Dew Turns White from This Night

Chapter 12

His voice rang in her ears after four years.

However, he wasn't calling her name.

Embracing Huaian, he gave a slight smile. His dark blue suit with intricate cufflinks, engraved with the motif of ivy and longevity. His hair, like ink, fell in loose strands, his deep eyes bright yet detached; this smile was soul-stirring.

"We were supposed to discuss next month's exhibition in New York, but Huaian said there was some fun here, so we came over. What's this, Chu, you just want us to watch?" he said lightly.

"Exactly, exactly." As soon as Gu Ye Bai finished speaking, someone immediately chimed in with the teasing.

Gu Ye Bai and Huaian exchanged a smile, their understanding unspoken.

Youyan's heart twinged, and she smiled too.

Lin Ziyan subtly glanced at Xu Qing, who turned away and whispered coldly in Youyan's ear, "This girl, Chu Ke, is still a bit naive."

Chu Ke bit her lip, then smiled brightly, throwing the wine bottle high into the air. Someone gasped in surprise. With quick hands, Chu Ke caught the bottle as it descended.

"Truth or Dare," she said, her red lips enchanting.

"Isn't this a bit childish?" the girl who had earlier defended Fang Minghui sneered.

However, Gu Ye Bai, leading Huaian, took a seat, and people shifted to make room. They sat to Xu Qing's left, just one seat away from Youyan.

The game was not unfamiliar. Under the orange light, with four parts of their minds elsewhere.

Huaian remembered Youyan, who used to snuggle in Gu Ye Bai's arms back then, and she casually picked up her wine glass.

His long fingers pressed on hers as he tilted his head back. Gu Ye Bai's expression was calm, but he applied some pressure. Huaian felt a surge of joy and glanced at Youyan.

Youyan didn't drink the juice; she switched to wine, taking a sip that was three parts spicy and seven parts bitter.

On the other side, Lin Ziyan's face twitched again, and Xu Qing started laughing. Some in the room probably remembered that small storm from back in the day and joined in the laughter. The juniors inquired, and their voices merged into one.

That year, in G University's dormitory.

Gu Ye Bai, Huaian, Youyan, Chi Pu, Cheng Yuan, Susan, Fang Ying, Lin Ziyan, Xu Qing...

A simple bottle, a simple game.

Truth or Dare, asking the most straightforward of secrets.

Youyan was the unlucky one, often picked, changing seats multiple times without success. When asked private questions about her relationship with Gu Ye Bai, she wouldn't reveal the truth, nor would she drink the alcohol, looking at Gu Ye Bai with a bitter face. He would give a light smile, refusing to drink for her, so she had to accept the bizarre tasks with a wrinkled nose.

What made everyone laugh was when Youyan was dared to call Gu Ye Bai's mentor, Professor Xia, and introduce herself, saying, "Professor Xia, hello, I'm Youyan, oh, yes, I'm Gu Ye Bai's... friend. There's something I've wanted to tell you for a long time — your beard is really quite funny."

Professor Xia, who had already sighed at how his brilliant student ended up with someone as clumsy as Youyan, must have turned green with frustration.

The one who made everyone laugh the most was Lin Ziyan.

Back then, it was Xu Qing who asked, "Lin Ziyan, you actually have improper thoughts about Susan, don't you?"

Lin Ziyan was drinking water at the time and spat it out. Sitting opposite him was Fang Ying, who coolly picked up a book to shield herself from the splash.

Lin Ziyan instinctively looked at Susan; she smiled, her face bright and beautiful.

He said, "Damn it, Xu Qing, I'll drink."

Actually, by saying that, he had already revealed his secret; if he didn't like her, he would've just said no. Now, his feelings were declared to the world.

Unfortunately, there was no more alcohol to drink; those unwilling to reveal the truth or take on challenges had already drunk it all.

Lin Ziyan was forced to take on the dare. Youyan, who had been gloomy all evening because of her bad luck, finally burst into laughter, snuggling into Gu Ye Bai's arms.

Huaian gave the two a faint look, clenching her fist.

Lin Ziyan grabbed a large guitar, ran to the girls' dormitory of the Foreign Languages Department, and shouted, "Look over here, girl across the way!"

The Foreign Languages Department was known for its diversity, with students from English, French, German, Japanese, Italian, and more — over eight countries, usually not getting along. Now, they united against the common enemy:

"Va-t'en!" (French: Get lost!)

"Asshole!" (English: Jerk!)

"Arschloch!" (German: Bastard!)

"バカやろ!" (Japanese: i***t!)

From the boys' dormitory on the other side, there was laughter and curses in various local dialects, and the crowd following Lin Ziyan marveled at the richness of the Chinese language.

As a result, Lin Ziyan was pelted with numerous eggs and doused with a bucket of cold water from above.

Thanks to Lin Ziyan, the next day, the university hastily convened an ideological education meeting to guide all students, and Lin Ziyan had to undergo a week of psychological counseling at the school clinic, becoming somewhat of a legend.

That summer night, with scattered lights and lively chatter, the sky was lit up by fireworks celebrating the opening of a commercial skyscraper. Friends gathered, laughing and joking.

The fireworks reflected red on Youyan's face as Gu Ye Bai held her, watching all the world's merriment.

The fleeting years were beautiful. Today, what has eroded away is not just time.

The faces and the peach blossoms are the same, yet the people are no longer the same. The fireworks are fragmented, like the moments we try to capture, who can compare to the fireworks?

Under the lights, the game began. The spinning bottle stopped in front of Huaian. Chu Ke, acting as the dealer, managed the force well.

Everyone exchanged smiles, waiting for Chu Ke's question. With two beauties like Chu Ke and Huaian, and rumors of unresolved issues between Chu Ke and Senior Gu, plus the presence of the ex, Youyan, who wouldn't want to watch this spectacle?

Chu Ke looked at Huaian without changing her expression and asked with a smile, "Senior, I'll ask then. When, where, and how was your first time with Brother Gu?"

This question caused an uproar. Chu Ke certainly knew how to make an impact. Lin Ziyan even dramatically slid off his chair.

No one expected Chu Ke to be so direct and personal with her question.

Lin Ziyan laughed, "Little sister Chu, time, place, and action, that's three questions."

Huaian, recalling her moments with Gu Ye Bai, blushed slightly, then gave a cold smile inside, keeping her composure. She picked up her wine glass, a smile playing on her lips as she raised it.

Youyan clenched her hand tightly in her pocket, while Xu Qing suddenly grasped her other hand, giving a self-deprecating smile and shaking her head.

Chu Ke chuckled, "Senior, if you're not up for the challenge, you shouldn't just drink this one cup. Otherwise, everyone will follow suit, and it won't be fun."

Her gaze shifted, intentionally or not, to a bottle of red wine on the table and an oversized, specially made wine glass.

This escalated the atmosphere to its peak, silencing the previously buzzing crowd. All eyes focused on Huaian.

Huaian thought coldly, 'Chu Ke, you're ruthless.' Her face still wore a beautiful smile, her hand reaching for the bottle.

Her blue dress like a clear sea, someone was quicker, by just half a beat.

Everyone saw a blur before their eyes, and when they looked again, the bottle was in the hands of that handsome, indifferent man.

Gu Ye Bai beckoned to a nearby waiter, who promptly handed over a wine opener.

He took it, saying lightly, "A Bordeaux from '05, not too bad. Huaian, you don't mind if I drink this one for you, do you?"

Huaian's eyes sparkled with joy, her lips curved into a smile as she glanced at Chu Ke, but her gaze ended on Youyan.

Youyan, pale-faced. The alcohol he once wouldn't drink for her, he now drank for his current lover.