Chapter 142 Possessed by Evil
The two walked slowly forward in the narrow alley. Once they got out of the alley, they would be heading towards the market.
It was bustling with people.
But Xiao Qing began to feel uncomfortable.
Shopping with Ying Ziye feels completely different from shopping with Fu Mingyi.
If Ying Ziye was a friend, a brother, then Fu Mingyi felt like a teacher, an elder to her.
Well, you can't really call her an elder. After all, in terms of actual age, she and Fu Mingyi are about the same, or even older than him.
However, in any case, he is different from Ying Ziye.
The topics they usually discuss are also different.
But now, Fu Mingyi seems to be doing what Ying Ziye did.
"I remember there's a shop up ahead that sells a kind of rice cake; it tastes pretty good. Would you like to try it, Qingdi?"
ah……
How could Fu Mingyi ask her such a question?! He should, he should... investigate the source of the rice cake, the price of the ingredients, and think about the current prices and people's consumption levels from every little clue, etc.
And why does it sound so awkward for him to call me that?
"I remember that Qing-di prefers the scent of osmanthus. Let's try it today. If Qing-di likes it, I'll..."
Xiao Qingcheng was filled with trepidation and finally stopped, whispering, "Grand Tutor."
Fu Mingyi stopped and raised an eyebrow slightly. "Qingdi, didn't you call me Jinyan?" His gaze was as gentle as the morning sun rising in the mountains, slowly climbing to the top and revealing more warm red. It wasn't intense, but it was intoxicating.
Xiao Qing felt a chill run down her spine.
Aside from the year they moved south from Beidu, Fu Mingyi hadn't looked at her like this in the past two years.
Even then, it was different.
Fu Mingyi took another step in her direction.
This step seems... a bit too close.
Xiao Qing quietly moved back a little, "This... Grand Tutor... I'm used to calling him Grand Tutor."
Fu Mingyi continued to close in.
Xiao Qing had no choice but to retreat again.
Fu Mingyi reached out and grabbed Xiao Qing's wrist.
"What's wrong with Qingdi?"
They were so close that she could see his eyelashes, and when he spoke so gently, his warm breath seemed to touch her forehead.
It must be an illusion.
But Xiao Qing's face suddenly turned red and began to feel hot.
"Grand Tutor..."
She stepped back further until her heels touched the wall.
Oh no, there's nowhere to get a refund.
Fu Mingyi was still getting closer.
Xiao Qing was so shocked that her thoughts were in disarray. She lowered her head, her heart pounding.
“Qingdi, call me Jinyan…” Fu Mingyi’s voice was even gentler and softer, like a feather gently brushing against something.
However, in a place where Xiao Qing couldn't see, Fu Mingyi's eyes revealed a hint of clarity.
He was too close. Even Ying Ziye had never been this close. They were probably only half an arm's length apart.
Fu Mingyi grabbed her wrist, seemingly wanting to get closer.
Xiao Qing finally reached her breaking point.
She raised her voice, "Grand Tutor!" Then she reached out and pushed Fu Mingyi two steps away, breaking free of his hand. She felt a slight heat on her wrist where he had been holding it.
This is terrible! Is Fu Mingyi possessed?
Fu Mingyi wasn't angry when he was pushed away; he just tried to come back.
Xiao Qing was on edge, her mind pounding. "Fu Mingyi, don't come any closer!"
Fu Mingyi tilted her head slightly. "Why?"
"You...you...you know, it's not appropriate for you to be...too close!"
Fu Mingyi tried to take another step forward, but Xiao Qing quickly added, "That's improper!"
Her mind was a bit of a mess; she didn't know why she had blurted out those words.
But thinking about it carefully, it really is true.
"Is it against propriety, or against the established rules?"
"Neither is suitable."
Fu Mingyi smiled. "How could we not get along? As far as we're concerned, we're like brothers, it would be too awkward for us to talk from such a distance. As for the rules, we're out here with no one around, so there's no need to worry about these things. Don't be nervous, Qingdi." He then moved closer again.
No, she's nervous!
"Fu Mingyi!" Xiao Qing's shoulders tensed slightly. "You... even so, don't forget your place!"
Besides, when did they ever become like brothers? They're not even siblings!
"What is your identity?" Fu Mingyi still took half a step forward.
This half-step prompted Xiao Qing to blurt out, "Ruler and subject!"
God knows, she would never normally talk to Fu Mingyi like that, nor would she deliberately bring this up.
Fu Mingyi raised an eyebrow, "So, Your Majesty, when you kneel before the bed of a complete stranger, did you consider your own identity?"
Xiao Qing felt as if she had been struck by lightning, but immediately felt relieved.
Yes, this is the real Fu Mingyi. He actually wanted to teach her a lesson, but he changed his approach today.
That's right, that's more like it.
Xiao Qing secretly breathed a sigh of relief; she had been so startled that a thin layer of sweat had broken out on her back.
"It was my oversight, I..."
"No, Your Majesty is not lacking in consideration, but rather in self-awareness."
Fortunately, there were no houses in this section of the narrow alley, so they didn't have to worry about being overheard while speaking quietly. However, Xiao Qing was still somewhat uneasy.
"Grand Tutor, shall we go to your residence to talk?"
Fu Mingyi glanced at her. "Doesn't Your Majesty like coming here the most? I've heard that Your Majesty only feels free and relaxed when you're not in the palace. Even my residence is a den of dragons and tigers to Your Majesty."
"This is a misunderstanding, absolutely a misunderstanding!" Xiao Qing said sincerely, but in her heart she was thinking, who told him this? Was it Xiao Yan? Impossible, right? Although she had thought about it, she had never said it to Xiao Yan.
Now is not the time to dwell on these things.
"Grand Tutor, I was wrong."
"No, it was I who was wrong. Over the years, it was my negligence and indulgence that led Your Majesty to have naive illusions and a distorted understanding of freedom and responsibility."
Xiao Qing's expression gradually darkened. In recent years, Fu Mingyi had almost never spoken to her in such a harsh tone or so directly.
"Ha, Your Majesty is angry? Does Your Majesty know how many people are risking their lives to protect Your Majesty's dignity and safety behind your reckless, willful, and unrestrained behavior?"
Xiao Qing's heart sank as well.
"Your Majesty always seems to have compassion for strangers."
When he said this, he had a half-smile on his face, a look that was somewhat cold, somewhat sarcastic, or perhaps somewhat regretful, a complex and indescribable meaning.
Xiao Qing felt that under his gaze, she was like a chicken rib—tasteless to eat but a pity to throw away.
No, that's nonsense.
Xiao Qing felt a sudden surge of anger and finally couldn't stand Fu Mingyi's attitude any longer. She blurted out, "I didn't kneel down. It was just that my knee moved a little. Do you have to be so harsh?"
Fu Mingyi narrowed his eyes, which were like a deep pool, unfathomable, as if one might drown in them if not careful.
Xiao Qing finally couldn't bear to look directly at him, gritted her teeth, and turned to walk out of the narrow alley.
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