"He's really amazing! Even though I'm so ugly, he didn't make fun of me!" Ye Jingchen said in a curious tone while making all sorts of funny gestures in front of the bronze mirror.

"That's because he has ulterior motives!" Chenxi thought to herself, feeling a terrible sense of unease, as if her own cabbage was about to be eaten by a pig.

However, Chenxi didn't want to remind Baicai, because Baicai had always spoiled the pig for eight years. What if he reminded her and Baicai happily offered herself up to the pig?

The next morning, Ye Jingchen barely stayed at the government office for an hour. After greeting Ye Jingming, he went to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.

Xie Chang'an waited at the door as always.

"How did you know I was coming at this time?" he asked curiously.

Previously, he always arrived at the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion at roughly the same time, so it wasn't surprising that Xie Chang'an would wait for him at the gate. But today, he deliberately arrived an hour early, and Xie Chang'an was still waiting at the gate. Could he possibly have some kind of premonition?

"I guessed," Xie Chang'an said mysteriously.

Actually, he had arranged for skilled martial artists to be stationed at the entrance of the government office early this morning. As soon as they saw Ye Jingchen leave, they would rush back to inform him.

Ye Jingchen followed Xie Chang'an to Chang'an Residence.

As soon as they arrived at Chang'an Residence, Chenxi appeared and stayed by Ye Jingchen's side without leaving him for a moment.

"There are some things I only want to say to you," Xie Chang'an said to Ye Jingchen after glancing at Chen Xi.

He could sense that Chenxi was extremely wary of him, probably because she already knew what he was thinking.

"I am a 'personal' bodyguard!" Chenxi said expressionlessly, emphasizing the word 'personal'.

"A guard who hides in the shadows is called a secret guard! According to the rules, secret guards cannot show themselves in public!" Xie Chang'an said this to Ye Jingchen.

Chen Xi glanced coldly at Xie Chang'an, then looked at Ye Jingchen.

"Xie Chang'an, even if Chenxi doesn't show himself, he knows what we say and do," Ye Jingchen said to Xie Chang'an with a smile.

Xie Chang'an also has his own secret guards, doesn't he know this?

Why deceive yourself?

“I know, but what I’m about to tell you is very important, and I don’t want any third party involved in the open,” Xie Chang’an said.

How unsightly would it be if the morning sun were always standing there?

"Chenxi, why don't you hide first?" Since Xie Chang'an had already put it this way, Ye Jingchen could only discuss it with Chenxi.

"He has ill intentions!" Chenxi said to Ye Jingchen, pointing at Xie Chang'an.

Ye Jingchen believed in Chenxi, but he also believed in Xie Chang'an.

Moreover, given his relationship and position with Xie Chang'an, Xie Chang'an would never do anything to harm him.

"It's alright. If he tries anything against me, you can just show up again to protect me," Ye Jingchen said to Chenxi with a smile.

Seeing that Ye Jingchen didn't take his warning seriously at all, Chenxi snorted coldly, flew up the peach tree, and disappeared from Ye Jingchen's sight.

Xie Chang'an, in a good mood, led Ye Jingchen to sit down under the peach tree and poured him a cup of tea.

"Stop beating around the bush and just tell me!" Ye Jingchen urged Xie Chang'an while sipping his tea.

He's been waiting since yesterday, he's so curious!

"I've got it!" Xie Chang'an's first words were a bombshell.

"Pfft—" Upon hearing what Xie Chang'an was saying, Ye Jingchen spat out the tea in his mouth.

He placed the teacup on the table, looking at Xie Chang'an with a strange expression. "Is this what you wanted to tell me? Are you showing off to me?"

"Don't you want to know how I suddenly became enlightened?" Xie Chang'an asked calmly.

"This...this is your own privacy, isn't it inappropriate to tell me?" Ye Jingchen smiled awkwardly.

He didn't want to know; he felt that Xie Chang'an was showing off to him, blatantly showing off!

"It's related to you!"

Ye Jingchen could only be thankful that he hadn't drunk any more tea, otherwise he could have spat it out again.

"What does your enlightenment have to do with me?" Ye Jingchen had a vague sense of unease.

"The night you asked me that question, I had a dream in which you were, and then it dawned on me."

As Xie Chang'an said this, he kept looking at Ye Jingchen.

He said it so naturally, as if he were saying, "The weather is so nice today."

But Ye Jingchen was so embarrassed that he could dig out a three-bedroom apartment with his toes!

We're all adults. Xie Chang'an has been so straightforward. How could he not understand?

No wonder Xie Chang'an has been acting strangely ever since that day.

Ye Jingchen now deeply regrets it. If he could turn back time, he would never have been so foolish as to ask Xie Chang'an that question.

"You, you, you—" Ye Jingchen pointed at Xie Chang'an, his face burning red, "You must be mistaken, we're both men, even if you dreamed about me, it definitely wasn't because of me!"

"I wasn't entirely sure either, so I got you drunk the day before yesterday to confirm it," Xie Chang'an said, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"What did you do to me while I was drunk?!" Ye Jingchen suddenly stood up, hugged his arms tightly, and felt that Xie Chang'an's smile was so perverted.

"Don't worry, I'm not the kind of person who takes advantage of others in their vulnerable state. I didn't do anything to you!" Xie Chang'an also stood up, speaking as he slowly approached Ye Jingchen.

"Don't come any closer—" Ye Jingchen reached out and tried to block Xie Chang'an's chest to prevent him from getting closer.

But as soon as his hand touched Xie Chang'an's chest, it was as if he had touched a hot potato, and he quickly withdrew it in fright.

Having lived two lifetimes and reached the age of thirty or forty, this was the first time he had faced such a scene, and he was truly at a loss.

Fortunately, Xie Chang'an did not approach him any further.

"Since you didn't do anything, how did you become so sure of your feelings? Could it be that you're certain this was just a misunderstanding? Even if you did *that* because you dreamed about me, it doesn't necessarily mean you're interested in me, right?" Ye Jingchen asked, clinging to a sliver of hope.

"How come I never realized you were so cute before!" Xie Chang'an said with a smile.

Ye Jingchen immediately got goosebumps. "You're the cute one! Your whole family is cute!"

"Actually, it's not like I didn't do anything. After you got drunk, I helped you to my room and helped you to bed. I was worried you wouldn't be comfortable if you fell asleep, so I wiped your face, hands, and feet..."

With each additional word Xie Chang'an spoke, Ye Jingchen felt increasingly awkward, and by the end, he felt like picking his toes.

He felt embarrassed not only for himself, but also for Xie Chang'an.

Does Xie Chang'an seem like the kind of person who would take care of others?

He's back to the arrogant, domineering, cool, and cocky Xie Chang'an he used to be. This Xie Chang'an has completely ruined his persona, and quite badly at that!

"Wait! You're not trying to tell me that your willingness to take care of me is proof that you like me, are you?" Ye Jingchen looked at Xie Chang'an with a strange gaze.

(My darlings, the audiobook version of this book will be available tonight at 8 PM. Please tune in!)