Chapter 80: The Game of the Brave
Chapter 80: The Game of the Brave
Comrade Mu Chuntao always meant what she said. She said she would leave the door unlatched, and it was indeed slightly ajar, opening with a gentle push.
Li Zian walked in. With a light pull from his hand behind him, the door closed again, making only the faintest ‘click’ sound.
The living room wasn’t quiet. A small Devialet WiFi speaker was playing ambient bar music with a dreamy quality, its volume low, as if whispering right by one’s ear. It didn’t disturb, yet pulled one into the musical atmosphere.
There were no lights on in the living room, but a candle was lit. Its small flame flickered slightly, casting light and warmth that pushed back a little patch of darkness.
Mu Chuntao was right within that circle of light, wearing a red spaghetti strap dress. She looked like a red candle spirit born from the candle itself—both sexy and enchanting, with a touch of mystery.
She had clearly put on careful makeup, her cherry-red lips looking luscious, her long eyelashes making her dark eyes appear even more striking and bright. She had also put on perfume; it was hard to describe the scent—a light fragrance that, once smelled, made one feel restless and excited.
On the coffee table, besides the red candle, there was a bottle of red wine and two stemmed glasses. Each glass was about one-third full of wine, reflecting a ruby-like luster under the candlelight.
A beauty matched with fine wine.
The person was fragrant, the wine was too.
Li Zian had never experienced such a scene in all his life, and for a moment, he was a bit stunned.
“You should come over here,” Mu Chuntao stood up from the sofa. She had already decided that if Li Zian was too scared and tried to slip away, she would rush over and pull him back.
Li Zian did not slip away. He walked over.
Mu Chuntao looked at Li Zian with a beaming smile. “I thought you were too timid to come over.”
Li Zian laughed. “Why wouldn’t I dare come over? Do you think I’m afraid you’ll eat me?”
“I want to tell you a secret.”
“What secret?” Li Zian looked at her, suspicious that she was up to something.
Mu Chuntao leaned in, close to Li Zian’s ear, and said, “I am the reincarnation of a thousand-year snake demon. My original name is Mu Suzhen. I came to the human world to find my husband. May I ask, young sir, have you seen my husband? I’ve been searching so hard for him.”
The base of Li Zian’s ears turned red.
Partly from the warmth of her breath.
Partly from being teased by those words.
Especially the last word “ya” was used perfectly—it sounded like a soft gasp or a murmur, delicate yet hinting at resilience and strength. It was like a glimpse of light in the darkness, a hint of release in the midst of tension.
If it were any other man, they probably would have already entered the mood. But Li Zian, after all, was a novice who had never even been in love. He cleared his throat and said seriously, “So… why did you ask me to come over?”
“Do I need a reason to call you over?” Mu Chuntao rolled her eyes at him.
“Why aren’t the lights on? Instead, you lit a candle and opened red wine. Is today some special day?” Li Zian felt a bit flustered and couldn’t think of a better topic.
Mu Chuntao said with a smile, “This bottle was already opened before, but you ran off, so we didn’t get to drink it. I didn’t dare let my dad know about it. So now that he and your wife have gone to Yun Di to check the mines, I specially called you over to drink it together.”
“That’s true. If Uncle Mu found out, he would definitely scold you,” Li Zian said.
Sometimes, deceiving yourself isn’t enough; you also need a comforting excuse.
Mu Chuntao picked up the two glasses of red wine from the coffee table and handed one to Li Zian. “To our good day today, let’s have a toast.”
Li Zian held the glass and was about to drink when he suddenly remembered something. Curiously, he asked, “What good day is today?”
Mu Chuntao said with a straight face, “It’s the day Xu Xian and Bai Suzhen met. Didn’t you know?”
Li Zian: “…”
Teased for no reason again.
Ding!
The two stemmed glasses clinked together in the air. The wine, like agate, swayed in the glasses, and two young hearts also floated up with the crisp sound, swaying back and forth.
Li Zian looked at Mu Chuntao and brought the glass to his lips.
He was certain that this Mu Suzhen in front of him was the woman who treated him best in the world, besides his mother.
Yu Meilin?
Her marriage to him had just been a transaction she needed. Even giving birth to Li Xiaomei was just to silence the Yu Family and secure her position as Chairperson of Dajiang Group. How he had lived over the past four years—only he himself knew what that kind of life tasted like. When he came out this time, he had thought he could move her and become true husband and wife. But she remained an unmelted iceberg. Not sharing a room with him was one thing, but what was worse, she still held feelings for her first love in her heart. Was that something a wife should do?
He no longer held any hope for her.
But Mu Chuntao was different. She didn’t care whether he had money or that he was married with a daughter. She truly cared for him, giving selflessly without asking for anything in return.
A beauty’s kindness is the hardest to bear.
Judging by the situation, it seemed tonight would be about repaying that kindness.
Just as the wine was about to reach his mouth, Mu Chuntao suddenly reached out and grabbed Li Zian’s hand.
“Didn’t we agree to drink?” Li Zian didn’t know what she intended.
A sweet smile tugged at the corner of Mu Chuntao’s lips. “Do you remember the last time we had Japanese food?”
Li Zian certainly remembered; he had even drunk Cross-Cupped Arm Wine with her.
“You wouldn’t want to… play that game again, would you?”
“Then do you dare play it with me again?” There was a hint of challenge in Mu Chuntao’s words.
Li Zian smiled. “Why wouldn’t I dare?”
He reached out and linked his arm with Mu Chuntao’s.
Mu Chuntao giggled, slowly bringing her glass to her lips. Her gaze was tender as she looked at Li Zian, sipping the wine little by little.
The candle flame burned brightly, her red lips like fire.
Li Zian stared, mesmerized.
It’s not the wine that intoxicates, but the drinker who intoxicates themselves.
A small glass of wine could actually be finished in one gulp, but the two of them took at least three minutes to finish it. Most of the time, they were simply looking at each other.
Finally, they finished. Neither felt comfortable holding an empty glass while still linked arm-in-arm.
“Do I look good?” Mu Chuntao asked.
Li Zian nodded. “Yes.”
“You look good too,” Mu Chuntao said with a smile.
Li Zian smiled back.
A real man never avoids facts; he faces them directly.
Mu Chuntao sat down to pour more wine, beckoning to Li Zian, “Sit down. Are you planning to stand here all night?”
Li Zian had initially thought about sitting opposite her—usually, she sat on one side, and he sat across from her. But tonight was a special situation. He hesitated for a fraction of a second, then sat down beside Mu Chuntao.
She smelled fragrant. He didn’t know what perfume she used, but that light scent always made it hard for him to control his eyes and his imagination. His heart felt restless, and he kept wanting to find something to do.
Mu Chuntao handed him another glass of wine.
This time, they didn’t drink Cross-Cupped Arm Wine; they just clinked glasses and drank.
After two glasses, Mu Chuntao’s face was flushed. In the candlelight, her peach-blossom face looked even more like a blooming peach flower—fresh and delicate, yet radiantly beautiful.
“Brother Zian, after we had Japanese food that day, what did we do next?” Mu Chuntao asked.
Li Zian said, “We went to see a movie. It was only a few days ago. Have you forgotten?”
Mu Chuntao stared straight at Li Zian, her gaze intense, but her words said, “I think I’m drunk. My head feels foggy, and I can’t remember clearly. You said we went to a movie? What did we do at the cinema?”
Li Zian suddenly scolded himself in his mind.
You idiot!
She’s a girl; you should take the initiative in matters like this. She was reminding you, but you answered like a fool, treating it like a math quiz?
But thinking it in his heart was one thing; actually doing it was another.
In the end, it all came down to inexperience and being a newbie.
“Um, teach me how to do this,” Li Zian said shyly, lightly kissing the edge of the wine glass, his movements still stiff.
Mu Chuntao burst out laughing.
Li Zian’s face turned red. He didn’t know whether it was from the red wine or from embarrassment.
“Do you want to try again?” Mu Chuntao asked.
Li Zian didn’t answer, just stared straight at Mu Chuntao.
Mu Chuntao stopped talking too.
In the living room, ambient music played softly. The air seemed to flow with a magnetic force, pulling the man and woman gazing at each other closer.
The distance between them shortened little by little, getting closer and closer until it disappeared, and then it even went into negative numbers.
Some ice cream is milk-flavored, and some ice cream is strawberry-flavored.
The candle went out.
But it didn’t matter.
The energy in the living room was enough to light up the whole place.
In the dark, a wine glass toppled onto the floor, the coffee table moved, and in a blink, the sofa shifted too—it felt like an earthquake scene.
Since childhood, Li Zian had been taught by his parents to be honest and kind. If someone showed you a drop of kindness, you should repay it with a spring. He had always lived by that. Since the peach blossom in his fate was so good to him, he had to repay her with a spring.
“No, no, you dummy, why don’t you turn on the light?”
In the dark, the peach blossom in his fate spoke nervously and anxiously.
“No need, no need, I found it!”
In the dark, the kind young man’s voice was excited and happy.
Suddenly, ring-ring, ring-ring!
The mobile phone that had fallen on the carpet lit up its screen.
The kind young man was startled. He looked over and saw that it was Kun Li calling. He froze immediately.
Why was Kun Li calling so late?
Li Zian suddenly remembered what Kun Li had said that day. He reached out and picked up the mobile phone.
Mu Chuntao seemed about to say something but stopped. She really wanted to slap the phone out of Li Zian’s hand.
Li Zian swiped to answer and lowered his voice, “What’s up?”
Kun Li’s voice came through the phone, “Meilin called and asked me to stay at your place for a couple of days. I came in a rush and forgot my key card. I’m outside your neighborhood gate and can’t get in. Come down and get me.”
Li Zian was speechless.
The living room was quiet. Even though the phone wasn’t on speaker, Mu Chuntao could hear every word. At that moment, she felt like killing someone.
“Did you hear me?”
Li Zian swallowed, “Wait for me, I’ll come get you.”
He hung up the phone and stayed frozen in place like a wooden dummy.
Mu Chuntao sighed, “This is definitely Yu Meilin’s idea. She’s being cautious. You’d better go.”
“Are you okay?” Li Zian felt so guilty inside.
Why did he have to practice Branch-Breaking Boxing at home?
If he had come over an hour earlier, everything would have been fine for everyone.
“I’m fine, just go. That sidekick is no ordinary person. Wash your face before you go out, so she doesn’t see any lipstick or anything.”
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
Mu Chuntao smiled, “I’m worried about you.”
Li Zian was speechless.
“Hurry up, I’ll lie down for a bit and I’ll be fine.” Mu Chuntao pushed Li Zian away.
Li Zian felt like crawling out of a warm bed in the middle of a freezing winter—the feeling was too awful to describe.
Kun Li, oh Kun Li, damn it!
A few minutes later, Li Zian appeared at the entrance, wearing home clothes and an apron tied around his waist.
Kun Li looked at Li Zian in surprise, “It’s so late, why are you wearing an apron?”
Li Zian said grumpily, “I’m prepping ingredients for tomorrow morning’s breakfast. A whole family needs to eat. If I don’t start early, how will it get done?”
Kun Li leaned closer and sniffed, “No, I mean, why do you smell like vinegar?”
“Let’s go, I’ll take you up.” Li Zian turned and walked away.
Under the streetlight, a very obvious brownish spot could be seen on his neck.
It was old vinegar he had deliberately smeared on.
He didn’t want to, but he was covered in Mu Chuntao’s perfume scent and had to cover it up.
“Did you spill a bottle of vinegar or something?” Kun Li asked.
“Uh, have you ever had vinegar-glazed cabbage?”
“No.”
“Then you’re in for a treat. I’ll make vinegar-glazed cabbage for you all tomorrow morning, haha!” Li Zian laughed with inexplicable joy.
But there were tears hidden in that laughter.
What he really wanted to say inside was…
Go eat shit!