Chapter 128 You're Only Allowed to Look at Me

Xie Yanzhi's expression darkened, but Xiao Huaiyi understood his thoughts.

He did indeed hide Shen Qingnian away.

When Yuan Qing said that Xiao Huaiyi had arrived, he deliberately sent Shen Qingnian away and made her make the complicated eight-treasure cake.

Thus, Shen Qingnian could only stay in the kitchen and would have no chance to see Xiao Huaiyi.

Even from the moment he met Xiao Huaiyi today, he wanted to hide Shen Qingnian completely, not letting anyone see her at all.

Seeing that Xie Yanzhi did not speak, Xiao Huaiyi continued, "I did not mean to make things difficult, but I have something that is still in Miss Shen's hands."

“Those are my mother’s belongings.”

"Your mother's belongings?" Xie Yanzhi's heart skipped a beat; he had never heard Shen Qingnian mention this before.

So, Shen Qingnian has been carrying the love token given to her by another man all along!

Thinking of this, Xie Yanzhi's knuckles turned white, and he felt a strange sense of irritation.

It seems that Xiao Huaiyi is indeed deeply in love with Shen Qingnian, even willing to give her his mother's belongings.

"Yes, since I am not destined to be with Miss Shen, I must go and get it back from her."

After speaking, Xiao Huaiyi took a sip of tea, his calm and collected demeanor suggesting that he no longer had any feelings for Shen Qingnian.

Today, I only want to find that relic; I have no feelings for that person involved.

Xie Yanzhi scoffed coldly. If such valuable items could be given away, how could the sentiment behind them be erased by simply saying that they were not destined to be together?

“Huaiyi, I’ve brought your things back for you. Don’t worry about him anymore.”

Upon hearing Xie Yanzhi's words, Xiao Huaiyi was stunned. Xie Yanzhi indeed knew where Miss Shen was.

He shook his fan and smiled slightly: "No need to trouble the young master, I want to ask Miss Shen for it myself!"

His tone was full of unwavering insistence.

Xie Yanzhi sensed the unwillingness to back down in Xiao Huaiyi's tone.

He frowned, looking rather displeased.

Xiao Huaiyi wasn't trying to get his belongings back; he clearly still had feelings for Shen Qingnian and wasn't willing to let go!

He suppressed his anger and said coldly, "Then Huaiyi, please proceed!"

Xiao Huaiyi put away his fan, cupped his hands in greeting, and left Guanlan Residence with Ping An.

Looking at his young master's calm and collected demeanor, Ping An tentatively asked, "Will Young Master Xie hold a grudge against the entire Xiao family because of the eldest young master's matter?"

Xiao Huaiyi's smile faded, and her expression turned serious: "No."

He knew that although Xie Yanzhi was ruthless, he never took his anger out on innocent people.

"Did the young master reveal Miss Shen's whereabouts?"

Xiao Huaiyi shook his head, but his expression did not show any disappointment.

He was certain that Xie Yanzhi knew where Miss Shen was.

This is also why the old man from the Xiao family was willing to hand over Xiao Hongyi.

"Young master, has the young master revealed Miss Shen's whereabouts?"

Xiao Huaiyi shook his head, but his expression wasn't as bad as it seemed. "Xie Yanzhi must know where Miss Shen is."

He looked up at the sky, his gaze deep. "As long as she is still in this capital, no matter how well Xie Yanzhi hides her, I will find her."

After he returned to the capital, he learned that Xie Yanzhi had not taken a concubine, or even a maidservant.

That means Miss Shen did not compromise with him, and he still has a chance to bring her back to his side.

The two walked along the corridor and, as they turned the corner, they happened to brush past Shen Qingnian, who was returning from the kitchen.

There are still a few ingredients missing from the Eight Treasure Cake. She needs to go to Guanlan Residence to ask Xie Yanzhi whether she should go out and buy them, or have someone else buy them and deliver them to the kitchen.

Otherwise, if there's no Eight Treasure Cake, I don't know how he'll punish her and Ling'er!

Just then, her eyes caught sight of a familiar figure holding a folding fan.

There was another person with that man, who seemed to be Ping An!

That……

Shen Qingnian was frightened by her own guess.

That person... was Xiao Huaiyi!

Just as the two figures were about to disappear at the doorway.

Her heart tightened, and she almost blurted out, "Xiao..."

Before he could utter the word "young master," a warm, large hand covered his mouth, forcibly silencing the unfinished words.

Xiao Huaiyi paused, then asked Ping An, "Did you hear anything just now?"

He seemed to hear a voice that sounded like a woman's or a cat's.

Ping An shook his head: "No, young master."

Ping An looked around, but there was no one there.

Apart from a cluster of flower branches swaying gently in the wind beside the long corridor in the distance, there was nothing particularly special about it.

A hint of disappointment flashed in Xiao Huaiyi's eyes as he continued walking forward with Ping An, gradually disappearing at the end of the corridor.

At the corner of the corridor, Xie Yanzhi covered Shen Qingnian's mouth, preventing her from making any sound.

His fingertips brushed against her soft lips, feeling her struggle.

Shen Qingnian watched helplessly as the figure disappeared, her heart filled with grievance and anger.

She took a big bite out of Xie Yanzhi.

She forcefully broke free from Xie Yanzhi's hand and turned to chase after Xiao Huaiyi in the direction she had left, but Xie Yanzhi grabbed her arm and pulled her back.

"Let go!" Shen Qingnian still didn't give up struggling.

When Xie Yanzhi saw how desperate she was for Xiao Huaiyi, she bit him so hard it hurt.

A surge of anger welled up within him, a sinister glint flashed in his eyes, and he wrapped his arms around Shen Qingnian from behind like an iron barrel.

Seeing that she was still persistent and kept staring in that direction, Xie Yanzhi coldly said, "Is he really that good-looking just because he's a man?"

Shen Qingnian was unable to break free and was extremely angry. Hearing Xie Yanzhi's words, she became even more agitated.

"This servant can look at whomever she wants; why should the young master interfere with even this?"

Xie Yanzhi grabbed her arms with his backhand, but saw that she was only struggling and did not look up at him.

He said, his voice laced with suppressed anger, "I'm a man too."

Why aren't you looking?!

Shen Qingnian looked up at him, and she saw that chilling possessiveness in his eyes again.

Her heart tightened, and she felt the pain in her arms, causing her to furrow her brow slightly.

"Your Highness, please release this servant."

As she spoke, she moved her arm. Seeing this, Xie Yanzhi loosened his grip.

Shen Qingnian immediately broke free and took a few steps back, wanting to get away from him and escape the suffocating oppressive feeling around him.

She composed herself, lowered her head, and said respectfully, "This servant dares not covet the young master. Please do not make things difficult for this servant."

But Xie Yanzhi wouldn't let her have her way. He moved closer to her and pinched her chin with his fingers: "You are only allowed to look at me!"

Shen Qingnian was forced to look up at him, her eyes slowly filling with tears, mixed with a hint of grief and grievance.

There was also a hint of indescribable despair.

Xie Yanzhi's words carried an unyielding force that completely sobered her up. No matter what, Xie Yanzhi would not let her go.

She still fantasized about working as a maid for a year to regain her freedom.

She felt a tightness in her chest, as if she couldn't breathe.

Seeing that Shen Qingnian did not answer, Xie Yanzhi's gaze turned icy and hurtful. He gripped her chin tightly and asked, "Did you understand?"