“…” A’Chen pressed his face close to Yan Yunning’s, deliberately whining in an exaggerated tone. “Little Lemon, it’s only been such a short while since we last saw each other, and you’re already doubting me.”

Yan Yunning: “…”

He even knew how to change the subject now!

Yan Yunning patted his head the way she used to. “A’Chen, it’s only been such a short while since we last saw each other, and you’ve already learned how to be slippery?”

A’Chen: “…”

Yan Yunning smiled and poked his forehead. “And you’ve learned how to stay silent too.”

There was never a time before when she’d say something and he wouldn’t respond.

A’Chen’s lips curled into a half-smile as he coaxed her. “Little Lemon, let’s go back to Grandma and Grandpa’s place. The four of us can live together like we used to, how about it?”

Far away from Xuan Yanyu.

Yan Yunning’s eyes dimmed. “I can’t go back. Everyone in the capital already knows that Father brought me home. If I go back, there’s no telling what they’d say about him.”

Father held no small standing at court. The Emperor would certainly speculate that the Prime Minister’s household must have mistreated her, which was why she’d gone back.

Returning wouldn’t just implicate Father — it might drag Grandmother and Grandfather into it as well. She could visit for a few days, but she couldn’t be raised under Grandfather and Grandmother’s name again.

Back when she first learned that Xuan Yanyu intended to do away with her, she’d considered hiding. But she had no silver, and if she couldn’t return home, she couldn’t possibly hide forever, could she?

It was a very practical problem — how would a woman like her survive in hiding?

Not to mention that Xuan Yanyu was the Crown Prince. Tracking a single person down was far too easy for him. Following the way the plot unfolded, if he truly wanted to get rid of her, where could she possibly hide?

A’Chen sighed. If she wasn’t going back, then so be it. Little Lemon had told him before that she would never share a husband with another woman.

Right now, Xuan Yanyu still didn’t know that Little Lemon was the one Prince Xuan had designated as his Crown Princess — he was dead set on marrying Yan Shiyao.

He had to keep this secret buried. No second person could find out.

In the private dining room.

Ye Jian and Xuan Zhaozan sat upright and proper, not daring to pick up their chopsticks.

Xuan Yanyu’s mood was oppressively dark, his expression shadowed with barely restrained fury.

“A’Chen, the lamb ribs are good — eat more.” Yan Yunning picked out the best dishes and piled them one after another into A’Chen’s bowl.

Ye Jian didn’t dare lift his head. His Highness was practically fuming, and yet Miss Yan the Second was making no move to appease him and get Ye Chen brought back before provoking His Highness further!

Any hope of Ye Chen’s return was completely finished now!

A’Chen glanced unhurriedly at Xuan Yanyu. “Your Highness the Crown Prince, why aren’t you eating? It’s only the two of us — Little Lemon and I — who have no manners here.”

Xuan Zhaozan quietly pressed her lips together and gave A’Chen a kick under the table.

Provoking Crown Prince Brother, stirring up Crown Prince Brother’s anger — the only one who’d suffer for it would be him.

A’Chen flicked his tongue across his lips and gave her a brief sidelong glance.

Xuan Yanyu rested one hand against the side of his face, lounging languidly against the wooden chair, and let out a scornful laugh.

So this was how he repaid him?

He had saved his life, only for him to come and anger him in the future?

Yan Yunning continued serving A’Chen, and stole a glance at Xuan Yanyu in passing. Surely he didn’t have the same affliction as her elder sister — seeing her and A’Chen together and losing his appetite?

Why learn that habit from her sister of all people?

If he didn’t eat, that was one thing — but Ranran and Ye Jian weren’t eating either.

What she didn’t know was that because Xuan Yanyu hadn’t touched his chopsticks, Ye Jian and Xuan Zhaozan didn’t dare touch theirs.

At the wooden table, only Yan Yunning and A’Chen were eating with any enjoyment.

“A’Chen, is it good?”

“Little Lemon, try this — it’s better than what Grandpa makes.”

“A’Chen, drink some soup.”

A’Chen held his bowl out, and Yan Yunning ladled the soup in for him.

“Little Lemon, after we finish eating, let’s go out for a walk to digest.”

Back at Grandpa and Grandma’s house, Little Lemon would always drag him outside for a walk after every meal.

“Alright.” Yan Yunning narrowed her eyes with a smile.

“Little Lemon, wake up early tomorrow — I’ll go buy soup dumplings for you.”

“A’Chen…”

Yan Yunning had only gotten halfway through her sentence when Xuan Yanyu lost his patience. His expression clouded with irritation as he snapped, “Quiet.”

Ye Jian swallowed hard and glanced at Xuan Yanyu. The latter’s face had gone white with anger.

Xuan Zhaozan lowered her head and picked at her fingers. She found herself a little envious of Ningning…

A’Chen would take the initiative to talk to Ningning, would take the initiative to offer to buy her food.

She hoped that one day A’Chen would treat her the same way…

Yan Yunning set down her chopsticks and leaned toward A’Chen, half-covering her mouth with her hand as she dropped her voice. “A’Chen, are you done eating? If you are, let’s head out.”

“Alright.” A’Chen smiled and put down his bowl and chopsticks.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Xuan Yanyu rapped the wooden table with his knuckles, his expression hovering somewhere between a smile and something that wasn’t.

Meeting the man’s gaze — cool and slightly threatening — Yan Yunning gave an awkward laugh. “A’Chen and I are just going for a walk.”

“Oh? Going for a walk with A’Chen?” The man’s fingers, well-defined at each knuckle, toyed with the wooden chopsticks, his voice going peculiarly gentle.

Yan Yunning’s breath caught. She hesitated, then gave a small nod.

Something felt distinctly off about his mood.

Crack. The wooden chopsticks snapped between the man’s hands. Xuan Yanyu shook his head with an expression of regret. “A’Chen, how is it that these wooden chopsticks are so fragile?”

A’Chen raised an eyebrow. Putting on a show for him?

A warning?

He wasn’t afraid of him.

“Your Highness, this servant will fetch your gold chopsticks.” Ye Jian said nervously.

Miss Yan the Second was quite a capable person — and with His Highness like this, he was clearly on the verge of losing his mind with rage.

“Mind your own business.” Xuan Yanyu tossed the snapped chopsticks into the bamboo waste bin.

“Yes, this servant spoke out of turn.” Ye Jian’s heart was in complete turmoil.

“Crown Prince Brother, A’Chen and I have something to discuss — we’ll take our leave first.” Seeing Xuan Yanyu’s expression turn cold, Xuan Zhaozan quickly stood and pulled A’Chen toward the door.

A’Chen glanced back at Yan Yunning. She gave him a small nod.

Ye Jian, reading the room, followed Xuan Zhaozan and A’Chen out of the private dining room.

“Weren’t you going for a walk with A’Chen? Why are you still here?” The man turned his jade thumb ring absently, not even bothering to lift his gaze.

“Then I’ll go — I’m going to find A’Chen.” Yan Yunning turned to leave.

“Yan Yunning!” His low, resonant voice carried unmistakable anger.

Yan Yunning fell silent and walked over to sit beside him. She let out a helpless sigh. “Xuan Xixi, can you stop getting angry all the time?”

Xuan Yanyu lifted his eyelids slightly, his lips pressing together. He couldn’t stand watching her be so close and familiar with A’Chen — and he wasn’t even allowed to be angry about it?

What kind of logic was that?

She wouldn’t let him be angry?

“Xuan Xixi.” The girl’s fair, slender fingers pinched the sleeve of his robe.

She’d grown so used to serving A’Chen and looking after him.

Xuan Yanyu lowered his head without a word, eyes cast down as he turned and turned the jade thumb ring on his thumb.

Yan Yunning pressed her hand over his, inwardly exasperated. What was so interesting about turning a jade thumb ring?

He’d called her back when she tried to leave, but now that she stayed, he was ignoring her. It was plain to see that he was unhappy and needed coaxing.

Did he not know how difficult he was to appease?

Wasn’t he just making things hard for her?

The girl’s soft fingertips rested atop his hand, and the fury in Xuan Yanyu’s chest eased by half.

Yan Yunning picked up the soup ladle, scooped a spoonful of spare rib broth, and held it to Xuan Yanyu’s lips, coaxing him gently. “Have one sip. Stop being angry, alright?”

The man’s deep, dark eyes stirred faintly. He slowly turned his head away.

He wasn’t eating.