novelraw Chapter 381: I Once Poured My Youth Into Her
Chapter 381: I Once Poured My Youth Into Her
Two taxis pulled up one after another outside the pedestrian street of Shenzhen Bay.
Five people got out one after another, gathering together as they walked toward the restaurant.
"I asked some alumni in the industry about the private equity fund Professor Wang mentioned, and it does seem like a great opportunity. After all, with so many big-name celebrities backing it, and the GP being Su Yu’s family office, it’s solid."
"This kind of chance doesn’t come often. I think you guys should seriously consider it. If you’re not planning to start your own business right now, it’s definitely a great investment channel."
Wei Ping shared his thoughts as they walked.
As the big brother of their five-person team, and their technical director, Wei Ping still held 11% of the company’s shares and had the highest income among them.
In terms of connections, capability, and experience, he was also the most outstanding of the group.
Li Ziying chuckled, "Well, I’m definitely in! This opportunity is way too rare."
Her equity was slightly more than Liu Qingning’s, allowing her to receive 4.8 million yuan from the transfer.
That was a huge amount—many of their classmates couldn’t even save that much in ten years after graduating.It was already enough to buy a house in Shenzhen with full payment.
She had originally planned to invest in some funds through alumni connections, but now that Professor Wang had directly introduced them to Juxing Huicui, it saved her a lot of trouble.
"Alright, enough of this talk! You guys have been discussing this the whole way here. Today is our farewell dinner," Li Ziying reached out and tapped Liu Qingning’s phone. "Besides, isn’t Tang Song already in Shenzhen? Whatever it is, you can talk to him in person later."
Liu Qingning smiled and replied with a soft "Mm," typing a quick message before putting her phone away.
Watching the bright smile on her face, Cheng Qingfeng felt a faint sense of loss.
Ever since Tang Song arrived in Shenzhen over the weekend, everyone had noticed the change in Liu Qingning.
The once exhausted and unenthusiastic version of her seemed to have vanished.
She now showed up to work in dresses, with carefully applied makeup, and even got her hair done again.
She was becoming more and more like the college girl he remembered—lively, adorable, and sweet.
Cheng Qingfeng loved seeing her like this, but at the same time, he felt powerless.
They took the mall elevator up to the fourth floor and entered a private dining room in a Chaozhou cuisine restaurant.
After hanging their bags on the rack, the five of them sat around the dining table.
Zhang Xiaoni handed the menu to Cheng Qingfeng with a teasing smile. "Here, Qingfeng. You’re the main character today—order whatever you like!"
Taking the menu, Cheng Qingfeng skimmed through it briefly before turning to the waiter.
"Soybean sauce-baked spotted grouper, bamboo fungus chicken wing stew, fresh shrimp clay pot porridge... I’m done ordering. Does anyone want to add anything?"
"Hey, you just picked all of Qingning’s favorite dishes! Could you be any more biased?" Li Ziying teased. "Xiaoni, you should switch seats with Qingning and let these two sit together."
"Yeah, Qingfeng, you didn’t order a single pork dish just because Qingning doesn’t eat it?"
Zhang Xiaoni stood up and grabbed Liu Qingning’s arm. "Come on, Qingning, let’s swap seats!"
"No way! Stop messing with me," Liu Qingning laughed, covering her mouth. "I hate the heat, and this seat is right under the air conditioner—it’s perfect. Not switching!"
Zhang Xiaoni exchanged a glance with Li Ziying before patting Cheng Qingfeng on the shoulder. "Alright then, Qingfeng, you switch with me instead!"
Cheng Qingfeng hesitated for a moment, glancing at Liu Qingning, then let out an awkward smile.
Li Ziying leaned in and nudged him. "Come on, hurry up."
The two girls giggled as they practically shoved him into the seat next to Liu Qingning.
Their teasing continued.
Situations like this had happened frequently over the past three years—during team-building activities, meals, work meetings…
Each time, whenever their colleagues made jokes and egged him on, Cheng Qingfeng’s heart would race a little faster.
Now, sitting in Zhang Xiaoni’s former seat, Cheng Qingfeng turned slightly and glanced at Liu Qingning beside him.
Under the warm lighting, her fair skin seemed to glow with a soft radiance.
Her delicate and upturned nose, her beautifully shaped lips—like delicate flower petals.
Her pure, bright eyes blinked lightly, clear and full of life.
What was "White Moonlight"?
It was the kind of person who made your heart feel light and warm the moment you saw them, someone you couldn’t help but want to be closer to.
Someone who made all troubles and worries melt away in their presence.
Soon, the dishes started arriving at the table.
Cheng Qingfeng took a deep breath and picked up his wine glass. "Thank you all for coming to send me off. Let’s have a toast."
"Cheers!"
Clinking glasses rang out—ding, ding, ding.
Cheng Qingfeng downed his drink in one go, then poured himself another.
He knew his shortcomings—he was a bit dull, introverted, not particularly romantic, and not great with words.
In the past three years of entrepreneurship, he had countless opportunities to confess to Liu Qingning, countless chances to take a step forward, yet he never found the courage.
Part of it was because of Tang Song, who was always by her side.
But mostly, it was because of his own hesitation.
He rarely drank alcohol—his tolerance was terrible, the kind that could get tipsy even from beer.
Maybe, if he got drunk enough tonight, he would finally have the courage to ask her to stay.
Noticing his expression, the other three exchanged glances but said nothing.
Wei Ping kept the conversation going, reminiscing about five years ago.
Everyone sighed at the memories.
Liu Qingning put down her phone as well, immersing herself in the conversation and drinks with them.
There were too many beautiful memories from 2018.
Back then, under the guidance of Professor Wang Chang, the five of them had formed a team to participate in the Internet+ Entrepreneurship Competition.
At the time, China had declared next-generation AI a key strategic frontier, aiming to make AI theory, technology, and applications world-leading by 2030.
Major corporations poured resources into research and development, pushing AI forward.
Back then, Smile Investments had just established its holding group, Qingning Technology had landed in Shenzhen, Su Yu's new drama was breaking viewership records, and her new songs were dominating the charts...
They were filled with ambition, determined to ride the wave of the new era.
Now, more than five years later, looking back, it was hard not to sigh.
They weren’t chosen. Their project, while valued at nearly a billion yuan, was still just a small fish in today’s vast AI industry.
Much of their youthful ambition had faded, but deep down, there was still a lingering sense of unwillingness and regret.
As night fell, the city lights gradually flickered on.
A slight flush spread across Liu Qingning’s fair cheeks, and her voice carried a hint of intoxication.
"How about we check out MixC Mall after dinner?" Li Ziying grinned. "We’re about to get a huge payout—it’s hard to resist the urge to splurge a little."
"That sounds good! I haven’t really had any downtime since coming to Shenzhen."
Liu Qingning hesitated for a moment before saying, "I think I’ll pass. I’ve gained some weight recently. I’ll go shopping after I slim down a bit."
"No way, you have to come!" Zhang Xiaoni insisted. "You don’t have to buy clothes—you can get other stuff!"
Li Ziying chimed in, "Qingning, you've been using the same backpack for three years now. You’ve got money now—why not treat yourself? Even if you want to buy a house, this little expense won’t make a difference."
Hearing that, Liu Qingning instinctively glanced at her bag.
It was a gift from Tang Song, bought with his first paycheck after getting a full-time job—a 2,000 yuan Coach backpack.
It had sentimental value, so she had carried it for three years, and it was still in good shape.
"I already told Tang Song to meet me later. We’re going to check out the pedestrian street together."
Cheng Qingfeng’s alcohol-induced emotions instantly crumbled. His lips parted slightly, but he swallowed back the words he had wanted to say.
Liu Shuang wasn’t much of a music listener—her job was easy, so she spent her days binge-watching dramas. Lately, she has become obsessed with Bei Yuwei.
Liu Qingning smiled and casually congratulated her before sending Tang Song her location with a message: "Big bad guy, let me know when you're almost here."
Looking at the flirtatious chat history, she couldn’t help but blush.
Tang Song was really different now—at least his emotional intelligence had improved by leaps and bounds.
If he had been like this back then, maybe she wouldn’t have come to Shenzhen at all.
"Munch munch one-two."
【Tang Song: 'Just got in the car. Be good and wait for my call. (#Hug)'】
Putting away her phone, Liu Qingning smiled and said, "I’m going to the restroom."
As she walked away, the others all turned to Cheng Qingfeng at the same time.
"Dinner’s almost over. Are you really not planning to say anything? Qingning is such a great girl—are you just going to stand by and watch her be with someone else?"
"Sigh, I’m just saying," Li Ziying patted his shoulder, "I wouldn’t say this in front of Qingning, but that Tang Song really isn’t right for her. Just because they’re together doesn’t mean she’ll be happy."
During their three years working in Beijing, they had interacted with Tang Song quite a bit.
Frankly speaking, he was just average—nothing particularly outstanding in any area. Compared to someone like Liu Qingning, the gap was significant.
Hearing his friends' words, Cheng Qingfeng took a deep breath, grabbed his glass, and downed the drink in one gulp.
Then, he said loudly, "Fine! I’ll say it. I’ll tell her later!"
He was already a bit tipsy, and a rush of adrenaline surged through him.
After leaving Century Zhixue, his chances of seeing her would become much rarer.
If he waited until Liu Qingning left Shenzhen, even one last meeting might be impossible.
Tonight might be his last chance.
Like Ziying had said, some people—once you miss them, you miss them forever.
"Oh?" The private room door was gently pushed open.
Cheng Qingfeng straightened his posture, pressing his lips together tightly.
As Liu Qingning sat back down, he clenched his fists, his voice carrying a trace of urgency.
"Qingning, I have something to tell you!"
"Oh? You figured it out already? Smart!"
Liu Qingning didn’t seem to notice anything unusual. "Thanks for taking care of me all these years, Qingfeng. I’ve troubled you a lot at work. Now that you’re officially leaving, dinner’s on me. I already settled the bill, so don’t argue with me about it."
Hearing her words and looking into her eyes, Cheng Qingfeng’s courage wavered once again.
At that moment, he understood something.
He didn’t want it to end.
But maybe…it had never even started.
"Oh, right, Tang Song should be here soon. He’s never been to the Shenzhen Bay pedestrian street, so I’m going to meet him at the entrance. You guys can wait here."
As she spoke, Liu Qingning reached for her bag.
The other three exchanged glances—they could already tell what was on her mind.
Zhang Xiaoni shook her head and stood up. "Then let’s all head down. We’re pretty much done eating anyway."
"Yeah, let’s go together."
The night sky stretched like a vast black silk cloth above them.
Shenzhen Bay’s pedestrian street was bustling with people.
The five of them had barely taken a few steps outside when—
"Ring ring ring—"
Liu Qingning’s phone rang.
She picked up and spoke softly, "Hello? Where are you?"
"Huh? You already got out of the car?"
"Hmph, I knew you were lying earlier, Ting. Good thing I’m smart—I saw this coming! Haha!"
"I’m almost at the west entrance now."
"Mhm, bye-bye."
Hanging up, she stood on tiptoes, scanning the entrance to the pedestrian street.
"Tang Song's already here?" Li Ziying chuckled and shook her head. "Honestly, I haven’t seen him in a year—I can barely remember what he looks like."
"I still have an old picture of him and Qingning on my phone, from when we went to the Expo Park. Wonder if he’s changed at all."
The last time they had seen Tang Song was in September of the previous year.
To them, Liu Qingning’s childhood friend was merely an acquaintance, not even close enough to be considered a friend. Their impression of him wasn’t deep.
"He just got out of the cab and is heading this way," Liu Qingning responded.
Her eyes suddenly lit up, and she excitedly waved toward the front.
"Tang Song! Over here!"
Hearing her call, the four others looked up.
Through the crowd, a tall and lean figure strode toward them.
His handsome face carried a charming smile.
His short, tousled hair swayed slightly in the breeze, gleaming with a healthy shine.
His posture was relaxed yet refined, and the wind tugged at his clothes, accentuating his broad shoulders and narrow waist.
His presence immediately drew a few curious gazes.
While they were still momentarily stunned, Liu Qingning had already rushed forward.
Without hesitation, the young man reached out and pinched her cheek.
"Looks like you’ve had quite a bit to drink."
"Well, it’s Qingfeng’s farewell party—everyone drank quite a lot."
Maybe it was the alcohol, but Liu Qingning’s voice was soft and sweet, and she didn’t pull away from his touch.
"Alright, but your alcohol tolerance is terrible. Be careful in the future."
"Got it~" Liu Qingning playfully swatted at him.
Hearing their exchange, Li Ziying and the others finally snapped out of their daze.
"Tang Song?!"
Cheng Qingfeng’s heart skipped a beat. His gaze froze slightly, and his mind became a mess.
"Long time no see. Good evening."
Tang Song smiled and nodded at them.
He remembered Liu Qingning’s startup partners well—they were all graduate students from Imperial University.
Back then, standing in front of them, he couldn’t help but feel admiration…and a little inferiority.
After all, his dream had always been to get into Imperial University’s computer science graduate program.
"Long time no see."
"Yeah, it’s been a while."
Li Ziying widened her eyes in disbelief. "You’ve changed so much—I barely recognized you!"
Tang Song chuckled. "Not really, I just lost some weight and started working out."
Zhang Xiaoni smirked—suddenly, she understood.
Damn, was this what they called a "hidden gem"?
Tang Song was now undeniably attractive—handsome from every angle, with an incredible aura.
With a guy like this, it was hard to imagine many women turning him down.
Standing in front of him, Liu Qingning beamed with pride, a playful glint in her eyes.
She was smart enough to know what her friends used to think of Tang Song.
Now, this was her way of proving them wrong.
Just then, an orange gift bag appeared in front of her.
"Ta-da!" Tang Song smiled. "A little surprise for you."
"Huh?" Liu Qingning blinked in surprise. "For me?"
She had noticed earlier that he had been carrying a bag behind his back, but she hadn’t expected it to be a gift for her.
"Of course. Take it."
"Alright, at least you know what’s up." Liu Qingning grinned as she took it with both hands.
Then, her eyes landed on the bold black letters printed on the bag.
[LOUIS VUITTON]
"LV?"
She froze for a moment, her big round eyes darting toward him.
Pouting slightly, she mumbled, "Why buy luxury goods? It’s not like I need them."
Since there were others around, she didn’t want to embarrass him by making a fuss.
After all, he had already bought it for her—it was a gift, and a thoughtful one at that.
Besides, with 4 million yuan in savings now, she could afford a little indulgence.
Tang Song ruffled her hair gently. "You've been carrying that bag forever. Figured it was time for an upgrade—see if you like it."
"No way! There are so many people here. What if it gets dirty or damaged? I’ll open it later somewhere quiet," Liu Qingning hugged the gift bag tightly, looking like she was treasuring it.
Even though she was usually rational, as a woman, she still loved bags—especially one that Tang Song had given her.
Deep down, she was beyond excited.
"Haha, alright, whatever you say."
The humid night breeze brushed against them.
Feeling the lively and cheerful atmosphere around her, Liu Qingning lifted the bag and smiled at her colleagues. "Alright, now that everyone’s here, let’s go!"
Then, without hesitation, she reached out and held Tang Song’s hand.
Li Ziying and the others exchanged glances, their eyes subconsciously shifting to Cheng Qingfeng, who had his head lowered in silence.
Wei Ping sighed, then threw an arm around his shoulder. "Come on, let’s go! It’s been a while since we all hung out like this—gogogo!"
In the distance, towering skyscrapers lit up with dazzling neon lights.
Shops lined both sides of the street, glowing in vibrant, multicolored hues.
Amidst the bustling crowd, music, chatter, and distant car horns filled the air.
Liu Qingning held onto Tang Song’s hand, enthusiastically introducing him to the surrounding malls, stores, and food spots.
Meanwhile, Li Ziying and Zhang Xiaoni stuck close to Cheng Qingfeng, trying to liven up the mood—but it didn’t seem to help much.
As they strolled along the pedestrian street, a guitar melody suddenly filled the air.
Liu Qingning’s eyes lit up as she glanced in that direction.
A small crowd had gathered along the sidewalk.
Through the gaps between people, she could see a female street performer holding a guitar. She had light gray-dyed hair and wore a simple graphic tee.
A phone stand, microphone, and speaker were set up in front of her.
This was one of Shenzhen’s most famous "internet celebrity streets," where livestream performances happened every day.
"Someone’s singing over there! Let’s check it out." Liu Qingning smiled and waved at her colleagues before pulling Tang Song along.
The sound of the guitar and singing floated through the street speakers.
The performer swayed gently with her guitar, fully immersed in her performance.
Liu Qingning nudged Tang Song’s arm. "Hey, we used to listen to this song all the time in high school. What do you think of her singing?"
Tang Song chuckled. "Not bad, but not as good as yours."
"Sweet talker!" Liu Qingning playfully pinched his lips, her smile blooming like a flower.
Liu Qingning had always loved music—back in high school, she used to drag Tang Song along to listen to songs with her. Nᴇw ɴovel chaptᴇrs are published on novęlfire.net
She had even joked once that if she weren’t so academically gifted, she might have become a singer instead.
Trying to impress his "White Moonlight," Tang Song had once picked up the guitar for a short while.
Unfortunately, he wasn’t very talented and never got good at it.
Meanwhile, his White Moonlight had effortlessly learned to play full songs just by following online tutorials.
Later, when he trained the actress Su Yu in Heartthrob Growth Plan and gained music-related skills from game instances, part of his inspiration came from this memory.
Thinking about it now, as he eyed the guitar in the singer’s hands, Tang Song felt an itch in his fingers.
Back then, he hadn’t been able to impress his White Moonlight with his skills.
But now? He actually could.
Leaning down, he whispered in her ear, "Wanna give it a shot?"
"Keep dreaming!" Liu Qingning laughed and lightly smacked him.
She was definitely tipsy—her movements were more carefree, and she wasn’t pretending to be reserved.
As the song ended, the street performer paused to chat with her livestream viewers, subtly asking for gifts.
It was clear that her stream wasn’t very popular—no one was sending song requests or tipping.
Tang Song gently squeezed Liu Qingning’s soft hand, about to step forward and show off a little.
But before he could move, Liu Qingning suddenly said, "Hold this for me."
She handed him her backpack and the LV gift bag.
Tang Song blinked in surprise before reaching out to take them.
Then, Liu Qingning flashed him a playful smile, turned around, and walked straight toward the singer.
She whispered a few words to the performer.
Soon enough, the performer nodded with a grin and handed over her guitar.
Liu Qingning slung the guitar over her shoulder and stood in front of the microphone.
Her bright, shimmering eyes found Tang Song in the crowd.
Her smile was as warm and radiant as spring sunshine—pure and enchanting.
The bustling pedestrian street was packed with people, glowing under dazzling city lights.
Her black dress swayed gently in the breeze.
Her silky hair cascaded naturally over her shoulders, glistening under the streetlights like sunlit satin.
Liu Qingning playfully winked at him—adorable and captivating.
She stood in the center of the crowd, but her eyes were fixed only on him.
Cheng Qingfeng watched her from afar, his gaze turning completely dim.
He knew—he had no chance anymore.
Soft, clear guitar notes flowed out like a gentle stream.
"It's The Wind Rises."
Thanks to the song’s popularity, the audience quickly recognized the melody after just a few chords.
After a 20-second intro, her pure, melodious voice rang out.
There was a touch of nostalgia and longing in her tone, as if reminiscing about the past, as if sighing at how time had passed.
🎵 "Along the way, I walked and stopped, following the traces of youth drifting by… stepping out of the station just before..." 🎵
Her guitar skills were average, and she wasn’t a professional singer.
But at this moment, standing there, she seemed to embody the very essence of youth.
To Tang Song, she was unstoppable.
His vision grew hazy, his heart overwhelmed with emotion.
As she finished the first verse, Liu Qingning paused and tilted her chin toward him with a playful smile.
Tang Song exhaled lightly, stepped out of the crowd, and strode toward her.
Before anyone could react, he wrapped his arms around her from behind—
Or rather, he hugged her and the guitar.
His slender fingers gently rested on the strings.
Under the glow of the streetlights, his sharp facial features looked even more striking.
His deep eyes shimmered with light.
Tang Song lowered his head slightly and kissed the top of her hair.
Then, he lifted his gaze, smiling gently as he leaned toward the microphone.
His fingers plucked the strings effortlessly.
Crisp, enchanting notes filled the air, cascading like a melody of floating stars.
His movements were relaxed and natural, playing fluently with a rich, layered rhythm—immediately drawing in the audience.
Then, his deep and magnetic voice broke through the surrounding noise, carrying through the pedestrian street.
🎵 "When I first encountered the world, everything was dazzling and fleeting… watching the distant sky, as if it were right in front of me…" 🎵
The passing crowd gradually slowed, turning their heads with expressions of curiosity, admiration, surprise, and awe.
Good music had the power to captivate people, especially when performed live.
As the song progressed, his emotions intensified, and his voice grew more passionate.
Nestled in his arms, Liu Qingning was momentarily entranced.
She gazed up at the Tang Song before her—both familiar and yet somehow unfamiliar.
Cheng Qingfeng let out a long sigh. "I should go. See you guys."
"Qingfeng... you—" Li Ziying reached out worriedly.
"Don’t worry, I just drank too much. I need some sleep."
"I’ll go with you." Wei Ping shook his head, wrapping an arm around his shoulder as they walked toward the street’s exit.
🎵 "I once poured my youth into her, and once played the summer on my fingertips…" 🎵
Her hair swayed gently in the wind, dancing along with the music.
As he walked away, Cheng Qingfeng suddenly stopped and looked back at the two figures standing together.
The emotions he had bottled up for years finally unraveled.
They had known each other for five years—two in college, three at work.
At first sight, his heart had stirred.
Yet, in the end, all his words had remained trapped behind his teeth.
He had never found the courage to speak them aloud.
And now—he never would.
Some people watch the sea at night.
Some stroll in the rain.
And some let go in the wind.