Vol 2 Chapter 9 (2/2)

(TL: It’s actually a large cup but its closer to a bowl than a cup.)

As she said so, our wine was served.

Is there really no problem? I hope so.

“I’m not drunk!”

“Can you please walk properly? Then again you can’t even speak properly anymore…” I said helplessly as I dragged Jian Yong, who could barely even stand, up and out of the shop.

How is this no problem?!

Just before we left, the xiaoer had told me that though Jian Yong ordered 10 bowls every time, he only served 1 after he learnt of her capacity from her repeated visits.

I must say, good job xiaoer. If you had served even one more bowl, she would definitely be out cold and I wouldn’t be able to even move her then.

“So weird huh~~~ I… I remember I was pretty good at drinking back up north?~~~”

“Wine from the north? … Is it sweet wine?” I replied, and then asked, “Where do you live? I’ll drag you back there.”

“… Oh… Zi, Zi Zhong’s house. The room to the left on the second storey.” Jian Yong slowly said.

Oh? She’s staying at Mi Zhu’s place?

“Oh, I got it.”

As I said so, I looked about and soon found the tall building and began walking with Jian Yong in that direction.

“No! You don’t know anything!!” But just then, Jian Yong began kicking up a fuss for some reason. “You clearly forgot about me! You clearly don’t know anything!!”

“Oi! Don’t flail about.” Because of her sudden shaking, I nearly fell to thr ground along with her. “But what did you just say? Were those just drunk words?”

I have no idea what Jian Yong is saying. Just a while ago she was still in a drunken stupor but now she was so agitated… Though all she said were just drunk words.

“I’m not drunk!!~~~” She threw a tantrum just like a kid and flailed her arms at me. “Ish not me who ish drunk!! Itsh Xuan De who ish drunk!”

“Haa? … Alright alright. Just go and have a good sleep when you get home and it’ll be alright.”

“…”

“Un?”

Why did she go silent?

“*s.h.i.+ku*… *s.h.i.+ku*…”

“Un?!” I heard an ominous sound and looked at Jian Yong’s face, “Why are you crying?! Even if your drinking capacity is not like you thought it was, you don’t need to…”

“I’m not drunk! Xuan De do you really not recognise me anymore?! Did you even forget how I used to grab on to you like that?” Though her face was streaked with tears and her body was trembling, she still held onto the hem of my clothing. “I’m xiao Yong! Your childhood playmate!”

(TL: Remember when I said Jian Yong is Liu Bei’s childhood friend/acquaintance in the original?)

… Playmate?

No way. I clearly remember that we met for the first time 2 weeks ago… No, wait. She said childhood playmate…

“Umm, do you mean that we met a long time ago?” I looked away and felt at a loss as to how to deal with this situation.

“*s.h.i.+ku*… That’s right… We were indeed very little then… You probably can’t remember anymore.”

My memory in this era doesn’t even go back more than this year…

“But… I remember it very clearly, when I moved into Zhuo county, that short 1 month I spent with you was truly unforgettable.” Jian Yong continued. Seeing that she had calmed down quite a bit, I continued guiding her toward Mi Zhu’s house. “Some time ago when you arrived here… I soon realised who you were… But I also soon realised that you forgot about me…”

“…”

She spoke in dribs and drabs and we soon arrived before Mi Zhu’s house.

There was a guard at the gate and I dragged her in step by step toward her room after I told the guard what the situation was. There was no issue going in, the only issue was the guard flas.h.i.+ng me a weird smile as I entered.

(Translator’s impression: ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) )

Even though it’s not that sort of thing.

*Chiya*

Wa, so much soil.

The moment I pushed the door open, an utterly messy sigh greeted me… Was this really a girl’s room?

“But then… I soon made my resolve.” Jian Yong was still not done. “… No matter what, I will help you remember…”

Help me… Remember huh.

Unfortunately, I’m not actually that Liu Bei you know.

And didn’t you just tell me everything…

“I’ll help you remember the promise we made then. The promise to ma… Ma… Hu…” Jian Yong fell asleep before she could finish.

Her voice trailed off at the very end just when she had gotten to the most important part.

What was it that she was going to say?

I thought about it with a bitter smile as I found a blanket amongst the mess and put it on her before I left.

As I left the house, I felt empty inside and was a.s.sailed by a faint sense of guilt.

Whether it was with Gongsun Zan or not, could I just simply wave away their memories with a simple ‘I forgot’?

From where they stand, I am that one and only Liu Bei and they aren’t wrong.

I feel that the responsibility for this lies with me.

Since I’ve become Liu Bei already, then I must shoulder Liu Bei’s past as well.

“Did I say something yesterday!?” Jian Yong yelled out as she came rus.h.i.+ng into the courtyard early in the morning of the next day.

She still looked like she was in pain, and her hair and clothes were still messy. Such a Jian Yong was now looking at me with a frown on her red face.

“… No.” I was stunned for a moment by this shocking sight, and gave a white lie in response.

“Is, is that so… That’s good… Anyway it’s nothing, I’ll come and get you to do work in a while…” Jian Yong seemed relieved when she heard my words and made to leave.

“Xiao Yong?” I couldn’t hold it back, and called out to her.

When she heard me call her by that name, she went silent and stopped where she was.

“Though I don’t quite remember you… I feel that it’s not too late to get to know you from now on.”

I calmly said these completely unreasonable words.

“Wu…”

She let out a small cry, as she realised that she must have said quite a bit yesterday.

“This is really so troublesome… I’m fine with whatever~” Xiao Yong said cheekily and turned back around to leave.

“… Speaking of which xiao Yong, what exactly was that promise we had–”

“My lord you are too longwinded!” Before I could finish, she yelled out at me and ran off without ever turning back.

Ah, she fell.

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