Chapter 64: Chapter 64 - 64 064 ignores you

Chapter 64: 064 ignores you Chapter 64: 064 ignores you Fu Han’s doze finally faded away as she opened her eyes. Above her, the tent’s canopy was a transparent white plastic skylight that made the blue sky and white clouds outside utterly refreshing.

Her anger from being woken from her nap had reduced significantly, and her tone was flat as she spoke, “Mr. He, I think you’re mistaken. Why should I tell you where I am?”

“I am…”

“Your fiancée, right?” Fu Han rolled over, interrupting He Xing: “He Xing, can’t you come up with something new to say? We both know very well that our engagement is bound to end sooner or later.”

After she finished speaking, she didn’t give He Xing the chance to respond and promptly hung up the call.

Her nap was disrupted, so she simply got up to gather some inspiration for her work.

Nan Qing and the other two had sent her their location and told her to find them after she woke up, but she chose a different path. Her heart was already in turmoil; being with them would only make things more chaotic.

…

The day after the autumn outing, the organizers of the Photography Competition contacted Fu Han, suggesting in a roundabout way that she should withdraw from the competition voluntarily.

At that moment, Fu Han was in a studio with just one red light developing photos. The photographic paper held a blurred outline, the very image she had captured on an obscure hill the day before.

The paper slipped from the tweezers, but she was too preoccupied to care.

Returning to her computer, she accidentally struck the keyboard, waking the screen. Its blue glow illuminated her face, casting an eerie blue shadow on it.

“Miss Fu, are you listening?” The person on the phone grew impatient, prompting her, “If you agree, we will certainly invite you to participate in our competition again in three years, and furthermore…”

“Haven’t you heard that fame should be seized early?” A cold smile played at the corner of Fu Han’s lips: “I obtained my registration through proper channels. If you dare to rig the finals, I will expose the filthy tricks you pulled during the semifinals.”

The person on the other end of the phone was silent for a while before they spoke again, their voice now steadier: “Miss Fu, we respect every contestant. The finals are about to start. We wish you the best of luck.”

After hanging up, Fu Han’s strength ebbed away like the tide. She had merely been holding on to her last breath of defiance.

She had been worried that the news about her, He Xing, and Luo Qinghe blowing up on the internet would affect the Photography Competition. Now it seemed her fears were well-founded.

Reality was always crueler than she imagined, but she was never a greenhouse flower.

…

Liangtao Bar.

Ji Liangchuan was wearing an exaggerated black short-sleeve shirt, a pair of whitewashed jeans with rips, dock martins on his feet, and his medium-length hair sticking up with a black headband.

Different from his usual casual attire, the Ji Liangchuan of today was like a polished diamond, radiating a dazzling light that was blinding to behold.

He mixed drinks at the bar, surrounded by layers of girls. Even his slightest move drew screams from countless girls.

He Xing sat in a booth next to the bar. In front of him was a newly opened bottle of vodka, its pungent aroma painting his cheeks with unhealthy flushes of red.

Before long, Ji Liangchuan left the bar and approached He Xing, draping his arm around He Xing’s neck with a laugh: “What’s the matter, Fu Han ignoring you again?”

He Xing shrugged him off: “What do you mean, ‘again’? She’s been back for a while and has hardly paid me any mind.”

Ji Liangchuan laughed heartily. After taking a swig of his drink, he looked at He Xing meaningfully, “I’m surprised to hear you say something like that.”

Turning his head away from Ji Liangchuan, He Xing spoke irritably, “Just go away, with you here those girls swarm around, it’s annoying to watch.”

“Are you sure all these beauties are here for me? It seems to me they’d eat you alive given half the chance.” Ji Liangchuan glanced around; indeed, there were many scantily clad beauties surrounding them.

Seeing that He Xing didn’t respond, Ji Liangchuan smirked: “He Xing, what sort of spell has Fu Han cast on you? You’re this smitten with her? Why don’t you try some other women, maybe then you wouldn’t be so tormented.”

“I’m not like you, I can’t just switch women every day.” He Xing downed another glass of vodka, glancing sideways at Ji Liangchuan, “Have you picked your target for tonight yet?”

Twirling a wine glass nonchalantly in his hands, Ji Liangchuan said indifferently, “Does it matter who it is? After I close the bar, whoever’s still waiting for me, that’s who I’ll choose. After all, with the lights off everyone’s the same.”

In the noisy bar, Ji Liangchuan’s voice was low, like a drop in the ocean, causing no ripples. No one but He Xing heard.

He Xing sighed deeply, “Liangchuan, you weren’t like this before. What on earth happened two years ago that changed you so much after you came back?”

Ji Liangchuan and He Xing had been friends since nursery and primary school, respectively, with Ji Liangchuan going abroad for secondary school. He only returned to the country two years ago, and they had had limited contact during his absence.

But the friendship between men could be like this: even if their interactions had been limited for years, upon reuniting they were still good friends who respected each other without prying into the past.

Out of the corner of his eye, He Xing saw Ji Liangchuan’s expression change. He patted his arm, “If you don’t want to talk about it, then don’t. I just think you should find someone to fall in love with, rather than living like this.”

Under the flickering lights, Ji Liangchuan’s eyes turned the color of amber. He gazed absent-mindedly at a corner of the bar, “I don’t have the right to love. The woman I loved most is already dead.”

He Xing’s pupils dilated in shock. These were words he was hearing for the first time. He had no idea how to comfort Ji Liangchuan and felt that whatever he said would be futile. He patted Ji Liangchuan’s shoulder again, “I’m sorry for your loss.”

Ji Liangchuan hadn’t replied when suddenly the bar was filled with a rowdy commotion.

“Move aside, everyone move aside.” A haughty voice rang out. Bodyguards cleared a path in front, and under everyone’s watchful eyes, Xia Ning approached.

Her face beaming with a smile, she sat down beside He Xing, “He Xing brother, Xiaoning has missed you so much. I heard you were here and came especially to see you.”

Ji Liangchuan resumed his usually cheerful demeanor, nudging He Xing with his shoulder and whispering, “Your lucky day, make the most of it.”

With that, he stood up and addressed Xia Ning with a smile: “The stunning Xia Ning graces us with her presence, brightening up the place. Today, you eat and drink as you please, it’s on me.”

“Thank you, Liangchuan brother.” Xia Ning smiled ever so sweetly, and as she tilted her head, she leaned against He Xing’s shoulder, the picture of demure affection.

He Xing shrugged his shoulders, pulling away from Xia Ning, “Your family is strict. You shouldn’t be in a bar. Better hurry back before your dad gets angry.”

“I don’t want to.” Xia Ning pouted coquettishly, “It’s been so long since I’ve seen you, and besides, dad wouldn’t be mad if he knows I’m with you.”