Chapter 83 Reluctant to Part

"......"

“Brother, you… okay, as long as you know what’s going on,” Lin Baiyue sat cross-legged on the floor. He was under a lot of pressure lately and couldn’t find anyone to talk to. Only Cheng Jia could listen to him for a bit. “It seems like my album will be released at the end of August. The team that President Shi found is very efficient, and I’m the only artist they’ve signed.”

All production staff were solely responsible for Lin Baiyue.

The album's performance was both fast and excellent.

Cheng Jia said casually, "That's great, you can make your dream come true."

It's clear that Lin Baiyue really wants to release an album and return to the entertainment industry.

His face betrayed his eagerness for quick success and instant benefits.

He should have been a pure and innocent boy.

She's not even 23 years old yet.

“A dream,” Lin Baiyue said, bowing his head deeply, his guitar resting on his feet, as he reached out to stroke the outline of the cloth bag. “Yes, it’s a dream, and it will soon come true. Thank you, President Shi. No, the person I should thank the most is you.”

If I hadn't met Cheng Jia.

It's very difficult for him to successfully secure sponsorships without paying a price.

Meeting Cheng Jia was an incredibly lucky thing.

Lin Baiyue sniffed: "I'm so anxious, brother, I'm afraid I won't do well."

He forced a smile at Cheng Jia.

Actually, I'm completely exhausted.

I'm so tired.

"......"

Cheng Jia lit a cigarette, feeling just as lost and anxious as Lin Baiyue, filled with uncertainty about the future: "What's there to be anxious about? If you're so determined, just do it. You have plenty of opportunities to try and fail."

It doesn't resemble cancer.

If it can't be cured, it's gone.

"No, just one chance!" Lin Baiyue gripped the guitar strap tightly, her voice trembling. "I only have one chance, Brother Jia, I don't have a second chance..."

So eager to become famous?

Cheng Jia looked at the floor through the floating smoke.

The young singer, still quite young, sat there cross-legged.

Uninterested in studying Lin Baiyue's future, Cheng Jia faced a problem concerning her life.

In the face of life, fame and fortune are all fleeting.

Cheng Jia was a little tired: "No, I need to catch up on my sleep. You should go back to your room and sleep too. President Shi won't be staying here, so you can stay without worry."

"...I," Lin Baiyue still had something to say. He looked at Cheng Jia with red eyes, but saw a hint of irritation in Cheng Jia's eyes. He slowly stood up. "Brother, you are a good person."

Cheng Jia is a very kind person.

Knowing he was spying on him, I don't blame him.

Cheng Jia is a good person.

"......"

"......"

They inexplicably gave me the "good guy" card.

Cheng Jia didn't pay attention and took the ointment to the bathroom.

I went back and lay down on the bed to catch up on sleep.

I sent a WeChat message to Shi Qingci before going to sleep.

She was afraid that Shi Qingci would come looking for him.

Cheng Jia: [I'm going to sleep for a while. Lin Baiyue is back, so don't come.]

Shi Qingci: [Medicine?]

Cheng Jia: [Used (smiles)]

Shi Qingci: [Call me when you wake up]

Cheng Jia: [Oh]

Shi Qingci: [My heart is beating so fast, I can't sleep]

Cheng Jia: [I'm exhausted from staying up all night, go to sleep.]

"......"

What a boring straight man.

Shi Qingci meant that she was too excited to sleep.

But Cheng Jia didn't give him a chance to be affectionate.

Okay, time to sleep.

We'll settle the score when we wake up.

*

Cell phone, two people.

The phone rang not long after I woke up.

"What time is it?" Cheng Jia was scrolling through Tieba (a Chinese online forum) while lying on the bed. She had been lying on the bed all day. The sound of keyboards clicking could be heard from the other end of the phone. Shi Qingci was working.

Shi Qingci looked at the bottom right corner of the computer screen, her voice calm and composed: "It's 9:30, time for dinner."

"Oh, let's order takeout." Cheng Jia propped herself up in bed.

Shi Qingci asked in confusion, "Why are we ordering takeout? Where is Lin Baiyue?"

“I didn’t let him cook because I got a call urging him to go to the studio to practice dancing,” Cheng Jia didn’t point out that he knew about the private deal between the two, there was no need to. “Have you eaten, Mr. Shi?”

"......"

Shi Qingci moved the mouse to the power button.

After thinking about it, I decided to ask Cheng Jia first.

"Can I bring you food? You're so pitiful."

"That's enough," Cheng Jia said, unable to stand the cloying sweetness, her lips curving into a smile. "Isn't what you're delivering just restaurant takeout? What's the difference between it and delivery?"

The only difference is that Mr. Shi didn't earn any delivery fees.

Since last night, Shi Qingci has been very affectionate, speaking to Cheng Jia with extreme gentleness, her tone completely different from before.

Like a satisfied lion, in a very good mood.

Shi Qingci clicked her tongue and picked up her phone: "I want to see you."

I want to see what Cheng Jia looks like.

I really want to.

“...I’m checking my food delivery, you go about your business,” Cheng Jia said. “Why don’t we just hang up?”

Shi Qingci hung up the phone immediately.

Cheng Jia: "?"

What does this mean?

I understood quickly, and a video call came in less than three seconds.

"Let me take a look from a distance." Shi Qingci sat on the island counter of the villa in the western suburbs, wearing a simple black shirt and no watch, surrounded by bright light.

His usually cold and fair face now showed signs of worry in his eyes.

It's about missing that light blue half-shoulder on the other side of the screen.

Cheng Jia shifted in bed: "Where are you looking?"

“...face.” Shi Qingci raised her hand and scratched her forehead, unable to resist asking, “Where else can I look?” Her tone was somewhat ambiguous.

The video footage suddenly spun around.

The lamp cast a warm glow. The slender, languid young man leaned against the headboard, pulled his light blue pajamas tighter, and tilted his head toward the camera: "See? I'm going to order takeout."

"No, I'll order for you, you don't need to order yourself." Shi Qingci held her phone closer, her fingertips scrolling through suitable restaurants near Cheng Jia.

“Give me a chance to prove myself, Cheng Jia.”

I've never pursued anyone before; I'm learning.

"......"

Cheng Jia silently moved her phone away.

It was hard to suppress the faint smile that crept into his eyes.

Although they never formally confessed their feelings to each other.

They never mentioned what their current relationship is.

But it feels different from five years ago.

For example, Cheng Jia was already very happy even before the talks started.

While he was choosing his food, he quietly stared at his phone screen. You could see his black shirt collar, prominent Adam's apple, well-defined jawline, and porcelain lips.

This person is carefully selecting dishes for him.

Shi Qingci, Cheng Jia pondered, his personality had changed a lot in the five years since they last met.

He is more mature and composed, and talks more than before.

Face and figure...

“You were very quiet when we were in school, you hardly ever spoke. I had to guess your preferences, so I often stared at you to observe your likes and dislikes.” Cheng Jia leaned against the headboard, the bedroom was very quiet.

The thought that he wouldn't live much longer made his heart ache.

My mind is full of memories, and in those memories, apart from my parents, there is only Shi Qingci.

What should I do? I can't bear to part with it.

Cheng Jia was very reluctant to part with him.

After selecting her dishes and paying, Shi Qingci zoomed in on the small window to look at Cheng Jia's face: "I know."

He knew that Cheng Jia often secretly watched him back then.

He thought Cheng Jia liked him, but he didn't expect it to be a scheme.

"So, when did you start liking me?" Shi Qingci took a sip of water, her eyes fixed on the screen.

Both of them cherished their time chatting.

Cheng Jia thought for a few seconds and shook her head: "...I don't know, I can't remember. I only remember that the night I left Xining, I didn't dare to use my own ID card and went to the station to get a ticket from a scalper. The platform was very empty and it was especially cold."

It snowed at the train station that night.

The platform tunnel was dark and empty, with hardly any passengers.

Cheng Jia was shivering from the cold, holding the instant soy milk. She kept turning her head to look at the ticket gate, worried that Shi Qingci would bring people after them, but also conflicted, wanting to see him come after them.

He eventually boarded the train without incident.

Without checking the destination, the train journey took six days and seven nights.

The final stop is a vast green grassland.

A black backpack lay discarded at his feet. Cheng Jia sat blankly on the grass, gazing at the cattle and sheep in the distance. His fingertips stung from the grass roots, and his heart suddenly skipped a beat.

Realizing...

It seems he'll never see Shi Qingci again in his lifetime.

For a moment, I even doubted whether my two years of university experience were a dream.

Fortunately, I found a circle in my pocket.

That day, Cheng Jia looked out from the ring and saw blue sky and white clouds over the grassland. Under the clouds, a silver-carved dove looked lifelike, as if it were flying in the sky.

If you can't take someone with you, take the ring instead.

Even if it's a one-sided, grand elopement.

This elopement lasted for five years.

Until they met again.

"......"

"Cheng Jia?" Shi Qingci called into her phone.

The bedroom lamp is too dim.

Shi Qingci wasn't sure if Cheng Jia's eyes were red or if he had misread it.

He had never seen Cheng Jia cry.

This is the first time.

The moment he shouted, Cheng Jia hung up the video call.

"...What's going on?" Cheng Jia muttered, leaning forward to grab a few tissues and covering his eyes with them. He held the position for a long, long time, his breathing hot and rapid.

I've become very prone to tears lately.

Is it fear of death, or reluctance to part with it?

Shi Qingci treated him even better.

He was more afraid of dying.

I'm so scared.