Chapter 21 The courtesan arrives? No, it's an escalation of the misunderstanding!

After the concubine-taking banquet ended unhappily, the relationship between Yun Zhan and Yan Linye plummeted. Although they lived in the same villa, it was as if a galaxy separated them. Yun Zhan continued his sarcastic remarks, while Yan Linye became increasingly silent, his brows often carrying a hint of barely perceptible weariness and...disappointment.

Yun Zhan was also feeling incredibly frustrated. He knew he might have gone a bit too far last time, but Yan Linye's "you're being unreasonable and I don't want to explain" attitude only fueled his anger. Furthermore, the "brothel incident" still hadn't been resolved, making the thorn in his heart grow deeper and deeper.

"System, does he think I'm particularly unreasonable? Or particularly irrational?" Yun Zhan sighed as he looked out the window.

[Based on behavioral data analysis, the target's favorability towards the host has not decreased significantly, but trust and the index of 'believing the host understands them' have fluctuated.] System Xiaoqi delivers a precise strike.

"Understand? He didn't tell me anything, how am I supposed to understand?" Yun Zhan felt even more aggrieved. "Going to a brothel is a serious matter? What serious matter requires discussing it in a place like that? I think he's just feeling guilty!"

Just then, a maidservant rushed over, looking somewhat troubled: "Young Master Yun, there's a young lady outside... outside the door requesting an audience with the Prince. She says... says she's Liu Yingying from Zui Chunfeng."

Liu Yingying?

Intoxicated by the spring breeze?

That new courtesan has become the top courtesan?!

Yun Zhan's mind went blank, and his blood rushed to his head! Well, before they only went sneakily, but now they dare to come knocking on his door?! They're really pushing their luck!

He suppressed his anger and asked calmly, "Where is the Prince?"

"The prince is in his study; the news has already been announced..."

Before he could finish speaking, Yan Linye walked out from the direction of the study, looking perfectly normal, even... seemingly unsurprised.

He didn't even glance at Yun Zhan, and walked straight towards the front hall.

Yun Zhan was so angry he gritted his teeth, a surge of anger mixed with intense jealousy burning away his reason. He didn't care about saving face anymore, and almost unconsciously followed, hiding behind the screen in the front hall. He wanted to hear what this courtesan wanted!

In the front hall, Liu Yingying was indeed exceptionally beautiful, dressed in an elegant dress, with a cool and aloof demeanor, unlike an ordinary courtesan. Upon seeing Yan Linye, she bowed and said in a melodious voice, "Yingying has taken the liberty of visiting, and apologizes for disturbing Your Highness."

"Miss Liu, there's no need for such formalities. Please sit down." Yan Linye's tone was flat, revealing no emotion.

Yun Zhan listened intently behind the screen, inwardly cursing, "Pretending! Keep pretending! And he's being so polite!"

After sitting down, Liu Yingying did not act coquettishly as Yun Zhan had imagined. Instead, she took out a seemingly ordinary purse from her sleeve, placed it on the table, and whispered, "The shopkeeper asked me to bring you samples of the 'silk' fabric that Your Highness inquired about last time. He said that the colors and patterns are all done according to Your Highness's wishes, and if Your Highness finds them suitable, you can purchase a large quantity."

Yan Linye picked up the purse, examined it carefully, and saw that it contained only what appeared to be fragments of silk. He nodded and said, "Thank you for your help, Miss Liu and the owner. The material is excellent; I am very satisfied. I will send someone to discuss the follow-up matters with the owner in detail."

"I'm glad Your Highness is satisfied." Liu Yingying smiled slightly, stood up and bowed again, "Then Yingying will not disturb Your Highness any longer, farewell."

The whole process was clean and efficient, without the slightest ambiguity; it was more like a... proper business handover?

Hidden behind the screen, Yun Zhan couldn't understand these coded messages. He only saw Yan Linye accept the purse (a token of love?!), say he was "very satisfied" (satisfied with the person too?!), and arrange to "discuss further" (the time for their next rendezvous?!).

A feeling of being deceived and humiliated welled up inside me! It turned out that the so-called "proper business" was just secretly exchanging tokens with the courtesan and having an affair!

No sooner had Liu Yingying left than Yun Zhan rushed out from behind the screen, his eyes bloodshot as he glared at Yan Linye, his chest heaving violently.

Yan Linye was visibly taken aback when he saw him, his brows furrowing slightly: "Yun Zhan? What are you doing here?"

"What am I doing here?" Yun Zhan's voice trembled as he pointed towards the door, his jealousy and anger completely overwhelming him. "If I weren't here, how could I have witnessed Your Highness Yan and the courtesan's private meeting, such an affectionate scene? You're satisfied with the materials? Yes, you're even more satisfied with the woman! You've already sent her the purse, is the next step to bring her into the manor?!"

Yan Linye's face instantly darkened, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes: "Yun Zhan! Stop talking nonsense! Things are not as you think!"

"Not what I thought? Then what is it?!" Yun Zhan couldn't listen to anything. All the pent-up grievances and unease exploded at this moment. "You always say it's important! You never explain! In your eyes, am I just an ignorant fool who only knows how to make trouble? If you think I'm an eyesore and don't understand you, why pretend to keep me here?"

"I've never found you an eyesore!" Yan Linye's voice was also tinged with anger. He took a step forward, staring intently at Yun Zhan. "It's you who has never truly trusted me! You only believe what you've imagined!"

"My conjecture? Fine!" Yun Zhan laughed angrily, tears welling up in her eyes, but she stubbornly refused to let them fall. "Then tell me, what exactly was in that purse? What did you mean by 'silk' and 'stocking up' earlier? Tell me!"

Looking at his red-rimmed eyes and stubborn gaze, Yan Linye swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue. Liu Yingying was an important informant he had planted in Zui Chunfeng, responsible for transmitting confidential intelligence between the capital and various forces. This matter was of great importance and could not be known to outsiders, especially... this little fellow with an unknown identity and unpredictable thoughts, especially the one who had said something like he would become the ruler of the world in the future. All of this made Yan Linye suspicious.

In Yun Zhan's view, his silence was an undeniable sign of guilt.

Yun Zhan's heart turned completely cold. He glanced at Yan Linye one last time, his eyes filled with disappointment and resolute determination.

“I understand.” His voice was hoarse, with a heavy nasal tone. “It is I, Yun Zhan, who am not worthy of your esteemed position and do not understand your ‘serious business’ and ‘good intentions’, Your Highness Prince Yan!”

After saying that, he turned around abruptly and resolutely walked out of the front hall.

Yan Linye watched his resolute departing figure, his fists clenched tightly until his knuckles turned white. An unprecedented sense of irritation and...powerlessness welled up inside him.

He wanted to chase after them, but what could he say if he did? Explain the secrets that concerned countless lives and the future?

Yun Zhan...who exactly are you? Where did you come from and where are you going? Why can't you trust me a little more?

Yun Zhan ran back to his room, slammed the door shut, slid down to the floor with his back against the door, and finally couldn't hold back his tears.

“The system… he acquiesced… he lied to me…” he said, choking back tears.

[...Insufficient information to make a judgment. However, the target's emotions fluctuated drastically after the host left, showing no panic at being exposed, but rather more like...frustration?] The system attempted an objective analysis.

"Frustration? What's there to be frustrated about? Is it that he failed to win me over sooner?" Yun Zhan said angrily while wiping away his tears.

[...] The system felt that trying to reason with a host caught in an emotional whirlpool and consumed by jealousy was the biggest mistake its database had ever made.

One cannot explain it, the other refuses to believe it.

Misunderstandings are like snowballs, getting bigger and bigger as they roll.

Yan Linye felt that Yun Zhan didn't understand his world and his responsibilities at all.

Yun Zhan felt that Yan Linye was full of lies and his true nature as a scumbag was exposed.

This relationship has become completely tangled.