By the time they returned to the house, it was late at night, with dawn approaching in just a few hours.
Tonight, Qin Yu resolved to drink herself into oblivion.
No, "drink herself into oblivion" is an exaggeration.
Because she'd vomit.
She'd vomit. That churning feeling in her stomach was unbearable.
And as a young girl, throwing up was terribly undignified!
So, just a little would do.
Qin Yu wasn't particularly fond of alcohol—neither liking nor disliking it. She usually avoided it, sticking to alcoholic beverages instead. But tonight was different.
Her heart was weighed down by a tangle of heavy emotions, and she needed to let them out.
Tonight, Qin Yu wanted to drown her sorrows in wine.
If she didn't do something, she felt like she'd never find peace.
"So, let's drink! Ha ha—" Qin Yu declared, popping the cork from the wine bottle on the coffee table.
The moment the cork popped, a rich, intoxicating aroma filled the air.
She picked up a wine glass and poured herself a drink.
This wine seemed to have been imported from Mondstadt, judging by its exceptional quality—and equally steep price.
But tonight, Qin Yu didn't care.
Tomorrow's version of herself would undoubtedly wail over the dent in her wallet, but she had to make it to tomorrow first. Splurging once in a while shouldn't hurt, right? Right.
If there were consequences, well, that would be future Qin Yu's headache. Not her current concern!
With that thought, she took a sip.
A slight spiciness tickled her throat, followed by a lingering sweetness that bloomed on her tongue.
Hmm, not bad.
Another sip.
After finishing the glass, Qin Yu felt a gentle warmth spread through her body, the alcohol seemingly melting away the sediment in her heart. She exhaled softly, her body and mind feeling lighter, if only momentarily.
But this is only temporary, reason reminded her.
Yeah, yeah, whatever. Shut up and go away, her emotions retorted, kicking reason aside once again.
Just this brief respite is enough.
Taking another sip, Qin Yu couldn't help but reflect on how different it felt to drink alone, with friends, or with strangers. The third option was undoubtedly the worst.
Alcohol is best enjoyed alone or with friends, after all.
Another glass down, her head began to spin, and drowsiness washed over her. I did wake up early this morning... but I'll sleep later.
One last sip.
"Mmm~"
Another sip.
Qin Yu felt like a kite, poised to drift freely into the sky, carried by the wind. She longed to empty her mind, to think of nothing, to let her body's reactions flow uninhibited, to be carried to a carefree world.
But Teacher's words snapped her back like a taut string.
"You're my only family, so I want you to be happy," Teacher had said back then.
She wouldn't want to see me like this.
This is indeed not good.
Qin Yu felt a chill creep into her body. Though her head still swam slightly from the alcohol and a lingering drowsiness tugged at her, the urge to completely abandon herself had faded.
In a decidedly unladylike manner, she propped one foot on the sofa armrest, sprawled across the cushions, and covered her eyes with her arm.
"So tired..."
She felt only weariness and exhaustion toward everything.
Just as Qin Yu was about to drift off to sleep, a knock sounded at the door.
"Qin Yu, are you still awake?"
It was Keqing's voice.
This late? Why is Keqing visiting? Hmm... I don't want to answer.
Just pretend I'm not here. Qin Yu exhaled deeply, refusing to respond or open the door.
Though anxiety and restlessness gnawed at her, she was adept at self-deception and chose to selectively ignore them.
As her consciousness began to sink into the depths of sleep, she vaguely heard hurried footsteps approaching.
Her shoulder was shaken.
"...Yu."
The familiar voice called her name. Qin Yu desperately wanted to ignore it, yet a flicker of joy surged through her—the thrill of being found after intentionally hiding.
Unable to ignore her inner feelings, she lowered her arm and opened her eyes.
Keqing sighed in relief. "Finally awake."
"Keqing... why are you here?" Qin Yu asked, her throat feeling dry.
Keqing flicked her ponytail. "I just finished work and happened to pass by your place. I noticed the light was on and got a little worried. I called out to you several times, but there was no answer. I thought... something might have happened, so I used the spare key to come in."
She shook the spare key as she spoke.
Ah, right, Keqing is the Master of this house. It's not strange that she'd have a spare key.
"I see... I'm sorry for worrying you," Qin Yu said, pulling her legs back and slowly sitting up, though she had no intention of getting up.
"It's fine, as long as you're okay. But you..."
Keqing caught the scent of alcohol wafting through the living room. Her gaze fell on the wine bottle and glasses on the coffee table, and she hesitated.
Is this how Qin Yu usually is? Or is she drinking because she's upset? How much has she even had?
Keqing glanced at the vibrant blush on Qin Yu's cheeks, her heart inexplicably quickening. She awkwardly averted her gaze.
Evaluation: D
"How much have you drunk?" Keqing couldn't help but ask, her concern evident.
"Twenty cups."
About five cups. Maybe.
Keqing's eyes widened. "Twenty cups? You drank that much? Wait... this bottle doesn't seem that big. Or have you already drunk yourself senseless?"
Qin Yu fidgeted with her bracelet, feeling guilty. I lied.
Keqing sighed, massaging her temples. "Is this normal for you?"
"I usually drink even more."
Only tonight, though.
"Even more?! Don't you care about your health at all? Seriously... No wonder you went to the bar back then." Keqing shook her head and sat down beside Qin Yu.
Another lie.
But for some reason, whenever Keqing showed concern for her, Qin Yu felt incredibly happy and content. She couldn't resist telling a second lie. Was it the alcohol's influence?
Qin Yu kept her emotions hidden behind a neutral expression.
Evaluation: C-
As Keqing settled beside Qin Yu, the smell of alcohol on her became even more pronounced.
Feeling a mix of unfamiliarity and concern, Keqing couldn't help but lecture her sternly: "You can't keep doing this! Alcohol should only be consumed in moderation, never in excess. If you continue this bad habit, your body won't be able to handle it."
"I'm sorry," Qin Yu mumbled, feeling slightly uneasy. Yet, at the same time, she experienced another surge of satisfaction and joy.
This is so strange.
Evaluation: C+
Keqing's expression softened considerably. "Do you understand? Good. Health is paramount. Without a healthy body, you can't accomplish anything, and I... I don't want to see you suffer from illness."
Wait, don't stop.
Qin Yu felt a surge of irritation as she realized the lecture was about to end. It wasn't that she had some strange inclination toward being criticized or lectured.
She simply craved Keqing's words, expressions, actions... all the genuine emotions that flowed naturally from her.
How childish of me.
But it's not bad to indulge in childishness once in a while.
With this thought, Qin Yu smiled. "It's okay. I can actually hold my liquor pretty well, and I'm in good shape."
As she spoke, she reached for the bottle.
But before her hand could even reach halfway, Keqing's grip clamped firmly around her arm with a snap.
"No. You can't have any more," Keqing said earnestly.
"Okay," Qin Yu replied, withdrawing her hand contentedly.
Evaluation: B
Keqing was surprised by Qin Yu's immediate surrender. Good. As long as she doesn't drink any more.
"I'm sorry," Qin Yu murmured again.
Keqing was genuinely concerned for her, yet Qin Yu had selfishly used this to satisfy her own sudden, strange whim.
"Eh? It's fine. Just take care of yourself. But..."
Keqing couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
It might be a delusion, but if there was even a possibility of truth, she couldn't ignore it.
Firming her resolve, Keqing asked directly, "Did something happen to you?"