Cheng Shuo hesitated.
He turned his head away. Lu Huaiqian was always a person he couldn’t read.
Unusual emotions spread in his chest. Cheng Shuo looked down, silent for a few seconds, and then said softly, “I’m not that naive.”
“Ah, you don’t believe me.” Lu Huaiqian playfully touched his chest with his right hand. “I’m being so good to you, yet I can’t earn even a shred of your trust?”
Cheng Shuo pursed his lips.
He didn’t want to reply, but the other was eagerly waiting for his response. In the end, Cheng Shuo opened his mouth, “I might be… too guarded. I’m like this with everyone. It’s hard to trust anyone.”
He added after a moment, “It’s not about you.”
Upon hearing this, Lu Huaiqian suddenly remembered the two earlier thunderous scenes and Cheng Shuo’s trembling, frightened state during the thunder.
His gaze became even deeper, seeming less like a smile. He didn’t mention this. Instead, he raised his eyebrows and winked at Cheng Shuo. “It’s okay. I’m confident I’ll earn your complete trust in the future.”
Cheng Shuo suddenly looked up, somewhat incredulously, at Lu Huaiqian.
He thought the other person would ask him about the reason or say something heartfelt, trying to break down his defenses, advising him not to be so suspicious, just like many people he had encountered before.
But he forgot that the person before him was Lu Huaiqian. His way of speaking was always unpredictable, unconventional, and inscrutable.
Only Lu Huaiqian.
At that moment, Cheng Shuo seemed to be infected by Lu Huaiqian’s smile. He gradually lifted the corners of his eyes, and a smile shone in his pupils, becoming clearer. “You’re really confident.”
“Of course, I am very confident.”
“Rein it in a bit.”
“Why?”
“Being too arrogant might make people hate you.”
“Do you hate me?”
“Why would I hate you?”
“In that case, it doesn’t matter. I don’t really care how others see me.”
“…”
While Lu Huaiqian could create an ambiance where a glass of hot water seemed like tea, he kept his word and left after finishing his drink, without lingering unnecessarily.
Finally sending the person off and closing the door, the space was no longer filled with noisy conversation. It was Cheng Shuo’s own world, familiar and quiet, enveloping him completely.
Cheng Shuo got what he wanted but didn’t feel particularly happy. His rational side urged him to attend to his own matters, but his emotions controlled his limbs, leaving him standing behind the door for no reason, as if silently struggling.
Cheng Shuo stood motionless for a long time before breaking free from this struggle. He resignedly raised his chin and looked through the peephole at the corridor—
The corridor was now empty.
Cheng Shuo withdrew his gaze, not particularly disappointed.
He quietly returned to the sofa, picked up the empty glass Lu Huaiqian had left on the table, feeling the residual warmth on its surface. The water vapor hadn’t completely dissipated. He lowered his eyes, quietly contemplating.
……………………………….
A week of peace passed, and it was Friday again.
At ten in the morning, two WeChat messages suddenly appeared.
The messages were from—The Unscrupulous Tycoon, Mr. Lu.
Seeing this long and unusual nickname, Cheng Shuo was rarely taken aback. After a few seconds of contemplation, his memory revived.
The first time he called to inquire about renting the house, he had saved Lu Huaiqian as “Landlord 15805553689.”
But due to various coincidences, Cheng Shuo interacted with Lu Huaiqian more frequently, experiencing his talkativeness. So, Cheng Shuo, feeling truly annoyed, changed the name to “The Unscrupulous Tycoon, Mr. Lu,” to vent his frustration.
From adding each other as friends to the time until ten in the morning today, they had never chatted online. So Cheng Shuo thought that lying dormant in the other’s friends’ list had become an unspoken understanding between them.
However, as it turned out, he was overthinking. Lu Huaiqian didn’t come to disturb him; perhaps it was just because he was in a good mood recently, so he graciously gave Cheng Shuo some space.
He clicked on it:
(Hello Mr. Cheng Shuo, congratulations on becoming a lucky user of Mo Blue Bar. if you come to the bar this saturday you can enjoy free drinks)
(overdue it will be invalid) {Attached a mysterious blue link}
Cheng Shuo replied: ?
The response came instantly.
The Unscrupulous Tycoon, Mr. Lu: ?
Cheng Shuo: To be honest, this sounds a bit like a scam message
The Unscrupulous Tycoon, Mr. Lu: I’m not lying
Cheng Shuo: Hmmm, I bet that’s a lie
The Unscrupulous Tycoon, Mr. Lu: Hahaha
Cheng Shuo: I’ve never seen a WeChat notification about winning something
The Unscrupulous Tycoon, Mr. Lu: Well, now you have
Cheng Shuo: What’s the link for?
The Unscrupulous Tycoon, Mr. Lu: Why don’t you open and see?
Cheng Shuo: Tell me first, then I’ll open it
The Unscrupulous Tycoon, Mr. Lu: Why is that?
Cheng Shuo: I’m afraid it might have a virus
The Unscrupulous Tycoon, Mr. Lu: Should we do a video call so you can confirm that I haven’t been hacked~
Now Cheng Shuo was sure. This way of speaking, he thought, was unique to Lu Huaiqian in the entire city of Huafu.
The Unscrupulous Tycoon, Mr. Lu: It’s actually a coupon for the bar. Remember to claim it in time. Once you claim it, you can come and enjoy a cocktail for free. The coupon will expire if not used. Come on Saturday; it’s so enjoyable to have free drinks!
Cheng Shuo: What if I don’t come?
The Unscrupulous Tycoon, Mr. Lu: I’d be very disappointed
Cheng Shuo: Oh
The Unscrupulous Tycoon, Mr. Lu: So, are you coming?
The Unscrupulous Tycoon, Mr. Lu: Picture of a dog carrying a rose
Cheng Shuo: I have to finish my illustration draft this weekend, and Sunday is the deadline.
The Unscrupulous Tycoon, Mr. Lu: “So you’re not coming?”
Cheng Shuo typed swiftly on his phone screen: “Sorry, I’m really busy this weekend and might not have time to come.”
But he didn’t immediately hit send.
His fingertips paused for a few seconds, then suddenly moved to long-press the delete key, clearing the input box.
Cheng Shuo lowered his gaze, quietly staring at the phone screen for a while, then typed another line:
(let me think about it)