"What's wrong? Do you know him?" Qi Jianyi asked as she glanced at He Zeqing, her tone tinged with curiosity. It was unusual for her to see such a bewildered expression on her cousin's otherwise composed face. The sight piqued her interest even more.
He Zeqing hesitated for a moment before taking a deliberate, lingering look at her. His lips pressed into a thin line as he finally replied, "He's an old friend of mine."
There was something in his voice—an undertone of estrangement, as if the bond he once shared with Su Yunfei had long since dissolved. It wasn't just the words he used but the emotions behind them that made the distance between him and his old friend unmistakable.
Before Qi Jianyi could probe further, He Zeqing swiftly interrupted her, his tone shifting to one of reassurance.
