Chapter 270 Friendship and Love

Tan Zheng had another reason to come to the club. The competition in March would be in France, and Tan Zheng planned to have the participants train in the UK beforehand. This would help them acclimate to the environment, and being nearby, he could check on them more frequently. After finishing these arrangements, the two went to the bar. Lu Fang and the others wanted to give them a farewell drink. Upon reaching the private room upstairs, Song Ni couldn't help but chuckle when she saw a glass of milk on the table. She remembered the first time she came to find him at a bar after meeting Tan Zheng. Back then, acting like the spoiled daughter of a wealthy family, Tan Zheng had yielded to her stubbornness for the first time. At the time, she had secretly rejoiced, thinking she had begun to get a hold of Tan Zheng. Little did she know that when she casually mentioned this incident later, she found out Tan Zheng had been thinking along the same lines as Song Ni that day. It was from then on that this particular milk had become a fixture at the bar. Qin Yang approached, and Song Ni released Tan Zheng's hand, hugging Qin Yang instead. "Nini, a year is too long. Who will I find to drink with when I want a drink?" Song Ni patted her back and raised an eyebrow at Cheng Ling, who was looking over. "You can go to gay bars with Cheng Ling more often." After saying that, Song Ni felt a pang of regret. She had been so busy lately that she had forgotten her plan to experience drinking at a gay bar. Qin Yang felt uneasy as soon as she heard "gay bar." She pulled away. "Don't even mention it. I was so embarrassed that night." Hearing this, Song Ni pulled Qin Yang to sit aside, leaving the men to their own conversations. "What happened?" Qin Yang opened her mouth several times, stammering, before recounting the night's events to Song Ni. "Cheng Ling was hit on that night." "You mean Cheng Ling was hit on by a man?" Qin Yang still sounded angry when she recalled it. "That man didn't believe him when he said he wasn't like him and even asked Cheng Ling to provide proof. What the hell, this person is insane. Why would you need proof that you're not gay?" Song Ni tapped her chin thoughtfully, looking at Qin Yang. "And then, how did Cheng Ling prove it?" Qin Yang: ... "Nini, don't be too smart, too sharp. I can't keep up. At least help me scold him." Song Ni: ... "That person shouldn't have gone to a bar; they should go to the hospital, preferably a psychiatrist." "It's unbelievable that there are still such stupid, unreasonable people." "He's gay himself, yet he can't even recognize his own kind. Did he hit his head, or is he new to this scene?" Qin Yang: ... "Enough, enough." Song Ni propped her head on her left hand, smiling at Qin Yang. "President Qin, how is it that after a few years at the company, you find me sharp?" In a place like a company, in the business world, smart people are everywhere. As a manager, how could one not be sharp to command the respect of their subordinates? "This isn't the company. People can't always be sharp; it's too tiring." Song Ni raised an eyebrow. "Uh-huh, so, did you prove it?" "We were both drunk. When others asked us to prove it, we really did." Song Ni picked up her wine glass and took a sip. She had already guessed how they had proven it. Yangyang, as always, would spill everything if she just asked a few questions. She couldn't be that sharp, Song Ni smiled and asked, "How did you prove it?" Qin Yang raised her hand and touched her nose, feeling a bit uncomfortable and restless. She even secretly glanced at Cheng Ling. "I kissed him." Song Ni let out a light laugh. "How did it feel?" Qin Yang thought for a long time. In fact, she couldn't remember clearly. She had drunk too much that night, and her senses were numb. Besides... she didn't know how long she held Cheng Ling's face. By the end, her lips were a little swollen. "Honestly, it didn't feel like much. I just impulsively kissed him that night." "And then what? After the kiss, didn't Cheng Ling ask you to take responsibility?" Hearing this, Qin Yang's shoulders seemed to sag. "I've never agreed to anything. I'm afraid Cheng Ling will hold onto this and won't let go. I've been avoiding him these days. If it weren't for this farewell for you, I wouldn't have come today." Song Ni glanced at Cheng Ling, who was watching them from a distance, and felt a silent sympathy. "Why haven't you agreed to anything?" Qin Yang couldn't explain it clearly. It was just that, after being good friends since childhood, after so many years, he suddenly tells you that he approached you and befriended you from the beginning because he liked you. It felt awkward no matter how you thought about it. It was as if everything was wrong. For so many years, she had regarded Cheng Ling as a friend. Even when she occasionally felt something different about him, she had denied those differences due to their long-standing friendship, convincing herself it was just platonic. Now she was told that Cheng Ling had always harbored romantic feelings for her, not just friendship. She was confused, unable to distinguish between friendship and love. "It's just... I don't know how to love him as a girlfriend." Hearing this, Song Ni roughly understood Qin Yang's dilemma. In the past, Cheng Ling had acted more like a friend to avoid crossing the line. Now that things were out in the open, he might have been afraid that Qin Yang would find it difficult to adapt at first and didn't dare to overstep. "Yangyang." "Yes?" "The one thing you need to know is that whether it was friendship or love before, Cheng Ling has always loved you. It's just that neither of you has completely stepped out of the role of friends." Qin Yang frowned, thinking seriously about Song Ni's words. "Why not give him a chance, let him love you as a boyfriend, and let him teach you how to love him as a girlfriend?" Qin Yang's hand restlessly toyed with the bar counter, her heart in turmoil. "If you don't even give a chance, how will you know what is friendship and what is love?" Song Ni, always a clear-headed observer, had always been well aware of Cheng Ling's feelings for Qin Yang. But she wasn't Qin Yang; she couldn't tell her that such matters needed to be felt by Qin Yang herself. Qin Yang thought for a long time and finally let out a sigh of relief, clinking glasses with Song Ni. "I understand." This logic was similar to when a newcomer first joins a company; if you don't give them a chance, you'll never know their capabilities and potential. Seeing this, Song Ni's eyes softened. "Let's go. Let's join them." When the two of them went over, only Tan Zheng and Cheng Ling looked their way. Song Ni first gave Cheng Ling a reassuring look before heading towards Tan Zheng. Qin Yang sat down next to Cheng Ling. She still felt awkward and couldn't initiate conversation. After sitting down, she kept drinking. However, she became flustered by Cheng Ling's obvious, intense gaze and choked on a low-alcohol drink. Cheng Ling quickly handed her a tissue and gently patted her back. "Why are you so careless?" Qin Yang looked up at Cheng Ling. His expression was anxious, just like before, yet different. He no longer hid the love in his eyes, allowing her to see it, making her feel like she was his treasure. Nini was right. Whether it was the way of friendship or the way of love, Cheng Ling had always loved her and treated her well. How could she not give such a person a chance?