Ling Yuan silently thought, This is bad, and quickly let go of Lin Feng's arm, turning stiffly toward the store entrance.
Ye Wanqing, holding a long teal dress, came walking over excitedly.
When she spotted Lin Feng standing beside Ling Yuan, her eyes lit up. Her steps slowed, and the smile on her face took on a rather intrigued and meaningful look.
"So it's you, Wanqing. What a coincidence, haha."
Ling Yuan let out an awkward chuckle.
"Of course it's me~" Ye Wanqing replied playfully as she came up to Ling Yuan.
She looked left—Ling Yuan's eyes shifted right.
She looked right—Ling Yuan's eyes shifted left.
"Tsk tsk tsk... Didn't you say you couldn't stay long in Heaven Dou City? Didn't you say you'd look me up the next time you came? Who's this little gentleman~?"
Lin Feng was still marveling at the stunning beauty before him.
He casually glanced at the overwhelming assets in front of him and replied:
"I'm her boyfriend."
"Oh~"
Ye Wanqing stepped around Ling Yuan and began circling Lin Feng, stroking her chin in appraisal.
"He really does look young. Didn't expect you to snag him so fast, Ling Yuan."
Ling Yuan blushed a deep crimson.
She pulled Ye Wanqing aside.
"What's your problem? Can't I even take a look? So protective!"
Ling Yuan scowled and glared at her.
"Mind your own business! Go find one to look at yourself."
"Ahem."
Ye Wanqing dramatically clutched her large "conscience," stepped back a few paces, and looked incredulous.
She pointed at Ling Yuan:
"Ling Yuan, you're... you're abandoning your friend for a man!"
Lin Feng raised an eyebrow. So this one's just here for the drama, huh?
"I did not!"
Ling Yuan, flustered, quickly covered Ye Wanqing's mouth.
Ye Wanqing mumbled, blinking her apricot eyes non-stop.
At that moment, other customers in the store began to take notice of the commotion and cast curious glances toward the three.
"Why haven't they started fighting yet? Pick up the pace already."
"You don't get it. Looks like two besties fighting over that cute guy. They won't actually fight. I bet they're all leaving together after this."
Hearing the murmurs, Ling Yuan's ears turned even redder with embarrassment.
She grabbed Lin Feng and Ye Wanqing and rushed out of the store.
"Pfft~ They're leaving already? It hasn't even gotten good yet."
So everyone here's just a gossip lover?
The three of them arrived at a restaurant.
Suddenly, the atmosphere turned a bit awkward.
Ye Wanqing, who had originally come with the mood to tease and mess with Ling Yuan, glanced at the pair sitting side by side across from her and then at the empty space beside herself.
Her mood dimmed slightly.
Casually, she glanced at Ling Yuan's delicate hand—currently resting gently in Lin Feng's palm.
Her breath caught for a second. It used to be only me who could play with that pair of hands...
Though she was genuinely happy for her bestie, realizing that she was now more of an outsider brought an unexpected pang of loneliness.
She pouted.
Crossed her arms under her chest, boosting her prideful figure.
"Why are you just sitting there? I demand an explanation."
What, are you a Nascent Soul cultivator or something, always demanding explanations?
"Ahem."
Ling Yuan cleared her throat and tucked a strand of black hair behind her ear.
"Okay, okay, it was wrong of me not to look for you first. I promise I'll come find you often in the future."
Ye Wanqing pouted.
"Bet you won't have time~ You'll be too busy with your little boyfriend. Guess I'll be all alone now~"
She flopped her head sideways like life had no meaning.
Ling Yuan helplessly covered her forehead and turned to Lin Feng:
"This is the Ye Wanqing I told you about."
"The one who steals candy from kids?"
Lin Feng spoke without thinking.
"Wha—"
Ye Wanqing's mouth opened in shock, her eyes wide as she stared at Ling Yuan in disbelief.
"You—you—you! What else did you tell him?!"
She stood up with a whoosh.
Recalling all the embarrassing things she had done, Ye Wanqing's confidence wavered.
"This is unacceptable."
"Actually, back when Ling Yuan was a kid—"
"Hey!"
Ling Yuan interrupted hastily.
Wait? Come to think of it, there wasn't really anything bad to say about Ling Yuan's childhood?
Exceptionally talented, crushed her peers, and scared off a bunch of annoying guys... That's praise, right?
Ye Wanqing's expression turned a bit blank.
Unable to recall anything scandalous, she awkwardly sat back down.
"Darn it. I'll definitely remember something eventually."
Ling Yuan breathed a sigh of relief as she successfully diverted the topic.
She turned to introduce Lin Feng properly.
"This is Lin Feng. The one I mentioned before. Um... I really like him."
Her cheeks flushed slightly. Talking about Lin Feng in front of her bestie made her feel a little embarrassed.
Ye Wanqing picked up a piece of crab meat, popped it into her mouth, and muttered:
"Looks like that guidebook you took worked wonders. Didn't even take long, huh?"
"Guidebook?"
Lin Feng looked at Ling Yuan with a teasing grin, full of mischief.
She shot him a glare and pinched his hand gently in mock annoyance.
Her beautiful eyes held a playful complaint.
Ye Wanqing silently put down the second piece of crab meat she had just picked up.
Her appetite vanished, and even the sumptuous meal before her suddenly seemed bland.
She casually dropped her chopsticks.
After a moment of silence, she spoke:
"Alright, alright, tell me—how did you two meet?
Lin Feng, right? Tell me—what do you like about our Ling Yuan?"
Lin Feng smiled:
"Everything."
Ye Wanqing frowned. Clearly, she wasn't satisfied with that vague answer.
"Be specific."
"Her free spirit, the way she loves wholeheartedly, her thoughtful care, and... her breathtaking beauty."
Ling Yuan listened carefully, her almond eyes narrowing slightly in delight.
Her lips curled up in a small, proud smile as she shot Ye Wanqing a triumphant look.
"Hmph, sounds like that last one is the real reason."
Ye Wanqing rolled her eyes.
Seeing Ye Wanqing begin eating again, Ling Yuan looked puzzled.
"Why don't you ask me?"
Ye Wanqing glanced at her sideways:
"What for? Not interested. Boring."
Giggle.
"By the way, how old is this Lin Feng, really? You never actually said."
Ye Wanqing asked casually.
Ling Yuan's appearance didn't give away her real age at all—saying she was 25 or 26 would've been underselling it.
And Lin Feng, as a soul master blessed by heavenly herbs and treasures, also seemed quite mature.
Just by looks alone, no one could guess their actual age gap.
Ling Yuan, who had been relaxed and smiling, froze a little at the question.
"Teenager. I already told you."
Ye Wanqing popped more food in her mouth absentmindedly.
"Nineteen is still a teen, y'know."
"I said no more asking!"
Ling Yuan snapped.
Her reaction only made Ye Wanqing more suspicious.
Could it be...?
Her bestie might really be wild. She gave Lin Feng a strange look.
"Alright, fine. So, when are you planning to leave this time?"
Ling Yuan looked to Lin Feng.
He thought for a moment:
"We'll probably stay in Heaven Dou City for a few more months, then head to Spirit Hall City."
Ye Wanqing was a bit surprised. Even that question had to be answered by Lin Feng?
Was her bestie's household status that low? That won't do.
Not knowing the full situation, Ye Wanqing fell into deep thought.
"Then how about coming over to my place? My house is quite big—and my sister misses you too."
T/N: For up to fifteen chapters ahead on this fic and twenty on my other, become a P@tron at [email protected]/LordHipposApostle