After three glasses of red wine, Duan Qizhao's tongue began to tangle.
He hugged the tripod like a microphone and howled several songs at the Milky Way without hitting a single note. Once he finished, he began pouring his heart out through slurred words:
"Xun, you know, I used to rule the roost in Capital City. Everyone sucked up to me, and nobody dared talk back. Except you. You kicked me the moment we met and sent me flying!"
"You still remember that." Jiang Xun tilted his head, his eyes curved in a smile.
"I'll remember it for the rest of my life!" Duan Qizhao slapped his thigh. "For the first time in my life, I, Duan Qizhao, lost before I could even make a move. And after losing, I had to trot along behind you as your lackey. Am... am I pathetic or what?"
"Yeah."
That decisive answer nearly made Duan Qizhao choke. He grabbed a bag of chips to throw at him, only to plunge headfirst into the pile of snack wrappers on the picnic mat.
He struggled twice without managing to get up, then simply rolled onto his back and let out a loud, drunken belch at the Milky Way.
"I told my dad I'm bringing you home for dinner next week. Our chef makes incredible braised pork, way better than that five-star chef at your place."
Duan Qizhao rambled with his eyes closed, his voice growing increasingly indistinct. "My dad said he wants to meet you. My mom said so too. She said you looked really cool fighting over boxed lunches in Shiban Village..."
Before he finished speaking, he began to snore.
Jiang Xun gave him a light kick, but it didn't wake him.
Only the wind and Duan Qizhao's steady snores remained on the mountaintop.