Sweet slice-of-life love story: Wife, Let's love again
Chapter 222 - 218: The Roc Spreads Its Wings

Chapter 222: Chapter 218: The Roc Spreads Its Wings

Anything repeatedly mentioned can become annoying, He Fang knew this well and had made arrangements with Qin Guanglin for New Year’s Day, so she no longer brought up his work.

Daily life resumed to working, returning home, shopping for groceries, cooking alone, and occasionally making a soup in the evening for Qin Guanglin to nourish his body... solely for his injuries, no other reason.

Besides that, it was observing the flowering season; the buds slowly swollen, starting to split open from the tip, however not yet fully bloomed.

Sunday.

Qin Guanglin, now on a single day-off schedule, and He Fang lounged at home all day, enjoying their private time in the bedroom, and eventually got dressed in the evening to go out.

Sun Wen hosted dinner at a newly opened hot pot restaurant in Shengtian Square, inviting Qin Guanglin and Xiao Yu.

Qin Guanglin figured that Sun Wen wanted to discuss his resigning, Xiao Yu was just an addition, and they also needed a small gathering, so he accepted, boarded a bus to Shengtian Square, and arrived at the address Sun Wen had sent at the agreed time.

"Here you are, sit, sit."

Inside the private room, upon seeing Qin Guanglin come in, Sun Wen quickly snuffed out his cigarette and warmly asked him to sit down, pushing the menu forward, "Xiao Yu hasn’t arrived yet, take a look first, order something, and we’ll add more when he comes."

"No rush, I’m not that hungry anyway."

Qin Guanglin took a seat and scanned the environment of the private room, then turned and said, "Shouldn’t you be really busy now? How do you still have time to come out for a meal?"

"Busy yes, but still, I have to find time for a drink, timing is like milk... well, there’s always some if you squeeze," Sun Wen joked in a slightly risque manner, rubbing his hands together, seeing that Qin Guanglin didn’t respond, he pondered and said, "That company... cough, it’s okay?"

Even though he had left abruptly, it didn’t mean he felt the same, occasionally thinking about making a phone call to Chen Rui, but when he held his phone, he couldn’t dial the number, and even less could he start the conversation.

Being a troublemaker had already been, and apologizing was just to make oneself feel a bit better; it was of no use to either party.

"It’s okay, just that it’s tiring with fewer people." Qin Guanglin briefly mentioned it, not mentioning daily overtime, not saying that his two-day weekend became one, nor that Chen Rui had to continue working even after coming home.

Talking about it or not, it was equally pointless.

Sun Wen was silent for a while, then shook his head and said, "It’s impressive you held it together, I was thinking I still have a spot reserved for you, but it looks like it’s not needed."

He took out a cigarette, lit it, exhaled a puff of smoke, smiled and continued, "Anyway, it’s just that you can’t get over that hurdle in your heart. If you can’t hold up, and the company collapses, you’ve done your utmost by then, and you can consider coming back, right?"

"We’ll see... Leaving in such a rush, are you all ready? When did you hook up with that painter..."

Qin Guanglin suddenly couldn’t recall the other painter’s name, but Sun Wen knew whom he was referring to.

Talking about this now wasn’t interesting anymore, Sun Wen didn’t intend to just make small talk today, there were things to be done, words that needed to be said.

Without much more to say, Sun Wen fetched a bottle of baijiu from under the table, opened it, gestured to Qin Guanglin, and upon his refusal, poured himself a cup, "Let’s not talk about that, anyway... apart from Chen Rui, I’ve failed you badly. After so many years as friends, I should have been clear from the beginning, but impulsively... Oh, let me punish myself with three cups."

The cup was of moderate size, each cup was about two taels, Sun Wen poured it full and gulped it down. Without pause, he poured another cup, Qin Guanglin helplessly reached out to stop him, "Enough, we don’t even have any dishes yet, if you really want to drink, let’s wait a bit."

"If we had dishes, it wouldn’t be a punishment." Sun Wen continued his actions, frowning and lifting his head to pour the drink down his throat, then he filled another cup and drank it, pursing his lips and pausing there for a while, finally exhaling deeply.

A half-liter bottle of baijiu, three cups down and only a little was left. Even though Sun Wen had a high tolerance, drinking so quickly and fiercely was a bit too much, the effects of alcohol showed immediately, his face and even his neck turning a bit red.

"If you’re going to drink like this, I’m not joining you. I’ll have to cover your medical bills at the hospital later."

Qin Guanglin watched as he finished three cups and reached out to grab the bottle, sealed it, and set it aside, not planning to open it again.

"Don’t worry, I can handle my liquor..." Sun Wen suddenly shut his mouth, paused to let the alcohol settle back down his throat, then poured himself a cup of tea from a teapot nearby, gulping it down]] to suppress the effects of the alcohol, before continuing, "I... know what I did was ugly, I was desperately in need at that time... Ah, regardless of the reasons, I’m indeed sorry, after all these years of our friendship, it turns out I betrayed you. Now... no matter what, I still have a spot reserved for you here, even though you don’t regard it highly, but I don’t have anything else to offer." He took a deep drag on his cigarette, flicked the ashes and said, "How about this, I’ll give you a huge red envelope at your wedding, an extra-large one..."

"Alright, alright, you’re getting more ridiculous, half a bottle and you’re already drunk?"

Qin Guanglin laughed and interrupted, "Don’t think too much, it’s enough knowing it was a bad move. If something like this happens again, handle it yourself without dragging me into this—remember that, don’t come to me."

Although the pit was indeed a bit of a pitfall, the result now wasn’t bad.

Qin Guanglin had the ability to hold things together, and it had turned into an opportunity. Even if Sun Wen tried hard with that group of people for three months, it might still not be as good as him staying—this was true for him alone.

This opportunity belonged only to Qin Guanglin. If it were Sun Wen, he couldn’t handle it; he would have had to leave, and that was the difference between the two men.

Differences in all aspects.

It’s everyone’s fate, and it was vividly displayed at this moment.

Sun Wen smoked silently for a moment and nodded, "Don’t worry, this time is enough. If it works, great, if not, I’m out of here, no next time."

"Out? Have you already planned your retreat?" Qin Guanglin asked.

"I’ve planned it, going back to farm."

"Can you really be content going back?"

"..."

"Wow, you guys have started drinking?" Xiao Yu pushed the door open, saw Sun Wen’s red face, exclaimed and sat down, "Where’s the food? Just drinking?"

"We were waiting for you, hurry and order." Qin Guanglin pushed the menu slightly to the side, "I ordered a yuanyang hotpot, no need to pick another base."

"Alright, let me see." Xiao Yu tapped the menu with a pen a couple of times, "Last time I called you, you didn’t come, said you were with your girlfriend... How come you’re willing to come out now? Broke up with your girlfriend?"

"Jinx, just say you’re jealous."

"Tch, jealous of you? I’m no longer single now, either."

Xiao Yu chuckled twice, "My girlfriend is gentle and follows my every wish. I said I’m going out to drink, and she didn’t even dare make a peep, unlike yours who controls even a simple meal out, tsk, would I be jealous?"

"You found a student too?" Sun Wen asked.

"No, a fresh graduate, from our company."

Qin Guanglin recalled the call he had made during the national holiday, asking, "Didn’t you call me about how to trick her into going home, did you bring her home?"

"What do you mean trick, don’t put it so crudely. It was an invitation to come over to my place, watch TV together, play with the cat when there’s nothing else..."

As Xiao Yu spoke, he scribbled quickly on the menu, then pushed it back, "Check if you want to add anything else."

"Alright, an invitation, what excuse did you use?" Qin Guanglin was a bit curious about it.

He had never experienced it. Teacher He had smoothly made her way to his home without needing any tricks or invitations, unable to even refuse.

"Uh... that was easy, just mentioned it and she agreed—key is my charm, understand? Completely charmed her, she’d listen to anything I say."

Xiao Yu smugly lifted his chin, boasting, and casually pulled out a cigarette and lighter from his pocket. He opened the cigarette box and shook it towards Sun Wen’s direction, scattering a handful of melon seed shells.

"..."

"..."

Sun Wen had already reached out his hand ready to take a cigarette but froze at the scene.

Qin Guanglin also couldn’t help but glance sideways, watching Xiao Yu’s stiff posture and started to laugh.

"Gentle and compliant?"

"Listens to whatever you say?"