Chapter Seventy-Five: Deep Brotherly Love

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  "Na Yan, you're back?" Mo Xiao was taken aback when he saw Na Yan turning around.

  "How come no one informed us?" An Junli looked at Xi Zai, also very surprised that Yan would return without a word, but the joy was still overflowing.

  "I just got back too." Yan said hesitantly, then quickly changed the subject. "It's been a long time since you all gathered together, hasn't it?"

  "That's right! Today, Dazuo doesn't have to go to work. Their boss has been arrested and the work has stopped. That's why we have time to come out for a drink!" Su Qi'er didn't understand the situation and quickly followed up with the next sentence, but only An Junli saw Xi Zai's displeasure on his face.

  "But we may not be able to gather together for a long time again." Meng Wei said after taking a big gulp of wine.

  "Why?" Su Qi'er asked, sitting down beside Meng Wei.

  "I've decided to go to Beijing to study art, and then travel around with my painting board on my back."

  "Have your parents agreed?" Mo Xiao put down his wine glass, and exchanged a glance with several people, each of whom had suspicion and reluctance in their eyes.

  "No, but I've made up my mind. After tonight, I'm leaving." Meng Wei said with a resolute tone, his head lowered. For so many years, whenever Meng Wei spoke in such a manner, it meant that there was something he had to do, and no one could stop him.

  "So this is our last drink together." Xi Ju had been thinking about Yan's matter, and when he heard that Meng Wei was leaving, he became even more down. These were all brothers who would take care of him, one less, another less.

  "But Meng Wei, you're all alone and no one is taking care of you, can you manage?" Mo Xiao asked worriedly.

  "I'm not a woman who dawdles and hesitates, what's there to be afraid of? I won't starve to death. Xizai, I'll be back, don't be sad, the child is still young. In the future, take good care of yourself, eat more and grow strong so you won't be bullied by others." Meng Wei said with a lot of backbone, this was the real Meng Wei.

  "So when are you coming back?" An Junli, although he was a latecomer to this group of brothers, no one treated him as an outsider. He also wholeheartedly regarded these people as his brothers. If anyone had to leave, it would be heart-wrenching.

  "I don't know either." Meng Wei gave an answer without a deadline, and everyone was at a loss for words. After all, no one can change what Meng Wei has decided, but as brothers, no one wants him to leave and drift in a strange city, and then wander around the world.

  A long time ago, people didn't know how big the world was. They thought that the small piece of land beneath their feet was the whole world, so they wouldn't have unrealistic fantasies or want to leave their homes. They were content with their simple lives, men farming and women weaving, happy and at peace.

  When people have a perception of the world, they start to feel that the world is getting bigger and bigger, so there is a most arduous journey called wandering. Many people think this is carefree, but only those who truly drift know that it's really like fallen leaves without roots, which is called drifting away.

  Everyone sat there in silence, drinking, while Yan only stared at the phone screen. Every word and sentence on it made him more resentful of Li Zhi. She didn't dare to raise her head, nor did she dare to use an innocent face to confront Xi's questioning gaze again.

  She doesn't owe Xizai any explanation, there's no commitment between them, not even a single appointment. So no one has to be responsible for a heart-to-heart conversation, and no one should be waiting in vain for the other person who hasn't spoken up yet.

  The noise in the bar was like a carnival on the eve of doomsday, and An Junli, Mo Xiao and others were like countries that had been cursed, experiencing the curse that good brothers must go through: separation.

  They were all motionless, only when the wine glass touched their lips did they have a slight coolness and numbness, and only to tell them that what they drank was not plain water but strong liquor, which could intoxicate their hearts, anesthetize their nerves, yet make them feel more clearly the pain of the alcohol solidifying their blood.

  "Beggar, why are you crying? I'm not leaving forever." Originally their silence was enough to isolate all the noise from the outside world, along with everyone's excited cheers.

  But as soon as Su Qi'er let out a loud cry, it was like the turbulent tide of August 15th in the dark night, even if you couldn't hear the sound of the waves crashing against the shore, you knew that beneath the surface, the brotherly bond that had been tangled together for many years was surging up and bursting forth.

  "Too many things have happened between us over the past two years, I feel like more and more tribulations are going to tear us apart. Dazi is no longer with us, you're leaving too, and I don't know when I'll be leaving this city with my family either... what's happening to us?"

  "Hey, don't say that. Although I'm not always with you guys, our hearts are still together. If any of you have anything on your mind, I, Dazhi, will definitely help without hesitation." Dazhi put his arms around Qi'er and Meng Wei's shoulders. The few people hugged each other tightly, each person having unspeakable and unforgettable feelings in their heart.

  "Let's not talk about this today, let's just be happy and carefree. No matter what happened, as long as everyone is safe and sound, they will definitely reunite someday." Meng raised his wine cup, "Today we won't leave until we're drunk."

  A few men wandered in the midst of clinking cups and bottles, the sound of glasses and bottles colliding was so crisp and pleasant, just like people's initial pursuit of dreams, full of longing, always feeling that everything is as imagined.

  Until the wine was poured out drop by drop, the sound became clearer and clearer, but what was most shocking was the sound of shattering wine cups and bottles. At that moment, dreams were shattered, and people realized they had been forcing themselves all along, ultimately leading to their own downfall.

  "Hey Nayan, we're all having a great time drinking here, you won't find it particularly boring, will you?" An Junli looked at Nayan who seemed distracted and took the opportunity to ask her what was wrong.

  "No, you're all special, we didn't feel bored. Today none of you are happy, anyway I'm not happy either." Naya turned off her phone and put it in her pocket, but the anxiety in her heart couldn't be packed away with her clothes.

  "Let's go out for a walk! Before I get too drunk." An Junli said.

  "Alright!" Yan looked in the direction of Xi Zai, but didn't see him, only saw the wine bottles stacked up like a small mountain in front of him.

  "You said last time that you wanted to go home and calm down, think things through. Now I don't know what kind of answer you're coming back with?" An Junli asked tentatively, of course he was here to test the waters for his good brother.

  The answer is yes, but there are many things, it's not that once you have an answer in your heart, everything becomes clear at a glance.

  Na Yan thought of the phone call Li Zhi had made, and she couldn't help but shudder. She glanced at the streetlight that had just passed by, its glow eerily reminiscent of the descriptions in horror stories.

  Her shadow was stretched out long and thin in the dim light, she told herself that some things were beyond her control, and if anything was to be blamed, it was only because she had met the wrong people. If Li Zhi were still alive, his torment of her would never end.

  "That's right, at least I know how to make myself happy. It's so late, I'll let Xiū take you back!" An Junli was about to dial the number when Yan grabbed the phone and hung up the call in a tense manner.

  "No, never mind, I'll just take a taxi back myself. Or you can send me off!" As Yan spoke, her silver-gray false eyelashes fluttered, making people feel like she was crying and had some unspoken secret.

  An Junli shook his head hard, thinking he had drunk too much. Why was Yan Hong crying with a good face? Wasn't Xi Zai okay? An Junli didn't know what was wrong, but everything would have to wait until Meng Wei left.