Chapter 50: The Catalyst for a Dual-Sword Alliance – A Hundred Depth Charge Bombs

Ever since Yu Zhi Mei entered his life, Jian Zhaowen had found that the once monotonous grind of entrepreneurship had turned into something meaningful. Falling for Yu Zhi Mei was troublesome—after all, she didn’t live by conventional rules. When it came to relationships, if she encountered a scumbag, she exacted blood for blood. She often attracted muscle-bound men who left him clenching his teeth in frustration. Yet, she was also the one who broke down barriers. Lei Zheng, whom outsiders couldn’t even get an appointment with, was someone Yu Zhi Mei’s friends had been trying to win over for a long time. If life was a twisted maze, Yu Zhi Mei was like a player who tore down walls to forge ahead.

Jian Zhaowen nodded, downed his beer in one gulp, and crushed the can. Normally calm and composed, Jian suddenly felt agitated. Yu Zhi Mei probed gently, “What’s troubling you?”

“We’re short on a product manager. No matter how strong my R&D skills are, without an excellent product manager, I can’t create good content. I’ve reached out to many friends, but aside from helping with promotional channels, there’s no one in the early stages who can collaborate on app development. But it’s pointless telling you this—it’s completely outside your circle…”

“Then I really can’t help you. Sorry.”

Seeing Yu Zhi Mei’s slightly dejected expression, Jian Zhaowen felt a pang of guilt and decided to share a recent setback: “There’s a product manager I really wanted—a mid-career powerhouse. I tried reasoning with them, appealing to their emotions, but nothing worked. They have great taste, are incredibly smart, and stay low-key. I planned to visit them again, sent a WeChat message, but got no response.”

“That impressive, huh?”

“Yes, it’s Lei Zheng.”

“Who?”

“Lei Zheng. Do you know him?”

Before he could finish, Yu Zhi Mei nearly leapt up, giving Jian Zhaowen a sharp slap on the head: “Jian Zhaowen, are you underestimating me?”

Yu Zhi Mei hailed a taxi and took Jian Zhaowen to a bar. At ten o’clock, traffic near the elevated highway leading to the stadium was gridlocked. Jian Zhaowen grew impatient. Hearing the word “bar,” he immediately frowned: “If you want to drink, we could’ve gone to a dessert shop. Why come all the way here? Plus, we still have data modeling to do, and I’m not in the mood…”

“Shut up. You’ll understand when we get there.”

They got out at the intersection, bypassed a courtyard, and entered an elevator in a small three-story building. As soon as the elevator doors opened, deafening music blasted Jian Zhaowen’s ears. Yu Zhi Mei shouted into his ear: “Sorry! My friends can only meet here…”

Yu Zhi Mei pulled Jian Zhaowen deeper inside. Carelessly misstepping on a stair, she stumbled right into a muscular man. As they got up, the music in the venue changed. Men in the dance floor shed their jackets, revealing bare torsos. Under the red lights, Jian Zhaowen, dressed in a white shirt, stood out like an alien among a sea of pink bodies. He realized this wasn’t the kind of bar he’d imagined—almost everyone here was shirtless, rubbing against each other in the soft haze.

Did Yu Zhi Mei actually know people like this?

After squeezing through the crowd and entering a private room, the noise was shut out behind the door. Yu Zhi Mei had already met up with her friends—or rather, her sisters. A boy with bangs, wearing black stockings and high heels, lips painted red, spoke with a square-shaped smile and a high-pitched voice. It was rare to see Yu Zhi Mei hugging someone so warmly, draping her arm around their shoulder as they headed to the booth. Jian Zhaowen wasn’t jealous—he was just astonished by the breadth of Yu Zhi Mei’s social circle.

“This is my boyfriend. Just call him Ah Zheng! I’m Xiao Xi. Wow, Beauty Sister, you didn’t bring your handsome boyfriend out to meet us sooner? How stingy of you.”

Jian Zhaowen locked eyes with Lei Zheng, who was wearing a hat. Both were startled. A subtle mix of annoyance, vigilance, and faint delight flickered across Lei Zheng’s face. Xiao Xi continued chatting with Yu Zhi Mei: “Is this the boyfriend whose Volvo I took away?”

“Of course not. Besides, who said he was my boyfriend? Just a fling.”

Jian Zhaowen sneered at Yu Zhi Mei, masking her dark history. Xiao Xi pointed at Jian Zhaowen: “Is this one your boyfriend?”

“You guess.”

Jian Zhaowen hugged Yu Zhi Mei’s shoulders and laughed: “Of course, he’s my boyfriend. Am I the hottest boyfriend you’ve ever had?”

Xiao Xi patted Jian Zhaowen’s shoulder: “No need to ask!”

The boy—or rather, girl—was chatting animatedly with Yu Zhi Mei. Xiao Xi enthusiastically introduced them: “We’re regulars at this bar. Ah Zheng has shares here, making him half-owner.”

Lei Zheng and Jian Zhaowen exchanged glances, neither speaking first, silently sizing each other up under the dim lights. Suddenly, Lei Zheng stood up to order drinks. Jian Zhaowen quietly asked Yu Zhi Mei: “What’s Xiao Xi’s background? Is he really dating Lei Zheng?”

“Nothing special, just a cute girl. But she’s an amazing dancer, specializing in a niche style. She’s swept all the championships this year and quit advertising to focus entirely on dancing.”

“A girl…” Jian Zhaowen mused.

“Don’t be fooled by her appearance. Once she steps on stage in heels, she shines like no one else. No one can beat her in competitions. Everyone calls her Little Princess. She’s faced plenty of harsh words during her teenage years, but she has a motto: ‘They insult me because they don’t know me. Once they see me dance, they’ll fall for me.’ There’s a reason Lei Zheng likes her. Don’t underestimate my friends.”

“I’m surprised by your social circle.”

“Don’t be. They’ve broken up and gotten back together countless times over seven years. When I first met Xiao Xi, they were still brawling in the streets after fights.”

It was normal for people in different industries to lack communication. Jian Zhaowen hadn’t expected to secure cooperation just by discussing products, but he needed to talk to Lei Zheng again. Scanning the room, he wondered why Lei Zheng had suddenly disappeared. Had he stripped and joined the shirtless dancers? That didn’t seem like him.

The next moment, Lei Zheng returned to his seat, followed by a hundred depth charge bombs: “Talking about the product? Then let’s drink.”

A hundred?

Yu Zhi Mei and Xiao Xi stood by, stunned as the bombs lined up like a formation, exploding one by one in their glasses. Xiao Xi whispered something to Yu Zhi Mei, who looked at Jian Zhaowen with a serious expression: “Jian Zhaowen, drink to the bitter end with a gentleman.”

“Won’t this kill us?”

“You scared?”

“Not at all.” Jian Zhaowen raised his glass and gulped it down: “Lei Zheng, I come with sincerity. I previously offered to give you half of my shares directly—it wasn’t a joke. Tonight, I’ll drink with you till dawn; consider it my overnight surrender. DayNight will truly be a great product. I’m willing to discuss how to plan its future. It has the potential to revolutionize the social category and terrify competitors—I never doubted that. But even madness needs an excellent companion.”

“I’m not someone who can be won over with drinks.”

“Name your requirements. I don’t want to draw clear boundaries or say I’m only approaching you for work. Even if we don’t establish a partnership, I hope to build some trust beyond work. If I drink with you, you must accompany me—this is the friendship between men.”

Lei Zheng smirked confidently and clinked glasses: “Drink.”

It had been a while since Jian Zhaowen had engaged in such a drinking session. Though only Lei Zheng and Jian Zhaowen were exchanging words, the spectators—including their respective loved ones—were watching closely. The outcome would determine whether they parted ways or shook hands in agreement. Losing meant walking away, winning meant collaboration. This contest was to win Lei Zheng’s heart. Though it sounded crude, a hundred drinks in exchange for restructuring DayNight’s product design was a bargain. Jian Zhaowen drank until stars danced before his eyes. Drunk, he pulled Lei Zheng close, annoyed by his hat, and yanked it off to check if he was bald. Lei Zheng cursed loudly, while Xiao Xi screamed: “Wow, Yu Zhi Mei, your boyfriend’s bold! Aside from me, no one dares to snatch his hat!”

“So impressive?” Jian Zhaowen snorted arrogantly, barely able to tell directions anymore: “He’s not bald, just showing off.”

Lei Zheng, equally drunk, grabbed Jian Zhaowen’s hair and began reciting poetry: “Poultry roam everywhere, yet they can’t fly to the sky; but eagles soar millions of miles, and falcons reach the clouds. Jian Zhaowen, listen—I tell you, our union is like Tai Chi generating Yin and Yang, Yin and Yang generating Four Symbols, and Four Symbols generating Eight Trigrams…”

“A thousand cups are few when drinking with a true friend, Boss Lei. With your rabbit warrens of coffee shops and bars, how would I find you if not for our girlfriends’ friendship?”

“Enough talk, drink! An algorithm engineer with poor drinking stamina lacks proper attitude. You Shanghainese always refuse to open your hearts to me.”

“I’m from Beijing, Boss Lei.”

Yu Zhi Mei hadn’t touched a drop, carefully asking Xiao Xi: “Are they both drunk?”

Xiao Xi was engrossed in a mobile game: “Ignore him. When drinking with a true friend, it’s no wonder he transforms tonight.”

“What transformation?”

“You’ll see.”

By the end, any excuse was reason enough to raise a glass. They started recounting details: “Both went to Zhuhai in ‘07? Drink! Both ex-girlfriends are Gemini? Drink! Your mom’s last name is Li? Mine too! What a coincidence—you’re packing, and so am I!”

At 3 AM, both were at their limits, losing all sense of feeling. Jian Zhaowen locked himself in the bathroom, refusing to come out. Lei Zheng crouched under a tree, vomiting uncontrollably. The bathroom lock was notoriously difficult to open. The manager finally managed to unlock it with a key, only to find Jian Zhaowen sprawled on the floor like an inflated garbage bag, surrounded by beer stains. Panicking, the manager shouted: “Check if he’s suffocating! He might choke to death!”

The bartender peeked in nervously: “I used wheat beer—it shouldn’t harm the body… Should we call 120?”

The bar staff struggled to stuff Jian Zhaowen and Lei Zheng into a taxi. They booked two hotel rooms—one upstairs, one downstairs—to prevent further conflict if they woke up halfway. Yu Zhi Mei sat on the bed drinking coffee, pondering why she had stayed up all night for Jian Zhaowen twice in a month. Fortunately, Jian Zhaowen handled alcohol well—he drank and slept. She called Xiao Xi, who didn’t respond. These two were deeply entangled in a toxic romance, likely because Xiao Xi’s carefree nature never worried about Lei Zheng’s well-being.

The next morning, Yu Zhi Mei knocked on their doors after breakfast, but neither answered. After calling repeatedly until the last minute of checkout, Xiao Xi finally picked up, her voice as high-pitched as ever: “Renewed the stay! I told you he’d transform. We’re at the police station!”

Lei Zheng, bailed out by Xiao Xi, extended the hotel stay for another day. He wolfed down a large plate of room service while Jian Zhaowen sipped plain porridge, his face swollen. Xiao Xi recounted the events after their separation, laughing and scolding alternately. During Jian Zhaowen’s deep sleep, Lei Zheng had pulled off another drunken stunt: naked and half-asleep, he wandered to the bathroom in the middle of the night. After washing up, he left the door open and marched to the opposite room, pounding on the door. The couple who opened it were shocked to see a completely naked man reeking of alcohol. Lei Zheng chased them relentlessly, throwing a drunken tantrum in the corridor, barging into the room, and kicking the couple out: “How dare you sleep in my room? Get out!”

The culprit, Lei Zheng, remained silent, scowling as he emptied a bottle of vinegar. Jian Zhaowen, now sober, smiled faintly at the group. Ever since Yu Zhi Mei entered his life, the once tedious grind of entrepreneurship had turned into something meaningful. Falling for her was troublesome—she defied conventions, exacted vengeance on scumbags, and often attracted muscle-bound men who made him grit his teeth. Yet, she was also the one who broke down barriers. Lei Zheng, whom outsiders couldn’t even approach, was someone Yu Zhi Mei’s friends had pursued for years. If life was a twisted maze, Yu Zhi Mei was like a player who tore down walls to forge ahead.

The waiter brought a welcome gift: a glass of red wine, a slice of cake, and seasonal fresh fruit. The mere smell of alcohol made Jian Zhaowen and Lei Zheng nauseous. In unison, they shouted: “Throw it away!”

Yu Zhi Mei tipped the wine into her mouth. Jian Zhaowen immediately shifted seats: “Stay away from me.”

Lei Zheng asked Jian Zhaowen: “How many partners are there?”

“Just me for now.”

“If you promise not to add anyone else and it’s just the two of us, I agree.”

“You mean, we’re not seeking funding?”

“No angel round.”

Surprisingly, they were on the same page. Jian Zhaowen thought he’d misheard—how could Lei Zheng agree so quickly? He pointed to the alcohol: “Don’t rush… Or maybe you should drink more?”

“It’s fine. I think we can do it. But I might make significant changes to the product features. We’ll probably argue a lot.”

Forget arguing—they could fight if necessary. Jian Zhaowen was concerned: “Aren’t you going to think it over?”

Lei Zheng replied decisively: “I like you.”

PS: DayNight has finally secured a senior product manager, officially entering the entrepreneurial phase. Drinking is part of the novel’s content—excessive drinking harms the body, so please don’t imitate it. Thank you for reading. If possible, please support the author with recommendations. Your liver-busting writer Zhang thanks you all!