Lang Jin and Tang Li returned to the private room, only a few steps apart.
Before they went in, they happened to hear Liu Xuezhi talking about the Kerguelen trip years ago and bringing himself up. "Let's not even talk about Lang Jin's other strengths—his steadiness, calmness, dedication to research, all that. There's one thing I consider the most important: when something happens, he really steps up! If he hadn't grabbed me and dragged me back with everything he had, I would've been swallowed by that school of amphibious fish..."
Lang Jin did not want to enter amid that topic and atmosphere. After thinking it over, he simply did not go in and headed to the front desk to settle the bill.
When he returned to the corridor entrance, his own party was on one side, while another private room lay around the corner on the other. Voices drifted over from both directions.
Lang Jin suddenly stopped. His gaze swept from side to side. After a brief hesitation, he walked toward the other side.
Turning the corner, he reached the door from behind which laughter and chatter faintly drifted. Without the slightest hesitation, he pushed it open.
The laughter inside continued as before, but only for about a second. More than a dozen pairs of eyes turned toward him in unison.
A very obvious look of surprise and embarrassment appeared on Lang Jin's dark, thin face. "Sorry, wrong room."
He quickly pulled the door shut and turned to leave.
But the scene inside remained clearly imprinted in his mind: the table was fully occupied, and no one had left; their faces, builds, and clothing bore no resemblance to one another.
That person—the drunk who had shared a restroom with Director Tang Li—was not a guest at that table at all.