“What’s the hurry? Little fool, your brother isn’t thirsty.”
Seeing the calm and unruffled expression on the girl’s face, Leng Mingye thought of what Qingfeng had reported to him. His thin lips curled slightly as he spoke, his long hand instinctively reaching toward her sleeve.
“Brother, what are you doing?”
Wan Qing vaguely guessed his intention from Leng Mingye’s reaction. With a playful smile, she stepped back in surprise, instinctively pressing down on her sleeve, and looked up at him with wary eyes. Her usually clear and innocent gaze was now filled with unmistakable wariness, as if she couldn’t understand why he was suddenly being so forward.
“Brother just wants to take a look at your arm.”
The girl’s reaction made Leng Mingye narrow his phoenix eyes. With a smirk that didn’t reach his eyes, he casually raised a hand toward the door behind her. As he withdrew his sleeve, the door behind Wan Qing closed with a soft click, and he spoke lightly to the outside.
“Don’t come in. This prince has something to say to the little fool.”
“Brother, you… what do you want? Surely you don’t harbor improper feelings for Qing’er? Remember, Qing’er has a fiancé. Don’t you dare misbehave.”
From his reaction, Wan Qing was certain of his intentions. It seemed Qingfeng had indeed discovered her medical skills. Fortunately, she had taken precautions upon returning. But letting someone roll up her sleeve so easily? That wasn’t her style—not Mu Wanqing’s style.
So, as he advanced step by step, she pretended to be frightened, backing away with a coy smile, playfully teasing him while firmly rejecting his advances.
“Nonsense. If this prince wanted a woman, would I need to lift a finger? As for misbehaving… I’d really like to see how this little fool truly feels about me.”
Wan Qing’s startled, defensive demeanor stirred something in him. Though he had initially approached her with ulterior motives, he couldn’t deny that her innocent, guileless smile had captivated him.
He had once asked himself why this girl was different. He concluded that she was the purest, kindest woman he had ever met—someone so untainted by scheming that she alone deserved his protection.
But then Qingfeng’s report came to mind, along with their past conversations. She had begged him to teach her acupressure, and only days ago had she obtained a diagram of human pressure points. Yet today, her familiarity with the meridians and her skill with silver needles in healing—such mastery couldn’t have been achieved overnight.
Then there were all the times he had asked if she had found the person he sought. Her evasions and reactions only strengthened his conviction: this girl had been deceiving him all along.
Rarely did he trust anyone, yet for some inexplicable reason, he had placed her above others. And she had exploited that trust, lied to him—perhaps even toyed with him repeatedly.
In his past life, he had failed to protect his family and the woman he loved. Given a second chance, that woman was nowhere to be found, though his family remained the same.
Haunted by the memory of his beloved leaving him in tears for another, he had vowed in this life to grow strong, no matter the hardship. And he had succeeded.
At just twenty-five, though merely the heir of Ji Manor, his martial prowess and ruthless tactics had earned him his current standing. Not only had he reclaimed lost territories in his father’s name and cowed enemy nations, but even the Emperor regarded him with wary respect.
Yet this girl had dared to cross him.
Faced with Wan Qing’s teasing defiance—her wary yet unafraid expression—Leng Mingye smirked coldly and struck again.
Though she dodged swiftly, his large hand still caught her wrist.
“What are you doing? You’re hurting me!”
Though she knew his aim—to check for the chastity mark on her wrist—Wan Qing feigned anger, struggling and glaring at him.
“Nothing much. I’m just curious about this red dot.”
Despite her resistance, Leng Mingye clearly saw the vermilion mark on her wrist. Disbelieving, he traced the spot with his thumb, his tone light but his fingers pressing deliberately.
“Disgusting! Brother, though you’ve always been kind to Qing’er, if you keep harassing me, don’t blame me for turning on you.”
His reaction made Wan Qing inwardly sigh in relief, but she maintained her act, yanking her hand back with exaggerated fury.
“Oh? Is that so?”
He had expected her wrist to bear no mark, yet there it was—a bright red seal. Suspecting trickery, he rubbed at it covertly, but it wouldn’t smudge. As she flared up, he withdrew, though his smirk remained.
“Brother, what now? I’m grateful for your care, but if you lay another hand on me, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
When he reached for her again, Wan Qing dodged, stepping back as he advanced with predatory grace. She pointed at his nose, her voice sharp with feigned indignation.
“Oh? And what will you do if I do touch you? Bite me? Hit me? After all my kindness, this is how you repay me…”
Leng Mingye’s lips curled as he closed the distance in a flash. Though she twisted away, he caught her wrist again, his grip firm but not painful. His eyes, cold and distant, studied her as his other hand produced a smear of cinnabar paste, which he dabbed onto her wrist.
“What—? You lunatic! Why are you smearing this disgusting stuff on me? I—”
Seeing the wet, lizard-blood-infused paste on his fingers, Wan Qing’s heart raced. How did he know this method? As he applied it, she recoiled in disgust, her free hand flashing a silver needle toward his arm.
“Little viper. I just wanted to test something, and this is how you repay me? Am I truly so vile in your eyes? An enemy?”
Just as her needle was about to strike, he twisted effortlessly, catching her wrist as if he had eyes in the back. He released her with a cold look.
“You’ve been kind, but if you mock or disrespect me again, I won’t forgive you. Leave. I’m tired and need rest.”
Freed, Wan Qing retreated, smoothing her sleeve with a show of wounded pride before turning away dismissively.
“I’ll be back.”
Her demeanor had shifted entirely. Though his tests had failed, her sharp tongue and defiance only convinced him further. With a cold laugh, Leng Mingye vanished as swiftly as he had come.
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