Old Dreams Under the Moonlight

As they walked out of the Qintai Grand Theatre, dusk was already approaching.

In the winter of Jiangcheng, twilight always fell exceptionally early. The parasol trees lining the road were stripped down to bare branches, their desolate silhouettes outlined in the cold wind. However, this did nothing to chill the increasingly ambiguous and warm atmosphere inside the cabin of the Land Rover Defender.

"Boss, about earlier... thank you."

Sitting in the passenger seat, Lin Qingyu had already changed out of her tight practice clothes into a creamy-white cashmere coat, a light gray scarf wrapped around her neck.

Although her waist no longer ached after Su Bai's "special" physical therapy session—she actually felt lighter and more relaxed than ever before—her cheeks still burned uncontrollably whenever she recalled the scenes in the VIP lounge. Those rhythmic presses accompanied by streams of heat, and her own shameful reactions...

It was as if the aloof and untouchable principal dancer had been utterly melted and reshaped by this man that afternoon.

"What are you thanking me for?"

Su Bai steered with one hand, his eyes on the road ahead and a faint smile playing on his lips. "Are you thanking me for treating your waist, or for not locking you in confinement?"

"B-both."

Lin Qingyu lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her coat like a schoolgirl who had done something wrong.

"If you want to thank me, just saying it isn't very sincere."

Su Bai glanced at her. "It's exactly dinnertime. As a new employee, keeping your boss company for a meal isn't too much to ask, is it?"

"Ah? Of course not!"

Lin Qingyu quickly shook her head. "I should be the one treating you! It's just... I don't have much money on me right now, so I might not be able to afford anything too nice..."

Although Su Bai had just promised to pay their back wages, the money hadn't arrived in her account yet, leaving her genuinely strapped for cash.

"Who asked you to treat?"

Su Bai chuckled and turned the steering wheel, guiding the car onto a quiet side road. "I'm taking you somewhere quiet. You just had therapy on your waist, so you should eat something light."

...

Half an hour later.

The car pulled up to the entrance of a private restaurant named "Cloud and Water."

Located not far from Jiangcheng University, the environment was serene and secluded, specializing in Huaiyang cuisine.

Inside the private dining room, the heating was ample. Outside the window stood a bamboo grove, giving the place an elegant charm.

During the meal, the two did not discuss work. Su Bai put on no airs of being a boss, casually chatting about the local food and customs of Jiangcheng. In this relaxed atmosphere, Lin Qingyu's tense nerves finally began to loosen.

After a few cups of warm tea, her gaze softened significantly.

"Speaking of which, I'm actually quite familiar with this area."

Lin Qingyu looked at the night scenery outside the window, a hint of nostalgia flashing in her eyes. "This restaurant... I came here once when I was still in school. But my advisor was the one treating back then, I was just tagging along for a free meal."

"Oh?"

Su Bai raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised. "You went to school around here?"

"Mhm."

Lin Qingyu nodded, a faint smile appearing on her lips. "I graduated from the College of Arts at Jiangcheng University. Come to think of it... that was four years ago."

"Jiangcheng University?"

Su Bai put down his chopsticks, his eyes turning playful. "So, that makes you my senior alumna?"

"Ah? Boss, you go to Jiangcheng University too?" Lin Qingyu's mouth fell open in surprise.

She had always assumed that an incredibly wealthy man like Su Bai, who casually threw around millions and possessed such a commanding presence, must be an elite returnee from overseas or an heir from a prominent family raised abroad. She never expected him to be her fellow alumnus.

"Genuine and guaranteed."

Su Bai pointed to himself. "Computer Science at Jiangcheng University, currently a freshman."

"A... a freshman?!"

This time, Lin Qingyu completely lost her composure.

She stared wide-eyed at Su Bai, trying to find a trace of childishness on his mature, steady, and dominating face, but she failed.

This man who bought an entire dance troupe on a whim, casually gave away millions, and even possessed such miraculous traditional Chinese medicine skills... was actually just a college freshman?!

He was several years younger than her?!

A strong sense of contrast struck her perception, leaving her speechless for a moment.

"What? Do I not look like it?" Su Bai asked with a smile.

"N-no, it's not that..."

Lin Qingyu stammered slightly. "It just feels... too incredible. Compared to you, I feel like I've lived these past few years in vain."

"Everyone has their own path and encounters in life."

Su Bai didn't dwell on the topic. Instead, he picked up a napkin and wiped his mouth. "Since you're my senior, this works out perfectly. After we eat, why don't you accompany me for a walk around the campus?"

"I haven't strolled through the campus at night in a long time. It'll be a good way to digest."

"O-okay."

Learning about their shared alma mater, Lin Qingyu felt the distance between herself and Su Bai suddenly narrow significantly. His untouchable boss persona was now softened by the friendly filter of a junior schoolmate—even if this junior was still absurdly powerful.

...

The winter campus of Jiangcheng University was exceptionally quiet at night.

The Land Rover Defender parked in the lot near the College of Arts.

Su Bai and Lin Qingyu walked side by side along Wutong Avenue. The dim yellow streetlights stretched their shadows long. Occasionally, a cold wind would sweep past, kicking up fallen leaves that rustled softly against the ground.

"Cold?" Su Bai glanced at Lin Qingyu beside him.

"I'm okay." Lin Qingyu shrank her neck and wrapped her scarf a little tighter.

Su Bai didn't say anything, but naturally shifted to the windward side, shielding her from the brunt of the cold breeze.

This subtle gesture brought a surge of warmth to Lin Qingyu's heart.

The two strolled along the small paths of the Art College, passing by studios and rehearsal rooms. Slowly, Lin Qingyu began to open up.

"That window on the second floor over there used to be my exclusive rehearsal room."

She pointed at an old red-brick building, a gleam in her eyes. "Back then, to perfect a piece called Ta Ge, I often stayed up all night there. The old janitor knew me and would secretly leave the door unlocked for me every time."

"Seems like you were quite the prominent figure back in the day, Senior," Su Bai said with a smile.

"I suppose..." Lin Qingyu smiled, a bit embarrassed. "Everyone called me a rehearsal maniac back then. Actually, I wasn't the most talented, and my flexibility was purely the result of grueling practice. But I just refused to admit defeat. I believed that as long as I was willing to practice, I could dance my way to the very top."

Her voice carried a pure kind of persistence, a hallmark of her youth.

Unknowingly, the two had walked near a small grove.

This was Jiangnan University's famous Lover's Slope. With its dense vegetation and dim lighting, it had always been a holy land for couples.

Even in the dead of winter, the restless hormones of youth could not be stopped.

"Mmm... gentler..."

"Don't... there are people here..."

A burst of suppressed, hurried panting suddenly drifted out from the nearby bushes.

Following that was the rustling sound of clothes rubbing together.

Lin Qingyu's footsteps came to an abrupt halt.

Although she had graduated several years ago and was a fully-fledged adult in society, hearing such noises out of the blue still left her frozen in place.

Under the dim moonlight, two silhouettes could be vaguely seen entangled on a nearby bench, their movements so intense it was almost unwatchable.

"Ahem..."

Lin Qingyu was so embarrassed she could have curled her toes into the ground. Her face instantly flushed red to the tips of her ears, and she instinctively wanted to turn and leave.

However, Su Bai acted as if nothing was wrong, even casting a genuinely intrigued glance in that direction.

"These people have pretty good physical constitutions."

Su Bai teased with a half-smile, "It's so cold, yet they aren't afraid of catching a cold."

"Boss! Stop looking..."

Lin Qingyu kept her head down and reached out to tug at Su Bai's sleeve, her voice as quiet as a mosquito. "Let's... let's get out of here."

"What's wrong? Is the Senior shy?"

Su Bai wasn't in a hurry to leave. Instead, he turned his head and, by the light of the streetlamp, looked at Lin Qingyu's face, which was so red it looked like it could bleed.

"When you were in school, you never came here with a boyfriend?"

"N-no!"

Lin Qingyu stomped her foot in anxiety and blurted out, "I... I never dated during my four years of college!"

"Oh?"

Su Bai raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise in his eyes. "The goddess of the Art College, single for four years? Who would believe that if you told them?"

"It's true!"

Anxious to defend herself, Lin Qingyu looked up and met Su Bai's eyes. "Back then, besides going to class, all I did was practice. My mind was completely filled with dance. And... and at the time, I thought the boys around me were all too childish. None of them caught my eye."

Saying this, she seemed to realize something, and her voice dropped lower again.

"Anyway... I've never been to a place like this."

Looking at the older sister before him—who was so captivatingly seductive on stage yet as innocent as a blank sheet of paper in private—Su Bai's mischievous side was immensely satisfied.

Was this the so-called gap moe?

She clearly had the figure of a nation-ruining temptress, but at her core, she was an ascetic monk guarding her purity.

"Alright, I believe you."

Su Bai smiled, grabbed her wrist, and led her quickly away from the compromising spot.

...

The two arrived at a bench by the East Lake and sat down.

The view here was open and expansive. Though the lake breeze was biting cold, it blew away the awkward, amorous atmosphere from earlier.

Lin Qingyu took a deep breath of the cold air, and the blush on her face finally began to fade.

"Actually... there's another reason why I didn't date."

After a moment of silence, Lin Qingyu suddenly spoke up, her voice a bit low.

"What reason?" Su Bai turned his head to look at her.

"Because I knew I didn't have much time."

Lin Qingyu gazed out at the pitch-black surface of the lake, her eyes turning somewhat hollow and sorrowful. "The career lifespan of a dancer is very short. Especially for someone like me who dances classical Chinese dance, the demands on the body's physical functions are extremely high."

"During my junior year, I received a gold award nomination for the Lotus Award. It's one of the highest honors in the national dance community. At that time, I felt like the whole world was at my feet, and that I would definitely become a top-tier dancer."

"But..."

She subconsciously reached back to touch her lower back, a bitter smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

"It was during the training camp for that competition that I got injured."

"A severe herniated disc, accompanied by nerve compression. The doctor said if I didn't have surgery, I might not even be able to walk in the future. But if I did, my career would be completely ruined."

Su Bai listened quietly without interrupting.

He knew she was bearing her soul to him.

"Later, I chose conservative treatment. Although I barely managed to stay on the stage, but... that glass ceiling was already there."

Lin Qingyu's voice choked up. "I know there are some highly difficult moves I can never do again. Like the 'Flying Apsara' grand leap I was most proud of. I used to execute it perfectly, but now... every time before I take off, I feel afraid."

"This fear is far more terrifying than the pain."

"It tells me, Lin Qingyu, you can't do it anymore. Your peak has passed."

"These past few years, I've trained desperately and taken on commercial performances relentlessly. In truth, I was just running away. I wanted to prove I could still dance, to hold onto the tail end of my prime..."

Two lines of clear tears slid down her aloof, elegant face.

This was the deepest pain buried in her heart.

As an artist who viewed dance as her very life, watching her bodily functions decline and seeing the once-reachable pinnacle become unattainable—this kind of despair was impossible to explain to outsiders.

Suddenly, Lin Qingyu noticed Su Bai's gaze.

It was calm and gentle. He wasn't immersed in her sorrow at all. Instead, he grinned, reached out, and pulled her up from the bench.

"Did your back still hurt while we were eating earlier?" Su Bai asked.

Lin Qingyu subconsciously felt for it and shook her head. "No, it didn't."

"Did it hurt walking for so long just now?"

"...No, it didn't hurt either."

Lin Qingyu suddenly froze.

That was right.

Usually in this kind of weather, after walking so much, her lower back would have long started to throb with pain. But today, that old, heavy ache and soreness had completely vanished!

Replacing it was a continuous stream of warmth, as if an invisible back brace was supporting her.

"Did you think that one-hour massage this afternoon was for nothing?"

Su Bai looked at her shocked eyes, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

The Master-Level Causality Physiotherapy was not just as simple as relieving pain. It was a divine skill that repaired damaged muscle tissue from the very source, even reshaping the body's physical functions.

Although a single session couldn't cure her completely, that one hour of input was enough to significantly improve the condition of her lower back.

"I am already repairing your injuries for you."

Su Bai reached out to wipe the tear tracks from her face. Though his movements were a bit rough, they carried a reassuring strength.

"That 'Flying Apsara' leap or whatever—if you want to jump, I figure you can start attempting rehabilitation in a little while."

"Really? Can I... really do it?" Lin Qingyu asked hesitantly.

"Prove it to me. Prove that you, Lin Qingyu, were not only the principal dancer of the past, but will be my principal dancer in the future."

Looking into Su Bai's deep, starry eyes, Lin Qingyu felt the blood boiling in her veins.

That long-lost impulse, that ambition to challenge her limits, reignited from the ashes in this very moment.

"Try it right now. Don't do any overly difficult moves yet. Just stretch a bit first and experience the changes in your body."

"Okay!"

Lin Qingyu took a deep breath, taking off her heavy overcoat and scarf, leaving only her form-fitting cashmere sweater and trousers.

Although there were no dance costumes and no stage lights, the radiance emanating from her at this moment was more dazzling than ever before.

She took her starting position.

She spun.

She accelerated.

Under the cold moonlight, she was like a phoenix reborn from the ashes.

And then, in a momentary burst of power.

She leapt into the air!

It was an incredibly extended leap with a profound sense of hang time. Her body traced a perfect arc in the air, her waist and back arching like a fully drawn bow.

There was no pain.

There was no fear.

There was only the sound of the wind howling in her ears and the ecstasy of returning to her peak.

She landed.

Perfectly steady.

Lin Qingyu stood there, her chest heaving violently as tears burst from her eyes once again.

But this time, they were tears of joy.

"I... I did it..."

She looked at her hands, then at the man smiling not far away, an uncontrollable torrent of emotion surging in her heart.

It was him.

He was the one who had given her a second life.

He had personally shattered that damned glass ceiling and pulled her out of the abyss of despair.

"Boss!!"

At this moment, all her reserve, all her aloofness, were thrown completely out the window.

Like a little girl, Lin Qingyu rushed toward Su Bai with reckless abandon, diving headfirst into his embrace.

"Thank you! Su Bai! Thank you!"

She hugged his waist tightly, crying like a child, even calling him by his full name for the very first time.

Su Bai was bumped back half a step by her impact before he managed to steady himself.

Feeling the soft, warm body trembling in his arms and the scalding tears soaking his chest, Su Bai smiled and gently patted her back.

"Alright now, if you keep crying, my shirt is going to be completely drenched."

"Since you've made it, you'd better give it your all when you dance from now on."

"Also, make sure you fully cooperate with your follow-up treatments."

"Mhm! I promise!"