LHKE Ch28

“Excuse me, I’d like to ask something.” The young woman’s voice was like a gentle breeze, softly dispersing the heavy bass in the bar. “Yesterday, I had too much to drink at the bar and seemed to have left without paying…”

“And when I woke up, I found myself in a hotel. The receptionist at the front desk said two women brought me there last night, both wearing white shirts and black ties.”

She was still holding a note in her hand, pausing before continuing, “It looks a lot like your bar’s uniform.”

Just past nine o’clock, there were still very few people in the bar. Bai Xu was idly sitting at the bar chatting with Le An when she recognized Tang Yao.

Beautiful women always leave a strong impression.

“It was me and Sister Xiao Ke who took you to the hotel.” She took a sip of her lemon water, speaking slowly, “Sister Xiao Ke wrote the note, but you don’t need to thank us. If you want to thank someone, thank our boss.”

Tang Yao politely thanked her, then asked, “What exactly happened last night?”

If she had only been drunk, why would they leave her such a note…

“Did a man offer you a drink last night?” Bai Xu said, “He put sleeping pills in your drink. If our boss hadn’t come across it, who knows what might have happened to you.”

Tang Yao’s grip on the note tightened slowly. “I was drunk last night… I thought he was a waiter when he handed me the drink.”

Bai Xu looked at her and, seeing her unlucky encounter, softened her tone considerably. “Don’t worry, nothing happened last night. That scumbag who tried to take advantage of you was also sent to the police station by our boss.”

She added earnestly, “Be more careful next time in a place like a bar.”

“Is your boss here?” Tang Yao gave her a grateful smile. “I’d like to thank him in person, and also settle the hotel and last night’s bar tab…”

Thinking about Shen Li’s attitude toward Tang Yao last night, a mischievous smile flashed in Bai Xu’s eyes. “Miss, do you know our boss?”

Tang Yao was puzzled, “… Who is your boss?”

“Shen Li.”

Tang Yao didn’t recognize the name and shook her head.

Bai Xu sighed disappointedly and murmured under her breath, “I thought you might have been an old flame of our boss. He took such good care of you.”

Bai Xu spoke quietly, so Tang Yao didn’t catch her words, but Le An did.

He tapped Bai Xu on the head and frowned, “What nonsense are you spouting? Be careful, or the boss will dock your pay.”

After warning Bai Xu, he looked at Tang Yao and politely smiled, “Our boss hasn’t arrived yet. As for the tab and room expenses, the boss didn’t mention it, so I suppose it’s covered. We can pass on your thanks.”

Tang Yao thought for a moment and said, “Then I’ll wait here for a bit. I’d like to thank your boss in person.”

Bai Xu’s words had made her curious about the boss of “Gu Jiu,” and considering the favor she owed, she felt it was only right to thank him in person.

Le An nodded, “Feel free to sit. Would you like something to drink?”

Tang Yao glanced at the menu. Last night’s incident had left her apprehensive, so she flipped to the last page of drinks and snacks. “I’ll have a pear yogurt, please.”

As the night wore on, more and more people filled the bar. Amid the lively music and lights, Tang Yao sat quietly at the end of the bar, her head lowered as she looked at her phone.

Someone noticed her and came over with a drink to chat, but she simply shook her head, saying she wasn’t drinking. The sensible person didn’t persist.

Le An sent a message to Shen Li, saying the woman who got drunk last night had returned and wanted to thank him in person. Shen Li was driving, and as he got out of the car and took his phone out of his pocket, he was already at the bar’s entrance.

He felt a bit of a headache.

Lu Changting could come to pick up the invitation at any moment. If they happened to meet…

Stopping any further thoughts, he strode into the bar, heading straight for the counter.

The bar’s colorful lights switched to a warm hue just as he entered. The young man walked in briskly from the entrance, and when Tang Yao casually looked up, she met a pair of bright eyes that seemed like scattered stars. She couldn’t help but sigh in her heart.

What a handsome face.

His slender and handsome brows were like a freshly unsheathed dagger, exuding a cold aura. Yet, his eyes were gentle, appearing distant as if shrouded in mist from afar, but up close, they seemed to hold a galaxy of stars, clear and bright.

A very outstanding man, tall and upright, with a graceful bearing.

Tang Yao watched as he approached her, thinking, if he were here to flirt, who could refuse?

“Boss.” Le An saw Shen Li had arrived, his gaze landing on Tang Yao beside him. “Miss Tang has been waiting for you for a long time.”

Tang Yao waited for more than half an hour. During their small talk, she mentioned her name. Le An astutely noticed the complicated look in Shen Li’s eyes when he looked at Tang Yao, but it seemed that Tang Yao genuinely didn’t recognize Shen Li. This was a bit odd.

Shen Li responded with a simple “hmm,” indicating that he understood. He then suppressed the emotions in his eyes and spoke in a calm tone, “Miss Tang.”

Tang Yao finally realized that he was the owner of “Gu Jiu.” She was slightly surprised but then gracefully stood up, “Hello, Mr. Shen.”

Shen Li responded in a bland tone, “Hello.”

“I wanted to thank you in person for what happened last night,” she said, tucking her hair behind her ear and revealing a gentle smile. “Also, about last night’s drink and hotel bill, I feel quite embarrassed. How about I treat you to a meal another day as a thank you?”

“No need,” Shen Li immediately declined, his attitude distant. “If Miss Tang feels uncomfortable about it, you can settle the bill at the counter.”

Tang Yao hadn’t expected such a response. She was momentarily stunned but then smiled faintly, “Okay.”

She and Shen Li were originally just strangers who happened to cross paths, and Shen Li had merely helped her out of kindness. She wasn’t someone who couldn’t take a hint. She expressed her gratitude, and since he declined, she would try to repay the monetary debt and remember the personal favor to repay at a later opportunity.

She gave Shen Li a slight nod and went to the counter to settle the bill.

Shen Li felt a sense of relief and took the tea that Le An had brewed, taking a sip after the tea leaves had been skimmed off.

Sometimes, fate just likes to play tricks on people. Just as Tang Yao was about to finish settling her bill and leave, Lu Changting walked in from the entrance of the bar. The two of them happened to run into each other.

Shen Li’s heart, which hadn’t yet calmed, was once again in turmoil. His grip on the glass tightened suddenly, and it felt as if the thorn in his heart had been forcefully pulled out and then stabbed back in, causing a wave of dizziness.

His first love from his youth, meeting again after many years, both were stunned in place.

Tang Yao looked even more beautiful now. Her hair had grown longer, she had pierced her ears, her makeup was exquisite, and she wore a long white dress, delicate and charming like a fresh flower in the summer.

Lu Changting had also matured, his youthful flamboyance and carelessness restrained, like a sheathed sword, becoming distant and cold. He wore a frosty white shirt, casually unbuttoned at the collar, and was as handsome and elegant as he was back then. His eyes were the same, shimmering like the sea, deep and carrying the chill of the ocean.

They stood a few steps apart, sizing each other up, then smiled indifferently.

“Long time no see.” Tang Yao slowly took two steps forward, maintaining a very polite speaking distance.

Lu Changting snapped out of the unexpected encounter and instinctively looked inside, searching for Shen Li’s figure.

Shen Li instinctively lowered his head, avoiding Lu Changting’s gaze.

In that instant, he suddenly felt as if he was back in high school, hiding in the shadows like a shadow himself. This was a situation he was all too familiar with, tinged with indescribable bitterness and heartache.

Lu Changting withdrew his gaze and nodded politely at Tang Yao, “Long time no see.”

Tang Yao smiled, “When did you get back?”

“It’s been a while.”

After he spoke, an awkward silence ensued.

Tang Yao thought that since they ran into each other at the bar, Lu Changting might invite her for a drink, and they could catch up. But then she thought, she and Lu Changting probably didn’t have much to catch up on. After so many years, the feelings from their youth had long since faded, what was there to catch up on?

She also thought that Lu Changting might be meeting other friends.

A flurry of thoughts crossed her mind as she looked at Lu Changting, momentarily lost in thought.

“Do you want to exchange contact information?”

Lu Changting nodded slightly, apologetically, “Let’s not. I’m afraid my partner might get jealous.”

Tang Yao raised her eyebrows, slightly surprised, “You’re in a relationship.”

But it wasn’t too surprising. After all, Lu Changting was outstanding and had never lacked admirers.

Lu Changting glanced in Shen Li’s direction and smiled lightly, “I haven’t won them over yet, but thanks for the well wishes.”

This statement surprised Tang Yao even more. She hadn’t expected Lu Changting to pursue someone, and even more so, to not have succeeded yet.

“I never thought there’d be a day when you’d be the one doing the pursuing.” Her curiosity and schadenfreude outweighed the awkwardness of his rejection. She joked, “Need any advice? I’ve got plenty of experience in wooing people.”

“Thank you,” Lu Changting declined again, “but no need.”

“Rejected me twice in one night.” Tang Yao felt relieved, and her tone naturally relaxed, “Lu Changting, you’re becoming more and more ungentlemanly.”

Lu Changting couldn’t help but glance at Shen Li again.

His sweetheart was sitting quietly, head down, under the dim lights. He couldn’t tell if Shen Li was pretending not to see him or genuinely didn’t notice him.

Tang Yao noticed his distraction and sighed dramatically, “Forget it.”

She said, “I’m leaving. See you if fate allows.”