Chapter 194

Mo Yong Joo-hee asked for a drink of truce, but I never expected Qing to accept it immediately without a second thought.

I had assumed she would refuse.

Of course, being turned down would just leave me feeling like a total fool, thinking, “Well, I guess that’s how it goes.”

I had multiple strategies ready to charm and sweeten the deal, having crafted plans throughout the night based on various potential scenarios, all wasted effort.

What’s going on? Is my acting too good?

Or is she just so spaced out that she genuinely thinks I’m asking for peace?

But after the loud gulp of swallowed saliva, Mo Yong Joo-hee realized the reason.

Ah, that girl. She’s crazy about alcohol.

Oh, so she’s willing to drink, huh? She must think she can break me with booze!

But Mo Yong Joo-hee herself was also a seasoned drinker, having never lost a drinking match from her very first outing to now.

Yet, she was never complacent about her tolerance, especially considering the stakes involved were significant.

Plus, I had my own tricks up my sleeve, so this was a fight I couldn’t lose.

“Do you enjoy drinking, Young Lady Seomun?”

“Sure do. I’d drink even more if I had it.”

“Ah, then since you’ve come to Henan Province, do you know the drink that’s famous here?”

“Uh, could it be… Duogang Liquor?”

“You know it! I’ve prepared a special drink as a sign of reconciliation—Seojung Duogang Liquor brewed with the water from Seohyeop.”

“Seojung Duogang Liquor!”

Qing shouted without realizing it, and soon after, she had a big revelation.

Ah, so that’s why everyone unconsciously shouts when they hear someone’s nickname. It just comes out!

With a flick of her wrist, Mo Yong Joo-hee summoned a woman who brought a wine bottle and cups.

“Here, the drinks are on me, not the Dragon and Phoenix Association. Here’s your first cup, cheers!”

The shot glass for the hard liquor was so small it held only about two spoonfuls, and even filling it halfway would still be just one spoonful.

The clear liquor sloshed around the tiny glass, but its fragrant aroma filled the air, exploding with a floral intensity.

“Wow, just the smell is delightful. Young Lady Mo Yong, you should have a drink too.”

Qing poured liquor into Mo Yong Joo-hee’s cup and returned to her seat. The table was so large that the two women were sitting as far apart as possible in a circular arrangement.

Then, when Qing tried to pour for Gongson Yo-ye, she hesitated and asked, “Wait, have you ever drunk before?”

“No, I haven’t… but I’d like to try.”

…That sounded like, “I want to try with a friend,” and her eagerness was clear to Qing’s keen ears.

Feeling sympathetic again, Qing smiled playfully like an adult teasing a child, explaining the simple rules of drinking.

“Really? You know the first drink at a drinking party is supposed to be downed in one go? So let’s toast. Empty glass. Cheers. But this one’s a bit strong, so only this much for now.”

Qing expertly tilted the bottle, allowing exactly four drops to fall.

“Is that all?”

“If you try that, I think your perspective will change! Now, let’s toast to friendship.”

Qing raised her glass to eye level and drank it all down in one go.

A cold fire ignited as the liquor passed through her throat, and the aroma wafting up mixed with her breath.

Not just the fragrance; it felt like the alcohol was seeping into her very breath, warming all her insides beneath her solar plexus.

Unconsciously, Qing let out a dreamy sigh.

“Haah… that’s the stuff.”

“Cough, cough! Argh!”

Sure enough, a loud cough came from the side.

Qing gently patted Gongson Yo-ye’s back.

“Hey, are you okay? See? It’s not easy, is it?”

“My stomach… it’s on fire. Is it poison?”

“Is there such a fragrant poison? It smells wonderful, doesn’t it?”

“Well, the smell is really nice. But is this supposed to feel so hot inside? Yet it’s so bitter. It doesn’t taste good.”

“Alcohol doesn’t taste bad? I think it’s way better than soda.”

“Come on, Young Lady Seomun. Are you teasing me?”

“You have a physical constitution that doesn’t accept it, right? Now that I have a good constitution, it feels like sweet fruit tea. The aroma, wow, it’s just beautiful. I want to see the scent.”

“…?”

As Qing kept chatting, she filled Gongson Yo-ye’s glass again and continued explaining the simple rules.

“Just press your lips together lightly and touch the center slightly, then sip like you’re wiping wet lips. It’s strong liquor, so don’t let it pool in your mouth. If it doesn’t suit you, don’t drink! It’s better than making a mistake while drunk.”

While saying this, Qing experienced a sudden realization.

Ah, Mo Yong Joo-hee is trying to send me off with alcohol?

But to me, standing at a level where I can’t even tell the difference between water and liquor? Ha, what a rookie thought!

Sure enough, Mo Yong Joo-hee said,

“Hey, Nam! Since you’ll be pouring for me, make sure Young Lady Seomun’s glass stays full, okay? Understood?”

“Sure. I get it. Young Lady Seomun, you won’t mind if I pour for you, right?”

The remark about making sure to keep her glass full meant she couldn’t stand seeing it empty.

And she wouldn’t want to see me with a full glass either.

But for Qing, alcohol was just a drink that smelled nice and provided a warm buzz, no matter how much I drank.

Qing decided to up the stakes.

“Mind? No way! But um, my glass is empty, you see? Will you fill it for me?”

At that, Mo Yong Joo-hee smirked wickedly.

Even if the bottles were the same, the contents were different.

The bottle laid out for Qing was filled with the notorious Seojung Duogang Liquor from Henan, while the bottle next to Mo Yong Joo-hee was actually a tea container.

As soon as Qing’s glass was filled, Mo Yong Joo-hee seized the moment.

“Okay, Young Lady Seomun. Let’s have fun together, no holding back now. Cheers!”

“Oh my, are you sure you’re okay? I tend to drink a lot, so you might not have any left?”

With that first drink.

“Then, can I have a word now?”

Two drinks, three drinks, four drinks…

“One round down! Young Lady Seomun, please say something again!”

Before long, one bottle was down, then two…

In the blink of an eye, five bottles had vanished.

“Mmm. Ah, this is nice.”

Qing swayed left and right, humming a tune.

Pretending to be drunk.

Though the antics were silly, it was effectively a way of getting free-flowing expensive liquor, so I had to play along to keep the server happy.

Pretending to be drunk was a skill raised to national art levels shared by all the Han people from a young age.

“Hehe, Young Lady Seomun.”

“Yeah? What is it?”

“Just calling your name. Young Lady Seomun. Young Lady Seomun. Hmm, Qing Ah. Whoops! Can’t do it. I’m too shy.”

Gongson Yo-ye raised her glass and downed it in one go.

Qing, taken aback by the similar motion, stuck out her tongue.

What’s this? I clearly said to just moisten my lips!

“Who gave you alcohol?”

“Ah, they kept asking for more…”

“How much did you drink?”

“About a bottle and a half…”

The woman sitting next to Gongson Yo-ye mumbled her answer.

In the chaos of pouring drink after drink, Gongson Yo-ye, who started off slowly, drank more and more, growing bolder.

“You really had a lot! Are you okay?”

“Yeah! I’m feeling great! But how can you drink so much? You just… Oh! This feeling of getting drunk is it? I’m getting buzzed. Hehe.”

As Gongson Yo-ye spoke, she tilted her head and looked at Qing with an innocent smile.

“But I feel good! Really good! But how do you drink so much? You’re different! Oh! I’m getting-”

“You could say she’s on infinite repeat.”

“Infinite repeat? What’s that? But I like Young Lady Seomun! My friend! My first friend! My precious friend! But.”

And then she hugged Qing’s arm tightly.

“But it’s unfair! It should be fair! I only have you as a friend, but you have so many! That’s not okay! I give you my whole heart, but you share! I don’t like that! I want to be the most special! I want the biggest piece when you share, because it’s unfair! I have a friend-”

“You could make a lot of friends too, you know?”

Qing tried to interrupt the cycle.

That’s when a heavy sigh came out.

“Everyone hates me! Before Young Lady Seomun became my friend, I was alone for half a month! Alone! No one would talk to me. The men, the men thought they were friends, but they weren’t! No way! They said a little coaxing would get me to fall for them. It hurt so much. So much.”

“What kind of jerk is that? He better watch out, today’s his unlucky day. Who is he? Just say it.”

“Ha, are you getting angry for me? You’re mad? You’re the only one for me, Young Lady Seomun. But it’s unfair! It’s unfair? I only have you for a friend, and you have too many, so it’s not fair! This can’t happen! It’s bad! I give all my heart, and I’m yawning. I’m sleepy. I want to sleep. I want to sleep.”

Then her heavy head leaned against Qing’s shoulder and promptly fell asleep in her lap.

“Oh dear.”

Qing looked at the other women with a bewildered expression.

“I heard the sixth floor is a lounge; is there a place for her to lie down?”

Mo Yong Joo-hee thought for a moment before replying.

Anyway, the target was Seomun Qing, not this blabbering Gongson girl.

“There should be a room lined with Hanji paper. It’s a women’s lounge.”

“I’ll just take my friend there for a moment.”

As Qing effortlessly lifted Gongson Yo-ye and disappeared up the stairs, Mo Yong Joo-hee let out a skeptical breath.

Is she really drunk?

She looks fine all of a sudden!

But that didn’t last long.

After laying Gongson Yo-ye down and handing over a small sum to the lounge attendant with specific instructions to take care of her, Qing tripped over the last step and fell flat on her face.

Ah, she really is drunk!

Is she just pretending not to be?

Mo Yong Joo-hee beamed and rushed over, pretending to be concerned.

“Oh my!!! Young Lady Seomun!!! Are you okay?! You fell like that!!”

Qing narrowed her eyes.

That girl sure is determined to embarrass me.

I tried so hard to pretend to be drunk just to help Gongson Yo-ye, and now it looks like I’m just a mess. She’s really enjoying this.

“Oh, I’m fine.”

“You don’t seem fine? Just five bottles, only five bottles! You were acting like you loved drinking, but come on, five bottles? You better not say you drink elsewhere, after falling like this.”

Only now did it seem that Mo Yong Joo-hee was deliberately losing control of her expressions.

This was a dare no seasoned drinker could simply overlook.

So she’s trying to pull this lame trick, huh?

Should I join in and play along? Fine, I’ll give her another shot.

But what’s with her? After downing five bottles, she’s still standing straight? Did she also inherit Blood Poison Body?

“The last thing you said, I can’t just let go. This is Seomun Qing you’re talking to, who’s never lost in drinking.”

“Oh, well then. How about we find out who the best drinker in the Dragon and Phoenix Association is, right here?”

“Gladly. Should I be the one saying this? Fine, Mo Yong, today you’ll be crawling home.”

“Who’s going to be crawling? Kids! Did you hear that? Young Lady Seomun just challenged me to a drinking contest, so we have to accept, right? Go downstairs and let them know to get ready.”

What a sly way to push the challenge onto Qing.

Internally, Qing was amazed.

Wow, being the leader isn’t for just anyone!

“Okay, get up. It takes time to prepare, so you need to drink more during that time, okay? I hope you won’t fake it just because of the contest?”

But accepting the challenge didn’t mean she’d let it slide.

Still in a fallen position, Qing reached out her hand.

As Mo Yong Joo-hee grabbed it and pulled, Qing put in all her strength and tossed her back.

Bam! Caught off guard, Mo Yong Joo-hee hit the ground without being able to react.

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