Duan Qingyu did not involve himself in their conversation. He took a sip of his drink, the ice clinking against the glass.
Ji Xueli did not speak. Instead, under their gaze, she walked forward.
“Excuse me, could you move aside?” Ji Xueli said to the woman beside Duan Qingyu.
Though reluctant due to Ji Xueli’s status, the female companion looked at Duan Qingyu with a pleading expression, hoping he would speak up for her.
To her surprise, he didn’t even glance her way, his gaze fixed solely on Ji Xueli. “Isn’t this a gathering?” he remarked.
The female companion had no choice but to reluctantly shift aside. Ji Xueli sat down next to him, their shoulders touching. “It’s over,” she said. “I came for a drink.”
They watched in disbelief as Ji Xueli sat beside Duan Qingyu and the two began chatting, their eyes turning toward Cheng Du.
Back then, they had a huge falling out, yet now they could sit down and drink together…
Cheng Du tilted his head, avoiding their gaze. Judging by Ji Xueli’s demeanor, she was serious about this. But that was fine—as long as she wasn’t with Ji Yanzhou. After all, it was he who had caused their relationship to fall apart back then.
But with his family background and looks, why hadn’t the “Crown Prince” managed to outdo Ji Yanzhou back then? Though Ji Yanzhou had those qualities too…
Still, in terms of looks, he believed the Crown Prince had the upper hand.
Tsk, who would have thought Li Li was still someone who cared about appearances.
“I never expected… after returning to the country, Miss Ji and the Crown Prince… would still be on such good terms,” someone said with a forced laugh.
That laugh was so fake, Ji Xueli thought as she took a sip of her drink. Who said you couldn’t be on good terms with an ex? All it took was a thick skin.
Duan Qingyu ignored the comment and continued asking, “Cheng Du mentioned you went to the hospital with Ji Yanzhou.”
“Yeah, to visit his assistant,” Ji Xueli nodded, not intending to hide it. It wasn’t a big deal anyway.
“Did you meet her?” Duan Qingyu seemed slightly intrigued.
Noticing his reaction, Ji Xueli felt something was off. “I did. Why, do you know her too?”
“I’ve met her a few times. I have a vague impression,” Duan Qingyu said lazily, raising an eyebrow, his voice low.
Oh… no wonder Ji’s mother had warned her to be careful. Could it be that the assistant was two-timing? Did she have something going on with Duan Qingyu too?
“That assistant is quite pretty, no wonder the Crown Prince remembers her,” Ji Xueli smiled.
If anyone should be jealous, it should be Ji Yanzhou, Duan Qingyu thought, glancing at her subtly.
“Compared to her, Miss Ji is far more beautiful,” he said, the corners of his eyes curving with a hint of allure.
The words carried a strong sense of ambiguity, but to Ji Xueli, they felt different. She inexplicably sensed danger.
“Is that so? The Crown Prince actually compared me to someone else. How hurtful,” Ji Xueli lowered her gaze, feigning sadness.
Duan Qingyu chuckled softly and clinked his glass against hers. “Miss Ji truly lives up to being an actress.”
“Could you tell? That easily?” Ji Xueli composed herself, feeling it was pointless, and took a sip as well.
“After three years abroad, you must have improved a lot,” Duan Qingyu looked at her, a smile that didn’t reach his eyes on his face.
With all these veiled barbs, was he blaming the female lead for leaving without a word? Sigh, thankfully she understood a bit of sarcasm, or she might have thought he was criticizing her professional skills.
Ji Xueli analyzed the situation in her mind, her eyes curving into a smile. “Whether I’ve improved or not, the Crown Prince could tell at a glance.”
Their gazes met, and Duan Qingyu tried to detect even the slightest hint of any other emotion in her eyes, but found none.
Duan Qingyu was the first to look away, his eyes inscrutable and profound.