Chapter 23 Loved

[We knew no bounds (We had unlimited possibilities)

Fell at the speed of sound (It was only a momentary thing)

Ridin' against all odds but soon (We opposed life)

Against ourselves (and opposed ourselves)

You haunted every memory (You, every lingering memory)...]

In Lin Haitang's unique, translucent singing style, the weightless rock 'n' roll rhythm, and the twinkling disco lights, Lu Kexin's silhouette seemed to gradually change from unfamiliar to familiar...

The characters in "Les Miserables" turned into tadpole-like symbols, twisting and flying into Meng Lang's mind from his memory.

Many scenes flashed before his eyes, couples embracing, children crying, and accident scenes, along with the white hospital ceiling...

"What?" Lu Kexin looked at Meng Lang, puzzled. "Why would you suddenly ask about my blood type?"

"Because sometimes, a blood type can reveal a person's truest self..." Meng Lang murmured, his eyes somewhat glassy.

"Heh, like how some people believe in horoscopes? I thought Brother Meng was a straight male; I didn't expect you to believe in this too. Alright then, tell me, what kind of personality does type A blood signify?"

Lu Kexin covered her mouth and chuckled softly, thinking this was Meng Lang's pick-up routine.

"Type A blood..." Meng Lang sighed deeply. "My horoscope doesn't match with type A blood..."

"Uh..." Lu Kexin was stunned.

[With no goodbyes, no, not for me (Without saying goodbye to me)

Your pride put up the fire in the flames (Your arrogance extinguished the fire of our love)

Then just one look is all it takes (And then it only took one glance)

I feel your eyes, they're locked on every part of me (I feel your gaze, taking in every part of me)

And then my dumb heart says (Then my foolish heart says)

Just look up (Look up)...]

Meng Lang looked up at the crowding center of the stage, and just as he locked eyes with someone amidst the swaying crowd, they immediately shifted away.

His mind flickered with a deja vu, like a fleeting dream, with a scene that felt strangely familiar from another life.

The here and now felt just like that moment back then.

It's just that, in that other life, Lin Haitang on the stage was nothing more than a stranger passing by without even knowing her name...

The future indeed had changed.

But hadn't entirely changed either.

His own little butterfly flapping its wings had so far only caused a tiny ripple in the long river of time.

The inertia of history was still pushing most of the people and events of the time along the original trajectory.

Lu Kexin was so, Lin Haitang was so...

[There is no place to hide (Nowhere to hide)

True love doesn't die (True love never withers)

It holds on tight and never lets you go (It clings tightly, never letting go)

Just look up (Look up)...]

"Does Brother Meng perhaps like that type?"

Seeing Meng Lang staring straight at Lin Haitang on stage, Lu Kexin said with a hint of grievance in her tone.

Meng Lang's recent art of reverse-flirting had utterly disoriented Lu Kexin.

What's wrong with my type A blood that it's incompatible with your horoscope?

She couldn't tell if his directness had bent too far or if he was subtly indicating disinterest in her?

Watching Lin Haitang on stage, with her purple eyeshadow, leather outfit, and swaying with the music, Lu Kexin felt lost...

Could it be a strategic mistake that she chose to go for the pure look from the start?

Have preferences of straight men changed now?

"Of course not," Meng Lang immediately denied.

You're a soft dagger hidden in cotton, and she's openly sharp, a rose with thorns, both painfully gripping!

"She's an acquaintance of mine, just lamenting the whims of fate, the inevitability of destiny..."

Meng Lang was talking about Lin Haitang but looking at Lu Kexin.

For some reason, Lu Kexin felt a peculiar panic as if Meng Lang could see right through her.

"Really? I didn't expect Brother Meng to know such a beauty. Do you two have a story?"

Lu Kexin changed the subject, trying to escape the inexplicable unrest.

A story, huh... indeed there are two.

One ended in death before it could begin, the other barely started, and I ended it myself...

But such bizarre stories, naturally, could not be spoken aloud.

"No, nothing except for her cornering me against a wall once, nothing happened between us."

"Um..."

Cornered against a wall already, and not just that but by her! How could you say nothing happened?

Wasn't this guy just an impoverished nobody struck by career disappointment?

How does a poor guy get actively cornered by a woman like that?

Skepticism was clearly etched in Lu Kexin's eyes.

Was this guy just trying to inflate his own worth?

At that moment, the music gradually faded, and unbeknownst to them, a different singer had already taken the stage. Soon, the venue continued on to its next round of revelry.

However, another person had suddenly appeared beside the two of them.

"Uh... What a coincidence." Meng Lang greeted somewhat awkwardly.

"Very coincidental, indeed! How did you know I was here? Are you stalking me?" Lin Haitang's eyes narrowed slightly.

"No, no, no, don't get me wrong, I'm purely here accompanying a friend today. I just found out you were the resident singer here."

This guy's eyes are so sharp; is he wearing high-power contact lenses? In this sea of people, he could spot me!

"Brother Meng, you two really know each other?" Lu Kexin's eyes widened in surprise.

Once Lin Haitang removed the black-framed glasses that covered most of her face, she seemed less intellectual but more seductive, with softer facial lines and a charm that surged upwards.

Though she was reluctant to admit it, it was clear that in terms of physique and appearance, Lin Haitang was beyond her own league.

This gave Lu Kexin a strong sense of crisis.

"Brother Meng? Heh!" Lin Haitang finally turned to look at Lu Kexin opposite Meng Lang, and a cold smile appeared on her face.

"You seem quite close, don't you? What's the matter? Just two days ago, you were confessing your love to me, and today you invite someone else to the bar where I sing to show off?

You are a master of time management, aren't you? Are you planning on seamlessly linking the two together?"

I...

Seamless linking my ass!

From his teasing look, he knew this person was definitely intent on making trouble and breaking up a pair of lovers!

Sure enough, Lu Kexin's expression turned sour in an instant.

Not out of jealousy, but because... damn, this guy turned out to be a playboy!

The top predator often appears as the prey?

What happened to the honest man?

"Hey, hey! There's no need for this. We're neighbors after all. Framing and defaming like this makes it hard for me to face people, doesn't it?"

Meng Lang sighed helplessly.

He didn't care what Lu Kexin thought, but couldn't let someone fabricate things to slander him, right?

Doesn't the Meng family care about their reputation?

"Framing and defaming? Ha! Are you saying you didn't confess your love to me?"

"Uh... that... "

"Do you want me to have the DJ play back a snippet of audio to heat things up?"

Meng Lang was sweating bullets!

Heat things up? He didn't know if the room could get any warmer.

But if they really played back his words here, he would definitely die of embarrassment!

"Miss Lin, I was wrong!" Meng Lang caved in immediately.

"Heh! That's more like it!" Lin Haitang revealed a satisfied smile.

"Brother Meng, are you two in that kind of relationship?" Lu Kexin, feeling forcibly fed a mouthful of dog food, asked with a look of grievance.

"Of course not!" X2.

The two exchanged looks; Meng Lang cleared his throat.

"Ahem! She's my neighbor; we've only met a few times, but there was a bit of a misunderstanding."

"A misunderstanding? Heh!" Lin Haitang let out a signature cold laugh, about to continue her tirade, when suddenly a voice came from behind her.

"Haitang, what are you doing? Come back and remove your makeup! We've still got to go to a gathering soon!"

"All right, I'll be right there!"

After saying this, Lin Haitang gave one last glance at the two, sweeping her gaze over the two glasses of juice on their table before leaving with a snort.

After Lin Haitang's interruption, the atmosphere between Meng Lang and Lu Kexin suddenly became a bit delicate.

"You two..."

"It's not the kind of relationship you're thinking of."

"Yeah! I can tell. But that Miss Lin seems to hold quite a grudge against you."

"That's a long story to tell." Meng Lang sighed again, helplessly.

Lu Kexin, although sharp-eyed, had realized that their history was more bitter than sweet. However, Lin Haitang's appearance had instilled in her a sense of urgency.

The blockhead across from her still hadn't made any further moves.

It seems she had to take a more aggressive approach!

"Um... Brother Meng, I have a question I want to ask you."

Lu Kexin looked down, her fingers twisted together in a clearly shy and embarrassed manner.

Such an obvious question, such an evidently classic moment, Meng Lang, however slow, could naturally see it.

Gazing at her face, which was apt to smile or frown, blooming with shyness, Meng Lang's mind momentarily drifted.

The scene before him overlapped with the illusions he had just experienced.

As if he had personally lived through this moment before, not just now, but through eighteen years of joys and sorrows, partings and reunions...

"Um... what do you feel about me..."

"Loved!"

"Uh..."