After Qing Nianyi returned the toast, Feng Xun still looked awful. It wasn’t just his throat anymore—his head was starting to swim, and his legs felt weak and unsteady.

If Qing Nianyi hadn’t been there to support him, Feng Xun would’ve collapsed already.

Qing Nianyi had naturally noticed that something was wrong with Feng Xun. Her hand supporting him paused for a moment, then she addressed everyone at the banquet.

“Young Master Feng doesn’t seem to be feeling well. I’ll take him to a private room nearby so he can rest for a bit. Please, everyone, make yourselves at home.”

With that, she smiled at the crowd.

Everyone there was dumbfounded by Qing Nianyi’s words…

Feng Xun was a guest, and as the host of the banquet, Qing Nianyi was supposed to look after him. But…

Given Qing Nianyi’s background and status, even getting the chance to know her was a stroke of incredible luck. And on top of that, she was a peerless beauty. Countless people had racked their brains trying to find a way to exchange even a single word with her—yet now she was going out of her way to help someone.

…

The expressions on everyone’s faces were something else. Qing Nianyi’s admirers were a given—they all looked like they were wearing masks of anguish. Even those who could keep their cool were gritting their teeth in secret. As for everyone else, most looked either shocked or eager for gossip…

Xu Yan quickly snapped out of it, then turned to look at her little brother.

Xu Mo’s expression was just as hard to read. He stared at Qing Nianyi and Feng Xun, brows drawn together, his hands clenched tight…

When he heard Qing Nianyi say she’d personally help Feng Xun to a private room to rest, Xu Mo’s eyes dimmed at once. It even felt as if his heart had stopped for a moment…

Seeing her little brother sitting there like a “defeated loser,” Xu Yan couldn’t stay put. She hurried over to Qing Nianyi.

Wait, no.

Who exactly was this Feng Xun? How had she never seen him before?

Senior Nianyi was practically protecting him like a mother hen!

No… There was no point thinking about that now.

Senior Nianyi was even going to take him to a private room herself so he could rest!

If the two of them ended up alone together, Xu Mo was as good as finished!

No, no way. She had to follow them and see what was going on—

“President, let me help you.”

But when Xu Mo approached and was just about to lend a hand, Qing Nianyi suddenly stepped in front of Feng Xun.

“It’s all right, Xu Yan. I can manage on my own. You and Xu Mo will have to take care of the banquet here. I’m counting on you both.”

Then, without giving Xu Yan another chance to speak, she supported Feng Xun and headed straight for the door…

Xu Yan’s outstretched hand hung frozen in midair. She stared in disbelief…

The way Senior Nianyi had acted just now made it seem like she didn’t want Xu Yan to… No, like she didn’t want any other woman touching Feng Xun…

When she turned back to look at her little brother, Xu Mo had already slumped dejectedly into his seat…

Qing Nianyi took Feng Xun to a private room next to the banquet hall.

After settling Feng Xun on the sofa to rest, Qing Nianyi called Steward Ling over and gave him a few instructions. Then she quietly waited nearby…

“S-sorry, Senior Nianyi. I’ve caused you trouble.”

Feng Xun fought through the sharp pain in his throat and apologized to Qing Nianyi in a hoarse voice. She simply shook her head gently, telling him it was all right.

“It’s all right. I’m the one who should be sorry. I should’ve spoken up and stopped it sooner.”

Qing Nianyi answered softly and considerately, even taking all the blame upon herself.

“How could you be at fault, Senior? You did nothing wrong! I was the one who showed up late, and then I stubbornly tried to save face and kept—”

Feng Xun hurriedly shook his head, trying to deny it. But before he could finish, the door to the private room opened with a sound. Steward Ling walked in carrying a glass of water, then came over to them and spoke.

“Miss, here’s the honey water you asked for. I’ve also brought some medicine to help with the hangover.”

…

Steward Ling naturally knew the things were for Feng Xun, who was sitting on the sofa. But he walked right past him and handed them to his own young lady…

It seemed…

Steward Ling had misunderstood something too…

Qing Nianyi didn’t seem to notice anything amiss. She took the glass and medicine, went over to Feng Xun, and sat down beside him on the sofa.

“Drink some honey water first. It should help you feel better.”

Then she handed him the glass and the medicine.

“O-okay. Thank you so much, Senior…”

Maybe it was the alcohol… or maybe it was the person beside him. Either way, the blush on Feng Xun’s face was even deeper than before…

Qing Nianyi sat quietly beside him, making no move to interrupt. Only after quite a while, when Feng Xun seemed to be feeling much better, did she finally speak.

“Come to think of it, it’s been two years since we last saw each other, hasn’t it? I’m really glad you could make it to the banquet this time.”

“Not at all. I should be the one who feels honored to receive an invitation from Miss Qing. I never expected you to still remember me after two years. I’m honestly flattered.”

Feng Xun replied half-jokingly. Qing Nianyi smiled and shook her head.

“You’re teasing me, Young Master Feng. Actually, I thought I caught a glimpse of you from the stage earlier at the banquet… Did you come with friends today?”

Qing Nianyi’s voice was still gentle and melodious. It sounded like a casual question, but her hands resting on her thighs had begun to clench without her realizing it…

Feng Xun’s expression shifted when he heard that…

Of course he knew who Qing Nianyi meant. It could only be Qin Heng and the other two…

If she’d asked about friends on an ordinary day, that would’ve been fine. But now, her question put him in a difficult position.

Qin Heng and the other two hadn’t had invitations in the first place. Feng Xun had used some connections to get them in…

He glanced at Steward Ling and saw him looking back with a strangely “kind” smile…

Was Miss Qing planning to call him to account?

…Since the host had already asked, there was no point in hiding it. Feng Xun could only take things one step at a time.

“Ah, um, yes. I came with a few friends. The person you saw at the banquet was one of them…”

!?

At his answer, a glimmer flashed in Qing Nianyi and Mu Zi’s eyes. The smile on her pretty face grew even warmer, and when she spoke again, her voice carried a hint of excitement.

“I-if he’s a friend of yours, Young Master Feng, then I’m sure he’s an impressive person too.”

“Huh? Oh, yeah. You could say that…”

Feng Xun was completely at a loss in the face of Qing Nianyi’s sudden excitement…

“Th-then, I was wondering… what’s your friend’s name?”

After working up to it for a long while, Qing Nianyi finally stammered out the real reason for her question…

Feng Xun: His name?!

Feng Xun’s hands, clasped between his knees, tightened involuntarily. She was confronting him about it face-to-face now… She must’ve known about Qin Heng for a while, and was giving him a way to come clean…

Seeing Feng Xun suddenly fall silent beside her…

The gentle smile on Qing Nianyi’s pretty face stiffened. She hurriedly spoke up.

“Young Master Feng, is there… is there some reason you can’t tell me? I don’t mean any harm! I just want to meet your friend because… because I met him after the banquet.”

“We really hit it off… but we had to part early because of the time, so I forgot to ask his name…”

“Since he’s your friend, I thought I’d ask you to introduce us. If you don’t mind… could you tell me his name?”

Qing Nianyi’s voice grew softer and softer, with a hint of pleading in it…

After hearing her explanation, the stone hanging over Feng Xun’s heart finally began to settle.

So that was it… He’d thought Old Qin might’ve offended someone because he didn’t know his way around here. Looks like he’d been worrying over nothing…

“I see. I thought one of my friends might’ve accidentally offended you, Senior.”

“Of course not! He didn’t!”

Qing Nianyi hurriedly waved her hands as she denied it.

“That’s good. Looks like one of my friends really is lucky to have met you, Senior… As for his name…”

“His name’s Qin Heng—Qin, as in Qin Shi Huang, and Heng with the heart radical.”