After dinner, Yu Qingyu drove Ling Li to the bar she frequented.
Once the car was parked and they stepped out, Ling Li casually took off her outer shirt and stuffed it into her bag, leaving only a fitted white tank top.
“Coming to a bar dressed so conservatively is no fun.”
Yu Qingyu’s gaze swept over her chest, and she raised an eyebrow. “They’re not small, just like before.”
Ling Li lowered her voice and quickly tossed out two words: “Padded.”
Then she affectionately linked arms with Yu Qingyu, and the two walked in side by side.
As soon as they entered, Yu Qingyu said:
“Let’s go upstairs. The view is open, just what you like.”
“Qingyu, darling, you know me best!” Ling Li leaned in and planted a quick kiss on her cheek.
Yu Qingyu pretended to be disgusted. “You got saliva on my face.”
The two settled into a booth on the second floor. Yu Qingyu ordered drinks and small desserts for Ling Li, while she herself asked for a non-alcoholic juice.
She glanced at Ling Li, whose eyes were glued to the stage downstairs. “I’m going to the restroom. Want to come?”
Ling Li shook her head without looking back, her gaze fixed on the male dancers moving energetically below, unable to tear herself away.
Yu Qingyu sighed and turned away. Just as she reached the staircase, she ran into two familiar figures.
One was Huo Zhili, whom she knew all too well, dressed in a shirt and vest, one hand casually tucked into his pants pocket.
The other was Jiang Xiwen, whom she had met earlier.
Jiang Xiwen wore a gentle smile as she looked up and said something to him.
Yu Qingyu’s expression remained calm, and without pausing, she walked straight past them.
But Huo Zhili immediately caught sight of her. His tone turned cold and sharp as he spoke indifferently to Jiang Xiwen:
“Projects under ten million, Huo Group won’t take. You can tell your friend to look for another investment bank.”
With that, he turned to leave.
Jiang Xiwen’s smile didn’t waver as she took a step forward. “You’re familiar with this industry. Surely you can recommend someone?”
“I can’t.” Huo Zhili refused bluntly.
Jiang Xiwen wasn’t offended. Chasing an exceptional man was always difficult, and she had prepared herself for it.
“Running into you tonight must be fate. Surely it’s not too much to ask for a drink from Young Master Huo?”
Huo Zhili’s expression remained cold, and he didn’t spare her a glance. “We’re not familiar.”
With that, he strode off toward the restroom.
He leaned against the window and smoked for a while, his peripheral vision catching a flash of red approaching.
He casually extinguished his cigarette and spoke indifferently as Yu Qingyu drew near:
“Songyi is here, playing dice in the private room. Come sit for a while.”
Huo Songyi had been bored at home and, hearing that Huo Zhili was at the bar, decided to tag along.
Yu Qingyu paused briefly, her tone calm. “No need.”
Then she walked away in her high heels.
Huo Zhili’s gaze followed her until she disappeared into the crowd before he turned and headed back to the private room.
Seeing Huo Songyi playing dice with Ye Shenhuai, he mentioned casually, “Your Qingyu sister is at a booth outside.”
Huo Songyi’s hand paused mid-shake. “Oh, I’ll go find her then.”
Ye Shenhuai chimed in offhandedly, “Invite her in. It’s been a while since we all hung out.”
Huo Songyi shot Ye Shenhuai a glare, her eyes clearly spelling out the words “no brains,” before grabbing her phone and leaving the private room.
After stepping out, she headed straight for the booth area and, sure enough, spotted Yu Qingyu seated near the stage downstairs.
She quickened her pace, calling out with a smile, “Qingyu!”
Yu Qingyu glanced sideways at her and said calmly, “You came too? I thought you didn’t like places like this.”
“Going back and forth between the same two places every day is too boring, so I tagged along tonight to ‘see the world,'” Huo Songyi explained casually.
Ling Li, sitting nearby, studied her features and quickly guessed the situation, asking with a smile, “Your younger sister?”
Yu Qingyu gave a light “Mm” and introduced, “This is my close friend, Ling Li.”
Huo Songyi immediately greeted sweetly, “Hello, Sister Li!”
Ling Li, amused by her fresh and lively appearance, teased, “You’re much more likable—just looking at you makes people happy.”
Huo Songyi smiled but didn’t say more.
Yu Qingyu ordered her a drink, and the three chatted idly.
Huo Songyi kept chattering nonstop, but Yu Qingyu’s gaze was briefly drawn to a figure downstairs. She quickly looked away, not giving it much thought.
Ling Li, caught up in the excitement, stood up and joined the crowd in cheering and shouting.
Watching her enthusiasm, Huo Songyi couldn’t help but laugh. “Sister Li gets so excited seeing male models.”
Yu Qingyu added with a faint smile, “Yes, she gets thrilled and worked up whenever she sees a male model with an eight-pack.”
Huo Songyi took a sip of her juice and turned to Yu Qingyu. “Haha… By the way, Qingyu, they’re all in the private room. Do you want to join them for a bit?”
Yu Qingyu shook her head gently. “No, I’ll be leaving soon. I have work tomorrow.”
Huo Songyi simply replied with an obedient “Oh.”
Not long after, as Yu Qingyu and Ling Li prepared to leave, a message from Huo Zhili arrived, brief and to the point: 【Heading home.】
Huo Songyi quickly replied: 【Brother, I’m not going back in. Bring my bag out—I’ll wait for you outside.】
Ling Li waited until the male models left the stage before reluctantly turning to Yu Qingyu. “Let’s go. Tomorrow we’ll be back to the grind.”
Yu Qingyu looked at Huo Songyi. “We’re leaving now. You should go find them.”
“I’m leaving too,” Huo Songyi said just as she saw Huo Zhili approaching with her bag.
Huo Zhili walked up, his gaze settling on Yu Qingyu as he said calmly, “I’ll take you home.”
Yu Qingyu replied flatly, “I didn’t drink.”
With that, she moved to brush past him, not noticing a slightly tipsy man stumbling toward her.
Just as they were about to collide, Huo Zhili reached out and pulled her firmly into his embrace.
Huo Songyi’s eyes widened instantly, a thought flashing through her mind—
Her brother never bothered with other people’s affairs. If he acted like this, he must still love Qingyu.
Yu Qingyu’s senses were instantly enveloped by the familiar scent of sandalwood from him. She snapped back to reality, quickly pulling away from his arms without a word, and hurried downstairs with Ling Li.
Huo Zhili’s gaze followed her retreating figure until she disappeared from sight.
Watching him, Huo Songyi couldn’t help but say, “Brother, if you still like Qingyu, go after her. Don’t wait until someone else wins her over.”