Wen Jiu’s understanding of Li Juezhou came entirely from Shen Fang. She only knew that Li Juezhou had the backing of Hai Chuan Group and was quite the competent rich kid.
To be honest, there wasn’t really anything wrong with Li Juezhou.
But based on Wen Jiu’s experience, the more perfect a man seemed the more suspicious he was. She didn’t want Sang Ning to be deceived.
"Don’t worry, Xiao Jiu. You don’t need to be concerned. I haven’t agreed to make him official yet. If I find out there’s something wrong with him, I can fire him anytime," Sang Ning replied with a laugh.
Her carefree attitude somewhat eased Wen Jiu’s concerns. It seemed Sang Ning wasn’t too invested—likely just treating it as casual fun.
The four of them reached the bar counter and ordered their preferred drinks.
To Sang Ning’s surprise, Wen Jiu ordered an extremely high-proof liquor.
She couldn’t help but sweat on Wen Jiu’s behalf, wondering if this girl would still be able to stand after a while.
"Xiao Jiu, why not drink mine? It’s a fruity alcoholic drink; you won’t get drunk from it," Sang Ning offered.
She suggested swapping glasses, knowing she was confident in her tolerance and unlikely to get drunk easily.
"No," Wen Jiu clung tightly to her glass like a mother hen shielding her chicks. "The pressure of starting my company and running a business is already enormous. Can’t I indulge myself once in a while?"
"Fine," Sang Ning relented, pulling her hand back. With her keeping an eye on things, nothing too serious should happen.
Sang Ning picked up a wine glass and leisurely sipped her fruity cocktail, her gaze wandering around the dance floor.
No sign of Li Juezhou. Where did that guy sneak off to?
Forget it—who cares? He’s a grown man; what trouble could he possibly get into?
Soon enough, Wang Qiuhong and Xi Meina finished their first drinks and ordered their second rounds.
Wen Jiu wasn’t far behind; her drink was already halfway empty, and her head had started lolling to the side.
Sang Ning raised her hand to steady Wen Jiu’s head as it nearly leaned over to her. "Xiao Jiu, if you can’t handle it, just stop. You’re not even done with one glass, and I can already tell you’re drunk."
"No, I want to keep drinking!" Wen Jiu tilted her head to the side sharply, then dropped it forward heavily, glancing up at Sang Ning with an exaggerated roll of her eyes. "Sangsang, I’m not drunk!"
Yeah, right. Drunk people never admit they’re drunk.
Wen Jiu’s eyes were already wandering aimlessly. She couldn’t even keep her head upright, yet still insisted she wasn’t intoxicated!
"How many is this?" Sang Ning held up one finger right in front of Wen Jiu’s eyes.
Wen Jiu, face flushed and neck stiff, mechanically turned her head, her expression dull. "That’s Shen Fang."
There’s no reasoning with a drunk. Sang Ning slowly curled her outstretched finger, grouping it with the rest to form a fist.
She genuinely felt like punching someone—what to do?
Wen Jiu, what’s with her? If she liked Shen Fang, why not just muster up the courage to be with him?
Isn’t life about seeking satisfaction? Wen Jiu was going to drive herself into depression with all her needless drama.
Sang Ning, frustrated and helpless, signaled the bartender when she saw Wen Jiu trying to order a refill, asking him to swap her drink with one of a lower alcohol content.
Meanwhile, Wang Qiuhong and Xi Meina had completely gone wild. Judging by their stamina, both were heavy drinkers, now engaged in a drinking battle.
One drink followed another, as if challenging who would be the first to drop tonight.
Sang Ning couldn’t take it anymore and tried advising them to pace themselves, but it was useless!
The two even shamelessly asked Sang Ning to act as their referee.
Glancing to her side, Sang Ning noticed Wen Jiu sprawled across the bar counter, clutching her glass, radiating a melancholic air.
Feeling frustrated, Sang Ning downed a gulp of her own drink.
Seriously, the night seemed to have granted these three women their boundless courage.
Little did Sang Ning know, their recklessness stemmed entirely from her presence.
Xi Meina wasn’t a stranger to Blue Sea Bar, but she’d never let go before.
Although this was a high-end establishment, risks to personal safety still weren’t entirely absent.
This time, however, with Sang Ning around, the others felt completely at ease. They trusted Sang Ning completely, confident in her ability to protect all three of them if needed.
Unbeknownst to Sang Ning, she had unwittingly been designated as their bodyguard.
And indeed, just as the others had hoped, Sang Ning took on her role dutifully, granting them the freedom to drink their hearts out without a care.
Throughout their revelry, several lecherous men attempted to move in on them but were efficiently scared off by Sang Ning’s physical intimidation.
By the time the three women reached their limits, utterly drunk, not a single unpleasant incident had occurred.
"Sangsang, we can go now. I want to go home and sleep!" Wen Jiu clung to Sang Ning’s neck with both arms.
Even as Sang Ning got up from her seat, Wen Jiu refused to let go, hanging onto her like a koala.
Wang Qiuhong and Xi Meina were slumped over the table like two utterly defeated dogs.
"Qiuqiu, Nana, are you alright? Can you walk on your own?" Sang Ning freed one hand and patted both Wang Qiuhong and Xi Meina.
"Walk? Where are you walking? Take my soul with you too!" Xi Meina suddenly burst into song, finger dramatically pointing at the ceiling.
Wang Qiuhong, seemingly entirely limp, somehow mustered enough energy to scream back playfully at Xi Meina, "Nana, my soul is yours. Take me away!"
The two staggered to their feet, almost toppling over.
Sang Ning wanted to help them up, but both her hands were occupied—one was securely holding up Wen Jiu.
"Alright, you two, grab an arm each," Sang Ning suggested, unsure if Wang Qiuhong and Xi Meina still had the strength to hold on.
Stepping backward away from the bar with Wen Jiu in her arms, she allowed Wang Qiuhong and Xi Meina to cling to her arms like two pieces of unrelenting gum as she dragged them along.
It was baffling—was Wen Jiu drunk or not? How could someone supposedly drunk have such incredible grip strength? Even if Sang Ning let go entirely, Wen Jiu could clutch onto her with sheer arm power alone.
With all three women in tow, Sang Ning trudged painfully forward.
Where on earth had Li Juezhou disappeared to? At the moment he was most needed, he was nowhere to be found.
Finally stepping outside, Sang Ning suddenly remembered a critical issue.
Their tab hadn’t been paid yet—and the small balance in her phone surely couldn’t cover the extravagant expenses incurred by these troublesome girls.
"Sangsang, don’t worry about the bill. I have plenty of money stored with Blue Sea. The tab’s probably already settled. Tonight’s drinks are all on me, Young Master Xi!" Despite her gaze beginning to blur, Xi Meina spoke with surprising enthusiasm.
Well, they’d lucked out again, riding on a rich woman’s generosity!