Lady

"Um."

Sheng Qijing lowered his head, held the phone close to his ear, and answered the call while still sitting there. After speaking, he even lifted his eyelids, his gaze seemingly unintentionally directed at him.

Bian Jiaping sensed something was wrong.

"Are you busy tonight?" Ju Hui asked indifferently, her tone revealing neither joy nor sorrow. "I have something I want to ask you. Last time you said you could keep me company... as my companion for drinks."

“Okay.” Sheng Qijing said lazily, “I’m not in a hurry, I’ll come pick you up.”

"No need, just give me an address. I'm at the subway station." Ju Hui coughed lightly, her voice growing softer and softer, "I don't want to go home tonight."

“Okay,” Sheng Qijing said.

The train doors beeped open, and Ju Hui's arm, which was holding her phone, was bumped away by someone exiting the station. Her expression darkened further. Sheng Qijing's tone sounded so official, as if she were the only one calculating the days.

Ju Hui's period had just ended, and the two hadn't seen each other for over a week.

"Then I'll hang up."

Just as Ju Hui placed her finger on the red key that had been hung up, Sheng Qijing called her again.

"Ju Hui".

"Don't rush, drive slowly."

He kept telling her to hurry back and drive carefully, but Ju Hui didn't want to listen to him. As soon as Sheng Qijing sent her the location, she used the navigation app to find it. The club was called "Vin et Vie," and it was just a few stops away in Liangmaqiao.

She glanced at the indicator light above her head; she needed to get off at the next stop to transfer lines.

Just as she got off the train at the station, Bian Jiaping called, but Ju Hui wasn't in the mood to answer and hung up immediately.

He sent another message: 【Where are you?】

Ju Hui: [At school, what's wrong?]

Bian Jiaping: [When are you going home? It's already very late.]

Ju Hui didn't go back. She took the escalator downstairs and followed the crowd into the carriage. She held her phone tightly, worried that she would be covered in the unpleasant smell of the subway later. She also felt a little bad for the male model Sheng Qijing when he came close to her.

When she arrived at the store, she planned to take off her coat.

There was no response from Ju Hui over there, while Sheng Qijing was issuing an order to leave, and he had already arranged for a designated driver for him.

It must be said that the wine merchant's son is very good at persuading people to drink; he can get everyone, whether they want to drink or not, whether they can drink or not, to take a sip.

Before leaving, Bian Jiaping sent Ju Hui his last message.

Ju Hui was focused on the navigation arrow and didn't notice the message. A familiar Bentley drove away behind her. When she looked up, she bumped into Sheng Qijing, who was about to come out to pick her up.

Their eyes met.

“You’re dressed very formally,” Ju Hui said abruptly, scanning him up and down.

"Otherwise what?" Sheng Qijing slowly raised his hand to the door frame, his collarbone faintly visible. "I'm not just some random person who drinks with others."

The next second he grabbed her wrist, pulled her closer, and led her inside.

Ju Hui's ideal "male model bar" would be a place where you're immediately bombarded with blasting electronic music that seems designed to shatter your eardrums, and all the handsome men and beautiful women on the dance floor would smell equally alluring. Once you've really had your fill of fun, they'd invite you to a booth for drinks...

But in fact, the club marked as a "French restaurant" on the navigation is actually frequented by people.

Today, the club is open to the public. Guests are seated in twos and threes behind the red brick partitions. The circular bar is surrounded by a cast iron carved railing, and behind it is a whole wall of wine glasses of different sizes.

The surroundings were quiet and not crowded, so he didn't need to pull her.

But Sheng Qijing even pulled her into his arms, ordered a few special drinks from the bartender, and then took her upstairs.

Along the way, Sheng Qijing acted like a madam among courtesans, stopping to chat with familiar customers. This newcomer to the establishment couldn't handle it and could only hide her face in his arms without saying a word.

Sheng Qijing took it as a joke, which she really disliked.

After several turns, Ju Hui finally found a secluded private room where Sheng Qijing could see the wall of wine glasses downstairs.

Ju Hui pinched him hard and sat down by the window.

The indoor stereo was playing blues music at a moderate volume that was just right to block out human voices. Most of the guests downstairs were dressed formally, and some even had laptops on the corner of their tables, ready to work at any time. Only a few, like Ju Hui, were relaxed.

"Miss, would you like an ironing service?" The waiter in a suit placed the special drink and asked Ju Hui in a low voice.

"Oh, thank you."

Sheng Qijing sat across the table, watching as Ju Hui, suddenly becoming ladylike, folded her coat and handed it to him, a slight smile playing on her lips.

Ju Hui ignored him, picked up the dark blue glass and took a big gulp, only to be suddenly punched by the alcohol.

"Cough cough!"

"Drink slowly."

Sheng Qijing stood up and wiped the wine stains from her lips with his fingertips. The natural movement caused two buttons on his shirt to pop open.

Ju Hui's body temperature, which had just dropped, rose again as he gently exposed his chest. She stared in shock at Sheng Qijing's generosity, her lips slightly itchy.

Ju Hui: "What kind of clients do you usually meet?"

Sheng Qijing: "Is this the matter you came all the way here to ask me?"

Ju Hui remained noncommittal, so he shrugged, withdrew his hand, and replied: "Important client."

She held the wine and watched him button his shirt, and the pressure on the sofa seemed to dissipate considerably.

When Ju Hui left the sculpture workshop that evening, she didn't know where to go. She didn't want to stay at school or go back to the upscale neighborhood. The first thing she thought of when she opened her phone was to talk to Sheng Qijing, not Bian Jiaping.

Tonight is a 404 error for their relationship, which exists only in the loft; it cannot be found, cannot be spoken. Therefore, anything she says after tonight will also be destroyed by the program.

“I had a question I wanted to ask you, but it seems I don’t need to now.” Ju Hui lowered her eyes. “Thank you for reporting that post for me.”

She gripped the ice cup tightly, and Ju Hui noticed out of the corner of her eye that he showed no reaction, remaining calm and composed.

It wasn't him?

No, she couldn't be wrong.

"Looks like you're really drunk, and you even know to thank me." Sheng Qijing took the half-empty wine glass from her hand and put it aside.

“So,” Ju Hui’s gaze was intense, Sheng Qijing changed the subject, “do you need me to tell you who posted this and help you clear your name?”

"No need." Ju Hui shook her head. "Posting doesn't necessarily mean reporting, and besides, those who report aren't wrong. I'm quite wealthy now."

Sheng Qijing sneered, feeling deeply mocked by her.

“Really, I’ve never been poor. My parents died in an earthquake when I was five. My aunt said they died because they abandoned me and ran away to another province, but I remember they were good to me.”

Ju Hui casually recounted the first half of her life, which was as short as a loading ad: "Later, my aunt's family of four took care of me, and Sister Zeng Yue sponsored me, so I didn't have a hard life."

Ju Hui treated this matter as a very ordinary everyday chatter. In fact, for Sheng Qijing in this vast world, it was indeed a small matter. But now that there was no mirror, Sheng Qijing only nodded. She was not sure if her expression was as calm as her tone.

Sure enough, the next second...

Ju Hui's throat was coated with a layer of tobacco oil, which made her heart feel blocked and very uncomfortable.

"Hmm, you do sound very wealthy." Sheng Qijing's voice was like blue velvet floating in the air. "Few people can be content and satisfied with their lives."

He nodded, acknowledging her solemn statement: "Then I apologize for my vulgar and one-sided way of defining you as a rich person by money, and congratulate you on having a good first half of your life."

Sheng Qijing picked up his wine glass and clinked it against the one next to hers, the sound as clear as a wind chime.

Sheng Qijing can wear the right mask for different occasions and people. Tonight, he is as gentle as spring rain, and he can resolve her worries with just a few words. He is light and powerful.

Ju Hui smiled, and the conversation should have ended there.

"But memories can be deceiving sometimes. Whether something is considered bitter or not is not something you can judge now. Aren't you also at a loss when you encounter these things?"

Sheng Qijing's eyes were gentle, like a deep lake that had accumulated the essence of an entire spring.

"How are you doing now? Have you been sad because of these things? If not, I will definitely open a bottle of champagne that just arrived to celebrate for you."

"Can I use those cups downstairs to drink?" Ju Hui pointed to the gleaming wall.

He proudly said, "Of course, I'll give you the top one."

Ju Hui smiled broadly, and the red wine perfume in the store began to have a sweet aftertaste. The bitter and sour taste of the grapevines was replaced by the sweetness accumulated day and night, and a slight intoxication gradually came over her.

She rested her chin on her hand and thought, "Life is so miserable right now!"

"It's okay." Sheng Qijing raised his hand and ruffled her hair, tucking a strand behind her ear. "It'll be better soon."

"Knock knock—"

There was a knock on the door. Sheng Qijing withdrew his hand, his eyes becoming much sharper. The bartender in black, who had just ordered drinks downstairs, came in and whispered a few words to Sheng Qijing.

Ju Hui blinked, boredly opened her phone and casually scanned a message. She had just discovered that Bian Jiaping had sent her a message an hour ago.

[We'll be doing a video room check tonight.]

As Ju Hui held her phone, pondering how to pretend she hadn't seen the message, Sheng Qijing stood up, his smile less pronounced than before: "I'm going to get the wine, I'll be right back."

Ju Hui hummed in agreement, watching his figure disappear from sight.

Her finger hovered over the input box; she was too tired to make a video call tonight, and her phone had died...

Ju Hui typed and edited for a long time by herself, when suddenly a green bubble appeared on Bian Jiaping's end—

Have you thought of an excuse yet?

Get home right now!

Ju Hui gasped. The sour taste of the mint ice made her back teeth ache, and she inadvertently turned her head to glance out the window.

Beneath the wall of ornate wine glasses, Sheng Qijing and the bartender reappeared, their tall figures and long legs creating a harmonious and familiar scene. Her place, however, was now occupied by a woman in a grey-collared polo shirt with a fawning face.

It's counselor Ma Wen.

That cynical face now smiled sardonicly at Sheng Qijing, and after saying only a few words, he pulled his student to sit at an empty table next to him.

Ju Hui stared at it for another half minute.

Her eyelashes trembled as a cold wind blew from who-knows-where, and she rubbed the hairs standing on end on her arms.

The two found themselves getting along very well as they talked.

Sheng Qijing opened the contract that Ma Wen handed him: "Signed."

Marvin smiled and said, "I'm giving it to you in advance to show my sincerity. I'll resign from the school as soon as the contract expires next summer, and then we can write the date."

Sheng Qijing's eyes, however, concealed a layer of annoyance; he clearly disliked his premature interruption. He was currently a full-time faculty member at a university, and even if he signed those two thin pieces of paper, they would have no legal effect whatsoever.

Seeing that Sheng Qijing was staring at his name, Ma Wen awkwardly explained again, "I just suddenly realized that life is only about 30,000 days long, so why not be brave for yourself once!"

“You’re right.” Sheng Qijing smiled naturally. “I hope the gallery can still gain the teacher’s appreciation at that time.”

After Ma Wen left, Sheng Qijing handed the contract to the bartender and arranged for him to book the entire venue for the next three months, as Ma Wen would be a frequent visitor.

The bartender took the item, feeling somewhat puzzled but saying nothing, and watched Sheng Qijing's retreating figure as he went upstairs.

Without Ju Hui, the unfamiliar guests along the way became annoying. Sheng Qijing dodged them without getting angry. As he stepped into the last corner, he saw the waiter coming out of their private room in the distance.

Sheng Qijing quickened his pace; Ma Wen had delayed him for too long.

As he approached, the waiter, who was about to leave, stopped upon hearing the sound, glanced at Sheng Qijing, looked at the empty room, and then at him.

The waiter smiled and asked, "Mr. Sheng, did that young lady forget something?"