Free Web NovelChapter 269: Chapter 269: Why Don’t You Call Me Brother Anymore?
Zheng Meng had been quite popular in the entertainment industry lately, so many people in the bar recognized him. As soon as he said that, suggestive catcalls and cheers erupted from all around.
Some people even craned their necks to look up at the second floor.
Jiang Qingli: "..."
Jiang Qingli lowered her head wordlessly, trying to hide her face.
A hand resting behind her rose before she could, its long, slender fingers spreading out to shield her from the psychedelic lights and prying eyes.
The young man’s breath was light against her ear. "Enjoying the show?"
"You’re asking a question you already know the answer to." Jiang Qingli pursed her lips. "He’s not my type."
The young man’s breathing grew softer. He seemed to want to ask something, but after a moment’s hesitation, he swallowed his words.
Jiang Qingli grabbed his hand, raising it a little higher. "Quick, quick, help me hide my face! Someone’s taking pictures."
"So now you know to hide," his low, magnetic voice carried a hint of amusement.
Jiang Qingli shot him a discreet glare and whispered defensively, "I’m not hiding. I just don’t want people thinking I’m associated with a male like that. The media is always watching me, and I have no desire to share a headline with him..."
Ai Li nodded in understanding. "Totally. Get involved with trash like him, and people will say you have bad taste. Our Qingli is a High Level female now, you know! She’s a regular on all the trending topic lists! We can’t let some lowlife leech off her popularity! It would totally drag down her status!"
She sounded like a hardcore fan, rattling off all sorts of fandom slang. Paired with Zheng Meng’s terrible, off-key love song from downstairs, it made Jiang Qingli burst out laughing again.
It was always easy to make her laugh when she was with her friends.
Jiang Youchen watched her, his thin lips curving into a slight smile, but his eyes held a trace of melancholy.
Compared to his awkward trips down memory lane and forced topics of conversation, a few casual words from others could make her laugh so much more easily.
...
A few minutes later, the torturous singing finally came to an end.
On stage, Zheng Meng looked up and saw Ai Li pointing in his direction and saying something. Meanwhile, Jiang Qingli, the very woman he had tried so hard to get close to, was leaning over the railing, her eyes curved into a bright smile.
A rush of blood went straight to his head.
Zheng Meng excitedly grabbed the microphone and stammered, "I really love this song, and I hope—"
His next words were suddenly cut off.
Zheng Meng finished his rather long sentence before he realized there was a problem with his microphone.
’A place like this wouldn’t use a broken microphone, would it?’
Before he could say anything else, the surrounding lights suddenly went out.
The crowd let out a collective gasp.
Jiang Qingli heard the breathing of the young man beside her grow heavy, laced with deep annoyance.
The next moment, a spotlight flared to life, illuminating a young man sitting on a barstool center stage.
After a few seconds of silence, the crowd erupted into surprised shrieks, loud enough to bring the roof down.
Countless people in the audience shouted "Baili Jing," waving their hands frantically in the air.
Jiang Qingli stood up and looked down toward the stage.
Baili Jing was dressed in a casual white button-down shirt and black dress pants. The top buttons were undone, revealing his pale collarbones. A silver pendant peeked out from his collar, swaying with his every move.
The crowd was a roaring, cheering mass, but Baili Jing’s gaze cut through the sea of waving arms to meet Jiang Qingli’s.
As their gazes locked, Baili Jing’s lips curved, and the beauty mark at the corner of his eye seemed to glint under the lights.
The cheers continued for over a minute before gradually dying down.
Baili Jing pulled his gaze away and looked down. His long fingers gently strummed a chord, and over a string of beautiful notes, he said, "This song is dedicated to my female master."
He didn’t say who she was, but some people had followed his earlier gaze toward the second floor and spotted the girl standing there.
Jiang Qingli, who had been hiding from Zheng Meng just moments ago, now showed no intention of hiding at all. She folded her arms, resting them on the railing, and smiled down at Baili Jing.
Baili Jing looked down and began to sing, accompanying himself on the guitar.
He had performed in concerts before, and his clear, low voice was like a gentle, illusory dream, filling the night with boundless affection.
Jiang Qingli’s heart felt like it was soaking in warm water, little bubbles of happiness fizzing up inside her.
When the song ended, Baili Jing bowed to the audience in thanks.
But the audience was far too enthusiastic, crowding the edge of the stage and refusing to let him leave.
Baili Jing rarely made public appearances, so now that they’d managed to catch him, they certainly weren’t going to let him go so easily.
Someone thrust a marker into his hand, and then many people were pulling up their shirts or holding out their arms, asking for his autograph.
Baili Jing glanced up toward the second floor.
"No way, man! You’re actually whipped!" someone exclaimed in surprise.
Baili Jing blinked. "My female master doesn’t like to control me, but I am a traditional male."
His words drew another wave of teasing sighs from the crowd.
Who had ever seen the calm, elegant Baili Actor acting like such a devoted husband!
Someone shouted up to the second floor, "Miss, just let Mr. Baili sign for us! We’ll buy your drinks!"
Jiang Qingli nodded, and the crowd erupted in another cheer, shouting things like, "She’s so generous!" "She’s the best!" and "What a class act!"
Baili Jing smiled and good-naturedly signed autographs for every fan who approached.
"Your man is so popular," Ai Li remarked. "Now this is what makes being a fan so satisfying!"
She had just finished speaking when she saw Zheng Meng rush up from the side, looking utterly wronged and as if he wanted to complain about something.
Jiang Qingli was about to make things clear with him, but then a tall female figure flashed past in her line of sight.
She frowned.
She turned to sit back down on the sofa, only to find that the young man who had been sitting beside her just a moment ago had vanished without a trace.
Jiang Qingli asked, "Where’d he go?"
"I think he went that way," Lin Xiyue said, pointing in a certain direction. "Right around when that crowd started cheering for you."
Jiang Qingli looked in the direction she was pointing—the very same direction where that figure had disappeared moments ago.
She shot to her feet and rushed in that direction.
The bar was huge and full of twists and turns. Jiang Qingli soon found herself in a deserted area.
But she didn’t see the figure she was looking for. Instead, she found Jiang Youchen standing at the edge of a terrace, looking out at the distant neon cityscape.
Hearing her footsteps, he extinguished the cigarette in his hand.
Jiang Qingli took a deep breath, walked quickly over to him, and demanded, "Are you here to meet Xie Guanqi?"
Jiang Youchen turned his head and stared at her in silence, his gaze tracing the outline of her silhouette in the dim light.
He remained silent, his dark eyes swirling with emotions she couldn’t comprehend, making her feel flustered.
"Hey!" Jiang Qingli said awkwardly, breaking the silence that had set her on edge. She raised her voice. "Jiang Youchen—"
The words had barely left her mouth when he grabbed her wrist.
He took a step forward, leaning down slightly.
His shadow fell over her.
Jiang Qingli’s heart suddenly leaped into her throat. She averted her gaze in a fluster, only to hear him call her name.
"Ah Li."
Her eyelashes trembled. "W-what is it?" she asked.
All the confrontational fire she’d had just moments ago was completely gone.
’So pathetic, Jiang Qingli!’
’You were never this much of a coward!’
Jiang Qingli cursed herself internally.
But then she heard Jiang Youchen speak, his voice low as he asked, "Why did you stop calling me brother?"
Jiang Qingli’s heart gave a violent lurch.
She didn’t dare to look him in the eye.
She turned her face away and mumbled, "It’s n-nothing. It’s just... I’ve grown up now..."
"Mm," Jiang Youchen said, watching her evasive movement. His voice was very soft as he repeated, "Ah Li has grown up."
"You don’t need your brother’s protection anymore."
’So...’
’Does that mean to you... your brother has become useless?’
