"I'm here."
A clear, melodious voice came from behind.
Samus froze, slowly turning his head to meet Shen Zhiyi's calm face.
She stood there peacefully.
It looks like nothing's wrong.
"Princess!" The maid's eyes lit up with surprise and delight. "You're back!"
Just as Shen Zhiyi was about to say something, a black shadow rushed over like lightning and hugged her tightly.
Samus pulled her into his arms, his arms clamping around her like iron clamps.
I was afraid it was just an illusion.
Even the snake's tail coiled around her, as if to confirm, repeatedly drawing upon her aura.
His tall frame even trembled slightly.
Shen Zhiyi looked bewildered.
She could hear his heart pounding like a drum from his chest.
One, two...
She was a little out of breath, "Hey, loosen your grip a bit..."
When Samus heard the voice from his arms and felt her warm breath on his chest, his tense nerves finally relaxed and gradually returned to solid ground.
She's still alive...and doing well.
It's not a hallucination.
He closed his eyes tightly.
Suddenly realizing what he was doing, he awkwardly let go of her.
"Don't misunderstand." He avoided her gaze, "I'm just afraid that if you die, I'll suffer the backlash of the contract."
"Oh..." Shen Zhiyi looked at his pale face, curiously leaned her head closer, chuckled, and moved closer to him.
"If you're worried about me, then worry about me. Don't make excuses."
"Who's worried about you?" Samus's golden eyes narrowed sharply, but he deliberately tightened his lips and faced her with a cold, hard profile.
Shen Zhiyi raised an eyebrow. "So you miss me."
"Who misses you?!" Samus's scales practically stood on end.
He abruptly turned his head, meeting her teasing gaze. His muscles tensed instantly, and he almost growled:
"I didn't mean to!"
"Didn't think about it?" Shen Zhiyi reached out and poked the snake tail still wrapped around her waist. "Then what is this?"
Samus's ears turned bright red instantly.
He quickly retracted his snake tail, took a half-step back, and moved a little further away from her.
He pursed his thin lips tightly and remained silent for a long time.
Seeing his embarrassment, Shen Zhiyi chuckled and stopped teasing him.
She turned to face the maid, her smile fading, and said seriously, "Go to the Queen's palace and tell her that I, the princess, have returned."
She narrowed her eyes, a mocking smile playing on her lips, and added, "Be sure to convey that this princess is perfectly fine and unharmed."
Not even a single hair was damaged.
"Yes!" The maid acknowledged the order and withdrew.
Shen Zhiyi glanced at Samus, then suddenly smiled, reached out and took his hand, leading him into the inner hall.
“You…” Samus’s expression stiffened, and he awkwardly tried to pull his hand away.
Shen Zhiyi pinched him lightly without using much force.
Samus's heart skipped a beat.
Lower your eyelashes.
Feeling the warmth and smoothness of her palm, his struggles unconsciously lessened.
Finally, he curled his knuckles and gripped her hand in return.
He stared at the ground.
Shen Zhiyi glanced at their clasped hands, her smile deepening, but she said nothing. She led him into the inner hall and then closed the door.
She turned to face him and commanded, "Look at me."
Samus slowly raised his eyelids.
Shen Zhiyi began to undress.
His pupils constricted sharply. "What do you want to do?!"
Shen Zhiyi didn't reply, her slender fingertips unbuttoning the buttons on her clothes one by one.
Her eyes were fixed on him.
The movements were swift and efficient.
Samus's Adam's apple bobbed violently.
An unbearable restlessness rose within him, his breathing became heavier, and his hands hanging by his sides gradually became damp.
He curled his knuckles.
Shen Zhiyi had already unbuttoned most of her shirt, turned around, swept her hair to one side, and took off her clothes, revealing most of her shoulder and back skin.
"Did you leave this?" she asked, glancing at him sideways.
The snake tail mark on the back of the neck gleamed brightly.
Samus then realized he had misunderstood her. Embarrassed for a moment, he looked away and responded softly, "Mm."
Shen Zhiyi was deeply shaken.
Her chest heaved as she pulled her clothes tighter and turned around. "Is this your protective scale?"
Samus glanced at her. "Hmm."
Shen Zhiyi's words stuck in her throat.
She stared at him quietly for a long time, then suddenly took a step forward and hugged him.
"Thanks."
She pressed her cheek against his chest and gently nuzzled him. "Samuel, thank you."
What she encountered was a meticulously planned assassination attempt.
Even though she had made thorough preparations, and even though Leo's army was nearby, she still did not expect that her stepmother would use such a powerful force against her.
It was his protective scale that saved her.
Otherwise, she would be either dead or seriously injured by now.
Still seriously injured.
Samus paused for a moment, his body stiffening, and said awkwardly, "Don't overthink it..."
"Hmm." Shen Zhiyi hugged her tighter, her red lips curving into a smile. "You just picked a scale while you were scratching yourself and then casually put it on me."
Samus blushed slightly.
He turned back, staring at the top of her head, smelling the faint scent of gardenias emanating from her. On a whim, he finally reached out and hugged her back…
"Yeah, just doing it on the spur of the moment," he said softly.
On the other side of the palace.
Shen Xiya was in the palace when she heard the news reported by her servants, and she suddenly stood up.
"What?!"
"You're saying Shen Zhiyi is back safe and sound?!"
Her voice suddenly became shrill, "Not a single hair was hurt?!"
"Yes, yes..." the servant stammered.
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