Emperor Qiankun

Chapter 315 Ordinary Friends?

Li Qingyuan still has no answer to this.

He couldn't answer; he couldn't convince himself. He couldn't let Su Yaoyue down!

Guilt and inner turmoil surged within him, and he said with difficulty:

“Miss Wang, I think you may have misunderstood. Qinghuan and I... are just friends.”

The moment he said those words, he clearly heard his heart sink.

He knew how hurtful those words were, just like the heart-wrenching pain he felt when he watched Su Yaoyue's retreating figure after she had no choice but to leave!

But it is precisely because we have experienced it that we should not make promises lightly!

Now, this is all he can do...

As for Yue Qinghuan's kindness and help to him, he will remember it in his heart and take responsibility for it!

But this kind of responsibility is not about romantic love!

Well, at least not now. Things might change in the future, or they might remain the same...

No one can say for sure, and Li Qingyuan didn't dare to think about it any further.

He knew he was a very awkward person when it came to relationships...

Therefore, for now, he only needs to do what is right and keep his conscience in mind!

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Upon hearing this, Yue Qinghuan's fingertips turned slightly white, and her hand holding the wine glass hovered in mid-air.

After a long silence, she finally managed a smile and said:

"Okay, okay, I was just kidding, you actually took it seriously..."

"Ranran, don't overthink it. We're just good friends..."

But when she tilted her head back and drank the strong liquor, she couldn't tell if it was the liquor or the sour taste that was churning in her throat.

"You guys are so weird..."

Wang Anran looked the two of them up and down suspiciously, and saw that Li Qingyuan looked bitter and Yue Qinghuan's smile was forced, and even the air was filled with awkwardness.

Upon hearing this, neither Li Qingyuan nor Yue Qinghuan responded, and both fell silent.

The old ox's hand, holding the wine bowl, froze at his mouth as he mumbled:

"Suddenly, this wine doesn't taste good anymore..."

Seeing this, Wang Anran knew that she had asked unnecessary questions!

"Don't spoil the fun!"

Wang Anran slammed her hand on the table, the crisp sound breaking the tense atmosphere.

"Qingqing has come from afar, and we've just been through life and death together, so we should have a good drink!"

She grabbed the wine jug and poured wine for everyone, saying, "Today I'm the host, anyone who doesn't drink to their heart's content is disrespecting me!"

......

Under her influence, the atmosphere gradually warmed up.

Old Huangniu and Wang Anran quickly became the lively characters at the dinner table.

"Hey girl, do you know what? I have a brother who fell in love with a nine-tailed fox demon. They were so deeply in love, it was like they were dying for each other..."

The old ox lowered his voice and vividly recounted the secret, making Wang Anran laugh so hard she slapped her chest:

"Hehe~ Your gossip is even more exciting than the gossip about the various forces in Zhongzhou!"

The two chatted animatedly, exchanging tales of world secrets and interesting stories about various factions.

Li Qingyuan kept chugging down one glass of liquor after another. The strong liquor burned her throat, but it couldn't melt away the turmoil in her heart.

He deliberately avoided using his spiritual power to sober up, hoping that the drunkenness would temporarily numb his mind.

But whenever his consciousness blurred, the images of Su Yaoyue and Yue Qinghuan would appear alternately, pulling him back to his senses...

Yue Qinghuan sat quietly in the corner, sipping her wine.

Unlike her usual jovial self, she simply drank one glass after another until the wine jug was empty...

As the banquet ended, her steps were unsteady, yet she maintained the demeanor of a legitimate young lady of the Treasure Pavilion, softly saying 'Goodnight' before disappearing at the end of the corridor.

As night deepened, the candles in the restaurant's guest rooms were extinguished one by one, leaving only worries lingering in the darkness, making it difficult to sleep.

......

The next day, the sun rises three poles.

When Li Qingyuan sat up from the bed, a dull pain exploded from her temples.

He raised his hand and rubbed his throbbing forehead, the tangled thoughts from last night's clinking of glasses flooding his mind again.

Without thinking twice, he immediately circulated his profound energy, and a faint halo appeared around his body, dispelling the remaining effects of the alcohol like wisps of smoke.

After straightening his clothes, he strode downstairs, his robes fluttering in the morning light, giving him a somewhat carefree and unrestrained air.

In the lobby of the restaurant, the windows were half-open, and the noise of the street, along with the morning mist, drifted in.

Yue Qinghuan and the other two were already sitting at a table by the window. The table was littered with cups and plates, scattered with bone fragments, and an empty soup pot lay crookedly, clearly indicating a 'hearty' breakfast.

The old ox crossed its legs, patted its round belly, and burped contentedly.

Wang Anran rested her chin on her hand, idly watching the passersby on the street.

Seeing Li Qingyuan approach, Yue Qinghuan smiled, her gaze sweeping over his slightly tired eyes:

"The sun's already high in the sky, I thought you were going to sleep until dark."

Li Qingyuan glanced at the leftover food on the table and deliberately sighed dramatically:

"You three certainly have good appetites. Have you eaten the whole restaurant? Leave me something at least..."

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"Who told you to drink so much?"

Yue Qinghuan gently shook her head, called over the waiter, and specially ordered a steaming bowl of honey water.

The amber-colored liquid swayed gently in the porcelain bowl, releasing a sweet aroma.

"Drink this to warm your stomach. You drank so much yesterday, don't let it cause any health problems later."

Yue Qinghuan spoke with gentle eyes and a hint of unconscious concern.

Li Qingyuan wore a bitter face, looking pitiful:

"...But I can't live without meat, and if I just drink this, I'll probably starve to the point of becoming an 'immortal'."

"I knew you had a sweet tooth. Then let's have a Poria and Animal Bone Soup."

Yue Qinghuan smiled, her eyes crinkling, and called out to the waiter:

"Add three qian of snow ginseng and two slices of ambergris to the soup."

She turned to look at Li Qingyuan's slightly startled expression, her eyes sparkling like spring water, and said softly:

"You always say that cultivators need to nourish their qi, and this soup is the most nourishing—Young Master Li, please don't let my good intentions go to waste."

......

Across the table, Wang Anran suddenly perked up, her cold and beautiful face sparkling with gossip.

She nudged the old ox with her elbow and whispered:

"Brother, you call this just a regular friend?"

The old ox, stuffing his fifth basket of buns into his mouth, replied indistinctly:

"Young people, they just love to try new things..."

"Tsk~"

Wang Anran clicked her tongue lightly, her gaze shifting back and forth between Li Qingyuan and Yue Qinghuan, a meaningful 'auntie smile' playing on her lips, thinking to herself:

"Tch~ Look at this pushing and pulling, no one would believe it if they said they were innocent!"

"Look, take a look, these are the crabapple blossoms we just picked this morning..."

Outside the window, the cries of a flower seller drifted in.

Yue Qinghuan suddenly reached out her delicate hand and plucked a crabapple petal that had fallen from Li Qingyuan's shoulder.

At that moment, Li Qingyuan's hand happened to touch her shoulder.

The moment their fingertips touched, they both froze.

Upon seeing this, Wang Anran immediately covered her mouth, which was stretching almost to her ears, with her small hand...

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