Someone has arrived.

The bar was as crowded as ever. Inside VIP Room 1314, a few people sat properly, their postures formal. Bai Fanhao fixed his gaze on Mu Qingxi, while she looked back at him, the tension between them palpable. The other three busied themselves with their own affairs, yet their eyes would drift back to Mu Qingxi, occasionally settling on Qin Yu as well.

Bai Fanhao, irritated by Mu Qingxi’s calm demeanor, pressed her again, “Are you going to tell me or not? Just answer me!”

Mu Qingxi, growing exasperated with the persistent Bai Fanhao, turned to Qin Yu, her eyes narrowing mischievously. “Qin Yu, is your mouth itchy? Want me to scratch it for you, hmm?”

She was truly speechless as she glanced at Qin Yu’s conflicted expression. Was this really how friends behaved? Her mouth was so big she could swallow a duck egg. Right after entering the room, in a moment of excitement, she had blurted out the story about Li Ruoying inviting them last time. What a blabbermouth.

Qin Yu stammered, “Mu Mu, I… I didn’t mean to… Who knew I’d get so happy… and then I just… I just said it… Please don’t be mad. I promise I won’t say anything next time, Mu Mu, really! I swear, I won’t talk about it in front of you again…”

Heavens! Not in front of her? Mu Qingxi felt like she was about to choke. “Wei Yu, not in front of me? So you mean you’ll talk behind my back?”

Qin Yu blinked her playful eyes and replied, “Hehe, no way, talking behind someone’s back is bad. If I have to say anything, it’ll be when you’re not around, right?”

Bai Fanhao burst out laughing at this. “Hahaha, Qin Yu, you’re great! Let’s wait until she’s not here and you must tell me everything.”

Mu Qingxi grew more frustrated watching them completely ignore her presence. She raised her voice, “You two, don’t pretend I’m not here! Do you really think I’m afraid of Li Ruoying?”

Bai Fanhao, though he had only heard half of Qin Yu’s story, had already pieced it together. He replied, “We know. You’re not afraid of her. You’re just soft-hearted and care about her, that’s all.”

Mu Qingxi rolled her eyes at Bai Fanhao’s words, shrugging indifferently. “I just think she’s had a streak of bad luck lately. I don’t want to kick her while she’s down, that’s it.”

Qin Yu nodded vigorously, “Exactly, exactly! But you actually helped her today, instead of making things worse. That’s really surprising!”

Mu Qingxi bit her lower lip, taking several deep breaths to steady herself before she lost her temper. “Wei Yu…”

Suddenly, a loud knock interrupted her. Everyone turned toward the door as someone entered.

In the dim light, a figure appeared in a gray-white winter coat, cheeks tinged red from the cold. As the person slowly approached, Mu Qingxi stared in a daze, her fingers trembling slightly around her glass before she looked down and swirled her drink.

Bai Fanhao, sitting next to her, noticed the subtle movement of her hand. He clenched his own hands on his knees, pupils narrowing, lost in thought.

As the newcomer drew closer, Xi Haifei stood up politely. “Feng Han, long time no see.”

Feng Han glanced at Mu Qingxi, who kept her eyes on her glass, and spoke with pointed meaning, “It really has been a long time. I was just afraid certain people didn’t want to see me, so I didn’t dare show up.”

Mu Qingxi remained silent. She knew exactly who Feng Han meant, but she truly had no desire to see him.

Bai Fanhao’s expression was blank as he said, “Feng Han, since you know someone doesn’t want to see you, why show up uninvited? What are you here for?”

Feng Han gave a nonchalant smile, settling himself on the sofa before replying, “Fanhao, you’ve changed. But remember, the person who changed you was never yours to begin with.”