Chapter 268: Mistaken For Someone Else
Translator: _Min_ |
After Song Ling hung up on w.a.n.g Lan, he received a call from Song An.
Song An asked eagerly, “How did it go, did you give Gu Dai a birthday gift last night?”
Song Ling, recalling Gu Dai’s indifferent att.i.tude towards him and the other man last night, suppressed a surge of anger before replying, “Yes, I did.”
Song An excitedly said, “That’s good, that’s good! Was Gu Dai happy to see your gift?”
Song Ling answered unhappily, “No, she wasn’t.”
After a long silence, Song An suggested, “Perhaps Gu Dai was moved deep down but didn’t show it. You should take this opportunity to communicate more with her, ask her out for meals and shopping.”
He added emphatically, “You must be kind to her. If I hear you’re still acting like before, giving Gu Dai a hard time, I won’t forgive you!”
Song Ling did want to get along with Gu Dai, but her cold att.i.tude towards him made it difficult.
While Song An continued to lecture him, Song Ling responded automatically before collapsing weakly into his chair.
Having not slept all night and physically exhausted, Song Ling was kept awake by a fierce turmoil within. After finishing his work, he grabbed his suit from the chair and left the office.
Zhao Xuan, slightly bending, handed doc.u.ments to Song Ling, “President
Song, these are the doc.u.ments I’ve prepared…”
Song Ling nodded, “Just put them on the table. Drive me to a bar.”
A bar? Zhao Xuan was surprised.
Song Ling, a workaholic, had never missed work, let alone visited a bar.
Zhao Xuan wanted to ask what was wrong but, recalling last night’s events, held back his words.
The bar was ablaze with lights and neon.
Song Ling, sitting with a gla.s.s in hand, drank heavily, his eyes growing hazy. His phone rang, and he answered it casually.
Jiang Yue’s soft voice came through, “Brother Song Ling, I miss you. How have you been? Next week is my birthday, will you come to my party?”
Upon hearing the words “birthday,” Song Ling’s thoughts immediately turned to Gu Dai and the indifferent look in her eyes when she gazed at him, filling his heart with agitation.
He refused coldly, “I can’t.”
Jiang Yue, shocked by his immediate and merciless refusal, persisted, “Brother Song Ling, I know I was wrong. Please forgive me. Besides, I saved your life once, you…”
Song Ling, not wanting to listen to Jiang Yue’s moral blackmail, turned off his phone and threw it on the table.
Amid the noisy surroundings, Song Ling ma.s.saged his throbbing temples while drinking.
Suddenly, a woman appeared before him, “Handsome, I’ve been watching you for a long time. Drinking alone is lonely, right? I’m alone too. How about we keep each other company?”
Song Ling, his vision blurry, looked at the woman in red with indistinct features and asked with a smile, “How did you get here, hehe?”
The woman, playing with her hair and holding a gla.s.s, sat next to Song Ling, “I didn’t expect you to know me.”
Ye Huan, a singer with some influence in the industry, was surprised that Song Ling, a seeming workaholic, recognized her.
She smiled, “Though you know me, I think a formal introduction is needed. My name is Ye Huan, and you?”
Song Ling’s smile faded as he stood up unsteadily, in a distant voice, he said, “You’re not her.”
Ye Huan, stunned, said in disbelief, “You’re treating me as a subst.i.tute? Why do all of you treat me as a subst.i.tute?”
Song Ling, rubbing his head, apologized, “Sorry, I’ve had too much to drink, and my thoughts are confused.”
He handed Ye Huan his business card, “For any compensation, contact me directly.”
Ye Huan’s smile turned bitter. As Song Ling’s figure disappeared, she looked at the business card and whispered sadly, “Do all you men like to hurt someone and then offer compensation?”
Song Ling staggered along the street, observing couples walking together.
“Honey, you’ve worked hard. I’ve made your favorite corn and pork rib soup at home.”
“Darling, I bought you a gift. Guess what it is.”
“Clothes, shoes, bags…. I can’t guess, let’s hurry home and see!”