Chapter 119 - 96: Wanqing, I Was Just Passing By, Do You Believe Me?
This was basically a license to fire at will.
"What’s everyone looking at over there?"
Just then, Reba noticed a crowd gathered nearby. Curious, she walked over and peered inside. As an actress, her face was an unreadable mask, betraying none of her thoughts. Her fingers, however, were lightly tapping along to the rhythm.
Su Ran’s gaze shifted slightly, landing directly on Reba. Reba remained the picture of calm indifference. ’Handsome guy? Heh, the entertainment industry is full of them. Unless he’s got something special, he’s not going to catch my eye.’
After the song ended, Reba clapped politely. She pushed open the door, walked in, and said with a smile, "Not bad. Lin Che, this must be the special guest you invited, right?"
Lin Che quickly put down his guitar and introduced him. "Hi, Sister Reba. This is my good brother, Su Ran."
Su Ran got a look at the superstar up close. ’Not bad at all.’
"Alright, you guys continue rehearsing. I won’t disturb you anymore. Keep it up!" Reba said before leaving. Lin Che propped his chin on his hand, a lecherous grin on his face as he stared after her backside. He muttered, "See? The second you show up, even Reba comes into our practice room. Having a handsome face really pays off. If you got into the entertainment industry, you’d have endless beautiful women to fool around with."
Su Ran said, "Cut the crap. Let’s get back to practice."
They spent the entire day rehearsing in the practice room, not finishing until six in the evening.
To thank everyone for coming to Shanghai to support him, Lin Che treated them all to dinner. What they ate wasn’t important; what mattered was this group of good brothers reuniting in Shanghai. Consequently, a lot of alcohol was consumed, and Su Ran got pretty drunk along with them. Then came the part where the whole group argued, red-faced, over who would pay the bill. The restaurant owner was left speechless, hearing nothing but variations of, "Are we brothers or not? If we are, then let me pay!"
In the end, Su Ran just pulled out his phone, scanned the QR code, and paid. "You can pay with WeChat, you know," he said with a sigh. "Honestly, you guys... Let’s go."
As they left the restaurant, a very drunk Lin Che gave Su Ran a knowing, suggestive look. "Hey, Su Ran," he slurred, "want to go get a massage? You’re 18 now. It’s allowed."
"No way, no way. You guys go. I’m dizzy, I’m just going back to the hotel to sleep."
"C’mon, what are you afraid of? Don’t be shy."
"I’m really not going."
"Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go."
His good brothers forcibly dragged Su Ran into the car and they took off. Su Ran didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. ’Some "good brothers" these guys are,’ he thought sarcastically.
They drove to a residential complex where they stopped outside a place called the ’Rouzhi Dao Club’.
The complex looked a little familiar to Su Ran, as if he’d been here before. But in his drunken state, he couldn’t recall when.
"Bro," Lin Che said, "we’re just gonna see what Shanghai has to offer and how it compares to the scene back in Anyang. Hey, Su Ran, where are you going? You can get the clean service, and we’ll get the full monty, alright?"
"I’m really not going. You guys go ahead. My treat."
"...Look, how about this: you go on up and rest. We won’t force you to do anything. We finally got everyone together; it’s not right if you’re not there." As they spoke, the others slung their arms around Su Ran’s shoulders, effectively pinning him between them as they steered him toward the club.
At that moment, a stern voice rang out from behind them.
"Su Ran! What are you doing!"
Everyone turned to look and saw a beautiful, long-legged woman in a T-shirt and casual shorts storming toward them. Lin Che and his friends were so intimidated by her presence that they immediately let go of Su Ran and retreated a few steps.
Xiao Wanqing!
This was right outside Xiao Wanqing’s home. She had just come down to throw out the trash when she saw this scene.
’I’m so pissed. He told me he wasn’t coming to Shanghai today, but look at him now. In front of a club... Heh.’
’She desperately wanted to scream at him. I’m a goddamn bombshell, a world-class beauty, and you’d rather go to some sleazy club than come find me?!’
HUFF.
Su Ran let out a long breath. ’Well, this is just great. A total misunderstanding. This is social suicide.’
He turned, his drunken gaze fixed on the approaching, furious Xiao Wanqing. Forcing a smile, he said, "Wanqing... I was just passing by. You believe me, right?"