Nestled in Xuan Yanyu’s arms, Yan Yunning’s heart hammered wildly — not from fluttering feelings, but from sheer fright.

“A’Yao, I know a little about how to treat someone who has fainted. Why don’t I take a look at the Second Young Miss?” Xuan Yanyu’s tone was perfectly sincere.

The corner of Yan Yunning’s brow twitched. Her female lead Elder Sister surely wouldn’t agree to this, would she?

“Alright, thank you for your trouble, Yuner Brother.”

Yan Yunning gritted her teeth. Was this female lead’s head in working order??

Xuan Yanyu was a man!!

She was just going to leave a supposedly unconscious her in his care without a second thought??

Or did her female lead Elder Sister simply trust Xuan Yanyu that much??

Guest room.

Xuan Yanyu was about to dump Yan Yunning on the bed, but glanced at the girl in his arms — her lashes trembling ever so slightly — and pivoted, setting her down in the wooden chair instead.

Her forehead knocked against the armrest of the wooden chair. Yan Yunning winced, her brow furrowing from the pain.

Xuan Yanyu!!

She dropped the act immediately and rushed to the bronze mirror, examining herself carefully. It was only a little red — no broken skin.

The man pressed his lips together and looked at the girl with a reddened spot on her forehead, evidently ill at ease. “It wasn’t intentional.”

Yan Yunning glared at him. She wanted to argue the point, then thought of her own fate, let out a little huff, and walked out of the room without a word.

“Are you angry?” Xuan Yanyu called after her, his brow knitting.

Ye Chen dropped down from the rafters and chimed in helpfully, “Your Highness, this servant thinks not — the Second Young Miss was probably embarrassed to be alone in the same room with you. Did Your Highness not notice? Her forehead was flushed red from shyness.”

Xuan Yanyu gave him a long, unhurried look. “Have your eyes gone blind?”

Ye Chen: “…?”

——

As evening drew near, Yan Yunning was summoned to the pavilion by Chunyi. From a distance she saw the man eagerly pouring tea for Yan Shiyao, and she immediately turned to retreat to her room.

Just looking at Xuan Yanyu made her forehead hurt again.

“Ningning, come here.” She had barely taken action before Yan Shiyao’s voice reached her ears.

Yan Yunning drew a deep breath, steeled herself, and walked over to sit down beside Yan Shiyao.

“Ningning, is your head still spinning?” Yan Shiyao asked with concern.

Yan Yunning put on a show, dabbing at her forehead with her handkerchief, and said pitifully, “My head has stopped spinning. It’s just… Elder Sister, if I faint again in future, could you please not have someone knock my forehead against a wooden chair to revive me? It really hurts. Calling a physician isn’t any trouble at all.”

What she meant was: please don’t hand her over to Xuan Yanyu again. She wasn’t sure Yan Shiyao would take her meaning.

Xuan Yanyu’s gaze paused slightly, and he lifted an eyelid to look at Yan Yunning.

Yan Yunning lowered her head, swallowing nervously.

“How could that be? Ningning, you’ve misunderstood. Yuner Brother knows how to treat a fainting spell — why would he deliberately let you knock your forehead on the chair?” Yan Shiyao gently moved Yan Yunning’s hand aside, glanced at her forehead, and saw only a faint reddish mark. One look made it clear it was nothing intentional.

“A’Yao is right. Second Young Miss has misunderstood me.” Xuan Yanyu hooked the corner of his mouth in a roguish smile and rested his arm lazily on the armrest of the wooden chair, tapping it in an idle, unhurried rhythm.

“Indeed, Ningning. Yuner Brother was kind enough to carry you to your room. You shouldn’t misunderstand him.”

Yan Yunning looked at Xuan Yanyu’s insufferably smug face, then glanced sideways at Yan Shiyao’s earnest expression, and felt that of everyone in this Chancellor’s residence, Xuan Yanyu ranked first and Yan Shiyao ranked second in terms of their combined grievances against her.

“Second Young Miss, you owe me an apology.” The man tilted his head slightly, his gaze sweeping toward Yan Yunning in an even, unhurried manner.

Yan Yunning held her breath, furious enough to grind her teeth.

“Never mind. Considering that you are A’Yao’s younger sister, I’ll let it pass.” Xuan Yanyu held his teacup without so much as sparing Yan Yunning a glance.

“I’m sorry, Yuner Brother. I apologize on Ningning’s behalf.” Yan Shiyao looked at Xuan Yanyu with genuine regret.

The man smiled lightly. “A’Yao need not stand on ceremony with me.”

Yan Yunning: “…”

Fafa offered comfort: 【Master, stay calm.】

Yan Yunning squeezed her fists tightly. 【Are they out of their minds??】

Fafa: 【Probably not.】

Yan Yunning: 【…】

“I’m tired. I’m going back to my room to rest.” Unable to bear it any longer, Yan Yunning forced a smile, and was just about to stand up when the man set down his teacup and said unhurriedly, “Second Young Miss, not so fast. About you deliberately pretending to faint today…”

He let the words hang there. Xuan Yanyu held Yan Yunning’s gaze as her beautiful face hovered on the verge of collapse, waiting for her to give him an explanation.

“Ningning?” Yan Shiyao frowned, looking at her.

Yan Yunning spoke with perfectly righteous composure: “I did no such thing. Elder Sister doesn’t believe me — I understand. I’ve only just arrived, after all. It’s only natural.”

With that, she turned and ran out, feigning distress.

Yan Shiyao bit her lip and hurried after her.

“Ha.” The man leaned back against the wooden chair and let out a soft, low laugh.

“Your Highness.” Ye Chen slipped out from the shadows. “This Second Young Miss is more calculating than the First Young Miss.”

“Did this Palace give you permission to show yourself?” the man said mildly.

Ye Chen touched the tip of his nose and retreated back into the shadows without another word.

——

On the second day after being brought back to the Chancellor’s residence, Yan Yunning got to know quite a few people in the household. The previous evening she had also met the Chancellor’s wife and the Chancellor himself.

She felt that her rankings needed to be revised — the Chancellor’s wife would move to second place, with Yan Shiyao dropping to third for now.

Bixiang Garden.

Yan Yunning sat quietly with her head bowed, scooping up her plain white rice.

“A’Yao, eat a little more.” Xuan Yanyu offered his attentive care at just the right moment.

Yan Yunning pursed her lips and shook her head silently, mouthing without sound: “A’Yao~ eat a little more~~ A’Yao~ have a bit more~~”

The man lifted his chin slightly, leaning against the table with tired ease, his gaze drifting over to the girl pursing her lips and shaking her head.

Yan Yunning inwardly cursed herself and ducked her head lower.

“Second Young Miss, do have a little more as well.” Xuan Yanyu raised his brows, picked up his chopsticks, and placed a serving of dishes into her bowl.

“Th… thank you, Young Master Xuan.” Yan Yunning stared at the extra food in her dining bowl, her brow furrowing slightly.

Whether the dish Xuan Yanyu had put in her bowl was safe to eat, she truly did not know!!

Would eating it finish her off on the spot??

The man curved his lips. “Second Young Miss, you are welcome.”

“Yuner Brother, Mu Cheng won’t let her Elder Sister be together with the magistrate’s son. Do you have any solution? I’ve made plans to go out with Mu Cheng tomorrow. If you have a way, I’ll tell her.” Yan Shiyao said with a bright smile.

Xuan Yanyu’s expression was indifferent. “A’Yao, that is their matter. It has nothing to do with you. You should…”

Yan Shiyao immediately pushed back. “Yuner Brother, Mu Cheng is my close friend. How can I stand by and do nothing?”

The man’s expression cooled. “There is no solution.”

With that, he pushed back his chair and walked out with long, unhurried strides.

The moment Xuan Yanyu was gone, Yan Yunning broke into a broad smile. It was delightful — the unhinged Crown Prince had been driven away in irritation. This was officially the most enjoyable meal she had eaten since arriving at the Chancellor’s residence.

“Ningning, why would Yuner Brother act like that?” Yan Shiyao sniffled, looking at Yan Yunning with aggrieved eyes.

Yan Yunning, fearful that Xuan Yanyu might suddenly come back, busied herself piling more food into her bowl and did not hear Yan Shiyao’s aggrieved complaint.

“Never mind. You’ve only been in the residence two days — you wouldn’t know Yuner Brother’s temperament.” Yan Shiyao had no more appetite and set down her chopsticks, then left Bixiang Garden as well.

Yan Yunning’s eyes lit up, feeling an even greater sense of triumph — the entire table of dishes was now hers alone.

After the meal, Yan Yunning wandered through the Chancellor’s residence. She ought to familiarise herself with the place where she would be living from now on.