"Lance Quinn, is it you who's injured this time, or is it your friend?"
Pfft...
Lance Quinn spat out the tea in his mouth right away. Luckily, Serena Feng reacted quickly, dodging in time and escaping his "baptism" of spit.
"You're disgusting." Serena Feng glanced at the droplets on the table and shamelessly looked down on Lance Quinn.
Lance Quinn didn't reply. He glanced up at Serena Feng, silently set down his teacup, and reminded himself: next time he talks to Serena, he must not drink anything.
"So if no one's hurt, what do you want from me?" Serena Feng didn't believe Lance Quinn came just to chat, or to show concern about her, worried she might have pre-match anxiety.
Want? He hadn't planned anything tonight—he just wanted to "chat" with Serena.
Lance Quinn stared steadily at Serena Feng, his eyes filled with a complicated, expectant light—he looked like he had something to say, but didn't know where to start.
Being stared at for ages by a man with such a conflicted look made Serena Feng's scalp tingle. What was up with Lance Quinn tonight?
After waiting forever with no answer—and considering she and Lance Quinn were at least friends—Serena Feng stopped pretending to be deep and said straight out, "Lance Quinn, if you have something to say, just say it. If there's anything I can help with, I won't refuse."
Lance Quinn had saved her countless times, and she could vaguely sense his feelings for her. But... she’d always put Lance Quinn in the “friend” category—he would only ever be her friend.
Thinking about this, Serena Feng felt a bit downcast. Emotions really are uncontrollable—if only she could control her own heart.
"Serena Feng, is it true that as long as I ask, you'll do anything for me?" After a long silence, Lance Quinn finally spoke—a question so heavy it could change everything.
Uh... This time it was Serena Feng's turn to fall silent. She frowned, clearly struggling with how to answer.
In contrast, Lance Quinn looked perfectly calm, as if he hadn't been the one agonizing before and as if the question was just offhand. But the slight twitch of his ear betrayed him—he was clearly nervous, and deeply cared about Serena's answer.
"Do I have to answer right now?" After thinking for a long time, Serena Feng still couldn't figure out what to say, so she tried to dodge.
"Yes. It's simple. Just answer yes or no." Lance Quinn's gaze was unwavering.
Serena Feng let out a helpless sigh. "That's a tough question. You're really putting me on the spot."
"I'll admit I am." Lance Quinn didn't mind at all, openly owning up to Serena's accusation.
"You..." Serena Feng glared at Lance Quinn, anger bubbling up. How could he be like this?
A normal person wouldn't ask a question like this. By asking, Lance Quinn was treating her as one of his own. Serena felt honored, but...
Seeing how Lance Quinn came and went like a ghost, Serena Feng didn't need to think twice to know his identity was anything but ordinary. If she answered 'yes,' she'd be boarding his pirate ship.
Though she'd helped Lance Quinn before, it was different—her previous help was just lending a hand, never getting involved in his affairs or asking questions.
She always positioned herself as an outsider. But if she answered 'yes,' Lance Quinn would no longer see her that way—she'd inevitably get drawn into his world.
Saying 'yes' would put her in a bind, but saying 'no'—Serena couldn't bring herself to do it. She was sure that if she did, she and Lance wouldn't even be friends anymore. He'd stop trusting her, maybe even guard against her.
In Lance Quinn, she saw echoes of her old life: tense, dangerous, bloody. She didn't want to lose him as a friend. Serena widened her eyes, silently pleading, "Can't you ask something else?"
She looked so pitiful, almost like a puppy trying to please its master. Lance Quinn's heart softened—if it were anything else, he'd compromise. But not this: "Serena Feng, you have to answer this question."
He was getting more and more assertive, proving by his actions that he wouldn't let Serena refuse.
"Lance, I thought we were friends." Serena Feng felt powerless. Unable to answer, she tried to change the subject, hoping to distract him.
But... Lance Quinn had come tonight with this exact purpose. How could he be swayed by Serena's words? "It's precisely because we're friends that I ask you this."
Friends? Beneath his mask, Lance Quinn's lips curled into a cold smile.
So, in Serena Feng's heart, Lance Quinn was just a friend. Maybe that was for the best. Though a little disappointed, for now he didn't want to change how they got along.
"If we're friends, why are you making things so hard for me? Lance Quinn, did you come here tonight just to give me trouble?" Serena Feng nearly teared up—why were all these men so impossible to deal with?
Ninth Royal Uncle, Adrian Dongling, Prince Tianyu, Prince Tianlei, Prince Jinfan, and now Lance Quinn—every single one was the definition of trouble. Suddenly, Serena really missed William Wang Jinling.
Ugh, William was the best. He never forced her, always let her do as she pleased, never asked for reasons, and only ever gave her help when she wanted it.
William, I miss you. Serena Feng whispered silently in her heart.
At a roadside post station, William Wang Jinling stood alone in the courtyard, gazing up at the bright moon, quietly saying, "Serena, I miss you!"
The branches swayed gently, the silence deepening the loneliness.
William Wang Jinling stood alone, savoring the taste of longing, while Serena Feng quickly tucked away her own thoughts, locking eyes with Lance Quinn, hoping he'd compromise. But Lance Quinn was not William—he wouldn't back down just because Serena was unwilling.
"Serena Feng, give me your answer." Lance Quinn repeated. He wouldn't leave tonight without it.
Can't he just be a little less stubborn?