Looking at the stunningly beautiful young woman before him, Xu Ming felt utterly confused.
He genuinely couldn’t figure out who she was.
Who are you? Have we t before?
It wasn’t that Xu Ming hadn’t considered the possibility that she might be Qin Qingwan, Zhu Cici, or Xu Xue’nuo.
But Xu Xue’nuo was usually cold and aloof—she would never say sothing as playful as “guess.”
As for Zhu Cici or Qin Qingwan…
She doesn’t look like either of them.
Besides, wasn’t Qin Qingwan supposed to be in seclusion? Xu Ming distinctly rembered Madam Qin saying Qingwan still had about a year left in her retreat.
So it was understandable that he didn’t recognize her. Qin Qingwan had changed completely compared to when she was six.
Back then, she was a little girl with a hint of baby fat and wasn’t even as tall as a table.
But now, the young woman before him stood about 167 centiters tall. Her figure was slender yet curvaceous in all the right places, her beauty so dazzling it felt almost otherworldly.
The saying “a girl changes drastically at eighteen” truly wasn’t an exaggeration.
Not to ntion the difference between a six-year-old child and a young woman in her pri—it was a gap so vast that even her parents might not recognize her.
“Miss, have we t before?” Xu Ming asked.
When he still didn’t recognize her, Qin Qingwan pouted her lips slightly, her expression both playful and adorable.
“Honk, honk, honk! (Xu Ming, do you know this beauty?)” The white goose waddled over, swaying its hips as it approached the young woman.
To be fair, this girl was truly stunning.
The goose thought to itself, Will I be this beautiful after I take human form soday?
Reflecting briefly, the goose realized this was only the third ti it had seen soone so breathtakingly gorgeous.
The first was that terrifying woman nad Wang Xuan.
The second was the princess of Wu Kingdom.
And now, this girl—whose beauty seed almost excessive—was the third.
But her style was entirely unique.
Her allure was so captivating that just one glance felt like she could steal soone’s soul. Yet there was also a hint of cuteness and mischief about her.
“I don’t believe we’ve t,” Xu Ming shook his head, looking at Qin Qingwan. “Miss, are you sure you haven’t mistaken for soone else?”
“I haven’t mistaken you for anyone. I’m—” Qin Qingwan straightened her waist and was about to reveal her identity.
But halfway through her sentence, her peach blossom eyes darted around as if a thought had struck her.
“Let’s not talk about who I am for now. Are you Xu Ming, the one from Wudu?” Qin Qingwan asked with a smile.
“I am,” Xu Ming nodded, a little surprised that she had gotten it right. “May I know your na, Miss?”
A sly smile played at the corner of Qin Qingwan’s lips. “My na is He Qingqing. I’m from Tianxuan Sect and a junior sister to Qin Qingwan. Surely you haven’t forgotten who Qin Qingwan is?”
Qin Qingwan lied about her na, but as she spoke the last sentence, her heart raced nervously.
She made a decision!
If this guy had forgotten about her, she would definitely be furious!
“I didn’t expect you to be Qingwan’s junior sister. My apologies for the lack of courtesy.” Xu Ming cupped his hands in a polite bow.
He did know the na “He Qingqing.”
There was indeed soone by that na in Tianxuan Sect, ranked thirteenth on the Beauty List, and often ntioned by others.
“May I ask how you know about ?” Xu Ming asked curiously.
With her hands clasped behind her back, Qin Qingwan replied, “I’m very close to Senior Sister Qin. She often tells stories from her childhood and ntioned a friend of hers who had a very intelligent white goose.”
“I saw that you always have a big white goose with you, so I thought I’d co and ask. Turns out, you really are Young Master Xu,” Qin Qingwan said with a smile. “Just now, when I asked you to guess, it was only to tease you a little. I hope you won’t mind.”
“Not at all,” Xu Ming chuckled. “How has Qingwan been doing in the sect?”
“She’s doing well,” Qin Qingwan replied with a nod. “She spends her days either cultivating, sleeping, or tending to flowers. Everything’s great—except that she doesn’t have many people to keep her company.”
“That’s good to hear,” Xu Ming said, nodding again.
Looking at her “Ming-gege” and his clueless deanor, Qin Qingwan felt an urge to bite him.
You big idiot! Why didn’t you ask what kind of flowers Qingwan is raising?
“Oh, and by the way,” she continued, “Qingwan is incredibly beautiful now. There are quite a few people in the sect who admire her.”
Xu Ming smiled faintly. “That’s to be expected—after all, she’s ranked in the top ten of the Beauty List.”
“Huh? Aren’t you worried?” Qin Qingwan blinked her peach blossom eyes, her gaze playful. “There are so many people pursuing her, all kinds of n—taller and more handso than you. Aren’t you afraid one of them might steal away your childhood friend?”
“What’s there to worry about?” Xu Ming shook his head. “Qingwan and I are just friends.”
You big blockhead! Big blockhead! Big blockhead!
In her heart, Qin Qingwan was already pounding her fists against him, her chest rising and falling in frustration.
Who’s ‘just friends’ with you?!
“Junior Sister.”
Just as Qin Qingwan was about to continue “testing” Xu Ming, the three Tianxuan Sect disciples—Xia Donghua and the others—approached.
“My senior brothers are calling . I must go now. Farewell, Young Master Xu.”
For now, Qin Qingwan wasn’t ready to reveal her true identity. She hadn’t had enough fun teasing him yet.
For example: “Have you thought about Senior Sister Qin these past years?”
Or: “You don’t have a special soone, do you?”
And perhaps even: “What’s going on between you and that Zhu Cici from Qi Kingdom?” “When Emperor Wu offered you a marriage alliance, you refused—was it because of or her?”
“Take care, Miss.” Xu Ming bowed politely.
“Where might you be staying, Young Master Xu? I’ve heard you’re unparalleled in poetry. If I have free ti, may I co visit and chat with you? Perhaps discuss so verses?”
Before leaving, Qin Qingwan asked Xu Ming about his lodging.
“I’m staying at the Tongfu Inn. You’re welco to visit anyti, Miss,” Xu Ming replied.
“Alright,” Qin Qingwan said with a sweet smile before turning to leave.
Watching the young woman walk away with her fellow Tianxuan Sect disciples, Xu Ming couldn’t help but fall into thought, a hint of doubt stirring in his heart.
“Junior Sister, do you know that man?” Xia Donghua asked Qin Qingwan, feeling a bit uncomfortable. She seed overly friendly with the man.
“He doesn’t know , so I don’t know him either,” Qin Qingwan replied, pouting slightly, as if sulking. She then lifted her fair chin and let out a soft hum. But soon, her face blossod into a sweet smile. “By the way, starting today, the three of you must call He Qingqing.”
“Why?” Qi Shang asked, puzzled. “Why is Junior Sister Qin using Junior Sister He’s na?”
A mischievous smile curled Qin Qingwan’s lips as she glanced back, her eyes locking onto the tall, steadfast figure of Xu Ming.
Because I want to see how long it takes for that big idiot to recognize .
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