Transmigrated Female Official

“Yes, let’s get completely drunk today, and tomorrow will be a new beginning.” Chu Yilin raised his glass first, waiting for Chu Qingluo to clink glasses with him.

Chu Qinglu rolled her eyes at him, ignored him, and drank her own beverage.

"Tsk..." Chu Yilin muttered helplessly after being ignored by her, "So cold-hearted, and she's even drinking my fine wine at the same time."

"Isn't it said that men who have entered the Chu family rarely have contact with their families? Why does Second Brother keep running to the Chu family?" Chu Qingluo asked.

"Can such trivial matters stop me, Chu Yilin, from going wherever I want?" Chu Yilin said nonchalantly. "Besides, I came with Lifei, so it's perfectly legitimate. Moreover, if I hadn't come, wouldn't you have drunk all my wine collection by yourself?!"

How could Chu Qingluo not know that Chu Yilin was deliberately teasing her? But how could she possibly laugh happily now?

Not to mention her, the other three were also visibly embarrassed. Aside from Chu Yilin, who was genuinely focused on tasting the wine, they hadn't even raised their glasses.

"Don't forget your cup, Second Brother, or the wine will really be gone." After saying that, Chu Qingluo continued drinking by herself.

Seeing that Chu Qingluo showed no sign of pausing, Shaoyao couldn't help but speak first: "Qingluo, so many things have happened recently, we know you must be feeling very sad, but I want you to know that you still have us, we are all with you." After saying that, she also toasted Chu Qingluo.

“Yes, you can vent any grievances or pain you have, and we can share them together. Please don’t keep it all bottled up by yourself.” Luo Lifei reached out and covered Chu Qingluo’s hand, her eyes sincere.

Chu Qingluo looked at the two of them and smiled slightly. "Thank you." She appreciated their kindness, but she really didn't know how to share this pain with others.

Chu Yilin could tell what Chu Qingluo was really thinking just by looking at her expression. He wasn't in a hurry, and first said to Luo Lifei and Shaoyao, "Since the wine is all poured, let's not talk about it anymore and just drink to our hearts' content." After saying that, he gave Luo Lifei a wink, hoping that they would cooperate.

Alcohol is a good thing. After all, people have many emotions that they don't show when they are particularly calm.

Anyway, Chu Qingluo's casual "thank you" left Luo Lifei and Shaoyao with nothing to say, so they simply started drinking as well.

Drinking alone was too monotonous, so Chu Yilin also instructed Jiuwei to have the kitchen prepare some side dishes. With both wine and meat, it seemed they were determined to drink until they were completely drunk…

After several rounds of drinks and several dishes, everyone finally started to feel a bit more relaxed.

At this moment, Shaoyao secretly nodded to Gongsun Yanlu. Receiving the hint, he raised his cup to Chu Qinglu and said, "Qinglu, do you remember what I said before, that my second brother mentioned Qinglu to me in the manor?"

When Yan Lu brought up Gongsun Yu, Chu Qinglu was taken aback at first, then nodded and said, "Of course I remember..." At that time, Gongsun Yu showed a rare nervousness and embarrassment, and insisted on not letting Yan Lu finish speaking. And she never had a chance to continue interrogating him.

“I remember my second brother’s expression very clearly at the time…” Yan Lu drank a cup and said, “That day, my second brother came back from outside. He was unusually excited, and his eyes were shining. He said that he had met a very interesting girl in the city and that he had taken the initiative to talk to her.”

Upon hearing Yan Lu's words, the day she first met Gongsun Yu immediately flashed before Chu Qingluo's eyes...

I remember him, dressed in white, with refined manners. Like a warm ray of light, he illuminated her once dark and helpless world.

The wound in my heart seemed to have reopened a little.

"He said he met her in the city..." Chu Qingluo said thoughtfully, "Yibin Pavilion is indeed located in the city."

“What Second Brother is talking about is the city market,” Yan Lu explained. “He said he noticed Qingluo at first glance in the crowd, but there was a man with you at the time, so it was not advisable to get close. However, he overheard your conversation and became very curious about you. Then, without realizing it, he followed you into the Yibin Pavilion.”

"So that's how it is." Chu Qingluo's eyes widened in realization. It turned out that while she and Ziyan were watching the lively coming-of-age ceremony in the square, Gongsun Yu had been silently standing beside her, but she hadn't noticed.

"I've never heard my second brother mention any woman before, so I couldn't help but ask him what kind of interesting girl he met." Yan Lu recalled for a moment and continued, "He just grinned for a long time before saying... that the girl was very beautiful, like a lotus rising from the mud unsullied, pure and unpretentious. What touched him the most was the girl's unpretentious and cheerful personality, which was very special, so special that he couldn't describe it."

Upon hearing this, a bittersweet feeling welled up inside Chu Qingluo, and she swallowed the bitterness. Her lips moved, but no sound came out.

Seeing that her words had an effect on Chu Qingluo, Shaoyao frowned and nodded to Yan Lu, urging him to put in more effort.

Yan Lu continued, "After that, my second brother inquired about your whereabouts in many ways. When he learned that you were also about to have your coming-of-age ceremony, he was extremely anxious and couldn't sleep. He really didn't want to give up the opportunity to get close to you, so he made the boldest decision of his life: he was going to steal the object of fate."

As Yan Lu spoke, he took a sip of wine and said incredulously, "At the time, I thought my second brother had gone mad, making such an impulsive decision. But he said it was the best choice he had ever made."

"..." Tears welled up in Chu Qingluo's eyes, making it increasingly difficult for her to see the wine in her cup.

"Second Brother would never want to see Qingluo like this. After all, what he wants most is for you to be happy." Yan Lu used his last trump card, saying, "Qingluo, you must not let Second Brother down."

Seeing that Chu Qingluo's tears were about to spill, Chu Yilin quickly stood up and said, "I've had too much to drink. Please help me to the restroom, Young Master Yan Lu." After saying that, he grabbed Yan Lu and left without saying another word, deliberately leaving Chu Qingluo, Shaoyao, and Luo Lifei behind.

He guessed that Chu Qingluo could probably vent her emotions without restraint in front of the two of them.

“Yan Lu is right…” Shaoyao walked over, put her hand on Chu Qingluo’s shoulder, and said, “Qingluo, you must cheer up again. Only when you are happy can Gongsun Yu be at ease.”

Luo Lifei also joined in, saying, "Don't let him worry about you..."

"But..." Chu Qingluo's voice trembled uncontrollably, "How can I be happy without him?!" After saying this, she finally burst into tears.

All her feigned strength crumbled at that moment. Her pain, her tears, her vulnerability—all of it burst forth with the effects of the alcohol!

Tears ruined her makeup and soaked her clothes...

"You still have us."

"You still have us!"