Chapter 16 – Bar Fight
Novel Title: 我们已经分手了 (We Have Broken Up)
Author：御小凡 (Yu Xiaofan)
Translator: K (@kin0monogatari)
Protagonists: 刘帆 (Liu Fan -MC), 陈谦 (Chen Qian -ML)
*Please read at Novels Space.space, the original site of translation. TQ*
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For deciding where to go, it was Liu Mengjiao, the little expert on nightlife, who made the suggestion. Naturally, it wasn’t Lotus but a normal bar. After all, it wasn’t feasible to go to a gay bar for the first gathering, even though maybe everyone there except for herself is gay.
Why do I increasingly feel like I’m the minority… She thought to herself.
Just before leaving, Liu Mengjiao pulled Liu Fan to the restroom, while Li Yu and Chen Qian went to get the car. In the public area, while touching up her makeup, Liu Mengjiao sighed, “Xiao Fan Fan, this meal…- the whole table was full of drama.”
Liu Mengjiao held a lip gloss in one hand and clutched her chest with the other, “Although I don’t quite understand what happened, I just feel that your circle is so chaotic.”
Liu Fan was holding her bag for her, “You’re overthinking it.”
“But Liu Fan, didn’t you notice?” Liu Mengjiao scrutinised him with a strange tone for a moment before slowly saying, “That Li Yu… I’m serious. Don’t you think he looks a bit like you?”
Liu Fan: “?”
This was a bolt from the blue!
“Huh?” Liu Fan was genuinely shocked this time and hurriedly looked into the mirror, “What the…-? Really? Such a coincidence?”
People always have a certain degree of vagueness about their own appearance. Liu Fan wasn’t someone narcissistic about his looks. He didn’t have an addiction to looking in the mirror, nor a habit of taking selfies. “Are you sure you’re not seeing things? Ugly people are each ugly in their own way, while beautiful people all look similar!”
Liu Mengjiao: “…”
“As a designer, do you think I lack that kind of aesthetic sensitivity? It’s not that you really look alike. But the styles are similar. Both of your facial features are in the dazzling and delicate category. At a glance, you look like dolls from the same series. You have no idea how shocked I was when I first noticed it. For a moment, at least one gigabyte of doppelgänger fiction passed through my mind. It was heart-wrenching… Do you know? You’re exactly like that kind of pure first love, just waiting to turn evil.” Liu Mengjiao grabbed her bag back and put away the lip gloss, “Art indeed imitates life. I couldn’t have imagined it. But it’s true that you can witness such melodrama in real life.”
Liu Fan: “…”
It can only be said that they truly are best friends. Even their thought processes are in sync. Liu Fan had to patiently say, “Now I kind of understand why you can’t find a suitable boyfriend. Could you stop visiting that pornographic novel website so much? How about reading some self-help books instead?”
“If anyone tries to feed me ‘chicken soup for the soul’ again, I’ll splash it right back in their face,” Liu Mengjiao rolled her eyes and linked her arm with his, “Liu Fan, I’m very seriously asking you, what’s the deal with you and General Manager Chen?”
Her expression was rarely this serious, “I feel like there’s something… exclusionary about the atmosphere between you two, like I just can’t get in. I don’t have a childhood friend I’ve known for years. So I can’t tell if it’s just familiarity or something more. What do you really think about him?”
Liu Fan also put away his playful attitude. He first shook his head. But then smiled, “To be honest, I don’t know either.”
“Tsk. What do you mean you don’t know?” Liu Mengjiao frowned, “You can’t have been single for so long that you’ve forgotten what it’s like to like someone.”
“Not knowing just means… not knowing.” Liu Fan scratched the back of his head, catching a glimpse of himself in the mirror out of the corner of his eye. “Like you said, I can’t tell if it’s the familiarity of a close friend, or…”
He couldn’t find the right words to describe it, words that wouldn’t make this long-silent emotion seem too shallow or too melodramatic.
No matter how natural he acted in front of Chen Qian, he always felt a bit uneasy deep down. Was everything now just a misplaced illusion of transference, a cherished memory, or something deeper and more significant?
In this uncertainty with no clear resolution, he couldn’t compare what would be best. In this aspect, Chen Qian was his only experience.
Whatever words he used, it would always feel lacking.
Liu Mengjiao saw the confused expression on Liu Fan’s face and helplessly patted his shoulder, “Alright, I won’t ask anymore. You figure it out yourself. But I have to remind you, don’t hesitate for too long. I think that Assistant Li is much more proactive than you. If you end up regretting it later, realising that you actually love him…- Just let’s not play that trope, okay?”
Liu Fan could only respond ambiguously.
***
The bar Liu Mengjiao brought them to was stylishly decorated and located in a prime area, making it very popular. When the four of them arrived, it was already quite lively.
“Do you want hot water?” Liu Fan asked, looking at the table full of beer bottles that the waiter had opened for them. Chen Qian, with a calm expression, handed him a bottle of beer. He then took one for himself and lightly clinked it with his.
The crisp sound was barely audible in the bustling environment.
Liu Fan smiled and downed the bottle of beer in one go. They both placed their empty bottles back on the table simultaneously, exhaling softly. They then looked at each other. For a moment, the surrounding noise seemed to fade away.
Chen Qian’s lips moved slightly, but then pressed into a stubborn line, reminiscent of his youthful demeanour.
Time gently wrapped around them, and the rush of alcohol churned in their stomachs. Liu Fan’s fingers stroked the cold edge of the beer bottle. The buzzing in his ears felt like sincere whispers that he couldn’t quite catch.
“Don’t be so intense right from the start,” Liu Mengjiao said as she filled a cup for herself and Li Yu. “Assistant Li, shall we have a drink? You down yours. And I’ll take it easy.”
Li Yu silently clinked glasses with her, then placed his cup back on the table without drinking. Liu Mengjiao secretly pursed her lips but said nothing.
The attractiveness at their table was overwhelmingly high. The girls at the neighbouring table kept glancing at the three handsome guys, their chatter punctuated with occasional high-pitched giggles.
“Back then,” Liu Fan leaned closer to Chen Qian and asked, “outside our school gate, down to the riverside, there were many bars.”
“There still are. It’s a whole street of bars,” Chen Qian said, pulling the empty bottle from Liu Fan’s hand and replacing it with a full one.
Liu Fan took a sip, his elbow resting on Chen Qian’s shoulder as he laughed, “The greeters at the entrance were all so handsome.”
“Yeah. I remember, one of them tried to hit on Yan Yi.” Chen Qian curled his fingers, wiping the beer off Liu Fan’s lips. “You said it had nothing to do with you. But you insisted on getting involved.”
One bottle of beer was enough to make the alcohol-sensitive Liu Fan feel a bit dizzy. Hearing Chen Qian mention this, he squinted and thought for a long time. The dusty fragments of his memory gradually became clear. “She was my deskmate. And she didn’t like that guy. It was no big deal for me to say a few words for her.”
“No big deal? If it was no big deal, why would someone come looking to block you?” Chen Qian’s voice grew lower and lower, causing Liu Fan to lean closer and closer. By the end, he was almost leaning on Chen Qian’s shoulder. Chen Qian retaliated by poking his forehead with a force. “In the end, it was still my problem. You just knew how to cause trouble for me.”
“How can you say that? How many times did I take the blame for you in front of your parents?” Liu Fan swatted away the hand that poked him, clinked his bottle with Chen Qian’s, and took a big gulp. “One time, your mom talked to my mom. And I got scolded badly when I got home.”
Chen Qian snorted, downing half a bottle in one go. “Who told you to be so good at pleasing my parents? They like you more than they like me.”
“Really? I did better in school than you. Your parents wanted me to help you, the underachiever.” Liu Fan, feeling a bit numb, rubbed his head and sat up. “Your mom’s spicy boiled fish was delicious. But your dad was too strict.”
Chen Qian was left speechless, clinking his bottle with Liu Fan’s and downing it. The two of them quickly went through a dozen beers, with half of the bottles on the table emptied by them. The more intoxicated they became, the quieter their hearts felt. Liu Fan sat silently next to Chen Qian, holding a beer.
Liu Mengjiao had been chatting and drinking with Li Yu. But both of them were more interested in the two people across from them. As they watched the increasingly subtle atmosphere between Chen Qian and Liu Fan, their feelings were completely different.
Li Yu anxiously looked at his watch. “It’s getting late. You guys have work tomorrow. And Chen Ge and I have to go on a business trip. Let’s call it a night.”
“It’s not even eleven yet,” Liu Mengjiao protested, trying to fill her glass again. Li Yu covered her glass with his hand. “I think you’ve had enough. You should take it easy.”
The voices at the table next to them suddenly grew louder as if an argument had broken out. Curious, Liu Mengjiao glanced back. A man was saying something to a girl at that table, and the girls all looked unhappy. The one being forced to drink looked particularly displeased.
It wasn’t uncommon to encounter persistent scumbags in bars. Liu Mengjiao herself had dealt with them a few times. But with three men by her side tonight, she could stay out of trouble. The table next to them was full of pretty girls, with no male protectors around, making them easy targets for harassment.
Liu Mengjiao turned her head back and heard Li Yu say, “Chen Ge, is it about time to leave?”
Suddenly, the sound of breaking glass came from behind them, startling all four of them. They, along with everyone else, looked towards the source of the noise. Several men were now standing by that table, one of them holding a broken beer bottle. The man who had been toasting the girls was now curled up on the ground. With such a commotion, the people at the opposite table stood up in unison and rushed over.
The chaos was unfolding right next to their table. Chen Qian furrowed his brows, grabbed Liu Fan’s hand, and helped him stand up. “Let’s go.”
Liu Mengjiao hurriedly grabbed her bag and got off her chair. But before they could take a step, a fight broke out. A glass flew over Li Yu’s head, hitting someone at another table. That person stood up cursing and joined the fray, kicking someone in the process. His friends followed suit, colliding with several others along the way, sparking more conflicts. In less than half a minute, most of the bar was engulfed in a brawl. Everyone had been drinking heavily, and this clash was like a drop of water hitting hot oil. It caused the adrenaline-fueled crowd to start fighting indiscriminately in the dim light.
Chen Qian protected Liu Fan while making their way out. Li Yu, maintaining some semblance of gentlemanly conduct, tried to shield Liu Mengjiao from being hit. However, someone bumped into his back, causing him to stumble and his glasses to slip. Liu Mengjiao screamed, jumped forward a few steps, and a bottle shattered at her feet. “What the hell is this mess?”
“Hurry up. We’ll talk outside,” Chen Qian pushed through the crowd, calmly glancing back at the dishevelled pair. “Don’t worry about anything else right now.”
Before he could finish his sentence, Chen Qian felt a sudden weight on his hand. Instinctively, he pulled it towards him and turned to check on Liu Fan. Liu Fan wiped the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand. His chin was slightly red. “It’s nothing. Just a scratch. Let’s go.”
Chen Qian’s pupils contracted as he scanned the surroundings, then delivered a swift, precise kick to the person he suspected of causing the injury. With his martial arts training, his kick was fast, accurate, and forceful, hitting the assailant’s waist and sending him to the ground. Chen Qian wasn’t satisfied and wanted to follow up with another kick. But Liu Fan quickly pulled him back. “What are you doing? Let’s go. Go, go, go.”
Seeing Chen Qian hit someone, others immediately rushed over to attack him. Chen Qian shielded Liu Fan behind him and knocked the attackers to the ground. “Damn it. What a bunch of lunatics!”
“Stop fighting. Let’s go!” Liu Fan, now fully sober from the shock, dragged Chen Qian out. A bloody path was created towards the exit. They both got injured numerous times in the process. Chen Qian, being vengeful, hit back at everyone who attacked them, which slowed their progress even more. Liu Mengjiao and Li Yu were nowhere to be seen.
As Liu Fan was searching for them, he took a punch to the face. Damn it! He should have checked the almanack before going out today!
Before he could react, Chen Qian exploded beside him.
Chen Qian grabbed the collar of the person who punched Liu Fan as he roared, “Are you looking to die?”
He punched the guy in the stomach, making him collapse immediately.
The guy struggled to get up. But Chen Qian kicked him in the back, pushing him back to the ground. The kick landed right on his spine, and at that force, it could have caused serious harm. Liu Fan couldn’t let him continue. So he hugged Chen Qian, yelling, “What’s gotten into you?”
Chen Qian was like an enraged lion, unstoppable, quickly taking down more people. Liu Fan held onto his waist, desperately dragging him out. After finally making it to the door, Liu Fan, fearing Chen Qian would go back for more trouble, kept pulling him until they were a street away. Only then did he let go, catching his breath.
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*Translator’s Note: What LMJ means about the doppelgänger novel where they will turn evil is kinda like those novels who have the characters facing their evil self in different times. One example of such a novel is Erha (spoiler tho… the ML has to face his evil self from the future/past and yadda yadda yadda). Well, if you know, you know. So… Ehem, CQ has been keeping LY by his side because he kinda resembles LF? That’s not nice though. No wonder LY would fall for CQ. CQ must’ve treated him well if he is the living reminder of LF, right? -K
Next update: 2024.09.21
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