I became the tyrant's only belief.

Chapter 397 A Tool to Block Romantic Attractions
"Replying to young master, it is Miss Huang, the young lady who was rescued from the carriage by Guard Lü in Tancheng." Chu Liuzheng stepped aside, revealing the person outside the door.

Her gesture allowed Huang Ting to see the situation inside the private room.

She gave a graceful curtsy to Xiao Jingfan, who was standing by the window, and said softly, "I apologize if my sudden visit has disturbed your enjoyment, young master."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jingfan smiled faintly: "A few days ago, Miss came to express her gratitude, but I was meeting with a friend and couldn't leave, so I was impolite. If Miss doesn't mind, please come in for a cup of tea so I can express my apologies."

Under the bright candlelight, the young man stood tall and elegant, with a noble bearing and captivating beauty.

The smile on his lips made the young man seem more approachable, and Huang Ting was almost immediately stunned.

[Tsk tsk, the tyrant actually used his beauty to seduce Miss Huang, look how bewitched she is, she can't even blink.]

Xiao Jingfan's eye twitched, and he almost changed his expression on the spot.

At the same time, a few soft coughs were heard inside the private room. Zhou Yuande put his hands in his pockets and glanced sideways at the woman at the door, feeling quite disgusted.

He knew his emperor was handsome, but for an unmarried young lady to stare intently at a strange man was far too impolite. Indeed, they were from a humble family; their manners and etiquette were far inferior to those of the refined ladies of the capital.

Huang Ting snapped out of her daze, her cheeks immediately flushing with embarrassment and feeling a little hot. Fortunately, her veil concealed her face, so no one noticed.

She steadied herself, bowed to Xiao Jingfan again, and spoke in a softer voice than before, with a hint of coquettishness: "In that case, I apologize for disturbing you."

[As expected, humans act like they don't care about the value of their ideal woman/girlfriend.]

Chu Liuzheng sighed inwardly, and while inviting the person inside, he said, "Miss, it's inevitable that you'll be lonely in the private room by yourself. Why don't you come over with us?"

Upon hearing this, Huang Ting looked up at her, and Chu Liuzheng noticed a hint of surprise in her eyes.

Chu Liuzheng blinked. Was there something wrong with what she said?

"Thank you for your trouble, Miss. You don't need to bother." Huang Ting's eyes shifted, her voice filled with affection. "Ying'er couldn't sit still in the private room, so she took Dong'er and ran backstage. I'll only stay for a short while before going back."

Therefore, Chu Liuzheng did not mention inviting Huang Ying over as well.

The door to the private room closed again.

Xiao Jingfan walked over and sat down at the table. Huang Ting was too embarrassed to sit directly next to him, so she turned slightly to sit opposite him.

Chu Liuzheng poured tea, placed the teacup in front of Huang Ting, and was about to step aside to watch the show when he heard Xiao Jingfan say, "Sit here."

He pointed to the spot next to him.

Chu Liuzheng: "..."

She glanced at Huang Ting subconsciously.

With a veil covering her face, it was impossible to see her expression.

Chu Liuzheng glanced at Xiao Jingfan again.

Is the tyrant trying to use me as a tool to fend off unwanted suitors?

She was unwilling in her heart.

After all, it's fun to be a gossipmonger, but it's not so fun to be the gossip

She cleared her throat, just as she was about to find an excuse to decline, when Xiao Jingfan glanced at her and Chu Liuzheng immediately sat down.

[Sob~ It's not that we didn't try, it's just that the tyrant's eyes are too terrifying.]

Xiao Jingfan: "..."

Chu Liuzheng, under Huang Ting's gaze, kept his eyes down and pretended to be an emotionless stone.

Every now and then, a gaze would fall on her, though it would only be for a moment before looking away. But Chu Liuzheng could tell that the owner of that gaze was Huang Ting.

Xiao Jingfan, however, remained calm—no, rather, his expression was unusually gentle, and he spoke to Huang Ting in a mild tone. If this were in the imperial palace, he would be treated like a second-rank official.

And his hands didn't stop. He would hand Chu Liuzheng a piece of fruit one moment, a snack the next, feeding him quite naturally. Chu Liuzheng didn't want to eat, but he dared not refuse.

Ugh! What a mess this is!

That's incredibly unlucky.

She took a bite of the fruit as if venting her anger, and it was surprisingly sweet. Her eyes lit up, and her resentment at being forced to be a tool dissipated somewhat.

Xiao Jingfan glanced at her, and after she finished eating, he reached out and gave her the same one.

Chu Liuzheng began to gnaw away with complete focus.

Watching the two interact, Huang Ting silently clenched the silk handkerchief in her sleeve, a dark glint flashing across her eyes.

Meanwhile, inside VIP box number three.

A young man with a cinnabar dot between his eyebrows stood beside a handsome young man. At the man's request, he let down the young man's arrogant red hair and braided several strands of hair as thick as a finger.

The man listlessly examined the braid hanging down his chest, humming an off-key tune in an unusually soft and melodious voice, occasionally letting out a soft chuckle.

This man was none other than Yin Lanci in disguise.

She reached out and tugged at her eldest apprentice's belt, her tone carrying a peculiar rhythm: "Has the message been sent?"

"It's been sent over." Pingxuan replied gently, her fingers deftly running through her red hair. "Why did Master suddenly decide to dye his hair red?"

In the past, even when Yin Lanci needed to disguise herself, she would wear a wig; this was the first time she had done it on her own real hair.

Pingxuan knew that Yin Lanci actually liked her black hair with white streaks, and the more white hair there was, the happier she was.

"Just for good luck." Yin Lanci's deliberately drawn, slender eyes bore a five-point resemblance to Ping Xuan's. She tilted her head slightly and asked with a smile, "Don't you like it?"

"It looks good." Pingxuan straightened her braids. "Master looks good no matter what."

"Good boy." Yin Lanci pulled him to sit down beside him, leaning against him like he had no bones. Just as he was about to tease his disciple, a man in green suddenly pushed the door open and entered.

"Master, Huang Ting has entered VIP room number one."

"My little sister is really impatient." Yin Lanci chuckled, her shoulders shaking, and even her newly braided hair trembled, something she found amusing.

After she finished laughing, she raised her hand to wipe away the tears from the corners of her eyes, then suddenly her expression turned serious: "Everyone, get out and proceed according to plan."

"Master, please let me stay." Qingjiu glanced at Pingxuan. "You can't be without someone by your side."

“Master, I’m here for you.” Pingxuan had never been kind to him, and when he said this, his face and tone were both cold.

Qingjiu ignored him and continued, "If Master doesn't want me to stay, then leave Chi Nian here. I can do all the things Master has instructed me to do by myself."

Yin Lanci looked up at Ping Xuan and chuckled, "Want him to stay?"

Pingxuan: "I don't want to."

"Whatever you say." Yin Lanci waved his hand at Qingjiu, signaling him to step back.

Qingjiu panicked: "Master, I—"

Before he could finish speaking, his body suddenly trembled, and he knelt down on one knee, making a painful hoarse sound in his throat.

Yin Lanci didn't even glance at him. Her fair fingers slowly slid across Ping Xuan's cheek, occasionally creating some harmless small wounds, then she leaned over and licked the blood off, her eyes narrowing in enjoyment.

Qingjiu stared at her stubbornly, veins bulging on his neck and the back of his hands, black blood constantly spilling from the corner of his lips and dripping down his chin.

Yin Lanci: "Step down."

Chi Nian hurriedly stepped forward and carried Qing Jiu away, half-supporting and half-lifting him.

(End of this chapter)