The man's attendants deftly packed the inkstone into a brocade box and placed it in front of Shi Rong.
Shi Rong smiled helplessly and handed the brocade box to the servant waiting nearby.
Shi Lan rubbed her fingers together, trying her best to suppress the urge to explode.
The shadows of the trees swayed nearby, and green leaves fell in a flurry. Shi Lan snapped out of her daze and quickly moved to the side. What caught her eye was a corner of a moon-white object that suddenly appeared.
"who?"
Shi Lan took half a step back and whispered.
The branches swayed back and forth, and a black head peeked out from the greenery.
Shi Lan looked up and her expression changed instantly. She hadn't expected to see the boy who had blocked her path in the street.
Rong Qing chuckled, leaped down from the tree, and strode up to Shi Lan. "Finally found you."
Shi Lan held the food box in her hand, unsure whether to throw it or not, worried that it would disturb the two people in the pavilion.
"What do you want to do?" After a moment's consideration, Shi Lan decided to let the matter drop. Rather than being exposed for leaving the mansion without permission and being criticized by her whole family, she would rather pretend to be polite to him.
Rong Qing raised an eyebrow, grinning with a set of white teeth, his dark eyes fixed on the food box in her hand. "What's this?"
Shi Lan pouted, not wanting to talk to him.
Rong Qing glanced at the pavilion and said, "How about I call someone over there to come and take a look, and while I'm at it, ask what the punishment would be if a child in the family sneaked out of the manor?"
Shi Lan was furious. She looked at him for a long time before finally saying, "It's a sesame cake."
Rong Qing sniffed and rubbed his stomach. "I was in a rush earlier, and now I'm really hungry."
After saying that, he tilted his head and looked at Shi Lan, or more precisely, at the food box in her hand.
Shi Lan puffed out her cheeks and stared at him. After a few breaths, she finally couldn't withstand his burning gaze and reluctantly handed over the food box.
Rong Qing opened it with a big smile, picked up the small biscuit, and threw it directly into his mouth.
Shi Lan gritted her teeth inwardly, but dared not show it on her face.
Rong Qing chewed a few times, swallowed the crumbs in his mouth, smacked his lips, and said with dissatisfaction, "It's too sweet. Make something salty next time. I like salty food."
Shi Lan grinds his teeth; who knows what flavors he likes?
Rong Qing quickly finished the plate of pancakes and handed the empty food box back to Shi Lan.
Shi Lan angrily accepted the gift and turned to leave. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of a girl in a light blue dress about ten feet away, seemingly attracted by the brightly blooming flowers, walking towards her.
Shi Lan was startled and hurriedly hid behind a tree hidden by the flowering branches. The boy looked at her in surprise.
Shi Lan waved anxiously at him, but when he didn't move, she had no choice but to reach out and pull him over.
Although Rong Qing was puzzled, he cooperated. The two of them hid among the vines, watching the girl stroll past.
The girl walked further and further away, and Shi Lan patted his chest and straightened up.
Rong Qing chuckled softly, brought his rosy lips close to Shi Lan's ear, and whispered, "You're very afraid of her."
Shi Lan glared at him with her eyes, which were as black as grapes. "I'm not afraid of her. I just don't want her to know I'm here."
Rong Qing shrugged, neither confirming nor denying.
Shi Lan stared intently at the girl until she reached the elegant pavilion.
At this moment, only Ning Zhan was sitting there; Shi Rong had left at some point.
The girl was surprised that someone had arrived. After a slight startle, she gave an elegant bow. Ning Zhan stood up and returned the bow. The girl's lips moved a few times, and Ning Zhan said something. The girl covered her mouth and chuckled.
Upon seeing this, Shi Lan's expression changed instantly, and her short, stout body shot out like a cannonball.
Rong Qing was leaning against Shi Lan's head, looking out through the same gap as her. Shi Lan's movement bumped into his vulnerable temple, and Rong Qing felt a 'buzz' before his vision went completely black.
Rong Qing groaned and staggered to the ground.
Shi Lan was stunned for a moment, then quickly knelt down on the ground and gently shook him, "Hey, hey, how are you?"
Rong Qing clutched his sore spot and looked at her, "Are you trying to murder me?"
Shi Lan was a little embarrassed. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to."
Rong Qing slowly sat up and said, "Whether it was intentional or not, you still injured me."
Shi Lan glanced at the red mark at his temple and felt a pang of guilt. "You've already bumped into him, what are you going to do about it?"
Rong Qing looked her over for a while, then suddenly smiled, "Your pastries tasted good, so I'll take this as compensation."
Shi Lan glared at him, muttering, "How can there be someone like you?"
Rong Qing grinned, showing off his white teeth. "Now you see."
Shi Lan was furious and turned her head away, not wanting to look at him. Her gaze naturally fell on the pavilion.
The girl was now sitting in the seat where Shi Rong had been sitting. The prince lowered his head slightly and spoke to her with a smile.
Shi Lan glared at the couple and muttered under her breath, "Shameless."
Rong Qing leaned closer, took a look, and clicked his tongue, saying, "Indeed shameless. Ning Zhan is really too unruly."
Shi Lan turned and glared at him. He was like a crow perched on a black pig, only seeing others and not himself.
Rong Qing saw Shi Lan looking at him and grinned, "I've inquired, you won't be seven until after October. Besides, we're friends, and friends don't need to stand on ceremony."
Shi Lan rolled her eyes inwardly, turned her head away, and didn't want to pay any attention to him at all.
Rong Qing found it boring that she ignored him and only looked at the two people.
"Is that woman a relative of yours?" Rong Qing started making conversation.
“No,” Shi Lan replied indifferently.
Rong Qing didn't sense anything was wrong at all, and even nodded, saying, "I thought so too. This kind of pretentious person is obviously ill-mannered and needs no discipline. Only Ning Zhan would be interested in him."
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