<h4>Chapter 535: Chapter 536: Childhood Memories</h4><h4></h4>


    Three years is enough time for even the most unfamiliar pair to be good friends, let alone when their desks have always stood side by side.


    During these three years, both He Xing and Ji Liangchuan received enough love letters to fill a truck, and actually, He Xing received even more than Ji Liangchuan.


    Then, Ji Liangchuan went abroad to an utterly unfamiliar ce, with neither parent by his side and everything having to be managed on his own, the onlypany being the Servant who came along to take care of him.


    Being young, Ji Liangchuan didn’t settle in very well and started to miss his time back in his home country. He tentatively sent He Xing an email and, to his surprise, got a reply.


    That was when their true friendship began. While Ji Liangchuan hadn’tpletely adjusted to his new environment, he would always email He Xing. Although He Xing didn’t reply to every message, he would respond once or twice a week.


    It was these weekly replies that gave Ji Liangchuan tremendous strength. He quickly adapted to his new environment, made new ssmates and friends, and remained just as popr as he was before.


    The habit of emailing He Xing continued, and in their exchanges, they shared opinions, discussed popr topics, and shared snippets of their lives.


    Gradually, they really started to consider each other friends.


    But now, they were no longer friends.


    His memories abruptly cut off, Ji Liangchuan grabbed the half-bottle of Vodka and began gulping it down. With each sip, he felt an unbearable pain in his throat and a burning in his stomach as if mes were engulfing it.


    He was already behind, but he couldn’t admit defeat, not least until that person arrived; and he had to figure out how to slip the substance into He Xing’s ss, especially after He Xing had refused the opened bottle of Vodka when they returned, even going as far as to rece both the ss and the decanter, excessively cautious.


    He didn’t know how long had passed when suddenly a girl’s voice rang out, "What are you guys doing, drinking so much?"


    Ji Liangchuan’s taut nerves rxed somewhat, and he looked in the direction of the voice, indeed seeing Xia Ning’s contorted face.


    Taking advantage of He Xing’s blind spot, Ji Liangchuan made a gesture to Xia Ning, signaling failure.


    The smile on Xia Ning’s face instantly faded. Her eyes darted around as she sat down beside He Xing, "He Xing Brother, what are you doing, why are you drinking so much?"


    By this time, He Xing had already drunk half of his fourth bottle of Vodka, and his head felt fuzzy. At her question, he frowned lightly and said, "It’s nothing. Ji Liangchuan and I have something going on, don’t disturb us."


    For a moment, Xia Ning’s face turned cold, but she quickly regained her smile, stuck out her tongue cutely, and said, "Okay, He Xing Brother, I won’t bother you. Shall I pour you some Hangover Tea?"


    Without waiting for a reply, she dashed off toward the bar.


    Ji Liangchuan, who had been drinking quite a bit, stopped and said with a meaningful tone, "He Xing, I see that Xia Ning’s dedication to you is no less than Fu Han’s. Why don’t you consider Xia Ning? After all, the Xia Family has saved your life twice. It wouldn’t be too much to ask for a marriage in return, right?"


    He Xing’s face turned utterly dark. He mmed down his ss and said coldly, "I see you’re quite popr in this bar as well. Should you want a girlfriend, there’d surely be plenty of options for you too. Why don’t you just pick someone?"


    Now it was Ji Liangchuan’s turn to look upset. His face darkened, and he said angrily, "How can these people bepared to Fu Han?"


    "So you know these people can’tpare to Fu Han?" He Xing scoffed, his eyes resolute, "In my heart, Fu Han is one-of-a-kind, irreceable. She is the only one for me."


    "That’s a coincidence, so am I," Ji Liangchuan retorted, a sly smile ying at his lips, firmness mingled with profound meaning.


    "Then let’s not talk anymore and just drink," He Xing lifted his ss with a cold expression, "We agreed, whoever finishes the bottle of Vodka first wins. If you’re going to keep sipping slowly, I have no interest in sticking around."


    He spoke calmly, but he belched just as he finished, the strong scent of alcohol engulfing his throat. He nearly vomited.


    Ji Liangchuan’s face also darkened, and with a simple "Got it," he downed another series of gulps, visibly depleting more of the bottle’s contents.


    Less than two minutester, Xia Ning returned, a steaming cup of tea in her hands. She ced the Hangover Tea in front of He Xing with a beaming smile, "He Xing Brother, drink this quickly. Your stomach won’t take much more if you keep at it."


    The hot tea was already by his lips, and at that moment, he truly craved something warm; but as the steam hit his nose, he recognized the familiar scent.


    At that point, He Xing’s mind was quite muddled, and it took him a full two minutes of pondering before he remembered where he had smelled this scent before.


    A mocking smile appeared on He Xing’s lips, his eyes turbulent as he stared at Xia Ning, "Who gave you this tea? Did you make it yourself?"


    Xia Ning felt a sudden pang of guilt. Her rational mind told her not to avert her eyes from He Xing’s gaze but she couldn’t control her own behavior. Feigning calmness, she pointed toward the bar and whispered, "They made it for me. This Hangover Tea always smells like this. My brother has drunk it before too."


    He Xing cast another nce at Xia Ning, then handed the tea cup to Ji Liangchuan, "Drink this. I’ll get a new cup."


    The moment He Xing asked, Ji Liangchuan internally cursed their bad luck. Now, hearing He Xing’s offer, he hesitated, avoiding the Hangover Tea, his handsome face flushed with anger, "This is for you from Xia Ning, if I wanted to drink, wouldn’t I get it myself from the bar?"


    Xia Ning also chipped in hastily, "Yes, I brought this especially for you, if he wants to drink he can get his own."


    He Xing’s gaze shuffled between Ji Liangchuan and Xia Ning. Both were trying their best to remainposed, but a closer look revealed their unusual expressions, especially Xia Ning, who persistently dodged He Xing’s gaze.


    "Then you drink this cup," He Xing pushed the Hangover Tea towards Xia Ning, "I don’t want it. You must be cold aftering from outside; drink some tea to warm up."


    Xia Ning’s face turned pale instantly. Her lips trembling, she looked at He Xing, "I... He Xing Brother, I... I don’t want to drink, I’m not thirsty."


    As she spoke, her body visibly shook, looking pitiful like a frail nt swaying in the storm.