Chapter 72: Shui Bing'er Comes Clean!
After three rounds of wine and five courses of dishes.
The girls were sprawled all over the table and chairs, lying in every imaginable position.
Wang Li was left completely stunned.
What surprised him most was that Ning Rongrong's face was only slightly flushed—she looked perfectly fine, as if nothing had happened at all.
Xiao An, with her formidable strength, had drunk no less than Ning Rongrong, yet showed no signs of passing out either.
In the entire private room, only Wang Li, Ning Rongrong, and Xiao An remained conscious.
The three exchanged glances, staring at one another in silence.
"Uh… Zhuqing actually went down after just one cup… but her complexion didn't even change…"
Zhu Zhuqing had only drunk a single cup. At first, she looked completely unfazed.
But as time passed, she directly collapsed onto Wang Li's shoulder.
Throughout the entire process, she didn't say a single word.
"Impressive—truly impressive!"
The corner of Wang Li's eye twitched as he gave Ning Rongrong a thumbs-up.
In his memory, Ning Rongrong really could drink. This was her natural talent.
In the original timeline, when the Shrek group competed in drinking, only Ning Rongrong remained standing in the end, looking down upon the "masses."
"Uh… I'm actually not that good at drinking…"
As if she had thought of something, Ning Rongrong glanced at the girls lying around and spoke somewhat shyly.
'What's wrong with these people?'
'They're already down—so why do they still look so elegant while lying there??'
'Could it be…'
A certain possibility flashed through Ning Rongrong's mind, and she couldn't help clenching her fists!
She felt like she had been tricked!
Among those who had collapsed, perhaps only Zhu Zhuqing was genuinely drunk—because Ning Rongrong knew very well that Zhu Zhuqing's alcohol tolerance was truly terrible!
As for the others, she hadn't drunk with them before and wasn't sure…
But the way these people had fallen didn't look like they were drunk at all. Instead, it looked like they had planned it.
"So pretending to be drunk is a skill too, huh!"
Ning Rongrong had figured it out—but Wang Li hadn't even considered this possibility.
When everyone was drinking, there was no way he'd use soul power to sense the girls' condition, right?
What would that even make him?
A man could be flirtatious—but he couldn't be that despicable.
What Wang Li didn't know, however, was that while he hadn't thought about it this way, he had already been "calculated" by the girls!
"I acknowledge your drinking ability…"
"One person carries two of them…"
"I didn't expect them to be this bad at drinking."
Wang Li supported Zhu Zhuqing while also helping Shui Bing'er to her feet.
The corner of Xiao An's eye twitched. These women really were full of "schemes."
Even drinking had turned into this.
"Alright, get up already."
"Husband has already taken Zhuqing and Bing'er away."
As soon as Xiao An finished speaking, the "unconscious" girls all sprang up in unison, looking at one another.
They hadn't discussed it beforehand—yet they had all done the same thing.
What if that little thought in their hearts actually succeeded?
Ning Rongrong's eye twitched violently. She knew it—she had been played!
"You bunch of jerks!!"
The girls' faces flushed red as they waved their hands and walked toward the door.
Since they'd already been exposed, there was no point pretending anymore—they were coming clean.
After all, they were Soul Elders and even Soul Ancestors!
And water- and ice-attribute soul masters at that.
How could this little bit of alcohol possibly get them drunk?
"Rongrong, you still need more practice!"
"Exactly, Missy. In front of someone you like, having too good a tolerance isn't a good thing!"
"That's right, that's right. In front of someone you don't like, drinking is out of the question."
"I can drink really well—but I just like pretending to pass out. Sigh, it's just for fun…"
Ning Rongrong's face flushed crimson. She had truly underestimated the heroes of the world!
These people—every single one of them! Absolute fox spirits. How was Zhu Zhuqing so obedient and well-behaved?
She really did pass out after just one cup…
---
At the hotel where Sky Water Academy was staying.
After settling Zhu Zhuqing properly, Wang Li supported Shui Bing'er and brought her to her room.
For some reason, he felt that today's gathering was a little strange.
"Honestly, none of you can drink, yet you still insisted on showing off."
"If tomorrow's opponents don't surrender, should I personally step onto the stage?"
"Well… that's not impossible."
Suddenly, Shui Bing'er opened her eyes, looked at Wang Li, and spoke.
If she didn't say something now, Wang Li would've already closed the door and left.
Was "getting drunk" really just to have him send her back?
Obviously not.
Wang Li: "..."
"You… you were pretending to be drunk too??"
Wang Li couldn't help sucking in a sharp breath, his scalp tingling.
Were these women really this scheming?
"I don't know about their situation, but I was definitely pretending."
Shui Bing'er stood up and spread her hands.
Her words were extremely direct, and after speaking, she stared straight at Wang Li.
"Wang Li, after interacting with you for a while, I always feel like you know something."
"Then why… won't you face me directly?"
Shui Bing'er walked up to Wang Li and spoke in a calm voice.
Wang Li agreeing to come to Sky Water Academy was simply too strange.
Shui Bing'er knew it in her heart, but she hadn't pointed it out.
But if she didn't lay her cards on the table now, would there still be a place for her by Wang Li's side?
Qian Renxue, Zhu Zhuqing, Xiao An, and Ning Rongrong, who was eyeing him like a tiger watching its prey!
Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao An's relationship was already confirmed. As for Qian Renxue, Shui Bing'er wasn't sure.
Clearly, she had been the first to arrive—yet back then, her memories hadn't awakened, and she had brushed past Wang Li.
"Husband!"
Shui Bing'er suddenly called out.
She had spoken those two words countless times in her previous life, without the slightest sense of awkwardness—just like an old married couple.
But Wang Li froze, staring at Shui Bing'er in shock.
She… was she laying everything bare?
"As expected—you do know!"
Shui Bing'er smiled mysteriously, the corners of her lips lifting slightly.
She had only called out tentatively, yet Wang Li was already surprised.
Under normal circumstances, Wang Li should have been shocked and immediately demanded to know why she would address him that way.
But Wang Li's reaction was merely surprise and calm—as if he had already expected it.
Shui Bing'er threw herself into Wang Li's arms, hugging him tightly.
"Husband, I… I missed you so much!"
"I…"
Wang Li's body trembled slightly. He hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping himself.
What exactly was the true essence of simulation?
'I'll think about that later. For now… this is good enough.'
Wang Li cast those thoughts aside and hugged Shui Bing'er in return.
"Bing'er, I'm sorry… I didn't acknowledge you right away. I just wasn't sure whether that was a dream, or something else…"
Lies came smoothly from his mouth, yet Wang Li showed no guilt at all.
He was already used to it.
Besides, he truly didn't understand the essence of simulation. Was it really just a simulation?
Not necessarily!
"Husband is so handsome—everything you do deserves forgiveness."
Shui Bing'er narrowed her eyes, savoring this moment of peace.
She had originally planned to confront Wang Li—yet she hadn't expected that Wang Li also possessed "past life" memories.
What was there left to lay bare, then?
They just needed to "reconcile the accounts," and that was it.
Wang Li: "..."
He finally understood why those who were loved were always so fearless.
So this… was what it felt like.
"You're not mad that I'm so flirtatious?"
"Would it even matter?"
"Besides, I don't mind."
—
End of Chapter