Jiang Feiwan's question carried a hint of playful teasing, but she kept her voice low, as though deliberately avoiding the attention of Ji Yunhuai and Lu Xiaoxiao as they bantered.
Cui Anze's gaze paused briefly at her words. A moment later, he nodded with a faint smile. "Of course I admire her."
Jiang Feiwan tilted her head, her carefully styled bangs swaying gently and shifting their curve slightly as her smile deepened.
Then she asked with a smile, "The way I admire you?"
"Perhaps?"
The smile on Cui Anze's face remained unchanged, and his tone was as calm as ever, making the one-word question sound almost like a statement.
With that, he looked away from Jiang Feiwan and turned his gaze back to the pair nearby, adding softly, "Still, she's a friend I've only recently met. In terms of how well we know each other, that naturally can't compare to you and me, who've known each other since childhood."
"That's true." Jiang Feiwan shrugged and followed his gaze. When her eyes settled on Lu Xiaoxiao, her smile naturally grew more relaxed. "It feels like all they're missing now is a proper confession. You're looking forward to the day they get together too, aren't you?"
Cui Anze was about to answer when Lu Xiaoxiao turned around and called out to them with a grin. "Sister Feiwan, Brother Anze, what are you two talking about?"
As she spoke, she casually tugged Ji Yunhuai a couple of steps toward the table. Only once they were closer did she apologize sheepishly. "Sorry, sorry! Whenever I see Ji Yunhuai, I just get this inexplicable urge to take a jab at him, and I ended up leaving you two off to the side! I really didn't mean to leave you out!"
"That's right. I can vouch