RMM -Chapter 356 Side Story: Liang Bo’an (Part 2)

The sky gradually darkened, and the streetlights began to glow, but inside the bar, aside from a few more people, everything remained unchanged, entirely unaffected by the passage of time.

Liang Bo’an didn’t know how long he had been sitting there. He hadn’t even drunk much, just quietly sitting in silence. He hadn’t come to drown his sorrows.

Suddenly, the quiet bar became lively. A group of young men and women laughed and chatted, full of energy. Yet somehow, it didn’t feel noisy.

Liang Bo’an caught bits and pieces of their conversation and realized they were celebrating a birthday here. He was a little surprised—he hadn’t expected anyone to have a birthday in a place like this.

But the surprise lasted only for a moment. His expression remained unchanged, completely unaffected by them.

As their celebration grew louder, Liang Bo’an quietly sipped his drink while casually listening to their noise. Without realizing it, his mood had lightened quite a bit.

It was still early; he should go back and rest.

Glancing at the time, Liang Bo’an made up his mind. His mood had settled, and there was no need to stay any longer. Besides, with so many young people around, the bar would likely stay lively all night. A man like him had no need to spoil the fun.

As he stepped out of the bar, he glanced casually at the group, but his steps froze, his eyes widening slightly. Surprise flashed across his usually cold expression.

It was her…

Liang Bo’an’s emotions suddenly became complicated. His gaze quickly regained calm, but his expression deepened.

He had always had a good memory—not photographic, perhaps, but enough to leave a lasting impression of people or things he had seen. And moreover…

She was the woman from that night.

In his lifetime, apart from his mother, only two women had left an indelible mark on him: one was Su Ruo, and the other was Qi Ran, the woman with whom he had shared a fleeting, passionate night.

Not just unforgettable—he remembered every detail vividly.

Even though he had been drunk and had mistaken her for someone else that night, he remembered every scene clearly when he woke up the next day.

He hadn’t thought about that night once in the past three years, as if it had been long forgotten. Yet the memory was too vivid; even unremembered, it never truly faded.

At this moment, seeing Qi Ran laughing brightly in the crowd, all the memories of that night surged into his mind.

Frowning slightly in irritation, Liang Bo’an felt displeased. All these years, only Su Ruo had the power to unsettle him—yet now, unexpectedly, there was another.

Just one woman, whom he had only met once, could still affect him.

Squinting his eyes, Liang Bo’an turned his head and walked out without a moment’s hesitation.

At that moment, Qi Ran turned her head in this direction. Her face, as radiant as a blooming flower, carried a hint of confusion. Strange—why did it feel like someone was looking at her?

But there was no one there. Qi Ran frowned, biting her lip. Could it be her imagination? But that feeling had been so strong…

“Xiao Ran, what are you looking at?”

Suddenly, her female companion tapped her, curious, and followed her gaze toward the door. “There’s no one there, is there?”

“Ah? Nothing.”

Qi Ran smiled and turned back, letting go of the strange sensation. Perhaps she had imagined it.

“This drink’s yours. What are you daydreaming about?”

A young man nearby smiled at Qi Ran, pointing at the drink in front of her.

“I’ve already had two, I can’t drink more. Otherwise, when I get home, that girl will scold me again. Don’t force me—you know her temper.”

Qi Ran smiled warmly, declining. Yet when she mentioned “that girl,” her smile unconsciously deepened with affection.

“You know, you can’t act like this. Your daughter is so young, and you’re already being eaten alive by her? Isn’t that embarrassing?”

As she finished, another man laughed heartily, teasing her. Others joined in the playful banter.

“I like it! My precious daughter is unique in the world, and I can spoil her as much as I want. Don’t be sour grapes because you can’t get any,” Qi Ran said, unbothered by their teasing.

She had only this one beloved daughter—how could she not dote on her completely?

“Who doesn’t have a daughter? But I’ve never seen anyone spoil her like you,” the same man continued, a bit dismissive. “Your daughter’s only two. Is it really necessary to be so careful?”

“What’s wrong with two? Don’t underestimate two years old. You’ve seen plenty, haven’t you? Alright, alright, I’m not drinking, just not drinking. Leaving my daughter alone at home while coming out to celebrate with you is already giving plenty of face. Don’t expect me to drink with you—I won’t.”

Qi Ran laughed heartily, her pride overflowing, her eyes sparkling with joy, catching the attention of several other patrons in the bar.

The bar remained lively, while Liang Bo’an, stepping out into the bustling street, exhaled heavily.

It had been just one night. These days, such things were not uncommon. There was nothing worth lingering over; it had been so long, who even remembered that night?

Shaking his head, Liang Bo’an lit a cigarette and held it between his fingers, his face half-hidden in the neon lights, giving off a sense of loneliness.

After clearing Qi Ran’s face from his mind, he didn’t rush to leave. Instead, he quietly smoked in the night, his expression heavy, unreadable.

Clearly, his mood had not completely freed itself from the influence Qi Ran had on him. For some reason, he felt restless.

The emptiness Su Ruo had left behind had long since disappeared.

He didn’t know how long he had stood there, lost in thought against the car, when he suddenly heard a series of hurried footsteps from the bar’s entrance.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw someone rush out of the bar, then fixed his gaze. His almond-shaped eyes narrowed slightly.

It was her again.

Indeed, the person rushing out anxiously was Qi Ran, her face flustered, her steps chaotic, clearly panicked.

She had just received a call from her father: her daughter had fallen and broken her arm. She was rushing to the hospital, terrified. Hanging up in a hurry, she had no thought of continuing the birthday celebration—she only ran out, saying there was an emergency at home.

But she hadn’t expected there to be no available cars outside. She hadn’t driven herself, and she hadn’t considered asking them for their car—after all, who else there hadn’t been drinking? And they had drunk quite a bit, so she abandoned that idea.

If the traffic police caught her halfway, it would waste even more time.

Qi Ran’s anxiety made her hands tremble slightly as she held the phone. Just as she was about to turn back to ask for the car keys, a car suddenly stopped in front of her.

“Get in. I’ll take you.”

The window rolled down, revealing none other than Liang Bo’an, who had watched coldly from inside the bar earlier.