Clutching her head, Situ Jing’er looked up—only to find herself staring at someone’s broad back!

“Jun Buli?” she blurted out.

Jun Buli stood with his back to her, his expression dark. That collision had nearly done him internal damage—was this woman certain she hadn’t done that on purpose?

He didn’t answer Situ Jing’er, simply shifting position to let her pass.

Suspicious, Situ Jing’er walked around to face him. “Sorry, I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

“Not quite. I’m fine,” Jun Buli answered flatly.

“Why are you sitting here?” Situ Jing’er sat down, asking. This man was odd—this was a crossroads, after all.

Jun Buli rolled his eyes secretly. Wasn’t this girl supposed to be clever? Had fainting made her dim-witted?

But just as he was about to answer, Situ Jing’er suddenly caught on. “You’re doing this on purpose—you’re waiting for someone!”

Well, yes, Jun Buli had indeed been doing it on purpose.

He’d simply spotted Situ Jing’er bounding this way from a distance and had deliberately blocked her path—but he hadn’t expected her to come charging straight at him.

Situ Jing’er glanced suspiciously ahead, then behind her.

This path led from her own chambers directly to Sister Duo’er’s, the fastest shortcut. Could it be…

“Are you waiting for Sister Duo’er? Is she not in her room?” Situ Jing’er said, suddenly understanding, hurriedly sitting down beside Jun Buli. “Hey, so what exactly happened? After you knocked me out, how did you all get back? Has your biting addiction been cured? How did you deal with the bloodline clan?”

A whole string of questions poured out at once. Jun Buli slowly lifted his head, frowning as he looked at her—this girl… this girl…

Jun Buli couldn’t quite understand it. Why had a woman fainted the moment she personally declared she wanted to marry him, and yet, upon waking, could face him so calmly, as if nothing had happened at all?

He’d always considered himself calm and composed, but even he couldn’t manage composure in this situation—yet this girl clearly could.

“Hey, say something!” Situ Jing’er urged impatiently.

Only then did Jun Buli look up at her. Situ Jing’er waited, but for some reason, the moment their eyes met, she felt an inexplicable flutter of nervousness, memories of childhood suddenly surfacing—remembering the time she’d once bitten this man’s backside. Thinking about it, her small face began to heat up, and she instinctively looked away.

“Are you going to tell me or not? If not, I’m leaving!” she said impatiently, starting to stand.

But Jun Buli suddenly grabbed her hand. “Sit down.”

Yelu Qianqian—wait, Situ Jing’er—looked down, seeing his large hand gripping tightly around her slender wrist, and her heart unexpectedly gave a startled leap.

But Jun Buli quickly let go, gesturing for her to sit. “Sit down. There’s something I need to say to you. I’ve been waiting here specifically for you.”

“Huh?” Situ Jing’er exclaimed, only now truly understanding.

“Shh… keep your voice down, all right?” Jun Buli asked seriously.

Situ Jing’er shrugged and sat back down, whispering, “If you had something to say, why not come find me at my place? Why wait here?”

Jun Buli pursed his lips and said coldly, “No one’s around here.”

“Oh,” Situ Jing’er nodded, but quickly sensed something was off, standing up warily. “What exactly are you planning to do?”

Jun Buli glanced up at her, patting the spot beside him. “Can you sit down?”

“You tell me what you’re up to first—something’s really off about you!” Situ Jing’er wasn’t nearly that obedient, eyeing his mouth suspiciously, then adding, “Hey, your teeth—are they really gone? Your fangs?”

Jun Buli had been building up to this for a while now, determined to take responsibility—but with Situ Jing’er interrupting like this, he genuinely didn’t want to deal with her anymore.

He took a deep breath and answered patiently, “It’s fine. Everything with the bloodline clan is settled. Meng Duo’er sealed the entire tomb with a barrier, and both Yaotiao’s and my biting addiction have been cured.”

Hearing this, Situ Jing’er finally relaxed, sitting back down beside him at ease. “So what did you want to talk to me about?”

“There’s something I want to make clear to you,” Jun Buli said, growing serious.

Situ Jing’er felt that something was off again. Was there really anything between the two of them that needed to be discussed so seriously? It seemed like there wasn’t even anything between them at all.

“Mm,” she said obediently again.

But Jun Buli fell silent. After a long moment, Situ Jing’er couldn’t hold back anymore, asking timidly, “Go on, say it…” Jun Buli coughed lightly a few times, let out a soft breath, and turned to face her, looking at her with great seriousness.

Situ Jing’er found herself growing serious too, meeting his deep, dark gaze boldly.

“About… about you wanting to marry me, I…”

“Wait!”

Situ Jing’er’s brow shot up sharply. “You… what did you just say? About what?”

Jun Buli coughed lightly again before continuing, “About you wanting to marry me…”

“Who said anything about marrying you?!” Situ Jing’er shot up, demanding furiously, “Who said they wanted to marry you?”

What in the world was going on?

Who said she wanted to marry him?

Had she really said that?

On second thought, she suddenly grabbed Jun Buli by the collar and warned him coldly, “You little brat, let me tell you something—whatever my mother told you, it’s all nonsense! This princess doesn’t want to marry anyone! Understand?”

Jun Buli’s gaze drifted down to her hands, and his already-none-too-calm expression suddenly darkened like gathering storm clouds, terrifying in its intensity!

He said nothing, simply lowering his eyes to look at her.

Very quickly, Situ Jing’er noticed something was wrong, a chill running down her spine, a shiver rippling from head to toe—only then did she realize she’d… she’d gotten a bit too carried away!

Her lips twitched as she forced a smile, letting go of him as if she’d been shocked by electricity, quickly offering an apologetic laugh. “Heh heh, sorry… I didn’t mean… I…”

“Princess Jing, it wasn’t your mother who said it—you said yourself, with your own mouth, that you wanted to marry me. I came to find you specifically to responsibly let you know: I have no intention of marrying you. I hope you’ll come to terms with it and not let it hold you back,” Jun Buli said, perfectly earnest.

Situ Jing’er froze, so stunned that even her internal organs seemed to seize up. What on earth was this man saying?

“I hope we can make this clear today, and going forward, you won’t say such things in public anymore. You’re not a child anymore—you should understand that while you can eat carelessly, you can’t speak carelessly.” Jun Buli continued his lecture.

But Situ Jing’er abruptly grabbed his collar again. “What did you just say? Who ever said they wanted to marry you? Jun Buli, aren’t you being a little too full of yourself? This princess isn’t so desperate she can’t find a husband—this princess isn’t that pathetic, and I don’t need you lecturing me! What is even happening here!”

Jun Buli’s eyes turned instantly cold. This woman… was utterly unreasonable!

“Let go!” he said coldly.

“I won’t! You’d better explain yourself clearly today, or I’ll drag you straight to your parents to sort this out! When did this princess ever say she wanted to marry you? What an absolute joke!!!” Situ Jing’er fumed. She had absolutely no memory of what had happened in the bloodline clan’s tomb.

Jun Buli grabbed her wrist. “Are you letting go or not?”

“Not letting go!” Situ Jing’er dug in her heels, just as stubborn as ever—she hadn’t feared him as a child, and she certainly wasn’t going to fear him now that she was grown!