Free Web NovelChapter 1654: Chapter 1956: Quitting the Music Scene (3)
"This is a normal thing, it shows that everyone is growing."
As she spoke, Su Lin pointed to the intersection ahead and said, "Turn left."
"That’s not the road back to the Nanrong Family."
"I don’t want to go home yet. Those people ruined my mood. I need to find a place to vent a bit. If I remember correctly, there’s a bar nearby. Let’s go sit there for a while."
Ling Chen nodded and didn’t refuse Su Lin’s request. Soon, they arrived at a bar called ’Chunpin.’ The bar is located at a crossroads, a rather lively place, not too far from the Nanrong Family, just a few kilometers away.
Once inside the bar, Ling Chen found it to be a quiet bar with an elegant and peaceful environment. At that moment, a folk singer was sitting on the stage, playing and singing a song by Tang Shiyun with a hoarse voice. Perhaps because the nightlife hadn’t really started, there weren’t many patrons in the bar. Ling Chen and Su Lin found a relatively quiet spot, ordered a dozen beers and some snacks.
Su Lin silently picked up a bottle of beer, her gaze fixed on the singer on stage, seemingly captivated by the music. Ling Chen sat quietly beside her, not disturbing her. In his impression, Su Lin had always been a restless person, seldom seen sitting so quietly like a lady.
Under the dim yellow light, Su Lin propped her chin with one hand, her long hair hanging down. Whether it was because of the beer or the heat from the air conditioning in the bar, her face was slightly flushed, exuding a hint of enchanting charm.
Knowing Su Lin for so long, Ling Chen rarely had the chance to quietly appreciate her beauty like this. It’s undeniable that Su Lin is indeed a great beauty, her fair skin as delicate as porcelain, her exquisite features flawless. However, her usual carefreeness often overshadowed her beauty.
Who knows how much time passed, Su Lin suddenly turned her head, looked into Ling Chen’s eyes, and said, "Haven’t had enough of looking after all this time? Want me to lean a little closer for you?"
At these words, Ling Chen’s face flushed with embarrassment. He quickly took a sip from the beer bottle to cover his awkwardness.
"Look at you, so timid," Su Lin mercilessly mocked. "After all that looking, why not admit it? You men are sometimes just too hypocritical, wanting in your hearts but reluctant to admit it."
"Is that so?"
"Can you really say it’s not?"
Ling Chen scratched his nose and said with a wry smile, "Alright, alright, I won’t argue with you about this." After speaking, he seemed to notice something, pointed towards the bar’s entrance and said, "What a coincidence, meeting acquaintances here."
Upon hearing this, Su Lin turned her head towards the entrance and saw Luo Xianxian and Gao Liang walking in with a group. At the same time, a young man in his twenties came out from the back of the bar, enthusiastically greeting everyone to sit down.
Retracting her gaze, Su Lin said calmly, "Xianxian mentioned before that Gao Liang has a friend who opened a bar, likely this is the place. Looks like having a pleasant time tonight is out of the question." With that, she took out some hundred-yuan bills from her handbag, placed them on the table, and stood up saying, "Take me home."
Ling Chen agreed, just about to move when he saw Gao Liang coming over with a bottle of beer, smiling broadly, "Lin, didn’t expect to see you here too."
Su Lin replied expressionlessly, "What do you want?"
"Nothing much, I think there might be some misunderstanding between us, so I came to apologize specially, hoping you can forgive us. We’re all old classmates, it’s just a joke, don’t take it to heart." As he spoke, Gao Liang extended the beer in his hand towards Ling Chen, saying, "Buddy, I apologize for what happened before. Come on, let’s drink this, and we can still be friends in the future."
Ling Chen smiled slightly and said, "No need, I didn’t take the previous matter to heart, besides, I’m not interested in being friends with you."
Hearing this, Gao Liang’s expression changed, his smile freezing instantly.
"What do you mean by that? Do you look down on me? Or think I’m not worthy of being your friend?"
Ling Chen shrugged and said, "If I were you, I wouldn’t be here embarrassing myself. A word of advice, go do what you should be doing, and don’t bother us."
"Well! Quite the tone you have, but do you think I’m a three-year-old, easily scared by you? Let me tell you, this is my friend’s venue, you’d better not be too arrogant, or I’ll make sure you crawl out after walking in."
Su Lin frowned and said unhappily, "Gao Liang, you’d better not cause trouble."
Gao Liang spread his hands, face cold, "Lin, don’t blame me for not showing your friend face, it’s him who’s asking for it, I came here in good faith to apologize, and what was his attitude?"
"You brought it upon yourself," Su Lin said, then grabbed Ling Chen’s hand and said, "Don’t bother with him, let’s go."
However, Gao Liang was quicker, blocking their way.
"Lin, don’t blame me for being unkind. You can leave, but he must apologize to me first."
"Apologize to you? Do you deserve it, get lost!" Su Lin was somewhat irritated. Gao Liang’s persistence made her very angry. With her temper, she really wanted to slap him a few times.
"Calm down, it’s not worth getting mad at someone like this," Ling Chen advised.
After a pause, he glanced around, noticing the young man who greeted Gao Liang standing at the bar, watching coldly. Seeing this, he waved his hand, gesturing for the bar owner to come over.
The latter hesitated for a moment, then walked up to the three, but his gaze fell on Gao Liang, as if seeking his opinion.
"Don’t look at him," Ling Chen said, "I ask you, who backs this place of yours?"
The young man sized him up and responded indifferently, "Why do you ask?"
Ling Chen continued, "Is it Jiang Hao or Zhao Zhengxiong? Tell me."
Upon hearing Ling Chen mention these two names, the young man’s expression changed slightly, and his tone softened considerably.
"Do you... know them?" The young man asked cautiously.
Ling Chen thought for a moment and said, "I remember that the venues around here are Jiang Hao’s, yours should be under his protection too." With that, he took out his phone and dialed a number.
Seeing his actions, the young man quickly asked, "Who are you calling?"
"Jiang Hao," Ling Chen said, tossing his phone to the young man. At this moment, Jiang Hao’s voice came through the phone, "Hello! Chen."
The young man, holding the phone, hearing Jiang Hao’s voice continuously coming through, grew pale, standing there helplessly, unsure whether to answer.
"Why aren’t you answering the phone?" Ling Chen asked, looking at him.
