The night was a blur of neon lights and pulsating music in the bar, with graceful figures swaying on the dance floor amidst laughter and revelry.
Yet, even in such an atmosphere, some were lost in their own worlds of sorrow.
He sat in the darkest corner of the bar, instinctively avoiding the boisterous crowd.
Any young women who dared to approach him were met with sharp rebukes and sent away.
"Manager, it's that man. He's been here all day," a server, genuinely concerned, finally informed the manager.
The manager nodded. "I see. I'll handle it."
He approached the man and said, "Sir, you've had quite a lot to drink. Perhaps you should consider stopping. Or could you perhaps provide a contact number for your relatives? I can have them come pick you up."
Qiu Zhun looked up slightly, but the face he saw was Wen Xue Shan's.
"Xue Shan? Are you here to take me home?"
The manager understood; this man was clearly drunk out of his mind.
However, he noticed Qiu Zhun's phone on the table. After informing Qiu Zhun, he picked up the device.
Though it was late, Wei Yu Meng was still awake.
Wen Xue Shan's departure had resolved the misunderstanding between her and Zhan Mo Han, yet her heart remained heavy.
She was especially worried about Qiu Zhun. She hadn't been able to reach him for several days and feared what he might do.
Just then, her phone rang. The caller ID displayed Qiu Zhun's name.
"Hello? Mr. Qiu, how have you been lately?"
Zhan Mo Han, who had also been concerned about Wei Yu Meng's well-being and hadn't slept, sat nearby, watching her quietly.
"My apologies, I am the manager of this bar. Mr. Qiu has been drinking here all day, and we are concerned about his condition. We've borrowed his phone to contact you."
Wei Yu Meng frowned. Drinking all day? Wasn't that akin to seeking death?
"Tell me your address. I'll be right there."
After Wei Yu Meng hung up, she noticed Zhan Mo Han already standing and preparing to leave.
"I'll go with you."
Wei Yu Meng shook her head. "No need. He's just drunk, I can handle it."
Zhan Mo Han insisted, "This is partly my responsibility. Perhaps my presence could help."
Wei Yu Meng hesitated for a moment longer, then finally agreed.
By the time they arrived at the bar, it was past three in the morning. Qiu Zhun was still drinking in a daze.
"Xue Shan, do you see? We'll be in the Aegean Sea soon. Didn't you always want to go there? You said there was a... a tragic love story there."
He started to cry again. "I wish the protagonist in the story was like me. Faced with watching the one you love die, it's better to die yourself."
"Mr. Qiu, please stop drinking." Wei Yu Meng snatched the glass from Qiu Zhun's hand.
Qiu Zhun stared at Wei Yu Meng for a long time before recognizing her.
"It's Miss Wei, why are you here? I'm on a date with Xue Shan. I just saw her again, just like before."
"Mr. Qiu, wake up. Miss Wen is no longer with us. This will solve nothing. She wouldn't want to see you like this."
"You don't understand, you really don't! This is the only way I can see her again. This is the only way I can be with her again."
Seeing the scene and hearing his words, Wei Yu Meng felt a pang of pain.
While she couldn't fully comprehend Qiu Zhun's feelings, she understood the pain of losing a loved one.
She crouched down and spoke to Qiu Zhun in a gentle tone, "Mr. Qiu, haven't you forgotten? Remember that day in the hospital? You promised Miss Wen that even if she was gone, you would live well."
Wei Yu Meng's words seemed to stir Qiu Zhun's memory. A trace of tenderness appeared in his eyes. "Yes, we were talking about growing old together. One of us would leave first, and the other would live on. We promised each other."
As he spoke, Qiu Zhun began to weep again. "I regret it. How could I possibly live on? Without her, I can't bear to live another day."
Zhan Mo Han had been waiting for Wei Yu Meng by the door, but when she didn't emerge after a long while, he grew worried and entered the bar.
"Yu Meng, how is it?"
Before Wei Yu Meng could respond, Qiu Zhun stared at Zhan Mo Han, stunned. His face quickly contorted with hatred.
"Zhan Mo Han! It's you! You killed Xue Shan! Why did you do it? Why?"
Saying this, he lunged at Zhan Mo Han.
Wei Yu Meng rushed forward to intervene, but it was too late.
Zhan Mo Han narrowly dodged the attack, but Qiu Zhun lunged again.
"Tell me, why did Xue Shan have to commit suicide? What did you say to her?"
Zhan Mo Han could have told Qiu Zhun the truth, but he wondered what would happen if Qiu Zhun knew everything.
It was difficult to imagine that Qiu Zhun, so deeply in love with Wen Xue Shan, would learn that her heart belonged to another man. Perhaps the situation would only worsen.
"Suicide was her own choice," Zhan Mo Han could only say.
"You're lying to me! You're all lying to me! She would never commit suicide. She was carrying our child! How could she leave them both behind?"
Qiu Zhun glared at Zhan Mo Han hatefully. "Even if you can use your status and position to cover up the truth, I won't give up. I will give Xue Shan justice."
With that, he raised his fist to strike Zhan Mo Han again, but his drunken state made his punch weak. Zhan Mo Han easily blocked it.
Watching Qiu Zhun, Wei Yu Meng felt a surge of annoyance.
While she also grieved for Wen Xue Shan's passing, why was Qiu Zhun destroying himself like this?
She finally couldn't help but slap Qiu Zhun across the face.
Qiu Zhun stared at her, dazed, unable to speak for a long time.
"Mr. Qiu! Can you please wake up? Who are you putting on this act for? Do you really think Mo Han killed Miss Wen?"
Qiu Zhun continued to stare blankly at her.
"I know you're hurting and want a reason for Miss Wen's death so you can seek revenge and have a purpose to live. But is this truly what Miss Wen would have wanted? Have you ever considered that she might have done this for your future?"
"For me?" Qiu Zhun looked confused by Wei Yu Meng's words.
"Actually, she was ill. And her illness was much more serious than we imagined. We all thought it was just depression, but in reality, she was on the verge of collapse."
To comfort Qiu Zhun, Wei Yu Meng could only weave a fabricated story, one that would soothe him and prevent him from taking his anger out on Zhan Mo Han.