"It's...it's alright!"
Xiang Wan responded awkwardly. Only then did she realize that the person standing in front of her was none other than Yuan Feng. They had just met, and the feeling of familiarity hadn't faded yet. Even though there was a group of people dressed exactly the same and of the same height standing together, their aura and presence made it impossible for her to mistake him for someone else.
"Don't you want me to be with her?"
Yuan Feng's voice was slightly teasing, which made Xiang Wan blush and her body stiffen.
"Um, I'm sorry, I've taken up your invitation."
"Since that's the case, why don't you come and serve as compensation?"
Yuan Feng placed his left hand behind his back, extended his right hand, and leaned slightly forward. His long, slender, and jade-like fingers exuded an irresistible aura.
"Okay, fine." I've dug this hole myself, so I have to fill it myself.
Xiang Wan placed her hand on it, but her hand was grabbed and pulled into her arms, leading her to the dance floor.
Melodious music filled the hall, and pairs of beautiful, elegantly dressed women danced gracefully with their matching gentlemen on the dance floor—a truly pleasing sight. One could only wonder, however, what if the ladies had mistaken their chosen partners for someone else? As Xiang Wan danced, her thoughts raced, a smile playing on her lips, her eyes crinkling—she was utterly captivating.
"I suddenly realized that dancing with people I know feels pretty good."
Yuan Feng leaned close to Xiang Wan's ear, and as he spoke, the warm breath brushed against her ear, pulling Xiang Wan back to reality.
"Hehe, really? I don't like being with strangers either."
"You need to prepare well these next few days."
"What should we prepare?"
"Prepare what you're good at, and while I'm here, you need to stay by my side."
"What? Are you trying to ward off unwanted suitors?"
What do you think?
"Hehe, let's not. These girls are all here for you. If they knew I was blocking their way, they'd tear me apart."
How did you know they were coming for me?
"They came for the prince, how could they..."
As she spoke, Xiang Wan realized her slip of the tongue and her face flushed red. She already knew Yuan Feng was a prince, but hadn't told him yet. She was incredibly embarrassed to have brought him out like this. Would Yuan Feng think she was scheming and manipulative? Oh no, if that were the case, things would get really difficult.
"Did you come here for the prince too?"
Yuan Feng paused for a while before speaking.
Xiang Wan didn't know what he meant, so she had no choice but to answer, "If I say no, would you believe me?"
For a long time, there was no reply from Yuan Feng. Xiang Wan looked up and saw Yuan Feng staring intently at her. Suddenly, he smiled and said, "Did you come for me?"
"Uh... I guess so!"
"You don't get along with your stepsister?"
"Huh?" Xiang Wan didn't expect Yuan Feng to change the subject so quickly, her eyes widened. "Not really, a life-or-death feud, do you believe that?"
"I'll help you!"
The light, casual words reached Xiang Wan's ears, leaving her stunned and bewildered. No wonder the Queen Mother and her two companions were so quickly killed by Qin Rong in the original story; it turned out that once someone got involved with Yuan Feng, he would kill them without asking any questions. Xiang Wan couldn't help but sigh at the original owner's luck, and then mocked herself for being powerless to change her own fate, relying solely on others. She also felt a bit lucky to have stolen Qin Rong's fortune. A mix of emotions swirled within her; she didn't know whether to be grateful for meeting the protective Yuan Feng early on, or to blame Yuan Feng for his indiscriminate actions in the original story.
After a long silence, Xiang Wan looked up and said firmly, "I will not refuse your kindness, but I do not intend to use my power to achieve my own goals. Unless she makes the first move, I cannot harm her without reason or evidence."
“Coincidentally, I don’t like that either.” Yuan Feng’s smile deepened. “However, if they fall into my hands, I won’t show any mercy.”
Xiang Wan was taken aback, not expecting Yuan Feng to say such a thing, but thinking of the original owner's experiences in the original story, she still wanted to ask clearly: "If someone deceives you, uses you to achieve their goals, and hurts innocent people, what would you do?"
"The person who lies to me hasn't been born yet." Yuan Feng looked at Xiang Wan with amusement, wondering why she was so serious. He added, "However, if I find out, the consequences will be dire. You don't want to know, do you?"
"Hmm." Xiang Wan nodded, then asked, "What would you do if the person you like lied to you?"
Yuan Feng's smile vanished. He tightened his grip on Xiang Wan's hand, leaned close to her ear, and said in a cold and distant voice, "I will make her wish she were dead!"
Xiang Wan shivered, realizing for the first time how dangerous Yuan Feng was. But then she thought, she wasn't the person he liked, and she hadn't lied to him, so there was no need to be afraid of him. On the contrary, was it so fun for him to lie to her?
"So, what will happen if you lie to someone?"
"Oh? Is that so?" Yuan Feng, his previous indifference gone, raised an eyebrow and asked with a smile.
"I never expected that His Highness, a prince, would have such a shameless side."
Xiang Wan rolled her eyes, and Yuan Feng chuckled.
"How did I lie to you? Did I deceive you with my body? Or with your heart?"
"You...you are clearly a prince, but you lied to me and said you lived in the palace."
"Don't I live in the palace?"
"But you didn't say you were a prince."
"At most, it's considered concealing something; does that count as lying?"
"Hmph, he just didn't tell me the truth." Xiang Wan was a little exasperated. After thinking about it carefully, apart from guessing that he was a prince, she really couldn't find any other clues that he was lying to her. But looking at his shameless attitude, she couldn't help but get angry.
"If that's the case, then you've lied to me too."
"How did I lie to you? Did I deceive you with my body? Or with your heart?"
Xiang Wan mimicked his tone and rolled her eyes at him: He hid it first, and now he's blaming her, humph!
“You really did lie to me…” Yuan Feng paused, startling Xiang Wan, who was afraid he would say something terrible.
Seeing her cautious manner, Yuan Feng, afraid of frightening her, laughed and said, "You've deceived my pure heart. You knew I was a prince, but you didn't tell me."
Xiang Wan was stunned by these words, and Yuan Feng's shamelessness once again refreshed her understanding. She said irritably, "At most, that's considered concealing something, is that considered lying?"
"Let's just repeat his own words and see what he has to say next," Xiang Wan thought to herself.
"Hehe, then we're even." Yuan Feng found Xiang Wan increasingly interesting, and it would be a shame not to take her back to the palace.
"You still owe me a favor, so you're not allowed to tell anyone about my affairs, or else..." Yuan Feng swallowed the rest of his words, sending a chill down Xiang Wan's spine.
"Okay, I'm not a chatterbox."
Yuan Feng's smile deepened. He sighed at Xiang Wan's tact, but also regretted that she was too tactful. He swallowed the words, "Otherwise, I would have locked her in the palace beforehand," for fear of frightening her and making things unpleasant.
If Xiang Wan knew that Yuan Feng hadn't said anything, she would probably be scared half to death.
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