Chapter 35 Consider It an Interlude

Chapter 35: Think of It as a Bonus Show

Back at the bar, Shi Yu changed into the clothes he'd worn when he left.

There was only him and a table full of alcohol in the private room. He downed one drink after another.

The bartender walked in: "Boss, Young Master Jing is here."

Shi Yu didn't even lift his eyes: "Tell him to fuck off."

"Our Master Yu sure has a temper, won't even see me." As he spoke, Jing Tingshen had already barged in and sat down beside Shi Yu, reaching out to put an arm around him: "I heard you were here, so I came all the way to find you."

Shi Yu held his glass, glancing at the hand on his shoulder: "Get it off."

Jing Tingshen grudgingly took his hand off Shi Yu: "Why sulk alone? Come on, let me drink with you!" He looked at the bartender: "Go get my stash of wine."

The bartender glanced at Shi Yu, and after receiving his subtle signal, bowed and scraped: "Yes, Young Master Jing."

Along with Jing Tingshen's wine, several male escorts also came in.

As soon as they entered the private room, they lunged at Jing Tingshen: "Master Jing, it's been ages since you visited us."

Jing Tingshen waved them off trying to shoo them away: "I'm here to hang with Master Yu, so don't butt in."

One quick-witted guy ran over to Shi Yu: "Master Yu, you sure you don't want us around? Just drinking is boring."

Shi Yu: "Yeah, it is. You can stay."

The young men cheered ecstatically: "Thank you, Master Yu."

Jing Tingshen stared at Shi Yu, then whispered something to the young man beside him. The young man glanced at Shi Yu and left the private room.

Shi Yu pretended not to notice Jing Tingshen's little scheme.

After all, this bar was his, so Jing Tingshen's little games were just a bonus show.

Good thing Jing Tingshen didn't know the bar was his, or he wouldn't have this fun at all.

Soon, Shi Yu's phone rang. He answered it in front of Jing Tingshen: "What's up?"

It was the guy who'd just left the room: "Boss, Master Jing told me to get strong booze to get you hammered."

Shi Yu: "Okay, got it."

After hanging up, Jing Tingshen leaned in curiously: "Who the hell calls at this hour, ruining Master Yu's mood?"

Shi Yu raised his glass in a toast to Jing Tingshen: "Some clueless idiot. I've already sent someone to handle it."

Jing Tingshen laughed: "Tonight, we drink till we drop!" He put his arm around a young man's waist, his gaze sweeping over Shi Yu's face: "Whoever drinks the most tonight wins the jackpot."

Shi Yu smiled and responded: "I'll raise the stakes."

The private room instantly erupted with enthusiastic responses: "Looks like Master Jing and Master Yu are gonna drop some serious cash."

—

Jiang Ji returned to the Shi residence. As soon as he got out of the car, he instinctively looked up at Shi Yu's window, only to find it dark.

If Shi Yu were home, the light would never be off.

Shi Yu wasn't home?

Just as he was wondering, Shi Yu (the younger brother) ran out: "Brother Jiangji, you're back..."

But to his surprise, Jiang Ji's first question was: "Is the young master not home?"

Hearing Jiang Ji ask about his brother, the younger Shi Yu forced a smile: "Xiao Yu just called, said he's not coming back tonight. From the sound of it, he's probably at a bar."

Without a second thought, Jiang Ji climbed back into the car.

Seeing this, Shi Yu grabbed the car door: "Brother Jiangji, where you headed?"

Jiang Ji: "I'm going to get the young master."

Watching the car disappear, the younger Shi Yu bit his lip so hard it went white. Didn't Brother Jiangji hate that guy? Why would he go after him?

—

At the bar, Jing Tingshen hit the floor like a sack of potatoes.

Shi Yu, clear-headed, crouched down and patted Jing Tingshen's face: "I was gonna get to you later, but you just had to walk right into it."

Ever since Jiang Ji got back, Shi Yu never came to the bar, scared Jiang Ji would discover he owned it. To keep his distance from the bar, he'd called Jing Tingshen for the pills. That was a stupid move, and it got him trapped.

He'd never taken Jing seriously—just a rich brat with connections, not too bright, but useful to keep around. Never thought the guy he looked down on most would be the one to screw him over.

It was true what they said: never trust anyone too much; you never know if the one plotting against you is an ant or an elephant.

"Send him to a hotel and get him some beefy male escorts to have a good time. Make sure to notify the reporters and media. Better yet, have tomorrow's headline read: 'Eldest Young Master of the Jing Family Caught at a Wild Party.'"

Shi Yu pulled out a tissue to wipe the hand that had touched Jing Tingshen: "Before sending him, make sure you film it to prove it was totally consensual." He emphasized the word "consensual": "That way, he can't cause trouble later."

After having Jing Tingshen carried away, Shi Yu went to the back door of the bar.

He didn't leave immediately. Instead, he sat on a stack of wooden crates, taking out a carving knife and half a palm-sized piece of wood from his pocket.

But as he made the first cut, he suddenly froze, hit by a wave of "what the hell to carve."

At the age of ten, Shi Yu had fallen seriously ill. He didn't know who had taken him from the hospital; he only remembered that when he opened his eyes, the first person he saw was that mute woman.

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