Chapter 7 "Then... beg me."...
Logically speaking, there are many wild animals on Mount Li, so it wouldn't be strange to see a wild fox. What's strange is the way that wild fox looked at her.
That look in her eyes wasn't like the look a small animal gives a person; instead, it reminded her of the way those young ladies from noble families who admired Xiao Che looked at her when she used to pretend to play around with him like that.
This is not surprising. She and Xiao Che have never gotten along. She has a bad temper, and he always likes to tease her and go against her. Sometimes, when she gets really angry with Xiao Che, she will pinch or hit him hard.
As for Xiao Che, he never fought back. So, when the two of them bickered, he just watched her make a fuss with a smile. If you really think about it, he was the one who suffered the loss.
Seeing her beloved being treated so badly, the young ladies from noble families who admired him naturally couldn't stand her, so they looked at her with hostility. She could understand that perfectly, but why would a fox look at her like that?
An utterly absurd thought lingered in her mind, and even more absurdly, she actually uttered it aloud—
"Hey, Xiao Wenqi, there's a wild fox behind you."
"Um?"
"It seems... to be in love with you."
"What?" Xiao Che frowned, then, seeing her serious expression, suddenly burst out laughing: "A fox? Admiring me? Yan Jiarou, have you lost your mind?"
He narrowed his eyes, a mischievous and playful glint in his smile: "Did reading those folk tales the other day completely ruin your already not-so-bright brain?"
"You...you mustn't bring that up!"
There are indeed many romantic tales between fox spirits and handsome young men in the storybooks. Since foxes are mentioned, it is normal for Xiao Che to think of this. However, she recently suffered a major setback in this area and is extremely unwilling for him to bring it up!
Here's what happened: She always enjoyed reading popular novels, and recently one in particular became a huge hit, mainly because the male protagonist's portrait was exceptionally handsome. Since the target audience for these kinds of novels is mostly young women, the good-looking male protagonist naturally made it a bestseller.
Yan Jiarou also followed suit and bought it. For some reason, she felt that the male protagonist looked somewhat familiar, but she didn't think much about it at the time. She just felt that the more she looked at him, the more she liked him. Like other young ladies, she became a follower of the male protagonist, put herself in the role of the female protagonist, called him her husband, and considered herself his wife.
As a result, while she was chatting and calling the officials' daughters "husband" this and "husband" that, she soon heard some bad news—the portrait of the male protagonist was based on Xiao Che.
Good heavens, no wonder the details in this portrait are so lifelike! It doesn't seem like a character made up out of thin air at all! It turns out there was a real person based on it...
It would be fine if there was a model, but to make matters worse, it was based on her mortal enemy!
That would have been bad enough, but the worst part was that she was completely unaware of it beforehand and liked it terribly. How could she possibly bear this?
She felt utterly deceived emotionally by unscrupulous storybook vendors! How could they be so lazy, actually using real people as models for copying!
All of that was bad enough, but the worst part was that the news somehow reached Xiao Che's ears. She later learned that this wasn't the first time something like this had happened, but Xiao Che usually ignored it. However, since she was involved this time, he insisted on pursuing it relentlessly.
During that time, every time I saw her, I would walk up to her and ask her with a half-smile, "Husband?" I wouldn't stop until I embarrassed her to death.
See? This is how he targets her, but he doesn't treat others like this. It shows how much he dislikes her—Xiao Che is utterly detestable!
Coming to her senses, Yan Jiarou felt increasingly ashamed and indignant. She couldn't help but stomp on his foot hard and warned him fiercely again, "Don't mention that matter again, do you hear me!"
Xiao Che raised his eyebrows, a slight smile playing on his lips: "Which one? Is it that you don't study properly all day and just read those frivolous novels, or is it that you call me 'husband'?"
Yan Jiarou blushed instantly, and said angrily, "Who called you 'husband'? Xiao Che, what nonsense are you spouting? Stop ruining my reputation!"
"Oh? Calling a portrait modeled after me 'husband'? Princess Qinghe, be reasonable. Who is ruining whose reputation?"
Yan Jiarou didn't want to reason with him; she just wanted to shut him up as soon as possible. So she reached out and covered his mouth, and took the opportunity to hit and pinch him a few times to vent her anger.
Xiao Che simply stood by with his arms crossed, smiling as he watched her, indulging her folly and letting her do as she pleased. Occasionally, when she really lost her temper, he would hiss and glance at her, saying in a half-serious tone, "What, trying to murder your husband?"
Yan Jiarou was so angry that she was about to raise her hand to hit him again. In fact, most of the time she was just pretending. Remembering that she had already accidentally slapped him before, she didn't intend to slap him this time. However, to outsiders, she looked like she was being aggressive.
There are naturally no outsiders here, but there are foxes.
Yan Jiarou never dreamed that, just as she was about to put her hand down, she caught a glimpse of the wild fox behind Xiao Che suddenly arching its body, bristling its fur, and staring at her with a fierce look in its eyes, as if it were about to pounce on her at any moment.
Before she could think any further, the wild fox, as if to confirm her guess, leaped into the air and attacked her.
Everything happened too fast. The wild fox was small and even cute, unlike ordinary beasts that could immediately alert Xiao Che. Therefore, even though all his attention was on Yan Jiarou, he did not immediately notice this potential danger.
In his opinion, this thing was no different from the little rabbit that Yan Jiarou liked. He even wanted to catch it to tease her, until Yan Jiarou screamed in pain.
—That seemingly harmless little fox actually opened its mouth and bit Yan Jiarou!
After taking its bite, it turned around and gave Xiao Che one last look. Perhaps he was in a daze, because in the blink of an eye, the little fox seemed to have vanished into thin air, and its figure could no longer be found in the dense forest.
Originally, he would have caught it and made her vent her anger after it bit Yan Jiarou, but it slipped away right under his nose. However, at this critical moment, he couldn't care less about it and quickly squatted down to check Yan Jiarou's injury: "How are you? Does it hurt?"
Yan Jiarou was always delicate and couldn't bear even the slightest pain. She was already upset about being bitten by a wild fox for no reason, and while she was initially dazed, she belatedly realized what had happened. Then, Xiao Che asked her a question, and she couldn't take it anymore. Her eyelashes trembled, and large tears fell: "...It hurts..."
Xiao Che frowned, immediately helped her sit down, took off her shoes and socks, and carefully examined her wounds.
The wound was an inch above her ankle. It was just a fox, which shouldn't have had particularly sharp claws or teeth, yet the wound was extremely deep, with clear teeth marks. Fresh blood soaked through her silk stockings, making the wound all the more shocking against her snow-white skin.
Xiao Che's brows furrowed more and more, his jaw tightened, and he quickly tore a strip of cloth from the hem of his clothes to bandage her wound.
Yan Jiarou had been well protected by the princes since childhood and had never been injured. She had never seen such a scene before and was terrified. The pain in her leg became more and more obvious, like a piercing pain.
Usually, when she feels pain in her body, she's in a bad mood. And when she's in a bad mood, she gets irritable. Besides, she's been spoiled since she was little and has always had the temper of a young lady. She's more restrained in front of others, especially Xiao Jue.
But whenever she encountered Xiao Che, her bad temper was always on full display. Anyway, she had never gotten along with him, and he was so annoying, so why should she hold back? She immediately snapped, "Get away! I don't want you to bandage me up, it's hurting even more!"
Xiao Che looked up at her, his Adam's apple bobbing. Unusually, he didn't argue with her, but simply said, "Be good and bear with it."
"No, I told you I don't want it! Xiao Che, it's all your fault. This wound is so deep, it'll probably leave a scar! I don't want a scar... and it hurts so much! I've never been injured like this before! It's all your fault. If it weren't for you, how could that fox have bitten me?"
At first, Xiao Che did not refute, but when he heard the words "If it weren't for you, how could that fox have bitten me?", he raised his head, frowned and asked, "As your elder brother, I failed to protect you properly, causing you to get injured, which is indeed my fault. But the wildcat biting you was not instigated by me, so what does it have to do with me?"
“There is a connection!” Yan Jiarou leaned closer to him. Her eyes were the classic lychee eyes, round and full, with large, dark pupils, and her gaze was exceptionally bright when she looked at people.
These eyes, though not particularly shrewd or intelligent, are undeniably cute and pretty, evoking a sense of tenderness and affection.
With her fair, round oval face and the dimples that appear when she smiles, she looks even more charming and sweet.
Unfortunately, Xiao Che rarely saw her dimples—she didn't smile at him much.
She looked at him with those bright eyes, very earnestly.
What was originally a supernatural and mysterious thing was now spoken of with great seriousness: "I said that the fox admires you. The way it looks at you is exactly the same as the way those young ladies from noble families look at you."
"It couldn't stand me bullying you, so it bit me to avenge you, just like those noble ladies who tripped me up. I've already experienced similar tricks, so how could I not know them? Xiao Wenqi, this is all thanks to you."
Xiao Che frowned, his gaze turning cold: "Thanks to me? Yan Jiarou, do you have to be so sarcastic? It wasn't me who did it, yet you insist on blaming me. Do you hate me that much? Humans are one thing, but a fox biting you because of me? Don't you find that absurd?"
He sneered, "I was absolutely right when I said your brain has been ruined by those frivolous stories."
Yan Jiarou was the type who responded better to gentle persuasion than force. His tone only fueled her desire to deliver the most vicious blows: "You only just realized I hate you? What, did I say something wrong? If it weren't for you, would they be targeting me for no reason?"
"Even if you did nothing, just standing there was wrong! That's why we say your Lanling clan has the power of bewitching, and is born to bring disaster. Your bloodline is destined to bring misfortune to others!"
She was also in a fit of anger and spoke without thinking. As soon as the words left her mouth, she noticed that Xiao Che's face had lost all color, and she bit her tongue in regret: "I..."
Xiao Che simply stared at her silently for a long time without saying a word. This eerie silence finally made Yan Jiarou sense a hint of unease. She realized that Xiao Che was truly angry this time.
When he spoke again, he gave a self-deprecating laugh, his voice carrying a cold indifference: "So, that's how you see me too."
"Like those ministers of the Xuanlong faction in the court, they think I was born after the fall of the country, unlucky, and cursed with rumors of bringing disaster to the country. Even if I am a prince, I am still despised. Unlike the Crown Prince and my second brother, who are from the Cui family of Qinghe, born of Empress Cui, with legitimate and noble blood... Ha, no wonder."
He glanced at her expressionlessly, then abruptly stood up and said condescendingly, "Since that's the case, I won't get in your way here, lest I bring you any bad luck."
After saying that, he turned and left.
Yan Jiarou was stunned.
After regaining her senses, she hurriedly shouted at his retreating figure, "Hey, Xiao Che, are you going to abandon me? Are you going to... leave me here all alone?"
Her leg had been bitten hard by that damned fox, and it hurt terribly. Without someone to help her, she could hardly move an inch. Now, it was just her and Xiao Che here. If Xiao Che didn't care about her, then no one else would.
If Xiao Che leaves, won't she be left here alone? This desolate wilderness might harbor some ferocious beasts. Even if there are no other beasts, just that wicked fox from before—if it comes back to cause trouble for her after Xiao Che leaves and bites her other leg, that would be enough to make her suffer!
No, she's too scared...
She began to regret angering Xiao Che. It wasn't her intention; she had only said something thoughtless during their argument...
Xiao Che paused, about to reply that he could hear footsteps approaching, assuming it was his father's men coming to find them. Whether he was there or not, she wouldn't be left unattended. But before he could speak, he heard the girl's intermittent sobs behind him: "Third brother, I was wrong, okay... Don't abandon me... I'm scared..."
He turned around and saw that the girl who had been so arrogant just moments before had completely changed. Her eyes were red-rimmed, tears were clinging to her thick eyelashes, and her clear black and white eyes were shimmering with moisture, veiled in mist, like distant mountains shrouded in mist, making her look incredibly charming.
Her pearly teeth gently bit her rosy, bright red lips. Her snow-white, full face, still chubby from being a baby, had plump cheeks, like a peeled lychee, sweet and juicy.
She called out to him in a trembling, tearful voice, as if he had wronged her.
Xiao Che raised an eyebrow almost imperceptibly, and smiled slightly.
This is Miss Yan; she's certainly adaptable and knows when to yield.
Third brother? How long has it been since she called him that?
She would only call him that, half coquettishly and half pleadingly, when she needed something from him.
Even though I saw through her trick, she was just a young girl, and not a very bright one at that. Her thoughts were written all over her face. Who could she fool? But the way she called out... was really sweet.
He walked towards her after all, a slight smile playing on his lips, and asked, "What did you call me?"
A blush gradually crept onto Yan Jiarou's fair cheeks. Giving in to her arch-enemy was always humiliating and embarrassing, but she needed his help now, so she reluctantly called him again, "Third Brother..."
Xiao Che enjoyed seeing her so unwilling yet needing his help, forced to bow her head to him. His anger had subsided considerably, but he still knelt down to cooperate with her, deliberately asking, "Don't you think my bloodline is unlucky, that I'm a born jinx who will bring misfortune to others?"
"No...no...possessing a treasure is a crime, so how can I blame you?"
Xiao Che scoffed: "You change your tune so quickly, are you that afraid of being left behind by me?"
He slowly smiled, and his smile was extremely handsome. Every time she saw him smile, she would think to herself that the rumors about the Lanling clan were indeed true.
Seeing him smile at her, Yan Jiarou had a bad feeling.
Sure enough, he raised an eyebrow and said, "Then... beg me."
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