"No." Back in school, Rena Luo and Queenie Tong were always the center of attention. Their personalities were a bit different.
Queenie Tong refused, crisp and straightforward. Rena Luo was always colder, never thinking much of most of the other students.
This time, it was Rena Luo's turn to get a headache. Queenie, on the other hand, was proud and a bit standoffish by nature—her pride made her seem hard to approach.
Before coming here, Gavin Luo already had some ideas and interest in Queenie Tong, which Rena Luo was happy to see. They were rare kindred spirits and best friends. Rena had never seen Queenie look so serious before.
She and Queenie Tong used to be close—really good friends. He's my whole family's life-saver. If he really wanted something from me, I'd let him do whatever he wanted, without resisting or expecting anything in return.
But because of her family, she couldn't hang out with Queenie as much as before. With just those few words, Queenie Tong shook Rena Luo to her core.
If Gavin Luo and Queenie Tong could get together, then Rena Luo could naturally get back to the close relationship she had with Queenie back in school. If anyone else heard her say that, it would cause a huge uproar.
"Just think about it, seriously, Queenie. As long as you say yes, I promise—no matter what, you and your sister will always be safe." Not to mention, Queenie's sister is Serena Tong—a superstar. That kind of influence is on a whole other level.
Rena Luo vowed solemnly, then noticed Queenie Tong glancing now and then at Evan Lin, who was wandering around the mountaintop with a bag, looking totally casual. Rena raised an eyebrow: "I don't know what happened between you two, but seriously, Queenie, take my advice."
"That guy might have potential, but whether he really grows or not is anyone's guess. Instead of betting everything on him, why not just come home with me?"
"If you don't like my brother, that's fine. There are plenty of talented guys in the Luo family—someone's bound to catch your eye. And every single one of them has a future way more secure than that kid's."
"I've never had many friends since I was little. I really hope you'll consider my suggestion, and I'm absolutely doing this for your own good."
Rena Luo was still trying to persuade her.
Suddenly, there was a swish.
Queenie, who had been sliding downhill, suddenly stopped. She planted her ski poles into the ground, and because she braked so abruptly, her skis kicked up a spray of snow.
Queenie looked at Rena Luo, her expression unusually serious.
"Queenie?"
Rena Luo froze for a moment, stopped, and stared at Queenie Tong in front of her.
"Rena, I know you're doing this for me, but some things really aren't as simple as you think." Queenie Tong took a deep breath.
Rena Luo had never seen Queenie Tong like this before.
Looks like I wasn’t overthinking it.
Seeing this, Rena Luo muttered to herself and smiled.
Are they really that strong?
Queenie looked down, her face tense.
They must be strong. At least fifth-grade Vajra—five of them, plus an old man about to break into fourth-grade. Lance Le really went all out this time.
Rena Luo had just finished speaking when...
Only then did she realize Queenie, who’d been beside her, had already turned and was speeding upslope toward Evan Lin.
This really is going to be a show.' Gavin Luo snorted, glancing at Evan Lin walking alone in the snowy expanse, then called out mockingly, 'Hey, the people down there are calling you—aren’t you coming? What, you scared?'
Rena Luo used to think Queenie had just been tricked by Evan Lin somehow.
After all, love always makes girls lose their minds, like they get hit with a stupidity beam. But Queenie putting herself in such a self-effacing position—Rena just couldn't wrap her head around it.
"Why bother?"
Rena Luo sighed. "Queenie, you..."
"I know you're looking out for me, but it's really not necessary." Queenie shook her head. "Besides, he's not at all the kind of person you think he is."
"I may not totally get it, but I just feel like he has his own world and his own dreams. That level... it's way beyond anything I can imagine."
After Queenie finished speaking, Rena Luo quickly collected herself and dropped the subject.
A black Mercedes stopped in front of the Changbai Mountain ski resort entrance.
The car door opened, and out stepped a wiry old man dressed in thin clothes.
He looked to be nearly seventy, and he stood with his head bowed at the ski resort's entrance. Then he lifted his head, gazed up, took a deep breath, and shouted fiercely.
"Whoever messed with Lance Le's people last night, get out here!"
Boom!
The old man's powerful voice ripped through the air, exploding in everyone's ears across the ski resort.
"Holy crap!" Someone skiing got so startled by the sudden shout, they lost their balance and wiped out.
"What the heck, how can an old guy have a voice that loud?!"
"This is gonna be good! That dude's definitely one of Lance's guys—badass! Old as he is, he's still a beast."
"Told you, that kid's totally screwed! He messed with Lance yesterday and didn't run for it? Seriously thinks he's some kind of dragon crossing the river!"
A bunch of people crowded together, whispering to each other.
"That voice—so much power. Judging by his look, is he a fifth-grade Vajra?" Gavin Luo crossed his arms, a few women who'd just tried to flirt with him standing nearby.
Right now, he was staring at the old man at the ski resort entrance.
"Looks more like he's about to break through to fourth-grade Vajra. But that kid—he's at best Pseudo-Vajra level. Looks like you won't get your shot at revenge." Clark Luo said in a low voice.
"Who is that guy?" Queenie Tong's pretty face changed as she looked at the old man.