Chapter 43: Dead Drunk

Raising the bar for what he considered success, Jiang Zheng opened his laptop and began typing. The “Boys and Girls Forward!” show was scheduled for recording tomorrow. For this task, Jiang Zheng was determined not to fail. Every time he completed a mission, he would unlock a new skill. Having tasted the benefits, he naturally didn’t want to let this opportunity slip by.

He wrote until noon, when his stomach began to rumble. Checking the time, he decided to head out in search of food. Zhou Quanyi had been out for half the day and still hadn’t returned. Jiang Zheng suspected he might have gone to an internet café or was out having fun with Tao Luna again. With Zhou Quanyi absent, he could continue writing undisturbed in the afternoon. Now that he had nothing else pressing, he resolved to write as much as possible. When the novel was launched, he’d unleash a torrent of updates!

Stockpiling drafts would make his life more comfortable, freeing him from the constant anxiety of needing to write. Most authors, having to simultaneously brainstorm and type intensively, would have collapsed from exhaustion long ago. But Jiang Zheng was different; bolstered by temporary skills, inspiration continually struck as he wrote, leaving him worry-free regarding plot direction. His typing speed was unmatched, though his fingers struggled to keep up, forcing him to pause occasionally for rest. If his fingers were made of iron, he’d truly be a human typing machine.

Time slipped by. With no one interrupting, Jiang Zheng could focus deeply, and the story progressed quickly. He had fully immersed himself in the plot now, scheming to obtain the Qilin Blood.

This time, Black Tiger was no longer the sycophantic character of old; he felt nothing at all for Blue Rabbit. Having previously laid low and grown stronger, his abilities surpassed the original Black Tiger. If not for his quest to find the Qilin and obtain its blood, he could have eliminated the Seven Heroes long ago. Jiang Zheng estimated that he would wrap up the Rainbow Cat and Blue Rabbit world before the launch. He hadn’t yet decided what the next world would be.

Time passed, and dusk arrived in the blink of an eye. Jiang Zheng glanced at the clock—it was already past eight, and he was hungry again. Still, Zhou Quanyi hadn’t returned. He’d been out all day without a single message. Jiang Zheng began to worry. He called Zhou Quanyi’s number; it connected but no one answered. Jiang Zheng’s face darkened. Yesterday one friend ignored his call, and now another? Did they buy their phones just to display them? Whenever he actually needed to call, nobody picked up!

He tried two more times, but still no answer. Despite his inward complaints, Jiang Zheng’s concern grew heavier. Had something happened to him—could he have been taken for organ harvesting? He stepped out of his room and happened to run into Tao Luna leaving. Jiang Zheng frowned slightly, “Zhou Quanyi isn’t with you?”

Tao Luna replied coolly, “No.” She brushed past Jiang Zheng and left the hotel.

Jiang Zheng didn’t bother with her; Tao Luna was an adult, capable of taking care of herself, and he wasn’t anyone’s father. With Zhou Quanyi not with her, perhaps he really was at an internet café. That seemed highly likely. Either way, finding him was priority. Reasoning that most people would go online at cafés nearby, Jiang Zheng decided to search every internet café within a two-kilometer radius; that should suffice to find Zhou Quanyi.

It wasn’t his preferred method, but with calls unanswered, he had no better option. Jiang Zheng pulled up the map and began searching, following the directions to each café. There were quite a few in the area—four internet cafés and two cyber lounges within two kilometers. He checked each one, but Zhou Quanyi was nowhere to be found.

After searching six places, it was nearly midnight. Throughout, Jiang Zheng kept calling, but as usual, no one answered.

“Where could he have gone? He’s really testing my patience!” Jiang Zheng muttered under his breath. If he wanted to go out, fine, but to vanish without a word and never answer calls—Jiang Zheng felt like a fool.

Just then, his phone rang. To his surprise, it was Zhou Quanyi’s number. Without hesitation, Jiang Zheng answered, “Well, look who finally decides to call back! After all those calls, you didn’t pick up once.”

A moment’s silence, then an unfamiliar voice spoke, “Are you his friend?”

Jiang Zheng’s brow furrowed. “Who are you?”

“I’m the bar owner. Your friend drank himself unconscious here and hasn’t paid.” The voice replied.

Jiang Zheng fell silent, tempted to say, “I’m not his friend.” But instead, he said, “What’s the address? I’ll be there soon.”

He couldn’t bring himself to abandon Zhou Quanyi.

The bar owner gave the address. Jiang Zheng checked the map—it wasn’t far. He scanned a shared bike and rode toward the bar. Before long, he arrived and walked in to find Zhou Quanyi sitting on the floor, muttering something under his breath. Seeing him utterly drunk, Jiang Zheng sighed inwardly.

He paid Zhou Quanyi’s tab, feeling the sting in his wallet. Drinks at the bar were anything but cheap. Thankfully, Zhou Quanyi drank alone and wasn’t a heavy drinker; with Jiang Zheng’s current finances, he could cover it. Had Zhou Quanyi ordered some “Supreme Set,” Jiang Zheng might have pretended not to know him.

Having settled the bill, he helped Zhou Quanyi up. Zhou Quanyi was so drunk he could barely walk, slumping against Jiang Zheng as they made their way out. The hotel wasn’t particularly far—if Jiang Zheng hadn’t been in a hurry earlier, he wouldn’t have bothered with the bike. But with Zhou Quanyi dead drunk, the journey felt much longer.

“I really can’t deal with you. Might as well call a cab,” Jiang Zheng said to Zhou Quanyi.

Zhou Quanyi mumbled something incomprehensible, and Jiang Zheng had no idea if he heard him.

He hailed a car and, upon arriving at the hotel, all but carried Zhou Quanyi inside. After settling him onto the bed, Jiang Zheng sniffed himself and wrinkled his nose in distaste. Zhou Quanyi hadn’t thrown up, but the smell of alcohol clung to Jiang Zheng, making him uncomfortable.

He went to the bathroom for a shower and ordered takeout. Searching for Zhou Quanyi had kept him from eating dinner, and most restaurants were now closed, leaving him with only takeout as an option.

Soon, the food arrived. After finishing his meal, Zhou Quanyi suddenly staggered up and ran to the bathroom to vomit. The indescribable stench made Jiang Zheng feel dizzy. When Zhou Quanyi finally finished, Jiang Zheng cleaned up the bathroom, and things gradually improved.