Zhao Chenyi adjusted quickly. His master's man was no ordinary person, and he could accept it.
"Master," Zhao Chenyi set aside his slight envy and moved closer to Huo Rou. "Are you alright? You didn't reply in our group chat, and they were worried, so they sent me to check on you."
Huo Rou shook her head. "I'm fine. How did you all know I was missing?"
A lifetime of good reputation ruined in a day, Huo Rou sighed inwardly.
Zhao Chenyi glanced at Qin Ningyi, who was standing nearby. He wasn't sure if Qin Ningyi knew that Huo Rou was the leader of the Battle Flag Alliance. It would be too awkward if this earth-shattering news came from him.
After a moment of thought, Zhao Chenyi vaguely replied, "Someone asked on Weibo, and I saw it, so I joined everyone in looking for you."
Huo Rou asked with interest, "Judging by the look of things, you didn't find me, did you?"
"Ah, why bring that up?"
Zhao Chenyi gently tapped his own mouth, looking at Huo Rou with some resentment. "Master, if your phone wasn't so secretive, we could have found you sooner."
Having shifted the blame, he smoothly changed the subject. "Master, that day Bi—"
"Didn't Ren Zhen take An An to find you that day? Where did he go afterward? He only sent us a message and then disappeared."
"Do you think he's encountered something recently?" Zhao Chenyi's gossip antenna went up. He casually sat down next to Huo Rou, ignoring Qin Ningyi's icy glare, and continued, "What was his situation that day?"
Hearing this, Huo Rou did recall Ren Zhen's hesitant demeanor that day.
"Should I call him?" Huo Rou, now focused, also sensed something was amiss. He must have had something to tell her.
She dialed his number, but no one answered. Huo Rou checked his phone's location and found he was abroad.
"Master, you're that fast?" Zhao Chenyi felt defeated again.
Huo Rou looked at the time in that location; it was already late at night. She pondered for a moment. "You can call him again later. You're a chatterbox, you might be able to get something out of him."
Labeled a chatterbox, he left dejectedly with his notebook.
Only then did Qin Ningyi turn back and continue sketching on his notebook.
Huo Rou watched Qin Ningyi's focused profile. Sitting side-by-side like this, it felt like they were back in their school days.
She had always hoped to meet him again, to see how diligently he studied in school. This wish from years ago had finally come true.
"Is it good-looking?" Qin Ningyi's voice drifted over, tinged with seduction.
Huo Rou watched a glint of light flash across the frame of his gold-rimmed glasses and instinctively replied, "Yes, it is."
Qin Ningyi chuckled softly.
Huo Rou then realized what she had said.
Where was her self-control?!
Qin Ningyi, hearing her straightforward answer, laughed even more heartily. He couldn't resist leaning in, wanting to kiss her.
"Lust clouds judgment!"
Zou Xiaoxiao's sudden appearance darkened Qin Ningyi's face.
She walked over to Huo Rou, noticing the slight blush on Huo Rou's ears. She suppressed herself for a moment but couldn't hold back.
As her index finger was about to tap Huo Rou's forehead, Huo Rou instinctively leaned back, falling into Qin Ningyi's arms.
Zou Xiaoxiao looked at her hovering finger, then at Huo Rou, who was being held by Qin Ningyi. She couldn't take it anymore. "Qin Ningyi, can you not disturb Huo Rou while she's working?"
"What's so great about this man?" Zou Xiaoxiao changed the direction of her index finger and pointed at Qin Ningyi. "Huo Rou, are you done with your work?"
"Yes."
Huo Rou nodded, looking at her.
Zou Xiaoxiao was speechless. With a blank expression, she took a small box of pastries from behind her and placed it in front of Huo Rou. "If you're done, take it and eat it on the balcony outside."
Huo Rou chuckled and accepted the strange food from Zou Xiaoxiao. This person's awkward concern was quite persistent.
Carrying the pastries, she walked out and happened to meet Zhao Wen, who was waiting at the door.
He looked like he was about to make a phone call.
"Captain Huo!" he waved, a look of relief on his face. "I was just about to call you when you came out. Perfect timing!"
"What is it?" Huo Rou walked up to him. Zhao Wen wouldn't be here at this hour unless it was something important.
"Nothing much," Zhao Wen stammered, glancing at his phone. "Didn't I invite you for a gathering last time..."
"It's been delayed for so long, and although the surprise is gone, everyone still wants to see you."