As Guo Yalan got up and left, Ji Fei was left in a state of shock.
【Although Han Ziyu does seem to be to Guo Yalan's liking, it's quite strange for her to be so concerned about someone she's only just met.】
After watching Guo Yalan's retreating figure for a while, Qin Xian finally chimed in, "Perhaps Guo Yalan suspects that Han Ziyu is her half-sister from a different father."
At these words, Ji Fei turned to Qin Xian with an almost panicked expression. After all, such a juicy secret was something Ji Fei hadn't shared with Qin Xian at all. How had he come up with this idea?
Seeing Ji Fei's expression, Qin Xian knew exactly what she was thinking. He decided to play his trump card, gesturing for Ji Fei to come closer with a conspiratorial wave of his hand, as if ready to share some gossip.
Ji Fei's eyes lit up at once. After all, Qin Xian was well-connected and could easily find out any piece of information he wanted. Maybe he already knew some of the gossip.
No longer needing to keep the big secret to herself, Ji Fei eagerly leaned in, whispering, "Do you know something?"
Just as the two were about to speak, Bai Xiaoxi and Yu Yuezhenting arrived, and with more people around, the conversation inevitably shifted, interrupting Ji Fei and Qin Xian's private talk.
Desperate to share the gossip, Ji Fei pulled Qin Xian to a corner by the pool, where they could talk in private amidst the noise.
"There's a rumor that Guo Yalan's current mother isn't her biological mother. Her real mother ran off with someone else. Judging by Han Ziyu's age, it seems quite plausible. I think Guo Yalan might be suspicious, which is why she's paying so much attention to Han Ziyu."
Ji Fei's face lit up with excitement. "If... if they really are sisters, what do you think Guo Yalan's attitude towards Han Ziyu would be?"
Qin Xian pondered for a moment before replying, "All I know is that Guo Yalan is very protective of her own. Besides, Han Ziyu lost her parents at a young age."
The source of resentment is gone, and not everyone likes to transfer their hatred. At least Guo Yalan is a very principled person.
But even so, Qin Xian couldn't be too sure, as he didn't know most of the people around him very well.
Ji Fei was also quite worried and couldn't help but use her system to check on Han Ziyu's current situation.
What she found almost made her curse out loud.
【Is Qi Li sick or something? Why is he blocking her again?】
The water in the pool rippled as a water balloon floated by, which Qin Xian swatted away. It was then that he heard Ji Fei cursing in her mind.
Had his buddy Qi Li gone and done something stupid again?
Han Ziyu, who had just taken her medication and changed into a new uniform, was on her way back to work when she was blocked in an empty corridor.
Seeing Qi Li, Han Ziyu was filled with frustration. She had wanted to pretend not to see him and simply sidestep him, but as soon as she passed by, Qi Li pulled her into a clichéd and tacky hand-grabbing wall-slam.
"Han Ziyu, you've got some nerve, ignoring me!"
Han Ziyu struggled in vain and was utterly speechless. "Qi Shao, the contract stipulates that after the term ends, there should be no more entanglement!"
This rule was originally set by Qi Li to guard against Han Ziyu, but now Han Ziyu felt that it was Qi Li who should really abide by it.
Qi Li chuckled, pinching Han Ziyu's chin and sneering, "You're quite the big shot today, aren't you? Always trying to make me uncomfortable. Do you really think I'll tolerate you for long?"
Han Ziyu's mouth twitched. She was genuinely puzzled as to why someone as wonderful as Guo Yalan ever dated him.
Seeing Han Ziyu remain silent, Qi Li thought she had finally stopped putting on an act. He took a deep breath, but when he saw Han Ziyu's lowered eyes and caught a whiff of her scent, he was momentarily stunned.
This was the Han Ziyu he was familiar with—submissive and obedient.
In truth... he really missed having her around, always at his beck and call.
Qi Li gazed at Han Ziyu, his throat tightening. It had been so long since they last met. Surely this girl must miss him too, right? How many tears had she shed in secret?
If it weren't for Guo Yalan, they would still be like they used to be.
Qi Li's resolve suddenly wavered.
Why did it have to be Guo Yalan? Even after meeting again, while he still had feelings for Guo Yalan, their interactions were as infuriating as ever. Why was he putting himself through this torture when he could have someone who loved him wholeheartedly and compromised for him?
Maybe the person he should choose was Han Ziyu, not Guo Yalan.
Perhaps, in his heart, Han Ziyu had already become a completely different person from Guo Yalan.
"Han Ziyu, I know what you're thinking. In fact... my heart is also in turmoil. Can you give me some time?" Qi Li suddenly said.
Coming back to her senses, Han Ziyu was utterly dumbfounded to hear this. She felt a helplessness that no amount of language learning could describe.
"Qi Shao, you don't need time, and you don't need to be confused. We have no relationship now, and I've never had any thoughts about you. I swear it with my life. Please step aside; I need to get back to work!"
If Qi Li believed her so easily, he wouldn't have been able to deceive himself for so long.
"Han Ziyu, I haven't kissed you yet, have I?" With that, Qi Li leaned in, as if to prove something.
Han Ziyu's eyes widened in horror, and she shrank back, almost wishing she could burrow into the wall. Before she could even blurt out a "What the hell," she heard a voice from not far away.
"What's this? Acting out a forced kiss? Qi Li, you really are getting more and more 'judgemental' these days."
At the sound of Guo Yalan's voice, Qi Li reflexively let go of Han Ziyu, his heart racing with guilt.
Han Ziyu was pushed aside a few steps, and she couldn't help but turn back to Qi Li, giving him the double middle finger.
Of course, Qi Li was too busy nervously facing Guo Yalan to notice, but Guo Yalan found Han Ziyu's gesture amusing.
Guo Yalan's laughter left Han Ziyu feeling awkward and at a loss.
After all, she still couldn't tell if this ex-couple had any lingering feelings for each other.
"Why are you here?" Qi Li said, his confidence growing, "What I do is none of your business, is it? You're not my anything anymore."
Ji Fei, who was watching the drama unfold through her system, was utterly speechless.
【At this point, he still hasn't forgotten his plan, using Han Ziyu to provoke Guo Yalan. He just said his heart was in turmoil, but I think he's just fickle.】
Qin Xian, listening to the live broadcast, found Qi Li's actions unsurprising. After all, it was a scheme he had been plotting for years. Even if he loved both, Guo Yalan was always his first choice.
【If either Guo Yalan or Han Ziyu had any feelings for Qi Li, this would probably be a classic case of the 'white moonlight, stand-in, and fiery funeral' trope. As it stands, only Qi Li is stubbornly sticking to this script, even trying to add his own drama.】
Faced with Qi Li's diva-like behavior, Guo Yalan had no patience or mood to humor him. She simply brushed him off, "Right, right, right. Could you please leave? I need to talk to Han Ziyu about something."
