Unexpected (GL) - Chapter 18

As soon as Zhou Yan spoke, everyone in the room looked at Xie Jing. Chen Yuan held back her laughter, Qin Ning remained expressionless and cool, and only Shen Xinghe reached out with one finger to wipe the cream off the tip of Xie Jing’s nose. Under the colorful lights in the private room, Xie Jing’s cheeks turned pink. Shen Xinghe then realized her action was a bit too intimate and pulled her hand back, her face slightly flushed.

Seeing this, Zhou Yan, with an excited expression like a fangirl, quickly began handing out slices of cake. After they finished the cake, Zhou Yan suggested they take turns singing. She had already
sung a duet with Chen Yuan earlier, so now it was Qin Ning’s turn. They all thought that someone as cold and aloof as Qin Ning wouldn’t sing in front of everyone. But to their surprise, Qin Ning did
the unexpected—she stood up, took the microphone from Zhou Yan, and picked the song “A Little Happiness.”

🎶 “Meeting you was such a stroke of luck…”

🎶 “You were the luck I wanted to hold on to…”

🎶 “We used to be so close to love…”

While Qin Ning was singing, her eyes seemed to occasionally drift toward Xie Jing’s direction. Shen Xinghe, sitting next to Xie Jing, noticed this subtle glance. She turned to look at Xie Jing and
saw that Xie Jing’s eyes were sparkling, also fixed on Qin Ning on stage. Shen Xinghe narrowed her eyes, as if realizing something.

“What’s wrong, Xinghe?” Xie Jing noticed Shen Xinghe’s gaze and leaned over to ask.

“Nothing,” Shen Xinghe replied. “Xie Jing, do you know what song you’re going to sing later?”

“Hmm… can I do a duet with you?” Xie Jing asked, trying hard to get closer to Shen Xinghe. She looked at her with hopeful eyes, as if stars were twinkling inside them.

“Of course,” Shen Xinghe smiled, pulling out her phone and opening NetEase Cloud Music for Xie Jing to pick a song.

The more Xie Jing looked, the more serious her expression became. Her fair little face eventually scrunched up like a steamed bun. Oh no—Shen Xinghe turned out to be a fan of ancient-style music.
Her playlist was filled with traditional-style songs. But since Xie Jing had brought up the idea of a duet, she had to go along with Shen Xinghe’s taste.

After going through the whole playlist, she only found one ancient-style song she was familiar with: “Outside the Shen Garden.”

“This one,” she said, handing the phone back.

Shen Xinghe nodded.

Soon, it was their turn to sing. As Xie Jing and Shen Xinghe went up on stage, Zhou Yan cheered excitedly, “Go, Xie Jing—!”

Just as she brushed past Qin Ning, someone suddenly grabbed Xie Jing’s wrist.

Xie Jing looked up at her. “What is it?”

“Take this.” Qin Ning shoved the microphone into her hand, then walked off the stage without another word.

Even though Xie Jing was a bit nervous, she didn’t show it at all. Her singing was steady, so much so that even Zhou Yan didn’t realize she was nervous.

When it was Shen Xinghe’s turn to sing, Xie Jing couldn’t help looking around. Her eyes settled on Qin Ning. Qin Ning, sensing the gaze, looked back. Xie Jing instinctively gave her a sweet smile.

Right after that, it was Xie Jing’s part again. She naturally picked up the lyrics. Her voice was soft and melodic, blending perfectly with Shen Xinghe’s gentle tone. They weren’t professional
singers, but their duet was pleasing to the ears.

The audience burst into applause and cheers. Zhou Yan alone made it sound like a full house.

“That was amazing!” Zhou Yan clapped like crazy when they came down. “Your voices match so well—it’s like you were made for each other!”

Xie Jing’s cheeks turned red. She didn’t dare say that was the only ancient-style song she was good at.

After they sat down, Zhou Yan handed them a bottle of RIO to soothe their throats. Shen Xinghe only took a small sip, but Xie Jing downed a full glass to give herself courage.

“This drink is like… what, 3% alcohol at most?” Zhou Yan leaned over to whisper to Xie Jing. “If you really want courage, I suggest white liquor.”

“No thanks. I’m afraid if I get drunk, you’ll sell me off,” Xie Jing immediately raised her hand to refuse.

“Do I look like that kind of person?” Zhou Yan pouted. “I’d only throw you onto Shen Xinghe’s bed and make my OTP come true!”

Xie Jing: “Thanks, I guess.”

“How will you thank me?” Zhou Yan leaned closer. “Don’t just talk—show me something real.”

Xie Jing generously smeared a blob of cream on Zhou Yan’s face.

Zhou Yan pretended to be angry and gave Xie Jing a push. But Xie Jing stumbled and fell straight backward. Just when she thought she was going to fall flat on the ground, an arm caught her around
the waist and pulled her hard into the couch.

The couch was soft, and she bounced slightly, landing in someone’s arms. A faint lemon scent lingered in the air, and without looking, she knew who it was.

“Be careful,” Qin Ning’s voice came from above.

“Thank you, I’m fine,” Xie Jing quickly sat up straight, pulling away from Qin Ning.

The moment passed, and the room quickly returned to its usual noisy atmosphere.

“Excuse me, I’m going to the restroom,” Shen Xinghe suddenly stood up and left after greeting everyone.

Zhou Yan gave Xie Jing a meaningful look, hinting that it was time for action. Xie Jing glanced at the roses hidden in the corner, then flashed Zhou Yan an OK gesture.

This quiet bar was in the university town and mostly visited by local college students. The environment was much better than regular bars. When Shen Xinghe went to the restroom alone, Xie Jing
followed her without hesitation.

She didn’t think confessing outside the restroom was a good idea, so when Shen Xinghe came out, she pulled her to a terrace.

“Xie Jing, is something wrong?” Shen Xinghe looked at her in confusion, not understanding why she brought her there.

“I have something I want to tell you.” Xie Jing held onto Shen Xinghe’s sleeve with one hand, while tightly clutching a love letter in her pocket with the other.

“Xinghe, I’ve never forgotten you. Do you still remember back in middle school, the gaming group that Class 3 and Class 4 made together?”

Even though she had rehearsed many times, Xie Jing’s mind went blank when facing Shen Xinghe. Her words were all jumbled and made no sense.

Her story, starting as far back as the Spring and Autumn Period, completely confused Shen Xinghe. But she still nodded honestly. “I remember. Why?”

Xie Jing’s eyes lit up with joy. “Then do you remember those days we played 2v2 and PUBG together? That was the happiest time in my memory!”

Shen Xinghe was stunned. When had she ever played 2v2 or PUBG with Xie Jing?

“Huh… you don’t remember any of it?” Seeing the confused look on Shen Xinghe’s face, disappointment flashed across Xie Jing’s face. Was she the only one who cared so much about those memories? Had
Shen Xinghe forgotten everything?

“I’m sorry,” Shen Xinghe shook her head under Xie Jing’s hopeful gaze.

Xie Jing’s smile froze instantly. Her fingers gripping the envelope also stiffened. The action of taking out the letter was abruptly halted.

At that moment, Xie Jing began to regret breaking the silence with Shen Xinghe. If she hadn’t brought it up today, she could’ve continued comforting herself with those memories. But now, Shen Xinghe
had made it clear—only Xie Jing had held onto the past, while Shen Xinghe had long forgotten it.

She hadn’t even started a relationship, yet she had already experienced heartbreak. Xie Jing left Shen Xinghe in a daze and went back to the private room alone.

Zhou Yan jumped in surprise when she saw Xie Jing return looking so pale. She thought something bad had happened outside. But when she noticed Shen Xinghe silently following behind, she realized the
mood shift had something to do with her.

The bouquet of roses remained unused, and the love letter was never given out.

Xie Jing’s first love was quietly buried on her eighteenth birthday.

Turning eighteen hadn’t made her feel more grown-up, but that heartbreak hit her harder than anything ever had. Xie Jing sat down next to Zhou Yan in a daze, leaned her head on her shoulder, and not
long after, Zhou Yan felt a sudden warmth on her neck.

The lights were dim, and Xie Jing didn’t want anyone to see her crying. She buried her face in the crook of Zhou Yan’s neck, trying to hide her messy emotions.

Zhou Yan’s heart ached. She didn’t even need to ask—she knew the confession had gone wrong. She thought Xie Jing would be strong enough to handle rejection, but when she felt the tears sliding down
her neck, she couldn’t help tearing up herself.

Their sweet, cheerful Xie Jing had cried like this over Shen Xinghe, and Zhou Yan couldn’t help but silently curse the woman for not knowing a good thing when she saw it.

“Don’t cry, don’t cry… Xie Jing, don’t be sad. You still have me.” Zhou Yan gently hugged Xie Jing’s shaking shoulders, whispering in her ear.

“Mhm.” Xie Jing nodded in her arms, trying her best to hold back her tears.

“Xie Jing, can I talk to you for a moment?” Shen Xinghe suddenly walked over.

“You… want to say something to me?” Xie Jing lifted her head from Zhou Yan’s neck. Her eyes were red, and her voice was choked.

Zhou Yan held her arm tighter and gave Shen Xinghe a guarded look—what now?

“Can we talk outside?” Shen Xinghe asked politely.

“…Okay.” Xie Jing left Zhou Yan’s arms and followed her out.

They returned to the terrace.

“Xie Jing, I brought you out here because I remembered something,” Shen Xinghe said, looking at her tear-stained face with a bit of guilt. “In our first year of middle school, I shared a desk with
Qin Ning. She couldn’t create a gaming account because she was underage, so I used my aunt’s ID to register one for her. The ID… if I remember right, it was ‘Xinghe.’”

Shen Xinghe continued, “I’m not sure if the person you’re looking for is her.”

“What?” Xie Jing’s eyes widened in shock. “You mean ‘Xinghe’ was Qin Ning?”

“Yes. I gave her the account, but I never used it. Everything—leveling up, fighting bosses—it was all her. So I think… maybe you mistook me for someone else.”

It completely turned Xie Jing’s world upside down. She had always believed it was Shen Xinghe, but now she was being told it was actually Qin Ning—someone she never suspected.

“Where is she?” Xie Jing asked.

“Who?” Shen Xinghe said.

“Qin Ning,” Xie Jing said.

When they returned earlier, Qin Ning was no longer in the room. Where had she gone?

“I heard from Chen Yuan that she went back to campus,” Shen Xinghe replied.

“I’m going back to the dorm. Can you tell Zhou Yan for me?” Xie Jing asked.

Shen Xinghe nodded. “Sure.”

Xie Jing ran out. She didn’t even bother with a bike—she hailed a taxi and rushed back to school.

But when she got to the dorm, Qin Ning wasn’t there. She searched the cafeteria, the milk tea shop, even the classrooms—but found no sign of her.

Where could she be?

Without much hope, Xie Jing walked toward the activity area near the track field. She passed through the darkness and arrived at the fitness area.
In the shadows, a swing was swaying without wind. As she got closer, she saw someone sitting on it.

It was Qin Ning.