"I won't do anything for her anymore!" Ye Qingying immediately promised.
Chu Qianli smiled at him, "Since that's the case, all past matters are settled."
She ladled a bowl of dumplings and placed it in front of him, "Here, try these. We eat dumplings on New Year's Eve for reunion."
Reunion.
Holding the bowl of dumplings, Ye Qingying lowered his gaze, a hint of sadness clouding his starry eyes, but it was quickly replaced by emotion.
In his life, this was the first time he felt the word "reunion" so close to him.
"What are your plans from now on?" Chu Qianli simply wanted to lighten the mood.
Ye Qingying's personality was too reserved, too restrained. It could be said that most of the time, he hid in his own darkness, finding it difficult to emerge.
He rarely felt happy.
He was like a tool, from beginning to end.
Tools were not supposed to have their own thoughts or feelings.
"Do you remember how we first met?" she asked.
Ye Qingying tried hard to recall but shook his head, "I've... mostly forgotten."
"You try to forget things you dislike, don't you?" She was beginning to understand his logic.
Ye Qingying pondered for a moment before saying, "But I remember you. Cunning, wise, brave, unlike other girls."
"I thought you'd say I was exceptionally beautiful, unlike other women," Chu Qianli chuckled.
Ye Qingying looked at her face with a hint of bewilderment.
In fact, he had never paid attention to whether Chu Qianli was beautiful or not.
"Don't keep looking at my face. I suspect you'll forget what I originally looked like before long."
Ye Qingying moved his lips, then remained silent.
In fact, he felt like he was already starting to forget.
"Actually, forgetfulness can be a good thing," Chu Qianli picked up a dumpling and ate it slowly.
It was very hot, so she had to blow on it while eating.
"I won't forget tonight." Because everything tonight would be the most beautiful memory of his life.
"Now, your蛊毒 (gu poison) is resolved, and you've repaid what you owed Yu Linglong all these days."
Chu Qianli looked up, meeting his gaze, which always held a hint of dimness, "What are your plans from now on?"
Ye Qingying remained silent. He had never considered this question.
He just looked at her, wanting to speak but hesitating.
Chu Qianli, however, smiled, "Do you think you like me a lot?"
"Xiao Yao..."
"If you like, you can call me Xiao Yao from now on, but my friends call me A Li."
"...A Li." So, Ye Qingying knew very well in his heart that to her, he was just a friend.
The most ordinary of friends.
"Master."
Ye Qingying's heart jolted. His gaze, which had just retracted, fell heavily upon her.
His fingertips tensed, and the chopsticks he held in his hands were almost snapped by him!
"Can you stop being so tense?" Chu Qianli felt like laughing.
But while wanting to laugh, she also felt a sense of helplessness.
The damage had been done. The one who was hurt could choose to forgive, but the one who hurt would carry the guilt forever.
This was Ye Qingying's current state.
"Master, do you have to interact with me like this? I'm under a lot of pressure. I've already forgiven you, can't that be enough?"
"I... cannot forgive myself."
He wasn't being sentimental, nor was he deliberately trying to appear remorseful to soften her heart.
It was just that, even now, he still didn't know how to face her.
"You... no, last night, you took a palm strike for me, didn't you?"
"Xiao Yao..."
"I said, past grievances are settled."
Chu Qianli turned her wrist and suddenly produced a bottle of crimson wine and two stemmed glasses from thin air.
"How about this, after we drink this, we'll truly be reconciled, okay?"