Liu Qing was woken by a ringing phone. He groggily picked it up, and a voice that was practically begging for a beating came through. "Hey, Liu Qing, still being disciplined at home? The banquet's about to start. Talk it over with Miss Cynthia and get her to let you come down first. You can go back to kneeling afterward!"
"Kneeling? Kneel my ass!" Liu Qing snapped wide awake and roared into the phone. "I knew you were the one who set me up! You're dead!" With that, he slammed the phone down.
"It's already this late!" Cynthia had woken up too. Outside the window, dusk had fallen, and the city lights were coming on, revealing a bustling scene.
"That bastard..." The thought that Elesa had come here without him knowing made Liu Qing grind his teeth in anger. He threw back the covers and led Cynthia toward the bathroom. "Let's wash up, then go deal with that guy who's asking for a beating!"
By the time Liu Qing and Cynthia had showered, dried their hair, and Cynthia had finished dressing and doing her makeup, there were only fifteen minutes left before the banquet. They left their room hand in hand, called for Liu Yuan and Lusana, who were watching television in their room, and headed straight to the dining hall together.
"Oh, if it isn't Liu Qing! You finally made it. I thought those overworked legs of yours couldn't manage the walk, and I was about to go up and help you down myself!" The moment they entered the banquet venue, Xun Chaoze's eyes lit up. Still holding a stemmed wineglass, he walked over, then called to the others, "Come on over, everyone! Liu Qing, the last participant in this Friendship Tournament, is here!"
"No need to trouble yourself