Back Then, I Adored You

When Qin Zhi’ai poured a glass of water for Xu Wennuan, she poured glasses for Lu Bancheng and Gu Yusheng, too.

When she came out of the kitchen with a tray, Gu Yusheng was standing at the door, just hanging up a call on his phone. He took a glance at the room while putting his phone in the pocket, and his look just passed over her.

Qin Zhi’ai was very nervous, her fingertips involuntarily grasping the tray, while she pretended to be calm, walking slowly to the coffee table and putting the tray down. She first handed a glass of water to Lu Bancheng, then took another glass of water, squatting in front of Xu Wennuan.

After taking the glass from her, Lu Bancheng politely said, “Thank you.”

Qin Zhi’ai replied to him with a smile, not saying anything, and handed the glass of water to Xu Wennuan, who was drunk and still in a daze.

After drinking half the glass of water, Lu Bancheng realized that although Xu Wennuan was Wu Hao’s girlfriend, she had been taken home by him and Gu Yusheng, and that it was awkward when four people were in the same room without speaking. He made an explanation to diffuse the awkwardness. “Haozi is drunk too, and he’s in a deep sleep in the car right now. I thought it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to come up alone, so I asked Brother Sheng to come up with me.”

When Xu Wennuan had drunk enough water, she turned her face to the side and laid on the sofa without moving.

When Qin Zhi’ai put the glass back on the coffee table, she said “hmm” and gave a smile to Lu Bancheng, who had talked a lot.

“Well, do you still remember me and Brother Sheng? We once had a meal together.” Lu Bancheng tried to make conversation again.

“Yes,” Qin Zhi’ai replied very simply.

“You were good at singing.” Lu Bancheng paid Qin Zhi’ai a compliment.

Qin Zhi’ai smiled again without saying anything.

After entering the room, Gu Yusheng hadn’t sat down on the sofa, but leaned against the wall at the door. He took a glance at Lu Bancheng, who was chatting with Qin Zhi’ai, and said, “Let’s go.” It was the first time he had spoken after seeing Qin Zhi’ai that night.

His tone was very cold, without any emotion, giving people the feeling that he was cold and alienating.

“Oh, in a minute.” Lu Bancheng replied, then immediately stood up and put down the glass. He was just about to say goodbye to Qin Zhi’ai, but after seeing Xu Wennuan lying on the sofa, he thought that perhaps it would be impossible for Qin Zhi’ai, a little girl, to get Xu Wennuan back to her room, so he pointed to Xu Wennuan and said to Qin Zhi’ai, “Which room is hers? Do you need me to help you take her there?”

“Yes, thank you,” Qin Zhi’ai said, pointing to a door on the left. “It’s that one.”

Without saying a word, Lu Bancheng easily lifted Xu Wennuan up from the sofa and strode into her bedroom.

Lu Bancheng had drunk a lot that evening for his birthday, so he wanted to go to the bathroom. After putting Xu Wennuan on her bed, he turned around and politely asked Qin Zhi’ai, who had followed him into the room, “May I use the bathroom?”

“Sure,” Qin Zhi’ai replied softly and gently.

She waited until Lu Bancheng had left Xu Wennuan’s bedroom before she went to pull the quilt carefully over Xu Wennuan and then left her bedroom.

Lu Bancheng hadn’t come out of the bathroom yet, so it was only Qin Zhi’ai and Gu Yusheng in the living room.

Gu Yusheng didn’t intend to speak, nor did Qin Zhi’ai.

Silence prevailed the living room.

Not knowing if it was due to a mental reason or not, Qin Zhi’ai gradually became more and more embarrassed and nervous.

Just when she was thinking about when Lu Bancheng would be done, Gu Yusheng, who was still standing at the door, suddenly said “hey” to her.