Chapter Twenty-Three: The Goddess of the Past

The moment Shi Yu mentioned Luo Qing’s name, an uneasy feeling swept through me. Maybe it was because of her humiliation last night, or perhaps it was the sense that this girl treated me with playful contempt and disdain. Whatever the reason, my recently recovered mood plummeted again.

“Shi Yu, can we not talk about her?” The more I thought about it, the more irritated I became. It was easier not to mention her at all.

After all, I’d only met Luo Qing a handful of times. Sure, what happened last night was absurd, but what did that really mean?

“Why are you so reactive? Are you two close?” Shi Yu shot back.

“Not close…”

“Then it’s settled. I just wanted to tell you she called me at noon today.” Shi Yu spoke calmly. “Since you don’t want to hear it, I’ll drop it…”

“What… did she say?” I wasn’t sure what came over me. I wanted nothing to do with her, yet I was dying to know what she’d said to Shi Yu.

“Oh? I didn’t think much of it before, but now it seems there’s a secret between you two…” Shi Yu chuckled softly, refusing to tell me more.

“It’s nothing. Forget it. I don’t want to hear any news about her again.” I really couldn’t figure out what angle I approached Luo Qing from—she was a stranger, yet not quite, and certainly not a friend. We weren’t from the same world. Better to spare myself the trouble.

“I won’t tease you anymore. She called to ask for your address.” Shi Yu’s laughter faded.

“What?” I wondered if I’d misheard her.

“That’s right. It seems she’s looking for you…” Shi Yu suddenly changed her tone and asked, “I heard she drank too much last night and you took her home. You didn’t do anything you’d regret, did you?”

“Of course not!” Shi Yu’s question left me speechless. Was I, Yang Chen, the kind of person who took advantage of others?

“That’s good…” Shi Yu’s voice softened again.

“There’s nothing else. I’ll hang up now. See you tonight.”

“Wait… Shi Yu, did you tell her my address?” A crucial question crossed my mind. Did Luo Qing now know where I lived?

“Of course… What’s there to hide?” Shi Yu paused, then added, “Even if I didn’t tell her, she could ask someone else, right?”

Indeed… Although I hadn’t interacted with her much, it was clear she was a stubborn woman, completely unfamiliar with weakness.

Never mind. I wasn’t a villain, and I hadn’t done anything shameful. Why should I avoid her? If she sought me out, I’d meet her head-on. When the time came, if we met again, I’d clear the air regardless of how things turned out.

Don’t always treat others as your playthings. The most important thing between people is sincerity, and I wouldn’t meddle in her affairs any longer. I silently admonished myself.

After ending the call with Shi Yu, I threw myself back into work. I labored, but I was happy. The new life gave me motivation to move forward, and I would seize it, putting in the effort it deserved.

The workday slipped by quickly, and before I knew it, it was time to clock out. After changing clothes and bidding goodbye to Li Xuyang and the other colleagues, I left the supermarket.

It was still early. I planned to eat something at a small restaurant first—tonight’s barbecue was just for leisure, not to fill up.

I had barely walked a few steps outside when I heard a familiar female voice calling out to me from behind, though I couldn’t immediately place it.

Turning around, I was surprised to see my old high school classmate Qin Xiaomo.

“Hey, Yang Chen, long time no see!” Qin Xiaomo waved at me and greeted me first.

“It’s been ages. If you hadn’t called out, I wouldn’t have recognized you!” I said as she approached.

She really had changed. I remembered her in high school as a chubby little girl, but now she carried herself with the poise of an urban woman.

“Are you working here now? Didn’t you go home to work after graduation?”

“I did plan to go home at first, but then I found a good job here and decided to stay.” Her voice was crisp, full of youthful energy.

As Qin Xiaomo came closer, I sized her up again: soft brown short hair, a pert nose, delicate lips, and a pair of expressive big eyes.

Unlike Luo Qing, her slender figure didn’t appear frail, and her black business suit accentuated her professionalism and competence.

I nodded subconsciously. Her current temperament and appearance were worlds apart from before; if not for high school memories and instinct, I wouldn’t have recognized her.

“You just finished work too, right? Want to grab a bite and catch up?” Qin Xiaomo suggested.

“Sounds good. What do you want to eat?” I had been thinking about asking about our old classmates anyway; since university, I’d rarely kept in touch with any of them.

We ended up at a noodle shop with elegant décor, and chose a window seat.

After ordering two bowls of noodles, we continued chatting. I learned that after graduation, she’d only kept in touch with a few close friends from high school.

Old classmates, when reunited, always fall into the same conversations—career, romance. We were no exception, asking about each other’s situations.

“So, where’s your girlfriend? Not around?” Qin Xiaomo asked after a moment.

“Single as ever. Where would I find a girlfriend?” I replied without thinking.

“What? Really?” she exclaimed.

“Why not? Do I look like someone who’d definitely have a girlfriend?” I smiled helplessly.

“Well, since you’re single, should I introduce someone to you? How about it?” Qin Xiaomo waved her phone, not waiting for my answer. “Want to jot down her number?”

I shook my head, laughing. I couldn’t accept this kind of relationship. Two people introduced might develop feelings someday, but that was still far from true love, wasn’t it? And I certainly didn’t believe in love at first sight.

“Sure you don’t want her? She’s a real beauty—you’ll regret it!”

“I won’t regret it, don’t worry.” I exhaled. If I tried to force feelings with someone I had no emotional foundation with, that’s what I’d truly regret.

“You haven’t changed at all—still no fun, not humorous! Let me tell you, the person I want to introduce is your high school goddess!” Qin Xiaomo laughed as she teased me.

“My high school goddess? Who was that…” I seemed to have forgotten almost everything about those years.

“Su Xuefei.”