A Showdown?

She set down her chopsticks and lifted her teacup for a sip, but her gaze remained fixed on Orange as she carefully scrutinized her from head to toe.

A long white dress, smooth black hair, an exquisite face, and an air of natural absentmindedness beneath her languid demeanor.

She had a tall, perfect figure, and every gesture carried the gentle grace and soft beauty unique to women from Jiangnan.

She really was beautiful.

No wonder Li Changqing had come all the way from Shrek Academy to Mingdu to see her.

For no reason at all, an indescribable emotion welled up in Ye Guyi's heart.

Yet her expression remained unchanged, and she even forced out a polite smile.

Although Li Changqing had no idea what Orange was up to, she was already here. He could hardly send her away.

He set down his teacup and introduced them to each other. "This is Orange, a friend of mine in Mingdu. These two are my classmates, Ye Guyi and Jiang Nannan."

Orange smiled and nodded at the two of them. "Hello. Just call me Orange. While Little Qing has been at the academy, I've had you two to thank for looking after him."

The corner of Ye Guyi's mouth twitched slightly.

Little Qing?

What an intimate way to call him.

She put down her teacup with a textbook social smile on her face, though her voice carried a faint edge. "You're joking, Sister Orange. Changqing doesn't need anyone to look after him at the academy. If anything, it's us who are often looked after by him."

As if she had not caught the hidden meaning in her words, Orange continued smiling. "Is that so? That's good, then. Little Qing has always been sensible since he was young. He puts people at ease wherever he goes."

Ye Guyi's smile stiffened for a moment.

Always been sensible since he was young?

That made it sound as though she had known Li Changqing for a long time.

Jiang Nannan sat beside them, silently sipping her tea as her gaze moved back and forth between Ye Guyi and Orange. Wisely, she chose not to interrupt.

She might have a gentle temperament, but she was not dull. She could clearly sense the faint smell of gunpowder in the air.

Li Changqing rubbed his temples, feeling as though he was already suffering from indigestion before the meal had even begun.

Ye Guyi came back to her senses and asked, her gaze carrying a trace of scrutiny and probing, "Have you known each other for a long time?"

Orange smiled faintly, her gentle, captivating smile like peach blossoms blooming in spring.

She replied unhurriedly, "Not too bad. It's been a few years."

A light smile curled Ye Guyi's lips, her tone carrying a hint of disdain and barely concealed provocation. "What a coincidence. We've known each other for a few years too. And I didn't meet him at the academy."

A flash of surprise passed through Orange's lively, beautiful eyes.

Not at the academy?

In other words, Ye Guyi had met him during the same period as herself, when Li Changqing had still been traveling across the continent?

The realization made Orange's heart sink slightly.

She had thought she was the only female friend Li Changqing had grown close to during his travels.

She had not expected this blonde girl before her to have met him during that time as well.

Unable to help herself, she asked, "Where are you from, little sister? And what is your martial soul?"

Just as Ye Guyi was about to answer, Li Changqing cut off their conversation first. "Enough. There's no point talking about this. Since you're here, let's eat together."

He waved to a waiter. "Waiter, bring another set of tableware."

At the same time, beneath the table, Jiang Nannan quietly took Ye Guyi's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze, her gaze carrying a warning reminder.

This was not Shrek Academy, and her martial soul was not something she could reveal openly—especially not in Mingdu, where there were quite a few evil soul masters.

Feeling Jiang Nannan's reminder, Ye Guyi swallowed the words that had reached her lips.

She gave a soft snort and turned her head away, no longer looking at Orange. Her silence conveyed her displeasure and contempt.

Orange did not get angry either. She merely smiled faintly, as though she did not care about Ye Guyi's attitude at all.

She picked up the newly delivered tableware and lowered her head to take small bites of food. Occasionally, she looked up and spoke softly with Li Changqing.

Her voice was gentle and her manner elegant, as though this meal was nothing more than an ordinary gathering of friends.

Yet Ye Guyi, seated across from her, found her more and more of an eyesore.

Why did this woman get to sit beside Li Changqing?

Why did she get to speak to him in that tone?

And Little Qing!

She called him so intimately. Wasn't she embarrassed?

Ye Guyi picked up a piece of braised pork and chewed it fiercely, as though the meat had some deep grudge against her.

Watching her, Jiang Nannan sighed inwardly.

Then, beneath the table, she lightly kicked Ye Guyi's foot and gave her a soothing look, signaling for her to calm down.

Although Li Changqing did not eat quickly, he was the first to finish.

He set down his chopsticks, wiped the corner of his mouth with a napkin, then rose to his feet and said to the three women, "Take your time. I'll wait outside."

With that, he turned and went to pay at the counter before leaving the restaurant without looking back.

The moment Li Changqing left, the atmosphere at the table instantly grew even heavier.

None of the three spoke. It was so quiet that only the occasional clink of chopsticks against bowls and plates could be heard.

After a long while, Orange set down her chopsticks, gently wiped the corner of her mouth with a napkin, and looked up.

She looked at Ye Guyi across from her. Her face still held that gentle smile, but her tone carried a faint sharpness. "Little Sister Ye, you said earlier that you met Little Qing outside the academy? How did the two of you meet? I'm quite curious."

Ye Guyi gave a cold laugh. Unwilling to be outdone, she set down her chopsticks and met Orange's gaze, her tone carrying a trace of pride. "Why should I tell you?"

Orange did not get angry and continued with a smile, "It's fine if you don't. I just think that anyone he remembered from that period must have been special in some way."

Ye Guyi snorted softly and was about to retort when Jiang Nannan spoke up at just the right moment.

Her voice was soft, gentle, and pleasant. "Sister Orange, how did you and Changqing meet? We're rather curious too."

Orange glanced at Jiang Nannan, a hint of amusement flashing through her eyes. Then she said casually, "It wasn't anything special. He helped me out of a major predicament while he was traveling. We've stayed in touch ever since."

When Ye Guyi heard the words stayed in touch ever since, the nameless fire in her heart flared even higher.

She took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed her displeasure. A smile appeared on her face, though her tone was rather pointed. "What a coincidence. He appeared when I was in the most danger too, and he saved my life. For some people, how long they've known each other isn't important. What matters is whether someone is willing to step forward for them at a critical moment."

Orange's smile did not change, but the fingers holding her teacup paused slightly.

Sitting between them, Jiang Nannan silently watched this war without smoke and sighed inwardly.

This meal was probably not going to be a peaceful one.