Minutes later, Qiao Li's friend returned, pulling her toward the stairwell with a wink. "He's really your kept man?"

Yu Yan, Qiao Li's childhood friend, three years her senior, was a bit of a free spirit. Having gone through a messy divorce, she was now a staunch singleton.

Qiao Li glanced at her. "Of course not."

Yu Yan laughed. "Hey, I thought you'd finally seen the light, ditched that idiot Zhou Zhe, and decided to play the field."

"We did break up."

Yu Yan shook her head. "I know you two. Never mind, let's not talk about it." She leaned against the stairwell window. "But this kid now… I approve."

Qiao Li rubbed her forehead. "He's not a kid. He's an adult."

Yu Yan leaned in conspiratorially. "Do you know the hardest thing in the world?"

Qiao Li, used to her friend's eccentric train of thought, replied, "Diamond."

"And the second hardest?" Yu Yan prompted.

"What?" Qiao Li asked.

"The d*ck of an eighteen-year-old boy! Hahahahaha!" Her laughter was unrestrained.

Qiao Li couldn't bear to look, turning her head away.

Yu Yan's laughter died down as she noticed Qiao Li's odd expression. "You… you haven't already, have you?"

Qiao Li nodded resignedly.

"Whoa..." Yu Yan was momentarily speechless. "Well then…"

She finally regained some composure. "So, is this serious, or just fun?"

Qiao Li thought of Feng Yi's heartbroken expression and sighed. "I don't know. I'm going with the flow."

Yu Yan bumped her shoulder. "Why overthink it?"

"I'm seven years older than him. You know my past… We're just too different, in personality and life experience."

Yu Yan's face turned serious. Folding her arms, she stood before Qiao Li. "It's 2019. Even women can marry for love now." Her tone was firm. "Darling, you too can jump into the river of love without hesitation." She glanced behind Qiao Li and smiled knowingly. "Go on. I think your little friend needs some comforting."

Qiao Li turned. Feng Yi was standing at the bottom of the stairs, looking up at her like a lost puppy.

Qiao Li beckoned him, and he bounded up the steps, stopping obediently beside her.

"Let's go." She took his hand.

The dejection instantly vanished from Feng Yi's face. His eyes brightened, his posture straightened.

Yu Yan, observing this, felt a sense of relief.

As they walked away, Feng Yi looked back at Yu Yan, like a kindergartner saying goodbye to his teacher. "Bye, Sister."

Just because Qiao Li had taken his hand, his world had regained its color, radiating with renewed energy and goodwill.

Yu Yan dramatically clutched her chest. Damn, who could resist that?

Hand in hand, they reached the car. Qiao Li told him to get in and took out an alcohol wipe. He obediently presented his face. Looking at the scratch near his eye, despite their earlier argument, Qiao Li couldn't maintain her stern tone.

"Does it hurt?"

Feng Yi cautiously glanced at her, resuming his wounded, slightly petulant expression. "It didn't, but now that you ask, it does."

Qiao Li chuckled. "How does that even make sense?"

Feng Yi was telling the truth. It hadn't hurt, but Qiao Li's soft gaze melted his resolve, making him feel weak and the wound suddenly tender. He wanted nothing more than to bury his face in her embrace, wishing the injury were worse.

As the alcohol wipe touched the cut, Feng Yi instinctively flinched.

The scab softened, and blood welled up again. Qiao Li frowned. Whoever did this had dug their nails in deep, tearing a chunk of skin from his face.