Chapter Seven: Playing a Game of Truth

9:20 p.m.

Wei Lin pushed open the door and stepped into the poetry bar, habitually glancing around. At this hour, the bar counter was sparsely occupied by only three people—two men and one woman—each drinking alone, strangers to one another. A few tables on the first floor held just two other guests.

At that moment, Gao Xue was chatting with a middle-aged man, accompanied by a warm smile. Seeing Wei Lin enter, she quickly rose with a bright smile. Wearing smoky eye makeup and a form-fitting black dress that accentuated her curves, Gao Xue’s usual innocent and fresh look had given way to a more alluring and captivating charm this evening.

“H-Han, Teacher Han!” Gao Xue’s smile suddenly froze.

“Gao Xue!” Han Ying, entering alongside Zhuang Qing, stared at Gao Xue in disbelief. “Why are you here?!”

“I-I’m working part-time here,” Gao Xue stammered, bowing her head in helplessness. She never expected that among Wei Lin’s friends would be her own teacher.

Han Ying’s expression turned cold as she silently fixed her gaze on Gao Xue. Gao Xue’s head nearly bowed to her chest, her skin pale and delicate.

Zhao Yuanqing looked embarrassed and questioned Wei Lin with his eyes, “What the hell is going on?”

The word “poetry” in the bar’s name was a homophone for “addiction,” implying an addictive allure. This was Wei Lin’s usual hangout. Zhao Yuanqing hadn’t visited often and only knew that Wei Lin was familiar with a college student working part-time here, but he was unaware of the exact details.

“It’s school and outside school—separate matters,” Wei Lin said calmly upon realizing the situation. He quickly grabbed Zhuang Qing’s sleeve and led her upstairs, signaling to Zhao Yuanqing.

Zhao Yuanqing caught on and, pulling Han Ying along, whispered, “You’re her teacher at school, but outside school, you have no say.”

Han Ying snorted but allowed herself to be led upstairs, her displeased gaze still flicking toward Gao Xue.

In a dim corner, Jiang Huafu smirked quietly. “Interesting.”

---

Second Floor.

“Do you know Gao Xue?” Han Ying’s sharp gaze immediately landed on Wei Lin as she sat down. “I heard her call you ‘Brother Wei.’ You must be close.”

Zhuang Qing, slightly tipsy, also cast a cold glance at Wei Lin. “Wei Lin, are you flirting with that little girl?”

“She’s just a little sister. Don’t overthink it—I’m not that kind of person,” Wei Lin replied calmly, pulling out his phone to send a quick message without fuss. “Don’t come up. Let the other guys bring the drinks.”

“Why did Teacher Han come?!” Gao Xue responded instantly.

“Unexpected,” Wei Lin answered, putting his phone down and twisting open a bottle of reserved liquor on the table. He poured drinks first for himself and Zhao Yuanqing, then looked at Zhuang Qing. “Do you like strong liquor with ice?”

“Sure!”

As Wei Lin poured the drink into a third ice-filled glass, Zhuang Qing narrowed her eyes and suddenly challenged, “Wanna play truth or dare? Just you and me!”

“Alright.” Wei Lin smiled and slid the whiskey-filled glass toward her. “I only know rock-paper-scissors.”

“Let’s go!”

Zhuang Qing prepared herself, sitting opposite Wei Lin for the game.

First round, she played rock; Wei Lin countered with paper.

“I lost!”

---

Second Floor.

Clearly tipsy, Zhuang Qing took a large gulp, her cheeks flushed as she spoke. “Ask away!”

“How many boyfriends has Han Ying had?” Wei Lin asked with a smile.

Only a close friend truly understands another. Wei Lin’s primary goal tonight was to assist Zhao Yuanqing by uncovering Han Ying’s background.

“Why bring me into this?” Han Ying, previously upset over Gao Xue, now found herself the center of attention, momentarily forgetting Gao Xue.

“Three!” Zhuang Qing answered without hesitation, then defiantly called, “Again!”

“Rock-paper-scissors!”

Second round, Zhuang Qing played rock again; Wei Lin chose scissors.

Zhuang Qing’s eyes lit up as she stared at Wei Lin. “You really never had a girlfriend?”

“Never!” Wei Lin said firmly.

“I don’t believe you! What if you’re lying?” Zhuang Qing, clearly annoyed, rolled up her sleeves and pointed a youthful finger at Wei Lin’s forehead. “We forgot to set the rules—there has to be an oath!”

“I swear I’ve never had a girlfriend. If I lie, may my best brother become impotent!” Wei Lin declared solemnly.

Han Ying was speechless.

Zhuang Qing too.

“No way! No way!” Zhao Yuanqing nearly jumped in frustration, cursing quietly at Wei Lin’s ancestors, forcing a smile. “Wei Lin, take the game seriously! Don’t drag others into this!”

Wei Lin ignored him. Under Zhuang Qing’s murderous glare, he chuckled. “Next round, we can swear in advance. You didn’t say what kind of oath at the start, so don’t blame me.”

“You’re too sly. I’ll never believe you tell the truth again,” Zhuang Qing said exasperatedly. After a moment’s thought, she agreed, “Fine. Next round, we swear beforehand.”

“Zhuang Qing, if you lie, you’ll go into menopause at thirty,” Wei Lin challenged first.

“Cough, cough!” Han Ying choked on her water, her round face flushing red.

Annoyed, Zhuang Qing’s eyes gleamed dangerously as she sneered, “What about you?”

“If I lie, I’ll get hit by a vehicle as soon as I leave,” Wei Lin replied with a willing-to-die bravado, silently adding, “But only a bicycle or children’s cart—no electric scooters.”

Having added that, he sat upright, gently swirling the whiskey in his glass, showing no sign of nervousness.

Zhao Yuanqing smiled wryly. “Wei Lin, don’t joke about your life.”

From his knowledge of Wei Lin, as soon as Wei Lin swore on himself, no more truth would come out. The guy never cared about his own life.

Only when it concerned his close family—parents or wife—would Wei Lin be serious.

“Alright!”

“Rock-paper-scissors!”

Zhuang Qing, unsuspecting, started the third round.

Again, Wei Lin played paper, Zhuang Qing played rock.

“You only know rock?”

Wei Lin laughed mischievously, having his question ready. “When was the last time Han Ying… you know…”

“What do you mean?” Zhuang Qing and Han Ying looked puzzled.

Zhao Yuanqing silently patted his thigh, thrilled. “Brother, you’re on fire!”

“I mean… sex,” Wei Lin hinted.

Zhuang Qing was dumbfounded, mouth agape.

“Wei Lin! Why do you keep staring at me?” The un-drunk Han Ying blushed furiously, stomping her foot in anger, wishing she could crush Wei Lin.

Glancing sideways at Zhao Yuanqing, who looked expectant, Han Ying snapped, “Zhao Yuanqing, did you plan this with him? Did you tell him to ask that?!”

“No! I’m innocent!” Zhao Yuanqing denied vehemently, joining Han Ying in scolding. “Wei Lin, you’re going too far! How can you ask such questions? Shameless!”

“Can’t take the game?” Wei Lin’s expression turned serious, not even looking at Han Ying, only at Zhuang Qing. “Either you go into menopause at thirty, or you answer my question.”

“I…” Zhuang Qing hesitated, then glanced apologetically at Han Ying before quietly saying, “I think it was about two years ago.”

“Again! Fourth round!” After a sip, Zhuang Qing stood, teeth clenched, ready to take revenge.

“Not interested. I’m done,” Wei Lin reclined lazily, ignoring her fierce expression, leisurely sipping his drink. “If we play, Han Ying has to join too. The four of us drink and play together.”

“Otherwise, I’m out.”

Setting down his glass, Wei Lin spread his hands, feigning innocence.

“Pour Han Ying a drink!” Zhuang Qing, forgetting her earlier instructions to Han Ying back at the Japanese restaurant, pointed at Zhao Yuanqing scolding, “What are you standing there for?”

“Oh, right!” Zhao Yuanqing hurried to serve, thinking, “It has to be Wei Lin!”

“Crazy!” Han Ying muttered complaints but didn’t refuse Wei Lin’s suggestion.

Having been targeted repeatedly by Wei Lin, she quietly fumed, harboring many questions she hoped to clarify with Wei Lin and Zhao Yuanqing.

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First Floor. Gao Xue sat nervously.

Usually, she moved among the guests who came because of her, frequently raising her glass to toast.

Today, however, with Han Ying’s arrival, she restrained herself greatly. Mr. Liu upstairs had urged her several times, but she refused for various reasons.

There was no restroom upstairs, and she feared Han Ying might come down and see her entertaining the older man.

“Brother Wei…”

Listening to the noise from upstairs, Gao Xue frowned.

Wei Lin usually came alone or occasionally with a brother or two; never with a female companion.

This time was different.

Having worked part-time at the poetry bar for a while, Gao Xue immediately recognized from the two men and two women’s group that they had likely been together since dinner.

Yet Wei Lin had never invited her to join their meal.

“He never truly cared about me.”

Under the dim light, Gao Xue lowered her head, her expression fading.

“I’ve called you so many times, and you just sit there. What’s that about? I’ve already spent twenty-five thousand for you. Can’t you even give me this little respect?” The drunken Liu Jianhua finally lost his patience. When Gao Xue didn’t respond, he came over and grabbed her to his seat.

“Mr. Liu, just a moment longer. I’m sending a few messages and will come,” Gao Xue pleaded pitifully.

“Don’t get cheeky with me. When I call you, you come! Once you get to my seat, you can’t even text?” As he spoke, Liu Jianhua’s hand slid to her slender waist.

The commotion attracted many patrons’ attention, including Wei Lin and the others upstairs who peered down.

Noticing Han Ying’s gaze, Gao Xue grew flustered, quickly shaking off Liu Jianhua’s lecherous hand and whispering, “Mr. Liu, you’ve had too much. Please don’t do this.”

“Slap! What are you pretending for?” Humiliated by the public refusal, Liu Jianhua struck Gao Xue sharply across the face.

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