Translator: Atlas Studios  Editor: Atlas Studios

Chu Liuyue silently called him shameless in her heart, but her ears became warm.

It was lucky that the sky was pretty dark, so Rong Xiu probably could not see her clearly.

She took a deep breath and calmed herself down. She then went up the stairs and pretended as if nothing had happened. “Your Highness, you already have your own place in the academy. Why must you come to my place every day?”

Rong Xiu did not answer her, but he had a half-smile on his face. “Your place is great, and you can clearly see whatever I’m doing from here. However, instead of that, isn’t it better if I come here personally?”

Chu Liuyue paused. “Your Highness, I chose this place first.”

If she knew that Rong Xiu would come and coincidentally stay at that place, she wouldn’t have chosen this house, no matter what.

She walked to the cupboard and took out a fragrant ginger slice before scattering it over the teapot.

As the hot water brewed the tea, a bitter and spicy fragrance permeated the room.

She purposely poured a cup of tea and passed it to him. “Your Highness, have some tea.”

Rong Xiu looked at her and laughed. “Why is it always this ginger tea whenever I come here?”

Chu Liuyue seriously said, “I don’t have any good tea here. If you’re so picky and unwilling to drink it, you don’t have to force yourself.”

Rong Xiu smiled with deep meaning as he directly took the teacup from her hands.

Both of their hands touched for a brief moment.

The point of contact was slightly cold as Rong Xiu’s white long fingers casually slid across the back of her hand, causing a ticklish sensation.

Chu Liuyue looked up at Rong Xiu but noticed that he looked as calm as usual. It was as if he did not notice anything wrong.

His skin is still as thick as usual! Chu Liuyue silently cursed to herself.

“You smell like herbs. Have you been refining medicine the entire night?” Rong Xiu sipped on his tea when his gaze landed on her face, and his smile faded slightly.

Chu Liuyue widened her eyes. “Your Highness, how did you know that?”

Did he come over yesterday? No, I don’t remember that he did.

Rong Xiu raised his chin.

Chu Liuyue extended her hands and touched her face. “Is there something on my face?”

Rong Xiu sighed helplessly and chuckled. Someone who has always been smart is somehow always confused at times like this.

He walked a few steps closer and stood in front of Chu Liuyue.

Rong Xiu’s tall body—which increasingly got closer—instantly made Chu Liuyue feel an unknown suppression.

He extended his hand the next moment.

Chu Liuyue wanted to move backward, but her gaze met with his eyes.

Rong Xiu’s calm and deep eyes seemed to have silent ripples and some undetectable faint signs of love.

Chu Liuyue’s body seemed to have completely frozen, and she could not move at all.

Rong Xiu’s warm fingertips landed beneath her eyes. Under the candlelight, he could clearly see the faint black areas under her eyes. If she did not stay up for an entire night, she would not look like this.

“He’s just a classmate. Is it worth it for you to do so much?” His voice was clear and low, but Chu Liuyue could not see through his eyes.

Chu Liuyue’s lips curved up slightly. She did not mind Rong Xiu knowing that she was helping Liao Zhongshu. After all, she intended to spread the news and lure the enemy. “He has once experienced life and death with me, so I can’t just leave him to die.”

Rong Xiu squinted his eyes. She is not wrong, but I’m not in a good mood. If I find out that she has any other intentions…

“Never again.” His tone was calm and composed, but he did not allow for any rejection.

Chu Liuyue raised her brows. “Your Highness, this is my business. I don’t think you have the right to control me.”

Rong Xiu’s thin lips curled up. “Oh? What if I say that I have the right?”

Chu Liuyue snickered. “Your Highness, you’re indeed of distinguished status, but why must I listen to you?”

Rong Xiu’s fingers slid down Chu Liuyue’s cheeks, and he held her face. He suddenly leaned in closer.

As she stared at the demonic-like appearance in front of her that rapidly closed in, Chu Liuyue’s heart suddenly skipped a beat. She wanted to move backward, but her hands in the sleeves clenched tightly before unclenching. She still did not move in the end.

She was not sure when, but she seemed to have gotten used to Rong Xiu’s intimate actions. It seemed like… everything was natural.

He looked at her with a profound gaze as if an unknown force was going to swallow everything. Then, he tilted his head, went to her ear, and laughed in a low voice. “Because… I am very familiar with the person you like.”

His lips gently touched her thin ear, and it felt like a comet was burning them. However, the words he uttered were like terrifying lightning that struck Chu Liuyue’s heart.

He really did hear it! He definitely heard it very clearly!

Previously, Chu Liuyue could still pretend that she did not know that he heard her words. But she could not continue with her act now. Her heart started beating rapidly as if a fire had descended from her ear and ignited her entire body.

She hurriedly extended her hands and pushed him away. “Your Highness, I think you heard me wrongly. I didn’t say that the person is you.”

“Did I say that the person was me?”

Rong Xiu’s simple retort stumped Chu Liuyue.

Her hands were on his wide and hard chest, and she did not know what to do for a moment. I revealed exactly what I wanted to hide!

Rong Xiu looked down and satisfyingly admired the young woman’s shy appearance. He felt very comfortable.

Suddenly, he hugged her waist and carried her princess style.

“Your Highness?”

“Shh. You didn’t sleep well last night. Let me accompany you today.” Rong Xiu carried her to the bed and gently put her down. Then, he sat down beside her.

Chu Liuyue was surprised and blinked. “… Oh. Your Highness, are you not sleeping?”

Rong Xiu leaned down and lowered his voice. “I can’t sleep when I’m so close to you. You can just sleep; don’t mind anything else.”

Chu Liuyue swallowed her remaining words and closed her eyes after some slight hesitation.

Chu Liuyue was probably too exhausted for the past two days, which was why she quickly fell into a deep sleep.

Rong Xiu held her wrist with one hand, and a faint silver light silently entered Chu Liuyue’s palm.

Chu Liuyue’s breathing started to slow down. Perhaps she had a nightmare, but she furrowed her brows tightly, looking like she was in extreme pain.

Rong Xiu looked at her and extended his hand to relax her brows. He leaned close to her ears and whispered, “Yue’er, don’t be afraid. I’m here…”

His voice was very light. It was as though it could disappear into the wind at any moment.

However, the pain on Chu Liuyue’s face seemed to subside, and she looked calm again.

She instinctively leaned in closer to the warm place until her entire body was in Rong Xiu’s arms. It was only then that she finally quietened down.

Rong Xiu closed his eyes and suppressed the unknown restlessness within his body. She really knows how to torture me…