Spellbound Hearts - Chapter 85 - Coward

Song Zhaoli’s words, “Keep me company with a drink” were spoken naturally and calmly. It seemed like nothing more than a normal conversation between two old friends. Ji Xuan heard it and remained expressionless, but alarm bells rang in her mind. She hadn’t forgotten the chaos after their last drinking session, and she didn’t want to make the same mistake twice.

After Song Zhaoli spoke, he noticed her silence, turned around, and raised an eyebrow slightly, “Hmm?” Ji Xuan blurted out, “My throat’s been feeling uncomfortable lately, and I just took some antibiotics before you arrived.” Mixing antibiotics with alcohol can be dangerous. She didn’t believe Song Zhaoli would be so cruel as to make her risk her life drinking with him.

Sure enough, after she said this, Song Zhaoli didn’t insist, “Then forget it.” With that, Song Zhaoli walked to the dining table, picked up a wine glass, and sat on the sofa in the living room. He sipped red wine while looking down at his phone. It was unclear who he was chatting with, but it was evident that Song Zhaoli’s expression wasn’t pleasant.

After finishing a glass of red wine, Song Zhaoli looked up and asked Ji Xuan, “Do you have any fruit at home?” Ji Xuan met his gaze, “No, but I have tomatoes. I can slice them and sprinkle some sugar on top, will that do?” Song Zhaoli’s Adam’s apple moved, “That’ll do.”

Since Song Zhaoli agreed, Ji Xuan got up to cut the tomatoes in the kitchen. As she sliced, she felt grateful that Wu Shu’s failed attempt at tomato scrambled eggs left two tomatoes unused.

Song Zhaoli was messaging Liao Bei. Liao Bei had news from a dinner with the boss from Bi Sheng’s side tonight. [The old guy is sharp, kept talking in circles all night, didn’t say anything truthful.]

Song Zhaoli: What’s the result?

Liao Bei: Is this how you ask for favors?

Song Zhaoli: Cut the crap.

Liao Bei: Why so aggressive? Frustrated desires?

Seeing Liao Bei’s message, Song Zhaoli didn’t reply immediately. Growing up together, Liao Bei quickly sensed something was off and said: Did I hit the nail on the head? Really frustrated desires?

Song Zhaoli’s long fingers picked a cigarette from the pack on the coffee table, didn’t light it, but pinched the filter. Liao Bei’s second message followed: Where are you now?

Song Zhaoli replied this time: At Ji Xuan’s place.

Liao Bei: What’s that supposed to mean??

Song Zhaoli: Having dinner.

Dinner at this hour? Liao Bei scoffed through the phone, replying: Do I look like an idiot? Song Zhaoli looked at the message on the screen, his thin lips slightly curved: Be confident, turn the question into a statement.

Seeing Song Zhaoli’s message, Liao Bei laughed on the other end: Don’t want to know the result anymore, huh? Song Zhaoli’s smile faded: Enough joking, let’s get serious.

Song Zhaoli stopped joking, but that didn’t mean Liao Bei would. Liao Bei’s curiosity was piqued, typing: Tell me honestly, what do you really feel about Ji Xuan? Do you care? Have feelings? Or is it purely just wanting… to sleep with her?

Liao Bei’s message struck directly at Song Zhaoli’s heart. Song Zhaoli shifted his position, leaning back, his jaw tense. Seeing Song Zhaoli not reply, Liao Bei began to monologue.

[If you truly like her, just go for it. Love is something you can’t always find, don’t wait until you regret missing it.]

[Don’t tell me you have no feelings for her. Others might not know your nature, but I do. If you had no feelings, what happened the first time wouldn’t have occurred.]

[Old Song, chickened out?]

Liao Bei’s words were relentless, each one hitting the most hidden part of Song Zhaoli’s heart. Song Zhaoli pressed his tongue against his cheek, and the cigarette in his hand broke in half.

Ji Xuan came over with the tomatoes just in time to see the broken cigarette in Song Zhaoli’s fingers. She thought the person messaging him was Elder Song, her heart tightened, and she softly said, “Eat something sweet, it’ll improve your mood.”

Song Zhaoli looked up at Ji Xuan’s clear eyes, feeling conflicted. Did he like her? In his youthful folly, he had entertained such thoughts. Later, those thoughts were forcibly suppressed before they could grow. It wasn’t that he didn’t like her; he couldn’t like her. If it hadn’t been for that night when she was drugged…

Song Zhaoli’s thoughts were chaotic, and the phone in his hand vibrated. He glanced down at it; Liao Bei had sent another message: Getting drunk is never the fault of alcohol, but the veil for human emotions.

Song Zhaoli frowned.

Liao Bei: Someone isn’t thinking of getting others drunk again, are they?

Song Zhaoli: Shut up.

Liao Bei: Dare to swear you don’t like Ji Xuan, using your future and your manhood. If you like her, may your future never feel the happiness of your manhood.