Lin Qingle never expected so many people to be eating together today. She was worried that Xu Tingbai might feel uncomfortable, so when no one was paying attention, she quietly said, “Maybe we shouldn’t eat here. We can leave first?”
Xu Tingbai was indeed uncomfortable. He was not fond of being around so many people.
But he knew that Lin Qingle was really eager to eat at this restaurant, and he understood that most of the people here were her good friends. So, he didn’t want to disappoint her and cause her to leave feeling disappointed because of him.
“It’s fine, you eat first.”
“Oh…”
“Didn’t you order baked pudding?” Yu Jiayou glanced at the menu Lin Qingle had marked and asked.
Lin Qingle replied, “We ordered enough for the two of us already, so we didn’t order more. You can order whatever you want now.”
Yu Jiayou said, “Then I’ll order a few portions of baked pudding. Qingle, you should try it. The baked pudding here is really good.”
“Mm, okay.”
A while later, Yu Jiayou asked, “Do you want ice cream?”
Lin Qingle noticed that he was looking at her, so she shook her head. “No, thank you.”
Lin Qingle’s attention was on Xu Tingbai; she was afraid he might not be used to being around so many people.
“This rib is super delicious,” she said, placing a piece on his plate. Xu Tingbai didn’t say anything but naturally picked up the piece she placed and took a bite.
However, he found it hard to enjoy the food. One reason was that there were so many people around, and he wasn’t used to it. Another reason was that Yu Jiayou was there, someone Lin Qingle had mentioned before.
He had known Yu Jiayou since he was young. He was very capable, so Xu Tingbai assumed he must still be the same now.
“Qingle, they all want an extra juice. Do you want some?” came Yu Jiayou’s voice.
Xu Tingbai gripped his chopsticks a little tighter. This person seemed to be paying a lot of attention to Lin Qingle, this little fool.
“No, no, I don’t drink.”
“Okay.”
Lin Qingle was very concerned about Xu Tingbai, and everyone noticed, including Yan Dairong.
Yan Dairong hadn’t spoken since sitting down. She watched Lin Qingle serve Xu Tingbai, watched him eat without refusing, and also saw the two of them whispering to each other, as if they were in their own world, isolated from everyone else.
As someone who had always been pampered by everyone, she felt a bitterness inside… This obedient, compliant person was Xu Tingbai? He had always rejected her so harshly!
“I’m going to the restroom,” Lin Qingle said midway through the meal as she stood up, giving a quick explanation to the others.
“Okay, go ahead,” Jiang Shuyi said. When she saw Lin Qingle glance at Xu Tingbai with concern, she smiled and added, “Don’t worry, we’re all here. We’ll wait for you.”
Lin Qingle, realizing Jiang Shuyi had seen through her thoughts, felt a little embarrassed and turned toward the back of the restaurant.
Once she left, Jiang Shuyi turned to Xu Tingbai and said, “Qingle really takes care of you, doesn’t she?”
Xu Tingbai realized she was speaking to him and tilted his head slightly. “Jiang Shuyi?”
“Ah… you know me?”
“Guessing,” Xu Tingbai replied. “It’s either you or Yu Tingting.”
Yu Tingting, hearing her name from Xu Tingbai’s lips, blushed with excitement. She had been sizing him up ever since sitting down, and she couldn’t help but feel regretful. “He’s so handsome, but why can’t he see?”
“I’m Yu Tingting! I’m sitting on your left!” she announced.
Xu Tingbai gave a slight nod toward her direction.
Yu Tingting was delighted. “It seems like Qingle has told you about us.”
“Occasionally.”
“Hehe, we’re Qingle’s best friends at school. Well, at least within the school,” Yu Tingting said with a meaningful smile. “But outside of school, it’s definitely you she’s closest to.”
Xu Tingbai paused for a moment and gave a faint smile.
Jiang Shuyi added, “That’s true. After all, that little girl wouldn’t have worked so hard for the physics competition for our sake.”
Xu Tingbai felt something was off with her words and frowned slightly. “What?”
Jiang Shuyi explained, “The physics competition. She’s been so busy with it lately, even squeezing in time for it. Isn’t it all for you? She really takes care of you.”
“…”
Jiang Shuyi continued, “I hope Qingle wins first place this time! The prize money is 10,000 yuan!”
Physics competition first place… prize money? All for him?
Xu Tingbai felt stunned.
So, she entered that competition just for him. This chapter was copied from g.com without permission.
To earn money for his medical treatment, she had pushed herself so hard?
She already had so much schoolwork to do, and yet she made these sacrifices for him. How foolish she was…
“What are you talking about?” Lin Qingle returned, wiping her hands dry before sitting down in her chair.
But as soon as she sat down, Xu Tingbai stood up. “Come with me.”
“Are you going home?” Lin Qingle asked.
Xu Tingbai didn’t reply and just left his seat.
“Wait a minute, wait a minute.” Lin Qingle hurriedly got up and said to the others, “I’m leaving first. I already paid the bill, so take your time eating.”
As she spoke, Lin Qingle rushed to catch up with Xu Tingbai, lightly tugging on his sleeve to pull him out.
“Stop.” Suddenly, Yan Dairong stood up.
Lin Qingle looked over.
Yan Dairong glanced at Lin Qingle, sneering, “Xu Tingbai, what is this supposed to mean?”
Lin Qingle looked confused, her gaze shifting between them. Yan Dairong suddenly spoke again, “If you want to see a doctor, if you’re short on money, just tell me. What’s all this pity act for? You went to all that trouble for a measly ten thousand yuan prize? What, does this mean she’s better for you than I am?”
No one had expected Yan Dairong to speak so maliciously.
Jiang Shuyi and Yu Tingting, who only knew part of the story between Yan Dairong and Xu Tingbai, were stunned by the scene.
Yu Jiayou, however, understood. When he heard the real reason Lin Qingle participated in the competition, he too was shocked. He had thought she was just being nice to Xu Tingbai, but he never imagined she would go this far for him.
“Yan Dairong, what are you doing?” Yu Jiayou pulled her back.
Yan Dairong shook off his hand, staring at Xu Tingbai, who was naturally letting Lin Qingle pull on his sleeve, her anger boiling over.
She had always wanted to maintain a gentle image, but at this moment, she couldn’t hold it in anymore. She felt utterly humiliated, suffocating!
“Xu Tingbai, how dare you treat me like this? Don’t you see how good I’ve been to you? Who is Lin Qingle, the daughter of a murderer? The whole school looks down on her! What gives her the right to overshadow me?”
Xu Tingbai’s face darkened at the mention of Lin Qingle’s personal life. “What does it matter who she is to you? Since we’re on the subject, I have a question for you, Yan Dairong—was it you who spread those rumors about her online?”
Lin Qingle froze and suddenly looked at Yan Dairong.
Yan Dairong sneered. “So what if I did? I just posted the facts to tell everyone. I didn’t say anything wrong.”
Yu Jiayou suddenly stood up. “Dairong! What are you saying? You’re the one—”
“I said I was just stating the facts!” Yan Dairong interrupted, her voice sharp. “You two are both insane. You know exactly what kind of person Lin Qingle is, yet you still hang out with her. Do you like her that much?”
Jiang Shuyi: “…”
Xu Tingbai: “…”
Lin Qingle: “…?”
Yu Tingting: “What the hell are you talking about?! We all know who Qingle is, we don’t need you to tell us. And now you’re here throwing a tantrum? You’re the one who’s been pretending at school, aren’t you? Doing this cyberbullying is really despicable!”
“Shut up,” Yan Dairong snapped. She had been completely triggered. She had liked Xu Tingbai since they were young, visiting his house every day when their families were close.
But after his family fell apart, her parents became disgusted and cut ties with his family. She didn’t dare go against them, so she hadn’t seen him in the past couple of years. However, when she heard he moved, she secretly went to see him.
She wanted to help him, but he ignored her completely… and now, not only was he ignoring her, he was getting closer to someone else!
“Not with her, but with you? Who do you think you are?” Xu Tingbai coldly retorted.
Yan Dairong snapped, “Xu Tingbai, you can’t even see! You’re not the same Xu Tingbai anymore! What gives you the right to look down on me?!”
Hearing her anger, Xu Tingbai’s expression became colder. “Yes, I’m not the same Xu Tingbai. I’m just a blind man. I don’t deserve anything. So please, stay away from me.”
The girl’s twisted expression faltered for a moment as if she suddenly realized something. She hurriedly stepped in front of him. “No, that’s not what I meant, I didn’t mean to look down on you, I… I just…”
“Didn’t your parents tell you to stay away from me? Since you’ve been obedient, you should just stick with it,” Xu Tingbai said. “They were right. My family is rotten to the core, and there’s no need for any connection between our families anymore.”
“My parents are my parents, I am me…”
“Is that so?”
Yan Dairong opened her mouth but couldn’t say the words.
“But… but I can still help you. Even if it’s just in secret, I can do more than Lin Qingle!” she insisted.
“I don’t need it.”
“Why are you still standing there? Let’s go,” Xu Tingbai said, pulling Lin Qingle’s arm and walking toward the door.
“Then what about your mother? Don’t you want to know what’s happening with her in prison?” Yan Dairong suddenly said, her voice cold.
Xu Tingbai’s steps froze.
Yan Dairong’s face darkened. “I’ve been the one telling you about her all this time, don’t you want to know anymore?”
Xu Tingbai clenched his fists. “Don’t say another word. I never asked you for anything.”
“Fine,” Yan Dairong said with a twisted smile. She took a few steps forward. “So be it. I won’t pretend to have any news anymore.”
“…What do you mean?”
“Your mother is dead. Didn’t you know?” Yan Dairong said coldly. “She committed suicide in prison a month ago. I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want you to be upset.”
Xu Tingbai froze, his face turning pale.
“Your father didn’t tell you, right? Well, why would he? You can’t do anything about it.” Yan Dairong, completely losing her composure, only wanted to make Xu Tingbai suffer. “You’ve been waiting for her, haven’t you? Well, too bad, she’s not coming back!”
Yan Dairong thought that after she said this, Xu Tingbai would collapse. She wanted to see him break down, to see him suffer just like she had!
But nothing happened.
He actually left.
With Lin Qingle.
Yan Dairong stared in disbelief at his retreating figure, almost going mad. “Xu Tingbai—”
“Dairong! Stop talking nonsense!” Yu Jiayou scolded sharply.
Yan Dairong’s eyes turned red in an instant. “How dare he… How dare he!”
Xu Tingbai kept walking, and Lin Qingle, worried that he might fall, grabbed his arm and guided him toward his home.
But along the way, she didn’t dare speak.
She vaguely felt that Xu Tingbai’s mood was different.
She didn’t know how long they walked, but eventually, they reached the alleyway on Yueqian Road.
“We’re at the building now…” she said, looking at him with concern.
His voice was deep and hoarse. “Okay, you should go back now. Be careful.”
“Wait.” Lin Qingle grabbed his arm as he was about to climb the stairs.
Xu Tingbai stopped and waited for her to speak.
Lin Qingle hesitated for a moment. “Yan Dairong is lying. Don’t believe her. Your mother will be fine. If anything happens, the family will definitely be notified…”
“Yeah, I know.”
“Don’t be sad…”
“I’m not. I didn’t believe her.” Xu Tingbai said, “Go home now. Don’t worry about anything, I’ll be fine.”
“Xu Tingbai…”
“Don’t be so foolish in the future.”
“What?”
“You participated in the competition for me. Who’s going to be responsible for the effect it has on your grades?”
Lin Qingle was surprised that he knew, and quickly said, “I won’t affect my grades. I just make use of my free time—”
“But I don’t want you to be that tired for my sake!”
“…I’m not tired.”
Xu Tingbai was momentarily speechless.
Lin Qingle said, “Really, I’m not tired at all.”
It was early summer, but the hallway was still dim, with no warmth at all.
The young man stood at the foot of the stairs, listening to the girl’s firm words, his heart aching.
How could she not be tired…
How could it not be exhausting to drag someone along?