Chapter 2: Drinking Away the Sorrows

Chapter 2: Seeking Oblivion

"Xiaoyou, what’s wrong with you?" Feng Youru, her roommate, returned from work to find Fan Xiaoyou sitting on the sofa, her eyes swollen and red. The television was on, but it played only silent images. Seeing Xiaoyou so distraught, Youru couldn’t help but worry.

Youru fetched a tissue from the coffee table and handed it to Xiaoyou, settling beside her. Xiaoyou threw her arms around Youru, her voice choked with tears. "Youru, I’m so miserable… My mother is dying..."

Youru had suspected something was amiss since the afternoon when Xiaoyou called to ask her to request leave on her behalf. In all the years she’d known Xiaoyou, this was the first time she’d ever skipped work.

Youru wrapped her arms around Xiaoyou, gently patting her back to soothe her. "Xiaoyou, Auntie will be fine. She’s blessed and protected. Wipe your tears. If you still worry, why not ask my uncle for leave and go home to see her?"

Xiaoyou wiped her tears haphazardly, forcing a weak smile as she looked at Youru, her tone tinged with apology. "Youru, I’m sorry for leaving the administrative work to you these days."

Youru clicked her tongue and ruffled Xiaoyou’s hair. "Silly girl, why so formal with me? My uncle’s heading out on a business trip tomorrow morning. If you want to take leave, call him now—he’s been worried about you today!"

Their families had been close for generations, and after university, Xiaoyou found her way to work at the Feng family’s company. Thanks to her family’s connections, she’d always worked in the administrative office—her duties light, mostly distributing newspapers, processing documents, and issuing shareholder resolutions. Life was easy enough.

The phone rang. Feng Lun answered, seeing Xiaoyou’s name on the screen, and his voice tightened with concern. "Xiaoyou, what’s the matter?"

Xiaoyou tried hard to mask her emotions, but the words stuck in her throat and she couldn’t help but sob.

On the other end, Feng Lun gestured for silence to those around him, his tone anxious. "Xiaoyou, don’t cry. Tell Uncle Feng what’s troubling you!"

She took a deep breath, composing herself before speaking softly. "Uncle Feng, I need to ask for a week’s leave. I want to go home to see my mother… she’s sick."

Feng Lun frowned. He knew that ever since Second Sister Rong fell ill, the entire Rong family had tried desperately to keep it secret. He spoke gently. "Xiaoyou, you found out?"

Xiaoyou’s voice over the phone was tinged with self-mockery. "Uncle Feng, am I the last to know?"

Feng Lun sighed, trying to comfort her. "Xiaoyou, don’t be upset, and don’t blame us for keeping it from you. The Old Master only wanted to spare you pain..."

Whatever else Feng Lun said, Xiaoyou didn’t hear. She let her phone drop limply onto the sofa and murmured to herself, "She’s my mother. Why must you all hide her illness from me? Why am I the last to know?"

Youru watched quietly, tears glistening in her own eyes as she gazed at Xiaoyou with compassion. "Xiaoyou, we all meant well. The Old Master, your uncle, my uncle—they only wanted to protect you, not… not let you suffer."

Xiaoyou turned her back to Youru, her expression distant. She sniffed and said, "I’m going out." With that, she snatched her keys from the sofa and dashed out like the wind.

Seeing Xiaoyou leave alone, Youru hurriedly picked up her phone and dialed Rong Fenghua. "Uncle Rong, Xiaoyou just ran out—she knows about Second Aunt Rong’s illness!"

Upon hearing that Xiaoyou had left, Rong Fenghua was immediately anxious. He had always treated this niece as his own child. In the Rong family, Xiaoyou was the apple of everyone’s eye.

Though the Rong family wasn’t especially wealthy, thanks to Rong Shaoting’s careful management over the years, they had gained a reputation as one of the prominent families in Kangcheng.

After a moment’s thought, Rong Fenghua called Yang Yeyue. "Yeyue, you and Kai should check the places Xiaoyou frequents. Youru just called—Xiaoyou’s run out, and I’m worried. Your aunt and I will head back from Tongcheng tomorrow."

Yang Yeyue and Rong Kai were eating hotpot when they received Rong Fenghua’s call. The chopsticks in Yeyue’s hand clattered to the floor. "Uncle, don’t worry. Kai and I will look for her right away. I’ll keep you updated if anything happens!"

Rong Fenghua hung up, his eyes already damp, silently lamenting, "Silly child, my sister is ill and even your uncle is heartbroken."

"Kai, Uncle just called. Xiaoyou ran out from Youru’s place. Let’s go—forget the meal, pay the bill!" With that, Yeyue pulled the bewildered Rong Kai towards the door.

"My dear, slow down. I know that girl—she’d never do anything reckless. Don’t worry!" Kai grinned, pulling Yeyue to his side.

"You don’t understand Xiaoyou. She may seem carefree, but when something weighs on her heart, she’s anything but. Let’s check out Feile KTV. Whenever she’s upset, she always goes to sing at Liang’s place."

Liang, the owner of Feile KTV, hurried over as Yeyue and Kai arrived in a rush, ingratiating himself. "Ah, you finally made it!"

Yeyue’s expression was cold. "Liang, where is she?"

Liang signaled to Kai, raising his brows as if to say, "Control your wife!"

Kai shrugged, clearing his throat. "Liang, show us the way."

Liang looked at Kai with disdain—after all these years, Kai had become utterly henpecked.

When the three entered the V8 suite, all of them gasped. The coffee table was littered with over twenty empty bottles of dark beer.

Kai’s face darkened as he glared at Liang, his eyes burning with anger. He swung a fist, striking Liang’s face.

Before Liang could react, Kai hurried forward and lifted Xiaoyou, who lay on the floor, dead drunk. He turned coldly to Liang, warning, "If anything happens to Xiaoyou tonight, you’ll regret it!"

Liang picked himself up, glaring at Kai’s retreating figure, his heart seething. Wiping the blood from his mouth, he muttered angrily, "Kai, what’s your problem? She came here to drown her sorrows—what does that have to do with me? You treat your sister like a treasure, hmph!"

Liang felt deeply wronged. When Xiaoyou had arrived earlier, her mood was gloomy, her complexion poor. He knew she must have suffered some grievance somewhere.