A Certain Someone ( The On1y One ) Chapter 016 – Drunkard

I’m Very Precious, I’m Picky With The Medicine’s Brand.

Beyond the markets were lights that criss-crossed and blended into each other, and the stream of people that intersped each other’s paths. The electronic bikes and private cars honked to greet each other from afar across the alley’s corners, and in the next instant they were drowned out by the bustle of the human world.

This BBQ shop had a very un-BBQ name, it was named “In Those Years”, full of pretentious literary fineness. Too bad the customers both in and outside of the main dining area acted as if they just left Liang Mountain. People were hollering, competing over drinking and laughing heartily, to the point that they could be heard from all the way on the other side of the long street.

Zhao Xi made the call in the middle of this chaotic bustle—
“Oh right, I forgot. Sure, then I’ll let you go for now. All you know is ‘en’, would it hurt your mouth to say two more words?”

“Ah?”
Jiang Tian must have said something on the other side, Zhao Xi suddenly questioned, and shot a glance towards the table. His gaze was too brief, Sheng Wang was unsure if he was looking at him, or the group of people seated at the table.

“Sure, I got it,” Zhao Xi nodded, and did not continue chatting, “that’s all for now, I’ll hang up then. I still have a bunch of hungry customers to feed, I’m so goddamn busy.”

This fake boss kept his phone and looked back, only to see the entire table staring intently at him, like they were waiting for a result.
He was instantly amused, and waved with a cigarette between his fingers. “Eh, don’t bother waiting. He’s really busy and won’t be coming.”
“Ah……” A few people dragged their voice in disappointment, a bolder girl even chorused in, her disappointment was fully demonstrated in that sound.

Sheng Wang poked at the peanut shell in front of him.
Maybe he was influenced by other people’s low spirits, in that instance, he even felt a little down too. Not to the point of disappointment, no, but it was just that he suddenly felt that the ten plus people at the table were less lively than he thought.

There was suddenly a clang right in front of him, Sheng Wang abruptly snapped out of it. He looked up, only to see Zhao Xi settling a cup of water in front of him.
“I heard it from someone you’re unwell, right?” Zhao Xi said, “No way you’re drinking ice beer when you’re sick, behave and drink your water.”
Sheng Wang was stuped, “Who said that?”
Zhao Xi flicked off the cigarette ashes, “Who do you think.”

Sheng Wang recalled the phone call he made just now, “Jiang Tian?”
Zhao Xi replied affirmatively.
Sheng Wang was unable to speak for that moment, he could not tell if he was surprised or something else.

If he guessed that Jiang Tian specially asked Zhao Xi to not let him drink……there’s no way that happened. He probably casually mentioned it, and Boss Zhao was the warm hearted kind of person who knew how to treat people well.
Sheng Wang mused, and said with extreme sincerity to Zhao Xi, “I’m really not that close to him, the meal last time was just……whatever, either way we really aren’t close. As for the ice beer, he’s not even here, he can’t tell me what to do.”
Could he really tell him what to do then!

After Sheng Wang spoke, he wordlessly hugged the beer mug in front of him, looking as if nobody stop him until he’s drunk out of his mind or something.
Zhao Xi did not know if he should laugh or cry. He stuffed the cigarette back between his lips, and slurred with his eyes narrowed, “Sure, if you brats don’t suffer for a bit you wouldn’t learn. If you get sicker don’t come looking for me to take responsibility, that’ all.”

Boss Zhao left without doing anything else, and went to take care of other friends with a smile. Sheng Wang sent him off with his eyes and turned back, only to see the entire group of classmates looking at him with curiosity in their eyes.
“Did the menu grow on my face or something?” Sheng Wang asked.
“Nah, it didn’t.” Everyone laughed. Gao Tianyang hurriedly waved his hand, and got the waiter to put down the dishes they ordered.

The skewers were served one bunch after another, the fragrant smell of freshly grilled meat emanated, and the meat was sizzling with oil.
The appetite of human beings was so magical, that usually one would be satisfied with ten sticks, but with so many people fighting for food, twenty or even thirty was not enough. The meat on the skewers got inreasingly tastier, increasingly more beer got drunk, and so did voices get increasingly louder. The entire group of people would be laughing till the point they were slapping the table and their knees, the next moment their mugs would clink together.

Sheng Wang heard plenty of gossip from them, some about their teachers, some about other students.

For example, their homeroom teacher, He Jin, was married to the perfect male teacher who was specifically in charge of supplementary classes for math olympiad. The both of them used to be Fuzhong students, and were even deskmates. They were well known as the class couple back then. They ended up in the same city for university, and after they graduated they both went back to their alma mater, and now they were both well known teaching professionals in the city.

For another example, the boy sitting next to Sheng Wang’s right was the student life rep. He wore glasses with black frames, and had a gentle temperament. Other than eating skewers he enjoyed joking around with everyone, and had the exact opposite personality from his dad.
His dad’s surname was Xu, aka the administrative head who people called Big Mouth Xu. As an act of respect to his dad, the students of Class A called him ‘Small Mouth’.

Gao Tianyang clung onto him and fake sobbed with the aid of alcohol. “Small Mouth, my phone is still locked in your dad’s drawer, are you bold enough to help me pry it open?”
Small Mouth Xu swallowed his meat, all refined. He dabbed at the corner of his mouth with a tissue before saying, “I don’t dare to, mine is still locked inside.”
Gao Tianyang said, “You never fail to meet up to expectations!”
Small Mouth Xu said, “You too, you too.”
Everyone sniggered.

Yet another example would be the two girls from Class 7 known for their fiery personality. The moment they were free or had an excuse they would head for Class A, sometimes they would even gather a group of friends, just to look at Jiang Tian.
They asked people to deliver notes, snacks, all sorts of festive gifts on their behalf. Unfortunately Jiang Tian was either at the office or catching up on his sleep. The notes were useless, the snacks and gifts were all returned. They already kept it up for a year, and until today they did not get the ice statue to even defrost.

As Sheng Wang listened while drinking from his beer mug, Gao Tianyang the loudspeaker suddenly nudged him, and teased, “I ran into the sports rep from Class 7 on the school bus yesterday. He said that one of the girls from that duo looks like she might have a change of heart lately, saying that she has fallen for the new handsome guy in our class. What do you feel about this?”

Sheng Wang finished the last mouthful of beer in his mug, and thought as he held the handle. “Did our class get another transfer student?”
Gao Tianyang: “…….”

He took a look at the empty barrel of beer at the corner of the table, and asked Small Mouth, “What’s the number of drinks does this make?”
Small Mouth gestured with his hand to say four.
Gao Tianyang sucked in a breath of cold air, and attempted to take away Sheng Wang’s beer mug, “You’re still sick my Gege!”
Sheng Wang said in annoyance, “I know, I don’t plan on having a fifth one.”

He enunciated properly, his face was not red either. Other than his pupils turning darker and sounding more nasally, his external appearance basically did not change at all. Gao Tianyang could not figure out if Sheng Wang was still sober at the moment either.

“You guys continue, I’ll head to the bathroom for a bit.” He informed them, got up, and headed towards the dining area.
Gao Tianyang took special note of his footsteps, and could not tell that there was anything wrong. He could not help but ask other people, “Is he drunk or not?”

Li Yu said all sincerely, “He looks quite normal, it’s just that he’s not as talkative as before. I’ll be honest, you look more drunk than him.”
Gao Tianyang, completely done, shrunk back.

Everyone was a little tired of eating, the three girls were the first to put down their chopsticks. They rested against their chairs, and as they listened to the remaining people brag, their eyes followed Sheng Wang.

This transfer student’s appearance actually did not lose to Jiang Tian’s at all, it was just that they belonged to different types. His features were clean and tidy, both his eyelashes and pupils were deep in colour. When contrasted against his pale skin, he was good looking like a vivid painting on a white canvas. When he smiled it was like the spring winds brushing at the face, and when he did not he appeared a little aloof.

One of the girls looked until she blushed. She nudged Li Yu, and the three of them huddled together and gossiped.
They gossiped until Qi Jiahao called out to them, “I heard that they are picking the Tri-Quality Students of the City soon, right class monitor?”
Li Yu looked up when she was interrupted, “You sure have your sources. They only notified us yesterday after a meeting.”
“What’s the quota for our class this time?” Qi Jiahao asked again.
“Three people.”
“What are the conditions?”

An achievement like the Tri-Quality Students of the City  was somewhat useful at a crucial time, they boost the high school portfolio, they add more competitiveness when top schools open up advance admissions. But its effect was both significant and not, and was not much compared to olympiad results. So some people cared about it, some people left it up to fate.
Qi Jiahao was obviously one of those who cared.

Li Yu said, “The school’s suggestion is to give a quota according to good grades, one from the class committee, and another round of anonymous votes based on popular sentiments.”
Qi Jiahao laughed as he said, “Well, since it’s according to grades and class committee members, I suppose there’s no hope for me anymore.”
“Hey, don’t worry, there’s still a voting slot.” A few other people consoled him.
Qi Jiahao immediately chortled and joked, “Sure! With these words alone, the meal today is on me. When it’s time to vote please give me a little help. I don’t count on winning, just that I would die a more graceful death.”

He raised his hand to call for the waiter. He opened up Alipay on his phone and said, “I just ordered another round of food, please serve it quickly.”
The waiter checked it against the menu ordering tablet. “Table 2, right? I’ve already added in the new dishes, they should be on the grill by now.”
“That’s quite fast.” Qi Jiahao waved once more, and said suavely, “Pass the bill to me then, I’ll pay first.”
However, the waiter said, “The bill for this table has already been paid.”
Qi Jiahao said, “Huh? Who paid?”

Sheng Wang walked over as they talked. He took a piece of tissue to wipe his hands, and sat down next to Gao Tianyang.
The waiter pointed at him, “There. He just paid.”

What……the fuck.
Qi Jiahao froze on the spot, his face changed like a chameleon. Still, everyone’s reactions were a little slow especially after eating food, they were all zoning out. Nobody noticed him.

Everyone downed another mug of beer to go along with the new wave of skewers. The effect of alcohol finally started kicking in. Quite a few people were flushed, and unsteady on their feet.

There was still five minutes until it was ten at night. The degenerates finally decided to disband on the spot, and parted on their own ways.
Gao Tianyang drank until his neck was all red. He supported himself against the table as he said, “I need to go to the bathroom. I’m scared that I can’t make it all the way home when the vehicle gets too shaky.”
A boy beside him whistled with a devilish smirk on his face, and his mouth was instantly pinched shut by Gao Tianyang. “Keep on whistling and you can wash my pants.”
Each of them brought someone and planned to go to the toilet in a group. They asked if Sheng Wang wanted to go, but Sheng Wang tactfully declined their offer.

“I’ll sit here for a bit.” Sheng Wang was deep in thought as he rubbed his temples.
After seeking death for the whole night, what was destined to happen happened—his nose was extra congested, it felt like his head was stuffed with cotton. He even felt a little light on his feet. His cold seriously got worse.

What was I trying to do?

He rested as he rubbed his temples, and felt a little drowsy thanks to the effect of alcohol.

All of a sudden, he felt fabric brush past the arm he was propping himself with. Someone walked and stopped right next to him.
Before Sheng Wang could react, he heard fake boss Zhao Xi’s voice closing up on him. “Eh? Why did you come here? Didn’t you say at least 10.30pm?”

Sheng Wang furrowed his brows and digested that information for a bit. He turned and opened his eyes.
He was only able to see the familiar Fuzhong uniform with his direct view due to how close the person was standing to him. The sleeves were rolled up to the elbows.

Sheng Wang stared at the fingers dangling at the side for a long while before he finally raised his head……
It was Jiang Tian who came.
From his perspective of looking up at him, he could see his clearly defined jaws as well as the Adam’s apple that came jutting out during puberty.

Sheng Wang suddenly touched his own neck.

Jiang Tian lowered his gaze to look at him for a while. He asked Zhao Xi, “You gave him alcohol? How much did he drink?”
“I did give him water!” Zhao Xi said, completely done. “He didn’t want it, I can’t exactly force it down him? He probably didn’t go easy on the alcohol. I saw a few empty barrels on their table, everyone probably drank four mugs at least.”

Sheng Wang retracted the hand caressing his own neck, shot Zhao Xi a glance and said, “Wrong, five mugs for everyone.”
Jiang Tian: “……”
Zhao Xi shrugged, and used his thumb to point at the back Sheng Wang’s head. He mouthed: I think he’s a little drunk, what do you think?

Did he even need to think?
Jiang Tian wiped his forehead. His thumb hooked onto the strap on his shoulder, and pulled his bag upwards. He said to Sheng Wang, “Time to go back, can you still stand?”

“You really think I drank too much?” Sheng Wang replied in annoyance, and genuinely properly stand up. He glanced left and right, and spoke clearly, “Where’s Gao Yangtian and the rest? Did they fall into the toilet?”

Zhao Xi raised an eyebrow. “Yo, not bad. I take back what I just said, he probably isn’t drunk.”
Jiang Tian deadpanned, “The one who went to the toilet is called Gao Tianyang.”
Zhao Xi: “……”

Jiang Tian always did things promptly. He switched on his phone screen, opened WeChat and speedily sent a message, and then said to Sheng Wang, “I just informed Gao Tianyang, you can go now.”
Sheng Wang replied with a ‘Mm’, and grabbed his bag, wearing it on one shoulder. He then said, “Other people who went to the toilet includes Song Sirui, Qi Jiahao, Xu Small Mouth—”
Jiang Tian got a headache. He directly cut him off, “You said it all.”
“Sure.” Sheng Wang nodded, and was finally able to leave without any concern. He followed Jiang Tian out.

Students got to go home early during vacation. The residential area was much quieter. As they left the area near the BBQ shop, the bustling noise of people dissipated like the fog in the night.

One could not tell Sheng Wang’s footsteps were unsteady as he walked, neither did he meander around the alley. His footsteps were just very light, and his speed was rather slow. He constantly stayed half a step behind Jiang Tian, like a leader on patrol.
The leader was nosy after he drank. He pointed at the plastic bag Jiang Tian held in his right hand, and sprung a surprise inspection on him. “What’s that that you bought?”
Jiang Tian was in the midst of calling for a car. He side-eyed his hand upon hearing him, and said, “Cockroach poison.”
The leader’s lips curled, and did not say a word. He did not look particularly satisfied.

The end of the alley led into a wide street, there were both public transport and a taxi stand. Even further away, there was the metro entrance. The moment they left the alley, the sound of traffic at night came pouncing at them.

The car Jiang Tian called for came very quickly. Sheng Wang ducked into the backseat out of habit, and planted himself in the usual spot he sat in. He saw Jiang Tian open the door to the front passenger’s seat. He was about to sit down, but he changed his mind at the last minute.
He took a look at Sheng Wang, and switched to the backseat. Still, the two of them were not that close to each other, and they were separated by an armrest.

The city at night was still illuminated with light, coldness and warmth intertwined into an expanse.
As Sheng Wang sat, he eventually slumped, like how he usually slumped in Uncle Xiao-Chen’s car. His head rested against the window glass, and he looked very drowsy.

Just as Jiang Tian thought he was already asleep, he suddenly spoke, “They all think that I’m very familiar with you.”
Due to his cold, his hoarse voice was also nasally. It fit into the quiet atmosphere in the car.

Jiang Tian briefly froze, and turned to look at him. “Who’s them?”
Sheng Wang did not sit up straight, and continued lazily leaning against the window. His fingers curled as he counted, “Gao Tianyang, Zhao Xi, and Zhao Xi’s dad. Today the few classmates there kinda counts too, because Zhao Xi said right in front of them that you brought me to eat at his dad’s.”

He paused before he continued, “Sheng Mingyang thought that we could be brothers, these people think that we are super close in private. And yet, we barely said anything to each other. Isn’t that kinda funny.”

When he talked like this, it was almost as if he was completely sober. The lights outside the car windows streamed past like water, and casting a patch of moving shadows on the side of his face, the outline like gentle velvet.

Jiang Tian looked at him for quite the while, and said, “Actually—”
After only a word, he heard Sheng Wang grumble, “I’m so terribly sick, and you didn’t even bring any medicine for me.”
“……”
Jiang Tian’s thin lips parted and closed again. In the end, they pursed into a straight and narrow line. He was speechless.

Moments later, he untied the plastic bag in his hand, and switched on the lights in the roof of the car. “There’s plenty of medicine here, and none of it can be taken with alcohol. You can ask about the medicine when you finally flush the alcohol out of your system.”

Sheng Wang turned to him. “Didn’t you say that it’s for cockroaches?”
Jiang Tian said, “You’ll believe it just because I said it?”
Sheng Wang eyed the bag as he said, “I’m very precious, I’m picky with the medicine’s brand.”
Jiang Tian said, “Are you eating it or not?”

Sheng Wang ran through his options for two seconds, and grabbed at the entire bag.

TO BE CONTINUED.