Li Yue's eyes dimmed, he lowered his head, reached for the cigarettes in his pocket, but then remembered that smoking was prohibited here. He grinned and said faintly, "I went there for two years, something happened, and I was kicked out."
Seeing his dejected expression, Xiao Qiqi knew it couldn't be that simple, but she still asked, "What would you like to drink?"
"Yeah, I drove, so I can't drink. What about you?"
Xiao Qiqi was about to suggest ice water, but quickly changed it to "plain boiled water."
Li Yue waved, "Two glasses of water, please!"
The gentle, beautiful piano music flowed softly through the quiet restaurant, and the occasional whispers and sips of wine were carried into a serene world by the soothing music.
Sipping warm water, the two were at a loss for words. The long distance had eroded their former familiarity; the days of arm-in-arm, drinking and chatting wildly before graduation were now deep in their memories. Xiao Qiqi thought of Li Yue's stubborn, proud yet wounded expression back then, how he would always walk straight past them, ignoring them completely, never showing even a hint of disdain. Only his overly straight back betrayed the boy's hurt. Seeing Xiao Qiqi smile, Li Yue smiled sheepishly, flicking his fingers—some habitual gestures he still retained.
Li Yue spoke first, "Why haven't we heard from you all these years? You've never been listed in the alumni directory. Everyone thought you had disappeared."
"Yeah, I forgot my login password and lost my phone a few times, so I completely lost contact with her." It was all just an excuse, but Li Yue didn't call it out, and Xiao Qiqi was too lazy to explain further. "...Are you still in contact with Xu Chun?"
Li Yue smiled, the lingering resentment from years ago gone, though six or seven years had passed. His smile carried a hint of sarcasm that Xiao Qiqi couldn't decipher. "At first, I knew she went to study in the US with Xia Xuan. Later I heard she came back, but then we lost contact." He finished, giving Xiao Qiqi a meaningful look.
Xiao Qiqi tried to calm her turbulent emotions. "She should still be with Xia Xuan. A girl like her is loyal and persistent in love; she won't give up easily."
"Moreover, she knows the goal and has a deep understanding of the weaknesses of people's hearts. Qiqi, you are not as good as her in this respect, so you lost."
Li Yue chuckled, his dark eyes startling Xiao Qiqi. She had never seen Li Yue so serious before. She forced a smile and said, "What nonsense are you talking about!"
Li Yue continued to snap his fingers, looking at Xiao Qiqi with a half-smile, "After all these years, you still can't let go? Actually, we all knew you loved Xia Xuan back then, but you were both such proud people, neither of you willing to back down. And you were so kind, even cowardly, so you were destined to lose."
Xiao Qiqi was speechless. Did everyone know? Kind and weak? Xiao Qiqi didn't want to think about it.
When the steak arrived, Xiao Qiqi picked up her knife and fork. "Let's not talk about the past, just look at the present. Eat steak, fresh and bloody. It will make you passionate and full of sperm."
Li Yue almost spat out the water he had just drunk. Xiao Qiqi then realized she had blurted out Chen Yuanxing's usual teasing remark. He loved to wink at her with his charming eyes and say, "Sperm shooting everywhere," then look at Xiao Qiqi's face, a mixture of anger and shyness. Xiao Qiqi smiled awkwardly, and Li Yue focused on his steak.
A waiter came over and brought a bottle of red wine. Xiao Qiqi looked at Li Yue, who shook his head.
“Sir, you’ve made a mistake. We didn’t order any alcohol.” Xiao Qiqi smiled politely.
The waiter bowed slightly with his hands behind his back, offering an elegant smile. "It was given to you two by that gentleman over there to congratulate him on his successful blind date." The waiter's smile deepened, tinged with amusement.
Xiao Qiqi patiently refused, saying, "Tell that gentleman thank you. We can't drink and drive."
The waiter, still suppressing a deep smile, said, "That gentleman said he's treating everyone in the restaurant to drinks today, and if they get drunk, he'll pay for their taxi fare and parking."
Xiao Qiqi fell completely speechless, but Li Yue seemed to have noticed something and smiled as he took the wine from the waiter. "It seems that gentleman must be in a very good mood. Why don't we do him a favor?"
Xiao Qiqi and Li Yue didn't drink the "wedding wine" that was delivered, but after the meal, Li Yue insisted on dragging Xiao Qiqi to say "thank you" to the person who delivered the wine, saying that since it was a kind gesture, they should at least say "congratulations".
Xiao Qiqi followed Li Yue somewhat awkwardly, watching the two men politely smile, shake hands, and say "Congratulations" and "Thank you." The woman in the light pink dress opposite them was gentle and lovely, especially her shallow dimples when she smiled, which were quite charming, though they seemed a bit too small. Xiao Qiqi smiled politely, looked at Chen Yuanxing's outstretched fingers, which were slender and clean, hesitated for a moment, and then extended her hand.
Her hand, which had been withdrawn, involuntarily went back behind her back. That damned, stingy man, pinching her again! She shouldn't have been so soft-hearted and pinched him first. After thanking him, she should have left politely. Xiao Qiqi was in a bad mood today. As she left, looking at Chen Yuanxing's smug face, she couldn't help but blurt out, "I've heard that gay people have very long nails and wear flashy clothes." She then casually brushed her fingers across Chen Yuanxing's floral shirt, catching sight of his slightly longer nails, before turning and leaving like a victorious general. That girl wasn't Chen Yuanxing's type; she was too immature. He preferred mature women, so even if she didn't try to stir things up, they wouldn't end up together. That was her serious consideration.
Once outside Dingshan, Xiao Qiqi couldn't help but burst out laughing. Li Yue turned to look at him, a hint of emotion in his voice, "Your ex-boyfriend?"
Xiao Qiqi was surprised, meeting Li Yue's amused smile. "His eyes almost pierced me. But he looks familiar, is he an alumnus?"
Xiao Qiqi chuckled, "K University, they're a year below us, maybe you guys played football together."
Li Yue stared intently as he recalled, "I remember now, the number one influential figure at K University, whose nickname was something like Young Master Chen."
Indeed, Young Master Chen, he's been a legendary figure among the female students of K University for years, just like Xia Xuan from A University—a legendary playboy. Xiao Qiqi thought to herself, "I really am quite charming; how did I end up entangled with two men like these?"
After exchanging contact information with Li Yue, Li Yue, driving a white Honda, leaned against the car door, smoking a cigarette, and flicked the ash at Xiao Qiqi. "Hey, tell me, are we on a blind date today?"
Xiao Qiqi thought for a moment and nodded, "I think so."
"Since we're both single, why don't we just get together?"
“Okay then, let’s make a pair!” Xiao Qiqi agreed without even thinking.
Li Yue's shoulders shrugged, and he laughed, with a touch of his former arrogance. He stubbed out his cigarette and asked, "It's still early. Where should we go to kill time?"
Xiao Qiqi glanced at Chen Yuanxing and the girl out of the corner of her eye and sighed, "I'd like to go and have some fun, but I'm afraid it will spoil your mood."
Li Yue took a step closer and carefully examined Xiao Qiqi. "I only just realized that you're quite pretty. If you had dressed up even half as well as Xu Chun back then, we might have been a couple long ago." Li Yue turned his head to look at the entrance of Dingshan Restaurant. "That guy isn't suitable for you. His face screams 'I'm a playboy, who cares?' He's a scoundrel. A chosen one, born to be pampered, just like Xia Xuan."
No, they are different.
"Xiao Qiqi, don't talk to me like that. Do you really know Xia Xuan?" Li Yue said, then waved his hand and got into his car. "I heard they're engaged. I'll contact you later." He didn't even look at Xiao Qiqi before driving away.
Xiao Qiqi's steps faltered, the blazing sun overhead seeming to prick her heart with thorns. Yes, she had never understood Xia Xuan, but she understood Chen Yuanxing—two fundamentally different people, weren't they?
Do you really know Xia Xuan? I heard they're engaged. Li Yue's words struck Xiao Qiqi's heart like a heavy blow, leaving her in a state of extreme depression. Years of memories were dredged up by the appearance of an old classmate, and although she thought she wouldn't care, the lingering pain was still there. A tortoise going down the mountain doesn't turn into a rabbit. Just like how Chen Dashao wearing a floral shirt, driving a sports car, and being with a beautiful woman doesn't mean he's changed his bad habits. The horn blared arrogantly in front of and behind Xiao Qiqi's QQ tortoise. Xiao Qiqi ignored it, put on her earphones, and realized she was really annoyed today and had no mood to deal with the young master's harassment.
Blue and White Porcelain sang wildly, her indistinct words echoing repeatedly within the tortoise shell, and even headphones couldn't mask the madness and unease. Xiao Qiqi slammed on the brakes and flung off her headphones.
A convertible Mercedes sports car came to a light stop behind. Xiao Qiqi strode over in a few steps, grabbed the placket of the floral shirt with two buttons undone (or rather, only the middle two buttons were fastened), and casually threw the sunglasses into the bushes by the roadside. "You flowery glass, rotten butterfly, pervert, stinky boredom, madman, idiot, pighead, bastard @%×￥@&（#……A flock of birds flew by, startling down a pile of feathers."
Xiao Qiqi's anger subsided, and she patted Chen Yuanxing's stiff face, "Good boy, sister is leaving."
Then the world became quiet. If the tiger doesn't roar, people will think it's a sick cat.
The mountain trail continues.
Chen Yuanxing's handsome face remained stiff, but the golden sunlight pierced his dark phoenix eyes, causing him to blink repeatedly. His expression softened, and he turned his head with a bright smile, "Xiao Cui, shall I take you for a race?"
Cui, the youngest daughter of a wealthy family and the pampered daughter of a group's CEO, was in utter turmoil, her heart in turmoil. She murmured, wringing her fingers, "How terrifying!"
"Xiao Cui, it's not scary. It's just speeding. I'll control it and never go over 180."
"Xiao Cui?" Cui Xiao lowered her hand from her chest. "My name is Cui Xiao."
"It's okay, whether you know or not, just sit still." This is completely irrelevant.
Just as Xiao Qiqi's tortoise turned the corner, a ghostly howl came rushing down from the mountain.
8. Rainy mood
Summer weather, like people, can be unpredictable, alternating between hot and dry. A clear, sunny day can turn into a downpour in the blink of an eye. Xiao Qiqi's tortoise, perched in a pile of ants, couldn't move an inch. Watching the torrential rain outside the window, Xiao Qiqi frowned; the weather was strange. She turned on the radio, listening to the female host's exaggerated, affected voice proclaiming, "A once-in-a-century rainstorm!" The blaring of horns, the rushing water, the booming thunder, and the irritated curses of the people mingled together, buzzing and echoing across the city.
The sky was obscured by dark clouds, the car stalled, and the water was knee-deep. The city's sewers were like a naughty child's snot, constantly wiping and bubbling with disgusting bubbles, the stench churning in your lungs, making you even more restless. Xiao Qiqi got out of the car, without an umbrella, and walked step by step through the dimly lit city in the rain.
My phone was turned off long ago. No one bothered me, no one cared. I isolated myself in the distance, lost and directionless, forgetting the past.
As Xiao Qiqi walked through the rain, her memories of her time with Xia Xuan naturally surfaced, unstoppable.
She didn't know how long she had walked when someone patted Xiao Qiqi's face. Xiao Qiqi slowly regained consciousness and realized that her whole body was ice-cold, and her legs were numb in waves. She was obediently pulled into a hotel by the roadside.
Chen Yuanxing looked just as disheveled. His floral shirt was now a snakeskin clinging to his body, and his hair was plastered to his scalp, dripping wet. Chen Yuanxing was panting heavily when he finally roared, "Xiao Qiqi, I think I've really spoiled you too much! You really should learn how to be a woman!"
When Xiao Qiqi came out of the bathroom, Chen Yuanxing was leaning against the French windows, smoking. His bare body revealed half of his tanned skin; the image of a strong, muscular man with a languid, alluring charm was perhaps what it meant. Xiao Qiqi ignored him, coldly frowning. "Stop smoking!" Her footsteps were light and silent on the thick, dark-patterned carpet. With a "whoosh," she pulled back the heavy curtains, revealing a bright, sunny sky outside. The world changes so quickly; just a moment ago it was pouring rain, and now the sun is shining brightly. Like life itself, yesterday's tender affections are today's strangers.
Chen Yuanxing stubbed out his cigarette, then pulled out another. The carved celadon ashtray was already overflowing with twisted cigarette butts. Xiao Qiqi looked at Chen Yuanxing in surprise. Could he really have such a dejected moment?
"...What were you thinking about just now?" The deep voice was hoarse, the body did not move, and the slightly dry black hair was scattered messily, soft and sticky.
Xiao Qiqi, wrapped in a bath towel, used a hairdryer to dry her wet clothes. "Go take a shower. I'll dry your clothes for you. It's time to go back."
"I asked you who you were thinking about just now?" Chen Yuanxing flicked his cigarette butt, turned around and grabbed Xiao Qiqi's bare, slender shoulder tightly. His dark eyes held an unusual coldness. "Not bad, weren't you just throwing a tantrum and cursing? How come your expression changed so quickly? In this heavy rain, are you trying to be cool and stylish, or are you thinking about your ex?"
"Chen Yuanxing, what nonsense are you talking about?" Xiao Qiqi slapped his hand, frowning. His grip was strong, pinching her so hard it hurt her bones. "Let go! Didn't you leave with that lady who successfully went on a blind date?"
Chen Yuanxing let go. "I was speeding down the mountain at 200 km/h, and I thought it was over. I really thought the same thing as so many times: let it go, you go your way, I'll go mine. But suddenly it started raining, and soon there was a traffic jam. I couldn't help but turn back to look for you."
"But what did I see? I followed behind you, calling your name frantically, but you were like a lost soul, just walking and walking with that inexplicable smile."
“I haven’t seen you smile like that in a long time, so genuine and beautiful. So just now I’ve been wondering, who are you thinking about? Who are you thinking about?” He looked deeply into her eyes.
Xiao Qiqi lowered her eyes to avoid his intense gaze, "It's none of your business."
Chen Yuanxing sneered, "Yeah, it's none of my business! Li Yue, Xia Xuan?" His tone was mocking as he took one step forward, while Xiao Qiqi retreated further. "Look at me! What, you don't dare? Tell me, are you thinking about your first love again? Too bad, he's about to get married. Didn't Li Yue tell you that just now?"
Xiao Qiqi suddenly looked up, "How did you know?"
"What do you think I know? Li Yue? Yeah, I had forgotten who he was, but I suddenly remembered while driving. As for Xia Xuan..." Chen Yuanxing pulled out another cigarette, "The engagement of the eldest grandson of the Xia family in Hong Kong is a big deal, and only you, Xiao Qiqi, are still clueless. Xiao Qiqi, you idiot, he dumped you a long time ago and ran off with your best friend, and you're still so infatuated after all these years!" The increasingly sarcastic and mocking tone was completely different from the handsome and charming young man he used to be.
Xiao Qiqi felt a series of fine goosebumps on her skin, her fingers trembling incessantly. Looking at the unfamiliar sarcasm on Chen Yuanxing's lips, her heart slowly grew cold and desolate. She grabbed her still-wet clothes and headed for the bathroom.
In a flash, Chen Yuanxing stood in front of her, his long, strong arms tightening around her cold hand with a savage pull. "I was thinking that if you had rushed into my arms when you were sober, I would have gone with you without a second thought, ignoring everything—career, family, wealth, responsibility—nothing at all. But I'm so disappointed. Are you going to stay stuck in the past six years forever?"
"My affairs are none of your business." Xiao Qiqi had regained her composure. "Whether I live or die, whether I stay in the past or just find some other man, what does it have to do with you?" Xiao Qiqi put on a smile, an elegant curve, but the smile didn't reach her eyes. "Chen Yuanxing, have you forgotten? We broke up, we broke up two years ago! After all these years, you're still so childish, so boring, it's ridiculous! Who I think about, who I love, is none of your business! You drive your BMW, race your cars, chase your girls, have I ever said a word to you?"
The coldness in Chen Yuanxing's eyes had turned to stone. After a long while, he brushed the stray hairs from the corner of his eye and chuckled, "Well said! I'm really sorry, I've made you misunderstand again, this is the last time!" As he spoke, he grabbed his still-wet floral shirt, casually put it on, and stood with his back to Xiao Qiqi, unusually straight.
Xiao Qiqi said coldly in a voice she herself didn't recognize: "I hope so, Young Master Chen!"
"...Then goodbye!" Chen Yuanxing turned around, his bright smile as radiant as the sun, showing no trace of his previous dejection and coldness. "It's best we don't meet again!"
Xiao Qiqi watched as the door was gently closed and listened to his rhythmic footsteps slowly disappear before clutching her chest and leaning against the wall.
This is a VIP room in a four-star hotel by the roadside. The interior is exquisitely furnished, with a clean white bed and soft gauze curtains that sway gently with blue tassels. Xiao Qiqi picked up the cigarette left on the table, lit it, and took a deep drag. The pungent smell of the cigarette, with its alluring yet languid scent, slowly seeped into his body, transforming into tranquility.
I turned on my phone and found several messages and voicemails from Chen Yuanxing and Li Yue. I called Li Yue.
"Qiqi, is it blocked yet?" Li Yue's voice was distant. "I've been sitting in the car, watching this heavy rain, and I suddenly remembered that barbecue in the rain. That was the first time I saw your eyes clearly. They were bright and had a hint of cunning. You, Huang Yu, and Xia Xuan were standing on the beach in the rain, and you stared at Xia Xuan with those sly eyes, then coldly watched them squatting by the lake and vomiting. At that time, I thought that woman's eyes were really ruthless."
Xiao Qiqi took a drag of her cigarette, the billowing smoke engulfing her completely. "Li Yue, are you still on your way?"
Li Yue was taken aback, not expecting Xiao Qiqi to say such a lazily after he had been talking for so long. So he replied, "Yeah, I just moved the car to the supermarket parking lot next door."
"Then come pick me up, let's have dinner together tonight." Perhaps Chen Yuanxing is right, people can't always stay in the past, they always have to move forward.
Ignoring Li Yue's strange gaze, Xiao Qiqi walked two streets and turned into a greasy little restaurant with a red flag outside that read "Baodu Feng". Li Yue finally couldn't help but whistle, "Xiao Qiqi, you used to have to find a four-star hotel to avoid the rain, but now you're eating at these dirty and messy little shops." Li Yue took off his suit jacket and hung it on his arm. Seeing his old classmate, his youthful casualness came through.
Xiao Qiqi smiled, "This is a great place! Much better than that bloody steak you treated me to for lunch. The first one in BeiX City, wanna go?" Xiao Qiqi raised her chin, "Hmm?"
Li Yue rolled up his sleeves. "Go! Why wouldn't I go? All these years I've been pretending to be elegant and profound, wearing suits, telling lies, drinking foreign liquor, and eating Western food. I've lost the carefree spirit I used to have."
The two exchanged a smile.
A plate of stir-fried vegetables, a plate of cold tripe salad, a plate of cold cucumber salad, a plate of stir-fried dough pieces, and two roujiamo (Chinese hamburgers). The young man serving the food was only seventeen or eighteen years old, with very white teeth. He greeted her warmly, "Sister Qiqi, it's been a while since you've been here. Where's the young master?"
The stove with an open flame was set up outside the door, and the older woman busy at work through the window hurriedly said, "Erhu, you talkative one! Didn't you see Sister Xiao and her boyfriend came?"
Erhu pouted, "Mom! You think you know everything? Everyone on this street knows that Young Master Chen is Sister Xiao's boyfriend. Where did this other boyfriend come from?"
Only then did Li Yue realize that he was covered in thorns. It turned out that all his discomfort came from the slightly hostile gazes. Even Erhu's mother, though cursing Erhu, couldn't help but glance at him. Li Yue took a big bite of his steamed bun. "Xiao Qiqi, you seem to be wrong. You brought your new love to your old love's territory."
Xiao Qiqi smiled wryly, "That's right, I was only thinking about eating Feng's tripe, and I didn't think about your feelings." As she spoke, she couldn't help but laugh. "Erhu, pour me a glass of ice water." Then she said to Li Yue, "I'll use water instead of wine to apologize to you."
"Then why not get a bottle of wine? I remember how powerful you were back then. You got us all drunk and then climbed to the roof."
Erhu slammed down a glass of water. "Sis, water! Young Master said you can't drink ice water, or he'll beat me."
Xiao Qiqi touched it and found it was indeed a glass of lukewarm water. He was at a loss, shrugged, and said to Li Yue, "Here's a bottle of beer. I'm retiring from the underworld." Before Xiao Qiqi could finish speaking, Erhu turned around, grabbed a bottle of beer, and placed it in front of Li Yue, but there was only one glass.