With legs weak, the sickly stable boy became a mad regent.

Shen Nannan carried the account book and walked towards the Wutong Courtyard.

As soon as I entered the courtyard, a tall, slender figure came to greet me.

Ah Chao reached out to take the account book from her arms—

"elder sister!"

A small figure rushed over faster than him and caught the account book in Shen Nannan's arms.

Shen Nian looked up, her eyes sparkling: "Sister, I'll help you carry it!"

Shen Nannan was taken aback and looked down at her.

The little girl had changed into clean clothes and had her hair combed again, revealing her thin, small face. Although she was still sallow, she looked much more energetic than she had in the morning.

"What are you doing here?" Shen Nannan asked.

"Sister Qiuyu told me to wait in the courtyard, saying she'd thank you when she returned." Shen Nian whispered, holding the account book. "Sister, I'm strong, I'll help you carry it inside."

As she spoke, she carried the account book into the house, stumbling as she went, but she stubbornly refused to let go.

Shen Nannan followed behind her, and her heart softened as she looked at her thin figure.

Achao stood still.

His outstretched hand hovered in mid-air for a moment before slowly retracting.

His gaze lingered for a moment on the small figure holding the account book.

Shen Nian had already neatly stacked the account books on the table and was standing there waiting, her eyes sparkling like a puppy waiting to be praised.

"Sister, I've put it away!"

"I see, it's placed nicely." Shen Nannan reached out and patted her head.

Shen Nian narrowed her eyes, her whole body softening, like a kitten being stroked.

A-Chao stood at the door, looking at the hand placed on Shen Nian's mind.

I watched for three breaths.

Then he looked away and gazed out the window.

Shen Nannan didn't notice him and looked down at Shen Nian, asking, "Are you full?"

"I'm full." Shen Nian nodded vigorously. "Sister Qiuyu gave me so much delicious food. I've never eaten so much before."

Shen Nannan felt a pang of sadness and patted her head again.

"From now on, I'll be able to eat my fill every day."

Shen Nian looked at her, and her eyes suddenly reddened.

"Sister..." she whispered, lowered her head, and blinked hard.

Shen Nannan knew that she wanted to cry but dared not, so she didn't point it out and pretended not to see it. She turned around and started to organize the account books on the table.

Shen Nian followed behind her like a little tail.

Shen Nannan flipped through a few pages of the account book when she suddenly heard a soft voice behind her:

"elder sister……"

"Um?"

Shen Nian hesitated for a moment, then whispered, "That brother..."

Shen Nannan paused, "Which brother?"

Shen Nian gestured towards the door with her lip.

Shen Nannan turned around and glanced back.

Ah Chao stood on the porch outside the door, his back to the light, so his expression was obscured. He just stood there, motionless.

"What's wrong with him?"

Shen Nian leaned closer and lowered her voice even further:

The way he looked at you...

Shen Nannan's heart skipped a beat for no apparent reason: "What kind of look is that?"

Shen Nian raised his head, looked at her with his bright black eyes, and said earnestly:

"Just like when I saw you."

Shen Nannan was stunned.

She looked at Shen Nian, momentarily stunned, and asked, "What?"

Shen Nian lowered her head, her voice very soft, as if she were telling a secret that only she knew:

"I've never had anyone who cared for me since I was little, you're the first person to be kind to me. I... I owe my life to you. The way that older brother looked at you..."

"It's like... I want to give my life to you."

Shen Nannan subconsciously turned around and glanced at the doorway again.

Ah Chao was still standing there, watching her.

Those eyes were unfathomable.

But in that instant when their eyes met, she suddenly remembered countless nights in her past life when he had looked at her in the same way—

Back then, she only felt fear. But now…

She abruptly looked away and lowered her head to continue flipping through the account books.

"What nonsense are you talking about, you little kid?" She heard her own voice, which sounded a little unsteady.

"Alright, go find Qiuyu first." Shen Nannan waved her hand. "Get some rest."

"Yes, sister." Shen Nian obediently withdrew.

As she reached the door, she suddenly turned back and glanced back.

The stable boy was still standing under the eaves.

But when he turned around, he was looking at her.

That look—

Shen Nian shivered, quickly lowered her head, and hurried away.

-

It was late at night.

The door was gently pushed open and then gently closed.

A tall, slender figure stood by the bed, looking down at the person curled up on the couch.

Shen Nannan had fallen asleep at some point, with an unfinished account book beside her.

Her dark hair was loose, with a few strands hanging down beside her face, rising and falling gently with her breath.

Ah Chao stood there and watched for a long time.

Moonlight filtered through the window screen, casting a soft glow upon her.

She was sleeping soundly, her breathing was long and even, and her brows were slightly relaxed.

Unlike when I'm awake, I'm not always on guard, and I'm always forcing myself to maintain that arrogant attitude.

Right now, she's as soft as a crumpled cloud.

A-Chao took a step forward.

Another step.

He stood in front of her, looking down at her face.

The moonlight fell on her face, softening her features. Her eyelashes were long, and her lips were slightly pursed, as if she were about to smile or get angry at any moment.

He stared at those lips, his Adam's apple bobbing.

Then, his gaze shifted downwards.

Move it to her slender neck.

In the moonlight, that section of her neck was so white it was almost transparent, and the pale blue veins beneath the skin were faintly visible. She turned her head to the side, leaving that section of her neck completely exposed to him.

It's too thin.

It's so small that he can hold it in one hand.

So subtle that he only needed to apply the slightest force—

It broke.

This woman is too much trouble.

Why is she so good to him?

Why is she afraid of him?

Why does she sometimes look at him as if she's looking at someone else?

She harbored too many secrets, which he couldn't understand, which frustrated him, and which made him—

It makes him always want to get close to it.

That shouldn't be the case.

He slowly reached out his hand.

His slender fingers hovered in mid-air, only an inch away from her neck.

She was fast asleep and knew nothing.

Just once.

With just a gentle squeeze.

That's it.

He just stood there with his hand hanging in the air, looking down at her.

Looking at her peaceful sleeping face, at her slightly rising and falling chest, at the faint curve of her lips.

She's dreaming.

What did you dream about?

Does he appear in my dreams?

The hand slowly lowered.

It didn't land on her neck.

Instead, it landed on her loose strands of hair.

He gently picked up that strand of hair and rubbed it with his fingertips.

Then, he bent down.

He moved closer to the top of her head.

I took a deep breath.

The sweet fragrance permeated my nostrils, seeping in subtly and thoroughly.

It made all the blood in his body rush to one place.

He closed his eyes, his Adam's apple bobbing.

He gently tucked the strand of hair he had touched behind her ear, his fingertips brushing against her earlobe.

It's itchy.

"Your Highness..."

"don't want……"

She suddenly let out a soft hum, her voice incredibly gentle, carrying a tone he had never heard before, almost like a coquettish plea.

"pain……"

Ah Chao's fingers suddenly stopped.

Prince?

What prince?

He stared at her, his eyes narrowed, and his gaze suddenly turned icy.

Who was she calling out in her dream?

But the next second, she turned over, buried her face in her arms, and fell into a deep sleep again.

That sound just now was like a dream, like an unconscious murmur.

He just stood there, looking at her.

long time.

So long that the candle grew shorter, so long that the moonlight outside the window shifted its position.

He then slowly bent down.

He leaned close to her ear.

Very close.

He got so close that his lips almost touched her earlobe.

Then--

He spoke slowly, each word deliberate and laced with a fierce, clenched-teeth tone.

"Who...is...the...prince?"

She didn't answer.

He was sleeping soundly, his breathing was deep and even.

He straightened up and took one last look at her.

Then he turned around and disappeared silently into the night.

-

In the side room.

Shen Nian tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.

The bed was so soft, the blankets smelled so good; she lay there, afraid it was all a dream.

She got up, walked to the window, and pushed it open a crack.

A cool night breeze blew in.

She looked outside.

Just then, I saw a figure come out of my sister's room.

It was that stable boy.

Shen Nian held her breath and looked at him.

He stood on the veranda and glanced back at his sister's door.

It's too far away; I can't see his face clearly.

But suddenly he turned his head to the side.

He looked straight in her direction.

Shen Nian's heart tightened, and she instinctively wanted to dodge.

But the man didn't move; he just looked at her and slowly raised his hand—

It stands upright on the lips.

Lie.

Shen Nian looked at the slight curve of his lips and suddenly felt a chill run down her spine.

Then he put his hand down, turned around and left.

Shen Nian huddled by the window, her heart pounding.

She didn't know what that look meant.

But she always felt—

There was something in that person's eyes when he looked at her.

It's like... a provocation.

It's as if it's saying:

"So what if you saw it?"

Shen Nian gripped the corner of the blanket tightly, watching the figure outside the window gradually disappear into the darkness.

sister.

That person—

very dangerous!