It's just The Sims, how did it become my ideal love story?

Chapter 26, bring on a dozen!
In fact, neither my hometown, Jicheng, nor the provincial capital where I have worked and lived for several years can be described as a high-quality city.

Despite the progress of the times and the development of the internet, which has propelled the provincial capital to become a nationally renowned first-tier city, some of its inherent characteristics, or rather, its ingrained nature, remain difficult to change.

For example, in the provincial capital, you can still see middle-aged men walking around shirtless, and middle-aged women haggling and cursing at the market. Perhaps some things will only change when the younger generation truly grows up.

However, the occurrence of such a situation now cannot be considered too rare.

In my memory, after evening self-study in high school, if it was a little late, I would see men and women arguing at the late-night food stalls on the street, and some would even pick up bottles and start fighting on the spot. At the time, Gu Huai was determined not to get involved in the commotion and would hurry home. The next day, he would hear about the fight that had happened where he had passed by the day before, who had been hospitalized, and who had been taken away by the police.

Therefore, he always had a clear understanding of the consequences of conflict. It wasn't some principle of avoiding conflict for the happy; he simply didn't want to get hurt or take on any trouble.

When this man, who looked quite drunk, ignored him and walked up to Cai Yan, Gu Huai immediately realized what was going on. Another man, drunk and indulging his emotions.

They dared not flirt with young women in grand settings or upscale restaurants, but they confidently believed that in places like late-night food stalls, they were among the most handsome men, and every gesture of tilting their heads back to chug a bottle was full of charm.

However, there was no need to wait for Gu Huai to have any special reaction. Cai Yan, who seemed to encounter this kind of thing often, did not panic at all.

There wasn't even a hint of embarrassment or bewilderment on his face.

She coldly raised her head to look at the wine bottle being offered to her, and at the man with a flushed face and a drunken expression.

"Excuse me, I don't drink with strangers."

The man paused for a moment, but seemed quite shameless, grinning obsequiously, and said, "Oh, now that we know each other, we're not strangers anymore, right? Besides, I'm just sitting here alone."

"Alone? My boyfriend is right here, didn't you see him?"

Her gaze fell on Gu Huai.

Gu Huai was also stunned for a moment, then immediately realized that his biggest role in this situation was indeed to act as a shield.

The drunken man hesitated and turned his head, only to see Gu Huai looking at him.

"Where is there another person?"

Gu Huai wanted to roll his eyes.

So, my five points of charm were wasted, huh? It's not even a question of whether I look good or not, it's that I'm completely invisible! Dude, you're so transparent, you've disappeared into thin air?
In the past, Gu Huai would probably have been at a loss for words in the face of such a gaze, unsure how to handle a situation that seemed like conflict was imminent. But after Zhang Xun and what happened today, strangely enough, he felt a sense of confidence deep down.

Even if it was just to repay Cai Yan for her help today, Gu Huai was prepared to be a good shield.

He looked at the other person and met his slightly drunken eyes.

"Haven't I been here the whole time? Sorry, my girlfriend really doesn't drink with other people."

Upon hearing Gu Huai's words, Cai Yan's lips curled into a barely perceptible smile. She tilted her head slightly, casually resting her elbow on the armrest of the chair, her palm supporting her chin.

It was as if she had truly entrusted everything to her 'boyfriend'.

As soon as Gu Huai finished speaking, laughter erupted from another table. It was probably the drunkard's friends laughing at his failed attempt to pick up a girl.

Upon hearing that sound, Gu Huai knew he was in for trouble.

Men are such easy-to-understand creatures; they can really get carried away by the cheers and jeers of others.

Once they feel humiliated, they won't know when to stop, especially when they've been drinking; they're more likely to turn into thugs.

His face immediately flushed even more, and then he said to Gu Huai in a disdainful tone.

"This guy can be your boyfriend? His taste is terrible. I'm telling you, break up with him now, it's not too late."

Why is it even involving personal attacks?
However, before Gu Huai could speak, Cai Yan couldn't help but laugh.

"What's it to you? I like it this way, it's better than you. I told you, I won't drink with you."

The man couldn't hold back his anger when he heard such humiliation.

What kind of attitude is that?!

Gu Huai didn't think much of it. Although that incurable tension still appeared in his body, it was almost instinctive. He pushed back his chair and stood up.

The man immediately looked at him.

He gripped the wine bottle tightly in his hand.

It seems that some critical situations are about to break out, but in the end, this era is no longer the unbridled and chaotic era of the past. It is no longer an era where it is about who is more ruthless.

"What's the fuss about?"

The boss, still wearing an apron, holding a cleaver, with a face full of scars and looking like a butcher, came out.

He yelled at the man with the bottle.

"How much horse piss did you drink before you started causing trouble? You want to ruin my place, huh?! Don't you even know what you've done?!"

Most men are bullies who prey on the weak and fear the strong, especially this kind of fierce and menacing boss.

It looked like they were about to grab a knife and turn him into a kebab at any moment. The man immediately flinched.

The boss glared at him fiercely, "Go back and eat your meal properly! Don't cause trouble and disturb other people's dining!"

The drunkard didn't dare utter a single harsh word, and slunk back to his table. Not long after, he and his companions paid the bill and left.

The fierce-looking boss, however, became very polite when he saw Gu Huai and Cai Yan standing up, and said apologetically.

"I'm sorry, there are always people who get drunk and don't know who they are and cause trouble. But don't worry, no one will dare to cause trouble here. Please enjoy your meal. I'm so sorry."

She even handed Gu Huai a Furongwang cigarette.

Gu Huai sat down again, lit a cigarette, and naturally exhaled a puff, only then feeling the tension subside slightly.

To be honest, it's fortunate that this boss is sensible, otherwise Gu Huai really wouldn't know what to do.

If it escalates into a fight, I'll end up in jail.

Simply getting beaten up would be too humiliating; you'd be at a disadvantage no matter what.

Seeing Gu Huai smoking, Cai Yan didn't show any disgust.

Just saying.

"Were you really planning to fight someone just now?"

Gu Huai shook his head honestly, "Standing up just makes me look imposing. Actually, I rarely get into conflicts with people, and the cost of fighting is too high these days."

Cai Yan thought for a moment and said, "Actually, I was a little worried just now."

"Ok?"

"I was the one who said you were my boyfriend, so if you suffer because of it, I bear some responsibility."

Gu Huai thought for a moment. If he could be her boyfriend, paying this price didn't seem like a bad deal. But didn't she already have a boyfriend? Why think about such unrealistic things?

"It's nothing. It's just the two of us anyway. It wouldn't be right for me to just watch you get harassed here."

"You're quite responsible."

"This isn't about my sense of responsibility; to be precise, it's the sense of responsibility that society places on men. If I didn't react at this moment, wouldn't people everywhere say I'm not a man?"

Cai Yan couldn't help but laugh.

"Your way of being humble is quite unique, but to be honest, you're not entirely without merits."

"Ok?"

Gu Huai, who was exhaling smoke, looked at the other person strangely.

He saw Cai Yan staring at him; under the night sky, her eyes seemed to gleam with starlight under the bright lights of the barbecue restaurant's signboard.

"I felt very safe just now."

Hearing such words and seeing such an expression can easily lead to subconscious misunderstandings.

It seems that only by constantly telling myself: "She has a boyfriend, she has a boyfriend. You've just acted like a man a little bit this time. Don't overthink it." can I calm down my fluctuating emotions.

Just then, some grilled skewers were served, and the dozen beers that Cai Yan had ordered were also brought to the table.

This unsettling atmosphere was slightly interrupted.

Gu Huai pretended to open a beer with a bottle opener, ignoring the smoke from the cigarette dangling from his mouth that was stinging his eyes.

Looking at Gu Huai, who seemed very busy, Cai Yan seemed to remember something.

"Oh, right, I just said you're my boyfriend."

"Don't worry, I'm not the kind of person who would be so presumptuous as to take it seriously."

Gu Huai quickly assured him that this wasn't about trying to impress the other party, but rather about reminding himself to stay rational and clear-headed.

Life does seem to have undergone a huge change, and everything seems to be moving in a positive direction. But once things get too big, the feeling of falling to the bottom might be even more hellish than before.

But upon hearing Gu Huai's urgent expression...

Cai Yan couldn't help but frown.

Her voice even sounded a bit colder.

"One dozen beers doesn't seem enough, let's get another dozen."

Gu Huai: ? ? ?
Who upset her?!
……

(End of this chapter)