Bai Ze had just turned to leave when Sun Ningning immediately followed after him.
Ling Shuang glanced at them from afar before lowering her head.
Feiyun, on the other hand, watched with curiosity for a few more moments.
Then they saw their master stop in his tracks, turn around with a cold expression. The Second Miss Sun also halted immediately, tilting her head up with a radiant smile.
Bai Ze asked impatiently, “What are you doing, Second Miss?”
Sun Ningning blinked innocently, “I’m scared. You’re the only one I know here, Cousin. I feel safe following you.”
Bai Ze’s heart suddenly skipped a beat, but quickly calmed down again.
Seeing how Sun Ningning neither feared him nor showed any shame, he was both angry and amused.
Bai Ze drew his dagger.
The blade, stained with dried blood, gently pressed against Sun Ningning’s neck.
“Not afraid of me?”
He resembled a playboy teasing a beauty, if not for his intimidating behavior.
His eyes were cold, carrying a distant weariness.
Sun Ningning looked up, meeting Bai Ze’s gaze directly, her smile unwavering.
The scene was strikingly similar to that dream.
Not only was she unafraid, she even leaned forward slightly.
The extremely sharp blade soon drew a thin line of blood on her neck.
A slight stinging sensation spread.
“I’m not afraid of you, Cousin. Never will be.”
Sun Ningning continued smiling, her eyes showing sincere flattery.
Bai Ze stared at this slender, pale, vulnerable neck, his expression unreadable.
It was at this moment that he truly remembered Sun Ningning as a person.
Bai Ze withdrew his dagger.
Looking at the thin trail of blood and her soaked left shoulder wound, his expression grew even more unpleasant.
Seeing that Bai Ze had withdrawn his killing intent, Sun Ningning casually wiped the blood from her neck with a handkerchief.
Then she shamelessly asked, “Cousin, I’m both hungry and frightened. Would you please take me with you?”
Bai Ze glanced at Sun Ningning’s pale face and ultimately relented.
He stopped driving her away and turned to leave.
Sun Ningning was thrilled and immediately followed like an eager puppy.
Her small mouth kept chattering: “Cousin, your martial arts are amazing.”
Bai Ze coldly responded, “Hmm.”
“Cousin, are you injured?”
“No.”
Great, at least he’s responding!
“Cousin, were you punished by the Emperor a few days ago?”
Bai Ze turned his head, his distant mountain-like eyebrows furrowing. Three questions were his limit, and he finally lost patience, snapping, “Shut up.”
Sun Ningning: “Oh, okay.”
From the corner of his eye, Bai Ze noticed she wasn’t upset at all after being scolded?
Was that even a slight smile at the corner of her lips?
That strange, satisfied feeling surfaced in his heart again.
Sun Ningning clearly didn’t mind, even humming a little tune in her heart.
As someone familiar with the original story, through these interactions she had figured out a pattern.
Xiao Ze was indeed cold and unfeeling, speaking little.
But as long as she showed no fear of him, trusted him completely, and expressed herself openly…
He wouldn’t retreat like a snail into its shell, but would instead extend a tentative antenna.
Like just now.
He would never truly harm an unarmed, vulnerable woman.
But if she had shown fear when the blade touched her, or had taken a step back?
Then all the goodwill she’d built up would probably have vanished like bubbles.
Sun Ningning tilted her head, gazing happily at Bai Ze’s profile.
Her adoration was openly displayed.
Bai Ze, particularly sensitive to danger and others’ observations, asked displeased, “What are you looking at?”
Sun Ningning’s eyes sparkled like scattered stars as she sweetly said:
“Cousin, your appearance is exceptionally handsome, with dragon-like features and phoenix-like bearing, dignified and imposing, possessing stunning beauty, a reincarnated Pan An…”
Bai Ze’s expression shifted repeatedly before he finally turned away, ignoring her.
He had realized that this Second Young Miss was the type who would climb up any pole given to her.
Seeing his reaction, Sun Ningning secretly laughed hysterically in her heart.
Hearing her laughter, the System remarked:
[Being this shameless won’t make ancient men like you, Host. Show some restraint, learn to play hard to get!]
Sun Ningning immediately retorted: [What does an AI like you know? If I’d been reserved, Xiao Ze would still be ignoring me! Look at now—I get to follow him to a meal!]
System: [Fine, I don’t understand. Love is truly complicated. Taking a knife for him made him cold and indifferent, but craving his good looks actually eased his guard.]
Sun Ningning ignored it, the corners of her mouth persistently curling upward.
She followed behind Bai Ze, maintaining a conscious distance—neither too far nor too close.
Occasionally, she even fawningly leaned in to take a deep breath?
Bai Ze saw it all.
An indescribable feeling churned inside him.
Ling Shuang and Feiyun finished organizing the scene and noticed a man in sapphire blue robes striding toward them.
They immediately stepped forward and bowed in salute:
“Greetings to Wu Wang!”
The newcomer was none other than the Third Prince, Bai Ling, enfeoffed as Wu Wang.
He waved dismissively, his gaze fixed on the charming figure ahead.
And his Second Brother.