Chapter 65: Encountering Lin Feifei

Over dinner, I gathered some basic information about the girl. We hailed from the same hometown. Her stepmother treated her poorly, and her family favored boys over girls. Desperate to escape that household, she left for another city to work as soon as she graduated from vocational school.

She had been to many cities and held various jobs, but due to her lack of higher education, she was restricted to positions like being a waitress. Later, upon arriving here, she was instantly captivated by the dazzling, neon-lit metropolis. Hearing that working as a hostess at a KTV paid well, she rushed over to Paradise Earth, spending her days in a drunken, dreamlike haze.

Though she spoke of it with casual indifference, an indescribable emotion welled up inside me, creating a heavy, pent-up blockage in my chest that I could not release.

I looked closely at the beautiful face before me. Her features were delicate, her alluring eyes flickered with flirtatious charm, and her entire being exuded an enchanting aura.

Yet, beneath the seductive makeup, I caught a glimpse of remarkably clear eyes.

Hesitating for a moment, I tentatively asked, "Have you ever thought about changing jobs? Drinking every night like this is no way to live."

A bitter smile touched Bai Yongqi's lips. "Aside from singing and drinking, I don't know how to do anything else! When I first came here, I tried looking for office jobs, but I couldn't wrap my head around printers or Excel."

With that, she cast a complex glance at me, asking with a trace of tentative probing: "You don't look down on my job, do you?"

I shook my head and quickly denied it, "No, no, no. If I looked down on you, I wouldn't be sitting here having dinner with you."

The tension eased from Bai Yongqi's face. Resting her chin on one hand, she looked at me with a smile. "I've met so many men, but you're the only one who respects me. Actually, I could tell from the way you acted at the KTV last time—you're a good guy."

I smiled silently. Truth be told, I had a favorable impression of this girl, but it was nothing more than that.

After the meal, I accompanied her to a movie. She chose a romance film, and I fell asleep not long after it started. I woke up once midway, only to drift off again almost immediately, remaining asleep until the movie was nearly over.

As the crowd dispersed, we walked out together. She glanced at me and asked, "Was this movie really that boring? I saw you fall asleep several times."

I smiled. "It was great. It successfully cured my insomnia."

"Haha..."

I glanced at my watch; it was already approaching nine in the evening. "It's getting late," I said. "You should head home."

Bai Yongqi pouting slightly, retorted, "Head home? What are you talking about? I still have to go to work!"

"It's past nine. You're still going?"

"You don't get it, do you? KTVs operate at night, obviously. In a couple more years of work, I'll have saved enough for a down payment on a house."

By the end of her sentence, a look of hopeful yearning flashed across her eyes.

Figuring I would pass by Paradise Earth on my way home anyway, I decided to walk along with her.

"Let me drive you, then."

She dug a set of keys out of her small handbag and tossed them to me with a nonchalant flick of her wrist.

"Alright! You drive, then."

I caught the keys and took a look: a BMW Mini.

Well, so much for that! It turned out I was the clown all along.

We chatted as we drove. She was a cheerful young woman whose personality I rather liked, which inevitably made me think of Lin Feifei. I had been "neglecting" her for quite a while now, and I wondered what she was up to.

Arriving at Paradise Earth, I stepped out of the car, and Bai Yongqi blew me a flying kiss.

"I'm off to work! Catch you on the phone later."

She waved goodbye, teetering in her little high heels as she swayed away.

No sooner had Bai Yongqi left than a woman's voice, simultaneously cold and crisp, drifted over from nearby.

"Yu Bin."

My heart skipped a beat.

The voice was far too familiar; who else could it be but Lin Feifei?

I turned my head, and sure enough, it was her.

She and Xue Qiuyun had just stepped out of a car. Lin Feifei cast a glance at Bai Yongqi's retreating figure, then looked back at me, her eyes tinged with disappointment.

Unaware of what had transpired between us, Xue Qiuyun looked at me in bewilderment. "Yu Bin, didn't Feifei say you weren't coming? What's going on here?"

My mind went entirely blank. What on earth was happening?!

Recovering from my momentary daze, I offered a wry smile. "Oh, I was just dropping a friend off. What brings you ladies here?"

Xue Qiuyun blinked her large eyes in astonishment. "Are you kidding me? Today is Feifei's birthday. You didn't know?"

My head buzzed!

No wonder she had been inviting me out for dinner and late-night snacks—today was her birthday, and I, idiot that I was, had completely missed it.

Recalling our phone conversation earlier, I could finally taste the peculiar undertones behind her words.

Filled with vexation and remorse, I cast a regretful glance at Lin Feifei, but her face remained utterly devoid of expression.

Noticing my gaze, Lin Feifei stared fixedly at me, her lips curling downward in disappointment as she muttered, "So the 'something to do' you mentioned was going out with another girl!"

I managed a few dry laughs, remaining silent. Any explanation at this point would be futile.

"Qiuyun, let's go."

With that, Lin Feifei grabbed Xue Qiuyun by the arm, ready to walk inside.

Xue Qiuyun quickly caught on to the situation and stepped in to smooth things over for me.

"Since Yu Bin is already here, he might as well come inside with us! Right, Yu Bin?"

I nodded hastily, thanking this beautiful and kind-hearted fairy from the bottom of my heart.

"Right, right, right."

Lin Feifei shot her a sideways glance, but, finding herself out of options, glared at me in exasperation.

"Fine, you come along too!"

Once inside the private room, five or six stylishly dressed young women were already seated. Aside from Tang Qin, I did not recognize any of them.

Through introductions, I learned they were all flight attendants.

Suddenly, I felt like I had stepped into the Kingdom of Women.

I could now fully understand Monk Xuanzang; if I were in his shoes, I would definitely have chosen to stay behind voluntarily.

As the sole male in the room, I instantly became the center of their attention.

"Feifei, introduce us! Is this your boyfriend?"

"He's quite handsome, and looks so shy!"

Lin Feifei had previously maintained a deadpan expression, but upon hearing someone praise my shyness, she was startled into a reluctant laugh.

She first shot me an exasperated look, then said, "Him? Shy? That's just because you don't know him. Once you do, you'll probably want to curse him out."

I grinned and chimed in, "And if you really get to know me, chances are you'll just want to beat me up."

A round of silvery laughter rang through the room. Remembering it was Lin Feifei's birthday, a pang of guilt struck me when I watched them bring out the cake.

Since today was her birthday and I had prepared nothing, I decided to head to the bar counter and buy a couple of nice bottles of liquor to make up for it.

Excusing myself, I stood up and walked out.

Browsing through the selection at the bar, I found myself overwhelmed by choices. Since I rarely drank at establishments like this KTV, I had no idea what to pick.

Just as I stood there in a daze, a pleasantly surprised voice sounded beside me.

"Yu Bin?"

Following the voice, I turned my head and froze at the sight of that bright, elegant face.