Chapter 53

This barbecue is charcoal barbecue, but the seasoning is relatively light.

Jiang Bai has loved spicy food since she was a child, and she hasn't changed it even after coming to Beijing for almost three years, so Lan Shuqing saw her scoop a large spoonful of chili powder into her seasoning dish.

During the meal, Qiu Jinyue was the one talking, sometimes to Lan Shuqing, sometimes to Jiang Bai. She also asked about Jiang Bai's work in Jing City. She was surprised to hear that she was working on a project. After all, Jiang Bai looked pale and soft today, and did not look like the kind of person who worked on projects in Qiu Jinyue's impression.

But Qiu Jinyue didn't care, because one person has many sides.

Although there was no verbal communication, Lan Shuqing would occasionally pick up food for Jiang Bai, as she still remembered Jiang Bai's preferences.

The first time, Jiang Bai was flattered and looked at Lan Shuqing several times before happily eating the food Lan Shuqing picked for her.

The atmosphere at the barbecue table suddenly became relaxed and less awkward. Jiang Bai would also take the initiative to grill the meat and then share it with Lan Shuqing and Qiu Jinyue. In the second half, Jiang Bai was basically grilling, and his movements were particularly skilled.

The barbecue meal lasted for an hour and a half, and Qiu Jinyue felt a little full.

Originally Qiu Jinyue invited Lan Shuqing to have barbecue today, but Jiang Bai was also invited. Lan Shuqing paid the bill first, so this meal was considered her treat.

Qiu Jinyue also followed her, and the two of them didn't care about these things.

Jiang Bai knew that Lan Shuqing was taking care of her. Although he was angry, he was still taking care of her. Jiang Bai watched Lan Shuqing and Qiu Jinyue leave. She had no reason to follow them. She grabbed the straps of her small bag with both hands and watched Lan Shuqing's back quietly as he walked away.

The longing in my heart spreads.

She likes Lan Shuqing very much, but she doesn't want to be friends with Lan Shuqing, and there is no way to be friends with Lan Shuqing, because she can't help but do intimate actions and have intimate thoughts. If she continues, she can't help but poke a hole in the paper in front of her, and once it is punctured, there is no way to go back to the past.

So she chose to stay away, but couldn't help but get closer, just like now.

There is a beast called love living in Jiang Bai's body, and if it is not controlled, it will hurt people.

"Shu Qing, what's going on between you and Jiang Bai? Why do I feel like she's a little afraid of you?"

After walking a distance, Qiu Jinyue asked the question in her heart.

Lan Shu pursed his lips lightly, "She's not afraid of me."

After knowing that the woman was just good friends with Jiang Bai in high school and they had no contact anymore, Lan Shu breathed a sigh of relief, which meant that she had been wrong before.

But it doesn't matter, it's just a small episode.

But because of this, Lan Shuqing knew that Jiang Bai was just feeling guilty because of what happened before. He should have been braver, but every time he saw her, he was so cautious as if he was afraid of hurting her. Even so, could the past be easily forgotten?

There wasn't even an explanation. Although Lan Shuqing could vaguely sense Jiang Bai's intention, she couldn't be sure. If it was really as she guessed... Lan Shuqing felt very uncomfortable.

To Jiang Bai, he might not be a reliable person.

"Um?"

Qiu Jinyue looked as if she was ready to talk.

Lan Shu thought for a moment, "Jiang Bai and I met when we were in our third year of high school. We knew each other for about half a year before she unilaterally broke up with me."

"I only recently found out that she works in Jing City."

Qiu Jinyue blinked, "Why did she break up with you?"

Lan Shu pursed his lips lightly, his eyes dimming slightly, "Who knows..."

Jiang Bai, that idiot...

Qiu Jinyue laughed, "But someone actually wants to break up with you, Shu Qing, you're not such a popular person, hahahaha..."

Hearing this, Lan Shuqing thought about it seriously. After all, Jiang Bai was indeed the first person to break up with her. After all, everyone wanted to know Lan Shuqing before. Who made Lan Shuqing so outstanding and charming?

Qiu Jinyue laughed at her, but Lan Shuqing didn't get angry, "I didn't say I was a heartthrob."

Some people like it, some people don't, it's normal.

"That's right. I'm afraid the number of people who want to pursue you at Kyoto University is lined up all over the street, right?"

"Hasn't your childhood sweetheart and senior brother, Ye Ze, been pursuing you?"

Speaking of this, Qiu Jinyue became even more excited, and as Lan Shuqing's sister-in-law who would become her official wife in the future, she would also be concerned about Lan Shuqing's personal situation.

Lan Shu nodded slightly, "Well, I rejected him a long time ago."

"Rejected?"

Qiu Jinyue was a little surprised, "So you have someone you like?"

Lan Shu shook his head slightly, "Let's talk about it later."

She hasn't decided to like Jiang Bai.

Neither yes nor no. Qiu Jinyue glanced at her and sighed in her heart. Lan Qi said that Lan Shuqing was not so cold before, but after entering college, he seemed to have let go of something. He was serious, responsible and very good at things that interested him or in his studies, but he was rather indifferent when it came to ordinary interpersonal communication.

As a result, Lan Shuqing only has two or three familiar and close friends around him, and the rest are basically acquaintances or academic friends.

She will be a senior next semester. She has never been in a relationship and has never said that she likes anyone. She rejects everyone who comes to her. No one knows who will eventually marry Lan Shuqing, this flower on the mountain.

Jiang Bai returned to his rental house and threw himself on the bed, buried himself in the quilt, letting his thoughts run wild. Then his mind was filled with the three words "Lan Shuqing" and her as a person.

Slowly, a small water stain appeared on the quilt, just like Jiang Bai's heart, which was slowly submerged by the flood.

Even though it's painful, life must go on.

Jiang Bai and Lan Shuqing had no contact anymore.

So Lan Shuqing put Jiang Bai behind her mind. Since the other party had no intention of continuing the relationship, she stopped worrying about it and concentrated on preparing for her internship.

Jiang Bai's project is gradually getting on track and will be nearing completion in a few months.

Just before the project was ready for acceptance, Jiang Bai mustered up the courage to send a message to Lan Shuqing. She didn't know whether Lan Shuqing had blocked her or whether Lan Shuqing would agree, but at least, she still wanted to see Lan Shuqing again.

So, in the second month of school, while Lan Shuqing was taking his last course and doing his internship, he received a message from Jiang Baifa.

Pure white avatar: Lan Shuqing, can I treat you to a meal this week?

There was no red exclamation mark in the chat box, and Lan Shuqing had never blocked or deleted Jiang Bai's WeChat.

Lan Shuqing hesitated for a long time, and finally replied with a word "OK".

It took a long time, until the next day, when Jiang Bai received the reply, she felt a strange sense of relief. She quickly sent her location and time to Lan Shuqing: "See you at 6:30 pm on Saturday."

On Saturday, Jiang Bai went out early and waited for Lan Shuqing outside the restaurant. It had been a long time since he had eaten alone with Lan Shuqing. Jiang Bai didn't know if Lan Shuqing's taste had changed, so he specially chose a beef soup pot restaurant with good reviews.

It is autumn now. Autumn comes earlier in Beijing than in City A. Jiang Bai wears a thick sweatshirt with blue tight jeans and still carries her small shoulder bag.

Her long black hair just passed her shoulders and was casually scattered. She lowered her head, not knowing what she was looking at. Half of her pretty face was exposed, vaguely revealing her fair skin and well-defined chin.

Lan Shuqing saw it from afar, and it seemed as if they were back in the past, when the two of them would make an appointment to go out together, and most of the time it was Jiang Bai who was waiting for her.

Just like this time.

Lan Shuqing walked over slowly, and when he reached Jiang Bai, he looked up. The moment their eyes met, Jiang Bai was visibly panicked, and then he pretended to be calm, "Lan Shuqing, you're here..."

Lan Shu nodded dryly, "Yeah."

Jiang Bai stood up and looked at her, "Then let's go in."

Lan Shuqing nodded again.

Jiang Bai walked into the restaurant first and told the waiter at the door his reservation number. The waiter led the two to the reserved seat and waited for them to order.

The two sat facing each other. Lan Shuqing leaned back in her chair, her face expressionless. Jiang Bai smoothed her hair and handed her the menu. "Lan Shuqing, you order first."

After a moment of silence, Lan Shuqing took the menu and ordered a basic pot and a few side dishes according to his previous taste. Then he handed the menu back to Jiang Bai, who gave it directly to the waiter.

After the waiter left, Jiang Bai looked up at Lan Shuqing and mustered up the courage to speak his first words, "Lan Shuqing, are you a senior this year?"

Lan Shu nodded slightly, "Yeah."

"Have you started your internship yet?"

She remembered that there was an internship requirement in her senior year.

Lan Shuqing leaned back in his chair and said, "More than three months."

Jiang Bai's eyes widened. "So long?"

Lan Shu nodded slightly, "Well, the internship period at this company is half a year, so there are still more than two months left."

Jiang Bai remembered something, "So you didn't go back during the summer vacation?"

Lan Shu hummed softly. She looked at Jiang Bai and suddenly asked, "What about you? Have you returned to City A?"

Jiang Bai smoothed his hair and said, "The company was quite busy, so I didn't go back much."

Lan Shu frowned slightly, "What about your house?"

Jiang Bai replied, "It's already been rented out."

The rent is higher than her mortgage.

"Jiang Bai." Lan Shu called her softly.

Jiang Bai looked up at her, his fair and pretty face flushed slightly under the light, "Hmm?"

Lan Shuqing's eyes deepened slightly, "What on earth are you..."

Before he could finish his words, the waiter interrupted Lan Shuqing with a "The food is served". By the time the waiter put the food away and left, Lan Shuqing could no longer ask.

Jiang Bai was a little confused, "What's wrong?"

Lan Shu changed the subject lightly, "Why did you ask me out today? Is there something going on?"

Jiang Bai smoothed her hair again and didn't answer. Instead, she said, "Let's eat first." After that, she used the serving chopsticks to scoop a piece of meat from the already cooked soup pot and put it in Lan Shuqing's bowl.

Lan Shu glanced at Jiang Bai lightly, then looked at the meat in the bowl, and didn't agree. "Jiang Bai, you should speak first."

Since you have already decided to draw a line between you and her, why bother asking her out for dinner?

Jiang Bai's face paled. She put down her chopsticks, the pot gurgling. She looked up at Lan Shuqing, her heart tightening. She tried her best to keep her tone steady. "I want to apologize to you. I'm sorry for saying bad things to you before."

Lan Shuqing was still leaning back in his chair. His expression remained unchanged after hearing Jiang Bai's words. He simply asked casually, "And then?"

Then?

Jiang Bai was confused for a moment. She looked at Lan Shuqing, not knowing what he was talking about.

Lan Shuqing sneered in his heart, with a hint of mockery in his eyes, "Then you can pretend nothing happened and ignore me again, right?"

Jiang Bai's face turned pale again.