Qian Duoduo hadn’t expected such shamelessness, so she continued, “It’s obvious this was your setup. Jingxi wouldn’t just drink and pass out on her own. You’re clearly…”
“I’ll say it again,” Chen Yu interrupted, twisting his lips darkly, “I’ve run this bar for years. On weekdays we get at least eight to nine hundred customers, and triple that on weekends. With so many people, how am I supposed to know who your friend is? What, your friend just happens to get drunk in my bar, and you blame me?”
At that moment, footsteps came from behind, faint amid the hoarse, gentle singing of the female vocalist.
Qian Duoduo noticed and turned around.
The footsteps belonged to a tall, lean man with silver hair and sharp features. He wore a relaxed black silk shirt, the top three buttons undone, revealing a flame-shaped tattoo on his collarbone.
With each step, fragments of neon light shattered under his feet.
The silver-haired man was not alone.
In his arms was a Sleeping Beauty— thick eyelashes, flushed cheeks, striking like peach blossoms in April.
Her purple dress trailed beside the man’s legs, stained slightly with wine.
The disco ball above the dance floor reflected their figures, fragmented into shattered pieces. They pushed through the crowd, a dangerous and decadent beauty in motion.
“Jingxi!” Qian Duoduo’s eyes lit up, joyfully calling out.
Seeing this, Chen Yu’s face darkened like the bottom of a pot. Irritated and confused, he slapped the red-haired punk’s head and spat in a low voice, “After using that girl’s phone, didn’t I tell Liang Yuan to take her away? Why are they still here?”
The punk rubbed his head, dazed. “I don’t know, Boss Chen. I saw them leave. Who would’ve thought they’d come back halfway…”
Seeing Zhao Jingxi calmed Qian Duoduo’s nerves a bit.
She ran over and stood by her, carefully examining the sleeping girl’s peaceful face, whispering, “I got a call saying Jingxi was drunk.” She hesitated, then looked up at her friend’s boyfriend. “So, what exactly happened?”
Jingxi’s boyfriend was quite handsome.
Qian Duoduo had seen pictures he posted on stage— disheveled and dark— but seeing him now, his polite smile was as refreshing as a spring breeze.
“That’s how it went,” the boyfriend said. “I sing regularly at a bar. Jingxi comes every night to support me and request songs. Tonight, Chen Yu called Jingxi over, saying he knew someone who could help me with an album and wanted to talk.”
After hearing this, Qian Duoduo instantly understood the situation.
She turned to glare at Chen Yu and asked, “Then what happened?”
“Jingxi got drunk,” the boyfriend said, frowning with guilt. “It’s my fault—I was performing and didn’t notice how much she drank. I didn’t take good care of her…”
“Who called me?” Qian Duoduo pressed.
“Called you?” The boyfriend looked confused. “I don’t know. When Chen Yu handed Jingxi to me, she was already asleep.”
The atmosphere instantly stiffened.
“Alright, I understand. You take care of Jingxi first.”
Qian Duoduo said this, then turned sharply to Chen Yu, clenching her fists, furious. “Chen Yu, how dare you deny it? You drugged my friend and tricked me here. What exactly are you trying to do?”
Chen Yu was thoroughly panicked. He cleared his throat and shamelessly said, “I was planning to help your friend’s boyfriend with the album. I didn’t trick anyone. She just can’t hold her liquor. What does that have to do with me? She was too drunk to come to.”
“You—!” Qian Duoduo trembled with anger.
Suddenly, a deep, magnetic voice whispered in her ear, just loud enough for her to hear: “That’s bad for your health. Not worth it for people like him.”
True.
She had mastitis and breast nodules; she couldn’t punish herself for others’ mistakes.
Thinking this, Qian Duoduo closed her eyes and looked away, inhaling deeply then slowly exhaling to calm herself.
“By the way, Chen Yu,” the boyfriend suddenly spoke again.
Everyone turned their eyes to him.
“Thank you for appreciating my talent. But I regret to inform you that starting tomorrow, I won’t be coming here anymore.” His smile was gentle but laced with a teasing mockery. “Also, I saw police cars on my way back, heading in the direction of this bar.”
At this, Chen Yu and the others’ faces changed drastically.
“Who the hell called the cops!” Chen Yu shouted, glaring fiercely around the room. “Who?”
“I did,” came a careless voice.
Chen Yu turned in disbelief, glaring at Lu Qiming, flustered. “I didn’t have time to do anything! Why call the cops?”
Lu Qiming ignored him, glancing sideways at the girl beside him, his eyes like stars reflected on a glacier. “I confirmed your friend is safe. Can we leave now?”
“Yeah.” Qian Duoduo smiled at him with a soft glance, then called to the silver-haired man holding her friend, “We’re leaving. Let’s take you and Jingxi home first.”
The four of them ignored the curious stares around them and left boldly.
Chen Yu, thinking about how to deal with the incoming cops, had no time to worry about the others. He hurriedly ordered his men, “Quick! Hide all the ‘Milk Bombs’ from the warehouse! Don’t even use the ones just bought! Even though those things aren’t drugs, if the cops find them, we’re screwed! Move!”
“All right, we’ll do it now!”
In an instant, the entire bar descended into chaos.
Chen Yu lit a cigarette, took two drags, then tossed it on the floor, grinding it out fiercely with his shoe— he hadn’t gotten the little online celebrity, and now this big mess to deal with. What bad luck!
–
Late at night, a black SUV rolled down the nearly deserted street.
Lu Qiming drove quietly, Qian Duoduo sat in the front passenger seat, and in the back were Zhao Jingxi and her boyfriend, the folk singer.
Zhao Jingxi and her boyfriend were in a passionate relationship. When chatting with Qian Duoduo, nearly every third sentence was about him.
Meeting him for the first time, Qian Duoduo wanted to keep an eye on her best friend’s boyfriend, discreetly observing him through the rearview mirror.
After a short moment, he cleared his throat and said, “When we get back, make me a cup of honey water. Jingxi drank a lot; her stomach will probably feel upset tonight. It’s best if she sleeps on her side, and put a trash can beside the bed in advance.”
“Okay, got it.”
“Also, please cook some light dishes for her in the next few days,” Qian Duoduo said seriously, worried the boyfriend might not take proper care of Jingxi. “Spicy food and vinegar irritate the stomach—less of those.”
“Sure.”
“Besides, you, you…”
“My name is Liang Yuan,” the boyfriend introduced himself politely. “The Liang from Liangshan, the Yuan from the plains. Teacher Qian calls me Teacher Liang or Little Liang.”
“Oh, Liang Yuan.” Qian Duoduo paused, sincerely saying, “It might be a bit tough tonight. Thank you for taking care of her.”
Liang Yuan smiled. “Jingxi is my girlfriend; taking care of her is my duty.”
“How did you and Jingxi meet?” Qian Duoduo asked curiously.
Liang Yuan seemed to recall something amusing. His smile softened, and he said, “At another bar. That night, she was sitting there like a cool and indifferent painting. I saw her at first glance. Then I gathered courage to walk over, sang her a song, and asked if I could buy her a drink.”
Hearing this, Qian Duoduo widened her eyes and sighed, “Your meeting sounds so romantic.”
Liang Yuan smiled faintly, glancing toward the driver’s seat. “How did Teacher Qian and Mr. Lu meet?”
Qian Duoduo’s heart tightened. Knowing Liang Yuan misunderstood her relationship with Lu Qiming and not wanting to explain, she quietly muttered, “Blind date.”
“Blind date?” Liang Yuan chuckled. “Didn’t see that coming.”
On the way to Zhao Jingxi’s apartment, Qian Duoduo and Liang Yuan chatted idly, mostly about Zhao Jingxi.
After their time together, Qian Duoduo’s impression of Liang Yuan was quite good.
After dropping the young couple off at their community gate, the black SUV made a U-turn at the empty intersection and headed toward Stonewater District.
Only Qian Duoduo and Lu Qiming remained in the car.
Outside, the street scenes flickered past; inside, silence reigned, broken only by the faint hum of the heater vents.
No one spoke— the atmosphere was subtle and tense.
About three minutes passed.
“You go first…” “No, you…”
The man’s low voice and the girl’s soft reply overlapped, entwining.
“You first,” Lu Qiming said politely.
“You… when did you call the cops?”
“On the way here.”
So that was it.
After the brief exchange, Qian Duoduo bit her lip, hesitating for several seconds before gathering her courage to continue, “Then why did you say you were my boyfriend today?”
Lu Qiming paused before answering, “I just wanted to protect you.”
Qian Duoduo was taken aback.
He continued, “It feels more solid giving myself a label.”
Qian Duoduo’s eyelashes lowered, casting gentle shadows on her porcelain skin. Her ears flushed a color like melting rouge. “There were so many people then. Maybe someone saw my videos. If it spreads and my family finds out, I don’t even know how to explain.”
Her words, carefully spoken, carried a hint of grievance, like dew hanging weakly on grass under moonlight—fragile enough to break one’s heart.
In that moment, Lu Qiming’s heart stirred violently.
Her quiet, gentle words hurt him more than removing bullets ever did.
He felt like he was bewitched.
The apology stuck in his throat but emerged distorted, turning into: “Then… can I be your real boyfriend?”
“…”
The reflection on the front passenger window showed Qian Duoduo’s profile— her eyes widened slightly, lips frozen, cheeks flushed like cherry blossoms blooming.
She was completely stunned.
Lu Qiming’s voice was calm as he said, “Qian Duoduo, you should be able to tell— I like you very much.” His pupils flickered with a grainy film-like haze, and only by gripping the steering wheel tightly could he suppress the tremor in his fingers. “From the moment I first saw you, I liked you.”
The confession was sudden, leaving Qian Duoduo at a loss, unsure how to respond.
After a two-second silence, the man softly asked, “Did I scare you?”
Qian Duoduo’s mind blanked. Blushing, she shook her head blankly.
“I actually feel relieved.”
Lu Qiming said quietly, “I rehearsed those words thousands of times in my head before finally saying them.”