Chapter Thirty-Three: Rescuing the Beauty at the Bar (Part One)

“My Rebirth Legend” without barriers.
“Crimson hands, yellow rattan wine, the city full of spring, willows by the palace walls. The east wind is cruel, passion is thin. A cup of sorrow, years of separation—wrong, so wrong! Wrong! Wrong!!”
I sneered as I recited this poem, the pain in my heart nearly tearing me apart, leaving me shattered and soulless. The deafening music of the bar thudded in my ears as I downed the red wine in my glass in one gulp, letting the alcohol blaze in my stomach as if it could burn away all my sorrow. Su Xin—a girl I’d secretly loved for more than ten years, a girl who had revealed her true heart to me between life and death—had already loved someone else since high school…
How pitiful, how foolish I was, not to know, convinced that she would be mine! How laughable, utterly ridiculous! Since she already loved another, why did I bother being reborn into my high school years? Why had I worked so hard to pursue her?
With that thought, I poured myself another glass, gulping it down, but the pain in my heart only deepened, fueled by the numbness of the wine.
“Hmph! Who says ‘only wine can ease sorrow’? That’s utter nonsense!” I said, my head spinning, grabbing the bottle from the glass coffee table and pouring myself another glass, mocking myself: “Xiao Qiang, oh Xiao Qiang, did you think you were something special? Did you think being reborn made you invincible? Your arrogance and recklessness—this is your punishment, your retribution!”
The music thundered on like an earthquake. Alone in the vast booth, I drank in silence, and for the first time, I felt truly alone. Only when a person loses what matters most does he realize how empty he is, how he’s lost the will to move forward. He becomes a puppet, a broken soul that no one can lift.
I had failed—yes, I had failed. Everything with Su Xin was just my own wishful thinking, my own foolish cleverness. She had never liked me. I was just a friend to her. I don’t hate her, not really. I just don’t understand—why couldn’t she be honest with me? Was she afraid of losing me as a friend?
I gave a bitter smile—maybe that’s a good enough reason…
Before I knew it, I’d finished the whole bottle. My head was spinning. I’d never been a good drinker, and now that my body was back to its high school days, my tolerance was even worse. My tongue was numb, my head heavy, my legs weak.
The injuries I’d had were almost healed, and now with the alcohol dulling everything, I felt no physical pain at all. But my heart ached all the more fiercely. I slumped on the couch, gazing at the swirling lights and writhing bodies on the dance floor. My eyes grew wet.
Unbeknownst to me, the booth I’d rented for eight thousand—a sum enough for a dozen people—was now occupied by me alone. Soon, a number of alluring bar girls noticed. Anyone who could afford eight thousand a night had to be rich. I looked young, but my features were striking—who wouldn’t want a handsome, wealthy young man, unless she was out of her mind?
Soon enough, several of the women tried to approach me, but I impatiently waved them away.
“You bastard, Zhou Zisheng! You lying bastard! You deceived me—so all of this was a lie!”
Just as I was fending off two particularly seductive women, a woman’s sobbing voice came from the next booth. I turned, dizzy, and saw the back of a woman in a blue business suit as she flung her drink in the face of the man beside her. The man, drenched in wine, leapt up in fury, shoving her back onto the couch with a roar:
“Zhang Jing, what are you playing at? Do you still think you’re some rich CEO? Sorry, you’re bankrupt now—completely bankrupt! How dare you throw wine at me? Who do you think you are?”
“Why… why did you deceive me… So it was you who ruined my company, you and Xia Fugui were in it together!”
The woman’s trembling voice reached me, so sad, so helpless. My heart ached anew. How desolate her figure looked—just like me, tormented by love, destroyed by it.
I gave a bitter laugh, drained another glass. So there really is no such thing as love in this world—love is always one-sided…
“Don’t get it twisted, Zhang Jing. I deceived you? You’re the one who lied to me! How long have we been together—six months? Did you ever let me into your bed? Ever let me touch you? Damn it, you forced me into this! Yes, I joined up with Xia Fugui to ruin your company. I handed over your company’s files. So what? I, Zhou Zisheng, son of the Zhou Jewelry Group CEO, kept you company for half a year. Shouldn’t you be satisfied?”
He laughed coldly, grabbing another attractive woman beside him. “See, Zhang Jing? Don’t think you’re the only beautiful woman in the world. I can have as many women as I want! What’s the matter, feeling wronged? I gave you a chance, didn’t I? Tonight you just had to drink with Director Wang, book a room after, maybe your company could be saved—wasn’t that enough for you? Let me tell you, I can’t stand women like you—I’ve lost all interest!”
“You… you bastard! Zhou Zisheng, I never thought you were just like all those spoiled rich boys—just animals… I don’t hate you, I only hate myself. I was so naïve to believe you ever loved me… sob… It was all just my wishful thinking…”
Her voice grew smaller, swallowed by pitiful sobs. Perhaps her heart was breaking.
“Come on, Young Master Zhou, a little fuss and it’ll blow over. As long as Zhang Jing’s willing, I can always pay more. Such a pretty girl, crying like this—even if you don’t feel sorry for her, I do.”
A man, thick with fat and a lecherous smile, edged over to her. “Don’t cry, Zhang Jing. If you’ll be my lover, I can buy your company—how about it?”
She shoved the fat man away and stood, trembling. “Fine! It’s my fault, I couldn’t save my father’s company… I was useless, fooled by you. I have no one to blame. I’ll go—will that satisfy you? Zhou Zisheng, I never want to see you again!”
With that, she turned to leave—but Zhou Zisheng grabbed her and forced her back onto the couch.
“What, trying to leave without paying? Hey, you were the one who called Director Wang out for drinks, so you should pay the bill. What, no money? Then why are you acting rich, coming here to show off?”
The wicked smile on Zhou Zisheng’s face made my blood boil. The alcohol clouded my vision—I didn’t know how many people were in that booth. I only saw that trembling blue figure, as heartbroken as I was.
“Zhou Zisheng! You said Director Wang wanted to help, that’s why I came. When did it become me treating you all to drinks? How could a bankrupt woman pay for your extravagance?”
“Oh? Is that so? Well, I remember you booked the booth on your phone. If you don’t pay, the boss will come after you, won’t he?” Zhou Zisheng sneered, turning to the fat man. “Director Wang, if Zhang Jing keeps you company tonight, you could buy her a house and a car, never mind the bill, right?”
“Haha, of course! I’ve admired Miss Zhang for a long time. I’d do anything for her.” The fat man’s jowls quivered with his laughter, making me sick to my stomach.
“I don’t have money, and as for keeping a man company—sorry, I’m not interested! Find someone else if you want, it has nothing to do with me!”
She tried to stand again, but as she turned, Zhou Zisheng caught her arm and bellowed, “No money? Then stop pretending to be pure and noble—sit down! Director Wang wants to have fun with you tonight. Who do you think you are? When he’s done, I’ll have my turn—believe it or not?”