The young gallants of the Five Tombs gathered east of the Gold Market, their silver-saddled white horses riding through the spring breeze. Chapter 112: New Year (3)

He remembered now; he had indeed borrowed a pen from a girl once. But had she really changed this much? Back then, he had only initiated the interaction because she looked so quiet, demure, and shy, and he had felt a playful urge to tease her.

"Oh, haha, is that so? Sorry, my memory isn't the best. You're here to sing for New Year's Eve?" Fang Yu scratched the back of his head, feeling a bit awkward.

"Yeah, I'm here with a few girlfriends. Fang Yu, are these all your friends?" Zhang Li scanned Cheng Chen and the others with wandering eyes.

"Yeah, just the usual crowd from the internet café."

"Oh, I don't really go to internet cafés. I'm too scared to talk to strangers," Zhang Li said, deliberately putting on a coy, shy act.

He rolled his eyes. *As if*, he thought. This girl was practically oozing flirtatiousness through her coat, and she was going to pretend to be shy?

Yan Hua, who had just managed to secure a private room, squeezed over and shouted to the group, "Brother Yu, it's all set! Room 818. Let's head in."

He breathed a sigh of relief and waved at Zhang Li. "Alright, we've got our room. We're heading in now." Without looking back, he hurried off after Yan Hua.

Zhang Li watched his retreating figure with a look of resentment, licking her lips. Cheng Chen, on the other hand, was eyeing the group of provocatively dressed girls with a grin, his interest clearly piqued.

Fortunately, Fang Yu pulled him along. They had no interest in girls like that—heaven only knew who had bought her that designer bag.

"Oh, wow, Brother Fang is quite popular, isn't he? You should have invited them to join us; it's better than us guys just singing by ourselves," Lu Zhen complained, kicking his short legs in the booth.

"Exactly. Look at the one in the lead—tsk, she's really something. And since she knows Fang Yu, we could have definitely taken her out tonight," Cheng Chen said, uncharacteristically siding with Lu Zhen.

"Damn it, that Zhang Li... the perfume she’s wearing gives me an allergic reaction. If you guys want her, go book another room. Here, let them go sing with you."

The two of them looked at each other and chose to stay silent.

After a while, he went to the KTV’s convenience store to grab some drinks and snacks. Since they were all driving, they didn't get any alcohol. They sang a few songs, and the atmosphere warmed up slightly, until the door to the room was suddenly pushed open.

"Hey, Fang Yu, you guys really are here! Shall we sing together?" Zhang Li, thick-skinned as ever, walked in with another friend.

"Sure, come on in! Sit down, what do you want to eat or drink?" Cheng Chen stood up, beaming as he ushered them over.

Zhang Li gave Cheng Chen a long, deep look. She recognized this handsome guy; he had provided the accompaniment for Li Jing and others at the New Year's gala. But she had her target set now, and she couldn't switch lanes just yet.

Seeing Cheng Chen speak up, Fang Yu didn't want to cause a scene and swallow his annoyance, sullenly flipping through the song selection menu.

"Oh my, why is there no alcohol? Let me treat everyone to a drink, shall we?" Seeing only tea on the table, Zhang Li stood up, ready to head to the door.

"I'll go, I'll go buy it!" Cheng Chen jumped up happily to pay.

Before long, Cheng Chen and Zhang Li returned with two staff members. Good grief—two bottles of imported spirits and 48 bottles of beer? Were they trying to drink everyone under the table?

Fang Yu stood up silently and headed to the restroom. He had to keep a clear head.

As soon as he returned, Zhang Li cheerfully handed him a glass of straight liquor. "Fang Yu, come on, Happy New Year!"

His alcohol tolerance was decent—certainly much higher than Cheng Chen and the others—so he couldn't refuse. He forced a laugh and took a sip.

A smile spread across Zhang Li’s eyes. The alcohol content in these spirits was high; at this rate, Fang Yu would be passed out within two hours.

With girls around, Cheng Chen and Lu Zhen became much more energetic. Even Yan Hua was all smiles, fawning over them. "What song do you want to sing, ladies? I'll queue it up for you," he said, looking for all the world like a loyal servant.

After finishing a glass of the straight liquor, he smacked his lips and stood up to pick a song, but the door was kicked open violently.

"Zhang Li, what the hell are you doing? I booked a room and you don't show up, but you're here drinking with wild men?"

The man was middle-aged, about five-foot-seven, even shorter than Lu Zhen, with a tall, burly man following behind him who looked to be in his thirties.

Zhang Li scrambled to her feet and grabbed the middle-aged man’s arm. "Oh, honey, I just ran into some old classmates. We were just having a couple of drinks; I was going to come back and join you right away."

"I’ve spent so much money on you, and you’re going to disrespect me like this?" The man didn't hesitate, raising his hand and slapping Zhang Li across the face. He then glared at Fang Yu and the others with a menacing look.

"Old man, what are you looking at? Take your 'bird' and get out of here. Don't let her run around acting like a slut!" Fang Yu didn't put up with his nonsense.

The middle-aged man’s eyes widened as he pointed a finger at Fang Yu’s nose. "Where’d this brat come from? You dare touch my property? Did your parents not teach you any manners? Ow!"

Cheng Chen had been quick; he grabbed the man’s extended finger and bent it back with force. It didn't break, but the man let out a howl of pain.

"Old man, what are you barking about?" Cheng Chen stepped forward, his expression cold.

With Fang Yu and Cheng Chen, both tall guys, standing their ground, Zhao Bin jumped up as well, and even Yan Hua puffed out his chest, emboldened by the support.

Seeing they were outnumbered, the man’s bravado faltered. "Fine! You want to fight, is that it? I'm here for Zhang Li. What does this have to do with you?"

"It has nothing to do with us. Take her wherever you want, but keep your mouth clean. Otherwise, I'll smash your teeth in!" Fang Yu stared at him with a dark, menacing gaze.

Deciding that discretion was the better part of valor, the man—having long since lost the fire of his youth—backed down. "Alright, kid, I'll count you as a friend today. Let’s grab a drink sometime. Zhang Li, get over here!"

Zhang Li, clutching her swollen cheek, didn't dare look at Fang Yu and the others as she scurried out of the room. Her friend was dragged off by the man as well.

"Tsk, such a young girl, and she doesn't learn anything good—hanging around a guy who’s already half in the grave," Zhao Bin mocked from behind the man.

"Geez, how can a girl even do that?" Lu Zhen couldn't help but pour himself a beer.

"She’s a 'hard worker,' right? Making money on her own merits?" Fang Yu laughed and clinked glasses with him.

At first, they had been worried the man might bring people back to settle the score, but most middle-aged men wouldn't bother picking a fight with young guys. The saying went that "fists fear the young and strong," and it wasn't uncommon for a group of scrappy youths to beat up an older guy.

The room returned to the sound of young men laughing and shouting. Cheng Chen grumbled about all the beer they’d bought that no one was drinking, while Zhao Bin and Lu Zhen sang together like best buds, occasionally joking about how the internet café business was good but the quality of the girls wasn't, as if the friction from before the break had completely vanished.

A warmth spread through his chest. Laughing and joking with friends—wasn't that what the meaning of this second chance was all about?