Mud beads

Limbo was packed tonight. Ji Yong said they had invited a very famous international DJ.

Yu Zhu followed behind him, entering through a side door. Without having to queue, the manager led them up to the second floor. As soon as the door opened, a wave of sound rushed out, low frequencies rising from the floor, making the entire building sound as if it had been kicked hard from the inside.

The dance floor downstairs was packed with people.

The blond DJ on stage wore headphones, his name flashing on a giant screen behind him. Yu Zhu couldn't pronounce it; she only saw the crowd screaming and holding up their phones. Strobe lights sliced ​​through the throng of people lost in their own world, revealing bare waistlines and long, pale legs in a vibrant matrix. Glasses clinked together, ice cubes rattled. The air was thick with the smells of smoke, alcohol, perfume, sweat, and the stench of dry ice.

Yu Zhu frowned and lowered her head.

She was wearing a plain white T-shirt, black jeans, and old canvas shoes. She had taken off her light jacket and draped it over her arm. The light here was flickering and dim, and no one really noticed her attire. Yet, standing there, she still felt like an exam paper misplaced, completely lost and disoriented.

Ji Yong led her upstairs. There were many people there, and he raised his hand to protect her.

A group of familiar faces sat in the core booths on the second floor.

"Zhuzhu!"

Zhou Qiyu was as warm and generous as ever. When she saw Yu Zhu coming over, her eyes lit up, and she stood up to give her a hug. The silver halter dress clung to Yu Zhu's arm, feeling cool and refreshing.

Yu Zhu smiled and gently patted her back: "Sister Nana."

"You've finally arrived." Zhou Qiyu released the hug, pulled Yu Zhu towards the booth, a thin cigarette between his fingers, not even noticing the ash about to fall. "It was my insistence that Ji Yong pick you up. It's been so long, let's catch up."

At the booth, Song Ban was dressed in a light brown linen short-sleeved shirt and trousers, and unusually, he wasn't wearing his glasses, which made him look more approachable.

He gestured with his chin towards Yu Zhu: "Long time no see, little sister."

After saying that, he moved over to make room for them.

Zhou Qiyu sat down next to Song Ban, then turned to Yu Zhu and patted the sofa: "Zhuzhu, sit next to me."

"Long time no see." Yu Zhu nodded to Song Ban and sat down next to Zhou Qiyu.

Ji Yong sat on the other side of Yu Zhu, smiling sincerely: "Alright, now everyone's here."

Yu Zhu looked up and saw Yue Jianche sitting directly opposite her across a marble round table.

He wasn't wearing a suit tonight. His thin white knitwear draped gracefully over his broad shoulders, revealing a defined collarbone. His hair, un-waxed, hung loosely, partially obscuring his sharp brow bone.

The light shone on his face, and he glanced up at Yu Zhu, his smile sincere: "Yes, long time no see."

Yu Zhu instinctively turned her head, meeting Ji Yong's smiling eyes. He handed her the tablet: "Take a look and see what you'd like to drink?"

Yu Zhu didn't take it, only saying, "Water is fine."

"There aren't any children's tables here." Ji Yong called over a waiter who was waiting nearby, "Bring some of the freshest craft beer."

Before Yu Zhu could wave her hand, Ji Yong had already pressed it down, winked, and said in a cheerful voice, "Don't worry, would I let you drink too much? It's very low in alcohol, just a small beverage."

"That's so cheesy." Zhou Qiyu rolled her eyes at Ji Yong, then reached out to gather the cards spread out on the table. "Come on, let's create some opportunities for our Brother Ji."

Cigarette boxes, lighters, and playing cards were all mixed together. The waiter took several empty glasses, filled them with liquor, and placed them in the center of the table. They were playing Texas Hold'em, and before Yu Zhu could even figure out the rules, two hole cards had already been stuffed into her fingertips.

No one takes winning or losing money seriously; the only punishment is truth or dare. Those who don't want to do it drink alcohol. It's a common pastime among people in the circle.

Song Ban lost quickly, and Zhou Qiyu flipped over the cards in his hand.

"Your skills have gotten quite rusty in just three days," Zhou Qiyu laughed. "So, truth or dare?"

"Bad luck." Song Ban slammed the cards back into the deck. "Truth or dare. Go ahead and ask."

Zhou Qiyu and Ji Yong exchanged a smile. Ji Yong leaned closer to the card table, raised her eyelids slightly, and asked, "What was the last time you cried for reasons other than physical reasons?"

Yu Zhu looked at Song Ban.

Song Ban's smile froze for half a second.

The question sounded simple, but it was actually far too private. Yu Zhu held the glass, the ice water trickling down the sides and into her fingers. She couldn't imagine Song Ban crying; he seemed like a perfectly functioning machine, capable of handling anything rationally.

"If you walk by the river, you're bound to get your shoes wet," Song Ban said. "I advise you to be kind."

Ji Yong laughed unrestrainedly: "Can't you take a joke?"

Leaning back on the sofa, Echizen casually interjected, "Young Master Song wants to play Truth or Dare."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Qiyu became interested and even stopped smoking: "Then call the person you recently blocked in your contacts, put it on speakerphone, and tell them you miss them."

Yu Zhu's eyes widened, and her fingers tightened. Even though she wasn't the one being punished, she felt awkward.

Song Ban didn't show much expression as he took out his phone from his pocket. He scrolled through his contacts slowly with his thumb, and the call rang five times before being answered.

The person opposite me was a young woman with a hoarse voice, as if she had just been woken up.

"Feed?"

Song Ban placed her phone on the table, leaned back, and said calmly, "I miss you."

There was a moment of silence on the other end, then the voice suddenly became clear.

"Neuropathy."

The call was disconnected.

The booth erupted in laughter, with Zhou Qiyu laughing so hard his shoulders were shaking. Ji Yong clinked his glass against Song Ban's: "Young Master Song, your past romance didn't end gracefully, huh?"

Song Ban put his phone down and took a sip of his drink: "It's your turn next round, don't cry."

This group of people are playing a game where they play with other people's past, their pride, and their wounds. The one asking the question laughs, the one answering laughs too, and whoever is truly embarrassed loses.

Yu Zhu sat to the side, intently staring at the cards in her hand, taking only a sip of the craft beer that was served. Unlike them, she was afraid of losing.

Just to be on the safe side, she folded in the next round. Zhou Qiyu had a pair of fours, the lowest possible hand.

Song Ban didn't let her off the hook: "Tell me something you did that could be called 'betrayal'."

Zhou Qiyu didn't even blink. He randomly picked up a glass from the neatly arranged glasses of foreign liquor on the table and downed it in one gulp.

Ji Yong gave a thumbs up: "A heroine among women."

Zhou Qiyu placed the empty cup back on the table, his brows furrowed: "Reopen the game."

The waiter shuffled the cards again and started dealing.

Song Ban was out of luck and folded early. Since a single player cannot fold three consecutive rounds, Yu Zhu had no choice but to call and win. The cards were revealed: four of a kind, a straight, and two pairs—Yu Zhu had a high-ranking hand.

The eyes of those around them gradually fell upon them.

Zhou Qiyu's eyes crinkled into a smile, a slight flush rising on her face: "Zhuzhu, truth or dare?"

Yu Zhu did not answer immediately.

She dared not choose dare. Song Ban's phone call earlier had made her realize that there were no gentle games suitable for her here. If she chose dare, it would most likely be related to Ji Yong.

"Truth or dare," she said, putting down her cards and feigning composure.

Koshima Toru was the biggest winner, but he didn't ask any questions. The second choice was Zhou Qiyu. She tilted her head, thought for a long time, then her eyes lit up, and she raised an eyebrow: "Among all the men and women here, if you had to choose one to sleep with, who would you choose?"

"Wow." Song Ban was the first to clap, blurting out in Cantonese, "That's amazing!"

Yu Zhu was stunned for a moment, her gaze subconsciously sweeping over the people present. After realizing what was happening, her face instantly burned.

She knew they were open about sex; she'd sensed it when she went shopping with Zhou Qiyu before. Sex and love were games, rules, and a way of life in their circle—things that could be openly discussed.

But Yu Zhu couldn't do it.

She didn't dare to think about it.

"I'll drink it." She was true to her word and reached for the glass of liquor in the center of the table.

Ji Yong moved the glass away before she could say anything: "This isn't some light drink; it's very strong."

Zhou Qiyu rested her chin on her hand, her eyes crinkling: "What's wrong with choosing one? It's not like I'm really letting you take it away."

Yu Zhu didn't touch the cup; her hand froze in mid-air before she pulled it back.

"Yeah, pick me." Ji Yong tilted her head to look at her, as if joking, but also offering a way out: "I've already brought you all the way here, it's not too much to ask you to choose me, is it?"

Yu Zhu looked at Ji Yong.

A smile played on his lips, but his eyes weren't unfocused. He was helping her, and he was also waiting for her answer. He knew perfectly well that she had once been interested in Echizen Toru, yet he still brought her here, brought her before Echizen Toru, as if he wanted her to personally draw a line between them.

"Okay." Yu Zhu nodded, a gentle smile on her face. "I choose Ji Yong."

"Really?" Zhou Qiyu wasn't about to give up easily. She reached out and patted Yu Zhu's leg. "This is the truth."

Ji Yong clicked his tongue and was about to speak when Yu Zhu nodded again and quietly said, "Really."

Her voice wasn't loud, but the music downstairs had just stopped, and everyone at the table heard it. Tetsuya Echizen looked at her, his eyebrows slightly raised, his smile still there.

"Did you hear that?" Ji Yong laughed heartily, raising her glass high. "I'm not targeting anyone in particular, I just want to say that everyone here is trash."

Zhou Qiyu laughed heartily, raised his glass, and clinked it with Ji Yong's. Yu Zhu was also caught up in the atmosphere, lowering her head and revealing her first knowing smile of the night.

"Come on, all you trash, let's have a toast together." Zhou Qiyu raised his glass, stood up, and concluded, "What's that popular saying these days—'When the stinky waters of a lowly place meet a kindred spirit'?"

At Zhou Qiyu's suggestion, everyone stood up and clinked glasses, and Yu Zhu also stood up. Her glass was handed over, and it bumped into Yuejian Tetsu's across from her.

The light swept past the corners of his eyes, revealing his narrow, curved eyes and clean, refined smile, devoid of any superfluous emotions.

After clinking glasses, the card game continued.

After a few rounds, Yu Zhu had mastered the game. She learned to play extremely well, never raising the stakes, and appropriately folding, always keeping herself in a position where she wouldn't be penalized but could safely exit the game. No one could find fault with her at all.

By the sixth round, Ji Yong, Zhou Qiyu, and Song Ban all folded, leaving only Yu Zhu and Yue Jian Che at the table.

When two people are betting against each other, there's no reason to fold; they must call to the end.

There were only five empty spaces left on the table for the community cards, and the light fell on the smooth surface of the cards, reflecting a faint, cold light.

Echizen leaned back on the sofa, his posture languid, and placed the cards face down on the table, tapping the surface with his knuckles: "ALL IN".

The booths suddenly fell silent.

Yu Zhu glanced down at her hole cards; going all in pre-flop wasn't a bad move. But facing Yue Jian Che, she wasn't confident.

"Go for it," Ji Yong encouraged from the sidelines. "If you lose, I'll make you drink!"

"I'll call," Yu Zhu said firmly, pushing the chips in front of her.