I stood still for a long time before walking towards my car. I threw the bouquet of flowers into the passenger seat and leaned back in my seat, closing my eyes, feeling somewhat drained.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the car window. I opened my eyes to see Circle standing outside. I rolled down the window, and he asked with a smile, “Are you waiting for Miss Mi?”

“She had to leave early. Do you have time to join me for a drink?”

“You don’t seem to be in a good mood!”

Circle said as he opened the car door, only to notice the bouquet on the passenger seat. He gave me a knowing look.

Circle moved the bouquet to the back seat and asked, “Where do you want to go for a drink?”

I started the car and blurted out, “A bar.”

This time, I didn’t go to “The Fifth Season” for a drink. Instead, I went to the bar where I often drowned my sorrows in recent years and ordered a table full of beer.

After clinking glasses with me, Circle asked, “Are you not getting along well with Miss Mi?”

I drank half a bottle in one breath before stopping and asked Circle, “Tell me honestly, do you think we’re a good match?”

Circle was silent for a long time before shaking his head. He didn’t explain why he didn’t think we were a good match, but he didn’t need to. If he said we were, it would be a real surprise.

I closed my eyes and finished the remaining beer in the bottle. I knew in my heart that Mi Cai and Wei Ran were just friends, but I still cared, especially when I thought about Wei Ran’s confession to her. Moreover, judging from Mi Lan’s attitude towards Wei Ran today, it was clear that he was the one favored by Mi Cai’s family, and I was just the poor guy who was kicked out of the villa with a hundred yuan.

The cold alcohol continuously flowed into my stomach, and once again, I experienced that mutated pleasure in my repression, temporarily forgetting all my troubles and unhappiness.

Circle took the beer bottle from my hand, looked at me seriously, and said, “Drink less, let’s chat.”

“What’s there to talk about?” I said, biting open another bottle of beer and taking a big gulp.

Circle held the beer bottle and said seriously, “Did you know? There’s been a major personnel change in Zhuo Mei recently. Mi Zhongde’s daughter has been transferred to Suzhou and is now in charge of the daily operations of the entire mall.”

I was surprised and instinctively confirmed with Circle, “Mi Zhongde’s daughter has been transferred to Zhuo Mei in Suzhou?”

“Yes, it’s obviously to restrain Miss Mi… However, Miss Mi is also planning to transfer Chen Jingming to the headquarters in Shanghai to counter Mi Zhongde.”

“What can Chen Jingming do alone at the headquarters in Shanghai?”

Circle shook his head and said, “You underestimate Miss Mi. She has many confidants at the headquarters in Shanghai. However, these people rarely participate in the group’s management, so Chen Jingming needs to use their influence to participate in the management of Zhuo Mei in Shanghai, thereby countering Mi Zhongde.”

I nodded without further comment, but I still believed in Chen Jingming. I believed that he would use his rich work experience to become a real help for Mi Cai.

After a brief silence, I picked up the beer bottle and started drinking again. At this moment, I seemed to be very dependent on the pleasure after indulgence, because it would make me temporarily forget the real sadness and repression.

“Zhao Yang, drink less…” Circle kept reminding me.

“I asked you to come and drink with me, not to persuade me to drink less. I’m in the mood to drink, so don’t spoil it, okay?”

“I just sent a message to Miss Mi, she said she’ll be here soon.”

I looked at Circle, not happy that he had messaged Mi Cai, but in the end, I didn’t say anything because I wasn’t drunk enough to know that he was doing it for my own good.

…

A moment later, two women walked into the bar. I quickly recognized them under the flickering lights. It was Mi Cai and Mi Lan.

They came over to Circle and me. Circle formally called out to Mi Cai, “Miss Mi.”

Mi Cai thanked him with a smile, “It’s not working hours, you can just call me by my name. Thank you for accompanying Zhao Yang tonight.”

Circle responded with a smile and greeted Mi Lan, calling her “Miss Mi.”

Mi Lan nodded, not showing any disgust because Circle was my friend. It seemed that she wasn’t as arrogant as I had imagined. Of course, it might also have something to do with Circle’s handsome and friendly face.

“Zhao Yang, let me take you home. Give me your car keys,” Mi Cai said to me.

Before I could respond, Mi Lan coldly interjected, “You’re drinking and making my sister come over. Who do you think you are?”

I couldn’t hold back my anger anymore and said, “Do you think belittling me will make your chest grow bigger?”

Mi Lan was instantly furious and said, “I really don’t understand what my sister sees in a lowlife like you!””Zhao Yang, Mi Lan, this is a public place, could you both tone it down a bit?” Mi Cai said as she pulled Mi Lan behind her.

I knew it wasn’t worth arguing with a woman. I lit a cigarette, trying hard to suppress my anger.

Suddenly, three men emerged from a corner, swaying as if they had drunk quite a bit. They approached Mi Cai and Mi Lan, speaking frivolously to each other, “From afar, these two chicks look pretty. Up close, they’re even better… How about it, come sit with us, we’ll make sure you have a good time!”

Circle stood up and said to the three men, “These two ladies are our friends, you should show some respect.”

“Who’s this idiot? Who gave you the right to speak?” One of the men, sporting a buzz cut and a jacket, pointed at Circle’s nose and said.

The anger I had been suppressing was instantly ignited. I grabbed a beer bottle from the table and smashed it over the jacketed man’s head.

Immediately, the jacketed man’s two friends picked up beer bottles and charged at me. Instinctively, I shielded Mi Cai behind me, but Mi Lan was left exposed. I dodged one of the beer bottles and kicked one of the men over, but the remaining man, holding a bottle, crazily swung it at Mi Lan. I wanted to pull her away, but it was too late.

Bright red blood trickled down the back of Circle’s head. In that critical moment, Circle had shielded Mi Lan, exposing his back, and the bottle hit him squarely on the back of his head.

At this point, the bar’s security finally arrived, restraining me, the one holding the beer bottle, and the other two men.

Circle lay on top of Mi Lan, who was pale with fright. I was also panicked, because the place where Circle was hit was the most vulnerable part of the head, the back of the skull. I shouted at Mi Cai, trembling, “Quick… call an ambulance.”

Although Mi Cai was also pale, she remained calm and dialed for an ambulance, then gave them the address.

I finally realized that this disaster had happened because I had come to drink. I sat on the ground like an idiot, filled with self-blame: If anything happened to Circle, how could I face Yan Yan!