Chapter 179: Dream Wine
This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
“Okay, then we’ll wait until the owner is done.” Shen Qingbie stayed calm and not flustered at all, accepting the truth that the owner was busy with her partner.
Except for Lin Tingyu, who smiled as if nothing happened, everyone else looked embarrassed to some degree. Lin Tingshuang had been puzzled at first, then understood, her cheeks turning red.
“No rush, we can wait as long as it takes.” Shen Qingbie looked at A’Mei, “When your aunt is done, can you let us know if it’s convenient?”
“No problem.” A’Mei said readily, rubbing her head where the tissue ball had hit her.
The girl A’Mei called ‘Auntie’ picked up the tissue ball from the floor and walked away.
Everyone at the bar ordered the drinks they wanted. Lin Tingyu and Cui Jiayu were throwing darts, and Lin Tingshuang cheered them on from her wheelchair. Every time someone hit the bullseye, she clapped and cheered.
Xi Mo didn’t want to play, and didn’t know what to do in the bar, so she found a quiet spot and sat on the sofa. Ruan Yesheng went over to sit with her. Even though Shen Qingbie and Xi Mo were both on the sofa, Shen Qingbie couldn’t stay still and went over to chat with Yu An. In the past, Xi Mo would have been surprised, but now she was used to it, and her ears were numb from listening.
While chatting, Shen Qingbie suggested playing chess.
Xi Mo thought it would be Go*, but Shen Qingbie said it was Gomoku**and brought over the board and pieces. Yu An first played a few rounds with Shen Qingbie. Shen Qingbie’s mind wasn’t as fast as Yu An’s, and her eyes weren’t as sharp, so she kept losing. She pouted and wasn’t happy. Yu An wanted to laugh, so she let Shen Qingbie win a few times on purpose.
*围棋 (wéiqí): A strategic board game where two players take turns placing black and white stones on a 19×19 grid, aiming to control the most territory by surrounding empty spaces and capturing opponent stones.
**五子棋 (wǔzǐqí): A simpler game played on a 15×15 or 19×19 grid where two players alternate placing black and white stones, racing to be the first to align five in a row horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, game ends immediately when five are aligned.
Then Ruan Yesheng took Yu An’s place. Ruan Yesheng easily beat Shen Qingbie. Shen Qingbie, who lost, was replaced by Xi Mo, so it became Ruan Yesheng against Xi Mo.
Ruan Yesheng and Xi Mo were evenly matched, so one game lasted a long time.
“When can we finally drink the dream wine?” Shen Qingbie sat beside them watching Gomoku, then looked at her watch. “The owner really takes her time. We’ve been playing for so long, and it’s still not ready.”
Yu An: “…”
“Is it really as good as your friend said?” Ruan Yesheng also got curious seeing Shen Qingbie so eager for the Dream Wine. She smiled: “You said after drinking it you’d be drunk in a dream, is it really that exaggerated?”
“It really is.” Shen Qingbie hurried to say. “My friend said after drinking it the body feels super comfortable and nice, light like floating, and even dreaming while asleep is sweet. That’s why it’s called Dream Wine.”
Xi Mo was more cautious, frowning: “They didn’t put… anything in the Dream Wine that’s not safe to drink, right?”
She said it politely. After all, many bars were closely watched by the police.
“How could it be, no way.” Shen Qingbie waved her hand fast. “This is a proper bar. The police already checked it. There’s no problem.”
Xi Mo nodded and didn’t speak again. Since Shen Qingbie said so, she trusted her. And this place did look calm. It was very different from the bars she knew before. She felt the mood here was nice.
“Then I also want to try the Dream Wine everyone talks about.” Ruan Yesheng’s eyes held a hopeful smile. She asked Xi Mo, “Do you want to drink it?”
“…I’ll think about it.” Xi Mo said, then pointed at the board and told Ruan Yesheng, “I won.”
Ruan Yesheng gave Xi Mo a glance and admitted defeat. She let Shen Qingbie take her place. Shen Qingbie finally had the chance to play with Xi Mo, and she sat down happily at once.
As night deepened, the darkness gradually fell.
A subtle fragrance wafted from a room deep inside the bar. The blankets and sheets on the large bed were crumpled and disheveled, clearly indicating that someone had lain on it, with obvious signs of entanglement. Yet, no one was there at that moment.
The bathroom was also quiet.
After some time, the air by the bed suddenly cracked open and a pale light came out. A long leg stretched out from the crack, completely bare and unadorned. Then a long haired woman walked out from the crack.
No one knew what that crack was. It was like a narrow door to some other space. It gave off cold white light and showed up by the bed. After the long haired woman came out, her legs seemed weak. She stumbled and fell forward on the bed. Her black dress was torn. The hem was almost in strips and it tried to cover her clean legs.
Her black dress showed her back. Her back was full of warm red marks. Her slightly curled long hair spread on her back, and it looked messy and tempting.
Right after that, another woman walked out from the crack. Her hair fell like silk and it was even longer than the woman in the black dress. She only wore a loose bathrobe. She did not look as tired as the woman in the black dress. Only her chest rose and fell fast. She looked at the back of the woman in the black dress, then pressed down from behind. She pressed the woman in the black dress under her. One hand held the other woman’s hand, and she kissed the red marks on her back.
“Mm.” The woman in the black dress let her kiss her. She smiled in a lazy, charming way. “Are you not done?”
“Not done.” The woman on top answered in a low voice, seemingly insatiable.
She was not like normal people. She had a pair of bright red eyes. No one knew if she was wearing colored contacts. They looked strange and had a desire shaking inside. The bathrobe slipped off her shoulder. Her neck was long. There was a tattoo on her neck. There were a few rare red flowers. It went from her neck down to her clear collarbone.
The red flower tattoo seemed to move with her light breaths. There was thin sweat on her body. The red petals were wet and they looked like they trembled in water.
“This time we stop here.” The woman in the black dress turned over. She pulled the red eyed woman into her arms and held her. “We were inside for too long. Now we are back outside. You cannot do it with me.”
The red eyed woman kissed her lips. There was a held back feeling in her eyes. “I…”
“You are not thinking of going back in, right?” The woman in the black dress laughed. Her eyes and brows were full of charm that made people want to bite her. “Only I can take it. If it was someone else, even a few lives would not be enough for you. You would do them to death.”
“I do not want others.” The red-eyed woman frowned.
“Do all red eyes have energy like you? You never get tired for a whole night?” The woman in the black dress touched the red flower tattoo on her collarbone and slowly traced it. “I am so curious.”
The red-eyed woman’s eyes turned cold. “No.”
“Why not?” The woman in the black dress smiled. “I also want to try the taste of other red eyes besides you. Is that not allowed?”
“Not allowed.” The red eyed woman said firmly.
“We are not married. You are not my girlfriend. We do not control each other’s choices. We said this long ago.” The woman in the black dress asked, “Why not?”
The red-eyed woman was struck by her question. She did not speak.
But her eyes grew darker.
After a while, the red eyed woman bit her lip and said in a low voice, “…If you like it, then fine.”
The woman in the black dress froze a little.
“Only… you must tell me who it is.” The red eyed woman said.
“You want to kill her?” The woman in the black dress smiled a bit.
“…No.” Maybe she bit too hard, the red eyed woman’s lip was almost bleeding. Her voice shook. “I only want to see her for you. To check what kind of person she is. If she is not good, and she does not treat you well, then you… find another.”
The woman in the black dress heard it and let out a short laugh.
The red-eyed woman let go of her and sat at the edge of the bed. Her eyes looked ahead like she was blanking out. Her hand was a tight fist and thin veins showed. Her bathrobe was open, and her skin was full of marks. It seemed the woman in the black dress did not go easy on her either.
The woman in the black dress kneeled on the bed and circled her from behind. Her hands wrapped around her neck. “Are you angry?”
“…No.” The red-eyed woman lifted her hand and placed it on the back of the woman’s hand behind her. “I… will not be mad at you.”
“In there just now, did I make you feel good?” The woman in the black dress bit her ear and asked.
The red eyed woman’s whole body tensed. Her words seemed stuck.
The woman in the black dress laughed again.
“I am happy.” The red eyed woman stayed quiet for a moment. “We have not seen each other for so long. Yet you left a dream like this for me. I was nervous when I came. I was afraid you would not dream things about me anymore. I cannot go inside with you again. But you said you had such a dream for me today.”
Her voice had a slight choke. “Every time I come, I fear you will not have that kind of dream for me. You almost never dream. But I am glad. This time you did.”
The woman in the black dress did not speak. She just held her.
The red eyed woman softly called the name of the woman behind her.
The woman in the black dress said in a low voice, “This is not inside. Did you forget? My real name is only for you when we are inside. Outside, you must call me Yan Niang.”
“Yan Niang.” The red-eyed woman changed how she called her at once. “Sorry. We were inside too long. I got confused."
Yan Niang saw her serious apology. Her eyes dimmed. “It is late. Pack up and go back. Do not let A'Mei see you. She talks a lot. She may leak your trail by accident. Go out from the back door.”
“When I came, A'Mei saw you touch me.” The red eyed woman said.
“You wore a mask and a hat that time. She could not recognize you. She only thought you were someone else. She thought you left long ago and never contacted me.” Yan Niang stood beside the red-eyed woman and slid off her black dress in a natural way. She was bare while she put on clothes.
“…Someone else.” The red-eyed woman lowered her head. “In the years I did not see you, how many ‘someone else’ came to you? A lot…?”
Yan Niang paused as she dressed.
“Sometimes I cannot hold it. I want to kill all those ‘someone else’…” The red-eyed woman’s eyes were dark. “But if I do it, I fear you will not be happy. You will not talk to me again.”
Yan Niang put on a high neck sweater to cover the marks on her neck. She walked to the red-eyed woman, crouched, and said, “You should not have met me back then. I cannot give you what you want.”
“…I do not regret it.” The red-eyed woman said at once.
“Fu Zhou.” Yan Niang leaned on the legs of the woman she called Fu Zhou and spoke in a low voice. “I cannot date. I do not like that feeling. For me, the pleasure of the body is enough. Free and open, both take what they need, and no one owes the other. But you want feelings from me. I cannot give them.”
“I do not want feelings. I can go without them.” Fu Zhou’s eyes looked almost crazy. She said hurriedly, “You want pleasure, I will give it to you. I can always be your bed partner and stay with you. When you want someone else, call me, alright? What others can do, I can do. I can do it better. If I do not do well, you tell me and I will learn.”
“You do very well.” Yan Niang smiled softly. “You do the best. There is no flaw. Only…”
“Only what?” Fu Zhou asked nervously.
“Sometimes you cannot control your emotions and you use too much strength.” Yan Niang continued to smile.
Fu Zhou suddenly got even more nervous. “I will change.”
“Change what?” Yan Niang stood up. Her long lashes are full of seductive charm. She whispered in her ear, “I like it most when you get excited… and use that strength on me.”
Fu Zhou’s beautiful face suddenly turned bright red.
“So cute.” Yan Niang kissed her burning cheek and said, “Go change your clothes.”
Fu Zhou, a little dazed, finished changing. She tied her long hair into a high ponytail. Fresh and elegant with a bit of boldness. Tall with long legs, like a model. The red flower tattoo on her neck made her even more enchanting.
The two left the room and walked into the hallway.
“Happy New Year.” Yan Niang hugged Fu Zhou.
“…Happy New Year.” Fu Zhou felt Yan Niang pull back, then reluctantly let go. “When can I see you again?”
“When you miss me.” Yan Niang teased her with a smile.
“But I think of you every day.” Fu Zhou said seriously, with no hint of playfulness.
Anyone hearing it could feel her sincerity.
Yan Niang was used to keeping everything at a distance, never giving her heart. Facing such honesty now, she seemed a bit unaccustomed. She paused for a moment, then said, “Your movements cannot be exposed now. Be careful. Try to come less. The bar has many people. A'Mei cannot keep secrets. Do not let her see you.”
“Then can you ever come to my place?” Fu Zhou asked.
“We will see.” Yan Niang said.
Fu Zhou sighed, gazed at Yan Niang for a while, then said goodbye and turned toward the back door.
Her back looked a little lonely. Yan Niang stayed in place and watched her leave. Only when Fu Zhou was completely out of sight did she leave.
….
Ruan Yesheng, Xi Mo, Shen Qingbie, and Yu An had been playing Gomoku for a long time. Shen Qingbie was almost sleepy, thinking how the bar owner still had not come out. It was too long.
A'Mei also came over and wandered around them a few times, offering them food. She could even call out Ruan Yesheng, Xi Mo, and Shen Qingbie’s names, so she seemed to recognize them. But Yu An had been behind the scenes for years. A'Mei couldn’t tell who she was and thought she was also a star. She asked a few questions, then learned she was Shen Qingbie’s manager.
A'Mei didn't act like a fan, nor was she interested in autographs. She just watched shows, variety shows, and movies, and got to know them online. She was direct and casual when talking to them, which made them feel comfortable.
This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
A'Mei was chatting with them when she glanced at the hallway. She saw a woman with a graceful figure walking over and quickly said to them, “Aunt is out!”
Shen Qingbie shivered. Finally, she came out.
Ruan Yesheng and Xi Mo, sitting on the sofa, looked toward the hallway. Though a little far, they could still see the bar owner’s charm, gathered in her elegant posture and light steps.
“Aunt.” A'mei ran quickly to Yan Niang. “You are finally out. Tonight several friends want to drink your dream wine. I told them you were in bed with your lover, so they waited. They’ve been waiting this long. You should make each of them a cup of dream wine later.”
Yan Niang chuckled and pinched A’Mei's ear: "What nonsense are you spouting now? You need to be taught a lesson."
"Ah, ah, ah!" A’Mei couldn't escape it at all, pouting and begging for mercy: "Aunt, it hurts."
Yan Niang loosened her grip, unable to stop her.
“Where’s your lover?” A'Mei looked behind Yan Niang. “Is she sleeping in the room? I didn’t see her face clearly. Has she come to see you before, or is she someone new?”
To A'Mei, every one of her aunt’s lovers must last long. Otherwise, her aunt wouldn’t be interested. Her aunt was a master in her eyes, skill unmatched. Her lovers had to be top-notch too, good-looking and talented.
But the one today seemed the best. Otherwise, her aunt wouldn’t be so reluctant to come out.
“She seems really skilled, huh? Sticking to you until now before coming out.” A'Mei laughed. “Or maybe you haven’t been with anyone for a long time, and the new excitement kept you busy?”
“Are you done talking?” Yan Niang looked at her with a smile. She wasn’t angry at her bluntness. “When you are done, go to sleep.”
“Oh.” A'Mei nodded. “Then will you make Dream Wine for those friends?”
She felt her aunt's mood wasn’t very good today. Though her face still had the usual smile, there was a hint of helplessness. In the past, her aunt would have said more, but today she just wanted her to sleep early.
“I will.” Yan Niang stepped toward Ruan Yesheng and the others.
Seeing Yan Niang come, Ruan Yesheng and the others stood up.
“Sorry, I heard from A'Mei that you have been waiting a long time.” Yan Niang smiled. “I will make your Dream Wine now. But Dream Wine is very intoxicating. Those who cannot drink much should not. And to drink Dream Wine, you have to stay overnight here. Have you booked a room?”
“Booked, booked.” Shen Qingbie finally got to see the bar owner. Sleepiness vanished, and she asked excitedly, “But why do we have to stay overnight to drink Dream Wine?”
She had heard from friends about this rule but didn’t know why.
Yan Niang smiled mysteriously. “Because after drinking, the effects come quickly. It is best to sleep immediately so you will not miss the dream you want.”
“The dream we want?” Ruan Yesheng sounded hesitant. “Dreams aren’t certain. No one knows if we’ll have a dream tonight or what it will be. Can drinking it really give you the dream you want?”
“Many dreams are uncertain, that is true.” Yan Niang didn’t mind explaining more. “But some dreams come from the deepest desires in a person’s heart. Drinking Dream Wine easily awakens those desires, making it easier to have the dream you most want.”
Xi Mo frowned. “Why does Dream Wine work like that? Did you add some special ingredient?”
Yan Niang smiled. “Do not worry, it is not illegal. Otherwise, could I run this bar normally?”
She looked at them. “Whether you want it or not is your choice. I am a businesswoman. If you want it, you buy my Dream Wine. If not, I will not force you.”
“Buy, buy, buy.” Shen Qingbie was almost drooling over the Dream Wine. “Bar owner, I trust you. I want three glasses.”
“You want so many?” Yan Niang’s eyes flickered with a faint dreamlike light. “Dream Wine is expensive.”
Shen Qingbie waved her hand. “Three glasses no matter the price. How much per glass?”
Yan Niang said a number.
Shen Qingbie hesitated for a moment. It was a lot of money for a glass of wine, but she wasn't short of money, so she agreed: "Give me three glasses."
Yan Niang nodded with a smile.
Seeing that Shen Qingbie was in a good mood, Yu An wanted to have a drink with her, so she said, "I'll have a drink too."
"I'll have one too." Out of curiosity, Ruan Yesheng wanted to try it out and ordered one as well.
“I’m the same as Ye Sheng,” Xi Mo had no choice but to say.
Ruan Yesheng then asked the Lin sisters and Cui Jiayu. Lin Tingshuang and Cui Jiayu said they wanted a glass, but Lin Tingyu declined, seemingly uninterested in the Dream Wine. Instead, she said to Cui Jiayu, "Didn't you hear the owner say that those who can't hold their liquor shouldn't drink? A’Shuang can still drink, why are you ordering?"
"Who says I can't hold my liquor!" Cui Jiayu, who least wanted to be looked down upon by Lin Tingyu, retorted angrily, "You're questioning me? I'll take it anyway!"
“Alright, you take it.” Lin Tingyu didn’t try to stop her again.
After they ordered the Dream Wine, Yan Niang left to make it for them.
They sat on the sofa and waited. After about fifteen minutes, Yan Niang and the fourteen or fifteen-year-old girl came over, each holding a tray with glasses of wine. They placed them one by one on the table beside the sofa.
“The wine is here.” Yan Niang smiled. “Please enjoy.”
The girl set a row of room cards on the table. “These are your room cards.”
Ruan Yesheng glanced at the wine in the glass.
The wine was clear. It wasn’t like the drinks mixed at the bar that had many colors. It was only a pure cool clear. It looked like baijiu*, but when she leaned in to smell it, it wasn’t the smell of baijiu at all.
*Chinese white liquor typically coming in between 35% and 60% alcohol by volume (ABV)
It was a faint tempting scent. The moment Ruan Yesheng smelled it, she almost felt dazed, and she almost couldn’t stop herself from lifting the glass to take a sip.
Shen Qingbie was the first to lift a glass and took a careful sip. Then her eyes lit up and she said, “This feels so good!”
Yu An said nothing.
She tried a small sip with doubt, and her eyes froze a little.
It was really good.
She often had business dinners. She had seen all kinds of expensive wine, but she never drank anything this good.
Ruan Yesheng touched the rim of the glass with her red lips and took a light sip. The cool liquid spread between her lips and teeth, and the scent and sweet chill moved along her tongue, then down, slowly moving through her body, as if it would take her into some chaotic yet beautiful world.
Ruan Yesheng held the wine and tasted it carefully.
Xi Mo saw Ruan Yesheng drink, and after hesitating for a long time, she drank a little too, and there was a surprised look on her face.
Yan Niang was right. Dream Wine made people drunk very fast.
Cui Jiayu was the first to fall. She staggered, and her eyes went to the fourteen or fifteen-year-old girl who sat by the table. The girl held an old style wine bottle in her hand and poured it into a glass.
The girl poured a glass and drank it slowly.
Cui Jiayu got upset at once. She walked over, and her tongue was not straight. She glared at the girl and said, “Min… minors can’t drink! Where are your parents, is it the owner, how can she… how can she let you drink?! Is the owner the one who led you astray!”
“No.” The girl glanced at her, and she drank another glass in front of Cui Jiayu.
Cui Jiayu: “…”
“If it’s not the owner then is it… A’Mei?” Cui Jiayu started to worry about the flowers of the motherland, and her heart hurt.
“I’m not a minor.” The girl answered.
“You… you’re not a minor?” Cui Jiayu was shocked. “You look very young.”
“I only look young.” The girl drank another glass, like she had a craving.
“I don’t care if you’re an adult or not, anyway… anyway you look like this, it’s not right for you to drink.” Cui Jiayu’s tongue felt numb, and she said, “Who led you astray, you can’t drink, do you know?”
“A bad woman.” The girl gave a small hum.
“What?” Cui Jiayu was confused.
“I said, a bad woman fooled me to drink before, so I like drinking.” The girl did not want to deal with Cui Jiayu anymore. She left with the bottle and the glass.
“Bad woman?” Cui Jiayu muttered. “Who?”
Lin Tingyu suddenly showed up beside her. “Drunk?”
“I’m not drunk, you jerk!” Cui Jiayu pointed at Lin Tingyu and cursed. “Your whole family is drunk!”
This bad person was so annoying.
“Let’s go.” Lin Tingyu held her up. This time she let her curse as she pleased and said with a smile, “Your tongue isn’t straight.”
She had just sent Lin Tingshuang back to lie down, and now she came to pick up Cui Jiayu. On the way back, Cui Jiayu kept cursing and almost made a drunken fuss. Lin Tingyu held her with ease, and Cui Jiayu had no strength to fight back. Lin Tingyu pinned her hands and brought her into the room.
Shen Qingbie ordered three glasses. She was done by the second and a half. Yu An finished one glass. Her drinking was good, but even she felt her whole body heat up. She felt the strong kick of this wine and stopped Shen Qingbie fast. She said, “Qingqing, stop drinking.”
Shen Qingbie didn’t want to. “This wine is so good, it’s a waste not to drink.”
She didn’t care about the money. She cared about the good wine. It tasted so nice, how could she not drink it.
“I’ll drink for you, so it won’t be wasted.” Yu An coaxed her.
Shen Qingbie’s eyes turned fast. She thought for a moment. Yes, she and A’Yu were close sisters. She could not drink it, so A’Yu could drink it. The good wine would not be wasted. She gladly lifted the half glass left and sent it to Yu An’s lips to feed her.
Yu An drank it for her and helped Shen Qingbie stand. She felt Shen Qingbie was close to being drunk. She had to send her back to her room fast.
Ruan Yesheng and Xi Mo did not drink much, but not little. Each drank one glass. Their faces felt hot, but they did not look drunk yet.
“They all went back to their rooms. Let’s rest too.” Xi Mo looked at Ruan Yesheng.
Ruan Yesheng took the room card and walked with Xi Mo. Her room was next to Xi Mo’s. She stood at the door and said to Xi Mo, “Do you think Dream Wine can really let people dream what they want?”
“I don’t.” Xi Mo was always calm. “I think it’s the bar’s marketing. They say it in a strange way, and they tell you to rest early after drinking Dream Wine, because they want to tie it to selling rooms. It’s just a business trick. It’s normal.”
Ruan Yesheng smiled lightly. “Why are you always so rigid and inflexible? You don’t know romance at all?”
Xi Mo: “…”
“I think the Dream Wine the owner talked about is romantic. It tastes nice too.” Ruan Yesheng only came to play with her friends. She did not chase the truth of Dream Wine. True or not, as long as she was happy. She said, “Maybe I really will dream. If I can dream what I want, that’s even better.”
“What dream do you want?” Xi Mo asked her.
Ruan Yesheng’s eyes were a bit red from the wine. She looked at Xi Mo’s eyes, trying to see herself reflected there.
Xi Mo’s eyes were black and calm.
“I want to dream… you…” Ruan Yesheng laughed.
Xi Mo: “…”
“...your dream that you want to dream.” Ruan Yesheng spoke slowly. “I’m curious what kind of dream you would want. If I could dream the same as you, it would be interesting too.”
“Everyone’s dream is different.” Xi Mo said.
“Xi Mo.” Ruan Yesheng’s voice was soft.
“What?” Xi Mo stood at the door. Her own room door was open, but she did not want to go in. At this moment, she only wanted to talk a little more with Ruan Yesheng.
“Have you ever dreamed of me before?” Ruan Yesheng whispered.
Author’s Note:
I mentioned the part about Yan Niang and Fu Zhou in more detail in my "Exploring the Empty Tomb - Modern Times". Combining it with this chapter, you can understand what their story is. They are from the same world and are interconnected. Fu Zhou (pronounced fu, second tone) also appeared in the "Exploring the Empty Tomb - Modern Times" chapter. It depends on whether you remember her or not. I think I wrote about her quite prominently.
The reason why the girl drinks is explained in Volume 6 of "Exploring the Empty Tomb".
Wait, in this chapter, rounding up, it's like my Luo Shen made an appearance again! [you]
What will happen after drinking the Dream Wine?
Please rate and leave comments!
