Chapter 33

The music in the dance floor shifted just at that moment. Compared to the previous loud rock music, this new wave was noticeably gentler.

As a result, Xu Tingbai could clearly hear the woman’s voice behind him.

The moment the sound hit his eardrums, it felt as though something inside his mind was growing wildly. He had never consciously tried to remember someone’s voice, but in that instant, his body seemed to react instinctively. As the tone registered, he quickly and naturally recognized it.

Xu Tingbai turned around, his gaze locking onto the woman’s face in front of him. His heart seemed to jump into his throat, leaving him frozen in place, the weight of it all making him feel rigid.

“Chen Ke, just forget it!” Xia Tan and the other friends who were originally sitting at the booth also came over. Xia Tan glanced at Lin Qingle and said, “Forget it, it wasn’t that serious.”

Chen Ke replied, “Our General Xu doesn’t want to let it go, he says if there’s a problem, we should call the police.”

Xia Tan looked at Xu Tingbai, “Tingbai, give me some face. I know this girl. Let it go, alright?”

However, after he spoke, he noticed that something was off with Xu Tingbai. It wasn’t just him, everyone else in the room noticed Xu Tingbai’s unusual behavior.

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He spoke slowly, “Alright.”

Lin Qingle softly said, “Thank you…”

She didn’t look at Xu Tingbai anymore. She turned to Huang Chengxu and said, “Wait for me outside.”

Huang Chengxu, relieved that things had been resolved, let out a sigh of relief, “What about the money…”

“I’ll pay it.”

“Alright.” Huang Chengxu gave her a grateful look and hurried downstairs.

“How much? I’ll transfer it to you.” Lin Qingle said to Chen Ke.

Chen Ke glanced at Xu Tingbai, “But—”

“No need.” Xu Tingbai looked at her and said, “It’s fine.”

Chen Ke: “?”

Even though Xu Tingbai was speaking to her, Lin Qingle didn’t look at him. She focused on Chen Ke, saying, “I’ll still transfer it to you. For your clothes, the drinks, and any hospital fees, after all, it was his mistake.”

Chen Ke coughed awkwardly, unsure, and looked at the other friends beside him.

Lin Qingle continued, “If you prefer, you can first figure out the total cost, and I’ll contact Mr. Xia later.”

“Okay, sure.” Chen Ke patted Xia Tan’s shoulder, “You two know each other, right? Then I’ll leave it to you.”

Xia Tan’s gaze shifted between Xu Tingbai and Lin Qingle, but he forgot to respond.

“Then I’ll leave now. I’m really sorry for today.” Lin Qingle said and then walked directly toward the bar’s downstairs.

She passed by him without a trace of hesitation.

Xu Tingbai’s heart clenched. Before anyone else could react, he turned around and chased after her.

By the time both of them had disappeared down the staircase, the others were left in stunned silence, exchanging glances.

“Was that really our General Xu?”

“What’s up with Tingbai today? Is he interested in that girl? His eyes didn’t even move.”

“Wow, is this a bit dramatic? He’s always been so calm, but now he’s having love at first sight? Is he chasing after her now?”

“Wait… don’t they know each other? I swear, Tingbai’s face looked off earlier, his eyes were so red, it almost looked like he was going to cry.”

“Couldn’t be. He didn’t cry.” Chen Ke looked at Xia Tan, “You’re the closest to him, aren’t you? You know that girl, does Tingbai know her?”

Xia Tan frowned and shook his head.

Xia Tan wasn’t sure if Xu Tingbai knew Lin Qingle, but he clearly saw that his eyes were really red just now.

---

Lin Qingle felt like she was fleeing in panic, but she didn’t know what she was running from.

As she made her way down, the music in the air filled her ears, pushing through the crowd, passing the long hallway. Her feet were running, but her mind felt like it was stuck, unable to move.

“Lin Qingle!”

Finally, as she reached the entrance of the bar, she heard that familiar voice from behind.

She had no choice but to stop.

“Lin Qingle.” He seemed to be confirming, calling her name.

She slowly turned around.

The light outside the bar was a mix of colors, with blue spotlights casting bright, ambiguous shadows, giving the night an unsettled feeling. And there, standing beneath the light, was a figure dressed in a shirt and dress pants, formal and cold, completely out of place in the chaotic scene of the bar.

She looked at him, her eyes trembling slightly.

Xu Tingbai took a few steps forward, closing the distance between them. He lowered his gaze to her, his voice a little hoarse when he spoke.

He said, “I’m Xu Tingbai.”

Lin Qingle took a deep breath and smiled at him, “Hmm… I know.”

Xu Tingbai clenched his fist, his palm aching from the pressure: “You knew? Then why didn’t you say hello earlier?”

“I… I thought you didn’t recognize me.” Lin Qingle kept smiling, but her smile was distant, not reaching her eyes. She said, “I didn’t expect to see you here. It’s been so long, and I was worried you wouldn’t remember me if I said hello.”

How could that be?

Lin Qingle continued, “Well… it’s been a long time. I’m glad to see that your eyes are fully healed now.”

Xu Tingbai replied, “Yes.”

“That’s great, congratulations.”

“Mm…” Xu Tingbai kept looking at her, thinking about the person he had always wanted to see, and realizing that she had grown up into someone like this.

“I’m really sorry for today. Please apologize again to your friends for me.”

“It’s fine.” Xu Tingbai thought for a moment and said, “So, recently—”

“Qingle, are you leaving?” Suddenly, someone interrupted his words.

Huang Chengxu had been waiting outside the bar for a while. Seeing Lin Qingle come out, he walked over.

Xu Tingbai had been about to speak, but as soon as he saw the unfamiliar man walking over, all of his words were swallowed back.

Lin Qingle glanced at Huang Chengxu and quickly said to Xu Tingbai, “Let’s meet again next time. I still need to take him to the hospital, I can’t stay here.”

Xu Tingbai glanced at the man, his lips tightening slightly.

“Well, goodbye.”

She didn’t hesitate or linger, as though she had just met an old friend and needed to exchange some awkward pleasantries.

Then, she quickly walked away, hailing a taxi with the man.

---

The taxi headed toward the nearest hospital, and Lin Qingle rolled down the window slightly, staring out at the passing traffic, lost in thought.

Her heart pounded, but for some reason, it felt empty.

She hadn’t expected to be able to talk so calmly with Xu Tingbai after their reunion, and she didn’t know why she was able to do it. She just felt like it was the only reasonable thing to do.

She wasn’t the 16-year-old Lin Qingle anymore, and he wasn’t the 16-year-old Xu Tingbai.

They were separated by eight years. In those years, she had gone from anticipation to disappointment, from anger to sadness… then to numbness.

When they met again, they had both grown up. Seeing him living a new life and having his eyesight restored—it was enough.

She couldn’t say much more to him, and honestly, she didn’t want to.

“Qingle, I’m sorry, I’ve caused you trouble today,” Huang Chengxu said awkwardly as he noticed her mood.

Lin Qingle rolled up the window, “You should apologize to Tingting, I was just asked by her to come.”

Huang Chengxu said, “I know… I shouldn’t have acted impulsively today. I’ll pay you back for the money you covered.”

Lin Qingle glanced at him, “Tingting really likes you. Can you stop disappointing her? Did you think about her before you acted?”

“I’m sorry…”

“Forget it, I don’t want to talk about it,” Lin Qingle said, leaning back in her seat, feeling tired. “I just hope you’ll think more about her. Her work is tiring enough already; don’t make her worry about you.”

After taking Huang Chengxu to the hospital and waiting for him to finish his treatment, Lin Qingle went home.

It was already late at night when she got home. She changed into her pajamas but couldn’t sleep. Her mind was filled with the scene from the bar when she saw him.

She sat on the living room sofa, repeatedly telling herself that he was just an old friend, and it was something from the past, something she shouldn’t dwell on… but her brain wouldn’t listen. His image kept popping into her mind uncontrollably.

“Oh my God! What are you doing, sitting here in the middle of the night?” Dong Xiaoni came out of her room to use the bathroom and was startled when she saw someone sitting in the dimly lit living room.

Lin Qingle replied, “Nothing… I haven’t slept yet.”

“Huh? Didn’t you just take a shower and go to bed?”

“Tingting’s boyfriend had a little issue at the bar, so I went to check on him, but it’s fine now. He’s already gone home.”

Dong Xiaoni said, “Tsk… it’s Huang Chengxu again. What’s going on? Tingting is such a good person, how could she like him?”

Lin Qingle rubbed her temples. “Feelings for someone… they’re not something you can control.”

“I don’t know…” she added quietly.

Dong Xiaoni sighed, “Well, if you haven’t slept this late, you should take a rest tomorrow and not go with Yangyang. Just rest.”

The guide dog Yangyang and Xia Quan were still in their adjustment period, so the instructor needed to go with them to take notes. Dong Xiaoni had planned to ask Lin Qingle to help tomorrow, but seeing how late it was and how she hadn’t slept, she didn’t want to disturb her.

Lin Qingle shook her head, “Aren’t you supposed to go back home tomorrow? Don’t worry, I’m not tired, and I don’t need to leave early tomorrow. I’ll handle Yangyang and Xia Quan. You can go home.”

“Are you sure? You’re really not tired?”

“Really, it’s fine.”

“Okay then, you should go to bed now. Staying up late isn’t good for you.”

“Yeah, I know…”