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He and she did not need any words between them, nor did they need blessings. Blessings felt too cumbersome, too complicated, too easily capable of breaking the tranquility within their hearts, too likely to bring tears to their eyes.
The truest feelings are suited for silence; there is no need for tears, just a gentle glance and a light embrace.
Politeness is merely a ridiculous and childish act.
How could he be polite with her? There was only sincerity.
Between him and her, everything was understood without words.
Thus, he had never imagined that he and she would exchange cups, become lost in emotions, or find it hard to restrain themselves.
He and she should support each other through thick and thin; their feelings should fade as they deepen, remaining as simple as chrysanthemums and hearts as plain as white cloth.
So, he did not expect her to stand behind him holding a wine glass.
Until Lin Xi tugged at his sleeve, "Xu Wen, Lanlan has come to toast you."
He thought he had misheard. Turning around, he truly saw her, a glass of wine in hand, looking somewhat desolate.
He was taken aback. "Qinglan."
The name "Qinglan," so simple and plain, stirred his emotions, making him feel unexpectedly melancholic, his voice trembling lightly.
"Xu Wen, let's drink this cup of wine. From now on, we owe each other nothing." Qinglan repeated the words he had not heard earlier.
Xu Wen's hand trembled slightly, filled with sorrow. "What are you saying?" His voice carried a mix of annoyance and emotion, and combined with his visibly stirred feelings, it suddenly silenced the previously boisterous atmosphere.
Everyone almost stopped their deliberate noise, paused their toasts, and set down their cups. Smiles froze as they quietly watched the two of them.
Qinglan lowered her head, one hand propped on the table, her disheveled hair falling over her shoulders, which trembled slightly.
Clearly, she was suppressing her sobs.
"Lanlan," Xu Wen's voice shook. "What's wrong?" He leaned closer to her and asked softly.
"Just drink. We're even." Qinglan did not look up, burying her head deeply in the crook of her arm that rested on the table.
Everyone watched her and him. He bent down to pull her into his embrace.
She gently pushed his hand away.
Suddenly, she raised her head and stared at him for a full minute before tilting it back and downing the drink in her cup. "We're even now."
Gently setting down the cup, she brushed her hair back. "Everyone, I'm a bit drunk. I'm going back now."
She patted Lin Xi's shoulder. "I'm leaving."
Then she staggered toward the door.
Tonight, for Qinglan, just a cup of wine was enough to make her drunk, in a decadent and sorrowful way.
Sitting nearby, Xiang Yuanqiu shot a fierce glance at Wang Wei, who was closer to the door.
Perhaps it wasn't just because of Xiang Yuanqiu's glare, but instinctively, Wang Wei put down his wine glass and rushed out.
Xiang Yuanqiu also set down her glass and followed him outside.
“Qinglan,” Xiang Yuanqiu called from behind.
Qinglan was running ahead.
Lin Xi hesitated for a moment, then put down her glass, preparing to follow Xiang Yuanqiu.
Xu Wen, who had not reacted until now, seemed to come to his senses. He grabbed Lin Xi's arm and said, “You stay here with your classmate; I'll go.”
Lin Xi paused and glanced at Yao Mengni and Hao Chuanze.
Ah, Mengni was her classmate. It was hard to come all the way to Beijing; she couldn't really leave her with Hao Chuanze.
Although Lin Xi knew that Mengni might not have come to Beijing just for her. Even though the conversation at the table had inevitably been a bit ambiguous regarding her and Hao Chuanze, he did have an official girlfriend. Moreover, his girlfriend wasn't present at the moment. Given the situation and that they had all had a bit to drink, it wouldn't be right to leave her alone with Hao Chuanze.
Furthermore, Xu Wen's pull on her, especially his words “You stay here... I'll go,” felt like he was putting her aside.
Lin Xi felt a moment of dizziness and illusion, a fleeting heartbeat and ripples of emotion.
Fortunately, she was a calm and rational girl. After Xu Wen turned to leave, she immediately pulled herself back from the dreamlike state into the chaotic reality around her.
She sat down, settling herself comfortably. After a while, she returned to her usual self, smiled, and began to chat with Hao Chuanze and Yao Mengni.
"I noticed she doesn't seem to have drunk anything tonight. How could she be drunk?" Yao Mengni asked, puzzled.
"Maybe she's in a bad mood; it's easy to get drunk when you're feeling down," Lin Xi replied.
Yao Mengni nodded as if she understood and fell silent.
They had only been sitting for a short while when Xu Wen returned.
Lin Xi stood up and asked, "Lanlan, how is she?"
Xu Wen did not answer her question. After glancing at them, she walked toward the Cash Register. Hao Chuanze called out from behind, "The bill has already been settled."
Xu Wen put away her wallet and walked back to the table. "Let's go."
As they reached the exit, she finally responded to Lin Xi's earlier question, "Her two classmates went back with her; she should be fine."
As Xu Wen said this, a wave of unease washed over her.
Lin Xi felt a bit uneasy. After all, Xiang Yuanqiu and Wang Wei were both unfamiliar to her. "I'll go check on her later," Lin Xi said.
"You should let your classmate get some rest. She just arrived today and is very tired. I'll go check on her," came the firm response. He then waved to Hao Chuanze, saying, "I'll head out first. Please take care of the two of them."
Hao Chuanze waved back, "Go ahead."
Xu Wen strode across the street and waited by the roadside to hail a taxi.
He indeed felt a sense of unease, a deep-seated anxiety.
Earlier, when he rushed out, Qinglan kept pushing him back, insisting that he return to take care of the others.
What other people needed his attention? Xu Wen felt an indescribable restlessness inside.
At that moment, the girl named Xiang Yuanqiu and the boy named Wang Wei were also urging him, "You should go back. Qinglan will be fine with us here."
Indeed, with two classmates looking after her, Xiang Yuanqiu should be fine. Moreover, Xu Wen knew that aside from the drink they shared, she hadn't had any alcohol that night.
Yet, despite it being an ordinary situation and knowing that Qinglan wasn't truly drunk, his heart couldn't settle down.
He anxiously waited for a taxi by the roadside. However, when he finally got into a car and searched for her figure along the way, he couldn't find them. When he stood outside her dormitory calling for her, Zheng Jiangliuying came out and stood on the balcony to respond, "She hasn't come back yet. Her classmates are here today; she will probably stay at the house she rented with them tonight."
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