She closed her folding fan and gently tapped Ling Siran's taut back with the fan ribs.

Its touch is hard, like a rock.

Ling Siran froze, as if he had just come to his senses from his rage and realized what he had just done.

His imposing aura receded rapidly like a tide, replaced by a panicked helplessness.

He turned around almost immediately, his tall body hunching slightly, not daring to look into Zi Xi's eyes again, his ears turning red at a visible speed.

Seeing him transform from a fierce tiger back into a big dog in an instant, Zi Xi's mischievousness grew even stronger.

He deliberately moved a step closer, so close that he could almost feel the heat emanating from him, a mixture of faint sweat and the scent of grass.

She tilted her head back and gently lifted his tense chin with her fan, forcing his gaze to meet hers.

"Young Master... the way you were so brave and protective of me just now was truly... captivating."

Zi Xi's voice was low, with a slight upward inflection at the end, carrying a teasing tone.

"So you're really that eager to follow me? Do you think it's much better than letting your mother marry a fiancée you've never even met, huh?"

Her gaze was fixed on his eyes, not missing a single subtle change in his expression.

Ling Siran's breath hitched. The stark contrast between the icy touch of her chin bone and the faint warmth of her fingertips made his heart pound like a drum.

He could clearly see the mischievous smile in her eyes and sense the teasing in her words.

A moment ago, he might have felt ashamed and indignant because of the overly intimate distance and frivolous words.

But at this moment, seeing her mischievous smile stirred up some inexplicable emotions within him.

Is this the allure of a flirtatious woman described in storybooks?!

Ling Siran took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the uncontrollable pounding of his heart, and abruptly took a step back, moving out of the range that Zi Xi's fan could reach.

He lowered his eyes, avoiding her probing gaze, and clasped his hands together, performing a standard and impeccable courtier's salute to Zi Xi.

However, his words drew a clear line between the two of them.

"Si Ran has been betrothed to the First Princess by imperial decree. The marriage is settled and the status is established."

"Your subject... dares not disobey Your Majesty's will."

"If Your Highness has no further instructions, I will take my leave."

Ling Siran finished speaking and, without waiting for Zi Xi's response, kept his bowed posture, head down, and with a hint of barely perceptible haste, quickly turned around and left along the way he came.

That tall, upright figure, in the deepening twilight, somehow exuded a sense of hasty, desperate escape.

"Hahahaha..."

Zi Xi stood there, watching his almost hasty retreating figure, and laughed out loud. She opened the sandalwood fan in her hand with a snap and gently shook it.

"How dare we disobey His Majesty's will?"

She repeated his words in a low voice, a meaningful smile curving her lips.

The male lead is surprisingly innocent.

A gentle breeze blew by, lifting the hem of her crimson robe, and also bringing the distant sound of the school bell signaling the end of the men's virtuous school term.

Ling Siran's almost fleeing figure had not yet completely disappeared at the end of the corridor when Zi Xi found it all quite amusing.

Although it was a disguise, she was a womanizer who frequented brothels for intelligence, and no one had ever been able to draw such a clear line in front of her.

Interesting, really interesting.

Zi Xi's steps seemed leisurely, but she caught up with the dark blue figure ahead who was deliberately quickening his pace in just a few steps.

With a whoosh, the fan unfolded, blocking Ling Siran's path perfectly.