“When did you get back? Was it fun abroad?” Cheng Du, acting familiar, poured her a glass of wine and asked.
Ji Xueli took it: “A few days ago. Abroad is just so-so.”
“Did you come back for someone?” Cheng Du probed with a smile. Although their relationship wasn’t as close as before, he was still someone who cherished old friendships…
Hearing his question, she couldn’t help but sneak a glance at Duan Qingyu, feeling more certain in her heart. Hmm, this must be the male lead.
“Once my studies were done, naturally I had to come back.” Ji Xueli’s eyes darted around, constantly on guard to prevent herself from saying something wrong.
“True, you left so breezily back then,” Cheng Du raised an eyebrow, impressed by her. The day after breaking up with Ji Yanzhou, she ran off to Germany. That mindset was truly something else.
Ji Xueli glanced at him. Judging by his tone and expression, it seemed he was very familiar with the original host and might even know a lot about her.
Just as she was about to fish for information, someone interrupted her.
“Brother Du, that female celebrity you like is here.” Someone shouted from below.
“She’s here.” Cheng Du got excited: “Xueli, excuse me for a moment. Wait for me.”
A female celebrity? Feeling a bit curious, Ji Xueli craned her neck to look. What does she look like? She hadn’t seen a female celebrity before.
Seeing her persistently looking in one direction, Duan Qingyu raised an eyebrow and spoke first: “Duan Qingyu.”
The corners of his lips curled as he raised his glass to her.
“Oh… long time no see.” Ji Xueli reacted, putting on a polite smile, clinking glasses with him, and downing it in one go.
Long time no see… Duan Qingyu rested one hand on the railing, his deep red lips curved in a half-smile: “It seems Miss Ji still remembers me.”
“Definitely the male lead, deliberately saying that to mock you.” The System popped up again.
“I know, shut up.”
“Hmm, of course. How could I forget the nobility of Huacheng.” Ji Xueli didn’t look at him. She needed to build the persona of a white moonlight who was stubborn yet couldn’t forget.
A flicker passed through Duan Qingyu’s eyes. It seemed she had forgotten those unpleasant incidents from a few years ago.
Well, to her, he probably didn’t amount to much…
“Why are there celebrities at a sea ball?” Ji Xueli looked at Cheng Du, who was already cozying up to the female idol below, and couldn’t help but ask.
“Isn’t Miss Ji’s profession the same?” he retorted.
Oh, right, the original host was also a female celebrity. Going abroad was to study acting.
Duan Qingyu moved a bit closer to her, his voice low and pleasant, carrying a lazy, roguish charm: “If Miss Ji sees someone you fancy, you can just take them away.”
Hearing him say this, Ji Xueli understood. So this place was now a trading venue.
She asked: “Anyone?”
“Naturally.”
“Including you?” Ji Xueli turned to look at him, seemingly speaking very seriously.
She just wanted to test whether the male lead still had any lingering feelings for her, even though it probably wouldn’t be of any use.
Duan Qingyu stared at her for a moment, then chuckled softly, a smile that didn’t reach his eyes on his face, his pupils dark: “Miss Ji just got back and is already teasing me.”
“Just kidding, don’t be nervous.” Ji Xueli returned a smile. She really couldn’t see through the person in front of her.
“Crown Prince.”
A soft, delicate voice sounded beside them. Ji Xueli turned to look. It was a girl dressed exquisitely and beautifully, though her face was a bit unnaturally perfect.
A female celebrity.
And not a famous one.
Ji Xueli saw it at a glance and took a sip of her wine.
Duan Qingyu glanced at her. “Is there something?”
“I came to offer you a toast.” The woman leaned forward, her low-cut top revealing a perfect view of her ample chest.
Whether Duan Qingyu looked or not, she didn’t know, but her own eyes were practically glued.
Is this for real? So big…
“Not interested.” Duan Qingyu said flatly, then turned back to watching the scene downstairs.
As Ji Xueli watched, the woman’s smile froze, clearly embarrassed.
The atmosphere grew tense. To ease it, Ji Xueli took the woman’s arm. “Come on, accompany me to the restroom.”
It would also give her a chance to ask some questions in private…