Coming face to face with the man whose handsome expression held a chill of displeasure, Yan Yunning immediately lost all desire to keep wandering.

Xuan Yanyu had no interest in acknowledging her either and was about to walk past her, but Yan Yunning, catching sight of the man with his evident irritation, kept retreating backwards.

Xuan Yanyu raised a brow and stopped, watching her with growing amusement. With Xuan Yanyu’s eyes fixed on her, Yan Yunning’s urge to flee grew even stronger. She turned and collided directly with Yan Shiyao, who was walking along lost in her own thoughts. The two of them tumbled down onto the ground together.

The man let out a breath. He lowered his gaze to Yan Shiyao. “A’Yao, are you alright?”

“Yuner Brother, I’m fine.” Yan Shiyao pushed herself up from the ground.

Yan Yunning bit down on her back teeth. She already had quite a few grievances against Xuan Yanyu. Yesterday, the very first day she had been brought back, he had knocked her forehead. Today was the second day, and his staring had made her trip and fall.

Would the third day bring yet another tumble???

“Get up.” The man pulled Yan Yunning up from the ground where she sat in a daze, and then promptly took out his square handkerchief to wipe his hand.

Yan Yunning trembled with indignation. What is wrong with him!!

“A’Yao, be more careful.” Xuan Yanyu did not forget to add a word of concern.

“I will, Yuner Brother.” Yan Shiyao rubbed her aching arm, then looked toward Yan Yunning. “Ningning, are you alright?”

“No.” Yan Yunning opened her palm to reveal a small patch of broken skin, and declared in an aggrieved tone, “Elder Sister, it really hurts.”

Xuan Yanyu narrowed his eyes, glanced at the wound, and said, “Such a tiny scratch, and it hurts?”

“Of course it hurts. And besides, this tiny scratch was caused by Young Master Xuan in the first place.” Yan Yunning held tightly to Yan Shiyao’s arm and rolled her eyes pointedly at Xuan Yanyu.

The man raised a brow, pinched the back of Yan Yunning’s collar, and said with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes, “Fine. Then I’ll take responsibility and find you a physician. A’Yao, you head back to your room. I’ll take Second Young Miss to see the physician.”

“Elder Sister, I don’t think I need to see a physician,” Yan Yunning said, gripping Yan Shiyao’s sleeve for dear life.

“Did Second Young Miss not just say it hurt very much? How is it that a physician is suddenly unnecessary?” Xuan Yanyu pried her hand loose, gripped her collar, and walked forward with long strides.

“El… Elder Sister, save me.” Yan Yunning’s heart thudded wildly.

“Ningning, just go with Yuner Brother.” Yan Shiyao waved her off — clearly, she trusted Xuan Yanyu completely.

Yan Yunning’s heart sank. She snuck a glance at the man who had her collar in his grip. He tilted his head and looked back at her lazily. “Second Young Miss — are you afraid of me?”

“Yesterday you deliberately knocked my forehead, and today you’ve made me fall. Of course I have no wish to be anywhere near you. It’s not that I’m afraid of you.” Yan Yunning brushed Xuan Yanyu’s hand away.

“Second Young Miss.” He leaned down close to her, a slight smile on his lips. “Did I not say yesterday that it was not intentional? Have your ears gone deaf?”

Yan Yunning stared at the magnified handsome face before her and suppressed the urge to land a slap across it.

“Gone mute as well? Second Young Miss?”

Yan Yunning raised her right hand high, extended her middle finger — and before she could say a word, the man looked up at just that moment, and her finger landed squarely, without warning, against his lips.

“Yan Yunning!” Xuan Yanyu fixed her with a dangerous stare.

“I… I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” Registering the chill in the air, Yan Yunning immediately backed down.

The man let out a roguish smile.

Yan Yunning was so frightened her voice shook. “I said I didn’t need to see a physician. It was you who insisted on dragging me by the collar to see one.”

“But you told A’Yao it hurt. And you also told A’Yao that this wound of yours was caused by me.”

Yan Yunning blinked her pretty eyes and said in a perfectly earnest tone, “Young Master Xuan, what I said earlier was true. It’s just that right now I feel the wound has healed. Young Master Xuan, please don’t trouble yourself any further. I’ll take my leave first.”

Xuan Yanyu stared blankly for a moment, then watched her retreating figure with keen interest, the corner of his mouth curling upward.

Such a small measure of courage? From now on, wouldn’t this Chancellor’s residence become a rather entertaining place for him?

——

On the third day after being brought back to the Chancellor’s residence, Fafa was brimming with enthusiasm and absolutely insisted that Yan Yunning read ahead in the plot.

【No.】 Yan Yunning refused without hesitation.

Fafa coaxed: 【Master, just take a peek~ just a peek~】

Yan Yunning pressed her fingers to her temple with an exasperated look. 【Fine, just a glance then.】

Fafa: 【Alright.】

——【Connecting to Chapter 1 of the story. Ancient Storyline — First Meeting Extra — Complete.】