Chapter 933 - 899: Not Really Interested

Xu Chunliang watched with great interest, but there wasn’t anything special; it was just a depth charge. Pour a glass of beer, then drop a small shot of soju into it.

Accompanied by Bai Lan, they downed a glass. The fried chicken arrived. A bite of the chicken wing didn’t offer supreme flavor, but it wasn’t unpleasant either—a decent complement to the drink.

Bai Lan said, "In China, most people drink for a long time in a restaurant, and once they’re done, that’s it. In our country, drinking doesn’t end with just one round; there’s a second round, a third round, ... until you’re satisfied and exhausted before heading home."

Xu Chunliang thought to himself, we also have a second and third round. He laughed and said, "Have you ever considered that your alcohol content is too low, so you have to accumulate it over time?"

Bai Lan said, "I knew it, in your mind, everything from your great country is the best. Our culture isn’t the mainstream; everything originates from you guys."

Xu Chunliang said, "Let’s keep chatting without getting into regional disputes." But he thought to himself, isn’t that the truth?

Bai Lan told Xu Chunliang that there’s also a bit of etiquette when it comes to drinking on the Peninsula. The first round is usually at a BBQ place or with an iron griddle chicken, at places that fill you up. Their drinking principle is to fill up first so they can drink more.

The second round is for drinking beer or mixed drinks at restaurants with a great atmosphere—loud music, beautiful lights—selling snacks like fried chicken, fries, squid rings, which are typical second-round bars.

By the third round, those who want to finish would go to a café for an iced Americano to sober up. Some prefer going to places similar to the second-round spot for some mixed drinks. Most of the time, three rounds max is the end.

Xu Chunliang thought the drinking habits on the Peninsula aren’t much different. Bai Lan said so much, which could all be summed up with an ancient poem: a thousand cups are not enough for congenial friends.

The boss specially served a few plates of Korean kimchi. Xu Chunliang felt this kimchi wasn’t as authentic as the kind Jin Xin Hui makes at Han Shangyuan. If he had the best impression of Korean food, it was from there.

Xu Chunliang said, "There are quite a few Peninsula people opening restaurants in Capital City."

Bai Lan said, "Whether you admit it or not, Korean cuisine is more recognized worldwide than your Chinese cuisine, similar to the logic of our passport’s visa-free countries."

Xu Chunliang said, "We agreed not to argue about this, and here you are starting a fight again. Fine, you’re first in the universe, okay."

Bai Lan said, "You just don’t believe it in your heart."

Xu Chunliang said, "You could be considered half a China expert. Check your conscience. How can your cooking compare to ours? The reason your cuisine spreads easily is because it’s easy to learn and make—low barriers, just like Japanese cuisine. How many varieties of Chinese food are there? I can say without exaggeration, if you switch dishes every meal, you’ll still never finish in a lifetime."

Bai Lan said, "Are you cursing me?"

"With your understanding, I really don’t know how you became a writer. Are people’s brains wired like that where you’re from? I saw a news report a few days ago: China has the Manchu-Han Banquet, and you copied it with mostly kimchi, even clamoring for UNESCO heritage. I just don’t get it; do you have Manchus or Han people there? Or do you Peninsula people secretly see yourselves as descendants of China?"

Bai Lan felt a bit embarrassed. It wasn’t just Xu Chunliang making things up; it was indeed true. This was something their national tourism board stirred up, claiming it was a royal Manchu-Han Banquet, no wonder Xu Chunliang mocked them.

Bai Lan said, "Every country has bureaucratic people who publish rash opinions without verification. You have more of those at home, idle detractors as far as the eye can see."

Xu Chunliang said, "Just for that, you could be detained."

Bai Lan said, "See, full of righteousness when talking about others’ issues, but evasive and shirking when it’s about your own—this is a hallmark of your country."

Xu Chunliang said, "Can we have a proper conversation? It always escalates to politics. Honestly, there’s not much to talk about from your tiny place."

Bai Lan said, "I hate when you act superior. Do you look down on me in your heart?"

Xu Chunliang said, "Not at all. How could I look down on a great writer?"

Bai Lan said, "I’m not a great writer; I’m just someone who works with words."

Xu Chunliang laughed and said, "Here we call it a ’word mover.’ There aren’t many word movers as pretty as you."

Bai Lan’s eyes softened slightly: "Do you think I’m pretty?"

Xu Chunliang scrutinized her, looking very carefully: "May I ask a question I shouldn’t? Have you had any work done on your face?"

Bai Lan said, "What do you think?"

Xu Chunliang said, "It doesn’t seem like it, but your nose is so straight and high, it seems a bit unreal."

Bai Lan leaned in slightly: "Touch it and see."

Xu Chunliang said, "That’s not appropriate, is it?"

Bai Lan said, "There’s nothing inappropriate, just prove it."

Xu Chunliang thought to himself, she’s teasing me. I’ve seen all kinds of scenes; why would I be afraid to touch it? So, he gently pinched Bai Lan’s nose and cautiously asked, "It won’t break, will it?"

Bai Lan said, "An original won’t break."

Xu Chunliang pinched her nose, then touched her face, lips, and jaw—not to take advantage, but out of curiosity. Over there, natural beauties are rarer than giant pandas in the country, and Bai Lan’s features were exceptionally refined; her bone structure was beautiful, and there were hardly any flaws on her face.

Xu Chunliang withdrew his hand after feeling the doorknob: "Your face hasn’t been altered." His gaze shifted down to Bai Lan’s chest.

Bai Lan immediately understood what he meant from his eyes and looked at him coldly: "Don’t get any ideas."

Xu Chunliang said, "You’re overthinking it. Personally, I don’t think your figure is that perfect. Proportionally speaking, this part is a bit small." He gestured on his own chest.

Bai Lan was somewhat upset. When a man talks about such issues with her so casually, it just proves he isn’t very interested in her, showing from another angle that she isn’t quite attractive to him.

She raised her glass and clinked it with his: "If it’s too big, I find it cumbersome. By the way, you probably like someone like Su Qing." Her connection with Su Qing began the last time they both helped Xu Chunliang at Changxing, but the more they tried to help, the messier it got.

Xu Chunliang analyzed the situation afterward. Su Qing was definitely wholeheartedly trying to help him, whereas Bai Lan was just adding to the chaos. She must have been trying to pour oil on the fire at that time, considering what little goodwill this Neon girl has towards him.

Xu Chunliang said, "I would’ve forgotten if you hadn’t mentioned it. I never thanked you for standing up for me at Changxing Hospital last time."

"Don’t thank me. If you’re not mad at me for causing trouble, I’ll just thank my lucky stars." She poured Xu Chunliang another drink.

Xu Chunliang took a sip and said, "What’s the deal with you and Lexus?"

Bai Lan said, "Didn’t I tell you? I grew up poor, orphaned at a young age, and completed my studies with Mr. Li Bingxing’s support. You could say, without him, I wouldn’t be who I am today."

Xu Chunliang said, "So you’re planning to write a family biography for them as gratitude?"

Bai Lan said, "It’s not just about gratitude. The Li Bingxing family’s history is quite legendary in itself, and I’m very interested."

Xu Chunliang said, "Do you believe in genetics?"

Bai Lan didn’t know why he suddenly brought up this question but after thinking about it, nodded.

Xu Chunliang said, "It’s said that dragons beget dragons, phoenixes beget phoenixes, and rats’ offspring know how to dig holes. Judging by the few Li Family descendants I’ve encountered, their family history might not be as glorious as it seems."

Bai Lan said, "If the Li family heard you say that, they’d definitely send you a lawyer’s letter."

Xu Chunliang said, "There are many people with the surname ’Li’ in this world."

Bai Lan laughed. She knew a bit about Xu Chunliang’s cunning nature.

Xu Chunliang said, "Our Dongzhou Museum has also provided you with quite a bit of historical material from that time. The reason Li Puyuan was executed back then wasn’t that he helped miners, but because he caused a mining accident."

Bai Lan said, "The history you’re aware of may not be true. The people who really caused the accident were the Neon People, who pushed the blame onto Mr. Li. You should know, both China and Korea were victims back then."

Xu Chunliang said, "Have you ever wondered why did Li Puyuan and his people end up in our country as victims? There’s historical evidence that those people were merely henchmen for the invaders. Don’t even try to spin it; the historical facts are right there, and they can’t be washed away."

Bai Lan said, "I’ll find the evidence."

Xu Chunliang said, "Just don’t go inventing it. As for the Li Bingxing who asked you to write the family biography, if it hadn’t been for the protection of the locals at Qingshan Mine, he’d have met his end at the hands of the invaders too. If he had died, there wouldn’t be a Lexus today."

Bai Lan said, "Mr. Li has never denied this. He has always been grateful to the people of Qingshan Mine, which is why he invested in the China-Korea Industrial Park."

Xu Chunliang disdainfully said, "Oh, please. He invests just to make money. If he donated a huge sum to the old mining area, I might believe it. But what’s he actually doing? He’s even trying to snatch up the land for our new hospital, supposedly to build a statue of his dad there. Is that gratitude?"

Bai Lan said, "I’ve realized you’re incredibly stubborn. Once you’re prejudiced against someone, it’s hard for you to see things fairly."

Xu Chunliang said, "Bai Lan, let’s stop discussing these topics. Seriously, is your purpose really just to write a book?"

Bai Lan, holding the wine glass in one hand and resting her pretty face on the other, looked at Xu Chunliang and said, "Do you want me to be honest?"

Xu Chunliang nodded: "Speak!"

"I’m interested in you."

Xu Chunliang laughed: "In what way?"

Bai Lan said, "I find you particularly mysterious, with an indescribable charm, so I want to understand you more deeply."

Xu Chunliang said, "Aren’t you afraid of getting yourself trapped?"

Bai Lan shook her head and said, "Not afraid. I’ve been through too many terrifying things; there’s nothing much left to fear now."

Xu Chunliang said, "What a pity, I’m not interested in you."

Bai Lan said, "It’s okay. You can consider me a friend, or one of your fans."