I've Been in a Relationship Too

Immediately afterward, the karaoke lovers started belting out songs, while everyone else began playing the ancient but thrilling game of Truth or Dare.

"Sometimes, you just want to be alone, or fly up into the sky and gaze at the boundless stars. Surely, there are great beings out there, far beyond human civilization."

"Jingjing's right here!"

"Please don't call me Jingjing. Otherwise, millions of people will be thinking about me every day."

People only showed their true colors after drinking. Xu Yunjing, who was usually so reserved, actually kissed her boyfriend until they were both gasping for air during a dare. Zhang Yuan was left staring in shock.

The girls around them applauded and cheered.

Li Zhendong seemed pretty drunk. He launched into a song that was remarkably fitting.

"In this vast sea of people,

which one am I?

Among the surging waves,

which one is me?

In the army that conquers the universe,

I am the one who gives in silence.

In the long river of glorious endeavors,

I am the one who surges on forever.

I don't need you to know me,

I don't long for you to know me..."

To everyone's surprise, a girl was moved to tears and gave him a sweet kiss... even though they'd known each other for less than a day.

It seemed like everyone became more lively and uninhibited in that little enclosed room.

"...Come on, let's go! Hurry up and come shopping with me!"

Han Ziyue's eyes darted around as she grabbed Zhang Yuan's hand and tugged him toward the door.

"What do you need to buy? Go by yourself. Why drag me along?"

Her hand felt hot, and it was even sweaty. He instinctively felt a sense of danger.

"Something to eat! The snacks here are way too expensive; it's not worth it. Are you even a gentleman? I've had a little too much to drink. How can you expect me to walk alone at night?"

Zhang Yuan rolled his eyes to himself. She'd only had two bottles of beer, and with all these people coming and going, was anything really going to happen to her?

But when he thought about it, maybe... it was better to go with her.

"Let's go, let's go." Han Ziyue happily hooked her arm through his, like they were a couple.

Zhang Yuan gave a little tug, but found he couldn't get free. There was only one day left anyway, so he decided to let her do as she pleased.

The two of them wandered aimlessly around the karaoke bar, passing plenty of vending machines without buying a thing.

Zhang Yuan was starting to get impatient. "What are you trying to buy?"

Han Ziyue suddenly seemed to make up her mind. "Never mind, we don't have to buy anything... There's something I want to ask you."

"What?"

She pointed to a sign. "What does the English on that sign mean?"

Zhang Yuan glanced at the sign, then peered into the room behind it. "STAFF ONLY. It means this area is for employees only. Maybe it's a storeroom."

"So it means nobody's in there?"

"Huh?"

"Hehe!"

Han Ziyue pulled him inside and shoved him against the wall in a corner.

"What are you doing?!"

Seeing the sparkle in her eyes, Zhang Yuan felt a sudden burst of panic. The hair all over his body stood on end.

Han Ziyue grinned. "You're leaving soon, so I'm giving you a little present. Hurry up and close your eyes."

"What... present?"

"Come on, close your eyes! What, are you afraid I'll eat you?"

Zhang Yuan thought to himself, I really am afraid you'll eat me. That look on your face makes it obvious you're up to something.

Don't think I don't know. I've been in a relationship too, you know.

Before he could react, Han Ziyue had already risen onto her tiptoes and kissed him on the lips.

"Ah!"

Zhang Yuan nearly jumped in fright.

"...Have you had too much to drink? Let's hurry back!"

Han Ziyue's face was already bright red. "Why go back? We're not going back! You're so much older than me, but you're acting like a little kid... I haven't finished giving you your present."

"I'm not the same middle schooler I was back then. I have the right to pursue someone I like, don't I?"

Zhang Yuan looked at her curvy figure, cropped shirt that showed her belly button, short skirt, and ankle socks. She could hardly have dressed more daringly.

He stammered, "This... isn't right... I can't stay."

"What's wrong with it? I know you won't stay, but I can't help wanting to take things a little further."

"...A little further?"

"Men are always saying one thing and meaning another. They say they don't want it, but their bodies are honest..."

"Or maybe their bodies are anything but honest!"

Zhang Yuan felt the blood rush to his head and almost cried out. "No, we can't... This is outside. Someone could come in, and it'd look terrible if we were caught."

After being rejected again and again, Han Ziyue got a little annoyed. She mussed up her hair and unfastened one of the buttons at her chest, then said with a sly smile, "If I run out crying and accuse you of assaulting me, would you still be allowed to board the spaceship?"

Well...

Though he was more than eighty percent sure she was joking, Zhang Yuan sighed silently just to be safe.

He said cautiously, "All right, all right. Put your clothes back in order first. Your present was a real shock."

"Yeah! Let's go!"

Han Ziyue struck a triumphant V sign, absolutely delighted.

Amy Hotel.

Han Ziyue kept her arm tightly hooked through Zhang Yuan's, not letting him escape in the confusion.

"What? Do I have to get a room for you too?"

Zhang Yuan braced himself, at a loss for words. He turned to the receptionist. "Um... Do you still have a twin room?"

"Yes. Three hundred ninety-eight yuan a night."

"We want a king room, not a twin!"

"It's still 398."

The staff had seen plenty of young people like them and were used to it. He wondered to himself why the young man was blushing so much. Still, they made a good-looking couple. He disliked seeing an ugly man with a beautiful woman, or an ugly woman with a handsome man...

"Were you like this with my older sister?" Han Ziyue kept teasing Zhang Yuan's nerves along the way. "Who do you think is cuter, me or her?"

Zhang Yuan didn't know whether to say yes or no. Either way, it was embarrassing. All he wanted now was to escape.

"I don't know. I've forgotten."

"Then I'll just take that as a no!"

After they swiped the room card, they found the room was quite spacious. Through the window, they could even see a lighthouse in the distance.

Trains passed now and then along the long sea-crossing bridge.

Han Ziyue smiled. "Hurry up and take a shower. You can go first, or we can shower together. I wouldn't mind showering together, but I'd be a little embarrassed..."

"No, I'll go first!" Zhang Yuan hurriedly replied.

Even through the frosted glass, they could make out each other's silhouettes. Zhang Yuan cursed the hotel under his breath for using this kind of design.

As he stood under the shower, he...

To say he hadn't... would have meant he wasn't normal.

Still, this really went against his values, and his reason was fighting a constant battle.

Today, I finally get to wrap up the first volume! I think it turned out pretty well. I've covered just about everything that needed to be explained. I'll write the volume-end note later...