She accidentally flirted with the villain and was fiercely criticized as the regent for forcibly mar

Shi'an, who had stopped outside the warm pavilion and was about to lean against the partition, stumbled upon hearing her words and almost missed his target: "..." Is it possible that this was dressed up for you, young lady? Is this like an iron tree that has finally seen the light, blooming for a blind person? Tsk!

Jiang Ruining added, "It would look even better if the silver cloud pattern were replaced with red phoenix flowers, and the jade crown were replaced with a red hair ribbon!"

It will resemble the Hehuan Sect more!

whee!

Xiao Che sat down beside her: "Because Shao Yunting looks good in it?"

Jiang Ruining was speechless, feeling a bit awkward about being dragged into a conversation about someone unrelated to the topic but with whom she had a somewhat awkward relationship: "What he wears is none of my business!"

She braced herself on the table and moved closer to him.

He deliberately adopted an extremely narcissistic expression: "Xiao Che~ You're not jealous, are you?"

Xiao Che picked up the teapot, poured himself a cup of tea, took a slow sip, and scoffed, "You certainly dare to think of anything!"

Jiang Ruining was just joking and didn't really think he was jealous, so his denial didn't make her feel embarrassed. Instead, she teased him even more, her fingers crossing the table and gently stroking the web of his right hand, her voice soft and sweet.

"Then why do you keep bringing him up? I've told you before, I like you!"

"Before I met you, I did think he was good-looking, but after seeing you, his face just doesn't appeal to me anymore! With such a handsome man standing right in front of me, how could I possibly think of any other random guy!"

She wouldn't dare get even a little bit involved with the female lead's man!

I just wish I could avoid suspicion and go to outer space!

"I didn't pay any attention to what he wore! But I remember everything you wore, and even what you weren't wearing! I love your looks, your cool and quirky personality—you're unique, and no one can replace you!"

"Really~ I only like you!"

The last syllable was like ripples on a pond stirred by the wind, spreading out in circles, reaching deep into people's hearts.

Xiao Che's hand, holding the cup, was being caressed by her fingertips. It was soft and smooth, yet it felt as if a tiny, soft thorn had suddenly sprouted from it, trying to burrow into his skin and run wildly through his bloodstream!

His hand tightened slightly, and his thin eyelids, so thin you could see the veins, lifted up, staring straight into her eyes. His usually sharp eyes were now veiled in a thin mist, making it impossible to see what was in them.

I have no idea what he's looking at or thinking.

Jiang Ruining winked at him playfully, her long, curled eyelashes fluttering, her bright eyes sparkling, exuding a charming and lively air: "What, you don't believe me?"

Xiao Che said in a calm and gentle tone, "You can't stand a day without causing trouble for someone."

Jiang Ruining showed no sign of being affected by her. She withdrew her hand, rested her chin on her hand, and sighed in frustration, "I've been trying to ruin you, but I haven't seen you suffer any consequences! It's so frustrating! The man I like doesn't like me back, how embarrassing!"

If it weren't for her smiling, carefree demeanor, Xiao Che would almost have believed her defeat!

Outside the partition.

Shi'an looked up at the main beam, feeling dazed.

The girl's glib tongue blew the budding flowers of the iron tree into a mess!

The person blowing the wind, however, is completely unaware of how powerful their wind is.

It's mainly my own fault; I should have made it more obvious!

Sorrow!

The iron tree blooms for its own sake and for its trusted confidants, but never for young girls!

Tsk!

The maid knocked and came in.

The food has been served.

Roasted mutton, stewed chicken with fresh mushrooms, eggplant casserole, pickled duck tongue... the rich aromas wafted into my nose.

Jiang Ruining's stomach rumbled, and she picked up her chopsticks and began to eat heartily.

Xiao Che wasn't picky about food. He could eat delicacies from land and sea, and he could also eat coarse grains that were hard on the throat, as long as they could keep him full.

But seeing how much she enjoyed her food, with "delicious" and "satisfied" written all over her eyes and mouth, made him hungry too. When he put down his chopsticks, he realized he was quite full.

When the maid saw that the two had put down their chopsticks, she immediately came forward to clean up and served them mouthwash.

Jiang Ruining's movements were not as elegant as those of a modern lady, but they were not rude either; she completed the movements smoothly and effortlessly.

She raised an eyebrow at him as she put down her teacup.

Xiao Che raised his hand and waved it.

The servants in the room immediately withdrew.

"What do you want to say?"

Jiang Ruining stood up and strolled around the room to digest her food: "Did the Li family mention to you that they wanted Li Jingyu to enter the Regent's Palace?"

Xiao Che's gaze paused, and he looked at her: "What's the problem?"

Jiang Ruining was quite full, but as she passed by the table, she couldn't resist picking up a piece of pastry from someone else's plate. She took a small bite, and the sweet taste filled her mouth: "The young lady has already fallen for someone else."

Xiao Che frowned slightly, then quickly smoothed out his brow, unsure whether he was disappointed that her answer wasn't what he wanted, or surprised that Li Jingyu actually had someone she liked: "You two didn't know each other before."

Jiang Ruining shrugged: "That doesn't stop me from being able to tell she's fallen for him!"

Xiao Che smiled, but there was no smile in his eyes: "You've had it done?"

Jiang Ruining felt a little uneasy at his laughter; goosebumps rose on her arms. She reached out and tugged at his cheek: "You'd better stop laughing; it's scarier than glaring at someone!"

He added, "Even if I've never eaten pork, I've seen pigs run! What's so hard to understand?"

Xiao Che slapped away her disrespectful hand and smiled.

Seeing that he had returned to "normal," Jiang Ruining breathed a sigh of relief and continued, "Besides, when it comes to playing dumb, I'm definitely better than her! Even the dumbest person, knowing that I live right next to your Qing'an, should know not to come looking for trouble!"

"There are only three possibilities that would drive her to come to me in a frenzy: either she loves you to death and won't tolerate any woman, female, or mother figure around you, or she feels she has immense prestige in your presence, and even if she offends one of your distinguished guests, you would never punish or reprimand her!"

"But she clearly knew she didn't have that kind of face, otherwise she wouldn't have trembled with fear when I dragged her along to confront you and her father and brothers. I also didn't see even the slightest bit of possessiveness in her towards you."

"Then there's only a third possibility: she deliberately came to me to act crazy, to annoy you, to make you think that agreeing to let her into the household would be a huge disaster, and then she would personally reject the marriage."

Xiao Che neither said it made sense nor it didn't; he didn't care whether Li Jingyu had someone she liked or not: "And then?"

Jiang Ruining then suggested, "Investigate the person who made her fall for him."

Xiao Che slowly stroked the embroidery on his sleeve: "Do you think someone deliberately approached you?"