Yan Yuning cleared her throat softly. “I… I can sleep on the couch… You—”  

“Don’t tell me you actually want to sleep on the bed?” The man’s lips curled slightly, his voice deep and mesmerizing.  

“If I say yes, then will you let me? Then you can sleep on the couch.” The girl blinked her innocent, wide eyes and made her request in a soft, delicate voice.  

Xuan Yanyu shot her a glance and replied leisurely, “Stop daydreaming.”  

This was the first time anyone had dared to suggest he sleep on a couch.  

Yan Yuning pouted.  

Late at night.  

Yan Yuning lay on the couch, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep.  

It was her first time sharing a room with a man, and she was wide awake.  

“Xuan Yanyu,” she called out softly.  

In the darkness, the man opened his eyes.  

“Xuan Yanyu, don’t sleep. Keep me company for a while.” Yan Yuning propped herself up on the couch, gazing at him under the moonlight.  

Xuan Yanyu pinched the bridge of his nose. Truth be told, he was starting to regret this.  

He shouldn’t have agreed to her request.  

Yan Yuning threw off the embroidered quilt, tiptoed to the bedside, and slowly crouched down.  

Xuan Yanyu caught her movements from the corner of his eye but closed his eyes again.  

Yan Yuning rested her hands on the edge of the bed, her chin perched atop her fair-skinned fingers, her lips pressed together lightly. “Xuan Yanyu.”  

The man’s eyes remained shut, his long lashes casting faint shadows. His well-defined hands rested on his abdomen, his breathing even.  

Yan Yuning swallowed hard, momentarily entranced. His sharp brows, star-like eyes, and tall nose bridge—every feature was flawless on its own.  

[Why is he so fixated on my sister?] Yan Yuning frowned.  

[System: Master, the book doesn’t explain this clearly. Maybe it’s for the plot, or maybe there’s another reason.]

Yan Yuning: […]

Yan Yuning noticed the man’s Adam’s apple bob slightly. Huh? Was he asleep or not?!  

“Xuan Yanyu, are you asleep?”  

“You’re being very noisy.”  

“You’re awake? Then talk with me for a bit.” The girl’s eyes instantly brightened.  

The man tilted his head to look at her, his voice slightly hoarse. “You can’t sleep, so I’m not allowed to either? Hmm?”  

His lazy tone carried a hint of indifference.  

Yan Yuning licked her lips, her heartbeat quickening slightly.  

“What do you want to talk about?” Xuan Yanyu interlaced his fingers and rested them behind his head.  

Yan Yuning rubbed her warm cheeks, exhaled, and mustered her courage. “Why did you stay by my sister’s side?”  

Xuan Yanyu narrowed his eyes.  

“Do you… have feelings for her? Otherwise, why would you stay with her all this time?” Yan Yuning couldn’t help but ask.  

Xuan Yanyu lifted his eyelids, his tone indifferent. “Yan Yuning, just because I stayed by her side, does that mean I must have feelings for her?”  

All he knew was that Yan Shiyao had to become the Crown Princess of Xuanzhao. Whether he had feelings for her or not didn’t matter.  

Since childhood, his father had never asked anything of him—marrying Yan Shiyao was the only request his father had ever made.  

His father had set up a scheme where Yan Shiyao would “rescue” him after he was “injured,” allowing him to stay in the Prime Minister’s residence without suspicion.  

Given how much his father doted on him, if he was willing to let him stay by Yan Shiyao’s side, then she must be incredibly important.  

If Yan Shiyao weren’t the Prime Minister’s daughter, he wouldn’t have needed to stay in Qilan at all—he could have just taken her back to Xuanzhao directly.  

But if the Prime Minister’s daughter were suddenly abducted, it would be seen as a blatant provocation to Qilan.  

Even though Xuanzhao’s strength far surpassed Qilan’s, he couldn’t exactly let the people of Xuanzhao know that their Crown Princess had been snatched away by force.  

Yan Yuning rested her cheek against the edge of the bed, her voice gradually softening. “You don’t like my sister…”  

Xuan Yanyu stared at Yan Yuning’s sleeping profile and, as if bewitched, reached out to pinch her soft, pink cheek.  

…

The next morning.  

Yan Yuning slowly opened her eyes, glanced around, and suddenly sat up. [System! System! How did I end up on the bed?! Where’s Xuan Yanyu?!] 

Did she climb onto the bed herself?  

No way, right?  

She didn’t sleepwalk!  

[System: Master, as I mentioned last time, if you fall into a deep coma, I’ll disconnect. The same goes for deep sleep.]

Yan Yuning: […]

In Luoxuan’s chamber.  

Maids bustled in and out as Qi Qingchen sat by the bed, helping Luo Xuan sit up while feeding her medicine.  

“Brother Qingchen, we originally agreed that you’d accompany me to the secret chamber this morning…” Luo Xuan’s lips were pale, her delicate lashes still dotted with tears, making her look pitiable.  

“Focus on recovering first. We can go once you’re better—there’s no rush.” Qi Qingchen scooped a spoonful of medicine and brought it to her lips.  

Luo Xuan swallowed the bitter liquid and sniffled. “But if we delay, you’ll have to stay a few more days. Will I… be holding you back?”  

Qi Qingchen picked up a handkerchief and gently wiped the traces of medicine from her lips, comforting her softly, “It’s fine.”  

“Brother Qingchen, Young Master Xuan seems to have a grudge against me. I don’t know how I offended him…” Luo Xuan bit her lip, the tip of her nose tinged red, her voice laced with grievance.  

“It was my oversight—I shouldn’t have brought outsiders here so abruptly. Don’t worry, I won’t let him hurt you again.” Qi Qingchen set the medicine bowl aside and instructed, “Luo Xuan, rest well.”  

As Qi Qingchen walked out of the chamber, Luo Xuan twirled a lock of her hair, her face adorned with an innocent smile. “Qi Qingchen… Ah Chen.”  

“Clan Leader, does your wound still hurt?” Nuonuo’s eyes were still red.  

Luo Xuan pressed her fingertip against the injury, and fresh blood immediately seeped out. Her eyes curved into crescents as she smiled. “If not for this wound, Ah Chen would have left by noon today. I should thank Xuan Yanyu.”  

“Clan Leader…” Nuonuo’s voice trembled with lingering sobs as she hurriedly pulled Luo Xuan’s hand away, wiping the blood with a handkerchief.  

“Nuonuo, if one day I’m no longer here, you’ll become the next leader of Taoyuan Village. You must protect it well.” Luo Xuan’s face remained serene, her smile unchanged.  

Nuonuo’s heart suddenly ached, a foreboding sense of unease washing over her. Her lips quivered. “Clan Leader, what do you mean by that?”  

Luo Xuan’s lips curled slightly. “Just a joke.”  

Nuonuo opened her mouth but said nothing.  

“We can’t leave??? Weren’t we supposed to leave by noon today?” Yan Yuning’s eyes widened in disbelief.  

Yan Shiyao sighed softly and explained gently, “Brother Qi said we can only leave after Miss Luo has fully recovered.”  

Yan Yuning hugged her sister, her voice tinged with pleading. “Elder Sister, can’t we leave first?”  

She didn’t want to get locked up by Luo Xuan again for no reason!  

Yan Shiyao patted her back and coaxed her gently, “Ningning, let’s wait a few more days, alright?”  

“Elder Sister…” Yan Yuning pouted.  

“Miss Yan, Second Miss Yan—it’s terrible! Young Master Qi and Young Master Xuan are fighting!” A maid rushed into the room in a panic, forgetting even to knock.  

Yan Shiyao’s pupils constricted. She quickly let go of Yan Yuning and dashed out.  

Yan Yuning: “?”  

Why would those two be fighting?!  

[System: Master, should we go take a look too?]

By the time Yan Yuning arrived, she saw Qi Qingchen pointing a sword at Xuan Yanyu, his white robes stained with specks of blood.  

In contrast, Xuan Yanyu stood tall and composed, his noble blue robe pristine, without a single wrinkle.