Xi ng still entered the room!
Jiang Zhiyuan and An Nan, Jing Feng and Mu Yichen sat together, Qin Mu and Helian Hao sat next to An Nan, Xi ng sat beside Qin Mu, and Zhao Huai and Qiao Yi sat together.
Once the dishes were served, everyone started to casually toast each other. Jiang Zhiyuan, this troublemaker, was always stirring things up. He lifted his glass and gestured toward Qiao Yi: "Old Qiao, let’s have a drink!"
Qiao Yi was in a bad mood, and he didn’t turn down any drinks.
The won, including Xi ng, sat quietly to the side and watched. No one sympathized with Qiao Yi; they were all waiting to get him drunk.
Qiao Yi hadn’t looked at Xi ng once from start to finish. It wasn’t until An Nan noticed the redness in Qiao Yi’s face that she asked hesitantly: "Can I ask you a question, Mr. Qiao?"
Since An Nan wasn’t too familiar with everyone yet, they didn’t want to make her feel unwelco. Qiao Yi smiled politely: "Please go ahead!"
He then concentrated fully to listen to what An Nan had to say.
"How many won have you ever loved, Mr. Qiao?"
An Nan asked.
The question was entirely unexpected. Everyone turned to look at her curiously.
Qiao Yi, however, looked toward Xi ng, as if the question involved her.
Xi ng’s big eyes were also fixed on him. Xi ng was wearing contact lenses today, so her gaze was particularly sharp.
But perhaps Qiao Yi assud she wasn’t wearing her glasses and thus stared at her so boldly.
"Can I choose not to answer that question?"
Qiao Yi turned back to An Nan, looking genuinely troubled.
"No, you can’t!"
The three won chid in simultaneously. Even Xi ng was startled by them, but deep down, she felt a bit touched—it was clear they were asking for her sake.
Qiao Yi was also startled. The other n exchanged glances, then looked at Qiao Yi, thinking, "Well, since that’s the case, let’s just go along with their antics."
"Alright! Two!"
Qiao Yi said, instinctively glancing at Xi ng again.
When Xi ng heard him say two, her heart imdiately clenched, and she found it hard to breathe.
"Two?"
An Nan asked in confusion, and the other won also looked at him with puzzled expressions.
Qin Mu and Helian Hao exchanged subtle glances, both silently assuming one of them was Jing Qing, and simultaneously feeling a chill for Qiao Yi—thinking, "Are you serious?"
"Yes! Two!"
Qiao Yi said again, casting another glance at Xi ng. He then picked up a full glass of red wine that soone had poured for him, tilted his head back, and downed it all in one gulp!
"I’ve heard you secretly liked a girl for many years—is she one of them?"
An Nan continued probing.
The situation began to turn awkward, and everyone felt that this wasn’t a suitable topic to continue discussing.
"Yes! But that was just one-sided. Now, I don’t even think secret admiration counts as love—unless it turns into mutual love!"
Qiao Yi said, then stood up and poured himself another drink.
"Then..."
"Miss An, I think your questions are becoming a bit much!"
An Nan still wanted to continue asking, but Qiao Yi cut her off. After pouring himself a drink, he said, "Since Miss An has asked so many questions, she should share a drink with !"
An Nan didn’t refuse; since Qiao Yi had cooperated with her questions, she willingly picked up her glass and drank with him.
Jiang Zhiyuan watched the scene with a playful expression, thinking, "If you were my brother, I’d thank you on behalf of eight generations of ancestors for getting this woman drunk tonight."
"How about we let every lady here ask Mr. Qiao one question tonight?"
As soon as An Nan finished that drink, she boldly suggested and attempted to escalate further. Qiao Yi, impressed by her straightforwardness, flashed her a thumbs-up, and she used the mont to push her suggestion even further.
Qiao Yi’s expression shifted slightly, as if sensing sothing. But he still nodded: "Alright, who’s next then? Xiaohao? Xiaomu? Or..."
When Qiao Yi’s gaze landed on Xi ng again, he suddenly felt as though the air had been knocked out of him, unable to say her na aloud. He rely stared at her tranquil and composed eyes before slumping back into his chair, waiting for them to decide who would ask.
"Then I’ll ask—is Xi ng the second woman you’ve loved?"
Helian Hao suddenly broke the silence with her question.
"You can ask, but drink first!"
Qiao Yi leaned back in his chair. As childhood friends, they all had familiarity with each other’s emotional states and didn’t need to worry too much about offending one another.
Helian Hao matched An Nan’s energy, downing a large glass of wine confidently.
Jing Feng, who was seated diagonally across from her, felt his heart soften at the sight. His dark eyes turned toward Qiao Yi, thinking, "I’ll settle this for my woman later."
"Now you can speak, can’t you?"
Helian Hao pressed him persistently.
Qiao Yi looked toward Xi ng, then tugged uncomfortably at the tie around his neck. His neck was already flushing red.
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