"Otherwise, where else could I go?"
Shang Yongwen laughed, "I don’t have the same abilities as you. I’m quite content with my life now."
Lan Peizhi took a sip of her drink.
She drank differently from most women, boldly downing a small cup in one gulp, emptying the glass in the blink of an eye.
"Haven’t seen you in so long, and your tolerance for alcohol has surprisingly improved," Shang Yongwen remarked before asking, "Want another?"
Lan Peizhi set down her glass and, though she didn’t speak, their mutual understanding remained.
Without urging her, Shang Yongwen picked up the bottle and filled her glass again.
"Mr. Jiang is a decent man."
Lan Peizhi’s lips slightly curled, "You’ve only met him twice, how would you know he’s decent?"
"Not only women have intuition."
Shang Yongwen laughed, "I may never have left our village, but I’ve seen a lot of human nature. In this respect, I’m definitely not inferior to you."
He laughed and took a swig of his drink, "Besides, the fact you brought him here already proves my judgment wasn’t wrong, doesn’t it."
Lan Peizhi gave no response.
"How’s your breeding business doing?"
A touch of pride flashed across Shang Yongwen’s face, "Making a tidy little sum of several hundred thousand today shouldn’t be a problem. I heard they’re about to set up a cooperative in the village. Once that happens, costs will go down, and profits will soar even higher."
Lan Peizhi smiled faintly.
"You’re quite content."
"That’s how people should be, content. Thinking back to our childhood, our lives now are what we once dreamed of, aren’t they?"
Lan Peizhi held her smile and lifted her glass.
Shang Yongwen clinked glasses with her.
Jiang Chen went to the restroom and never returned.
Lan Peizhi and Shang Yongwen didn’t find it odd.
The two childhood friends, reunited after many years, drank together for over an hour.
"You should head back, don’t keep them waiting too long."
Lan Peizhi nodded slightly.
Shang Yongwen wasn’t drunk, but the alcohol had gone to his face, leaving him with reddened cheeks and ears. In contrast, Lan Peizhi was unfazed.
He rose to see her off.
As Lan Peizhi stepped over the threshold, she could see Jiang Chen standing by the car, as if admiring the scenery of a sunset turning into moonrise.
"This is far enough."
Shang Yongwen stopped, "Alright."
"You’re not getting any younger and you’re still single. It’s time you thought about your own life."
Lan Peizhi said softly.
Shang Yongwen chuckled, "I know, I know. Will you come when I host a banquet?"
"I’ll be there for sure."
"Then that’s settled."
Lan Peizhi stepped forward again.
Not all farewells are earth-shattering.
No one knew that one farewell would split what was once a shared fate into two different worlds.
This time was the same.
When the next meeting would be.
Lan Peizhi walked to the side of the car.
Jiang Chen, as if sensing something, turned around, "Finished eating?"
Lan Peizhi looked at him and unexpectedly said a phrase.
Jiang Chen smiled slightly, "It’s nothing."
Lan Peizhi tossed the keys over to him.
The two got into the car.
Just as Jiang Chen was about to start the car, he heard a shout.
He rolled down the window.
Shang Yongwen stuffed a bag of shrimp through the window.
"Martial Saint asked me for shrimp to eat before; take them back to him. I’ve been busy recently and might forget."
Jiang Chen twisted around to place the shrimp on the back seat.
"Let’s go," Shang Yongwen waved goodbye.
Jiang Chen glanced at the silent Lan Peizhi, rolled up the window, and started the car.
Watching the departing BMW, Shang Yongwen kept his smile, radiating a sense of openness. His gaze was as peaceful and serene as the nighttime village.