Chapter 12 The Embrace
By the time the table was covered in beer and skewers, everyone was laughing and talking like old friends. My head was still spinning.
In just the short car ride, Liang Sheng had gone from “Boss” to “Liang Sheng” with them.
Maybe because we hadn’t all been together in so long, Xu Feng and the others were on fire, jumping from topic to topic.
Whatever came up, Liang Sheng smiled and responded perfectly, fitting in better than I did.
Sometimes they brought up university, or the years I vanished without a word.
When it got emotional, they grabbed me, cursing and tearing up, until my own eyes stung and I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
Those moments, Liang Sheng went unusually quiet. His hand stayed still on his can.
He kept his head low, half his face in shadow. I couldn’t read him.
We never made it to the internet café that night.
It started as light drinks, but no one held back. By the end, three were tipsy, two were properly drunk.
When we left, Liang Sheng and I naturally ended up together, seeing the others into taxis.
Once the cars disappeared, only the two of us remained. The air turned quiet.
All the sourness I’d pushed down since seeing him began to spread.
The first rush of excitement had faded, and courage slipped away.
He was right there.
Yet I couldn’t lift my head or meet his eyes… I couldn’t even let myself think.
Couldn’t wonder why he was in Lincheng—was it for me, or pure coincidence?
After a short silence, I kicked a pebble and spoke first, pretending to be casual. “What brought you to Lincheng? Business?”
“Mm. A project I’m considering here. Came to look around.”
“Oh… found a place to stay? The decent hotels are pretty far.”
“A Qian arranged a house. I’ll be staying there for now.”
“…Oh.”
Another day, another rich person. When would it be my turn?
I ran out of small talk. Liang Sheng took over.
“What about you? Why didn’t you go back to school after you returned?”
I’d thought about lying, but truth came out anyway.
“I dropped out when I left. Didn’t know if I’d ever come back. Can’t re-enroll now.”
He paused, clearly not expecting that, then gave a faint self-mocking smile. “So that’s why. No wonder I went to campus several times and never found you.”
No wonder. Several times. Never found you.
I repeated the words in my head, and suddenly everything felt lighter.
Bubbles burst inside my chest, lifting me until my voice floated. “Yeah… I’ve been working at the studio lately. Of course you wouldn’t find me on campus.”
“Mm. Now I know.”
He noticed the change in my tone and pressed harder.
“Getting along with your colleagues?”
“Yes.”
“Workload heavy?”
“…Not really.”
“Pay enough?”
“…”
I finally looked straight at him, face blank. “Liang Sheng, did you come all this way just to ask these things?”
He was quiet for two seconds. “No.”
I wanted to ask what, then.
“It’s been a long time. I didn’t know how to start.”
My breath caught.
Before I could respond, he continued. “Fang Mu, can I hug you?”
Our eyes locked. Expectation and a plea filled his.
I moved my lips, but no refusal came.
A few seconds later, he stepped forward and pulled me into his arms.