Lu Qingzhou strode into the living room, took the phone from Leng Yue, saw that it was Zhang Ming calling, and pressed the answer button.

In an instant, Zhang Ming's loud voice came through the receiver: "Brother, why are you only answering the phone now? Are you free tonight? Let's go out for a late-night snack. It's been so long since we've gotten together. I miss you!"

Lu Qingzhou glanced at Su Qingyao standing on the balcony, then looked at Leng Yue and Zhouzhou in the living room.

It was already 8:30. He hesitated for a moment and said, "It's already 8:30. How about we do it another day?"

Zhang Ming retorted on the other end of the phone, "When is 'another day'? There's no time like the present, let's do it tonight. I've even invited my cousin to introduce you to him."

Hearing him say that, Lu Qingzhou swallowed back the words she was about to say.

He thought for a moment and figured it would be good to make another friend and relax a bit, so he replied, "Okay, where?"

Zhang Ming excitedly gave an address and repeatedly urged, "Brother, come over quickly."

After hanging up the phone, Lu Qingzhou turned to Su Qingyao and said, "My former colleague Zhang Ming asked me to go out for a late-night snack."

Upon hearing this, a barely perceptible hint of resentment flashed across Su Qingyao's face.

But things quickly returned to calm.

Thinking about it, it seems that Lu Qingzhou doesn't have many friends in Jiangcheng. The only one he can be considered a friend is Zhang Ming.

Thinking of his monotonous life over the past few years, Su Qingyao couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache.

She wanted to go along too, but Lu Qingzhou didn't say anything, and she was too embarrassed to say it, afraid that Lu Qingzhou would think she was too clingy.

After a moment's hesitation, Su Qingyao stepped forward to straighten Lu Qingzhou's collar and softly advised, "Then be careful and drink less alcohol."

Lu Qingzhou nodded, put her phone in her pocket, and headed to the bedroom to change her clothes before going out.

Leng Yue kept her eyes fixed on Lu Qingzhou.

Hearing that he was going out, I immediately felt nervous. 'What if he talks about that text message with others when he goes out? Probably not, Lu Qingzhou isn't that kind of person.'

But what if, what if he's a blabbermouth? What if he gets drunk and tells everyone about it, using it as bragging rights? Then...

Thinking of this, Leng Yue's brows furrowed tightly, a sense of unease creeping into her heart.

After Lu Qingzhou changed her clothes and went out,

Su Qingyao glanced at Leng Yue, who looked preoccupied.

She narrowed her eyes slightly, pondered for a moment, and then slowly walked over and sat down next to Leng Yue: "Yueyue, you're acting strange today. If you have something on your mind, you can tell me. We're best friends, after all." As she spoke, she reached out and took Leng Yue's hand.

Leng Yue felt the warmth of Su Qingyao's hand and panicked. She forced a smile.

He jokingly said in a lighthearted tone, "It's really nothing, Yao Yao. You're like my mom, so don't worry about me."