Xiao Mo shook the ceramic liquor bottle. It sloshed twice.
"Not much left."
"There's more if you want it. I bought a few dozen cases and stored them here."
Wang Xiaoliang slapped the table. "Bro, how much can you drink?"
Xiao Mo's expression froze, then he slapped his forehead and chuckled. "Fuck, you caught me, you little punk. Well..."
Before he could finish, Wang Xiaoliang's phone rang.
Luo Bisheng said, "Bro, got time to meet?"
"No. Busy. We'll be seeing each other every day in a couple of days. I've got something going on right now."
"..."
Xiao Mo got up to use the bathroom.
After a few steps, he looked back at Wang Xiaoliang, who was holding his phone and watching him.
By the time Xiao Mo returned, Wang Xiaoliang had drunk most of the bowl of chicken soup and was picking through the chicken on the plate with his chopsticks.
Xiao Mo sat down and tilted his head at him.
"Looks like you're doing a lot better."
"Yeah."
"To thank me for curing you of your drinking problem, say yes to my request."
Wang Xiaoliang didn't respond to that. He set down his bowl and wiped his mouth.
"Bro."
"Hmm?"
"Do you like Nuomi?"
Xiao Mo's hand paused as he poured, just for a moment. Then the liquor kept flowing into the glass.
He nodded.
"It's not liking her."
He raised the glass, stopping at his lips.
"I simply can't live without her."
He brought the glass to his lips again and poured the liquor down his throat.
"So you're afraid of gossip?"
Xiao Mo didn't answer right away. He poured another glass.
"I'm a beggar." He turned the glass in a circle on the table. "I can beg for food. What do I need pride for?"
Wang