"Ming Xue, you just think it's too expensive and don't want to buy it for me!" Gu Ranran clenched her fists. "This is your apology for deceiving me, so it's this one!"
Ming Xue looked innocent. "Ranran, you don't know, although our Ming family is rich, my dad is particularly stingy. He also uses the excuse of letting me be independent, and I use my own pocket money for tuition!"
Qin He's mouth twitched slightly upon hearing this, but Gu Ranran believed her. She frowned and pondered for a long time, "Is it really that tragic?"
"Mhm!"
"I'm okay, my brother gives me pocket money every month. I'll share some with you then?"
Ming Xue's eyes lit up. "Ranran, you are truly my good sister!"
The two of them, along with Shen Yilin, were all from Qingda University. Yang Sheng started chatting with Shen Yilin. "Shen Yilin, don't you have a basketball game this afternoon?"
Shen Yilin guiltily glanced at Qin He. "The basketball game has been canceled."
"Why was it canceled?"
Shen Yilin felt guilty. "A key player had to take leave." That key player was him.
Shen Yizong watched his brother from afar, then looked at Qin He.
Zuo Xiuxian was still questioning Shen Yizong. "Mr. Shen, which trade company are you referring to for the trade company job?"
He was often on the front lines of missions in Qingyan Prefecture and had experienced the most life-and-death situations, making his intuition exceptionally sharp.
From the moment he saw Shen Yizong, he sensed that this man was unusual. For Qin He's safety, he kept pressing for details.
Qin He looked at the atmosphere at the dining table and quietly glanced at Qin Yun.
Qin Yun was still talking to Zhou Yang.
It was Lu Mingxi who had the free time. While fanning the flames elsewhere, he didn't forget to pay attention to Qin He. "He'er, drink this."
Qin He took the juice handed to her by Lu Mingxi. "Thank you."
As the waiter came in with the dishes, the atmosphere at the table finally became somewhat normal.
Qin He was eating, and Qin Yun was peeling a shrimp for her. "When you were hospitalized, Master Liu also came to see you. Why didn't you invite him today?"
Qin He smiled. "Master Liu is old, I'm afraid he wouldn't adapt well if he came."
Inviting Liu Xing'an would definitely mean inviting Mrs. Liu. Given the atmosphere at the table just now, she was afraid Liu Xing'an would get a headache.
Qin He whispered, "I'll invite them again tomorrow, inviting Dean Shen and Master Liu. They are old, and they will have more common topics together."
Qin Yun smiled. "Okay, you're becoming more mature in your actions now."
Midway through the meal, Lu Mingxi received a call and went to the balcony to take it.
Qin He also wanted to get some fresh air. When she reached the balcony, she heard a cold, deep voice from the corner.
"Can you not interfere too much in my affairs?"
It was Lu Mingxi's voice.
Qin He turned to look and saw a figure standing in the shadows of the balcony. Lu Mingxi's back was to her, and he held a cigarette between his fingers.
In the dim light, he looked very lonely. "I never intended to take over the Lu Corporation. You weren't choosing me in the first place, were you?"
Qin He's lips moved slightly. Lu Mingxi actually had a difficult life. His biological parents only doted on his younger brother. It was only after his brother's death that they reluctantly let Lu Mingxi take over the Lu Corporation.
Qin He took two steps forward, wanting to comfort Lu Mingxi.
As she approached, in the darkness, the voice on the other end of the phone also came through faintly.
"Lu Mingxi, our Lu family absolutely cannot accept a divorced and pregnant woman!"
It was Lu's father's roaring voice.
Qin He's footsteps paused. Should she not be here?
Lu Mingxi's voice was cold. "She has a name, she's Qin He, not some divorced woman! You were so polite when you met Qin Yun, and you say such things about his sister behind her back? When the Gu Corporation attacked the Lu Corporation, you thought about maintaining good relations with our family and the Qin family. Now you're slandering Qin He like this. Do you think this is appropriate behavior?"
Just as Qin He was about to leave, she saw the figure suddenly turn around.
Their eyes met. Qin He saw Lu Mingxi's cold and stern expression suddenly become nervous.
In an instant, Lu Mingxi hung up the phone, and the expression on his face returned to his usual dissolute and unrestrained demeanor.
"He'er, why did you come out? Is it too stuffy inside?"
Qin He nodded. "En, I came out for some fresh air."
Lu Mingxi immediately crushed the cigarette in his hand into the ashtray and smiled. "It's cool at night, don't stand out here too long, let's go back."
Qin He frowned, looking at Lu Mingxi, who was walking ahead, eager to return inside.
"Lu Mingxi."
"What is it?"
Qin He pursed her lips. "You can explain it clearly to your parents. We are just friends."
"Just friends?" Lu Mingxi said each word slowly, then turned around and suddenly chuckled. "Why, is it because Gu Qichen attacked the Lu Corporation before?"
"It's more than that." Qin He frowned. "We originally said it was just a pretense. I didn't intend to actually date you."
Lu Mingxi stood there, pondering for a moment.
Qin He really hoped Lu Mingxi would understand. After spending time together recently, she had gotten to know him.
Although he seemed to act carelessly and had the reputation of a playboy, he was very loyal as a friend. Otherwise, her brother wouldn't have been friends with him for so many years.
That's why she had strongly opposed Lu Mingxi pretending to be the child's father back then.
But when she fainted, Gu Qichen took her to the hospital. Lu Mingxi suddenly appeared and claimed to be the child's father, which left no room for maneuver.
However, she never intended for Lu Mingxi to marry her, let alone to let him confront her parents.
The balcony was quiet. Lu Mingxi thought for more than ten seconds. "It's more than that, so this is also part of the reason, isn't it?"
Qin He became anxious. "Because I don't have romantic feelings for you. I only consider you a friend!"
"Feelings can be cultivated." Lu Mingxi's eyes were deep. It seemed Gu Qichen was a significant obstacle.
Just as Qin He was about to speak, the balcony door suddenly opened.
Shen Yizong stood at the door, looking somewhat surprised, then smiled politely. "Did I interrupt you?"
"No, you came at the perfect time." Lu Mingxi walked towards the house. "He'er, don't stand out here in the wind, come inside quickly."
Qin He had wanted to clarify things with Lu Mingxi once and for all. Being interrupted by Shen Yizong was also unexpected.
Seeing Lu Mingxi leave, Qin He sighed.
Shen Yizong looked over. "Miss Qin, you seem to be in a bad mood?"
Qin He glanced at him.
In the darkness, Shen Yizong smiled at her. Although he appeared gentle and polite, she felt a sense of unease.
She always felt that Shen Yizong's arrival was too timely, not like a coincidence.
But—
Qin He smiled. "No, I'm going inside."
She must be overthinking things. She had checked the Shen family's information before asking Shen Yilin to be her assistant.
There were no problems.
"Okay." Shen Yizong moved aside and watched Qin He enter the room.
The dinner ended in the evening. Ming Xue was staying at Qin He's villa near Qingda. Qin He instructed Shen Yilin to help send Ming Xue home.
She wasn't worried about Di Shishi, Qian Zimo, and Zuo Xiuxian. If they really encountered any thugs or robbers, it would be like a little ghost stealing from the King of Hell.
Qin He asked Zhou Yang to send Yin Zi home. Lu Mingxi drove away himself.
After arranging for everyone, Qin He and Qin Yun left the hotel together.