Rebirth: Looking Back in a Sudden Realization - Chapter 16

In the Macula5 bar at sunset, dust floated quietly in the sunlight. Three young girls sat there silently, like a quiet gathering. Lu Linlang sobbed as she recounted everything that had happened. At just fourteen, she didn’t have strong shoulders to bear all this alone. Her voice was soft, yet it struck hard at the hearts of those listening.

It turned out that the people who came to capture Lu Linlang were none other than bodyguards sent by her stepfather.

Her mother had remarried three years ago and always obeyed her stepfather. His family was wealthy, able to provide them with a life of luxury. During the first year, her stepfather had indeed treated them well. But no one expected that he was actually a hypocrite, deliberately hiding his drinking problem. Once, drunk, he hit Lu Linlang and called her a burden. Yet, when sober, he would buy gifts for Lu Linlang and her mother to apologize.

The first couple of times, her mother didn’t resist. Over time, the stepfather became more brazen; every time he got drunk, he would beat Lu Linlang until she was covered in bruises. Her mother hated to see her daughter suffer, but she valued the stepfather’s wealth and social status even more. Torn between the two, she sent Lu Linlang to Qiu Shi School and rented a nearby apartment for her, hoping to help her escape the domestic violence.

Unexpectedly, after she arrived at Qiu Shi, her stepfather started abusing her mother as well.

“He’s a beast worse than a brute! Now my mom is beaten and covered in injuries. She wants a divorce, but he refuses. My mom ran back to my grandmother’s house to hide and has applied to the court for divorce and emotional damages. If she succeeds, he’ll lose half of the family wealth! So in a fit of rage, he wants me! Pfft! I’m not going! He sent people to capture me to threaten my mom! That’s why he caught me just now outside the rented apartment!” Lu Linlang’s eyes filled with hatred, and her fists clenched tightly.

Hearing this, Shao Chuyan instinctively reached up and touched her own face, which was no longer too painful. No wonder what she said this morning had upset Lu Linlang so much.

Seeing Shao Chuyan’s gesture, Lu Linlang lowered her head in embarrassment. “Sorry, Shao Chuyan, I was too impulsive this morning.”

Shao Chuyan waved her hand. “It’s okay.” Then she turned to He Ning and said, “Thank you so much for helping us just now. My name is Shao Chuyan, this is Lu Linlang, and we’re first-year students at Qiu Shi.”

“Heh, judging by your uniforms, I could tell you were from Qiu Shi,” He Ning said with a slightly incredulous smile. “You’re a first-year already?”

Shao Chuyan felt a little embarrassed. “Yes, I started school early.” Sigh—this year she was going through a growth spurt. Hopefully, next year she wouldn’t look so childish.

“Hehe, no wonder. I’m He Yining. You can call me Ah Ning. I’m a freshman at Xiahua Art Academy. This bar is run by me and some friends. Feel free to come by anytime,” He Ning smiled and added, “But no drinking! You’re underage!”

Lu Linlang replied guiltily; she had already tried alcohol before.

“Lu Linlang, your stepfather sent people to watch your place. Do you have nowhere to stay?” Shao Chuyan asked worriedly.

Lu Linlang shook her head in confusion; she didn’t know what to do.

He Ning thought for a moment. “There’s an empty room upstairs; you can stay there for a few days. But you’re so young, it’s not very safe for you here.”

“It’s okay, Ning-jie. I can stay here,” Lu Linlang said, her sly fox-like face lighting up with delight.

“No, it’s too unsafe,” Shao Chuyan shook her head. “You should stay at my place. We’re temporarily staying in a hotel anyway, and there’s a spare room. How about it?”

Lu Linlang’s eyes widened in disbelief. “You… you trust me that much? We just met this morning, and I even…”

“Ah, right! I forgot to tell you. My mom and your dad were old classmates,” Shao Chuyan interrupted, finally remembering she had forgotten to tell Lu Linlang.

“My dad?” Lu Linlang asked in shock.

“Yes, your dad is Mr. Lu from Tianhua Middle School. He told me early on that you were at Qiu Shi and asked us to get along well,” Shao Chuyan explained. Although the last sentence wasn’t something Mr. Lu had actually said, he surely wouldn’t mind. Lu Linlang blushed; she couldn’t believe she had been so rude to Shao Chuyan at first.

He Ning smiled, eyes curved beautifully. “You two are quite connected! Alright, then it’s settled. Linlang, it’s safer for you to stay at Chuyan’s place.”

Lu Linlang nodded. For some reason, she felt this He-jie had a special charm, and she really wanted to listen to her.

Shao Chuyan was about to say goodbye and head home when sudden, urgent knocking sounded at the door.

He Ning, seemingly accustomed to such interruptions, calmly went to open it.

Five tall boys entered, holding bass guitars. One was wearing a Qiu Shi uniform, which she recognized.

Qu Yi was surprised to see Shao Chuyan and Lu Linlang sitting in the bar. He quickly approached and politely greeted Shao Chuyan: “Hello, Shao Chuyan.” Then he turned to Lu Linlang: “Linlang, did you cry? Ning-jie, you know each other?”

“Just met,” He Ning replied, blushing slightly, and pointed behind Qu Yi: “Ah Bei, you’re here?”

From the four people behind Qu Yi, the tallest stepped forward and nodded. The bar’s lighting wasn’t good, and they had been backlit before. Now, stepping out of the shadows, a handsome face with resolute features appeared before Shao Chuyan.

Shao Chuyan recognized him—Qu Yi called him Big Brother, He Ning called him Ah Bei.

“You’re Shao Chuyan?” Ah Bei asked. Today he wasn’t wearing sunglasses. He wore a black T-shirt with a skull pattern and held a guitar.

“How do you know my name?” Shao Chuyan asked.

“Qu Yi told me this morning,” Ah Bei smiled. “I heard you transferred to Qiu Shi?”

“Yes,” Shao Chuyan nodded.

“Then you’re my junior,” Ah Bei said with a slight smile, his long, narrow eyes squinting slightly.

“You graduated from Qiu Shi too?” His appearance suggested he was a university student.

Ah Bei was about to nod when interrupted.

“Ah! Qu Yi, this is the bar you mentioned?” Lu Linlang suddenly realized.

Qu Yi nodded. “Yes! How about joining our Astringent band? You could sing here regularly!” He hurriedly introduced the band members: “Guys, this is the future lead singer I told you about, Lu Linlang!”

“Ah, what?” Lu Linlang asked.

“Astringent—like a styptic,” Shao Chuyan explained.

Qu Yi nodded with a smile, somewhat reserved around Shao Chuyan, then looked at Ah Bei: “Come, meet the band: Big Brother Ah Bei on guitar, Rui Pang on drums, Zhan Le on bass, Peng Hua on keyboards.”

Rui Pang had a punk hairstyle dyed blue, tall and hefty; Zhan Le was tall and slim with malt-colored skin; Peng Hua looked fair and delicate, wearing glasses.

“And you?” Shao Chuyan asked curiously.

“I’m the new guitarist and former lead singer. Big Brother is leaving the band, so we need Linlang to take over my role,” Qu Yi explained to the three girls.

“Ah Bei, why do you all look so serious?” Ah Bei noticed the odd atmosphere as soon as he entered. Only Qu Yi was his usual noisy self.

He Ning shook her head: “Nothing.”

Lu Linlang’s expression darkened. She wasn’t in the mood to discuss this now. She looked at Shao Chuyan and said to Qu Yi and the others: “Let’s talk tomorrow. It’s too late; we have to go.”

Qu Yi was baffled: “You guys? Go where? You live right next door!”

Lu Linlang, irritated, said: “Not tonight. I’m staying at Shao Chuyan’s place.”

Qu Yi was confused. Their appearance here was already strange enough, now they’re staying together? He stammered: “You… you weren’t this morning…? Now…?”

Except for Ah Bei, He Ning and the other band members were puzzled.

Shao Chuyan nodded kindly at him, indicating he was right.

Lu Linlang impatiently grabbed Shao Chuyan: “Chuyan, let’s go home.” She waved to He Ning: “He-jie, we’re leaving.” And they walked out of the bar.

Qu Yi shouted after them: “What’s going on? Are you coming to Big Brother’s farewell concert tomorrow night?”

Lu Linlang didn’t look back, raising a hand to wave goodbye.

Shao Chuyan, however, kindly turned back to wave at Ah Bei, He Ning, and Qu Yi’s group.