"Senior Sister Feng."
Lu Ming opened the courtyard gate and called out to Feng Qingzhu, who was about to leave in the night.
"Junior Brother." Feng Qingzhu stopped and turned to look at him. "Did I disturb you? Sorry."
Her expression was much the same as usual, still cool and aloof.
But Lu Ming could tell she was in even lower spirits than the last time she'd asked him to tell stories for another hour.
After spending this time together, Lu Ming felt that Feng Qingzhu was actually a good person. It was just that her family environment growing up had made it difficult for her to open her heart and befriend others.
Feng Qingzhu and Li Youning could barely be called friends. Even so, when Li Youning had asked her to look after him, she'd agreed.
After telling stories for another hour that day, he felt that he and Feng Qingzhu had become friends too.
That was why Feng Qingzhu had taught him the Eighteen Green Bamboo Forms with such dedication.
Thinking of how Chen Feng had attacked him while they were competing for the Red Token yesterday, and how Feng Qingzhu had still helped him at a crucial moment in the fight, Lu Ming spoke up at once.
"Are you being forced into marriage, Senior Sister? You came all the way here—why didn't you tell me? If you need help, I'll do everything I can."
At his words, Feng Qingzhu's gaze shifted to him. For a moment, she stared at him in a daze.
She hadn't expected him to offer his help without hesitation, even before she'd said a word.
A faint ripple stirred in her heart. She had hardly had any friends growing up; Li Youning only counted as half of one.
Now, it seemed she had