The Sweetest Marriage Ch.316

Chapter 316 – A Cup of Seeking Drunkenness

A family of four spent the New Year’s holiday at a hot spring hotel, thoroughly enjoying the comfortable hot springs and beautiful scenery. They all seemed reluctant to leave.

Over the next two days, Xie Chunsheng didn’t show up, and Chen Yunlan didn’t encounter him either. Surprisingly, Chen Yunlan felt relieved. It wasn’t that he cared much about Xie Chunsheng; it was Xie Chunsheng’s overpowering presence that made it hard for Chen Yunlan to catch his breath when facing him. When they finally left the hot spring hotel and returned home in the evening, the winter night in the capital city stretched long. As dusk fell, the night enveloped the world. The vibrant city lights began to illuminate the bustling city; the night in the capital was just beginning.

Chen Yunlan didn’t go home with Wei Chen and Chen Li, instead driving to a bar. During his time in China, he used to be a regular at this bar, a time when he indulged the most.

However, today he didn’t come to indulge. He just inexplicably felt like having a drink. He didn’t know what emotions he was experiencing, only feeling a tightness in his chest, an urgent need for alcohol to numb the chaotic emotions.

The bar was already open, and the bartender behind the counter was the same as before. He remembered Chen Yunlan and, seeing him sit at the bar, raised an eyebrow in surprise. “Mr. Chen, long time no see. The usual?”

“Do you still remember what I like?” Chen Yunlan looked up at the bartender, somewhat astonished. It had been about five years since he last visited this bar, yet the bartender remembered his taste.

The bartender smiled. “Just a skill of the trade.” With that, he started mixing a drink for Chen Yunlan.

Chen Yunlan leaned on his chin, watching the bartender’s deft movements, not knowing what he was thinking. There was a vacant look in his fox-like eyes.

“Mr. Chen, here you go.” The bartender pushed the finished drink toward Chen Yunlan. The colorful lights in the bar swayed recklessly, making it impossible to determine the color of the drink.

Chen Yunlan picked up the glass, and the strong smell of alcohol rushed into his nostrils, momentarily dazing him. His mind went blank, not sure what he was recalling. He didn’t drink it; instead, he placed the glass back on the table.

“Not to your liking, Mr. Chen?” the bartender asked.

Shaking his head, Chen Yunlan replied, “Give me something lighter.” He had a strong desire for a drink before coming, but the moment the alcohol reached his nose, he lost all interest.

The bartender glanced at Chen Yunlan for a moment before smiling, saying, “Alright.” With that, he turned and poured a glass of orange juice for Chen Yunlan, pushing it in front of him again. “Since you don’t want to drink alcohol, have some juice. There’s no rule that says you must drink at a bar.”

Chen Yunlan glanced at the indistinct color of the orange juice under the colorful lights and finally said, “Okay.”

Feeling like he was going mad, Chen Yunlan had traveled all this way to the bar and ended up not drinking. He spent nearly half an hour sipping on the glass of orange juice.

Later, as his gaze fell upon the colorful dance floor, Chen Yunlan inexplicably felt a wave of boredom. He quickly settled the bill and left the bar.

“Take care, Mr. Chen,” the bartender bid farewell, watching Chen Yunlan leave. He had a premonition that it might be a long time before he saw Mr. Chen again, or perhaps he would never see him here again because Mr. Chen’s demeanor never quite blended in here, even during that period.

Mr. Chen always seemed like a transient, devoid of emotions, observing everything with a cold eye.

During that time, he indulged himself quite recklessly, accepting everything that came his way. Yet, even in this state, Mr. Chen didn’t consider it pleasure. It could even be described as a form of punishment.

And Mr. Chen seemed to be seeking revenge through this punishment.

The bartender pondered and then withdrew the glass of alcohol he had just prepared for Chen Yunlan.

“Just this glass,” a voice came from the bar counter, and the bartender found another person seated there.

Raising his eyes, the bartender met a handsome face, distinct features, with eyes that seemed to shimmer with a hint of blue.

Though there were traces of gray at his temples, due to the passage of time, it only made him appear more mature, more attractive.

“If you wish, sir, I can make you another drink, this was intended for the previous customer,” the bartender apologized.

“I’ll have this one,” the man said, perhaps with a hint of a smile, but his tone was undeniably authoritative.

Resigned, the bartender pushed the glass towards the man. “Sir, please.”

The man picked up the glass and downed its contents in one go. As the liquid entered his mouth, it was like a burst of fire, burning all the way down to his stomach, warming his entire being.

The fire burned for a long time, but for the man, it seemed like nothing had happened at all. He set down the glass and asked, “What is this drink called?”

“A Cup of Seeking Drunkenness,” the bartender replied truthfully.

With an alcohol content reaching a staggering 70, anyone with an average tolerance would naturally lose their senses after consuming this drink. Apart from this man, only Mr. Chen before him dared to down it in one go.

“A Cup of Seeking Drunkenness…?” The man’s gaze fell upon the glass, the blue light in his eyes seemingly clearer.

“Sir, are you alright?” The bartender was a bit worried. This gentleman had just consumed a high-concentration cocktail, and seeing him bow his head, there was concern that he might be intoxicated.

“I’m fine.” The man raised his head, his eyes clear, apparently unaffected by the drink.

Then, he took out money from his wallet to settle the bill.

Despite his appearance suggesting some years, he couldn’t hide his handsome features and the commanding aura. Right now, in the bar, he was a beacon of attention, drawing gazes since he entered.

At that moment, noticing the man’s intention to pay and leave, the various men and women who were trying to charm him couldn’t sit still. They immediately crowded around, trying to strike up conversations.

However, regardless of their attractiveness or elegance, the man didn’t spare them a glance. “Sir, the previous customer has already paid for this drink; you don’t need to pay again,” the bartender informed him truthfully, ignoring the blossoming romantic interests around the man.

While the man continued to take money out of his wallet, he placed several large bills on the counter without asking the price. Ignoring the flurry of attention around him, he turned and left.

Once outside the bar, Chen Yunlan had already left, and without pausing, the man got into a waiting car and instructed the driver to head back.

Chen Yunlan didn’t return to Wei Chen and Chen Li’s home but went back to his own villa. The villa had been uninhabited for some time, but due to regular cleaning by housekeeping, it remained spotless.

Upon arriving home, Chen Yunlan headed straight to the bathroom, took a shower, and then collapsed onto the bed.

It was another sleepless night for Chen Yunlan, his mind feeling even more chaotic than usual. Images rushed in without order, a tangled mess. Eventually, feeling his head was about to explode, he simply moved to the balcony, grabbed his sketchbook, and spent the whole night drawing, staying up until dawn.

This was typical of Chen Yunlan over the past many years.

The winter night seemed endless. When the darkness completely faded, Chen Yunlan had finished a painting. However, upon looking at it, he felt dissatisfied and tore it down.

Amidst eager anticipation, daylight arrived.

After finishing his morning routine, Chen Yunlan drove to Q University. He intended to confront Zhuge Yu and find out why he was handed those vouchers for the hot spring hotel.

Chen Yunlan knew these vouchers weren’t passed to him because Zhuge Yu didn’t have time to use them; they were meant for him originally. But to avoid directly giving them to him, Zhuge Yu had handed them over through another.

It wasn’t an interrogation; he just sought an answer.

About an hour later, Chen Yunlan arrived at Q University and went directly to Zhuge Yu’s office. Unfortunately, Zhuge Yu was in a meeting.

Chen Yunlan was patient. He waited in Zhuge Yu’s office, and after half an hour, Zhuge Yu finally finished the meeting and returned to his office.

As Zhuge Yu reached the office door, he saw Chen Yunlan calmly sitting in his seat. Feeling startled, Zhuge Yu swiftly turned away as if a mouse had seen a cat and left, clearly exhibiting a guilty demeanor.

“Zhuge Yu, go ahead, I’ll wait here until you come back,” Chen Yunlan said casually, leaning back in the chair, watching Zhuge Yu’s retreating figure.

As the saying goes, what goes around comes around. Chen Yunlan didn’t believe Zhuge Yu could avoid his office forever.

Understanding Chen Yunlan’s determination, Zhuge Yu reluctantly halted his steps and returned to his office.

“Zhuge Yu, tell me, why did you agree to pass those hot spring vouchers from Mr. Xie to me?” Chen Yunlan cut to the chase.

Zhuge Yu thought to himself, ‘As expected.’ Though exposed, he was still trying to play dumb. “Yunlan, who is this Mr. Xie you’re talking about? I don’t know him.”

Chen Yunlan just stared at Zhuge Yu, smiling without saying a word.

Zhuge Yu remained silent, holding his ground against Chen Yunlan.

It became a test of patience, and evidently, Zhuge Yu didn’t possess the same level of patience as Chen Yunlan. His patience was dedicated to art, leaving him slightly impatient in other aspects.

“Okay, okay, I’ll talk,” Zhuge Yu suddenly gave in, all his previous confidence disappearing.

Chen Yunlan raised an eyebrow, silently signaling, “Now you can start your performance.”

Zhuge Yu got up, poured himself a glass of water, feeling a bit parched. After drinking the water, he felt better and said, “Let’s call it an exchange of favors.”

“What kind of favor?” Chen Yunlan inquired.

Taking another sip of water, Zhuge Yu moistened his throat before speaking, “Mr. Xie resolved a long-standing doubt in my mind. In exchange for that, I handed those hot spring hotel vouchers to you.”

Furrowing his brow, Chen Yunlan pressed on, “What doubt?”

Shaking his head, Zhuge Yu firmly stated, “I can’t tell you now. Let me verify the truth of this issue first.”

Seeing Zhuge Yu’s resolve, Chen Yunlan realized he wouldn’t get any more information today. He stood up. “Zhuge Yu, I hope you won’t meddle in my affairs in the future.”

“Alright,” Zhuge Yu agreed straightforwardly but added a condition, “But you also have to promise me not to torment yourself no matter what difficulties you face.”

“You…” Chen Yunlan’s gaze sharpened due to Zhuge Yu’s words, probing for meaning.

However, in the next moment, Zhuge Yu reverted to his nonchalant self, grinning mischievously. “Alright, alright. I won’t bother with your matters. Since you’re here, help me pass this on to Xiao Li,” he said, taking a folder from his desk drawer and handing it to Chen Yunlan.

“What’s this?”

“Here’s an appointment letter. The college has decided to hire Xiao Li as a teacher at Q University’s School of Fine Arts, starting from the next semester,” Zhuge Yu explained, his tone filled with pride. His student not only graduated ahead of time but was also retained as a teacher by the school. “However, I haven’t informed Xiao Li about this yet. You can ask him if he agrees. The college is waiting for his response.”

Zhuge Yu pondered for a moment and added, “But don’t worry. The school has also considered Xiao Li’s situation. The meeting I just concluded was specifically about inviting Xiao Li back to teach. Due to his special circumstances, his class schedule for the next semester won’t be too tight; it’ll be quite relaxed.”

Naturally, Zhuge Yu was fully supportive of his student. He understood Chen Li’s situation better than anyone else, especially with the addition of Qiuqiu. So, during the recent meeting, he fought hard to secure some benefits for Chen Li.

Of course, Zhuge Yu knew that the college agreed to his requests not only because of his reputation but mainly because Chen Li’s status in the art world had changed drastically. Not just Q University, even top-notch art schools abroad were eager to have Chen Li join them. Offers were pouring in for Chen Li to teach, all thanks to being nominated by the highest leader of China for an exhibition themed “Chinese Dream.”

Initially, the conditions proposed by the Cultural Propaganda Department and Zhuge Yu were for this exhibition to tour globally. After concluding in the capital, these twenty paintings were taken to other countries.

Although these paintings were rooted in China’s history, the emotions they conveyed were universal. Moreover, with China’s diaspora worldwide, this exhibition caused a sensation wherever it went. Countless media outlets covered the exhibition, touching the hearts of many.

Thanks to this tour, Chen Li’s name resounded internationally, becoming another renowned artist from China on the global stage.

Due to this recognition, art schools worldwide hoped to incorporate Chen Li into their institutions to enhance their reputation and teaching staff.

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