Chapter 28: Didn't He Go to Find You?

The nightclub was awash in the colorful glow of lights and the scent of alcohol. When Jiang Zheng and his companions stepped inside, there were hardly any patrons yet. They had arrived too early to experience the true madness and energy of the night scene.

“This place belongs to a friend of mine. Come on, I’ll show you in,” Gao Fu said, his face adorned with a gentle smile.

Liu Xiao expressed her surprise. “I can’t believe you have a friend who owns a nightclub.”

“It’s nothing special. When you’ve been out in the world for long enough, you end up knowing all sorts of people,” Gao Fu replied with a laugh.

He then led the group to a table, settling in as though he were at home, and invited the three of them to sit. The night was still young, and the place was nearly empty, the atmosphere subdued. But that had its advantages—there was no need for reservations, and plenty of seats to choose from.

Gao Fu then asked, “What would you like to drink?”

Liu Xiao shook her head. “I have no idea. I’ve never had drinks in a nightclub before. You decide.”

Gao Fu’s smile grew even brighter. “How about a Long Island Iced Tea? It’s a cocktail with a subtle tea flavor—quite delicious.”

Liu Xiao declined. “I’m not fond of tea. Is there something else?”

“I’ll order you a fruit cocktail then. It’s sweet, almost like juice,” Gao Fu offered.

“Alright, I’ll have that,” Liu Xiao agreed.

Turning to Jiang Qianyu and Jiang Zheng, Gao Fu asked, “And you two? Any preferences? If not, I’ll order the same for you.”

Jiang Qianyu frowned slightly. “I don’t drink alcohol. Do you have plain water? Just a glass of warm water, please.”

Gao Fu was silent for a moment, then chuckled. “Of course, I’ll get you a glass of water.”

Finally, he looked at Jiang Zheng. “And you, Jiang Zheng?”

Jiang Zheng didn’t respond immediately—he was lost in thought again. It was only when Jiang Qianyu nudged his arm that he snapped back to attention, confused. “What is it?”

“Mr. Gao is asking what you’d like to drink,” Jiang Qianyu explained.

“Anything is fine,” Jiang Zheng replied. He had no preference and didn’t care to think about it, nor did he know what to order.

Gao Fu smiled. “How about a Bloody Mary? It’s a famous cocktail—worth a try.”

With that, he went to place their orders. Soon after, a server arrived with their drinks, setting them on the table before departing.

Gao Fu turned to Liu Xiao. “Just take it slow with this drink. It has quite a kick—don’t get yourself drunk.”

Liu Xiao nodded eagerly, like a little chick pecking at grain.

Jiang Qianyu glanced at Gao Fu, her mind unsettled. When Gao Fu had gone to order, she had done a quick search on fruit cocktails and discovered they could be quite strong—easy for a girl to get drunk on. A man who orders this for a woman usually doesn’t have pure intentions. Yet Gao Fu had openly warned about the drink’s potency. Had she misjudged him? Maybe there was nothing sinister behind his actions.

Still, Jiang Qianyu remained vigilant. She was close with Liu Xiao and didn’t want her to fall into regret from a moment’s carelessness.

They chatted over their drinks, soaking in the nightclub’s ambiance. Gao Fu displayed the utmost gentlemanly manners and a charming wit, frequently drawing laughter from Liu Xiao with a single remark. Despite the drinks before them, they drank little, spending most of the time in conversation.

Time slipped by. Suddenly, Liu Xiao stood up. “I’m going to the restroom. Yueyue, come with me.”

Jiang Qianyu got up to accompany her.

Gao Fu interjected, “Jiang Zheng, go with them. Nightclubs aren’t always safe. It’s better to have a man along.”

Jiang Zheng nodded and followed them.

Liu Xiao, holding Jiang Qianyu’s arm, whispered, “Yueyue, what do you think? Gao Fu seems pretty nice, right?”

Jiang Qianyu smiled. “So far, yes. He’s polite and witty.”

She kept her misgivings to herself. Liu Xiao was already swept up in infatuation and unlikely to heed any warnings. Rather than argue, it was easier to play along.

“I think he’s perfect,” Liu Xiao said, her eyes shining.

Jiang Qianyu didn’t respond. Perfect? In her mind, he was merely adequate. But to a girl blinded by love, beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder.

Liu Xiao continued to praise Gao Fu, while Jiang Qianyu simply listened in silence. After they finished in the restroom, they made their way back. Jiang Qianyu limped, relying on Liu Xiao’s support, so their pace was slow.

A few hours later, Jiang Qianyu’s ankle felt a little better. It still hurt to walk, but Liu Xiao could manage to help her.

Returning to their table, Jiang Qianyu was startled to find someone missing.

“Where’s Jiang Zheng?” she asked.

Gao Fu looked surprised. “Isn’t he with you?”

Jiang Qianyu and Liu Xiao exchanged puzzled glances—they hadn’t seen Jiang Zheng at all.

“So where did he go?” Jiang Qianyu asked, a hint of worry in her voice. Jiang Zheng had come out with them and now was suddenly gone.

“When you two went to the restroom, he seemed concerned and got up to follow you. I thought you were all together, but only you two came back,” Gao Fu explained.

Jiang Qianyu’s brow furrowed. Could Jiang Zheng have gotten lost?

“I’ll go look for him,” she said, getting up.

Gao Fu reassured her, “Don’t worry. He probably just needed the restroom as well, and that’s why he didn’t catch up right away. Why don’t you both wait here? I’ll go check the men’s room.”

Liu Xiao chimed in, “Yueyue, I think Jiang Zheng is probably just in the restroom. Let Gao Fu look for him.”

Jiang Qianyu reluctantly sat back down. The nightclub wasn’t large; it was unlikely someone would get lost. Still, Jiang Zheng’s odd behavior today left her uneasy.

Gao Fu glanced at his watch. “It’s getting late. Let’s have a final toast and call it a night. You should get back to campus.”

He raised his glass. Liu Xiao followed suit without hesitation, while Jiang Qianyu hesitated a moment before lifting her own. Their glasses clinked softly. Gao Fu drained his in one gulp. Liu Xiao took a sip, her cheeks flushing pink, looking even more alluring in the nightclub’s lights. Gao Fu eyed her with a barely disguised hunger, as if he would devour her whole.

Jiang Qianyu drank only plain water. She disliked alcohol, and her caution made her even less inclined. Yet as soon as she swallowed, a foggy dizziness crept over her mind.