Chapter 49 Drunk

Chapter 49 Drunk

Xie Lin, standing outside the door, didn't turn around. He staggered to the roadside, opened the car door, and got in.

A faint smell of tobacco lingered in the carriage, blending seamlessly with his current aura.

He took out his cigarette case, his fingertips trembling so badly that he had to try three times to light the cigarette.

The crimson flames flickered, reflecting the surging red in his eyes.

Lin Mianmian's words, "It's over between us long ago," were like an ice-cold dagger, precisely piercing through his layers of feigned strength.

He thought he was powerful enough, that as long as he resolved the Su family's troubles and laid out the truth in front of her, she would turn back.

But he forgot how she endured those days and nights with a broken heart while he was away.

Those newspaper headlines, those unanswered messages, those tossing and turning in the hospital bed—all of these had worn away the bond between them to almost nothing.

He only snapped back to reality when the cigarette burned down to the last bit and burned his fingertips.

He stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray, started the car, but instead of heading towards the Xie family's house, he turned onto a secluded side road and stopped in front of an inconspicuous bar.

The bar was dimly lit, and the heavy metal music was deafening.

Xie Lin found a corner seat and sat down, making a gesture to the bartender without saying a word.

As I downed glass after glass of whiskey, the pungent liquid burned my throat, yet strangely, it eased the dull pain in my chest.

He rarely drinks, much less drowns his sorrows in alcohol like this. But tonight, he just wants to indulge.

Lin Mianmian's face kept replaying in my mind: her reddened eyes, her evasive gaze, and her desperate words, "It's all over now."

The way Bai Xiulin stood in front of her, so resolute and so matter-of-fact, was like a thorn, making it hard for him to breathe.

Yes, Bai Xiulin can give her stability, be by her side when she needs him, and protect her from any conflicts. And what about herself?

Aside from a host of troubles and unspeakable grievances, he could offer her nothing.

As the alcohol took effect, his vision began to blur. He slumped over the bar, murmuring Lin Mianmian's name, his voice hoarse and barely audible.

His chest was churning, and his stomach was cramping. He knew he had drunk too much, but he didn't want to stop.

He didn't get up until the bar closed and the bartender woke him up. He then staggered out of the bar, paid his bill, and walked out of the bar.

As the night wind blew, the discomfort in his stomach intensified, and he leaned against the wall, unable to stop himself from dry heaving.

The cold moonlight shone on his disheveled figure, casting a long, lonely shadow.

He took out his phone, and the screen still showed the interface of the last message he sent to Lin Mianmian. The last message read, "I'll be back soon," followed by a red exclamation mark.

He gave a wry smile, his finger hovering over the screen, but ultimately he didn't press it.

He knew that his current appearance would only make her more disgusted.

After what seemed like an eternity, he finally managed to steady himself, got into the car, and drove aimlessly.

It wasn't until the sky began to lighten that he dragged himself back to his house, reeking of alcohol and exhausted.

The moment I pushed open the door, a strong smell of alcohol hit me.

He leaned against the door, exhausted, and slowly slid down to the ground.

The cramps in his stomach grew more and more intense. He curled up, his forehead pressed against his knees, and a muffled groan escaped his throat.

The physical pain was bearable, but the scar in my heart, fueled by alcohol, kept bleeding.

He curled up on the cold floor, his consciousness gradually fading until he finally fell into a deep sleep.

In his dream, Lin Mianmian was running towards him with a smile, the sunlight shining on her hair, so warm it was unbelievable.

The afternoon sunlight streamed through the restaurant's glass windows, falling on Lin Mianmian's profile.

She was carrying a tray, moving between the tables, her white apron stained with oil, and fine beads of sweat glistening on her forehead.

This was a part-time job she found without telling anyone. The hourly wage wasn't high, but it allowed her to temporarily escape her worries.

They focused on trivial matters such as closing tables and taking orders.

Just as Lin Mianmian was bending down to clear the dishes after seeing off a table of guests, a chilling voice suddenly came from behind her.

The sharpness made her fingertips tremble, and she almost dropped the plate in her hand.

"Lin Mianmian".

Her body froze instantly; she knew that voice all too well.

Slowly turning around, Su Wan stood in the aisle not far away. Her Chanel dress accentuated her fair skin and beautiful features, and the diamond bracelet on her wrist sparkled, a stark contrast to the greasy dining tables and noisy surroundings. She

Two bodyguards in black suits followed behind him, their sharp eyes scanning the surroundings, which startled several laughing guests into silencing them.

The restaurant manager recognized Su Wan and hurried over, bowing and scraping, "Miss Su, what brings you here? Are you here for a meal or...?"

"Get lost." Su Wan didn't even lift her eyelids, her disgust in her tone undisguised. "I'm looking for her, it's none of your business."

The manager's face paled. He glanced at Lin Mianmian, then at the arrogant Su Wan.

In the end, she wisely retreated to the kitchen, and before leaving, she gave Lin Mianmian a wink, signaling her to be careful.

All eyes turned to Lin Mianmian, some curious, some sympathetic, some just watching the spectacle, making her feel extremely uncomfortable.

She pursed her lips, pulled off her apron, and quickly walked up to Su Wan, lowering her voice: "Miss Su, is there something you need us to talk about outside?"

"Get out?" Su Wan sneered as if she had heard a joke, and walked towards a booth in the corner of the restaurant. "Let's talk here, I'm afraid you'll run away."

Lin Mianmian bit her lower lip and could only follow.

As soon as she sat down, Su Wan slammed a document on the table with a loud "thud," making Lin Mianmian's heart skip a beat.

She looked down and saw a photo of Xie Lin drinking at a bar last night. In the photo, he was slumped over the bar, his hair disheveled, his face pale, and he looked extremely disheveled.

There's another picture of him being helped into a car; his steps are unsteady, and he can barely stand.

"Did you see that?" Su Wan's voice was full of sarcasm.

"Xie Lin drank himself into a stomach hemorrhage last night and was being rushed to the hospital, still calling your name. Lin Mianmian, you really have some tricks up your sleeve."

The words "stomach bleeding" struck Lin Mianmian's heart like a heavy hammer.

Her fingertips instantly turned icy cold. Images of Xie Lin's bloodshot eyes and haggard appearance from last night flashed through her mind, and her throat suddenly choked up.

"Whether he drinks or not is his own business, it has nothing to do with me." Lin Mianmian turned her face away, her voice trembling slightly, but she tried her best to remain calm.

"None of your business?" Su Wan raised her voice as if she had heard the biggest joke in the world, attracting the attention of those around her.

"Lin Mianmian, have you no shame? If you hadn't avoided him, if you hadn't said those heartless things, would he have turned out like this?"

She leaned closer to Lin Mianmian, her contempt in her eyes like needles, pricking her painfully: "Look at yourself now, wearing cheap clothes, working in this smoky place, do you deserve Xie Lin?"

"He is the heir to the Xie family, the one who will inherit billions of dollars, and what about you? You're just a girl from a poor family. What makes you think you can stand up to him?"

"The gap between the wealthy and the poor cannot be bridged by a few words of 'like' from you."

"Your presence by his side will only be a burden to him, will only lead to his suppression by the Su family, and will ruin his reputation!"

Su Wan's words, every single one, cut like knives into Lin Mianmian's heart.

She had thought of these words before, but hearing them so bluntly from Su Wan still made her feel embarrassed and heartbroken.

“My business with him is between the two of us, and it’s none of your business.”

Lin Mianmian raised her head and looked directly into Su Wan's eyes, a hint of stubbornness in them.

"Me, interfere?" Su Wan sneered, took a check out of her bag, and slammed it on the table.

The numbers on the check were followed by a long string of zeros, so bright they hurt your eyes.

"Here's ten million. Take it, leave this city, and never show your face to Xie Lin again."

Su Wan's tone was cold and hard.

"With this money, you and your family can live a life of comfort and security for the rest of your days. This is the best choice for you compared to suffering with Xie Lin."

Lin Mianmian's gaze fell on the check, her eyes devoid of any emotion, only a cold calm.

She slowly raised her head, looked at Su Wan, and said, word by word, "Miss Su, do you think that everything can be bought with money?"

"Otherwise what?" Su Wan raised an eyebrow, her tone disdainful. "You're with Xie Lin because you're after his money and his status, aren't you? Now that we're giving you money, what more could you want?"

"The relationship between Xie Lin and me is something you can't understand, and it's certainly not something you can measure with money."

She bent down, picked up the check, and gently tore it in half, then into quarters, until it was shredded into pieces, which she then casually tossed into the nearby trash can.

Paper scraps flew everywhere and landed in the trash can.

"You!" Su Wan's face instantly turned ashen, her finger trembling as she pointed at Lin Mianmian. "Lin Mianmian, don't be so stubborn!"

"I'm just doing what I'm supposed to do." Lin Mianmian looked at her, without the slightest fear in her eyes.

"It's none of your business what happens between me and Xie Lin."

"Pointing fingers?" Su Wan sneered. "Lin Mianmian! Do you believe that with just one word from me, you won't even be able to keep this part-time job?"

"I believe you." Lin Mianmian nodded, her tone calm. "The Su family is powerful; I really can't afford to offend them."

"But I have self-respect."

She paused, her gaze falling on Su Wan's face with a hint of mockery: "Miss Su, the reason you went to such lengths to force me to leave isn't because you care so much about Xie Lin's future."

"Is it just because you're unwilling to accept it? Unwilling to accept that the person you've fallen for has someone else in their heart?"

This statement hit Su Wan right where it hurt.

Su Wan's face turned pale and then red, her chest heaving violently. She stared intently at Lin Mianmian as if she wanted to devour her alive.

"Fine, very well." Su Wan gritted her teeth and said, word by word, "Lin Mianmian, you just wait! I'd like to see how long you can keep up this stubbornness!"

After saying that, she stood up abruptly, stomped in her high heels, and stormed toward the door.

As she reached the restaurant entrance, she stopped, turned back to look at Lin Mianmian, and said with a fierce tone, "I'll show you what happens when you go against the Su family."

The sound of high heels gradually faded away, but all eyes in the restaurant remained on Lin Mianmian.

She sat in the booth, looking at the mess on the table and the scraps of paper in the trash can, and her eyes finally welled up with tears.

She raised her hand to cover her face, her shoulders trembling slightly.

The afternoon sun was warm, but it couldn't penetrate her cold heart.