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Pei Youwei and Wang Ruxue were classmates in middle school.
By coincidence, neither of them had originally stayed to develop their careers in Jiangzhou City. But two years ago, Pei Youwei returned and opened this music bar. About half a year later, she ran into Wang Ruxue.
They had gotten along well back in middle school, and now that they both worked in Jiangzhou City, they occasionally met up for small gatherings.
Seeing Xu Ye walk toward the microphone, Wang Ruxue asked curiously, “Youwei, who is he?”
“Xu Ye, a summer worker at my bar. A very interesting kid.”
“A summer worker, huh.”
Chen Qingqing sat quietly nearby, reaching out to pour a little beer into her glass. She lifted the cup slowly and took a sip.
For someone who didn’t drink, beer really wasn’t all that tasty.
Chen Qingqing took a sip, then set the glass down.
So bitter.
How could anyone actually like drinking this?
Just as the thought popped into her mind, Pei Youwei smiled and asked, “Not tasty, huh?”
Chen Qingqing nodded.
“People who drink for the first time never like it, but once you get used to it, you’ll start craving it.”
At that moment,
the music from the speakers filled the room.
After only two seconds, Chen Qingqing recognized the song — Sunny Day.
“The little yellow flower of the story
Has been drifting since the year it was born
Childhood’s swinging cradle
Sways with memories all the way to now…”
One of Pei Youwei’s hands rested on the table, and her fingers tapped rhythmically along with Xu Ye’s singing.
She couldn’t help but glance back with a bright smile.
Wang Ruxue, hearing the song, also looked at Xu Ye in surprise. This was a song she often listened to during university. She hadn’t expected someone as young as Xu Ye to sing it with such deep feeling…
She was momentarily dazed, then suddenly realized something. Snapping back to attention, she looked toward Chen Qingqing.
Chen Qingqing kept her head down, staring at the beer on the table as if everything around her was utterly irrelevant.
Wang Ruxue exhaled quietly, but at the same time found herself a little amused.
What am I so nervous about?
A girl like Qingqing wouldn’t fall for someone so easily.
Wang Ruxue smiled and handed her glass to Zhou Ying to fill with hot water. She couldn’t drink alcohol because she still had to drive Chen Qingqing home later.
After Xu Ye finished singing Sunny Day, he went on to sing Lin Junjie’s Jiangnan and Drunk Red Cliff, followed by Wang Lihong’s Big City, Small Love and Falling Leaves Return to Their Roots.
He didn’t remember many songs from fourteen years ago—mostly just familiar classic hits.
As for songs from fourteen years later, Xu Ye was afraid if he sang them, the people in the bar would be shocked. If they asked what songs they were, he certainly couldn’t tell them they were from the future.
After singing several songs in a row, Xu Ye felt a bit parched. He stood up and walked to the counter, intending to get a glass of water.
Pei Youwei saw this and pointed to the beer on the table. “Xiao Xu, you should drink this.”
Xu Ye asked, “Isn’t this the beer that Auntie just ordered?”
“She’s not drinking it. Don’t waste it.”
Xu Ye stepped forward without hesitation, picked up the cup on the table, poured half a glass of beer, and downed it in one gulp.
The three people sitting nearby were all stunned.
Because the cup in Xu Ye’s hand had just been used by Chen Qingqing.
Chen Qingqing’s ear, hidden beneath her hair, flushed slightly red. Just as Wang Ruxue was about to speak up, Chen Qingqing suddenly stood up and headed toward the restroom.
Seeing this, the words on Wang Ruxue’s lips were swallowed back.
Well, that makes sense.
He already drank it, so saying anything now would only make things more awkward.
Why is this guy so blunt?
Pei Youwei was momentarily stunned, then quietly asked Xu Ye, “So, what do you think? Is this girl pretty?”
“Pretty, yes, but unfortunately, she’s mute.”
Wang Ruxue, standing nearby, almost spat out the water she had just taken in.
Mute?
Who told you she’s mute?
Xu Ye kept talking to himself, “That’s why fate is fair. When it opens one door, it never forgets to close a window.”
After hearing this, Pei Youwei looked at Wang Ruxue with curiosity.
Wang Ruxue sighed and said, “She just doesn’t talk much.”
“???”
Xu Ye was surprised and asked, “She can talk?”
Wang Ruxue didn’t respond, her eyes clearly saying: Obviously.
Chen Qingqing came back and saw Xu Ye staring at her, which made her feel a bit uncomfortable.
At school, because of Chen Qingqing’s cold personality, no boy dared to make eye contact with her. She naturally gave off a “rich heiress” aura that made people reluctant to approach her casually.
But Xu Ye was an exception.
This guy had already offended her last night.
“You can talk?”
Chen Qingqing was momentarily stunned. Realizing Wang Ruxue had accidentally exposed her, she turned her head sharply and said, “Aunt Wang, let’s go back.”
“All right, the car is parked up front. I’ll go drive it over, you wait at the door.”
“Okay.”
Seeing that Chen Qingqing didn’t want to talk to him, Xu Ye didn’t press it further. Having been hurt before by Gu Mengyao, he had learned a lesson — the prettier the girl, the more dangerous she is.
Just as Xu Ye was about to head back to singing, Pei Youwei stood up, placed her hand on Xu Ye’s shoulder, and smiled, “Xiao Xu, walk her out, won’t you?”
“It’s just a few steps.”
“Go quickly!”
“All right.”
Xu Ye stepped forward and opened the glass door.
Chen Qingqing paused for a moment, then stepped outside.
Xu Ye followed behind her and cleared his throat. “Try to go out less at night. There are more bad people around.”
Chen Qingqing stopped under the streetlight and, for the first time, replied to Xu Ye, “Are you talking about yourself?”
“What do you mean?”
“Just now inside, you kept staring at my legs, and… you obviously knew that cup had been used by me, yet you still…”
Xu Ye hurriedly explained, “I admit I looked at your legs, but I really didn’t know that cup was yours.”
“Heh.”
Xu Ye felt insulted, but he was powerless to argue back.
A perfectly normal guy, when he sees a pretty girl, what’s wrong with taking a second look? Is that a crime?
Wang Ruxue parked the car by the roadside.
Chen Qingqing lifted her leg and got in.
Watching the car drive away, Xu Ye also stepped back into the shop.
Inside the car,
Chen Qingqing looked out the window at Xu Ye’s retreating figure. For once, a faint smile appeared on her usually cold face.
What a fool.
His bluff was completely exposed.
…
“Xiao Xu.”
“Huh?”
“Didn’t you add her on WeChat?”
“No.”
Pei Youwei scolded him, frustrated, “Xiao Xu, what’s wrong with you? You had the chance and blew it.”
“Boss Lady, don’t try to play matchmaker. Didn’t you notice she kind of looks down on me?”
“Look down on you how?”
“She thinks I’m a pervert because I kept staring at her legs just now. Honestly, I just glanced a couple of times.”
“Ha ha.”
Pei Youwei laughed heartily, her chest bouncing.
Xu Ye, thick-skinned, replied, “But honestly, what’s wrong if a man isn’t a little interested? HOWareyOU?”