He sincerely meant every word. Having a friend as solid and good-hearted as Hong Chen by his side was a blessing he hadn’t fully recognized before, which meant he had appreciated it even less. That needed to change.
“I won’t involve myself if you hate the idea that much,” Hong Chen said. His words might be joking but his expression was not.
“I’ll manage on my own,” Qing Xue reassured him. “I have my ways. It’s going to be fine.”
“Just remember to say so if you do need help. I mean it, Qing Xue. You have friends who are willing to do, well, not anything, but nearly anything for you—or for His Highness in Luo Kai’s case. Come to think of it, the same probably goes for Jin Weiyan too. I might be your only true friend left at this point—not that I’m not also tempted to devote myself to the
