From Bai Ye’s reaction, Meijie knew she’d probably guessed right.

The hickey on Bai Ye’s neck was probably her handiwork. Otherwise, Bai Ye wouldn’t have reacted so strongly.

But what Meijie couldn’t figure out was when she’d done something like that. She couldn’t remember a thing!

“Did I get drunk and lose control, then... do something to Bai Ye? No, if that were really what happened, she wouldn’t be reacting like this.”

Meijie clutched her head and desperately tried to remember what had happened last night. No matter how hard she tried, though, she couldn’t recall a thing.

After all, she’d been dead drunk last night, barely even conscious. How could she possibly remember anything?

“Damn it, I’m so jealous of my drunk self!”

Meijie fumed to herself. She’d left a hickey on Bai Ye’s neck, but couldn’t remember it at all. What a shame. Such a shame.

Bai Ye was still quietly eating, but she kept one hand over her neck, hiding the red mark that embarrassed her so much.

Bai Ye didn’t know whether Meijie had really remembered what she’d done last night, but either way, she wasn’t going to let the topic continue.

It was just an unfortunate accident, after all. Yeah, an accident!

Bai Ye firmly ended the conversation, and the two sat in awkward silence for a while.

But the silence didn’t last long. There was something Bai Ye had wanted to ask Meijie for a while.

“Meijie...”

“Hm?”

“Are things a little strained between you and your family?”

At Bai Ye’s question, Meijie froze for a moment. Then she quickly composed herself, as if nothing had happened.

“That’s a strange question, out of nowhere. Why would you ask that?”

Instead of answering Bai Ye, Meijie asked why she thought that.

“I thought it was strange when I found out you lived alone. I asked you about it back then, but you brushed me off. It wasn’t a big deal, really. You did leave home a bit early, but that suits your personality. I didn’t think much of it. I just figured you preferred living by yourself, so you moved out of the lord’s manor.”

“If you didn’t think it was a big deal, why did you just ask me such a weird question?”

“Because of last night,” Bai Ye said slowly.

“Last night? What about last night?”

Meijie was confused. She’d been dead drunk last night, so how had Bai Ye noticed anything was wrong?

“You’re the city lord’s daughter, but you got completely drunk and nobody brought you home. Isn’t that strange? Does nobody take you seriously as the city lord’s daughter?”

“...Maybe I was just being stubborn and refused to let anyone escort me?”

“Being stubborn?”

Bai Ye shook her head. Meijie’s excuse only confirmed what she’d been thinking.

“Even if you were being stubborn, would your family really just let you? The lord’s manor is huge. Was there not a single person worried about your safety? And even if your family let it slide, what about the guests at the banquet? Wasn’t there anyone who’d jump at the chance to curry favor with the city lord’s daughter? It’s just too strange.”

Hearing Bai Ye’s reasoning, Meijie couldn’t help but smile.

“Impressive. You shouldn’t be a knight—you’d make a much better detective.”

“Come on, Meijie! I’m serious. Are things between you and your family...”

Bai Ye didn’t finish, but Meijie understood what she meant.

“If I said yes, would you worry about me?”

“I would.”

Bai Ye answered without hesitation.

“You’re my friend. Of course I’d worry if something happened to you!”

"Friend..."

Meijie lowered her head and twirled a lock of hair around her finger, lost in thought.

After a while, she looked up again and smiled at Bai Ye.

“Don’t worry. It’s nothing serious. I just accidentally angered my father. I can handle it.”

“...That’s all you’re going to say? You’re not going to explain a little more?”

“What’s there to explain?”

Meijie shrugged.

“I told you, it’s nothing serious. Don’t worry.”

Meijie was clearly being vague, unwilling to explain any further to Bai Ye.

But there wasn’t much Bai Ye could do. No one could make Meijie talk about something she didn’t want to discuss.

“Fine, you don’t have to tell me. But if you need my help, make sure you let me know.”

“Don’t worry. I won’t hesitate to ask you.”

Maybe they were both just too hungry—the food on the table was gone in no time.

Bai Ye rubbed her full stomach contentedly, then casually asked Meijie,

“What do you want for dinner? I’m going out this afternoon, so I can pick up some ingredients while I’m out.”

“Oh, are you going out to take care of something?”

“That’s right.”

Bai Ye nodded.

“I still haven’t gotten the armor I’ll need for the dungeon. I need to get on that.”

“Armor...”

Meijie’s eyes shifted as she thought it over, then she said to Bai Ye,

“Then I’ll come with you. I can give you some advice.”

“Advice... Is that really necessary?”

“Necessary or not, let me come with you. I’ve got nothing else to do, and staying home alone is boring.”

“All right.”