When Lu Jinghuai left earlier, his mood seemed rather off, but upon returning, it was as if that had all been an illusion—he was now smiling at everyone.
He even nodded politely when his gaze met Wei Junze’s.
Wei Junze, who had just finished a round with Gu Xiuyuan, raised an eyebrow and immediately shifted his attention to Ji Nian, who was trailing behind Lu Jinghuai.
There was no way Ji Nian had been the one to cheer him up.
Recalling how she behaved around him, Wei Junze couldn’t imagine her being the type to coax someone into a better mood.
Besides, his dark eyes flickered with disdain as he lowered them.
What kind of man needed someone else to comfort him?
Ji Nian entered the room with deliberate restraint, not daring to glance even once in Wei Junze’s direction.
Shen Qingtang, who had just dragged He Xiang to sing, glanced between Lu Jinghuai and Ji Nian before sidling up to the latter.
Leaning in, she whispered, "Did you kiss him?"
Ji Nian gave her a strange look. "Do I seem that shameless?"
Shen Qingtang chuckled softly. "No, not really."
"Then how did you manage to cheer him up?"
Ji Nian dodged the question, emphasizing only that she hadn’t kissed him—they’d just talked.
Among everyone present, Shen Qingtang had known Ji Nian the longest.
Taking in her expression, Shen Qingtang suddenly said, "You figured it out, didn’t you?"
"I thought you wouldn’t notice unless he told you himself."
Ji Nian immediately understood what she meant.
So Shen Qingtang had known all along…
Well, it made sense. Outsiders always saw things more clearly.
"I’m not stupid…"
Shen Qingtang glanced at He Xiang, who kept stealing looks in their direction, and thought to herself, Oh, but you are a little fool.
Still, she didn’t mind. She still planned to share a retirement home with Ji Nian when they grew old.
Ji Nian leaned lazily against the sofa, sipping the drink Lu Jinghuai handed her.
[Tch, do you think he even knows he likes me?]
After all, three years ago, Lu Jinghuai had said his special treatment of her was only because she’d saved him when they were kids.
The system exhaled smoke: [Why don’t you ask him?]
Without thinking, Ji Nian turned to look at the man beside her. Lu Jinghuai immediately caught her gaze and tilted his head, mouthing, "What’s wrong?" over the loud music.
Ji Nian shook her head.
Forget it. How was she supposed to ask, "Do you like me?"
Preoccupied with this dilemma, she barely paid any attention to Wei Junze afterward.
Yet Wei Junze was the one who approached her. "Why aren’t you singing?"
Ji Nian was starting to find him annoying.
If it weren’t for him, she wouldn’t have realized Lu Jinghuai’s feelings in the first place.
"Why aren’t you singing?" she deflected dismissively.
To her surprise, Wei Junze replied breezily, "Sure, why not?"
Straightening up, he beckoned to Yang Xinyu, who was howling into the microphone on stage.
Yang Xinyu cut off mid-note and, before he could think, handed the mic over.
Ji Nian had only been making small talk and didn’t care what he did next.
Until a deep, smooth voice—completely unlike Yang Xinyu’s ear-splitting screech—filled the room.
"There I was again tonight."
"Forcing laughter, faking smiles."
"Some old tired lonely place."
Wei Junze sat on a barstool, one leg casually propped up, his dark red hair nearly blending into the dim lighting. Yet his eyes burned bright, locked onto Ji Nian as he sang lazily along to the rhythm.
"And it was enchanting to meet you."
"All I can say is I was enchanted to meet you."
"This night is sparkling, don’t you let it go."
"Wow," Yang Xinyu gasped.
Ji Nian was taken aback too. Not only could he actually sing, but he was good—nothing like her own amateur efforts after a month of practice.
He Xiang, who had somehow ended up standing nearby, reached for his forgotten phone on the table and sat down beside Ji Nian, their arms brushing.
Startled by the sudden closeness, Ji Nian instinctively reached for Lu Jinghuai’s hand.
She’d meant to pat him reassuringly, but Lu Jinghuai smoothly interlaced their fingers instead.
Ji Nian: "……"
Well, fine. As long as he wasn’t upset.
Just then, Wei Junze hit the song’s climax, his gaze boldly sweeping past He Xiang to land squarely on Ji Nian.
Ji Nian, meanwhile… was studying his face like an art connoisseur admiring a masterpiece.
[Told you this little firecracker’s got looks. If he debuted as an idol, he’d be the visual center.]
"This night is flawless, don’t you let it go."
"I’m wonderstruck, dancing around all alone."
"I’ll spend forever wondering if you knew."
Wei Junze’s voice was mesmerizing—even Shen Qingtang, who disliked him, found herself captivated.
Gu Xiuyuan knew he could sing, but this was his first time hearing it live. He’d been enjoying it until he noticed Wei Junze’s gaze fixed on Ji Nian. His expression darkened instantly.
So this is what the bastard came here for.
Amidst the swirling undercurrents, only Xiang Wan, tucked away in a corner, watched Ji Nian with a complicated expression.
From her angle, she could see Ji Nian pressed shoulder-to-shoulder with He Xiang on one side, fingers entwined with Lu Jinghuai on the other—while her eyes were glued to Wei Junze on stage.
Xiang Wan could only bow in silent admiration.
"...Queen."
Wei Junze sang like a siren, and the more intently Ji Nian listened, the tighter she gripped Lu Jinghuai’s hand, as if afraid he’d get angry.
But Lu Jinghuai himself only stared down at their clasped hands, lips quirking, seemingly unbothered by where her attention lay.
Can’t blame her, he thought. Wei Junze really does sound amazing. It’s only natural she’d look.
As the gathering wound down, Wei Junze offered to walk Ji Nian home.
Shen Qingtang cut in cheerfully, "No need! Her family’s already waiting outside."
She hooked her arm through Ji Nian’s and said, "Let’s go."
Just as Ji Nian was about to move, her phone rang.
The caller ID made her pause.
Zuo Yi? At this hour?
A sense of foreboding prickled at her.
She answered, and the voice on the other end was grave.
"Miss."
"Grandma He Xiang... has been admitted to the ICU."
Ji Nian froze, the phone still pressed to her ear, then abruptly turned to look at He Xiang standing apart from the crowd.
He was also on a call—the hospital must have notified him too.
Across the sea of people, their eyes met.
The dark, pearl-like eyes she had always adored were now clouded with sorrow.
Without hesitation, Ji Nian rushed over, gripping He Xiang's arm in silent reassurance, as if lending him strength.
"Let's go. We need to get to the hospital."
