The retching drained him of his vital energy, as if half had been siphoned away. Supporting himself against a lamppost for a long time, he slowly made his way to sit on a low set of steps nearby, pulled out a cigarette, and after several strikes, the lighter failed to ignite it.
Bo Yanching, holding two bottles of water, lightly tapped the bottom of one against Bo Shuxian's shoulder.
He turned around, took the water, and held it in his hand without opening it.
"When did you start smoking?"
Bo Yanching sat beside him, opened the bottle in his own hand, and swapped it with the one in Bo Shuxian's hand.
Bo Shuxian smiled, "Last year, I guess. I often had to stay up late, and since I couldn't always rely on coffee to stay awake, I thought I'd try cigarettes."
"Smoke less, your scholarly aura is almost all gone."
