Chapter 2 The Drunk Woman

The man flicked the ash from his cigarette and quietly watched as the speed of the liquor bottle's rotation slowed, eventually stopping. The people, who had been holding their breath in silence for so long, finally let out a sigh. They were amazed by the bartender's skillful technique, but what weighed on them more was a sense of loss. How wonderful it would have been to watch just for one more second, even if only for a second.

The liquor was poured into the glass—neither too much nor too little.

Lilac stared quietly at the drink. In the pale yellow liquid, there was a dot of crimson. She cautiously lifted the glass, and that dot of red slowly spread, turning the entire glass of liquor a deep shade of red.

"A good cocktail should live up to its name," the man said casually. "If you watch quietly, it's always so beautiful, but once you can't resist touching it, the original beauty can never be recreated. This... is like a virgin."

Lilac's gaze began to burn with intensity as she brought the glass to her lips and took a sip. The eyes of the other guests and bartenders all fell on her face.

After taking the sip, her expression suddenly froze. The taste that spread on her tongue was faintly metallic, with a subtle spiciness. In that moment, it was as if she saw a young girl's sorrowful eyes. Something sharp pierced her soft heart, and after a brief moment of nose-tingling sadness, tears began to flow.

At that moment, the air in the bar seemed to be sucked out. People's breaths were stuck in their throats, unable to escape.

What kind of drink was this, that could make the finest sommeliers and the proudest women of Longdu shed tears?

Lilac slowly set down the glass, her moist eyes looking at the man with a gaze full of admiration and gratitude. She was grateful that this man had allowed her to taste such an exquisite drink in her lifetime.

"May I ask your name, sir?" This was the first time she had felt so eager in front of a stranger.

"Ye Chenghuan," the man said calmly.

"May I ask where you work?"

"I don't really work anywhere prestigious, just a small security guard."

Lilac froze. She couldn't believe that a mere security guard could craft such an exquisite cocktail.

"Beauty, it's my turn to kiss you now, hehe," Ye Chenghuan said, stretching his arms and rubbing his hands together. He downed the remaining half of his drink in one gulp, and suddenly cupped Lilac's head in one hand, lifting her white leg with the other, bending down to kiss her full, luscious lips.

Lilac was completely unprepared for his bold move. She thought he would just give her a symbolic kiss on the cheek, but instead…

She widened her beautiful eyes, allowing him to pass the drink, mixed with a faint taste of tobacco, into her mouth. Her body, however, didn't have the strength to resist.

After a deep kiss, Ye Chenghuan let her go, licking his lips lewdly. "So delicious."

"You're asking for trouble!" Several men rolled up their sleeves, ready to act.

Ye Chenghuan stepped back. "We agreed, no fighting."

Lilac had never been treated so lightly. A sharp glint flashed in her eyes, but she quickly regained her composure.

"Wait! I'll admit defeat. Mr. Ye's drinks are on the house for tonight!"

Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried an air of unspoken authority.

A cocktail earned a beautiful boss's kiss, and the chance to drink for free all night—many in the bar thought this shabby, lecherous guy had really struck it rich.

At that moment, a major news story on the television caught everyone's attention. CIA Director David Petraeus announced his resignation to President Obama due to an extramarital affair. Obama had accepted his resignation request that same day. A few days ago, Petraeus had stated on CNN that while he had made a huge mistake, he denied providing any classified documents to his biographer or his affair partner. However, the U.S. Attorney General later revealed that the FBI investigation into Petraeus's affair had initially found no evidence of leaked classified information, but just before his resignation, new developments had been uncovered and reported to the White House and Congress...

This sensational scandal became the topic of heated discussions among the bar patrons, as they shared their thoughts and emotions.

Ye Chenghuan continued to drink quietly, frowning as he sighed softly. "These kids were calm for a few days, and now they're causing trouble again…"

The table in front of him was covered with empty bottles. Despite being drunk, his grip on the Martini glass remained flawless.

He drank the amber liquid in one gulp, the spicy liquor sliding down his throat like molten mercury, causing his entire body to burn with warmth.

Just as he reached for the next drink, a small, delicate hand, smooth like ivory, stretched out from the side and grabbed the glass first.

In his blurred vision, a pair of long, straight legs appeared, slowly rising as his gaze moved upward. He quickly noticed a flat abdomen with no excess flesh, a proud chest, a graceful, swan-like neck, and when he reached her face, his breath caught in his throat.

"May I sit here?"

A heavenly voice asked. He nodded absentmindedly, pinching his brows as the last bit of clarity entered his mind: it seemed like he had gotten drunk too soon.

At this time, many people in the city were still asleep. In a small, shabby apartment in the southern part of the city, the first rays of the morning sun quietly crept up the windowsill, as if peeking mischievously inside.

The sunlight filtered through the dim light and slowly climbed onto a simple wooden bed, pausing on a man's cheek, curiously observing him.

From his slightly furrowed brows and twitching eyelids, it was clear that his dream wasn't pleasant. His slightly parted lips seemed to whisper a secret from deep inside.

After some time, Ye Chenghuan slowly sat up, the sunlight scattering as it fell back on his broad, muscular back.

He rubbed his aching head, his brows tightly knotted. He was too lazy to open his eyes, reaching for his clothes by the bed, only to unexpectedly touch a soft, smooth body.

He forced his eyes open and immediately frowned. There, lying beside him, was a stranger—a beautiful stranger, whose face, once seen, could never be forgotten.