Hearing the ringtone from the phone, Sheng Qi felt a slight relief, afraid that the other party might have turned off their phone. "Hello..." The familiar voice of the young girl rang out, tinged with a hint of laughter: "Mr. Sheng, calling me so late, is there something you need?"
Listening to the young girl's voice on the other end of the line, Sheng Qi's heart inexplicably tightened, carrying an indescribable feeling. "Mr. Sheng?" Bai Tang chuckled and said, "Could it be that you're shy?" "Where did you go?" Sheng Qi asked coldly. "City B!" Bai Tang laughed. "Didn't Zhang Xiaochu tell you?" "What are you doing there?" Sheng Qi asked again. "Something came up at home!" Bai Tang laughed, changing the subject. "Mr. Sheng, if you don't sleep this late, you'll easily break out in pimples. If that stunning face of yours gets pimples, I'd be really upset!"
Sheng Qi pressed his lips together, his brows furrowed. "Bai Tang..." "Huh?"
Sheng Qi lifted his gaze to look out the window at the pitch-black night, as if something was pressing down on his chest, making it feel heavy. After a long pause, he finally spoke again: "When are you coming back?"
On the other end of the line, the voice that should have replied immediately was now utterly silent. Sheng Qi's hand gripping the phone tightened with some force.
Bai Tang's reaction was beyond his expectations! And this reaction gave Sheng Qi an indescribable feeling. He felt that this time, her leaving was somehow off! Even if she had to deal with this matter, she absolutely shouldn't have left Lingshan City!
"Teacher Sheng, don't worry. During this time, I won't slack off at all. I'll study hard and definitely not let you down!" Bai Tang promised earnestly, her voice full of sincerity.
Sheng Qi remained silent, saying nothing. Because he understood that with them so far apart, no matter what he wanted to say, if the person on the other end didn't want to speak, he couldn't force a single word out of her! A wave of helplessness washed over him, and Sheng Qi let out a resigned sigh inwardly. "Take care of yourself out there!" In the end, Sheng Qi could only leave it at that. "Mm, I will!" Bai Tang replied with a laugh. "It's late, get some rest early," Sheng Qi said softly, his tone unconsciously softening a bit.
Bai Tang smiled, sitting in the VIP lounge, where it was so quiet she could hear Sheng Qi's breathing on the other end of the line—soft, carrying a hint of his concern. Bai Tang curled her lips, deepening her smile. "Beauty..." Bai Tang said softly.
Sheng Qi, who was about to hang up, paused, his hand gripping the phone tightening involuntarily. This was the first time since Bai Wu came, after he told her not to call him "beauty," that she had addressed him that way again after so long. Sheng Qi wanted to sternly warn her not to call him that, but the young girl's gentle voice made him softly respond, "Mm..." "I'll miss you!" Bai Tang laughed, her voice cheerful. "You should miss your Tangtang too!"
Sheng Qi said nothing, just listened to the young girl's bell-like laughter on the other end, so joyful. "Goodnight, beauty!" Bai Tang said, then hung up directly.
Sheng Qi didn't move his hand holding the phone, the busy tone from the hang-up ringing in his ears. His expression darkened, and his hand tightened with force. A few minutes later, he put down the phone, found Chu Yi's number, and dialed: "Book me a ticket to City B! ...Yes, for tonight, the sooner the better!" Sheng Qi hung up and drove straight to the airport.