Chapter Seventy-One: Her News

From a distance, I caught sight of Sister Shi Yu sitting a little forlornly at the entrance of the barbecue shop, and I hurried over in a half-run.

It had been nearly two months since I last saw Shi Yu, and meeting her again, even by chance, was genuinely a breath of fresh air. Today, she wore a pale yellow autumn outfit—loose but not oversized—with white sneakers on her feet. She sat with one leg crossed, gazing into the distance and lost in thought.

"Sister," I waved to greet her.

Shi Yu looked at me, smiled gently, and nodded, then motioned for me to sit beside her.

"Sister, Luo—" I began, but Shi Yu lightly pressed her finger against my lips and handed me the menu.

Staring at the familiar sheet, my impatience only grew. I glanced sideways at the pretty, mature senior beside me. She caught my questioning gaze and merely shook her head with a warm smile, making it impossible for me to press her further.

I called over the waiter and ordered some of Shi Yu's favorite dishes, then asked for a round of beer. I had no appetite at all; even if Luo Qing wouldn’t see me, I at least wanted to know if she was well.

I absentmindedly pulled out the cigarettes Luo Qing had left me, lit one skillfully, and took a deep drag before suddenly realizing something.

Feeling a bit embarrassed, I looked at Shi Yu. She watched me smoke and frowned slightly, but surprisingly did not scold me. In the past, I would never smoke in front of her because I knew she despised smokers. When I first started singing at Fenghua Bar, she’d often lecture me about it.

Awkwardly, I stubbed out the cigarette after just one puff, apologetic. Shi Yu merely sighed and remained silent, making the atmosphere somewhat awkward.

"Where’s An Ye, that brat? I haven’t seen him in ages. I’ve been through so much, and he dares not show up?" I glanced symbolically around, a little dissatisfied.

"I haven’t seen Yezi in a long time either," Shi Yu’s voice was as pleasant as ever, but her tone was indifferent.

I looked at her in surprise, puzzled. Yezi rarely skipped the bar; he genuinely wanted to make something of himself in this field. Even though he only founded a small band that played at the bar, he valued it greatly.

"Yezi resigned half a month ago. He didn’t tell me why, only that he wanted to pursue something very important in his life." Shi Yu took the barbecue platter from the waiter and, thinking aloud, asked, "Is he like you?"

"Like me?" I didn’t understand.

An Ye, despite his fair, handsome face, was a rare man of loyalty and passion, especially when it came to love. If he left without a word, he must have some unspeakable reason.

Just then, I realized I’d almost forgotten something crucial.

"Sister Shi, he must be off to pursue his own love."

"Love?" Shi Yu picked up a skewer but didn’t eat, gesturing for me to continue.

"Yes, Yezi fell for a girl named Youqin—though that’s not her real name." I took a skewer myself; to be honest, I really was a bit hungry.

"Oh, is that the guitar girl you mentioned last time?" Shi Yu opened a bottle of beer for me and poured me a glass before saying, "Wasn’t she the cool girl who went on stage last at the opening of the Other Shore Bar?"

I’d forgotten I had ever mentioned her to Shi Yu and An Ye over a meal. As I chastised myself for my poor memory, I couldn’t help but admire Shi Yu’s feminine intuition—she guessed it instantly.

Seeing me nod, Shi Yu smiled and said, "But I suspect Yezi’s journey will be rough. From my perspective, that girl isn’t simple—she’s someone who’s been through a lot, and missed a lot."

My surprise was obvious. Shi Yu, seeing she’d guessed right again, explained, "For singers, only creative talent and voice are innate; everything else is acquired. I heard her sing that day—it was just as you said, incredibly penetrating, as if it could reach the gentlest part of your soul. That kind of strength is cultivated. The sorrow in her voice is woven into her flesh and blood, and that ability to evoke instant resonance comes only after enormous hardship or torment."

Shi Yu’s analysis made sense, and I did know a little about Youqin’s past—it matched her description closely.

"Is An Ye’s phone still unreachable?"

Shi Yu finally ate her first skewer, while I had nearly ten empty sticks stacked up.

"You can try calling yourself," Shi Yu's tone was more relaxed than before, and it warmed me. She still cared for the two of us—her forever-young brothers. Perhaps, unbeknownst to me, she’d already tried countless times to call him.

Hearing this, I put away my phone. In front of her, my concern seemed redundant and awkward. I could only quietly raise my glass and drain it.

Setting the glass down, I looked up from the little outdoor table at the stars overhead. I wondered why life had to be so exhausting, why love was always so fraught with uncertainties. Somewhere in the world, at this very moment, surely someone shared my feelings—aimlessly waiting for someone, grieving for someone important.

"Sister…" I softly called Shi Yu beside me. I couldn’t bear this confusion any longer; I desperately wanted news of Luo Qing, feeling that even the tiniest bit would bring me closer to her.

"Mm," Shi Yu answered without looking at me, as if she already knew what I wanted to ask.

"Do you know where Luo Qing is now?" My voice was almost pleading.

Shi Yu acted as if she hadn’t heard, turning her head away in silence while I waited patiently for her answer.

After a moment, Shi Yu finally turned to me. I had unconsciously moved closer, gazing at her flawless face, the subtle fragrance of her breath barely perceptible.

"Do you really have to know?"

I saw something fleeting in her eyes and nodded hard.

"Then I’ll answer just this one question. No matter how you feel afterward, don’t ask any more—understand?" Her face was serious, and I nodded eagerly, elated.

I knew Shi Yu always avoided this topic for a reason. She didn’t want to deceive me, nor could she bear to see me like this. She was always gentle and kind, unable to hurt anyone.

After a while, Shi Yu seemed to be gathering her words, and I waited quietly, anxiously.

Finally, Shi Yu spoke, and I listened intently, determined not to miss a single detail about Luo Qing.

"She’s no longer in the country."

I stared blankly at Shi Yu, who turned her head away again, not quite hearing.

"Sister, wh—what? I didn’t hear clearly…" My voice trembled. It couldn’t be true—it just couldn’t!

"She—Luo Qing—has gone abroad!" Shi Yu’s voice was loud this time, startling the other tables. Men drawn by her voice couldn’t take their eyes off her beauty and perfect figure.

"No… Impossible… How could…" It felt as though my world collapsed in an instant. There must be a reason—Luo Qing surely had her own hardship. I was convinced she wouldn’t willingly leave me with such an outcome.

"Chen Zi, don’t be too sad…" Shi Yu gently wrapped her arm around my shoulder to comfort me, but my mind was blank—I couldn’t even muster the strength to think, only endless confusion and loss remained.

I had no memory of how or when the meal ended with Shi Yu, nor how I made it home. I wandered through the night like a drunkard, dazed and lost.

Lying in that unfamiliar yet warm bed, my mind was filled with images of Luo Qing: her fiery clothes, her beautiful face, her proud and peculiar personality, unforgettable memories…

I grabbed my phone and called Luo Qing again and again, but only heard Shi Yu’s anxious voice on the other end. I stared at the name on my screen, the pain of farewell tormenting my heart repeatedly, as I kept asking myself why. Yet only countless fragmented memories and fragile words echoed in my mind.

Not until Shi Yu hung up and called me back did I regain a shred of sanity at the sound of the ringtone.

"Sister… I’m fine…"

"Are you home? I’m coming over," Shi Yu’s voice was anxious.

"It’s okay, really… I’m fine…"

"Chen Zi, remember—you’re a man. A man can only fall on the road ahead, never turn back, and never be weak. Understand?"

Her voice softened, but every word struck deep within me.

"I know, Sister. I’m fine… Sleep early, I’ll sleep too."

After hanging up, I stared at the cold, dark ceiling, sleep eluding me completely. My eyes were wide open, tears falling onto the pillow. I would wait for you to return—no matter the reason, no matter the outcome, I want to hear it from your own lips…