We met at the prearranged bar.
When I arrived, Oriental September was already in a corner, sipping... juice with a gloomy expression.
“What’s wrong? You look like someone bullied you.”
I sat across from her.
“Sir, what can I get for you?”
“A bottle of red wine, mid-priced.”
“Sure. Anything else?”
“A fruit platter and two glasses of ice water.”
“Got it. Please wait a moment.”
The bar was noisy, but our secluded corner stayed relatively quiet.
“Listen! In-game, I got killed out of nowhere! So unfair!”
Glaring at her glass, she downed the juice in one gulp.
“It’s just a game. Don’t overthink it. If you’re upset, I’ll help you blow off steam.”
Maybe those words were for her—or for me.
“Mm, you promised! You stay with me all night. No backing out.”
She slammed the glass down, her cheeks flushed as if she’d really been drinking.
“By the way, that’s juice, right? You won’t pretend to be drunk after going wild and make me walk you home.”
I chuckled lightly. Just then, the waiter returned, uncorked the wine on the table, and set out two glasses.
The fruit platter and ice water arrived shortly after.
“N-no way I’d do that! Don’t underestimate me.”
Pounding the table, Oriental September protested, but her eyes darted around nervously.
“Sure, sure.”
I poured wine, took a small sip—it tasted good.
“So, what do you want to do?”
I’m no good at giving advice. Call me a decent listener, but my real strength is fighting.
“Hmm... Let’s dance later. I’ll forget my worries, forget my sadness.”
“Fine.”
“Aotian, how do you see games? Just a pastime, or another life?”
Oriental September’s expression was serious, but her eyes held a trace of confusion.
“Games, huh.”
I raised my glass, swirling the wine under the dim lights.
“Maybe another life. A place to channel regrets from reality.”
Perhaps that was my truth. Reality gave me everything—seemingly perfect, yet hollow with loneliness.
No goals, no dreams. Like a prewritten script, just marching forward with time.
A world with nothing to strive for was utterly boring.
“Is that so? Then is it weird to seek bonds in games? Everyone treats them as fun, but I’m serious. I feel like a clown. Unhappy.”
NinthMoon gloomily poured red wine and chugged it. Alcohol burned her throat.
The shock made her cough.
“Idiot. If you can’t drink, don’t copy others.”
I handed her ice water. She downed it in one gulp.
“Whew—so bitter, so sweet, so sour, so cold—”
Fanning herself, Oriental September stuck out her tongue like a puppy. It was oddly funny.
I chuckled wryly. Wine needs savoring.
“Switch to beer?”
“Yes! Waiter, a pitcher of beer.”
Bar beer had low alcohol—perfect for a newbie like NinthMoon.
“Wanna bet who passes out first?”
Oriental September popped a bottle open with a opener, eager. She smirked at me challengingly.
She really underestimated me.
“Fine.”
I bit the cap off and chugged the beer. No pressure. Baijiu would’ve been tougher.
“Mm, gulp, gulp…”
Imitating me, NinthMoon tried to chug a bottle. She stopped after one sip. Rested. Continued. Five tries to finish it.
Clap, clap, clap. I clapped.
“Not bad.”
“Hmph. If I try, I can do it too.”
Alcohol spread through her. Oriental September’s cheeks flushed red, her eyes hazy. She radiated an alluring vibe.
Whoa. Drunk after one bottle?
“Let’s dance.”
The dance floor throbbed with EDM. A crowd cheered on stage.
“Mm.”
Under strobe lights, she twisted freely, venting frustrations. She clung to me like a snake.
“If only you weren’t XueXue’s boyfriend.”
She hugged me, whispering. I pretended not to hear.
I wrapped an arm around Oriental September’s waist, shielding her. It drew annoyed glares.
Back at our seats, she reached for ice water. I caught her wrist.
“No ice water after dancing.”
“But I’m hot.”
She unzipped her jacket, revealing a black T-shirt. Her flat chest showed little curve.
“Drink this.”
I bit open a beer and handed it to her.
“Mm.”
NinthMoon took the bottle, stared at the mouth, hesitating.
“What’s wrong?”
Was she worrying about indirect kisses like a kid?
“Nothing! I’ll drink.”
Pursing her lips, she closed her eyes and poured the beer like medicine.
Resting my chin on my hand, I watched amusedly. Still a kid.
We stayed out late. She finally agreed to leave—but shockingly, she stayed at my place, planning a long-term stay. Spare me.
After last time, I barely dared to return home.
Walking, she pulled her hat over her head, silent beside me.
Alcohol warmed her body. Even in the cold night, I felt her heat.
“Silent like this isn’t you.”
Oriental September was acting strangely today.
“What? I’m just drunk. Hey—when people drink, do thoughts change? Can bold actions be forgiven?”
She looked up, eyes full of expectation.
Saying something so rational, she didn’t seem drunk. But maybe this was her only way to speak freely.
“Mm.”
“Ugh, headache. Dizzy. No—I’m drunk.”
She’d stood steady moments ago. Suddenly, her body swayed. Such exaggerated acting.
