He had just been reborn when he was imprisoned by his nemesis, the Empress?

"real?"

Su Qingwei leaned down slightly, the fierceness in her eyes lessening, and her tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible expectation.

Xu Yi felt a tightness in his chest from being stepped on, and quickly grasped her soft, jade-like foot, trying to move the foot that was pressing down on him.

"Really, but you'll need to pay for the spirit stones and such."

Su Qingluan's snow-white, soft instep arched slightly, her slender toes brushing lightly against his palm, a playful, unintentional teasing.

The soft texture made Xu Yi pause involuntarily.

Su Qingluan then slowly withdrew her foot, turned around and sat on the edge of the bed, elegantly crossing her legs, a smile in her eyes.

"Alright, once it's done, I'll give you a gift in return."

Xu Yi was overjoyed and subconsciously reached out to grab her slender, smooth calf, hoping to use the leverage to stand up.

Su Qingluan, however, raised her other foot and gently pressed it against his shoulder to prevent him from getting up, her phoenix eyes full of mischief.

"Oh dear, don't you find me repulsive? What are you holding?"

Xu Yi forcefully slapped her foot away, his ears turning slightly red, his tone tinged with displeasure.

"Didn't you say it didn't matter whether I was there or not? What do you want me to do?"

Su Qingluan propped her cheek on her hand, elbow resting on her knee, and tentatively nuzzled his face with her delicate foot, her tone languid.

"That's different, that's different. I was in a very good mood today."

Annoyed, Xu Yi repeatedly slapped away her unruly feet.

This woman... her face is already red from being filmed, but she's still moving closer to me...

Xu Yi complained somewhat helplessly.

"But you've made me unhappy. Don't you have to take responsibility?"

Su Qingluan didn't care at all about her ankle being slapped red. Instead, she leaned forward slightly, stared at Xu Yi, and spoke with a hint of self-righteousness.

"It's simple, I'll take responsibility, but please stop bullying me, okay? Take your foot back!"

Hearing Xu Yi say that, Su Qingluan felt even more inclined to tease him. She narrowed her eyes slightly, a mischievous smile playing on her lips.

"Today is my birthday, I can do whatever I want."

Xu Yi rolled his eyes, mentally calculating a way to retaliate, and casually asked...

"Will I receive the same treatment on my birthday?"

Upon hearing this, Su Qingluan stretched out her beautifully nail-painted toes and gently touched Xu Yi's chin, forcing him to look up at her, and said lazily.

"Sure, as long as you don't leave me, you're free to do as you please."

"Ah!!! Get out of my way!"

Xu Yi was aroused by her posture and abruptly turned his head, trying to avoid her toes that carried a cool fragrance.

Xu Yi slapped the hand away hard, his voice tinged with exasperation.

"I'll just find a hundred women to sing and dance for me then!"

He expected Su Qingluan to immediately explode, but to his surprise, she simply raised an eyebrow nonchalantly and said...

"Can."

Su Qingluan nodded slowly and deliberately, her tone light and airy.

"Of course, since you didn't say whether it was alive or not."

Xu Yi: ......

He abruptly stood up, turned around, and tried to get away from her, cursing through gritted teeth as he walked.

"You vicious, crazy woman!"

Su Qingluan reacted quickly, gently grabbing his wrist, her voice softening and tinged with amusement.

"Why are you running? I was just kidding."

......

In the morning, the sun shone brightly on the most bustling street in the imperial city, where laughter echoed and the atmosphere was lively.

Because it was the birthday of an emperor, every household was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, and vermilion lanterns were hung all over the streets and alleys.

Colorful ribbons woven from silk fluttered in the wind, and the vendors' shouts were louder than usual.

Children dressed in new clothes chased and played in the streets, carrying all kinds of pastries and lanterns.

Inside a carriage.

Xu Yi looked helplessly at Su Qingluan, who was resting with her eyes closed beside him. She leaned against the car wall, her black hair flowing like a waterfall.

"You've always been by my side, how can I prepare any surprises for you?"

"I already told you I wouldn't run away and not come back on your birthday."

Xu Yi looked at her pert nose and continued speaking.

"The most basic trust between people, Su Qingluan."

Xu Yi sighed in dismay, reaching out to push away her head that was leaning closer, but she grabbed his wrist.

"I know~"

Su Qingluan opened her eyes, a lazy smile in her phoenix eyes.

She gently shook Xu Yi's wrist, drawing out the last syllable of her voice.

She then leaned closer to him, her nose almost touching his cheek, her voice softening and tinged with longing.

"But... my birthday only comes once a year, and I want to spend more time with you."

Xu Yi struggled free for a moment, then exposed the truth.

"I just can't let go of it."

Su Qingluan gently rubbed Xu Yi's hand; her palm was warm and soft, softly enveloping his hand. Her tone carried a hint of grievance, like a child who had been wronged.

Why do you think so badly of me? I'm heartbroken...

Su Qingluan's phoenix eyes glistened with tears, revealing a genuine sense of grievance.

Her fingertips were slightly cool, but her movements were exceptionally gentle, and Xu Yi's palms went numb from her rubbing.

"Alright, alright, stop pretending. I don't blame you."

Xu Yi quickly withdrew his hand and turned his head to look out the window.

Su Qingluan couldn't help but chuckle as she looked at his awkward expression.

The tears in his eyes vanished instantly, replaced by a look of utter mockery.

"Oh? You've forgiven me?"

Before Xu Yi could answer, she stretched out her arms and hugged him tightly to prevent him from breaking free, rubbing her cheek against his neck.

"Sweetie... I knew little Xu Yi was the best."

Her soft lips gently landed on the side of his neck, carrying a warm touch.

Xu Yi felt a ticklish sensation from the kisses. He struggled a few times, but Su Qingluan held him even tighter, leaving him only to mutter complaints.

"You fickle woman, sometimes normal, sometimes acting out..."

Before he could finish speaking, Su Qingluan suddenly kissed him on the lips.

That wasn't all. Su Qingluan's hand quietly slid to his waist and gently tickled Xu Yi's stomach with her fingertips.

Xu Yi felt unbearably itchy, his waist and abdomen twitched, and he couldn't help but chuckle. He could only angrily bite her alluring lips.

Su Qingluan squinted her eyes in enjoyment, her phoenix eyes glistening with a hazy, watery light.

She touched Xu Yi's head, then gently hooked his tongue around hers, deepening the kiss.

After a long while, she finally separated from him. Xu Yi quickly stepped back and raised his hand to stop Su Qingluan, who was still about to get closer.

"Stop! If this keeps up, will you even be able to celebrate your birthday...?"

Su Qingluan licked her lips, making them appear even more luscious and alluring. She reached out and pinched Xu Yi's cheek, her voice carrying a languid sigh.

"Pass."

She paused, then gently tapped her cheek with her fingertip.

"But before you do, shouldn't you reciprocate?"

Xu Yi rolled his eyes at her and muttered irritably.

I'll return the favor with an egg.