For some reason, at that moment, Fang Qingyi felt like her heart had been struck by something.
In the many years that followed, she often recalled that scene. The stars were dense that night, the sky like a curtain, and she probably felt a long-lost, peaceful happiness from him.
That’s why she couldn’t let go, couldn’t forget.
“Sometimes feeling happy, sometimes unhappy. Wanting to stay away, yet unable to resist drawing close.”
Fang Qingyi held back tears and toasted herself another glass, her throat burning as she downed it.
“Only when I’m by Fu Changpei’s side am I completely happy.”
“My wholehearted love for him, and the longing for him to love me back, replaced all the pain.”
Tao Shuran also raised her glass and gently clinked it against hers in mid-air.
“Love is like that.”
She was moved by the story, tears welling up in her eyes as she sighed, “Here’s to great love.”
Fang Qingyi stood up and raised her glass enthusiastically.
“To great love!”
She stood up too abruptly, lost her balance, her skirt blooming like a flower in the air as she tilted over.
At that moment, a lean arm caught her waist.
After steadying her, Jin Boyu held his hands up loosely, leaning his body slightly back, as if afraid she would fall into his arms.
At the same time, he hooked the corner of his lips and turned his head to look at Tao Shuran sitting opposite.
“Stop hiding. If you hide any more, your head’s gonna fall into the wine glass.”
Jin Boyu lowered his head and deliberately leaned in close to look at her. “Let me see which little kid doing bad things got caught by me.”
His voice held a laugh. “Junior Sister, you’re actually at a place like this.”
Tao Shuran lowered her head even more.
Fang Qingyi squinted her eyes, everything looking blurry. Her head was still fuzzy when she suddenly heard those words and immediately retorted loudly.
“What’s wrong with this kind of place? Mind your own business! If you’re not handsome, don’t butt in.”
She whipped her head around angrily, ready to confront him. But the moment she laid eyes on Jin Boyu, she blurted out,
“You really are handsome.”
Jin Boyu was stunned for a moment, then chuckled as he looked down.
“Your friend is pretty interesting.”
Tao Shuran hurriedly pulled Fang Qingyi to sit down and explained softly, “She’s not in a good mood tonight and had a bit too much to drink.”
Jin Boyu nodded in understanding and handed her the car keys.
“You girls have fun.”
“I’ll take you home later.”
“No need—” Tao Shuran quickly stood up. “I’ll just call a ride later.”
“It’s late at night. It’s inconvenient for two girls.”
Jin Boyu curved his lips. “I’m going that way anyway.”
He turned and left, giving her a cool wave. The loose Western suit looked exceptionally stylish on him.
Tao Shuran recalled the first glimpse of Jin Boyu in the bar earlier. He had worn a dark brown shirt with a burgundy tie, a pair of gold-framed glasses perched on his sharp-featured face. The shirt clung to his well-defined muscles, giving him a very model-like vibe.
No wonder Gu Songnian often said he had the air of a mature, suave bad boy—not like a student at all.
Tao Shuran understood it now.
She turned to check on Fang Qingyi, only to see the girl’s previously heavy-lidded eyes suddenly wide open, the glowing screen lighting up her excited gaze.
Her fingers with the long nail extensions clacked away on the screen as Fang Qingyi excitedly shared the encounter with the girls in the group chat.
She looked up with a pout. “Tao Shuran, you’re too mean! You never told me your senior brother was so handsome!”
“Handsome?” Tao Shuran tilted her head. “The girls in the department all think he’s too mature and doesn’t talk much.”
“No taste. You all don’t get the charm of an older guy.”
Fang Qingyi smacked her lips, a bit regretful she hadn’t snapped a photo.
While she was reminiscing, Tao Shuran slowly raised her phone and dangled it in front of her.
“But it looks like you sent it to the wrong group. You posted it in the small group with Zhao Zhengnian.”
Fang Qingyi let out a shriek and frantically tapped the recall button.
But it was too late. With his 5G speed, Zhao Zhengnian had already popped up with two emojis, his tone sleazy.
Zhao Zhengnian: “Wow, long time no see. Tao Meimei looks even prettier.”
Zhao Zhengnian: “Who’s that with the explosive hair? Don’t recognize her.”
Zhao Zhengnian: “What handsome guy? What good men are there in a bar.”
Fang Qingyi: “Go die. Don’t insult my new crush.”
Zhao Zhengnian: “Whoa, you like this type?”
Five minutes later, Zhao Zhengnian sent a suit link.
“Family, how do I look in this one? There’s a press conference in a couple days. Gotta look mature (salute.jpg)”
Ten minutes passed with no replies.
Eventually, Tao Shuran responded: “Fang Qingyi’s drunk and passed out. She’ll check the clothes when she wakes up tomorrow morning.”
Zhao Zhengnian immediately followed up: “How are you getting back?”
“My senior brother will take us later.”
“A guy?”
Tao Shuran’s fingers paused on the screen. What else would a senior brother be, a girl?
In those two seconds of hesitation, a new message from Zhao Zhengnian popped up.
“Old Fu, aren’t you near the school today? Go pick them up. Two girls aren’t safe @fu”
“No need to trouble your senior brother. Just have Fu Changpei take them @Banyue Xing”
Seeing this message, Tao Shuran hesitated.
She struggled to help Fang Qingyi to her feet and went to the bar counter to settle the bill. Then she leaned over and asked softly, “Little Yi, do you want to see Fu Changpei?”
Fang Qingyi’s eyelids were too heavy to keep open, but the name Fu Changpei jolted her awake.
She blinked in confusion and asked instinctively, “Where’s Fu Changpei?”
Hearing this, Tao Shuran had her answer.
She slowly typed back in the group: “Okay, then we’ll trouble you.”
Before heading out, Tao Shuran handed the car keys to the bar staff for safekeeping. After sending Jin Boyu a message, she led Fang Qingyi to a bench nearby to wait.
At this hour, cars were parked everywhere outside the bar.
Fu Changpei really was close by. Less than ten minutes later, his car pulled up to the curb. He turned on the hazard lights, and the lowered passenger window revealed a warm, gentle face.
He smiled faintly, and in that smile, Tao Shuran somehow read a hint of apology.
He was apologizing for his abrupt confession to her a few days ago.
Tao Shuran sighed softly. She wanted to tell him it was nothing, but now wasn’t the right time.
Before getting in, she hesitated, then opened the passenger door and helped Fang Qingyi inside.
After buckling her seatbelt, Tao Shuran sat prim and proper in the back seat.
Through the passenger side, Fu Changpei looked at her.
He said, “I thought you’d avoid me lately.”
“I thought about it. I shouldn’t have said those things to you that day. It was wrong to impose my feelings on your emotions.”
Tao Shuran couldn’t help sighing again.
At this moment, she sincerely sighed over Fu Changpei’s flawless character. He was too good—good to the point that even expressing his own emotions felt like a burden on others.
She finally couldn’t hold back and spoke up. “It’s nothing, Fu Changpei.”
“Maybe at some point I got close to your heart, but that doesn’t mean it’s forever, right?”
Fu Changpei was stunned, as if awakened by her words.
He wanted to turn back for a look, but in his peripheral vision, he caught Fang Qingyi’s innocent, serene sleeping face with her head tilted. She had cried and fussed so much lately that he’d forgotten her original bright and lively self.
She was a naive, happy little girl. Her life shouldn’t have any sorrow.
At least, not because of him.
With that thought, Fu Changpei lowered his gaze.
At the same time, Tao Shuran gazed at him gently with her perceptive eyes and said—
“I’ve always believed you’ll find your own happiness too.”
The car drove steadily along the asphalt road. On the way, Tao Shuran received a text from Zhao Yanyun saying she had a social engagement tonight and wouldn’t be back. She was to lock up by herself.
She replied with an “mm-hmm,” acknowledging it.
On the road, Fu Changpei asked, “Drop her off home first?”
“Just take her to my place. I’ll look after her tonight.”
The car couldn’t enter the alley, so they parked nearby on the roadside. When they got out, Fang Qingyi woke up. The wind made her chilly, so she grabbed a jacket still on the passenger seat and threw it on.
She mumbled, “This isn’t my home.”
“This is my place. You’re sleeping with me tonight.” Tao Shuran glanced at Fu Changpei, saw no reaction, and zipped up the jacket for Fang Qingyi.
She cautioned her, “Walk slowly. Don’t trip.”
Fang Qingyi was still thrilled over meeting Jin Boyu earlier. She wasn’t into much else—just face-con, naturally drawn to good-looking people.
She sighed, “God, how did I not notice how handsome he was back in North City?”
Tao Shuran replied casually, “Probably because he stays indoors most of the time and usually wears a mask.”
“If I’d known you had such a handsome senior brother, I would’ve made a move first.”
Her tone was full of regret. “Now it’s too late. You’re about to graduate. I wouldn’t even have a chance to try.”
On the outer side of the sidewalk, electric bikes streamed by nonstop.
The narrow road barely allowed two people abreast, and with Fang Qingyi bouncing along in an S-shaped wobble, she veered toward the road edge several times, heart-stoppingly close to the line.
“Fang Qingyi, you’re so noisy.”
Finally, Fu Changpei couldn’t take it anymore and spoke up. He positioned himself on the roadside, his downcast eyes on her face, his voice carrying rare irritation.
Tao Shuran was taken aback, then raised her brow with interest.
She glanced back from afar and saw the uneven road. Somehow, Fu Changpei and Fang Qingyi were walking side by side.
His arms were slightly raised, firmly shielding her on the inner side. His usually calm face showed displeasure for the first time.
Seeing this, Tao Shuran deliberately quickened her pace, leaving the two behind alone.
She jingled her keys. “I’ll go upstairs first to check if my parents are home. My place is right across from yours. Just bring her over later.”
As Tao Shuran walked ahead, she could still hear faint arguing from behind.
Fang Qingyi yelled at Fu Changpei with great temper, “I don’t need you bossing me around.”
“You don’t like me, so you won’t let me like others?”
“Fu Changpei, I’m telling you—from today on, I don’t like you anymore! I’m going to like someone else!”
Hearing this, Tao Shuran couldn’t help looking back.
She accidentally caught a shocking scene—
In the desolate night breeze, Fu Changpei seemed to reach his limit. He raised his hand to cover Fang Qingyi’s nonstop mouth.
Then he lowered his head, lifted her chin, and kissed her deeply.
Was this still the deep, reserved Fu Changpei?
Tao Shuran stared in shock, eyes wide, frozen without expression.
“Peeking on other people kissing is no fun.”
Under the massive parasol tree in the courtyard, Liang Yuanjing stood with one hand in his pocket, tone casual.
He leaned in close, fingers lightly gripping her shoulder. His warm breath brushed her ear, laced with a low, husky temptation—
“Want to try it with me?”