“Thank-you gift?” The man lowered his gaze to the food box in her hand, a faint trace of disdain flickering in his eyes.  

It was the first time he’d seen someone express gratitude to him in such a shabby way.  

Yan Yuning frowned. “Not good enough for you?”  

A slight smirk tugged at Xuan Yanyu’s lips. “Indeed, it’s not.”  

Yechen raised an eyebrow. “Our Young Master doesn’t accept any food ingredients.”  

“Afraid I poisoned it?” Yan Yuning blurted out.  

Xuan Yanyu lazily tilted his head. “Would you dare?”  

His tone carried a playful lilt.  

Yan Yuning felt a pang of guilt. She would dare—just not the consequences that followed!  

The man leaned in close, his voice low. “You actually would?”  

At such close proximity, his warm breath brushed against her cheeks, carrying a faint, elusive fragrance. Yan Yuning instinctively held her breath.  

She looked up and met his dark, inscrutable eyes, forcing a smile. “I wouldn’t dare.”  

Xuan Yanyu’s brow arched slightly. So timid. Even if I didn’t ask, she wouldn’t have the nerve.

Yan Yuning walked to the table, opened the food box, and took out the Snow Glow Soup and Grilled Clams. She turned and pulled Xuan Yanyu down to sit, pressing a wooden spoon into his hand. “Try it.”  

She’d actually snagged this from her elder sister.  

Yechen’s brow furrowed, but he didn’t dare say anything.  

The man elegantly scooped a spoonful of the soup, his Adam’s apple bobbing lightly as he swallowed.  

Yan Yuning propped her chin in her hand, watching him. [Fafa, just how much does he love my sister? Instead of living a life of luxury, he insists on trailing after her everywhere.]

[He’s so handsome, and he’s the Crown Prince—he could have any woman he wants. Why is he so fixated on my sister? She doesn’t even love him. He’s downright delusional!]

Fafa: [Master, the book never explained why he’s so obsessed with your sister. It’s unclear why he’s determined to marry her.]

“Miss Yan, why are you staring at me like that?” Xuan Yanyu’s eyes glinted with amusement as he slowly stirred the spoon in the bowl.  

Yan Yuning sighed inwardly. Because you’re out of your mind!

But outwardly, she beamed. “Is it good? My sister made this for Brother Qi. It smelled so delicious that I thought you’d like it too. Who knew my sister could cook?”  

The man’s eyelids lifted slightly before he dropped the spoon.  

Yechen’s expression darkened, his hands clenching into fists at his sides. “You—you dared to let our Young Master eat Qi Qingchen’s leftovers? You’ve got some nerve.”  

“They’re not leftovers! Brother Qi hasn’t even touched them yet. If anything, he’d be the one eating our Young Master’s leftovers,” Yan Yuning retorted.  

“That’s still unacceptable. Qi Qingchen isn’t worthy of even our Young Master’s scraps,” Yechen gritted out.  

“You’ve got a grudge against Brother Qi?” Yan Yuning shot him a sidelong glance.  

Yechen’s face darkened. Of course I do. Who told the future Crown Princess to keep entangling herself with him?

A cold glint flashed in Xuan Yanyu’s eyes as he enunciated slowly, “Everyone, out.”  

A moment later, Yan Yuning stood outside the door, food box in hand, locked in a staring contest with Yechen.  

“Because of you, I got kicked out by the Young Master,” Yechen snapped, his face stormy.  

“How is this my fault?” Yan Yuning shot back.  

“If it weren’t for you, would the Young Master be angry?” Yechen grumbled.  

“I can’t be bothered to explain.” Yan Yuning’s fair cheeks flushed with irritation. She rose onto her tiptoes, flipped him off with her middle finger, and let out a disdainful “Hmph!”  

Yechen let out a cold laugh.  

…

Taoyuan Manor.

Yan Yuning nibbled on a fruit, sighing. [Sigh, Fafa, Xuan Yanyu hasn’t spoken to me all morning.] 

Fafa: [Master, why did you tell him Yan Shiyao made it for Qi Qingchen? You could’ve just kept quiet.]

[I thought if he knew how much my sister loves Brother Qi, he’d back off. Who knew it’d backfire?]

Fafa: […He doesn’t care how much Yan Shiyao loves Qi Qingchen. He only cares whether Yan Shiyao ends up marrying him or not!]

Yan Yuning: […]

“Brother Qingchen, ever since I received your letter, I’ve been looking forward to your arrival,” the woman said with a smile, her dimples showing. Dressed in a light green robe, she looked fresh and lovely.  

Yan Yuning blinked.  

Noticing her gaze, Luo Xuan smiled and turned to her. “You must be Second Miss Yan, right? Just as Brother Qingchen described in his letters—absolutely stunning, like a flower and the moon.”  

Yan Yuning smiled sweetly.  

Xuan Yanyu chuckled softly. “I’m a bit curious, though—how did Young Master Qi introduce me in his letters?”  

Luo Xuan grinned. “Young Master Xuan, why don’t you ask Brother Qingchen yourself?”  

[Oh-ho, this girl’s got some sass.] Yan Yuning munched on her fruit, thoroughly enjoying the show.  

Fafa: [Of course she does. She’s the clan leader of Taoyuan Manor.]

Xuan Yanyu let out a light “Tch” before lazily replying, “Never mind.”  

Luo Xuan arched a brow, her lips curling into a smirk. “Everyone, your rooms are ready. After the meal, you can rest. As for Brother Qingchen—I’ll be taking him with me first.”  

Yan Shiyao lowered her head, gripping her chopsticks tightly, her heart heavy with frustration.  

Yan Yuning sipped her tea, [She clearly doesn’t want Brother Qi to go, so why doesn’t she say anything?]

Fafa: [Sigh, that’s just how she is. If she had even half a brain, you wouldn’t have been killed by Xuan Yanyu! A single word from her could’ve saved you, but she just had to antagonize him.]

Yan Yuning: [Ugh, don’t remind me! Stop bringing up how he killed me!]

Fafa: […]

“I’m done eating. Ningning, you and Brother Yu take your time,” Yan Shiyao said before standing up and leaving.  

Yan Yuning took a bite of her meat pie, [Not eating again? Is any man really worth skipping a feast like this?]

Fafa: [In her eyes, Qi Qingchen is worth far more than this entire table of delicacies.]

Yan Yuning scooted closer to Xuan Yanyu, making small talk. “Where’s Yechen? Why hasn’t he come out? Where did he go?”  

“You’re concerned about him?” The man’s slender fingers tore off a piece of the meat pie, which he chewed slowly.  

Yan Yuning’s cheeks were stuffed like a chipmunk’s as she mumbled, “Not really.”  

Xuan Yanyu raised a brow and subtly pushed a few dishes closer to her.  

“I—Xuan Yanyu—water—” Yan Yuning clutched her chest, her face turning red.  

Xuan Yanyu’s expression darkened instantly. “You dared to poison the food?”  

In one swift motion, he pulled Yan Yuning up from her chair and pressed on a pressure point. Yan Yuning felt a wave of nausea and bent over, retching violently.  

[Fafa, ugh—I hate throwing up, ugh—Xuan Yanyu, you and I are officially enemies now!] 

Fafa: [You’re the one who wolfed it down too fast and choked. He thought you were poisoned.] 

After a moment, Yan Yuning recovered slightly. Xuan Yanyu handed her a water jug, and she rinsed her mouth before wiping it with a handkerchief.  

She shoved the jug back into his hands, her fingers trembling with anger. “You—you—who the hell would randomly poison someone?!”  

“You choked?” Xuan Yanyu smirked.  

“Did you do that on purpose?” Yan Yuning frowned, her pretty brows knitting together.  

Xuan Yanyu lifted his gaze, his voice turning cold. “Seems I overstepped.”  

As she watched him walk away, Yan Yuning clenched her fists. [Now he’s mad? Who jumps straight to assuming poison?]

Fafa: [Master, it’s because he’s been poisoned many times before. Think about it—he’s the only prince of Xuanzhao. Countless people want him dead. That’s why Xuanzhao’s imperial physicians are the best at detoxification.]

Yan Yuning bit her lip. [Because of him?]  

Fafa: [Yes. The Xuan King decreed that Xuan Yanyu’s safety takes precedence over everything. No matter who in the palace falls ill, if Xuan Yanyu needs medical attention, everyone else waits—no exceptions, not even the king himself.]

Fafa: [So he really wasn’t doing it on purpose.]

[…What do I do now? I misunderstood him.] Yan Yuning rubbed her cheeks, conflicted.