Chapter Eighty-Four: Seeking

I was stunned by my own bold idea, lying in bed for a long time without replying to any messages. All the messages I had once sent her were stored on the phone I had lost, and I wanted to find some clues, but there was nothing to be found.

“Are you asleep?” Another message came through.

“Luo Qing, why did you leave me without saying a word…”

“What are you talking about? You must have mistaken me for someone else.”

I stared at the reply, swift and without hesitation, and my doubts were finally dispelled. An indescribable fatigue washed over my mind, and disappointment surged uncontrollably in my heart. How could I have naïvely thought that a strange woman, whom I might have never even met, was Luo Qing? Has the long wait and repeated disappointment finally made me lose my reason?

“It’s nothing, just sent the wrong message. I’m chatting with my girlfriend over here.” Listlessly, I cobbled together an excuse and sent it.

“Oh… Well, you two go ahead and chat. I won’t disturb you!” There was a note of disappointment in her words, but what use was that to me? She wasn’t the person in my heart.

“So… how should I address you? I can’t keep your number without a name,” I asked after some thought.

“Just call me Tian’er. I’m off to sleep now. Bye!”

“Tian’er…” I murmured softly. What an odd name… Tossing the phone aside, I lay in bed and soon drifted into a deep sleep.

The next morning, the phone rang and startled me awake. One glance at the caller ID, and I was instantly alert, grabbing the phone and answering it.

“Brother, are you up yet?” The moment the phone touched my ear, Zhao Ke Wen’s charming voice filled it.

“I’m awake. So… how’s Zhang Chuang? Did anything happen last night?” The first thing that came to mind was Zhang Chuang, whom Zhao Ke Wen had dragged off to get a room. That guy could be impulsive at times, but after spending some time with him, I knew he was actually a good-natured man, devoted to love. The fact that he could remain steadfast in his feelings for Li Hui Xin, a woman as fierce as a tigress, was something many could learn from.

“Hmph…” Zhao Ke Wen sounded a little annoyed. “You don’t even ask how I am after a whole night, just worried about your best buddy?”

“Come on, sis, don’t mess around. You’re fine, aren’t you? But what about Zhang Chuang? Why can’t I hear him? Did he sober up in the middle of the night and go home?”

I wasn’t in the mood to joke with her. What Zhao Ke Wen did might be considered a prank, but if it went too far, it could be disastrous. If Li Hui Xin found out and the two ended up breaking up for good, not only would Zhang Chuang come after me for letting him fall into this trap, I’d also have to live with the guilt.

“Relax, he’s got a sturdy body. I had a great time all night and he’s just fine… Ugh, not talking anymore. I’m exhausted from last night, heading home to rest. Come pick him up yourself. He’s sleeping like the dead, I’m not bothering with him. Room 302, Edge Motel. Hurry.” Zhao Ke Wen yawned and hung up before I could ask more.

Damn! Did it really happen? Ke Wen, why couldn’t you control yourself? Don’t you realize what a blow this is to someone so devoted to love? My reputation, all ruined by last night! When I see Zhang Chuang, he’s going to kill me!

I didn’t dare linger at home. I hurriedly dressed and rushed downstairs, still thinking about how to explain things to Zhang Chuang. Should I just say he acted out of drunkenness? Even if he was drunk, I was right there—why didn’t I stop him? As his friend, I watched him jump into the fire; I had to take some responsibility for the wreckage of his love life.

At the motel, the owner gave me a strange look. I mumbled, “Looking for someone,” and hurried upstairs.

I knocked hard on the door, and after a tense wait, Zhang Chuang finally opened it, bleary-eyed in wrinkled pajamas. I pushed inside, but was stunned by what I saw.

Everything in the room was neat and orderly. There was no sign of a wild night. His clothes were neatly folded on the bedside cabinet, next to a half-empty bottle of apple cider. Even the slippers were lined up perfectly. None of it matched my expectations.

Zhang Chuang sat slowly on the pristine bed, took a moment, then said, “Bro, is your girlfriend a bit abusive? She beat me up all night!” He lifted his shirt, revealing red marks.

“You two didn’t…” I looked at him, puzzled. He seemed so calm and mature now, completely different from last night.

“Didn’t what?” Zhang Chuang was just as confused.

“Didn’t do anything… to betray your girlfriend?”

“Are you nuts? She’s your girlfriend. What could happen between us? I want to ask you, too. I got drunk, and somehow ended up at a motel with her. What happened last night?” Zhang Chuang was clearly annoyed.

“Think carefully. Can you remember anything else?” I pressed him.

“Remember what? I vaguely recall sobering up, then she started scolding me, then gave me a long lecture about how to treat women, how to get their love—all night until dawn.” Zhang Chuang looked at me, agitation rising in his voice.

Phew… It was good nothing happened. My guilty heart finally relaxed.

“I should head back. I haven’t contacted Xiao Xin all night, she must be worried sick.” Zhang Chuang changed clothes, took out his phone, and after a moment, his face showed surprise.

His expression was bizarre, so I got up and looked at his phone. It was a series of texts sent to Li Hui Xin in the middle of the night.

“Baby, I know I was wrong. Nothing else matters, you’re my most important dream.” Reading the message, I laughed and teased him, “Nice, kid. That’s pretty mushy, but girls love genuine apologies!”

They had chatted a bit more, and clearly Li Hui Xin had forgiven him. Her tone was sweet and gentle, nothing like the fierce woman I knew. I didn’t want to intrude on their privacy, so I stepped back and urged him to get dressed.

After a long pause, Zhang Chuang said, “I didn’t send those messages…”

“What?” I stared at him in disbelief. If he didn’t send them, there was only one answer.

“Well, I’m impressed. Your girlfriend’s got real skills. She not only called in sick for me, but also smoothed things over with my girl…” Zhang Chuang made a gesture of respect, as if I’d become his big brother.

“Her name’s Zhao Ke Wen, not my girlfriend.” I quickly waved my hand, feeling a warm glow in my heart. Ke Wen really handled everything perfectly—efficient, incisive, thorough.

“Zhao Ke Wen?” Zhang Chuang paused as he pulled on his jacket. “You mean the woman last night was Zhao Ke Wen, the owner of the Other Shore Bar?”

I nodded, thinking he was a bit clueless. Zhao Ke Wen had been to the police station several times lately, and he hadn’t recognized her…

Walking out of the motel with Zhang Chuang, I yawned. It was barely six in the morning, and although I was trying to get up early these days, I’d never left home before sunrise. This was torture.

“Well, I can see you’re tired because of me. I need to go accompany Xiao Xin for some shopping, so I won’t bother you… Oh, and don’t forget to thank Zhao Ke Wen for me.” Zhang Chuang hailed a cab, wincing as he raised his arm.

“Feels like I got beaten up…” He rubbed his shoulder and disappeared into the taxi.

I wasn’t about to meddle in his affairs. I just felt Ke Wen really did as she said—she straightened Zhang Chuang out. What looked like the end of a love story was resolved in such an incredible way.

I really need to ask Ke Wen how she managed it: counseling Zhang Chuang while secretly solving his crisis. With her emotional intelligence and wit, she truly deserves to be a lady tycoon.

Just then, Shi Yu called.

“Chen, what do you plan to name your shop? I’ve picked out a place for you—110 square meters. See if the name fits.”

“Early spring longs for summer’s heat, lovers miss each other, as if all good things are in the future… Searching, yearning, in the quiet loneliness, we all pursue comfort, happiness, love, each so hard to attain—that’s the greatest joy of the future… Let’s keep it simple and meaningful. How about ‘Search’?”

“‘Search’… a dreamlike touch, seeking in the fleeting life, don’t mock the youth chasing the clouds… That’s a profound name, Chen. Make sure you prove yourself! The rest is up to you now. I need a break. When I wake up, we’ll go see the shop together and check if you like it,” Shi Yu’s gentle and lazy voice sent a pleasant tingle through me. I quickly told her to rest well, then hung up.

I had planned to go home and take another nap, but Shi Yu’s words shattered my lazy intentions. I had nothing settled, not even tools, yet Shi Yu had already taken care of everything. All that was left was lazy me and my idle dreams. I couldn’t help but mock myself—my grand ambitions unfulfilled, and here I was thinking of sleep!