You Call This a Green Tea? - Chapter 3

“Didn’t you say you were going to sleep? Why the hell are you out drinking in the middle of the night?” Sheng Junwen let out a massive yawn. He’d been dragged out of bed at the crack of dawn to pick someone up, and now he was being dragged out to a bar when all he wanted was to crash.

As a night owl, he was built for staying up late, not for waking up early!

Zhuo Luyuan, looking slightly irritable, downed a glass of liquor in one go. His slightly glazed eyes turned to Sheng Junwen. “What exactly do you think he means by all this?”

Sheng Junwen, seeing that his friend was getting tipsy, snatched the glass and flipped it upside down on the table. “That’s the fifth time you’ve asked. So what if he has the same initials as you and, uh, posted a photo on his Moments? It’s not that big of a deal…”

His voice trailed off, his confidence wavering. He whispered, “You don’t think he actually likes you, do you? When we were kids, he only ever clung to you. Maybe now that he’s grown up…”

“Absolutely impossible!” Zhuo Luyuan snapped, then lowered his voice impatiently. “The banquet is in a few days. Keep an eye on him with me then. Let’s see what he’s actually up to.”

Zhuo Luyuan ordered two more drinks. Since Sheng Junwen refused to drink, Luyuan downed one himself. Sheng Junwen had to wrestle the other one away from him. “Look, your tolerance is trash. Stop drinking or you’ll be wasted, and I’ll have to haul you home.”

Zhuo Luyuan watched as Sheng Junwen split into two blurry figures, then closed his eyes and slumped onto the table.

Sheng Junwen sighed at his miserable fate and resigned himself to delivering the drunkard back to the Zhuo residence, leaving under the disapproving glares of Luyuan’s parents.

A few days later, the Zhuo family banquet arrived. The hall was bustling, filled with the elite of the local social circle.

Mr. Zhuo clinked glasses with a certain CEO Li. Looking at Zhuo Luyuan in the distance, CEO Li praised, “Luyuan is truly young and capable. Not like my useless son—I’m lucky if he isn’t out causing trouble.”

CEO Li’s son was slightly younger than Luyuan. Rumor had it he’d lost a bet recently and had to shave his head, resulting in a beating from his father and a current stint of “self-reflection” at home.

Mr. Zhuo gave a polite laugh before changing the subject. “The He family is coming tonight. They’ve been rooted overseas for years; perhaps we can discuss some collaborations.”

Many guests shared this sentiment, casting frequent glances toward the entrance.

Meanwhile, Zhuo Luyuan was hiding in a corner with a sour face, eating small cakes with Sheng Junwen. Because of his poor tolerance, Sheng Junwen had swapped Luyuan’s red wine for grape juice.

“I’m one thing, but this is your family’s banquet. Shouldn’t you be socializing?” Sheng Junwen asked around a mouthful of cake.

“My dad’s there,” Zhuo Luyuan replied, eating his cake with far more elegance than his friend. “I’m hiding as long as I can.”

When He Zhen walked in behind his parents, the room went quiet. All eyes focused on the family of three.

After the formal introductions, He Zhen excused himself from the crowd. Seeing Zhuo Luyuan watching him, he walked over with a glass in hand. “Long time no see.”

Zhuo Luyuan clinked his glass of grape juice against He Zhen’s wine. He Zhen caught the scent immediately—Grape juice? Interesting. He didn’t expose him, simply smiling. “I’ve been busy with company matters. I’m still adjusting to being back.”

Zhuo Luyuan felt a bit guilty for avoiding He Zhen since the “Moments” incident. “Right… I’ve been busy too, haven’t had a chance to show you around.”

He Zhen nodded. He knew that in the later stages of the plot, the He family was supposed to go bankrupt. For now, it seemed he only needed to appear for specific scripted lines; otherwise, he had free reign.

He didn’t stay with them long before his father signaled him to come meet more people. Eventually, the drinking and the crowds wore him down. He Zhen made an excuse and slipped away to the second-floor balcony.

The night breeze cleared his head. He instinctively reached for a cigarette, then remembered this wasn’t his world and he didn’t have his usual brand. He rubbed his fingers together and gave up.

Suddenly, the click of high heels sounded behind him. He turned to see a petite, delicately featured girl looking at him with clear hostility. “So, you’re He Zhenzhen?”

The System chimed in: 【This is Supporting Female Lead #2, Zheng Xi. Please handle with care, Host!】

Before He Zhen could speak, Zheng Xi continued, “You used to cling to Luyuan-gege all the time. You finally went abroad, why did you have to come back? I’m warning you, don’t think just because you’re tall and handsome you can make him like you. Luyuan-gege is mine!”

He Zhen felt a physical wave of cringe. Is every female lead in this world this… strange?

He didn’t want a confrontation, so he headed for the stairs. Zheng Xi, annoyed at being ignored, stomped her foot and chased after him, reaching out to grab him.

He Zhen sped up, but then the System’s prompt flashed:

【He Zhenzhen sees Zheng Xi chasing her and notices Zhuo Luyuan looking up from below. She allows Zheng Xi to grab her, then suddenly lets go and tumbles down the stairs. With “pear blossoms bathed in rain” (tears) in her eyes, she looks at Zhuo Luyuan and cries: “Sister Zheng Xi, why did you push me?”】

Are you kidding me?! He Zhen thought. But Zhuo Luyuan was indeed looking up. For the sake of the points, He Zhen purposefully missed a step and tumbled down the stairs in front of everyone.

But before he could squeeze out a single tear, a piercing scream erupted from behind him: “He Zhenzhen, I’ll kill you!”

He Zhen looked back and realized things had gone south.

In the original script, Zheng Xi was supposed to grab He Zhenzhen’s hand. But because He Zhen was so much taller, she had only managed to snag his jacket. When he fell, he accidentally yanked her down with him.

Zhuo Luyuan stared at He Zhen and the wailing Zheng Xi on the floor. “What… happened to you two?”

He Zhen thought of the humiliating line. He closed his eyes, steeled his heart, and lowered his head, his eyelashes trembling as if he’d suffered a great injustice. “Sister Zheng Xi… why did you push me?”

Hiss— The guests gasped. They felt a sudden, inexplicable scent of “Green Tea” wafting through the air.

Zhuo Luyuan blinked, processing the words. He looked at the 192cm (6’3″) He Zhen, then at the 157cm (5’2″) Zheng Xi. He looked dazed. “You’re saying… she pushed you down the stairs?”

Nobody believed it. Zheng Xi looked like a middle schooler next to He Zhen. Her pushing him? Impossible.

Zheng Xi, having a total meltdown on the floor, screamed, “Shut up! You damn Green Tea! I didn’t push you!”

A girl in a yellow dress nearby whispered, “If he’s a Green Tea, then what am I?”

Zhuo Luyuan looked at He Zhen. This wasn’t Green Tea; this was “Brick Tea”—the kind where enough force makes a brick fly.

Zheng Xi refused to get up, yelling for her brother. “I don’t care! I want my brother! Where is he?!”

“Xi-xi, what’s wrong? Who bullied you!” A young man rushed over to help her up. Zheng Xi pointed wildly at He Zhen. “Brother, he bullied me! Hit him! Do it now!”

Zhuo Luyuan leaned into He Zhen’s ear. “That’s her brother, Zheng Xu. His name means ‘warm sunshine,’ but he’s a shark in business.”

Zheng Xu marched toward He Zhen, but as he got closer, he realized he had to look up at him. His raised fist instinctively lowered. Still, he demanded angrily, “How dare you bully my sister! Who do you think you are?!”

Zhuo Luyuan tried to play peacemaker. “They just fell down the stairs together. Zheng Xi was holding his clothes; He Zhen probably just slipped.”

Zhuo Luyuan gestured for He Zhen to say something. He Zhen frowned, looking at the Zheng siblings.

Zheng Xi, Zheng Xu… both names involve the sun (Xi/Xu). They were both so arrogant. Why were they so obsessed with the sun?

Thinking of Zheng Xu’s question—“Who do you think you are?”—and looking at the girl still sitting on the floor, He Zhen’s brain worked faster than his filter. He blurted out:

“Hou Yi.”

(Note: In Chinese mythology, Hou Yi is the legendary archer who shot down nine surplus suns to save the world.)