Running Away (GXG) (GIRLXGIRL) (GL)

3

9 o’clock came.

The bar was already crowded by unruly drunkards walking about, ear-piercing electronic music flowing out from the doorway. Qin Juran parked her car and fixed her hair behind her ears, peering up at the neon blue sign as she made her way inside, stepping in her high heels.

A crowd of boys and girls were dancing on the dance floor, which was centered around a small fountain, water spouting in rhythm with the flashing lights. Qin Juran walked further in until she reached the VIP section, where someone waved their hand in her direction.

Qin Juran inspected the person who must’ve been the “Friend” who sent her the message this afternoon.

Within the closed-off section sat seven or eight people, each man coupled together with a woman. As they watched Qin Juran approach, one of the women was the first to address her, teasing in a slurred voice, “Wow, what’s a top student like you doing in a bar? Brother Qiang, you’re really something~”

At the sound of her irritatingly coy voice, Qin Juran couldn’t help furrowing her brows.

However, the person referred to as “Brother Qiang” seemed to be enjoying the show, letting out a loud laugh. He sat forward in his seat and adjusted the expensive-looking watch on his wrist. “So – you  came?”

“Liu Qiang?” Qin Juran asked.

“What – did you forget who I am?”

The name Liu Qiang stirred some recollection in Qin Juran’s memory. He was previously mere cannon fodder, first helping Fan Chuan by endlessly taunting Qin Juran, but after Fan Chuan realized his love, he brought Liu Qiang to his demise.

All that ass-kissing and boot-licking only to have nothing left in the end.

Thinking about this made Qin Juran chuckle, and she moved to sit on the armrest of the sofa, twirling her hair. “Go on, what’d you call me here for?”

Qin Juran herself was well-off from the start, and after so many years in the corporate world, starting from a lady of the house to a president of a business, she’s seen so many of these second-generation rich kids’ little games. No matter how many times they try to meddle, acting foolishly to stir up drama, they don’t usually make it out so great in the end.

As a blue light shone on Qin Juran’s coolly collected face, perhaps it was the look of obvious disdain, but it felt as if Qin Juran’s entire disposition took a 180-degree turn today. The onlookers could only stare at each other blankly; no one dared to make a sound.

Liu Qiang also noticed the change in Qin Juran’s usual meek manner; instead, she seemed unrestrained. Faking a cough, a vulgar expression crept onto his face as he picked up his phone from the table. “Qin Juran, I heard about your secret crush on Fan Chuan? Didn’t Ruan Nan catch you writing that love letter today?”

Qin Juran pretended not to hear, refusing to acknowledge such cliché taunts. As her gaze returned to his face, she pointed her chin at him and seemed to gesture, if you got something to say then spit it out.

Liu Qiang’s face reddened, and he slammed a hand on the table. “Who do you think you are, coming in here with that stuck-up attitude? You weren’t so resisting when you send those pictures to Fan Chuan!”

The onlookers chimed, “What pictures?” in twos and threes, although Qin Juran did not know whether they were genuinely unaware or pretending to be.

“Brother Qiang, the reason you called us here today – was to see her pictures?”

“Nah, it would be no fun if they were just ordinary pictures.” As snickers abrupted around the room, Liu Qiang smirked and pulled up a photo in his phone, waving it in front of Qin Juran.