Although he had never drank alcohol before, males were naturally competitive. After seeing Gu Mengmeng down her drink so readily, Wabei didn’t want to appear weak. And so he raised his bowl. “Humph, who’s afraid of being poisoned? Let me tell you, even if this was a bowl of your blood, I won’t die from it. Bottoms up!”
With that, Wabei downed the entire contents of his bowl.
The red liquid flowed down his gullet, spreading a warm, stinging sensation throughout. Wabei felt an unprecedented sense of blissful comfort permeate his entire body. His pupils involuntarily turned into slits, as every single cell in him seemed to be gradually gaining awareness. Wabei felt like the door to a whole new world had opened before him.
He was in seventh heaven. It was like he was walking on air.
Auretin sniffed at the stone bowl. It smelled strange.
What he liked was meat. Meat!
The sight of the blood-red color of the juices of those sour fruits might have triggered some interest in him, but the smell was completely off and didn’t excite him at all.
Lea patted Auretin’s shoulder and said in a small voice. “This is Mengmeng’s treasure. Didn’t you see? She only gave Elvis and I so little, while you and Wabei each got such a huge bowl. Don’t be ungrateful. After tonight, you might not get another chance to drink this again.”
Auretin completely believed Lea’s words. He nodded and followed Wabei’s example, downing the entire bowl.
And then…
Crash!
A tiger instantly collapsed on the floor, in the exact same manner as Elvis did that day.
Gu Mengmeng shook her head in exasperation. “I thought I could finally break through that poker face of his. Tsk… what a waste of my good wine.”
Wabei shoved his bowl toward Gu Mengmeng. “Gu Mengmeng, I want more.”
Gu Mengmeng turned to look at Wabei in surprise. She took over his bowl and poured another helping for him. “I never knew you could hold your liquor so well.”
Wabei’s tongue had already become forked. He couldn’t help flicking it covetously at that bowl.
He drank it all up but remained unsatisfied. He reached out his bowl toward Gu Mengmeng again. The words “fill it up for me” was written clearly across his face.
Caught up in the mood, Gu Mengmeng poured another bowl for Wabei, and even imitated the speech of an innkeeper. “Mighty warrior, the wine is so good that you must have at least three servings.”
Wabei completely didn’t understand what Gu Mengmeng was talking about. He just clinked his bowl with Gu Mengmeng’s little cup. “Stop talking nonsense. Just drink.”
Gu Mengmeng raised her cup. “Happy to oblige.”
In this way, the two of them—Wabei with his big bowl and Gu Mengmeng with her little cup—drank more and more enthusiastically. Lea and Elvis looked on worriedly, but they couldn’t help feeling somewhat excited… they wondered what Xiao Meng would be like when drunk? Would she cling on to them coquettishly or turn into a
tempestuous little demoness, lashing at them with whips?
As Wabei and Gu Mengmeng drank on in high spirits, the fainted Auretin suddenly jumped up stiffly.
He glared at Lea as he marched rigidly toward him. He then clutched Lea’s shoulders tightly. “Where’s the meat?! My meat!”
“Pfft…” Gu Mengmeng burst out laughing. The alcohol had greatly loosened her inhibitions, and the sight of the drunk, poker faced Auretin chasing after Lea for meat made Gu Mengmeng double over with laughter.
Wabei joined her in laughter as he watched Auretin shake Lea with a “why have you betrayed my love” expression and voice, “Where’s the meat? Meat! Hurry up and give me my meat!” Wabei continued clinking glasses with Gu Mengmeng, as they enjoyed their wine in a gay and carefree manner.