America: I came here to study, not to show mercy.

Chapter 265 Night Party
After riding his little bike around the entire field, Li Xiaoen got off and walked to the ball. Unlike Fang Qian, he didn't hit the ball immediately. Instead, he looked up and silently glanced at Charlotte, who was standing motionless next to the bike.

After fourteen holes, Charlotte managed to score four points thanks to the advantage of the loser teeing off first on the previous hole. The remaining nine holes were scored by Shawn Lee without wasting a single shot. At this moment, with one point left, he could declare victory by putting the ball into the hole not far to his side.

To be fair, Charlotte's claim of having started playing golf from a young age suggests she does possess some skill.

Adhering to the principle of respecting the opponent by giving it your all, Li Xiaoen did not hold back at all. He precisely controlled the direction and power of each shot, and hardly wasted any of his swings. Even so, he still lost four points by one stroke.

As if noticing his gaze, Charlotte looked up, rolled her eyes, and turned away.

Shrugging, Li Xiaoen didn't seem to care. He lowered his head and gripped the club tightly. Under the tense gazes of the three girls, he swung it gently.

There had been more dangerous and difficult conditions to play in the previous holes, but Li Xiaoen had always managed to achieve his strategic goal with that shot. Now, all he had to do was play on flat, unpredictable grass, where a gentle push would be all it took to score.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, there was no unexpected Waterloo. The small white ball rolled straight across the grass toward the hole and fell into it as expected.

clap clap...

As if they had been preparing for a long time, several girls clapped their hands and looked over with big smiles.

"Sean, this is your spoils."

Victoria approached with light steps and handed over two white gloves.

"Gloves, this is the spoils of war?"

Looking down, Li Xiaoen asked in surprise.

"In the Middle Ages, when knights initiated a duel by throwing a glove, the glove that was thrown represented the honor of that knight. Throwing a glove symbolized gambling one's honor, and the winner could keep it for himself."

Without retracting her hand, Victoria smiled and patiently explained, "That's why knights who refuse a challenge after being thrown a glove are seen as cowardly by the public."

“You didn’t say that before.”

Li Xiaoen raised an eyebrow and waved his hand dismissively, "Never mind, I don't have a penchant for collecting women's gloves."

"The reason I brought up the competition earlier was simply because I wanted to give it a try and see how I compare to high-level professional players."

"Mr. Sean..."

The caddie who had been by his side finally couldn't help but speak up, stepping forward and saying, "Believe me, if today really is your first time swinging a club, then you are truly the most talented person I have ever seen!"

“Not a single shot is wasted; the impact of each shot is remarkable, something even established world-renowned athletes can't achieve. If you start training now, I believe you'll be a strong contender for the next European Championship title!”

"Ha ha……"

Li Xiaoen smiled and waved his hands repeatedly, "Sorry, what I said earlier about entering this sport was just a joke."

"Golf is still too far away for me, even now."

As he spoke, Li Xiaoen looked down and fiddled with the golf club in his hand. Seeing that the clubhead was covered with some grass clippings, he rubbed them with his foot.

“Hey, Mr. Sean…”

The caddie was taken aback and quickly stepped forward, saying, "You can't use a club like that; you need to take care of it."

"Sorry, you can have it."

Li Xiaoen laughed heartily, his demeanor as relaxed as when he first arrived at the manor. He handed over the golf club in his hand, then silently shifted his gaze to Charlotte, who stood there dumbfounded, her face ashen.

"Actually, I understand your actions very well. It's your duty and responsibility."

Taking a bottle of water from the attentive Victoria beside him and taking a sip, Li Xiaoen sighed and said, "It's alright if you don't apologize. It was my abrupt visit that was abrupt."

Upon hearing this, Charlotte looked up in surprise, her eyes widening again.

Bathed in the warm afternoon sun, the young man's handsome face wore a casual smile, as if this competition and duel were nothing more than a joke and a trivial whim in his mind.

Is this genius?

She couldn't help but catch her breath a few times, and then she realized something.

"I lost this match, I'm sorry..."

Without hesitation, Charlotte looked at Sean Lee with a serious expression, her voice strong and clear, like a motivational speech from an online book, "I should have believed that you and Victoria had resumed your normal friendship, and I shouldn't have doubted you, been wary of you, or been prejudiced against you..."

As Victoria's study companion, Charlotte's mindset also had a touch of medieval knightly charm. She calmly admitted defeat and apologized, which was within Li Xiaoen's expectations. He had initially nodded and listened attentively, but as he listened, his expression slowly began to freeze.

No, I still admit that I have lingering feelings for Victoria. What do you mean by "restoring a normal friendship"?
They've redefined our relationship as just friends?
Listening silently, Li Xiaoen unconsciously turned her head to glance at Victoria.

The girl's expression also froze slightly. Noticing his gaze, she turned her head to glance at him quickly, then hurriedly turned her head away in the opposite direction.

"Alright, are you satisfied now?"

After speaking, Charlotte tilted her head back and looked fearlessly into the young man's dark, inky eyes.

"You said that on purpose, didn't you?"

Li Xiaoen narrowed his eyes slightly.

"With all my heart."

Charlotte replied briefly, "Believe me, if you and Victoria were still in the same relationship as you were in Princeton, you would be surrounded by mounted guards with guns the moment you walk in."

"Are you referring to those people online who ride horses and yell at tourists standing next to them?"

"Yes, they are the Royal Guard, representing royal dignity and military tradition, and have strict and sacred duties. There is nothing wrong with doing so."

Charlotte spoke, offering a brief explanation.

"Understandable."

Nodding, Li Xiaoen couldn't help but ask curiously, "I read online that those guards have multiple roles and are proficient in various combat skills and techniques. They are usually ceremonial guards, but occasionally they also go out to carry out special missions?"

"What do you ask for this?"

Charlotte's face suddenly turned cold, her brows furrowed, and she leaned back warily.

"It's just curiosity, there's no need to be so nervous."

Li Xiaoen shrugged helplessly, "If you don't want to tell me, then forget it."

"Actually, the guards' rebuke of tourists who get too close or behave inappropriately is not only for the safety of carrying out their duties, but also to protect the tourists."

Standing to the side, Victoria finally found an opportunity to speak up and explain.

"So, is it really possible that I'll be surrounded by those guards?"

Sean Lee's gaze toward Victoria was quite meaningful, but unfortunately, he didn't get a reply from the girl. Instead, Charlotte came over and pulled the distance between them apart.

After a match, it was almost four o'clock in the afternoon. The three left the golf course and strolled around the gardens of the estate, visiting the old-fashioned buildings and sitting in the shade of the oak trees for a while, spending the latter half of the afternoon in a lazy and leisurely manner.

In the small villa where he was staying that night, Li Xiaoen once again enjoyed the delicious food made by Victoria. He watched the sunset in the distance, sipped some wine, and watched the night slowly envelop the entire sky.

As the last rays of the setting sun faded, and Charlotte urged Victoria to leave several times, she reluctantly turned back to depart.

As the sun set, the silhouettes of the two girls driving away stretched long. Li Xiaoen looked up from them and gazed at the distant oak trees, where the setting sun cast only a few rays of light through the gaps in the branches and leaves. The vast, flat, and boundless manor was breathtakingly beautiful at that moment.

To witness such a scene, perhaps we'll have to wait until his wealth reaches a certain level, to the point that the country has to consider his influence? Unable to contain his thoughts, Li Xiaoen shrugged, sat down on the railing of the villa's outer corridor, and sat quietly enjoying the evening breeze, rarely savoring this moment of ease and comfort.

As night deepened, he remained seated on the railing, gulping down the opened bottle of wine while engrossed in his phone. At one point, a smug smile spread across his face.

First, he scanned the surrounding 500 meters using the Eye of Insight. Seeing that no one was watching, Li Xiaoen quickly jumped off the railing. Without glancing at the four-wheeled vehicle prepared in front of the house, he hid in the shadows of the bushes and trees around the house and headed toward the ancient castle in the center of the manor.

To be honest, it truly lives up to its reputation as an English royal estate. The vast expanse of flat grassland would make even a phantom thief like Kid nowhere to hide. Guards and bodyguards scanned and inspected every part of the estate, and near the ancient castle, fully armed guards patrolled the area from time to time.

Still relying on the incredible detection and information gathering capabilities of the [Eye of Insight], Li Xiaoen stopped at the villa closest to the castle. After a short while, the sound of a low engine came from the direction of the castle.

The four-wheeled car stopped under the shade of a tree not far in front of the villa, and then a slender figure got out, lifting her skirt with both hands and walking quickly towards the villa.

However, instead of walking onto the porch in front of the villa, she went around to the side and hid in the shadows under the moonlight.

She stopped and cautiously called out softly when she saw that tall and familiar figure appear in front of her.

"Sean?"

"it's me."

Li Xiaoen smiled and nodded, then quickly walked to the girl and looked down at her silently.

"What are you going to do?"

Victoria rolled her eyes at the young man, then turned to the side, "No matter what you say, you're just playing dumb. You're so stubborn and willful. Why can't you say what you're saying in the daytime..."

"With Charlotte being such a third wheel during the day, we don't get any time alone at all."

Li Xiaoen sighed and shrugged, "Don't you think so?"

"Charlotte is doing very well."

Victoria didn't care, "It saves me from having to do something capricious again."

"Hey, you seemed to be having a lot of fun back then."

Li Xiaoen was both amused and exasperated, and too lazy to dwell on the girl's stubbornness in denying it afterward. He opened his arms and said, "Such a rare opportunity, shouldn't we hug?"

Why are you hugging me?

Victoria looked up, then turned her head away. "You're Sophie's boyfriend."

"..."

"Did they tell you?"

Li Xiaoen's face stiffened. She guessed that Suffer's personality was indeed very likely to be revealed to Victoria, even if it was "unintentionally".

"What on earth do you think?"

She pursed her lips, feeling a pang of sadness. Victoria turned back and glanced anxiously at the young man. "You already have a girlfriend, yet you're still so fickle. You don't even care about keeping your distance from other girls..."

"Hmm...Victoria, you should have heard of her."

Li Xiaoen's expression was strange as he carefully chose his words, "I'm a very greedy person."

Upon hearing this, Victoria froze for a moment, then opened her mouth and turned around, her blank gaze fixed on the young man, unsure of what to say.

"I don't want to lie to you about this. I've already told Suffer about it."

Li Xiaoen smiled.

“Heh…ha…”

Victoria laughed in exasperation. "From what you're saying, you seem quite responsible?"

"I will take responsibility for you."

Li Xiaoen nodded solemnly, "Don't worry, I will..."

"Shut up!"

Before the young man could finish speaking, Victoria glared at him and saw his obedient and silent demeanor, which made her feel extremely strange.

The pent-up frustration she felt after Suffer "accidentally" revealed it during spring break vanished instantly. At this moment, all she felt was resentment and dissatisfaction towards the young man. She disregarded her image and began punching and kicking him.

“Victoria…Victoria…”

Li Xiaoen reluctantly opened his arms and tried to hold the girl in his embrace.

Victoria started to push herself even harder.

“I know it’s difficult. You are a princess of England, and I am just a poor boy from China, but I want to give it a try.”

Despite the girl's struggles, Li Xiaoen murmured, "Victoria, you should know in your heart that I can't let you go..."

The fussing in his arms stopped abruptly. Li Xiaoen looked down and met those bright, clear emerald green eyes that still shone in the shadows under the moonlight. He forced a smile, then immediately grinned and grimaced.

Victoria was gripping his chest tightly with both hands.

"I've already confessed to you."

Li Xiaoen took a deep breath. "No matter what you want, I will fight for it, not only your consent, but also your family's."

"It's reasonable for you to be angry. Go ahead and pinch me if you want. I'll put up with it."

"Humph……"

Gritting her teeth, Victoria gave a vicious sneer, "Then I'll put in my best effort."

"hiss--"

He couldn't help but let out a long hiss, and the needle-like, tearing pain in his chest made Li Xiaoen shiver involuntarily.

No, you actually pinched it when I told you to?

Where is my gentle and considerate Princess Victoria?
Li Xiaoen cried out in anguish, looking down to meet the girl's expectant, resentful, and contemptuous gaze.

"Victoria, you are so smart."

Li Xiaoen nodded and sighed.

"You said it yourself, so if you really get a piece of flesh torn off, you can't blame me."

Victoria pursed her lips and gave a gentle smile.

Sure enough, even the gentle Victoria is no pushover.

Li Xiaoen felt a mix of emotions and headaches. After staring at the other person's mischievous gaze for a moment, he steeled himself, lowered his head, and kissed those long-coveted rosy lips.

"uh-huh……"

With only a soft groan escaping her lips, Victoria instantly released her grip on the young man's hands, clenched her fist, and slammed it into his chest without causing any harm, before quickly letting all her strength dissipate.

(End of this chapter)