Chapter 578: 285 Existence (revised)

Qu Feitai hadn’t slept this comfortably in a long time.

He slowly opened his eyes and found the car empty.

A faint, elusive fragrance lingered in the air, a scent etched deeply in his memory and haunting his dreams.

As his thoughts returned, he suddenly felt his head resting on something soft.

Qu Feitai blinked, instinctively turning his head.

The car window had blinds drawn, but a large swath of sunlight streamed in from the front seat. Dust danced in the light and shadow, like playful spirits.

Ming Jing sat at the boundary between light and dark, her long hair quietly draped over her shoulders. Her fair, beautiful side profile was composed and gentle, her high, delicate nose like a solitary peak in a mountain valley, wrapped in mist, a vague and lonely figure.

She sat quietly, her eyes half-closed, as if in deep meditation, breathing so softly it was barely audible.

In this suffocating silence, Qu Feitai suddenly raised his hand to cover his heart.

His heart started pounding violently.

Ming Jing slowly opened her eyes and pulled back the blinds. Bright sunlight rushed in eagerly.

“If you’re awake, let’s get off the car.” Ming Jing got up and walked out of the car.

Dumbfounded, Qu Feitai stared at her retreating figure. Had she been sitting like that the whole time while he slept? For his convenience, she hadn’t gotten out of the car, remaining inside to wait for him to wake.

Qu Feitai lowered his gaze to the blanket on his body, a smile playing at the corners of his eyes.

Jumping out of the car, Qed stretched heartily in the sunlight. Days of exhaustion and fatigue vanished after a good night’s sleep, leaving him refreshed and invigorated. He could run a marathon with no problem.

Wearing a face mask and a baseball cap, Qu Feitai caught up with Ming Jing with long strides.

Bai Ziyan had chosen a hotpot restaurant for their gathering. Despite being a second-generation rich kid, he preferred local-style food over high-end restaurants, which he found not only unappetizing but also insufficiently filling. He thought those places were only good for impressing naive women and showing off, while a hotpot place provided a lively atmosphere and satisfying meals for friends meeting up.

The hotpot restaurant was a popular national chain known for excellent service, practically offering to help you even in the bathroom.

Bai Ziyan booked a private room and explicitly requested minimal service, asking for the ingredients to be left by the door.

Wasn’t he considerate enough since there was a big celebrity to take care of? Bai Ziyan thought he had done his part.

The hotpot bubbled and emitted steam, the room was fully air-conditioned, and the entire space was filled with the unmistakable aroma of hotpot.

“Does Ming Jing have feelings for Xiao Fei? I feel like something’s off,” Bai Ziyan asked, voicing his doubts.

Liu Muxue rolled her eyes: “Even if it’s a dog sitting there, Ming Jing would do the same. It’s not just because he’s Qu Feitai that he receives such special treatment from her. Can you understand logic?”

Only brothers could speak ill of each other. Bai Ziyan immediately objected when others joined in, “Who are you calling a dog?”

“If the dog thinks I’m scolding someone, then that’s who I’m scolding.”

“For a pretty young girl, how can you talk so rudely? Have your parents ever taught you any manners?” Bai Ziyan slammed the table and roared angrily.

He couldn’t bear it any longer.

Liu Muxue took a cup of water and splashed it onto Bai Ziyan’s face, “Rinse your dirty mouth.”

Bai Ziyan was dumbfounded, having been splashed with water for the first time in his life. It was just… too interesting.

Bai Ziyan’s eyes seemed to shoot flames. If Liu Muxue had been a barrel of gasoline, she would have exploded in a 360-degree spiral by now.

When Bai Ziyan was on the verge of exploding, Song Yinzhang stepped forward and patted Bai Ziyan’s shoulder.

“Xiao Bai, don’t get angry. It’s not worth ruining your health. Muxue, you should also hold your tongue. In the future, you two should probably meet less. It’s for the best for everyone…”

“Shut up.”

“What’s it got to do with you?”

Bai Ziyan and Liu Muxue snapped at Song Yinzhang at the same time. As they spoke, they both froze, glared at each other resentfully, and turned their heads simultaneously.

Song Yinzhang, who had been scolded: …

So everything was his fault.

No matter what they talked about, they would always end up arguing in the end. Song Yinzhang was truly impressed.

“Why don’t you two just get together and stop bothering others? Just deal with each other!”

Bai Ziyan’s face stiffened, glaring at Liu Muxue reluctantly, as if unwilling to give in, “Who wants to be a couple with her? She’s too ugly!”Liu Muxue sneered disdainfully, “Song Yinzhang, if you can’t see, go to the ophthalmologist. Don’t let this thin chick with barely any meat on her try to round things up, okay?”

Seeing that the two were about to start arguing again, Song Yinzhang quickly yelled, “Stop! Do you two remember why we’re here today? Please, can I just enjoy a peaceful meal?”

Look at what they’ve done to the gentle gentleman.

When Ming Jing walked in, she saw Song Yinzhang’s teary eyes, and he looked at her like she was his savior.

After Ming Jing appeared, Bai Ziyan and Liu Muxue calmed down, no longer confronting each other head-on.

Then Qu Feitai walked in, removing his hat and mask, and hung his down jacket in the corner cabinet.

There’s a reason for hanging the clothes outside – the service is really thoughtful.

With everyone present, the feast began.

Ming Jing sat right between Liu Muxue and Qu Feitai, and then Bai Ziyan and Song Yinzhang, all sitting around a round table.

Liu Muxue knew that Ming Jing didn’t eat spicy food, so she ordered a mushroom soup base and some of Ming Jing’s usual vegetarian dishes.

Bai Ziyan rolled up his sleeves, wiped his spicy-induced runny nose, and while swishing a piece of tripe in the pot with his chopsticks, he asked, “Xiao Fei, when are you finished filming your idol drama? My uncle’s crew is heading to Yulong Snow Mountain next month, and he wants you to join them. What do you think?”

In fact, it was his own idea, but since he didn’t know anyone in the crew, bringing a friend along would make it more fun. If Qu Feitai joined, his cousin would definitely be thrilled.

As good friends who grew up together, Qu Feitai saw right through Bai Ziyan’s thoughts. He leisurely picked up a piece of tofu with serving chopsticks and put it on Ming Jing’s plate, filled her glass with warm water, and said, “The filming for the idol drama is over. Now I need to prepare for the new album’s MV. The leading song… the actors for the MV haven’t been selected yet.”

All along, he only had one person in mind, but he knew it was just a pipe dream.

If it’s not her, then anyone else would simply be imitating her – and he couldn’t allow anyone to tarnish the goddess in his heart.

With that in mind, he could only remove this song from the album and keep it forever in his heart.

Bai Ziyan raised an eyebrow, his gaze falling on Ming Jing.

It has to be said that good friends always have your back at the right moments.

“The leading song of your new album is ‘White Robe,’ right?”

The song was first performed at a concert, and the live version later became a huge hit online. However, Qu Feitai never sold the commercial rights to the song. In fact, all music apps were infringing on copyrights, and Huang Chao even sued those companies. But, since the song was so popular, it couldn’t be stopped. Eventually, many singing shows and internet celebrities relied on the song’s popularity to make a living.

Qu Feitai’s new album has ten songs in total, and everyone knows that the re-arranged ‘White Robe’ as the main song is just a matter of course. Everyone also knows the song has special meaning to him.

Song Yinzhang and Liu Muxue glanced at Ming Jing subconsciously as well.

By now, the whole world knows who Qu Feitai’s ‘White Robe’ was written for.

Liu Muxue clicked her tongue, finding this couple quite intriguing.

“It’s easy to make the MV – let Ming Jing star in it. The song was written for her, after all. It would definitely blow up the internet. There’s no need for acting skills in an MV – just posing, looking pretty is enough.”

Qu Feitai glared at him, “What are you talking about?”

He turned to Ming Jing with an apologetic expression, “Ming Jing, don’t listen to his nonsense…’].”

Ming Jing put down her chopsticks, picked up a napkin and wiped her mouth, and then looked straight into Qu Feitai’s eyes. Under the layer of mist, her eyes seemed to be filled with the tenderness of melting spring water.

Qu Feitai’s heart instantly melted away.

She said, “Okay.”

Qu Feitai stared at her lips, thinking of the dream he just had. At this moment, her lips must taste like a hotpot.

In that brief opening and closing, everything stood still, and he could only hear the rapid beating of his heart.

Love is an elusive thing. Throughout history, countless poets have sung its praises, and many beauties and talents have gone mad for it. In movies, songs, and novels, it is always the eternal theme.

It seems as if we were born to exist for the sake of love.

But, no one can say for sure what love truly is.

In the void, a door appeared, and someone told him that if he pushed it open, he’d never recover.

Without hesitation, he pushed open the door.

For you, life and death without regret, eternal rest and contentment.