Chapter 260: Do You Really Like Her?
As the four women left Small Shop, they headed together in the direction of Shrek Academy.
With the restrictions lifted to allow outsiders to attend as spectators, Shrek Academy naturally opened its doors to welcome visitors.
However, the open areas were limited. As the Continent's top academy with a history spanning 5,000 years, Shrek would never casually expose its deepest secrets.
For these spectators, a large, temporary platform had been specially constructed to accommodate them.
This platform could hold tens of thousands of people. While it was relatively small compared to the massive population of Shrek City, it demonstrated the Academy's sincerity.
Non-Shrek spectators were guided directly to the viewing platform by Shrek students, with strict rules forbidding entry to restricted areas. Violators would still be treated as trespassers.
Outer court students also had designated areas to watch from, with better vantage points than the platform for outsiders.
However, Fu Ya and Ying Shuang chose to join Ji Yunruo and Ping Xinyan at the public viewing platform to keep them company.
The platform faced directly toward Sea God Lake, offering a perfect view of the entire lake.
The legendary Sea God Lake was tranquil and beautiful. Under the night sky, soft moonlight cascaded onto the lake's surface, which gleamed like a blue sapphire.
Above the lake stood a massive Golden Tree, its canopy so vast it seemed to blot out the sky. The tree's golden radiance gently emerged under the moonlight, with glowing golden specks floating into the air like fireflies, illuminating the night.
The Golden Tree was rooted on an island at the center of the lake. Compared to the tree's enormous canopy, the island seemed modest, yet its importance was undeniable.
This small island, known as Sea God Island, housed not only the Sea God Pavilion—one of the Continent's most formidable powers—but also the secretive Shrek inner court, rarely seen by outsiders.
Sea God Lake wasn't a restricted area within Shrek Academy. While it wasn't possible to reach Sea God Island via the lake, outer court students often trained, relaxed, or played along its shores.
For Fu Ya and Ying Shuang, who were accustomed to the scenery, the view was serene but not surprising. Ji Yunruo and Ping Xinyan, however, reacted differently. Seeing the renowned Sea God Lake for the first time, they couldn't contain their excitement, exclaiming loudly and drawing attention from those around them.
As employees of Small Shop, the four were well-known among many diners. Soon, people approached them to greet them.
Although the Sea God's Fate ceremony hadn't officially started, the viewing platform was already lively, buzzing with a festive atmosphere.
"Fu Ya? You seem distracted," Ying Shuang asked quietly, nudging Fu Ya with her shoulder.
"I'm wondering…" Fu Ya hesitated, recalling Qi Han's solemn and anxious expression from earlier. "Did the boss misunderstand something?"
"Does he… think Senior Sister is participating in Sea God's Fate?"
"Huh?" Ying Shuang blinked, then burst into laughter. "No wonder the boss looked so off."
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As he watched the four women walk away, Qi Han silently closed the door to Small Shop. His grip on the handle was so tight that his hand turned pale. Resting his head against the door, his bangs fell across his face, concealing his expression.
"Ru Yi… what should I do?"
For once, Qi Han's voice was low, carrying traces of confusion and helplessness.
"What do you mean? Based on your usual schedule, you should be in bed by now."
"Don't joke…" Qi Han lifted his head slightly, a bitter smile on his face. "How could I possibly sleep right now?"
Ru Yi fell silent.
After a long pause, she finally spoke, her tone faint. "I'm just an emotionless system. What good does it do to ask me about feelings?"
"But feelings… aren't they supposed to be mutual? Do you think… do you truly like her?"
"Of course, I…" Qi Han's head snapped up, and he opened his mouth to speak, only to freeze mid-sentence.
Do I… like her?
Standing there for a long time, Qi Han finally moved.
With a creak, he pulled a chair over and slumped into it, his head lowering once more.
After sitting in silence for a long time, he let out a bitter laugh.
"You're right. I don't even know if I truly like her. Feeling this down now… maybe it's just me being overly sentimental," Qi Han admitted with a faint smile of self-mockery.
"I remember back in my past life, I liked a girl. She treated me so well, and we shared so many common interests," Qi Han's eyes softened as if lost in the memories.
"Back then, I thought we were such a perfect match. I was sure we'd be happy together forever."
"But later…" His expression darkened. "Her parents didn't want her to marry me. They thought I was unreliable and forced her to marry another man they approved of."
"Though, I can't really blame her parents," Qi Han shook his head. "Being a food vlogger didn't seem like a serious job. If I'd had this system back then, opened my own restaurant, and become a proper chef, maybe things would've turned out differently."
"When I first met Yue Lengxin in this world, I immediately thought she looked so much like that girl I loved in my past life," Qi Han continued, his voice slowing. "I couldn't move on from that girl. It left me with regret, and I've never been able to truly like anyone else since."
"So, meeting someone here who looks so much like her…" Qi Han let out a bitter laugh. "Even though you've told me they're completely unrelated and the resemblance is just a coincidence, I still held on to a glimmer of hope."
"Every time I see Yue Lengxin, I can't help wanting to get closer… and closer," he admitted with a wry shake of his head. "But I don't even know what my intentions are."
"Sometimes, I wonder if I'm just using her as a stand-in because I can't forget the girl from my past life."
"That's why, even after knowing Yue Lengxin for so long, aside from occasionally finding excuses to serve her food so I can get a glimpse of her, I haven't dared to do anything more." Qi Han sighed deeply. "If my heart still lingers on someone else, pursuing her wouldn't be fair to her."
"Uh…" Ru Yi hesitated before speaking. "Have you considered… I mean, just as a possibility, maybe even if you tried…"
"You might not succeed."
Qi Han: "…"
The heavy emotions he'd been building up were utterly deflated by Ru Yi's blunt words.
After a moment of silence, Qi Han suddenly chuckled. "You're right. Why am I being so dramatic?"
Standing up, he placed the chair back in its original spot, his expression now lighter and more at ease.
"Time to go upstairs, change, and check out the event!"
"You're still going?"
"Why not?" Qi Han grinned. "I've never seen Sea God Lake myself. Of course, I have to go take a look. I haven't even seen that golden tree on the island up close."
"If she really ends up holding hands with someone else, then I'll just give up completely and focus on making money. That's not a bad outcome either—who needs a girlfriend when you can get rich?"
"And if she doesn't participate in Sea God's Fate…"
"Well, we'll cross that bridge when we get there. It's not like anything's decided yet."
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