Two days later, Sun Ningning’s “addiction” flared up.
Ever since catching a glimpse of the real person, the love addiction named “Longing for Xiao Ze” that had lain dormant for years erupted violently.
Like a girl suffering the pains of a long-distance relationship, she constantly wondered when she could see her boyfriend again.
Her heart felt as if it were being toyed with in someone’s palm—itchy and tingling.
Sun Ningning couldn’t sit still. All she could think was: When can I sit with Bai Ze?
Of course, sitting on his lap would be ideal;
She had no appetite for food. She fantasized about Bai Ze tenderly feeding her one day, taking turns bite by bite;
She couldn’t sleep well lying down. Her mind was filled with images of Bai Ze kissing and holding her.
Would she bury herself in Xiao Ze’s fragrant embrace, secretly smiling, then look up to kiss his chin?
“Ah!”
Sun Ningning sat by the windowsill, fiddling with the gift she had prepared for Bai Ze.
Over and over, she caressed it—only this could bring a sliver of peace to her heart.
Unable to resist, she asked the System in her mind again: [What’s he doing now? Hurry up and check!]
Even the System’s mechanical doll-like voice sounded irritated: [Host! You asked just five minutes ago!]
[Please, please check again for me? The sooner I win him over and marry him, the sooner you can officially retire and return!]
Sun Ningning slumped over the desk, already pleading with her partner in her mind.
[Good Little System, we’re a community of shared interests!]
[Little System, you need to be more mature—this is your job, you know. It’d be best if you reported every five minutes!]
The System felt exhausted, emitting a series of crackling transmission noises.
It diverted part of its consciousness to analyze the target person.
Ten seconds later:
[Host, charge ahead. Bai Ze just arrived at Xiangxun Teahouse. You can stage an “accidental” encounter.]
Sun Ningning shot to her feet!
A radiant smile bloomed on her face as she hastily packed the gift into an exquisite aquilaria wood box.
Hiking up her skirt, she dashed out in large strides.
Her smoke-gauze, waist-cinched long dress fluttered ethereally with her quick steps.
The young maiden’s beauty was peerless; the sheer gauze brushed against her pale arms, and the layers of her skirt billowed open as she jogged, as if she were drifting through light mist and clouds.
At first glance, she resembled an elusive fairy from a painting, but upon closer inspection, her arched brows and curved lips revealed a soul-stirring allure;
When she lowered her gaze or secretly smiled, it was an innocent purity.
But the moment she spoke…
“Xing’er, no need to follow me. Help cover for me with Grandfather.”
“…Xiaoyue, hurry up! Why are you dawdling!”
Xiaoyue, who was the same age as the original host, nearly shattered her deliberately mature facade. Panting softly as she ran, she said:
“Miss, last time you had us wait in the hall, but you ran off to Prince Qin’s room yourself…”
“You’re not going to look for him again today, are you…”
Sun Ningning walked briskly, casting a glance sideways, utterly nonchalant: “Yes, I like His Highness Prince Qin and want to marry him.”
Xiaoyue: ?
Sun Ningning looked up at the blazing sun overhead.
The vast sky held only sparse clouds.
She thought that perhaps her heart and lungs were as perpetually scorching as this sunlight, which was why her love was so anxious and eccentric.
It throbbed and grew wildly amidst the brilliant light and gentle breeze.
Sun Ningning then added in a faint, placid tone: “You’ve both been with me for five years now. There’s a saying: A servant cannot serve two masters.”
Xiaoyue immediately lifted her face, urgently replying:
“What are you saying, Miss? It’s our fortune to serve you! Your status is noble—marrying any prince would be perfectly fitting!”
Afraid her loyalty wasn’t conveyed strongly enough, Xiaoyue continued to affirm:
“Tomorrow I’ll send Xing’er out to investigate Prince Qin!”
“…Miss, you know how clever she is. She could find out who lost any cat or dog in Jinling City.”
“Huff… I must thoroughly investigate His Highness Prince Qin – whether he secretly keeps singing girls or has any strange hobbies… Don’t worry, Miss! I’ll definitely find out everything!”
Sun Ningning burst into laughter, though she felt too embarrassed to tease the young maid aloud.
What did this little girl know about “strange hobbies” anyway?
Patting Xiaoyue’s head, she said, “I’ve already looked into it. His Highness Prince Qin maintains impeccable conduct – he hasn’t even held a woman’s hand till now.”
Just then, the System beeped in her mind and added:
【He’s no longer pure – because you forcibly kissed him in his dream.】
Sun Ningning immediately erupted in wild mental laughter.
When Xiaoyue heard that Prince Qin was so restrained and virtuous, she actually grew somewhat suspicious.
Having grown up in prosperous Jinling, how could any noble young master reach eighteen without ever touching a woman’s hand?
How was this possible?
Even the most upright men would merely refrain from taking concubines or keeping entertainers before marrying their official wife.
But privately, they probably already had three to five warm-bedding maids.
Xiaoyue decided she must have her younger sister Xing’er conduct thorough investigations these coming days.
As the two slipped out through the side gate after rounding the corridor,
“Sun Wanwan”, who had been passing by, emerged from behind the rockery.
“Late for another rendezvous?”
Recalling their interactions over the past two days, Zhu Qing felt she needed to hurry up and “marry herself off”.
If this continued, would Sun Ningning want to share the same quilt with “her” someday?
Zhu Qing shuddered.
Her eyes drifted about awkwardly.
Having a fragrant, soft beauty by her side, even clinging to her arm?
No, no! As an innocent young master, she absolutely couldn’t face such humiliation!
For the past two years, Grand Secretary Sun had maintained an uncompromising stance.
During Zhu Qing’s impersonation of Sun Wanwan, she had written numerous letters to Jinling trying both soft and hard approaches.
The old stubborn man absolutely refused to marry “her” off to any commoner.
First she had found a famous Jiangnan silk merchant, then fabricated an identity as Sun Wanwan’s senior fellow apprentice – the old man rejected both.
Last year, Zhu Qing found another candidate: a wealthy, renowned jinshi who had established an academy.
Still, Grand Secretary Sun wrote back scathingly.
His position remained: whether the elder sister Sun Wanwan or younger sister Sun Ningning, both must marry into established noble families in the capital.
Even if they fancied imperial princes, it must be as official principal wives. Otherwise he’d fail his deceased son and daughter-in-law.
Zhu Qing urged herself inwardly: She absolutely couldn’t delay any longer.
Sun Wanwan’s dying request was for “her” to go through the motions at age eighteen – marry some ordinary family far away without anyone discovering she’d been murdered.
Thereafter, “she” would still return once every two years until Grand Secretary Sun passed away.
Zhu Qing understood Sun Wanwan’s concerns.
After all, the Sun family would risk their entire clan to avenge her…
Was it worth it?
The entire clan’s three generations of close relatives meant dozens of lives.
Feeling restless, Zhu Qing turned back toward the courtyard with quick, small steps.
“…If this drags on any longer, the truth will surely come out.”