Dew Turns White from This Night

Chapter 5

Like Susan, Xu Qing was a roommate from university days. After graduating, she had left City G without a trace, until her return three months prior, having been away for a full four years.

Back then, to avoid him, she had kept a low profile, maintaining contact with only a select few like Susan, severing ties with almost all former classmates. Over the years, there were no shortage of gatherings organized by the "matchmakers" from their class, but she never attended one, always gleaning information indirectly through Susan.

And Susan, while often frustrated with her passivity, had a soft heart and would occasionally slip her some news about him. This time, there was no Zhou Huaian, no Gu Ye Bai — just a small gathering of old friends, giving her no reason to refuse.

At exactly 8:30 PM, at Lavender.

As Youyan gently turned the door handle of the private room, she was hit with a mix of surprise, confusion, and a wry smile. Though years had passed, how could she have forgotten such a painful experience from the past?

Xu Qing, a native of City G, had once given her directions to find a shop in the city. She had said it was easy to locate since there were only a few shops in that area, just ask around. When Youyan finally found the place, she was stunned; indeed, there were "only a few" — thirty-odd shops to be exact.

After four years, Xu Qing hadn't disappointed. It was indeed a small gathering of old friends, but one could cry seeing it, provided one ignored the dozens of people in the main hall.

The warm orange lighting, the soft piano concerto, urban white-collar workers elegantly sipping their burgundy wine, exchanging laughter and banter amidst the clinking of glasses — the beauty and harmony of the scene seemed disrupted by her sudden arrival.

Susan was currently on a flight to Turkey, and some classmates had left City G years ago. Apart from them, almost everyone from their major was present, some even bringing their partners.

For instance, in the midst of the crowd, there was Zhou Huaian, surrounded by people, with the genius from the Class of '99 Art Department of G University, Gu Ye Bai, by her side.

Her hand was still on the door handle when numerous eyes turned towards her, like pebbles dropped into a still pond, how could there not be ripples? The gazes of the gossipers flickered among the three of them.

Four years, an awkward number — not too short, not too long, but long enough for some people to lose something or gain something after loss.

Inside or outside the besieged city, perhaps it's all just a game, a dream, played by time.

Catching the looks of curiosity or veiled mockery from her former classmates, a cold smile played on Huaian's lips, followed by genuine shock; she hadn't expected to see Lu Youyan at this moment. Since she officially got together with the man beside her two years ago, how many times had she wondered in the middle of the night how Lu Youyan would appear before them? Now, just as she had begun to bury this person in her heart, she appeared like a ghost.

She thought she had hidden her emotions well, but Gu Ye Bai caught the slight disturbance. His long, elegant fingers gently brushed over her palm, as if to soothe her.

Yes, nothing escapes his notice; concealment is an art he masters. He could remain virtually unknown at G University for nearly three years until one summer afternoon when he became famous across the campus. For him, everything seemed possible. This excellent man, her man.

She couldn't help but glance at his profile; his dark, deep eyes reflected Lu Youyan's figure, yet they remained calm, as if looking at a stranger. This realization brought her a bit of comfort.