Was she really expecting him to stop being angry just like that?

Yan Yunning puffed out her cheeks. When had Xuan Yanyu ever angered her even once?!

She ought to put on a show for him to see!

Fafa: 【Master, I want to see Yan Shiyao become Crown Princess of Xuanzhao.】

Yan Yunning: 【???】

Fafa’s electronic voice grew a little excited. 【Someone wants to hear you call him “brother-in-law.”】

【…】Yan Yunning was somewhat speechless.

Xuan Yanyu caught a glimpse of Yan Yunning from the corner of his eye. He hadn’t eaten — and she was done coaxing him already?

Yan Yunning withdrew the ladle and put it to her own lips instead. Fafa’s interruption had broken her concentration, and she found she couldn’t keep up the coaxing.

“Yan Yunning?” The man’s voice was very low.

Wasn’t that meant for him to eat?

Why had she eaten it herself??

Yan Yunning swallowed the spare rib broth and looked at him with a smile. “I’m right here.”

The man curved his lips, his gaze drifting languidly to the bowl of spare rib broth in her hand. His meaning was unmistakable.

Yan Yunning inwardly rolled her eyes. He’d refused to eat just a moment ago, and now he wanted some again!

She had just reached for a different ladle when Xuan Yanyu let the smile fade from his lips. “Are you finding me beneath you again?”

Yan Yunning’s lips parted slightly. She thought back to the last time — he had drunk from her teacup, she’d said she found him beneath her, and then…

How could she possibly dare say that again!

She put the other ladle back. Lowering her head, she stirred the spare rib broth in her bowl and smiled with extraordinary gentleness. “Your Highness the Crown Prince, I don’t find you beneath me at all. Not at all.”

Xuan Yanyu gave a quiet hum. His long lashes dipped downward as he watched the girl puff out her cheeks and blow on the spoonful of spare rib broth before raising it to his lips.

Yan Yunning watched the man swallow, and had just opened her mouth to coax him a little more when her arm was seized. The next instant, his lips came down on hers.

The man’s hands circled her slender waist and drew her closer. Yan Yunning’s mind went blank with alarm. She pushed and pushed but couldn’t move him. All she could think was — she hadn’t said she found him beneath her this time!

“Just now, what you meant was that you found this prince beneath you.” Xuan Yanyu’s voice came out low and husky, his expression unmistakably suggestive as he curved his lips. “This prince didn’t find anything wrong with the ladle you used, so how could you find anything wrong with this prince? If there’s a next time, this prince will…”

“Xuan Yanyu!” Yan Yunning erupted.

Wasn’t this deliberate?

The man mimicked what she had done last time, smacking his lips softly.

Yan Yunning’s face went scarlet in an instant. No one could understand what she was feeling right now — she genuinely wanted to vanish on the spot!

She didn’t need anyone to demonstrate it for her!

She didn’t want to see it at all. Why had she instinctively smacked her lips that one time?

And yet Xuan Yanyu was grinning roguishly and performed it for her again.

Yan Yunning gritted her teeth, shot him a glare, turned around, and walked out of the private dining room.

Xuan Yanyu lounged lazily against the wooden chair, lightly ran his tongue across his lips, and couldn’t help laughing out loud.

She had barely stepped out of the private dining room when Ye Jian came to meet her. “Miss Yan the Second, is His Highness still angry?”

Yan Yunning said irritably, “Let him drop dead from anger for all I care.”

“His Highness is still angry?” Ye Jian’s voice trembled slightly. “Then what’s to become of Ye Chen?”

Yan Yunning took a step back, on guard. “Don’t come looking for me — I can’t help!”

She didn’t want to lay eyes on Xuan Yanyu right now!

“Miss Yan the Second, please, I beg you — please do this for us. Think of how Ye Chen carried A’Chen all the way to Xuanzhao, and put in a good word with His Highness on his behalf.”

His Highness was still angry, which must mean Miss Yan the Second hadn’t put her heart into coaxing him. If she made a proper effort, His Highness wouldn’t be angry anymore.

It was precisely because His Highness couldn’t stand watching Miss Yan the Second be so close with A’Chen that he’d gotten angry in the first place. If Miss Yan the Second coaxed him properly, His Highness would certainly calm down.

Yan Yunning thought of Ye Chen’s pitiable tearful face and hesitated before giving a small nod.

As the sky gradually darkened, Yan Yunning — urged along by Ye Jian — knocked reluctantly on Xuan Yanyu’s chamber door.

Not even waiting for Xuan Yanyu to respond, she pushed it open directly.

Inside the chamber, Xuan Yanyu wore only a thin, light-colored silk sleeping robe. The collar hung open low, exposing his collarbones, with the faint outline of his chest visible beneath. Yan Yunning cleared her throat.

The man leaned at the edge of the sleeping couch with an air of casual indifference. “Came to borrow a place to sleep again?”

Yan Yunning: “…”

Xuan Yanyu patted the spot beside him on the couch, the corner of his eye curving upward. “Come here.”

Yan Yunning pressed her lips together. “I’m not here to sleep. I’ll say what I came to say from right here.”

Who knew whether he’d suddenly lose his mind again.

Xuan Yanyu gave a hum, his well-defined fingers picking up the teacup beside the couch and taking a measured sip.

“Xuan Xixi, could you let Ye Chen come back?” Yan Yunning pressed on. “Think about it — Ye Chen has been by your side for so many years. How could you bear to make him leave?”

“Pour the tea.” The man’s lips curved with a faint trace of a wicked smile.

Yan Yunning blinked, came to her senses, picked up the teapot, walked to the couch, and refilled his cup.

Xuan Yanyu set his cup down and hooked his fingers around her wrist. Yan Yunning lost her footing and tumbled down onto the couch.

Xuan Yanyu pulled her into his arms in one smooth motion, resting his chin on top of her head. The tip of his nose was filled with the fragrance drifting from the girl’s hair.

The man’s chest pressed against her back as he tightened his arms around her. Yan Yunning’s mind went completely blank. What was this about now???

“Yan Yunning, this prince does not wish to see today’s events repeated a second time.” Xuan Yanyu ran his hand gently through her hair.

Yan Yunning swallowed. Was she really forbidden from laughing and talking with A’Chen from now on?

What a headache!

“I understand.” Yan Yunning replied in a muffled voice.

Right now she was beginning to feel as though entangling herself with him in the first place might have been a mistake.

Xuan Yanyu curved the corner of his lips slightly and drew her a little closer.

Yan Yunning tried to change the subject. “You… could you let Ye Chen come back?”

Could he let go of her already?!

She was genuinely so uncomfortable!

“Why? Was it Ye Jian who sent you? Does he want to stay behind and keep Ye Chen company too?” The man’s voice was low and cool.

Yan Yunning wisely closed her mouth.

After a moment of quiet, Yan Yunning spoke again. “Xuan Xixi, Ye Chen must be heartbroken right now. When I was little, I was also often… that kind of thing…”

The man’s eyes went ice cold in an instant. “Who hit you?”

Yan Yunning pressed her lips shut. She’d only said it casually — who would actually hit her? She’d been doted on by her family since she was small, and had never been struck once.

She wasn’t here anymore. She had no idea how her father, mother, brother, and sister were doing.

She missed home. She didn’t know when she’d ever be able to go back.

Xuan Yanyu noticed the girl’s mood sink and softened his voice. “Who’s been bullying you? Tell me about it — I’ll teach them a lesson for you.”

However gentle his tone was, his eyes were that much colder. He’d already decided on exactly what method he’d use to deal with whoever had bullied her.

Yan Yunning’s eyes shifted faintly. “Xuan Xixi, before I say anything, could you promise me one thing?”

“Alright.”

Yan Yunning tilted her head to look at him, her expression earnest. “Xuan Xixi, the thing I hate most in the world is being deceived. You promised me — so you can’t go back on your word.”

Xuan Yanyu smiled a little, touched the tip of his nose to hers, and replied softly, “I won’t. I won’t deceive you.”

Yan Yunning’s ear tips flushed pink. She raised her hand and touched her nose with an air of self-consciousness. “Xuan Xixi, could you let Ye Chen come back? Promise me that, and I’ll tell you.”