Can a System Have Bad Intentions? - Chapter 130

“You being whatever you are doesn’t matter. What’s important is that we consider you a friend, and you’re our friend.”

Guo Dawei carried the wine jar directly into the room, kicking aside a fallen chair, and sat down next to Lu Tang.

Following him, Xu Shen and Zhou Shu dragged the limping Liang Cheng into the room.

“Everyone has some messy family issues. Yours might be particularly serious, brother, but no matter how serious family problems are, they’re not worth throwing your whole life away over. Understand? Living is for yourself. Whether you live a distinguished life or end up begging on the streets, it’s for yourself. We’ve all been spoiled brats since we were kids. I can only say a few words to persuade you. But seriously, brother, live freely.”

Xu Shen lifted the wine jar, placed several empty bowls on the ground, filled them, and handed one to Xie Yu.

“Feeling bad? We know you feel bad. If you’re feeling bad, drink. Drink until you pass out today, and if you wake up tomorrow, you’ll be a good man again! You feel like you have no parents and no one loves you? We love you.”

Xie Yu had never seen such a scene before. Xu Shen’s words left him stunned, and he took the wine bowl in a daze.

Seeing Xu Shen gulp down a bowl, Xie Yu followed suit and drank a bowl of wine.

Xie Yu hadn’t drunk much before. The most he had was a sip from Xie Chengnian’s cup. Now, after gulping down a whole bowl, he choked and coughed, tears streaming down his face.

He didn’t know if it was from choking or something else, but the tears kept flowing non-stop.

After a bowl of wine, Xie Yu’s mind started to drift. He cried and howled, recounting the grievances he had heard from Xie Chengnian earlier.

Zhou Shu and the others had only heard half of it from the door before, feeling suffocated. Now, hearing the whole story, Zhou Shu couldn’t hold it in and turned aside to retch.

How could such things happen?

Guo Dawei patted Zhou Shu’s back, helping him catch his breath, then raised his wine bowl to Xie Yu, “Old Xie, honestly, your family’s situation is really messed up. Let me tell you, you should consider yourself lucky that you had no dealings with them for the first fifteen years of your life. From now on, if you become successful, you don’t have to care about their lives. Be your own person, live freely, and do whatever you want!”

Liang Cheng added, “Guo’s right. Look at us, you’re the most capable one among us. Your expertise in water management is impressive, I’m telling you.”

Xu Shen noticed that mentioning water management made Xie Yu’s eyes darken. He continued, “Do you feel uneasy because your grandfather taught you those skills? Don’t be. The skills may have been taught by him, but how much did he teach you? What were his intentions? Once the skills are yours, they’re yours. Don’t overthink it. Everyone relies on their skills to make a living. To achieve your goals and live a good life, you need real skills.”

Liang Cheng was stunned, feeling that Xu Shen’s words were directed at him.

What did he mean?

Was he telling him that to pursue Lu Tang, it’s all about individual effort?

Liang Cheng raised his bowl and said to Xu Shen, “Exactly, to pursue what you desire, it’s all about your own efforts! If you have the skills, you get the meat; if not, you get nothing. You can’t blame anyone.”

Xu Shen: …

I’m trying to console Old Xie, why are you shouting at me?

Three bowls of wine and you’re drunk?

Xu Shen glanced at Liang Cheng, annoyed, “Yes, it’s about individual effort. Among us, you’re the only one with exceptional skills. What happened? If your skills were slightly better, the one limping now would be Boss Dou! Did you need Qin Mo to step in?”

Liang Cheng: Ding!

It was as if a lightbulb had suddenly turned on above his head. He looked at Xu Shen and said, “What do you mean?”

Xie Yu: …

What’s going on? Aren’t you guys supposed to be consoling me? Why does it feel like you’re about to fight?

Before Xu Shen could respond, Lu Tang said, “Why are you bringing up Qin Mo?”

Xu Shen glared at Lu Tang, “What’s wrong with mentioning him? Why are you defending him so much?”

Lu Tang glared back, “Are you crazy?”

Xu Shen already felt uneasy about the relationship between Lu Tang and Qin Mo. Seeing Lu Tang defending Qin Mo so fiercely, he wasn’t happy. He put down his bowl and said, “Am I crazy? I think you’re the crazy one. Qin Mo is just a bit better looking, a bit more skilled, and seems unfathomable. Why are you so worked up about him?”

Lu Tang: …

Huh?

“So what if I am? Why shouldn’t I be? I usually hang out with you guys, and the best-looking one among you is Zhou Shu, who is still a fatty…”

Before Lu Tang could finish, Zhou Shu put down his bowl, “So what if I’m fat? Did I eat your rice? Guo still picks his feet every day. Have I said anything?”

Guo Dawei immediately jumped up from the ground, “Talking is fine, drinking is fine, but how does my foot-picking bother you, Zhou Shu? If anyone’s not a decent person here, Xu Shen is the first!”

Xu Shen kicked Guo Dawei, “Get lost! Your first pee in life soaked me. Did I say anything to you?”

Lu Tang turned to explain to Xie Yu, “On the day Guo Dawei was born, Xu Shen’s mother took Xu Shen to visit the Guo family. The midwife brought out the baby. Xu Shen, curious, leaned forward to look, and at that moment, little Guo Dawei peed right in his face.”

Xie Yu: …

The few people who were giving heartwarming speeches a moment ago suddenly started a chaotic brawl, shouting and arguing.

Xie Yu sat there, shivering and feeling weak and helpless. Looking up at the Five Young Masters of Qinshui, listening to them expose each other’s flaws, he suddenly felt that life had so many joys.

What a trivial matter.

Guo Dawei brought up a few jars of wine. After finishing them, everyone was exhausted from cursing and slumped in different corners, still drunk but not forgetting to kick each other, swearing before falling asleep.

Leaving the still wide-awake Xie Yu to roll his eyes, he started to lift each one and carry them back to their rooms.

What a mess!

Since Lu Tang was lying furthest inside, by the time Xie Yu finished with the others and came back for Lu Tang, Qin Mo had arrived.

Without saying a word, Qin Mo strode over to Lu Tang with his long legs and picked him up. “I’ll take him back. You rest. Don’t overthink it. Just like Xu Shen said, once you have the skills, they’re yours. How you live depends on your determination. Don’t waste your own life or the efforts of these guys.”

Having said that, the rarely consoling Qin Mo carried Lu Tang away.

Xie Yu was stunned.

What did that mean?

Were they doing this on purpose?

Um…

A new method of enlightenment?

However, he didn’t feel as bad now. If anything, he was sore from carrying those four young men back to their rooms.