Chapter 49 The Arrogant Prince 16

But what reason should she come up with?

"I...I'm afraid you'll hate it when I call you that, and you'll get angry the first time we meet." She finished speaking and tried to make her expression look aggrieved.

Hearing her say that, Zhou Zichen immediately turned his gaze back. Seeing the girl's aggrieved expression, he felt a pang of heartache and forgot his earlier shyness. "Qiuqiu, I like it when you call me that. You don't have to change how you address me in the future."

"Ah Chen".

"Yes, Qiuqiu." Zhou Zichen released her wrist and pulled her into his arms. "Come back to Lingyue Kingdom with me tomorrow."

"Okay, I'll do whatever Ah Chen says."

[Ding! The female lead's happiness level has increased by 10%. Her current happiness level is 30%.]

Hearing that his happiness level had increased, Xu Qiuqiu felt as if the happiness level really had nothing to do with her. It seemed as if it would only increase when she made him happy.

It seems like this was the case in the previous plane. Is it the same in this plane?

No, she needs to figure out the situation. Is it possible for her happiness level to increase if she makes him happy?

But what did Zhou Zichen want to hear? Xu Qiuqiu thought for a long time but couldn't figure it out, so she gave up.

Feeling a little uncomfortable being held by him, Xu Qiuqiu said, "Achen, you must be very tired. Why don't you rest for a bit?"

"Okay." Zhou Zichen let go of her, raised his hand to brush away some of the hair that had fallen on her forehead. He wasn't actually sleepy; on the contrary, he felt very excited.

The thought of returning to Lingyue Kingdom and marrying her, making her his queen, was exhilarating.

However, he can't show it too obviously. He already has no resistance to her, and if she finds out what he's thinking, wouldn't she take advantage of him?

Not wanting to be too clingy, Zhou Zichen glanced at her a few times with reluctance before leaving the tent to go back to rest.

At dawn, before daybreak, the people of Fengling City gathered at the city gates to watch. They learned that King Yan'an had not only won the battle but had also killed the emperor of Qi Kingdom. Qi Kingdom was doomed, and they could finally live in peace again.

They waited anxiously at the city gate for Yan'an's return, until noon when they saw a young man on horseback, dressed in armor, leading a group of soldiers slowly into the city, followed by a carriage. Who was sitting inside the carriage?

The girls in the city started shouting when they saw the young and handsome Prince Yan'an. Zhou Zichen just found it noisy; he had always hated this kind of public parade.

He returned to report to his elder brother, the emperor, and also to ask for a marriage decree from him.

His expression softened upon recalling the arranged marriage, and he led his men back to the palace.

As Xu Qiuqiu sat in the carriage, she heard the noise gradually fade away, and after a short while, the carriage slowly came to a stop.

Zhou Zichen dismounted, quickly walked to the carriage, lifted the curtain, and reached out his hand to her, saying, "Qiuqiu, we've arrived."

As soon as Xu Qiuqiu placed her hand in his, he gripped it tightly, wrapped his arms around her waist, and lifted her down.

Startled, Xu Qiuqiu quickly hugged his neck. After realizing what had happened, she punched his chest and said with a hint of anger, "Achen, you scared me."

Hearing her slightly coquettish tone, Zhou Zichen smiled and gently put her down. "I was afraid Qiuqiu's feet would hurt if she jumped down without footrests."

"Also, don't use your hands. The armor is too hard; it will hurt your hands." After saying that, he took her hand and carefully checked for any red marks.

Looking into his gentle and caring eyes, Xu Qiuqiu's heart skipped a beat. He looked just like Qi Chen...

She came to her senses and tried to pull her hand away from his, but found she couldn't, so she just let him look at her.

The steward and guards waiting at the door were stunned by the scene and dared not utter a sound to disturb them.

The steward had been in the Prince's mansion for so many years, and he had never seen Prince Yan'an so gentle. He found it somewhat unsettling.

Seeing that her hands were not red, Zhou Zichen felt much relieved. He took her hand and walked into the palace.

When facing the steward, he put on a stern face and said in a deep voice, "Go and tell the servants to clean up the water and heating room that is closest to me, and arrange for two maids to serve in the water and heating room."

"Yes, Your Highness." The steward replied, wanting to steal a glance at the woman beside Prince Yan'an, but not daring to. The Water Warm Pavilion was for the Princess Consort, so it seemed that there would be a mistress in the mansion.

Moreover, there had never been any women in the manor before; all the servants were men. Now, the Prince of Yan'an is making an exception and arranging maids for the manor, which shows that this girl is deeply favored by the Prince of Yan'an.

After the two went inside, he immediately ordered all the servants not to neglect the girl that Prince Yan'an had brought that day.

"Qiuqiu, what do you like? I'll have someone get it for you," Zhou Zichen asked as he walked, holding her hand.

Upon hearing this, Xu Qiuqiu immediately thought, "He's so good to me!" She used to think he was cold and unpredictable, but after spending the last two days with him, she realized he was incredibly attentive to her every whim.

Although she liked pretty clothes and jewelry, saying it like that was too tacky. After thinking for a moment, she said, "I like anything that Achen gives me, but of course, Achen is my favorite."

[Ding! The female lead's happiness level has increased by 10%, currently at 40%]

As the electronic voice sounded and the value increased, Xu Qiuqiu thought to herself, "Sure enough, saying more sweet words to him will increase his happiness value."

Hearing her say those words, Zhou Zichen's heart started racing again, and his face flushed.

A sweet feeling welled up in his heart. He had never met a woman who expressed her feelings so directly, but he liked her straightforwardness very much.

His lips unconsciously curled up, thinking that since Qiuqiu had been so direct, even if he understood in his heart, he seemed to have never responded.

No wonder Qiuqiu sometimes wanted to get close to him and sometimes called him Your Highness from a distance; it was all his oversight.

Thinking of this, Zhou Zichen stammered, "Qiuqiu, I...like you too..."

After saying that, he felt his face burning up. He was a little embarrassed, but mostly he was overjoyed. He and Qiuqiu were in love with each other.