Volume 1 Chapter 61: Consoling

Trapped In Paradise 

Volume 1 Chapter 61: Consoling

Perhaps because he had developed his tolerance back when he used to work at a bar, Zhang Shaoqing could hold his liquor very well.

He had barely eaten anything to accompany the drinks, yet before long, several empty beer cans were already scattered on the floor. He remained silent, his expression calm as he continued pouring alcohol down his throat.

After his previous experience at the hotel, when he had nearly triggered a plot event, Ning Chu did not dare touch alcohol this time. He simply sat on one side of the small square table, occasionally eating a few snacks, his worried gaze fixed on Zhang Shaoqing.

“Wen Yang, you can’t hold your liquor. Take it easy.” He glanced at Wen Yang, whose face was already flushed and slightly tipsy, and reminded him.

It wasn’t that he cared about Wen Yang. He was just worried that the guy might do something reckless after getting drunk.

“Okay. I haven’t had that much, anyway.”

Ning Chu bent down listlessly, resting his arms on his thighs and his chin in his hands as he gazed helplessly at the two men in front of him.

Ever since transmigrating into this world, he had been constantly worrying about these two men.

Wen Yang was still relatively fine. He had maintained his virginity, and whenever women tried to seduce him, he was able to firmly reject them in an appropriate manner. He was still a popular university student and had not become the “protagonist.”

The only problem was that he and Ning Chu were far too close, making Ning Chu worry that their friendship might eventually go off the rails.

As for Zhang Shaoqing, there had been no movement from him until now. Aside from that club gathering, Ning Chu had never triggered any of the villain-related plotlines. But now, because of his childhood sweetheart’s willingness to throw herself at her boyfriend, this guy seemed destined to follow the path laid out in the story and truly become that “villain.”

Things like the wilderness, props, training, hypnosis, nymphomania, petplay...

Every time Ning Chu thought of the keywords associated with the villain’s plotlines, he got a splitting headache.

Back then, his range of kinks had been a little too broad.

In anime and manga, getting horny over keywords like these was one thing. But this was the real world...

If Zhang Shaoqing really became the villain, who knew how many girls would suffer because of him in the future?

And although Ning Chu was still a man right now, there was no guarantee that, being the one closest to him, he wouldn’t become the first victim.

If he couldn’t calm Zhang Shaoqing down tonight, he would pack his things and leave immediately!

He couldn’t be bothered to worry about the dangers he might encounter anymore. At least those dangers were currently invisible and intangible. Compared to the crisis right in front of him, they felt far more remote.

He stared at Zhang Shaoqing’s expressionless face. The man had already drunk quite a lot, yet he still wore that gloomy, withdrawn expression and remained silent for a long time.

Then Ning Chu looked at Wen Yang...

Well, this guy was normally not good with words either. He was the stereotypical dense idiot type. If he weren’t handsome, well-endowed, and the hentai protagonist of this world, there was no way so many girls would be lining up to throw themselves at him.

So Wen Yang really was just drinking. Every now and then, he would lower his head to glance at his phone, showing absolutely no intention of using the alcohol as an opportunity to chat or confide in Zhang Shaoqing.

“Shao—”

“—Ning Chu, have a couple of drinks with me.”

As if deliberately trying to shut Ning Chu up, Zhang Shaoqing happened to push two bottles of alcohol in front of him.

Ning Chu swallowed the words he was about to say. He frowned tightly, staring helplessly at the two bottles.

He really didn’t want to drink. What if two bottles were enough to make him dizzy again and lose his ability to think clearly?

Besides, if Zhang Shaoqing really turned into the villain tonight, a drunk Ning Chu would be the easiest target for him.

Ning Chu shuddered. He absolutely did not want any man getting physically intimate with him, especially when he was a man himself now...

“I-I’ll pass, okay?” He shrank his neck and muttered, “Isn’t Wen Yang drinking with you?”

As he spoke, he turned and glared at Wen Yang. The moment Wen Yang caught that irritated look in his eyes, he immediately understood.

“Shaoqing, there’s no fun in just drinking. Wanna play Niuniu? Loser drinks a bottle.”

Exactly! Playing some little game might help ease Zhang Shaoqing’s depression.

Ning Chu nodded rapidly, but Zhang Shaoqing looked at the two of them and pursed his lips.

“Boring.”

“...”

Although he had been rejected, at least Zhang Shaoqing had finally spoken, right?

Ning Chu sighed inwardly and listlessly ate a couple of peanuts.

“Drink. What kind of grown man can’t even drink a little?”

“I-I’m allergic to alcohol.”

“Heh~”

Under Zhang Shaoqing’s intimidating gaze, and worried that going against him might cause his “corruption meter” to shoot straight to the maximum, Ning Chu could only grit his teeth and take a small sip of beer.

He had absolutely no idea what was supposed to be good about beer! The cocktails served at bars could at least pass as decent drinks.

Just drink a little. Beer wasn’t that strong...

“I’ve known Ling Ling for fifteen years.” Seeing that he had taken a drink, Zhang Shaoqing lowered his head and sighed. “I’ve liked her for more than a decade, too. And in the end, she only ever saw me as her brother...”

Ning Chu’s eyes lit up.

Since you’re willing to talk about it, then everything will be fine!

The situation itself might not be solvable, but Zhang Shaoqing could vent the bitterness in his heart by talking about it. That would make it less likely that he would turn to the dark side.

He hurriedly handed Zhang Shaoqing two more bottles of beer and chimed in, “Didn’t she ever realize that you liked her?”

“No. She was pretty surprised when I confessed last time... She’s always thought of me as her older brother.”

“But after you confessed, she must have understood your feelings, right?”

“She still doesn’t like me.”

Zhang Shaoqing let out a quiet sigh. “I also know the man Ling Ling is dating. We were classmates in high school.”

“...”

“First Wen Yang, and now a classmate...”

Ning Chu glared at Wen Yang. This male protagonist was guilty beyond redemption!

Wen Yang awkwardly scratched the back of his head. “I didn’t know at the time. But I really never touched her! I didn’t even hold her hand!”

“If he’s your high school classmate, why don’t you talk to him? Like last time?”

Previously, when Wen Yang learned that Ling Ling was Zhang Shaoqing’s childhood sweetheart, he had broken up with her without hesitation.

But this time...

Zhang Shaoqing shook his head and listlessly tilted his head back, downing half a bottle of beer.

“Forget it.”

“Th-Then what are you going to do...?”

His gaze swept over Ning Chu’s small face, filled with concern and worry, before turning toward Wen Yang, who picked up his own bottle, clinked it against his, and silently drank alongside him.

“Just give me a couple of days to myself.”

Although Ning Chu knew that emotional wounds couldn’t heal overnight, he was still somewhat anxious.

Who knew what would be going through Zhang Shaoqing’s head a couple of days from now…?

Still, he followed Zhang Shaoqing’s lead.

“Yeah. It’ll pass with time.”

Then he swallowed nervously and cautiously asked, “Shaoqing, you... you wouldn’t be thinking about getting revenge on Ling Ling, would you?”

“...”

Zhang Shaoqing turned to look at him, his gaze somewhat blank and dazed.

Don’t stay silent!

Silence means you’re admitting it, right?!

Ning Chu shuddered and had already begun preparing to board a train out of town tonight.

“No…” Before he could finish, Zhang Shaoqing’s head dropped onto the table with a thud, and his entire body slumped over the small square table.

“Well, he’s completely drunk now.” Wen Yang burped and said helplessly, “He drank too fast and didn’t eat anything with it. Of course he’d get drunk.”

Ning Chu finally breathed a sigh of relief. At least he had heard what Zhang Shaoqing was thinking before the guy passed out.

At least Zhang Shaoqing hadn’t been planning to take revenge today.

“I wonder what he likes about Ling Ling. That girl’s pretty open...” Wen Yang muttered. “We’d only known each other for a few days back then, and she already wanted to take me out for the night.”

Ning Chu crouched down somewhat guiltily and began gathering up the beer bottles scattered across the floor.

When he was writing the novel, who cared whether the girls were open-minded or not? He just wanted to write the spicy scenes. Logic? Who needed logic in an erotic novel?

When all was said and done, he was the real culprit.

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