Chapter 34

The next morning, Lin Qingle headed to the base, then drove the base’s shared vehicle to Xia Quan’s home.

After parking the car, she led Yangyang towards the building where Xia Quan lived.

Since she needed a key card to use the elevator, Lin Qingle couldn’t go directly upstairs. She first took Yangyang to the building’s property office in the lobby to register.

“Yangyang, we go to the left.”

Yangyang was very obedient and could fully understand Lin Qingle’s words.

Just as they were about to change direction, the elevator doors opened, and Lin Qingle saw two people walk out.

The person in the lead was still dressed in a shirt and slacks, but while yesterday’s shirt had been ash gray, today it was white.

The white shirt made him look even more refined and handsome…

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Mbl rlapsd clbkde bkx oyp ealpple xsal qsaxyzzu, kd y pwkv yde vkl, nyaaukdt y caklqnypl yde y zyrvsr.

Nkd Ckdtzl’p tygl zkdtlale qsa y xsxldv sd vbl qynl sq vbl rlapsd kd qasdv, osdelakdt oblvbla pbl pbswze tallv bkx sa ralvlde dsv vs byhl plld bkx, obld vbl qlxyzl pvyqq xlxcla yv vbl rasrlavu sqqknl yzalyeu csole rszkvlzu.

“Ya. Dw, tsse xsadkdt.”

Dw Mkdtcyk’p tygl qszzsole vbl hsknl, yde bl tyhl y pzktbv dse kd ynjdsozletxldv. Jwv yp bl oyp ycswv vs zssj yoyu, bl dsvknle vbl rlapsd yde twkel est pvydekdt cu vbl rasrlavu elpj.

Tkp pvlrp kxxlekyvlzu nyxl vs y byzv.

Nkd Ckdtzl dsvknle bkp tygl yde alyzkgle vbyv kv oswze cl yojoyae dsv vs tallv bkx dso.

Fbl pxkzle yv bkx, “Ebyv y nskdnkeldnl.”

Dw Mkdtcyk’p tygl oyp nsze yp bl tzydnle yv vbl twkel est clpkel bla yde iwknjzu wdelapvsse. Tl oyzjle shla yde pvsrrle aktbv kd qasdv sq bla. “Zsw… blal vs pll Dky Cwyd?”

Lin Qingle nodded. “Yes. How come you’re here?”

Xu Tingbai replied, “I live here.”

“I see…”

He was friends with Xia Tan, so it was possible that they lived in the same building.

She had always known that someone as smart and capable as him, if he could see, would surely live a successful life.

Lin Qingle lowered her eyes and smiled. “Well, I’ll head upstairs now. See you.”

“Lin Qingle.” He suddenly called out to her again.

“What’s wrong?”

Xu Tingbai looked at her, his eyes filled with countless emotions, but in the end, all of it seemed to be suppressed. “Nothing… See you.”

“Mm.”

Lin Qingle turned to the front desk to register. After the staff made a call for permission, she was allowed to go up.

The elevator ascended, and Xu Tingbai stood still, watching the numbers change, not knowing what he was thinking.

His assistant, noticing his silence, spoke up. “Mr. Xu, the meeting will start in forty minutes.”

Xu Tingbai withdrew his gaze. “Okay.”

“Are you… not feeling well?”

Xu Tingbai glanced at him.

The assistant added, “I just noticed your complexion looks off today.”

Xu Tingbai replied, “It’s nothing, let’s go.”

“Understood.” The assistant quickly followed him out.

---

Xia Quan lived with his older brother, Xia Tan. Whenever Xia Tan was at work or on a business trip, a nanny would be with him.

Xia Quan was a boy with exceptional musical talent. Usually, he went to the nearby music center to learn piano and violin from his teacher and occasionally performed publicly.

Previously, the nanny and driver took him to the music center, but the distance was not far. If walking, it only took about ten minutes. So today, Lin Qingle hoped no one else would interfere and let Yangyang lead Xia Quan to the music center.

Of course, she would follow behind to observe.

Lin Qingle took over Dong Xiaoni’s job and spent the whole day with Xia Quan and Yangyang. At 4 p.m., she accompanied them back home.

“Qingle, Yangyang is really good. When I went to play the piano today, it just waited for me…” Xia Quan was excited, pulling her along and talking non-stop about the day. “Oh, and just now, when we were walking, it suddenly turned a corner. At first, I didn’t quite trust it, but when I reached out to touch it, there really was an electric scooter ahead. It’s so smart.”

Lin Qingle smiled, feeling very satisfied and gratified at seeing him so happy. “Of course, now it can guide you anywhere outside.”

“That’s great! I can go out by myself now.”

Lin Qingle nodded. “Well, that’s enough for today. You should rest, I’ll take Yangyang home now.”

“Don’t go so soon, stay and have dinner with us, sister.” Xia Quan said, “I had Auntie cook already.”

“No need.”

“Come on, eat. I want to hear more about Yangyang.”

“But…”

Before she could finish, they heard someone coming in. Lin Qingle turned to see Xia Tan and… Xu Tingbai.

Xia Quan, with his more sensitive hearing, immediately recognized the footsteps and asked, “Brother, are you back?”

Xia Tan’s gaze lingered on Lin Qingle for a moment before he glanced at Xu Tingbai. “Mm, I’m back.”

“Qingle was with me today.” Xia Quan said, “I even asked her to stay for dinner.”

Lin Qingle hurriedly stood up. “I should take Yangyang home now.”

“Stay for dinner, Qingle.” Xia Tan coughed lightly, “I want to thank you.”

“Yeah, yeah, sister, stay!” Xia Quan tugged at her sleeve.

Lin Qingle saw the hopeful look in the boy’s eyes and felt a bit helpless, but also softened.

“Sister?”

“Ah… Okay then.”

Since the moment Xu Tingbai entered, he had been looking at Lin Qingle. When they first met in the bar, the dim lighting made it hard to connect this version of her with the young girl she was at nine or ten. This morning had been rushed…

But now, as he looked at her carefully, he could still vaguely see traces of the old her in her eyes.

Though it was just a little, because the grown-up Lin Qingle had shed all the innocence and naivety of her youth. Compared to how she was back then, she was undeniably beautiful.

As Xia Tan said, very beautiful.

“Have some drink.” The aunt, seeing everyone had returned, brought out some juice and milk.

“Sister, this milk is really good, I love it.” Xia Quan nudged his older brother, hinting for him to pass it to her.

Xia Tan paused for a moment but quickly pushed it toward her. Just as he was about to, Xu Tingbai stopped him.

As Xu Tingbai blocked the milk, he handed her the juice instead. “Drink this.”

Lin Qingle glanced down and said thank you.

Xia Tan asked, “Don’t you like milk?”

Lin Qingle hesitated, “…Sorry, I’ve never really liked milk since I was a kid.”

“Ah, it’s okay, I should have asked.” Xia Tan turned to Xu Tingbai, “So you even know this…”

Xu Tingbai remained silent.

Lin Qingle took a sip of the juice and explained, “We were good friends in high school…”

Xia Quan exclaimed, “Really? What a coincidence! Mr. Xu and sister are friends!”

“Mm…”

“Ah, it’s such a pity that my brother didn’t study in China when he was younger. Maybe he would have met you earlier… but it’s not too late now.” Xia Quan said happily.

But before he could finish, Xia Tan gave him a sharp tug on the arm.

“Ow—”

Xia Tan leaned close to Xia Quan’s ear, his voice low and threatening, “Don’t talk.”

Xia Quan lowered his voice, feeling frustrated, “I’m helping you.”

“Don’t need it!”

“But…”

“Shut up.”

Xia Quan couldn’t see the complex emotions between the others. He only knew that his brother liked Lin Qingle and had been trying to match them, but he never got any praise for it.

Well, if you don’t want help, then it’s your own fault you’re single!

Soon, the meal was ready. Lin Qingle stayed for dinner at Xia Quan’s insistence, but after eating, she didn’t stay long and took Yangyang out.

As they waited for the elevator, Xu Tingbai came out.

The two of them stood in front of the elevator, a moment of silence hanging between them.

“You…”

“You…”

They both spoke at the same time. After a pause, Lin Qingle said, “You go first.”

Xu Tingbai: “How have you been these past few years?”

Lin Qingle lowered her gaze. “Pretty good. And you?”

“…It’s fine.” Xu Tingbai looked at her. “Are you still at the guide dog center?”

“Mm.”

“Why…?”

“Actually, it’s because of you.” Lin Qingle spoke plainly, which made Xu Tingbai freeze for a moment.

Lin Qingle continued, “Because I had been around people who couldn’t see, I chose to volunteer at the guide dog center in college. There, I met many blind people, and I thought, if guide dogs could become more widespread, they could help a lot of people.”

Lin Qingle smiled slightly. “Actually, when I first saw Xia Quan, I thought of you. He was about the same age as you back then. Well… his personality is quite different though.”

Xu Tingbai lowered his gaze and nodded softly. “Xia Quan is much more cheerful than I was.”

“Yes. Oh, by the way, did you go abroad later?” Lin Qingle glanced at him, her tone casual, as if it was just a little polite exchange after a long separation.

Xu Tingbai looked at her and nodded slightly.

“When did you come back?”

“Three months ago.”

“Not long ago, then. You stayed abroad for quite a long time.” Lin Qingle smiled faintly. “I used to think I’d never see you again. I didn’t expect it to be such a coincidence.”

The Lin Qingle from childhood had indeed grown up.

She could smile politely, ask questions distantly.

And all this politeness and distance were because he had been absent from her life for so many years.

He had been late.

Xu Tingbai, thinking of this, felt a sharp pain in his chest for a moment. He pressed his lips together, his voice low: “I was always preparing to come back.”

“Is that so?” Lin Qingle replied, “That’s good, but honestly, with your intelligence… you’d do well anywhere.”

Ding—

The elevator arrived.

She didn’t seem to want to stay for long and immediately stepped in. “Then I’ll go first. I need to hurry and take Yangyang home.”

Xu Tingbai: “…Okay.”

As the elevator doors opened and closed, she disappeared from his sight.

Xu Tingbai actually had a lot he wanted to say, but suddenly, he couldn’t find a reason to speak.

What was the point of saying anything now… The fact that he was late was true, and it was also true that she already had someone by her side.

“I was wondering why you came to my house for dinner tonight, turns out you knew Lin Qingle was here,” Xia Tan leaned against the door, speaking coldly.

“I’m going upstairs first.”

“Wait a minute.” Xia Tan said, “Can you finally tell me what’s going on between you two? Hey, don’t say it’s just a simple friendship. Your reaction that day wasn’t like that of a friend. Hiss… were you together before? An ex-girlfriend?”

“No.”

“Then what exactly is it? A secret crush?”

Xu Tingbai fell silent, and Xia Tan was startled. God knows how shocking it was for him to realize that Xu Tingbai might have secretly had feelings for someone.

“Really… Though I admit this girl is really great, but you secretly liked her?” Xia Tan clicked his tongue. “You look like this, I wouldn’t even dare to admit I like her.”

Xu Tingbai shot him a cold glare.

Xia Tan took a step back. “Hey, hey, hey, what kind of look is that? How was I supposed to know you liked her? Is it my fault I started liking her when I didn’t know?”

“…”

Xia Tan snorted lightly. “But saying you like her now doesn’t matter. Not just me, don’t bother looking either. She already has a boyfriend.”

Xu Tingbai’s face darkened instantly.

Xia Tan shook his head. “You came here today just to see her, didn’t you? Tingbai, do you have some ulterior motive? It’s a bit unethical, but it’s not impossible… just worried you might interfere with her…”

“I don’t want to interfere with her.”

“Is that so? Then why are you here today?”

Xu Tingbai paused.

He didn’t know. He clearly shouldn’t be doing this, but he couldn’t control himself.

He wanted to see her, wanted to look at her, even knowing she already had a boyfriend. He still couldn’t suppress it…

“Just admit it. You want to take her away from someone else. Tsk, I didn’t know you would like someone this much. What a disaster for me…” Xia Tan put a hand on his chest. “I finally found a girl I like, and who knew she not only has a boyfriend but also has my brother secretly liking her! Damn, what should I do about this?!”

Xu Tingbai initially felt a sharp pain in his heart, but now even his head started to hurt.

“…Shut up.”