Qian Renxue: Long Time No See, Qian Chen!

Xue Qinghe raised a hand to cover the corner of his mouth, but his eyes were filled with delight.

"Nicely done."

Shui Yue'er immediately cheered.

"Qian Chen, great hit!"

Xue Wu and the others could not help laughing as well.

When Ma Hongjun had asked them to accompany him for a meal earlier, everyone had felt disgusted.

Now that they saw him kneeling on the ground and clutching his lower body, the pent-up frustration in their hearts finally dissipated.

Shui Bing'er did not say anything.

She merely looked at Qian Chen, a hint of softness appearing in her watery-blue eyes.

Qian Chen withdrew his hand.

"Before you speak in the future, think through the consequences first."

Ma Hongjun looked up at him, his face filled with nothing but fear.

He wanted to argue, but he no longer dared to speak.

Qian Chen turned and walked back to the group.

Shui Yue'er was the first to come over.

"Qian Chen, that move just now was so satisfying!"

She stood beside Qian Chen, her eyes sparkling.

Shui Yue'er covered her mouth and giggled.

"He doesn't dare anymore."

Shui Bing'er came before Qian Chen.

She looked over his robes before turning her gaze toward Ma Hongjun.

"Are you hurt?"

"No."

"The flames just now were extremely hot."

"They weren't hot enough to hurt me."

Shui Bing'er nodded lightly.

She wanted to ask whether Qian Chen had acted because of her, but she never managed to say it.

Seeing this, Shui Yue'er immediately moved over to Xue Wu.

"Was Sister happy just now?"

Xue Wu glanced at Shui Bing'er.

"Her heart should be blooming with flowers by now."

"What are you talking about?"

Shui Bing'er turned around.

Shui Yue'er hurriedly shook her head.

"Nothing."

Xue Qinghe walked on Qian Chen's other side.

He watched Ice Empress and Shui Bing'er approach Qian Chen one after another, a complicated look appearing deep in his golden eyes.

Qian Chen had made Shui Bing'er's cheeks flush with only a few words.

Ice Empress, meanwhile, did not shy away from being close to him in the slightest.

They had spent many years with Qian Chen, while he had only met him once several years ago.

That fact made Qian Renxue feel a wave of discomfort.

But he quickly suppressed that emotion.

Xue Qinghe soon suppressed that emotion as well.

He walked to Qian Chen's side and moved forward shoulder to shoulder with him.

Their sleeves occasionally brushed together.

Xue Qinghe made no effort to avoid it.

As he looked at Qian Chen's handsome profile, the feeling in his heart grew even more complicated.

When they had first met six years ago, he had already felt a sense of closeness toward Qian Chen.

Now that they had met again, that closeness had not weakened with time. Instead, it had become even clearer.

When Qian Chen rescued Shui Bing'er, he had felt it was only natural.

Yet when Shui Bing'er drew close to Qian Chen, he found himself uncomfortable.

Xue Qinghe quietly let out a breath.

"What's wrong with me?"

Qian Chen turned to look at him.

"What did Big Brother Xue say?"

"Nothing."

Xue Qinghe straightened his sleeve.

"I was wondering what the auction house will bring out today."

The shops on both sides of the street grew increasingly prosperous.

Shui Yue'er pulled Xue Wu over to a stall.

Quite a few freshly baked pastries were displayed on the wooden rack.

A layer of fine sugar dust had been sprinkled over their surfaces, and a faint milky fragrance mingled with the heat.

Shui Yue'er bought a large bag.

Just as she was about to turn around, she saw that Shui Bing'er was already standing on the other side.

Shui Bing'er held a piece of Snow Orchid Pastry in her hand.

She lowered her head and examined it for a moment before walking over to Qian Chen.

"This is for you."

Qian Chen accepted the Snow Orchid Pastry.

"You're not eating it?"

"I already tasted it."

Shui Bing'er pointed at the paper bag.

"This one just came out of the oven, so it tastes better."

Qian Chen took a bite.

The crisp, tender pastry melted apart in his mouth, with slightly sweet Snow Orchid Honey wrapped inside.

"It is pretty good."

Shui Bing'er's eyes brightened slightly.

"I'm glad you like it."

Shui Yue'er came over with the paper bag in her arms.

She looked at her sister, then at the Snow Orchid Pastry in Qian Chen's hand.

"Sister, why don't I have one?"

"Didn't you buy some yourself?"

"That's different."

Shui Yue'er took out a piece from the paper bag.

"What I bought is ordinary milk pastry."

"They only make twenty Snow Orchid Pastries a day. Sister used to say they were too sweet and never ate them."

Xue Wu immediately leaned closer.

"So Shui Bing'er didn't buy it for herself."

Yu Hairou nodded along.

"She bought it especially for Qian Chen."

Shui Bing'er did not deny it.

She merely tucked the water-blue hair hanging over her shoulder behind her ear.

"It's Qian Chen's first time in Heaven Dou City. I'm just letting him try some of the local food. Is there a problem?"

Xue Wu smiled. "Of course not."

"It's our first time in Heaven Dou City too."

"Why haven't I seen you buy any for us?"

Shui Bing'er glanced at her.

"If you want some, you can buy it yourselves."

Shui Yue'er puffed out her cheeks.

"Sister is playing favorites."

Shui Bing'er remained calm.

She took another Snow Orchid Pastry from the paper bag and held it out to Qian Chen.

"This one is for you too."

Shui Yue'er's eyes widened immediately.

"Sister, you're not even pretending anymore?"

Shui Bing'er ignored her.

Qian Chen accepted the Snow Orchid Pastry.

"You really don't want any?"

"If you like them, take them all."

Shui Bing'er stood very close to him.

Several strands of her water-blue hair drifted onto Qian Chen's shoulder in the breeze.

She reached out and brushed a bit of sugar dust from his collar.

Her slender fingertips touched the white brocade robe before quickly withdrawing.

Xue Qinghe watched this scene, his fingers slowly tightening.

That Snow Orchid Pastry was clearly available everywhere.

Yet after Shui Bing'er gave it to Qian Chen, it suddenly seemed especially irritating to him.

Xue Qinghe suddenly spoke.

"The auction house is just ahead."

"We should hurry over."

Shui Bing'er nodded lightly.

"Okay."

She returned to Qian Chen's side.

Xue Qinghe glanced at the distance between them and moved half a step closer to Qian Chen.

The three of them walked almost shoulder to shoulder.

Ice Empress followed behind.

She watched Shui Bing'er constantly hand food to Qian Chen, then looked at Xue Qinghe, who was deliberately moving closer.

Her pretty face was already filled with displeasure.

Shui Yue'er came over to Ice Empress.

"Sister Ice Empress, why don't you go stand beside Qian Chen?"

Ice Empress crossed her arms.

"What's the point of squeezing in?"

"Besides, Chen'er still has to come home with me tonight."

Shui Yue'er stopped in her tracks.

"You live together?"

Ice Empress glanced at her.

"We've lived together since we were little."

Shui Yue'er immediately looked toward her sister.

Shui Bing'er's back stiffened visibly.

Ice Empress's mood finally improved somewhat.

She had already seen a scene like this six years ago.

There had never been a shortage of people at Skywater Academy who had their eyes on Qian Chen.

She had long since grown used to it.

But being used to it was one thing.

If anyone truly dared to take Qian Chen away from her, she would never agree.

Heaven Dou Auction House.

A towering circular building stood at the end of the long street.

The outer walls were built from milky-white jade, with golden patterns set into the roof.

One luxurious carriage after another stopped before the entrance.

Well-dressed guests filed inside.

The Royal Guard cleared the road in advance.

The auction house manager came out to greet them with several attendants.

"Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Xue Qinghe nodded lightly.

"How many seats are left today?"

The manager looked troubled.

"Reporting to Your Highness, there are many people attending the auction today."

"All regular seats are already full."

"Even your private VIP room can only accommodate one additional person."

A trace of satisfaction flashed through Xue Qinghe's eyes.

He had naturally instructed the Royal Guard to notify them of this arrangement in advance.

He turned to look at everyone.

"It seems only Qian Chen can go in with me."

"You can wait nearby for now."

The anticipation in Shui Yue'er's eyes immediately faded.

"Can't we go in together?"

The manager shook his head.

"Those are the auction house rules."

"There truly are no extra seats today."

Shui Bing'er did not make things difficult for him.

She handed the paper bag containing the Snow Orchid Pastry to Qian Chen.

"Then we'll wait outside for you."

"After the auction ends, remember to come find us."

Qian Chen accepted the paper bag.

"Alright."

Shui Bing'er adjusted his sleeve.

"There are a lot of people inside. Don't get separated from Brother Xue."

Xue Qinghe's eye twitched slightly.

He was the one taking Qian Chen into the auction house, yet Shui Bing'er still had to personally straighten his clothes for him.

Shui Yue'er poked her head out from the side.

"Qian Chen, if you see anything tasty, remember to bring us some too."

Xue Wu lightly smacked her.

"What food would there be in an auction house?"

"Maybe there will be."

The group surrounded Qian Chen, reminding him of one thing after another for quite a while.

In the end, Ice Empress could only release Qian Chen's arm.

She raised her eyes to Xue Qinghe.

"You'd better not get any ideas about Chen'er."

Xue Qinghe maintained the Crown Prince's composure.

"Rest assured, Miss Ice Empress."

"I'm only taking Qian Chen to the auction."

Ice Empress gave a soft snort.

She reached out and wrapped her arms around Qian Chen's waist, pressing her cheek against his chest.

"Come out early."

Qian Chen rubbed her long emerald-green hair.

"I know."

Xue Qinghe stood beside them, the jealousy in his heart growing stronger and stronger.

Shui Bing'er alone was already irritating enough.

Ice Empress had even hugged Qian Chen right in front of everyone.

He suddenly wondered whether bringing only Qian Chen inside truly counted as shaking them off.

Qian Chen followed Xue Qinghe into the auction house.

Shui Bing'er and the others obediently stood outside the entrance.

They kept watching Qian Chen.

Only after that white figure disappeared at the end of the corridor did Shui Bing'er withdraw her gaze.

Xue Qinghe saw all of it.

His pace quickened accordingly.

The two passed through the main hall.

Once Shui Bing'er and the others were no longer visible behind them, Xue Qinghe finally relaxed.

He lifted an arm and draped it directly over Qian Chen's shoulders.

"Six years apart, and you've grown quite a bit taller."

Xue Qinghe pressed Qian Chen's shoulder with his other hand.

"You're stronger than before, too."

Qian Chen's body stiffened slightly.

Of course, he knew Xue Qinghe's true identity.

The person with an arm draped over his shoulder was not Brother Xue at all.

It was his twin younger sister, Qian Renxue.