“Your Highness?”

Housekeeper Mu stood at the doorway, waiting. Seeing the two come out, he quickly stepped forward and respectfully inquired.

“To the storeroom.”

Li Xiaochen kept walking, his voice calm.

“? Yes!”

The storeroom?

Was His Highness taking the future princess consort to see the storeroom, showing off the wealth of the royal residence?

Or was he letting her pick her own betrothal gifts?

The more Housekeeper Mu thought about it, the more excited he became. When his master was oblivious to romance, he had worried endlessly.

But now that he had come to his senses, his methods were downright thunderous!

This speed was unprecedented—no one before and no one after could match it!

With that thought, Housekeeper Mu’s old legs moved even faster.

In the blink of an eye, he had left Li Xiaochen and Lin Yuxin far behind.

Lin Yuxin blinked, watching the nimble old housekeeper before glancing at Li Xiaochen, who walked ahead of her, full of confusion.

And then there were the curious and scrutinizing gazes of the servants along the way—what was going on?

[“This Prince Regent’s residence is so strange. Everyone looks at me like I’m some rare creature, as if they’ve never seen a woman before! But Li Xiaochen doesn’t seem as cold and ruthless as the rumors say.”]

[“Looking at things now, he actually treats his servants quite well. Otherwise, how could they dare to whisper in front of their master? But…!”]

Lin Yuxin looked at Li Xiaochen’s broad back ahead of her.

She stepped in his footprints and curved her lips into a smile.

In her previous life, she had been alone, never even experiencing love before she died. In this life, she had planned to change the fates of her mother and brothers, then travel the four nations to see the world.

But after more than half a year in this world, her mother had successfully divorced, her eldest brother had not been crippled and had even been promoted, and her grandfather had not been forced to the battlefield.

Even her uncles’ health was improving. Everything seemed to be moving in a good direction.

She had been thinking—maybe starting a romance now wouldn’t be so bad!

Li Xiaochen had a short lifespan, but wasn’t she here? With her around, he wouldn’t die even if he wanted to.

However, after his half-hearted confession last time, he hadn’t mentioned it again, always keeping a cold face.

This made her hesitate.

She wasn’t sure how Li Xiaochen really felt about her—was it true affection or just teasing?

But no matter what, she had lived two lives. Since she had figured out her own feelings, she might as well take the initiative and win him over, whether or not he had truly fallen for her.

Up ahead, Li Xiaochen noticed the lack of movement behind him and slowed his pace.

Today, he found the girl hard to read.

Before, he could hear her thoughts, but after that smile in the carriage, it was as if she had hidden them away.

He couldn’t hear a thing.

This unsettled him. It made him feel uncertain.

He had wanted to take things slowly, but if she truly shut him out, there would be no way for him to reach her heart.

And so, with one person lost in deep thought and the other filled with anxious uncertainty, they arrived at the storeroom.

Housekeeper Liu had been waiting for a while. Seeing the prince and Lin Yuxin arrive, he immediately smiled kindly at her.

“Your Highness, this is the storeroom key!”

Lin Yuxin: … I just decided to pursue him, and you all already know???

Li Xiaochen: … Housekeeper Liu, if you scare her off, you can retire.

Lin Yuxin’s face stiffened as she forced a smile at Li Xiaochen.

“Haha… The housekeepers of the prince’s residence sure have a sense of humor! Haha!”

Li Xiaochen pretended not to care as he took the key from Housekeeper Mu and said,

“All of you, leave.”

“Oh! Yes! Your Highness, take your time helping the princess consort choose. See what she likes? I will prepare the carriage to send Miss Lin back later.”

Housekeeper Mu smiled, speaking respectfully.

Lin Yuxin: Haha…

“Hurry and leave!”

Li Xiaochen was speechless. It seemed he had been too lenient with his servants—they had no regard for his dignity.

But after all this, neither of them corrected Housekeeper Mu’s address.

Anyway, they would hear “princess consort” all the time in the future, so it didn’t matter if it started early.

Strangely enough, neither of them thought to question why the other hadn’t corrected it.

“Go inside.”

Li Xiaochen unlocked the storeroom but didn’t enter. Instead, he stood by the door, motioning for Lin Yuxin to go in.

Lin Yuxin didn’t hesitate and walked straight inside.

The storeroom wasn’t large. Everything was covered in cloth, with only some bigger items draped in fabric.

But it was packed to the brim. Lin Yuxin scanned the room, then turned to Li Xiaochen with confusion.

“Your Highness, are you sure all those things will fit in here?”

Li Xiaochen glanced at her like she was an idiot. Then he walked over to a white jade Buddha statue, lifted his hand, and gently turned it.

With a soft click, a section of the floor behind the statue sank, revealing a one-meter-wide opening.

“Go down.”

Li Xiaochen lifted his chin, signaling for her to enter.

Lin Yuxin hesitated—so there was a hidden vault within the storeroom?

Li Xiaochen sure hid his treasures deep! She liked it.

Seeing her hesitate at the entrance, Li Xiaochen raised an eyebrow.

“What? Afraid I’ll sell you off?”

“Would Your Highness bear to?”

Lin Yuxin looked up at him, lips curling into a playful smile. Then, without hesitation, she stepped inside.

Li Xiaochen was left standing there, stunned.

What did she mean by that?

Recovering quickly, he hurried in after her.

Meanwhile, the hidden guards observing in the shadows were utterly shocked.

The prince was serious? He actually opened the secret vault for her?!

The treasures inside were priceless! If he was showing her everything, then the princess consort was set in stone.

Looks like they would have to treat Miss Lin even more respectfully from now on.

Their future days of luxury might depend on her!

Lin Yuxin stepped into the underground vault. It was pitch black, and she suddenly regretted not letting Li Xiaochen go first.

So she stood still, waiting to see if he would follow.

Then, she heard a sound at the entrance.

She didn’t dare move. What if there was danger?

Was Li Xiaochen coming? Why was there no sound?

The noise got closer and closer. Lin Yuxin shrank into a corner, pulling out a silver needle from her pouch, ready to strike at any threat.

In her nervousness, she forgot—this was Li Xiaochen’s territory.

How could there be danger? The biggest danger… was him.

As the sound neared, she clenched the needle and swiftly struck.

But before she could land a hit, a strong hand caught her wrist. With a swift motion, she was spun around, her arm locked behind her.

Then, she was pulled into a firm embrace!

Lin Yuxin’s face crashed into a solid chest, making her nose ache. But the faint scent of woodsy fragrance reached her, and she realized—this was Li Xiaochen.

She nearly cried from embarrassment.

Burying her face in his chest, she refused to look up.

Li Xiaochen, holding her, didn’t let go.

He didn’t want to break the moment.

Finally, Lin Yuxin murmured, her voice soft:

“Your Highness… still not done hugging?”