Yan Shiyao’s lips twitched—her little Ning was truly something else.  

Ye Chen lurked in the shadows, a blade of grass clenched between his teeth, muttering, “Tsk, His Highness has been reduced to an errand boy.”  

Ye Jian rested an arm on Ye Chen’s shoulder and whispered, “What I’m curious about is what exactly the Second Miss Yan said to coax His Highness into running around buying snacks for her? This is too bizarre.”  

“Coax? Every noblewoman in Xuanzhao fawns over His Highness—have you ever seen him spare them a glance? If he had even slightly favored one of them, we’d have a little heir by now.” Ye Chen scoffed.  

Ye Jian: “…”  

“Big sis, what do you want to eat?” Yan Yuning hugged a pile of pastries as she trotted up to Yan Shiyao.  

Yan Shiyao smiled, casually picking a piece of cake. “Where’s Brother Yu?”  

Yan Yuning’s mouth was still half-full of peach blossom cake as she mumbled, “He… went to buy me candied haws.”  

“Little Lemon.”  

Hearing the familiar voice, Yan Yuning froze mid-chew, her cheeks still puffed with food.  

“Why did you leave me behind? I washed my face, I washed my hands, I listened to you.” The young man looked aggrieved, his eyes misty with unshed tears as he pouted pitifully.  

Yan Shiyao studied him—his plain, faded linen robe, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, his delicate features giving him a somewhat vacant look, his gaze innocent and childlike.  

Yan Yuning shoved the pastries into Yan Shiyao’s arms and hurried over to the boy. “Ah Ci, how did you find me here?”  

Back when she had first transmigrated, she had been preoccupied with finding a way to leave. Once, lost in thought, she had nearly fallen into a river.  

Ah Ci had yanked her back, watching her cautiously as he said, ‘Cold. River is cold. Ah Ci has been there.’

That was how she learned Ah Ci had been picked up by her grandfather after suffering a head injury that left him with the mind of a child.  

Bored and unable to return home, she had started chatting with Ah Ci every day.  

At first, he had been afraid of her—Fafa said it was because the original host had disliked him. But eventually, Ah Ci began following her everywhere, right up until she was taken back to the Prime Minister’s residence.  

“Little Lemon, I wanted to find you, so I came.” The boy blinked.  

He had searched for so long!  

He had heard—Little Lemon went to the Prime Minister’s residence!  

He went there, but Little Lemon wasn’t home. So he asked the people standing motionless at the gate.  

He was very smart—Little Lemon had said that when he didn’t understand something, he should ask others. He remembered!  

Yan Yuning’s eyelid twitched. “Don’t tell me you left right after I did?!”  

Ah Ci nodded happily.  

“Does Grandfather and Grandmother know you left? Where have you been staying all this time?”  

Ah Ci tilted his head, his expression eager for praise. “Little Lemon said when going out, bring money and leave a note. Ah Ci remembered.”  

“You stayed at an inn with money?”  

Ah Ci patted the pouch at his waist, beaming proudly. “Ah Ci has money. Stayed at inn.”  

“Ningning, he’s so cute!” Yan Shiyao’s eyes sparkled as she nudged Yan Yuning aside to get closer to Ah Ci.  

Pushed away, Yan Yuning: “?”  

Yan Shiyao patted Yan Yuning’s arm, unable to contain her delight. “Ningning, introduce him to me properly.”  

Yan Yuning sighed helplessly. “This is Ah Ci. He’s twenty. Grandfather found him and brought him home.” Then, turning to Ah Ci, she added, “Ah Ci, this is Sister Ah Yao.”  

Ah Ci obediently greeted, “Sister Ah Yao.”  

Yan Shiyao reached out to ruffle his hair, her voice gentle. “Ah Ci, what do you like to eat? Pick whatever you want.”

Ah Ci tilted his head and looked at Yan Yuning.  

Little Lemon had said—never take food from strangers!  

Yan Yuning understood his hesitation and smiled. “Ah Ci, Sister Ah Yao isn’t an outsider. You can eat.”  

Ah Ci picked out two pastries and handed one to Yan Yuning, his face bright with an innocent grin. “Little Lemon, you eat too.”  

Yan Yuning took the pastry and took a bite.  

Ah Ci watched her with sparkling eyes. “Little Lemon, is it good?”  

Yan Yuning nodded with a smile.  

Ah Ci swallowed hard, then without hesitation, held out the remaining pastry in his hand to her. “This one’s for Little Lemon too.”  

His fingers were still dusted with crumbs, and Ah Ci stared at them longingly before swallowing again.  

Yan Shiyao’s heart melted at the sight. She shoved the rest of the pastries into Ah Ci’s arms. “They’re all yours. Eat up.”  

Ah Ci beamed up at her.  

Unable to resist, Yan Shiyao pinched his cheek.  

Ah Ci frowned slightly, but since she had given him food, he’d let her pinch him—just this once!  

Yan Yuning nibbled on her pastry thoughtfully. Ah Ci had followed her here—did that mean she’d have to take him along wherever she went from now on?  

“S-Stop pinching!” Ah Ci ducked his head and hastily hid behind Yan Yuning.  

“Big sis, stop teasing him,” Yan Yuning laughed.  

Ah Ci peeked out from behind her and nodded seriously at Yan Shiyao.  

Little Lemon was right!  

Yan Shiyao burst into giggles.  

Yan Yuning was surprised—she had never seen her sister laugh so freely before.  

“Who is he?” Xuan Yanyu walked over, holding a stick of candied haws. He had spotted the boy from a distance earlier.  

“Ah Ci, this is Brother Xuan,” Yan Yuning introduced warmly.  

A-Ci blinked his wide, guileless eyes and tilted his head, studying Xuan Yanyu for a moment before obediently calling, “Brother Xuan.”  

Then he immediately retreated behind Yan Yuning again.  

Xuan Yanyu’s gaze flickered.  

Yan Yuning took the candied haws from him and bit into one. The crisp sugar shell cracked, and a sour tang spread across her tongue.  

Instantly, her delicate face scrunched up.  

“Little Lemon, if it’s not tasty, Ah Ci will eat it!” Ah Ci scratched his head and grinned foolishly.  

Xuan Yanyu’s throat moved slightly. If she dares give something I bought to someone else, I’ll make her regret it.

Noticing Xuan Yanyu’s darkening expression, Yan Yuning quickly set Ah Ci aside and stepped closer to him. Softly, she asked, “You don’t like Ah Ci calling you ‘brother’?”  

It made sense—as the Crown Prince, his status was lofty. Being addressed so familiarly by a stranger must have displeased him.  

“Are you planning to keep him by your side from now on?” The man’s voice was cold.  

Yan Yuning glanced at Ah Ci, who was now giggling as Yan Shiyao teased him, and sighed. “I can’t just drag him around everywhere, but I don’t trust him to go back alone either.”  

Xuan Yanyu’s tongue lightly traced his lower lip. “What exactly is his relationship to you?”  

“My grandfather found him. I suppose you could say he’s like a younger brother to me.” Yan Yuning took another bite of the candied haws and pouted. “Xuan Yanyu, it’s so sour!”  

The man’s lips pressed together slightly, his voice low and rough. “Where’s the sourness?”  

“Everywhere! I’ve eaten two now, and both were sour!”  

Xuan Yanyu cleared his throat, his voice husky. “Next time, I’ll ask the vendor first.”  

Yan Yuning gave him a helpless look. The village outskirts had hawthorn trees—some sour, some sweet. The vendor wouldn’t taste every single one; how would they know which were sour? Asking was pointless.  

“Xuan Yanyu.” The girl batted her lashes at him.  

“Hm?” His low voice sent a shiver down her spine, warming the tips of her ears.