Wei Qing genuinely froze.
This was more direct than any "test" he'd imagined.
His gaze instinctively slid to Bai Heng beside him—she was practically trying to fold herself into a ball. Her ears were burning red, her eyes darting away, utterly refusing to meet his.
You made this mess and now you're chickening out?
The absurdity in Wei Qing's chest shifted into something… oddly complicated.
He looked at Bai Heng, then at Jingliu across the table—cool, measuring, as if one wrong answer would earn him a blade. Then he caught Jing Yuan beside them, desperately pretending to be low-profile while his eyes screamed "this is great." Ying Xing and Dan Feng were also watching, awkward but still faintly appraising.
A thought rose, uninvited.
Wei Qing drew a slow breath. When he lifted his eyes again, the trace of surprise and helplessness had been packed away. In its place was a mild, earnest calm.
He even turned slightly—facing Bai Heng more fully—making sure everyone could hear him clearly.
"Miss Jingliu is right," he said, voice warming by a degree. "Miss Bai Heng… really is someone special."
He continued, sincere, meeting Jingliu's stare without flinching. "She's bright, open, and clear-hearted. Being with her is… like standing in spring sunlight."
"These past few days, she's shown me the Luofu's sights, taken me through its streets, fed me its food, and filled the hours with stories and laughter."
"To be honest, I'm grateful. And I've enjoyed this time."
He paused as if choosing his words, then stated plainly, "If we're talking about 'liking' someone… I think it'd be hard not to like a friend like Miss Bai Heng."
"…Yes. I like her, too."
Silence.
A strange, unnatural stillness fell over the tavern, as if someone had pressed a mute button on the world.
All eyes drifted—inevitably—to the storm's center: Bai Heng.
She looked like she'd been hit by a binding spell. Every word Wei Qing said landed like a hammer on the drumbeat of her heart.
"Special." "Spring sunlight." "Grateful." "Enjoyed."
Those were already enough to set her face on fire.
But that final, clear "…I like her, too" was the last straw.
Bai Heng felt all the blood in her body rush straight up to her head. Her ears rang. Her vision wobbled.
Wei Qing was about to look closer—because something felt off—when Bai Heng suddenly sucked in a sharp breath, her body went limp, and she tipped sideways like a felled tree.
Her collapse was spectacular.
Cups and plates rattled and clinked as she nearly took half the table with her.
"Bai Heng!" Jingliu and Wei Qing rose at almost the exact same time.
Jingliu's reflexes were faster. She caught Bai Heng by the shoulder and prevented her from smashing face-first into the table.
"She is…?" Ying Xing came back over, frowning hard.
Dan Feng leaned in, a point of green light gathering on his fingertip. He touched Bai Heng's forehead briefly, then withdrew, his expression turning strangely resigned.
"No real harm," he said, sounding tired already. "Qi and blood surged, her mind shook… in simpler terms, she fainted from sheer emotional impact."
The air at the table instantly became even more delicate.
Fainted… because of that line?
Jing Yuan's shoulders trembled. He clamped his lips together, trying to keep a straight face, and failed miserably.
Ying Xing lifted a hand to his forehead, as if begging the universe for mercy.
Tonight's "friendly gathering" was clearly over.
Now the question was: what to do with the unconscious Bai Heng?
All eyes turned to Wei Qing.
Jingliu gently nudged Bai Heng toward him, tone absolute. "Sir Dian Dao. Since this trouble began with you, you will take Bai Heng home and let her rest. Jing Yuan knows the address. He'll tell you."
Wei Qing stared at Bai Heng—soft and boneless against his shoulder—then at the four old friends who were very obviously planning to wash their hands of the entire matter.
For a moment, he genuinely had no words.
"What?" Jingliu's brow rose slightly. "Unwilling?"
Wei Qing exhaled, resigned, and scooped Bai Heng up in a bridal carry.
She wasn't tall. She wasn't heavy.
But the heat of her skin and her steady breathing against his neck made something in him feel… faintly off-balance.
"Of course not," he said, voice smooth. "I will deliver Miss Bai Heng safely home."
Jing Yuan immediately rattled off an address and added, far too helpfully, "Her home has restrictions, but you can open them with the jade key she carries."
Wei Qing nodded, said nothing more, and carried Bai Heng out of the tavern under a set of looks that were far too meaningful to be legal.
Inside, the remaining four sat in silence for a beat.
Ying Xing finally spoke, expression complicated. "Did we… go a bit too far?"
Dan Feng sipped his drink. "We simply followed the current. At least we confirmed he doesn't feel nothing toward her."
Jing Yuan couldn't hold it anymore. He laughed outright. "Hahahaha—Master, that one was brutal. Truly inspired."
Jingliu shot him a glance and didn't dignify it with a response. Her eyes lingered on the empty doorway. "I only hope Bai Heng won't be too embarrassed when she wakes."
Outside, Wei Qing walked steadily through the night, Bai Heng in his arms.
A few passersby glanced over with curiosity, but most didn't seem surprised. The Luofu's nights were always full of stories.
Bai Heng's residence wasn't far. They arrived quickly.
Inside, the lighting was dim—just a single lamp, soft and blurry at the edges.
Wei Qing set her down on the bed, removed her shoes, drew a thin blanket over her, and stopped there.
He stood by the bedside, watching her.
Time passed in silence, broken only by carefully controlled breathing.
Bai Heng's lashes trembled more and more. She was clearly pushing herself to keep up the act.
Finally, Wei Qing spoke.
"All right. Stop pretending."
"…!"
Bai Heng's body stiffened—but her eyes remained stubbornly shut.
Wei Qing wasn't in the mood to indulge her.
He leaned down, eyes drifting to the fluffy fox tail beside her.
Then he reached out and yanked.
"YIP—!"
It was like he'd hit a hidden switch. Bai Heng jolted like she'd been electrocuted, a short, startled cry escaping before she could swallow it down.
"Ow! What are you doing?!"
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
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From Junkman to Wasteland 66
Weekly Refresh of Overpowered 31
I'm Grinding Proficiency Like 46
From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa 185
Honkai: Is This Still the Prev 42
Elf: My Starter Pokémon Is Inc 65
Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 170
From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass Volume2/1
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Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 206
Naruto: Weaving the Future, Be 65
Zenless Zone Zero, but Kamen R 76
Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 66
My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 65
Uma Musume: The Dark Trainer 190
Uma Musume: A Calamity Born fr 154
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The Violent Girl Group Is Beat 106
Uma Musume: The Horse Girl Who 67
Uma Musume: From Beginner 125
Becoming a Horse Girl, I Will 85
Uma Musume: I Want All 105
I Can Copy Unique Skills 90
Summoning an Evil God, but the 70
Supernatural Multiverse 90
My Harem Is Indescribable 80
Jujutsu Kaisen: Heroic Spirit 86
"I'm just a Valkyrie passing through." 68
Uma Musume: Today Is Another Romantic Battlefield 81
Still playing traditional Honk 65
The Most Filial Son Under Heav 65
What Should I Do After Switchi - Volume2/3
Reincarnated as a Demon, Skill 57
Hell-Difficulty Dungeon? 45
Transmigrated as Sukuna 59
Checking In in Demon Slayer 59
The Reincarnating Trainer of Tracen Academy 73
I Refuse to Become a Heroic 45
My Best Friend Into a Slime? 36
A Saiyan Stands Above Marvel 40
What Do You Mean by Using a Lab Mod to Be the Hero? 60
Tanya Starts from Re:Zero 30
Why did they assign me to Uma 35
MYGO Beauties 43
DanMachi: Emiya the Giant Hero 30
The Gacha Merchant Who Started 31
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