Chapter 73
After Chen Zhiyi registered Lin Ting's fingerprint on the lock, he took her to a restaurant.
It's not far, just near the villa, a 15-minute drive away, to a bar called "Little Ears".
Lin Ting had noticed this bar before. It had emerged two years ago and already had several branches in Jinshi. It liked to open near university towns and adopted the concept of an "academic bar." Every day, different academic experts would come to share their knowledge on a wide variety of topics, including Chinese history, astrophysics, probability, legal aid, and more. The main focus was knowledge sharing, which made it very popular among students. It turned out that going to a bar wasn't just about letting loose; it was also a way to learn new knowledge and meet outstanding people.
As I walked to the door, a boy came out from inside; he looked somewhat familiar.
Lin Ting wasn't quite sure, so she cautiously called out the name, "Du Yuan?"
Du Yuan, always quick to sweet-talk, said, "Long time no see, Sister Lin. I didn't expect you to still be so fresh and refined, so unforgettable."
As expected, he was still as glib as ever, but still quite charming. Lin Ting smiled and said, "You're as handsome as ever."
Du Yuan: "Our 'Little Ears' bar has been open for business for so long, and finally we have a female owner."
"What?"
Seeing Lin Ting's blank expression, Du Yuan knew that Chen Zhiyi hadn't said anything. He gestured with his lip in Lin Ting's direction and said, "This bar is co-owned by Chen Zhiyi and me. Of course, he owns 80% and is the major shareholder. He named it 'Little Ears' to commemorate someone. Who is that person? That person is right in front of us."
Lin understood. She had noticed the bar because of its unique name, but she never expected that this uniqueness was related to her.
Du Yuan continued, “When we were thinking about starting a business together, I thought about a lot of things, but he insisted on opening a bar. He said that a girl once told him that there should be a bar where people wouldn’t be bothered, where a group of friends could sit together and chat, drink safely and happily, without worrying about any discrimination or harassment.”
Lin Ting couldn't recall ever saying that, yet he remembered this unintentional complaint for a long time.
Looking at Chen Zhiyi, all she could feel was complaint and heartache, "Are you stupid?"
Before Chen Zhiyi could speak, Du Yuan chimed in, "He's just a hopeless romantic. He spent almost all his savings to buy the villa, and all his hard work these past few years has been for nothing."
Chen Zhiyi kicked Du Yuan, "Can you shut up?"
Du Yuan jumped up and down, "You kicked so hard, I'm doing this for your own good."
His best friend, who grew up with him through thick and thin, thought that Chen Zhiyi could have any woman he wanted, so why did he have to fall for this one? He believed there was no one else in the world more devoted and loyal than him.
Even a fool knows to ask for something in return, but he did everything silently without saying a word.
Chen Zhiyi didn't care at all, "What do you know? Do you think I'm using moral blackmail?"
Du Yuan gave him a disdainful look. "What the hell?"
Chen Zhiyi gripped Lin Ting's shoulders, leaned down to look at her, and feigned pitifulness, "So if you don't want me anymore, I'll leave with nothing."
Lin Ting wanted to get angry, but it felt like punching cotton; she couldn't muster any strength.
Du Yuan was completely baffled. This wasn't how you act like a sycophant. Besides, what's your worth?
To celebrate Lin's birthday, the bar was closed at night and completely empty.
It was clearly simply decorated, with a long table in the center covered with a beige tablecloth, candlesticks and flowers in the middle, and balloons and ribbons tied around it, swaying gently in the wind occasionally, as if telling the story of a birthday.
Du Yuan scratched his head. "Sorry, time was tight, so I just made a simple arrangement."
Lin Ting nodded to him. "Thank you."
Du Yuan patted Chen Zhiyi on the shoulder, "I'll make my exit now. This is a beautiful day, so I won't disturb your sweet time together."
After Du Yuan left, Chen Zhiyi pulled out a chair for Lin Ting, saying, "Sit here and wait for me for a while."
Lin Ting sat down quietly and waited.
A moment later, Chen Zhiyi pushed a small cart over with two steaks and a cake on it. He walked over to Lin Ting and put the candles on the cake.
"Although it's a bit cliché, the birthday celebrations can't be skipped. Now, let's perform a world-famous song for Ms. Lin Ting, 'Happy Birthday.'"
So he sang "Happy Birthday" in different languages.
Happy birthday to you!
French version: joyeux anniversaire!
German version: Alles Gute zum Geburtstag!
Korean version: !
Russian version: Сднём рождения!
Portuguese version: Feliz Aniversário!
Arabic version: !
Finally, in Chinese version: Happy Birthday!
Lin chuckled upon hearing this.
The two looked at each other, and time seemed to have turned back five years, with nothing changed.
Chen Zhiyi lowered his head and gently kissed him, "Make a wish."
"Okay!" Lin Ting closed her eyes and made a sincere wish in her heart.
I wish you and me all the best!
The wish is simple and plain, but it is the most genuine pursuit. No matter when, no matter where, no matter whether we can continue to be together in the future, I hope that everything will go smoothly and openly for the other person.
May you have many more birthdays like this one, and may everything be well with you!
Lin Ting hugged Chen Zhiyi's waist, looking at him with tenderness in her eyes. "Thank you for being by my side, and thank you for remembering my birthday. I've always thought of my birthday as the day my mother suffered, and also the day of humiliation for both my mother and me. If I could, I would want to skip this day every year. But your attention, care, and love make me realize that I can still be happy and joyful on this day. You've created a beautiful dream for me, and I don't want to wake up."
Chen Zhiyi lowered his head and kissed the tip of her nose, his eyes full of doting affection. "Then let's not wake up. This dream will never fade. Also, your birthday is a very important day for me. It is because of this day that you came into being, and that we were able to meet and get to know each other. I will not allow it to be skipped. It is our most important anniversary."
"Okay, then your birthday is also the most important day in my life. I will make good preparations for your birthday next April."
Chen Zhiyi smiled, "Okay, I'm looking forward to it." Then, a thought struck him, "I think I'll make a wish that day, so you should promise me now that you'll definitely grant it."
Lin Ting asked curiously, "But what if I can't fulfill it? Or what if the wish has nothing to do with me?"
"No, my wish only includes you, and only you can grant it. Will you agree?"
"Okay! I promise you."
Chen Zhiyi smiled with satisfaction.
////
While the two were eating steak together, Chen Zhiyi received a phone call.
Lin Ting recognized who it was, never expecting that the tough and cold Qin Fei also had a vulnerable side when drunk.
She asked Chen Zhiyi to pick her up. Chen Zhiyi felt embarrassed, but Lin Ting insisted that he go.
Out of respect and protection for women, he should accept the offer, especially since Qin Fei still owes Chen Zhiyi a debt of gratitude.
When Chen Zhiyi arrived at the bar where Qin Fei was, she was already completely drunk. He helped Qin Fei to sit in the back seat and then headed straight for her residence. Chen Zhiyi had been there a few times and knew where it was located; it was a villa in the suburbs.
Although Qin Fei is decisive and efficient at work, she doesn't like crowds in her personal life and lives in a slightly remote area.
Upon arriving at the villa's gate, Chen Zhiyi first took the keys from her bag and opened the door. Then he carried her out of the car. By this time, the villa's housekeeper was no longer there, so Chen Zhiyi had to help her inside himself.
Perhaps due to the weakness caused by alcohol, Qin Fei leaned limply against Chen Zhiyi, her hot breath brushing against his neck, making him frown uncomfortably.
He put her on the living room sofa, took off her coat and shoes, covered her with a blanket, turned on the air conditioner and adjusted it to a comfortable temperature, poured her a glass of warm water, and Qin Fei drank a few sips from his hand before lying down on the sofa again.
Chen Zhiyi stood aside for a moment, and seeing that Qin Fei was sleeping soundly, he prepared to leave.
As soon as he turned around, Qin Fei grabbed his clothes tightly. He turned to look at her and saw her looking at him with her eyes slightly open under the orange light. There seemed to be something flowing in her eyes, tender and intense.
Chen Zhiyi subconsciously pulled away from the hem of his clothes that had been grabbed and took a step back; he needed to get further away.
Qin Fei smiled wryly, as if in a helpless tone, "Are you in such a hurry to go back to her side?"
Who is "she"? It goes without saying.
"Today is her birthday, and I want to be with her." The voice was deep, like the solemn tolling of a bell echoing in my ears.
"It's Christmas Eve today too, can't you spend some time with me? It's so hard to spend the holiday alone."
"Sister Fei, there are many people willing to stay with you."
"But all I want is for you to be with me."
"Feel sorry!"
Qin Fei chuckled and slowly sat up from the sofa. "You're really direct. Is she that important to you?"
"Yes." Chen Zhiyi raised his head, his gaze firm.
"And what about me? What place have I held in your heart all these years?" Qin Fei countered.
Chen Zhiyi lowered his head, choked up, and said, "I... I've always been very grateful to you."
Qin Fei's lips twitched, she frowned, then got up from the sofa, staggered over to Chen Zhiyi, grabbed the open front of his coat and brought her face close, "You think I just want your thanks?"
His eyes were filled with infatuation and lingering desire, and the intoxicating smell of alcohol wafted through his nostrils, leaving Chen Zhiyi nowhere to escape. He hated this sticky feeling. He thought that their relationship had been handled properly, and that there had never been any inappropriate behavior or romantic thoughts between them.
He quickly pulled open his clothes and helped Lin Ting back to the sofa. "Sister Fei, you're drunk."
Qin Fei gripped his hand tightly, as if grasping at the last glimmer of hope. "I'm not drunk. You understand what I mean. I have many artists under my management, and I've done my best for you. I allocate the best resources to you. I don't believe you can't feel my favoritism towards you."
"That's why I put my all into every performance, just so I don't let you down." Chen Zhiyi still pulled his hand away from hers, his voice so calm it was devoid of any warmth.
"Do you have to be so formal? Where exactly am I inferior to her?" Faced with his repeated rejections, Qin Fei finally became hysterical.
"I'm sorry, Sister Fei, compared to you, she is inferior to you in many ways. She is completely inferior to you in terms of ability, career, network and net worth. In front of you, she is just an ordinary person."
Chen Zhiyi paused, a slight smile playing on his lips, his eyes filled with tenderness. "Everyone was rejecting me. My ideals, passions, and values were seen as unconventional, eccentric, and a betrayal of their expectations. I was so suppressed back then that I didn't even have the desire to resist, letting myself wallow in despair. She pulled me out of the darkness, telling me the value of learning and giving me the courage to return to school. She also told me the significance of family. They might not understand your life's pursuits, but they are there to support you, to give you the confidence to move forward. You have to learn to tolerate their malice. She taught me that as long as you have enough passion, you can achieve your dreams. On the road to your dreams, only you can stop yourself; everything else is just thorns that can be cut down."
"Sister Fei, I don't know if you've ever heard of the word 'redemption'. She truly redeemed me during that time, so she became a special and irreplaceable presence in my heart."
Qin Fei was silent for a moment, then asked, "If it weren't for her, would I have had a chance?"
"I like her simply because it's her; no one else would do."
Qin Fei remained silent, looking down at her feet.
It's often said that the order in which people appear in your life is important, but with Chen Zhiyi, none of that applies, except that you're not her.
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