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— Don’t think that drawing a sword to cut water can blind those who know the truth. Everything is written in your eyes—it’s just that you refuse to admit it.
— Don’t say it out loud.
— Of course not. Isn’t this how you build your self-respect?
“I’m not drinking.”
“Are you serious? I’m bidding farewell to you the same way I welcomed you back then. If you don’t drink today, does that mean you can’t handle it?”
Lei Zheng downed a shot without hesitation. Who was afraid of whom? He tossed the glass into Jian Zhaowen’s lap, but Jian caught it and threw it against the opposite wall: “Boss Lei, tonight is your show. You’re just a bar owner now, so don’t throw a tantrum.”
Lei Zheng’s pupils lit up like theater lights suddenly switched on. He watched as Jian Zhaowen tilted his head back and poured the liquor down his throat, then quickly followed with another shot: “What? Do you think I’m a traitor for not sticking together through thick and thin?”
“Yes.”
“Then watch me start my next venture. Someone needs to show you what it feels like to part ways. Jian Zhaowen, entrepreneurship is lonely, life is lonely, and no one in this world will stay by your side forever.”
“But at least I know that people who walk side by side can’t repay betrayal with betrayal. Even if you leave now, I’ll continue developing products according to your logic and managing the team the way you did—I won’t let your shadow disappear from this team. No matter how bad your character or how terrible your temper, I still recognize your abilities and admire your personality. If anyone asks me what it’s like to work with Lei Zheng, I’ll wholeheartedly recommend it. I’d say, ‘Even if it costs you everything, working with Lei Zheng once is worth it—you won’t regret it.’”
A moment of silence fell around them. Lei Zheng finished his drink, then leaned forward, resting his forehead in his hand, gripping the glass and covering his face with his arm: “Damn you… stop talking.”
One of the girls in new media sobbed beside him: “Boss Lei, reconsider. It’s okay if you don’t leave. We can’t bear to see you go.”
“Shut up!” Lei Zheng wanted to argue: “Who would want to keep working with someone like Jian Zhaowen, whose mind is always unclear? It’s exhausting!”
Jian Zhaowen pushed aside the colleague trying to persuade him, then plopped himself down next to Lei Zheng, half-drunk: “Don’t talk. Just drink.”
The two of them really finished fifty shots of depth charges. Lei Zheng looked at Jian Zhaowen and asked: “Feel satisfied?”
“No satisfaction!” Jian Zhaowen pulled Lei Zheng’s head close: “I’ll never work with you again. I’ll never feel satisfied again.”
Zheng Zeyan suddenly stepped outside to take a call. Ou Jinghe, fearing they might drink themselves into danger, kept an eye on them for fifteen minutes. When she noticed Zheng Zeyan hadn’t returned, she quietly slipped out—and saw…
Her sister from her first love.
It had been a long time since she last saw her. Her sister wore a black lace outfit, her expression still scattered, acting deliriously. She said something to Zheng Zeyan, tried to hug him but was pushed away, and was now crying and yelling at him on the roadside. When he tried to leave, she clung to him desperately. She was very thin, her legs barely able to support her body. Zheng Zeyan had to steady her several times, trying to plant her firmly on the ground like a tree, but she seemed as if she might be blown away by the wind at any moment. She shouted at Zheng Zeyan: “I don’t care! You loved me before, and you can only love me now! I have no one else but you…” What Zheng Zeyan said next, Ou Jinghe couldn’t hear from where she hid. All she saw was her sister shaking her head violently and sobbing. She took a step forward, then hesitated and retreated.
Air traffic control had delayed Yu Zhimei at the Capital Airport for four hours. She should have landed in Shanghai by now, but it was nearly ten o’clock and she was still waiting to take off. Mentally cursing her misfortune, she had specifically bought a ticket to travel faster but forgot how prone flights between Beijing and Shanghai were to delays. The message she sent to Jian Zhaowen took ages to send, and she received no reply. Was he avoiding his phone after splitting with Lei Zheng? After landing at Pudong, she planned to check the office before heading home; Jian Zhaowen was likely still there at this hour.
All hundred shots of depth charges had been consumed. Glasses lay scattered and toppled over. Several colleagues who were married had already left, leaving behind about half, all loyal followers of Lei Zheng and Jian Zhaowen. Lei Zheng’s demeanor had visibly weakened, while Jian Zhaowen stubbornly insisted on finishing every drink, draping his arm over Lei Zheng’s shoulder as he drank: “Despite all the unpleasantness, I assure you that every day we worked together on this startup, I learned and absorbed new knowledge. I never stopped. I never took your days for granted, and without you, I’ll do my best to make DayNight succeed.”
“Alright.”
“Let me ask you. When exactly did you decide to start this business with me?”
“Because of what you were wearing that day.”
Clothes? Jian Zhaowen’s eyes darted around drunkenly, his sense of direction completely lost: “Really? What did I wear that day… shirt? Jeans? Jacket? Sweater? What style impressed you?”
“Because of that old suede backpack you carried.”
“Damn it. Don’t mention that. I used it for five years because I couldn’t find a bag that fit my laptop and matched my clothes. Every time I met you, I wanted to hide it, but it was just too practical. I couldn’t find a replacement. How could someone like you, with good taste but quick to grow tired of things, decide to work with me because of that backpack? You’re joking, right? You’re just teasing me.”
“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you—I saw… sentimentality in that backpack.”
Jian Zhaowen stared straight into Lei Zheng’s eyes: “Boss Lei, is that it? I have plenty of old things. If I show them to you again, can I invite you to start another venture?”
The content director fanned the flames beside them: “Boss Jian, why does it feel like you and Boss Lei are breaking up after a romance?”
Jian Zhaowen laughed: “Who the hell is dating him! This isn’t Boss Lei anymore—he’s resigned. What’s with calling him Boss Lei?”
“Then let’s continue with Truth or Dare. I’ll roll the dice.” The content director, fearing the two drunk men might start arguing, quickly reached out to mediate. Jian Zhaowen and Lei Zheng, each harboring their own thoughts, stared at the dice. One dot appeared, meaning it was Lei Zheng’s turn. As fate would have it, just as the content director froze in place, an intern added fuel to the fire: “Boss Lei, since you’ve split with Boss Jian, why not show us your chat history!”
Simple enough—Lei Zheng unlocked his phone, opened the chat window with Jian Zhaowen, and slammed it onto the coffee table. Liquor caused the phone to slide far across the surface, knocking over a few glasses. The screen displayed sparse conversations against a black background: “Meeting?” “Small conference room, let’s talk.” “Sandwich, eat?” “Add a hot Americano.” “Product issue, let’s talk.” The dialogue was dry, like an old couple with no interest in each other. A bored intern blew air through their lips: “Being a boss is so boring.”
Another round of depth charges arrived, a 10x10 array that left everyone feeling dizzy. Jian Zhaowen felt somewhat sober but still harbored resentment. Working together for so long, yet even at the last moment, Lei Zheng was still avoiding him—it was infuriating: “Lei Zheng’s most important conversations were never on WeChat…”
Before he could finish, Lei Zheng’s expression suddenly changed. He grabbed a glass and splashed its contents onto Jian Zhaowen. Jian Zhaowen laughed: “See? You’re drunk! I need to send you to bed by nine. Do you even know what you’re doing next? Are you going to strip naked and kick a couple out of their room again? If you get arrested, I’m not bailing you out. With a criminal record, how will you ever appear on TV? DayNight still needs me to grow it. Tonight, I’m locking the door. Little Xi can’t handle you, but I can…”
The next second, Lei Zheng suddenly grabbed Jian Zhaowen by the neck and planted a deep French kiss on him. The alcohol-laden breaths clashed together like a noxious smoke bomb, the mix of tenderness and aggression leaving Jian Zhaowen’s entire body tingling. People in product development were highly empathetic, and Jian Zhaowen, an open-minded artist at heart, saw this drunken kiss as nothing more than a continuation of their game of Truth or Dare.
Perhaps it was the alcohol—or perhaps it was the memory of that rooftop DayNight status—Jian Zhaowen didn’t push Lei Zheng away. Amidst the cheers, he let Lei Zheng lose himself in the passionate kiss. By now, Jian Zhaowen was almost completely drunk, barely managing to find the wall with his last ounce of strength. Just as he tried to stand up, Lei Zheng pushed him back against the wall and continued kissing him. Never before had he been seduced by a man, nor had he ever imagined it would happen to him—but Lei Zheng, skilled in the art of kissing, gave him no time to think, his tongue swirling in such a way that it short-circuited Jian Zhaowen’s brain. The sight of this fake-turned-real display drove the onlookers wild with excitement. Amid the chaos, Ou Jinghe could be heard covering her mouth and whispering: “Oh my God.”
— I won’t apologize to you.
— Of course not. I already understand the truth behind your constant breaking apart and coming back together.
— What you see is all an illusion. My heart has always belonged to one person and one person only.
— It’s written clearly in the anonymous section. Do you want me to pull up the messages?
— I’ll delete the account. The best outcome for some things is to let them drift away with the wind.
— You’re ruthless.
— This is my secret. I promise… I’ll never forget you for the rest of my life.
— Don’t think that drawing a sword to cut water can blind those who know the truth. Everything is written in your eyes—it’s just that you refuse to admit it.
— Don’t say it out loud.
— Of course not. Isn’t this how you build your self-respect?
By the time they reached two hundred shots, Ou Jinghe rallied the colleagues to split up the remaining depth charges, urging them to stop letting the two reckless men drink any further. When the party finally ended and they began to clean up, Jian Zhaowen struggled to stand, his legs giving way beneath him. He vomited several liters of alcohol, his mind clouded and unfocused, yet he still clung to Lei Zheng, slurring: “Starting a business with you has been the happiest thing I’ve ever experienced in my life.”
“Happier than Yu Zhimei?”
“Happier than her.”
Lying through his teeth, his heart raced as Lei Zheng’s unfocused gaze met his own pupils for one fleeting moment before crashing face-first onto the marble countertop.
Yu Zhimei, who had landed in Shanghai at three o’clock, first went to Jian Zhaowen’s office and then returned home, only to find the room empty. After calming down and reflecting carefully, she hailed a taxi and headed toward Lei Zheng’s bar near the Shanghai Stadium. Based on her understanding of Jian Zhaowen, if there was indeed a farewell dinner, chances were they’d go to “where the dream began.”
She cursed the taxi for not driving fast enough.
Xiao Xi, wearing sneakers, rushed over to the private booth upon arriving at the bar first. Jian Zhaowen felt a twinge of guilt for a moment. But Xiao Xi didn’t hesitate to kick Jian Zhaowen right between the legs: “Are you insane? Drinking like there’s no tomorrow! If he gets into another fight and ends up in jail tonight, I’ll be in rehearsals with no time to bail him out!”
In too much pain to speak, Jian Zhaowen opened his mouth and croaked a prolonged “Ah”: “He drank even more tonight and is completely out of it.”
Xiao Xi, however, seemed unsurprised: “Oh, then call 120.”
“What?”
“Send him to the hospital! What if something happens? Though I don’t think it’s serious.”
This alleyway was deep. Xiao Xi, ever the strategist, instructed the waiter: “Bring out the handcart used for transporting alcohol.” The waiters, accustomed to such scenes, glanced at Lei Zheng and Jian Zhaowen, then brought out two handcarts: “Use the back door. There’s a narrow path. The front will attract attention. Right outside is where the ambulance parks—it’s common knowledge.”
Jian Zhaowen and Xiao Xi pushed the iron carts down the alleyway, not far from where the 120 ambulance had just arrived. As they walked, Xiao Xi muttered: “I have to record a national top 50 program tomorrow, and I haven’t even finished rehearsing. How can anyone be so irresponsible?”
“It’s my fault, my fault.”
“This isn’t the first time he’s gotten so drunk he needed 120. Every time he drinks, he goes all out. It was the same at his previous company—during the annual party, he got blackout drunk, hugging people as if they were sworn brothers… Why does he pretend to have a high tolerance when he clearly doesn’t?”
Jian Zhaowen froze, realizing this wasn’t the first time. Looking at Lei Zheng, he thought to himself: You, huh.
As they pushed the cart, Jian Zhaowen stumbled after a few steps. Xiao Xi lifted his hand, and in the next second, Jian Zhaowen was also hoisted onto a handcart. The long alley smelled of damp rot, two handcarts carrying two unconscious men. Jian Zhaowen thought to himself: This must be the highlight of my life.
Thankfully, he had won. Lei Zheng was completely out of it, but he could still talk.
“I really thought Lei Zheng would work with you for a long time,” Xiao Xi sighed.
“It’s my fault.”
“No, it’s because he’s fickle and loves to play around.”
“There’s no reason for a recluse to stay in service forever. I understand.”
A doctor stepped out of the ambulance, and Lei Zheng, heavy as a sack of potatoes, was lifted onto a stretcher and prepared to be loaded into the vehicle. The accompanying doctor asked: “Who’s the family member? Come with me!”
“Wait a minute!”
Everyone turned to look at Jian Zhaowen, who could barely stand straight: “Let’s take a group photo. Lei Zheng got drunk enough to end up in the hospital—this is the perfect opportunity to tease him later. Under the Yan’an Elevated Bridge at five in the morning, just as the sky begins to lighten, with Lei Zheng passed out drunk—how romantic is that!”
Seven or eight people quickly gathered around the unconscious Lei Zheng, extending their hands to pose. Jian Zhaowen, drunk and grinning ear to ear, said: “Lei Zheng, goodbye! From this day forward, our paths diverge. If we meet again, I won’t greet you, and I won’t mention your name in my entrepreneurial journey. I swear!”
His words slurred, his body swayed, and at that moment, Xiao Xi suddenly pressed down on the stretcher, rummaging through his bag and shouting: “No one leaves!”
He pulled out a blue velvet jewelry box, opened it to reveal a ring, and knelt down on one knee, gazing up深情地: “After all these years together, I’ve never heard you propose to me. After fighting your father for so long, I’ve never seen you do it either. You probably wanted me to be the one to propose to you. But does it really matter who kneels first? You’ve always been the most important person in my heart.”
The crowd initially stared blankly at Jian Zhaowen, then turned to Xiao Xi, who was clueless about the situation. Ou Jinghe started cheering, and soon the roadside erupted in applause. Under the dim light of dawn, everyone—whether drinking, celebrating, or conspiring—had collectively achieved a Nash equilibrium. By the time Lei Zheng was loaded into the ambulance, the intern girl was still shouting: “Now I pronounce you husband and husband!” The unconscious Lei Zheng, now wearing the ring, was accompanied by Xiao Xi, who climbed into the ambulance: “Remember to send me the video—” before being cut off as the ambulance doors slammed shut.
Yu Zhimei finally arrived at the back door, guided by the bartender. The damp, unlit alleyway revealed people lifting someone into the ambulance. Yu Zhimei anxiously ran over, only to find it wasn’t Lei Zheng or Jian Zhaowen. Panicking, she hailed a taxi and rushed to the hospital. Outside the emergency room, Xiao Xi sat on a bench making a phone call. Seeing Yu Zhimei, he grinned brightly: “Sister Mei, I proposed to Lei Zheng!”
“Is he okay? Where’s Jian Zhaowen?”
“He’s fine—just drunk and getting IV fluids. No alcohol poisoning. Two hundred shots! Jian Zhaowen has evolved. Next time I see him, I’m going to beat him up.”
Before Xiao Xi could finish, Yu Zhimei anxiously hailed a taxi and headed home. Outside the car window, the grayish-white sky of dawn emerged. Early morning Shanghai was nearly deserted, the city not yet awake, exuding an unnoticed desolation and loneliness.
Jian Zhaowen was carried back to the old house by Ou Jinghe and Zheng Zeyan. Pushing open the unit door, they bumped into a neighbor from the first floor who was about to buy breakfast. The overwhelming stench of alcohol made the elderly neighbor wrinkle their nose. Half an hour later, Yu Zhimei opened the door to apartment 301, only to find Ou Jinghe and Zheng Zeyan tending to a completely intoxicated Jian Zhaowen. She shook with anger: “What the hell happened? How could you let him get this drunk? Not a single phone call went through!”
Her question left Ou Jinghe speechless. Zheng Zeyan coldly replied: “It was a farewell dinner. Everyone drank too much.”
As Yu Zhimei reached out to steady Jian Zhaowen, his mind drifted back to Lei Zheng’s DayNight status on the rooftop. Recalling it now, he realized this might be the peak of his guilt—but he couldn’t control himself—
“I was hiding in the least crowded part of the gathering, pretending to vote for a girl group, but in reality, it was because seeing the person I liked made my heart feel like it was about to explode. What made me feel most guilty was that my lover was there too. Funny enough, I can’t tell anymore whether it’s the suspension bridge effect or true feelings—I fell in love with my partner…”
The word “partner” remained incomplete in his memory. Jian Zhaowen looked at Yu Zhimei, who was on the verge of tears, and with his last ounce of strength, he managed to say: “Yu Zhimei, I’m sorry. If I ever drink again, I’ll be a dog.”
After that, Jian Zhaowen never saw Lei Zheng again.
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