Chapter 267 "Because You’re Not Nothing To Me"

After dealing with such defeat and being so humiliated that he could even see some masked people around him snickering, Prince Francisco was once again enraged. He took a step forward to follow Ran Xueyi outside, but just as he moved towards the path she took, someone stepped in front of him, blocking his way.

He viciously glared at him. "What is the Earl thinking? Are you trying to stop me?"

Song Yu Han casually said, "In this castle, who can ever stop a prince from doing what he wants?"

"Then, why don't you step back?"

Song Yu Han shook his head and said in regret, "My feet suffered greatly from the earlier dance. It's gone numb since earlier so I cannot move them at this moment."

It was half-truth and half-lie.

It was true that his feet hurt after being stepped on during the dance. Ran Xueyi might not be good at dancing or she intentionally stepped on him from time to time. Nevertheless, her disgust and dislike towards him were very clear.

Obviously, it was all due to the fact that he's a 'strange man' to her. Else, if it was his identity as her husband, she wouldn't do that to him.

Still, Song Yu Han couldn't allow Francisco to find her if she really went out to do her business.

One did not know whether the prince believed him or not, but after seeing that pair of eyes behind the mask, Prince Francisco's plan to find Ran Xueyi was pushed back. He could not just do anything against the Earl.

"You may have her for now, Earl. But sooner or later, I will have her," he declared before he turned around with a huff.

Song Yu Han stared at the prince's back with a smile that wasn't a smile.

'That day will only happen if the world burns and dies.'

...

After leaving the stifling hall, Ran Xueyi rushed to a promenade where it was located next to the side hall. There was no one there and to the left side of the promenade was the garden. With the nightly breeze passing through, some of the dizzying spell of perfume and makeup products from inside the hall quickly disappeared and only a soothing feeling remained.

Leaning against the railing, she sighed.

Thankfully, the prince wasn't a voyeur, or things could end up in a different way.

However, Ran Xueyi received a headache every time she thought of other methods to avoid the prince. This is the castle, after all, there wasn't much to hide from, and compared to him, she didn't know a lot of places there.

Besides, there was that 'man' too. The Earl was a stranger man than the prince. Prince Francisco was someone she could understand. He's a simple man who loves men and women for as long as they possess beauty just like any other person. However, the Earl was a mysterious man. His likes and dislikes were unknown to the world, he was even rarer than finding a dinosaur's bone in your backyard.

"Is this the place to finish one's 'business'?"

Suddenly, that deep, low, and masculine voice sounded from behind her.

Since when?!

When did he arrive and stood behind her?

With her eyes widened in slight surprise, Ran Xueyi said, "Are you following me?"

"No. But since we're headed in the same place, I guess why not go there with you?" His tone was too jovial and lazy as if his words were not embarrassing enough.

Forcing the urge to roll her eyes at him, she responded calmly, "Who are you fooling?"

The man tilted his head as if he couldn't understand what she was saying.

"You already knew that the place you're heading is not here. Yet, you still followed me," Ran Xueyi said matter-of-factly.

The man still hasn't said his reply, but Ran Xueyi was not done.

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She pointed to a tree and added, "But if you're really not following me, then there's a tree out there."

Song Yu Han: "...?"

Ah, she was telling him to go and do his business next to the tree like a dog. Again, she surpassed his expectations.

"Do you really want me to do that to a tree?"

"Why not?" Ran Xueyi did not notice how he switched from speaking formally to informally to her. "Mother Earth will surely thank you for your contribution to save the world."

Towards other men, who were not her husband, Ran Xueyi did not need to show any kindness nor cordiality. It has always been like this even when she was on the set. The actors who tried to get close to her were all treated by her coldly.

Song Yu Han also knows this through Special Assistant Guo's daily reports.

"Will you also feel thankful if I do that?" Song Yu Han forced the corners of his mouth to come down. He was smiling so much that it was showing a little bit in his voice.

Ran Xueyi caught it. She turned around and glared at him, "Why would I? You doing your business is nothing to me. So, why would I feel thankful?"

Song Yu Han shrugged, "Because you're not nothing to me."

Frowning a little, Ran Xueyi's languid eyes observed the mask covering his face. Not a feature of this man could be seen. It was just his eyes that appeared to be black-diamond right now that she could tell he was having fun teasing her.

Somehow, it made her remember Song Yu Han, who occasionally showed a beastly side of him.

Missing the man whom she hadn't met in the past three years, Ran Xueyi felt her heart wincing a little bit.

"I'm sorry, but I don't have time to play with you. I'm tired and will now retire to my room," said Ran Xueyi as she turned to the side to avoid bumping against him.

Seeing her leave, Song Yu Han's eyes deepened.

"So interested in her that you even followed her out here?"

Prince Adrienne, who suddenly appeared, playfully asked.

Song Yu Han turned to him, his deep eyes stared at him for a few seconds. Prince Adrienne felt the air around them turning colder, and he knew that he had overstepped his position.

He quickly apologized but also sincerely advised, "Girls like her are few, but you must also think of what will benefit you. Us men can get anything we want, anytime we want... but an opportunity to get stronger and powerful can only happen once. I hope you think carefully."

"What are you trying to say?" Song Yu Han smiled gently, but there was nothing gentle about him.

"You should have already heard of the rumors about my sister," Prince Adrienne said while shifting on his other foot, uncomfortably. "My father will probably call on you to talk about a marriage proposal, matching you to my sister. In my opinion, don't reject it. It's a good opportunity for you to become more powerful. The royal family can back you up with anything."

Though Princess Lydia was a spoiled child, she was still beautiful and her figure was second to none in the castle. Even those little actresses who looked beautiful could only act as her backdrop. To Adrienne, marrying into the royal family and to his sister, was like buying 1 to get 1 free.

Prince Adrienne guessed that the Earl wanted to become an even higher position since he first proposed the idea of getting an official position to the King as a reward. Hence, he was not afraid to say all this.

Anyway, he just knew that the Earl wouldn't reject this offer.

Unfortunately, Song Yu Han's next words stunned him.

He chuckled for a few seconds before he coldly said, "Just because I think of you a bit better than your silly brother, you think you can just say what you think?"

Prince Adrienne was stumped out of words and could only stare at him as Song Yu Han backed him to the wall.

Prince Adrienne finally could not step backward as his back hit the wall. He looked up at the tall man in front of him and gulped. "I'm only saying this because I know you will thank me later--"

"Then will you say thank you as well when you're buried six feet underground?" Song Yu Han stared at him like he was watching a fool jumping around. "You're not the first and last to say what's best for me... But know this, at least. Those who think they know what's best for me... All of them are more afraid of me than the devil himself. So, watch yourself, my foolish prince, because I am always watching."

-THUD!

Losing the strength in his legs, the prince fell to the ground as if he was a marionette with its strings cut.

Song Yu Han watched him fall down before taking out a handkerchief from his breast-pocket and wiping his hand on it.

Before stepping out of the promenade, the handkerchief gently landed on top of the prince's head.

Tsking softly as he left, Song Yu Han wondered why does everyone wanted to become a matchmaker for him?