The warm stomach soup spilled on the floor, the bowl broke, and a few drops of soup splashed onto Qin Hanyue's shoes.
Qiao Ying walked out of the room, just in time to hear Kala's self-blaming and aggrieved apology coming from the left turn ahead.
"I just wanted to bring Qin sir a bowl of soup, I didn't expect this to happen. I'm really sorry, I messed up," said Kala.
"I will get Qin Hanyue a new pair of shoes, and I hope that Qin sir can forgive me for my carelessness and accept my apology."
Qin Hanyue's face was cold: "Get out."
Kala was a little frightened, but still insisted on apologizing for her recklessness, wanting to get Qin Hanyue's forgiveness.
A girl's voice suddenly interjected: "Qin sir, do you need any help?" Her words were enthusiastic, but her tone was not.
Kala looked over and saw Qiao Ying lazily leaning against the wall with her arms crossed in a domineering posture. The luxurious and beautiful dress did not match her stance at all. She did not know how long Qiao Ying had been standing there or how much she had heard.
Qin Hanyue inside the room looked towards Qiao Ying, and his face improved.
Qiao Ying raised an eyebrow at him and said, "I came out to look for Lin Cheng." Then she lifted her chin and asked, "What's going on here?"
Came out to look for Lin Cheng? Even if she was acting, those words made Qin Hanyue feel sour. Not only did she see him being harassed on her way to find Lin Cheng, she had a completely indifferent attitude, like an observer.
Indifferent and apathetic.
Qin Hanyue directly closed the door.
Kala was still halfway inside the room when the door mercilessly pushed her out. She staggered back two steps in embarrassment.
The dignified princess, insisting on personally delivering soup to someone, was driven away in return. Being seen by others, Kala lost face once again.
She steadied herself, glanced at Qiao Ying, nodded to indicate she knew Qiao Ying was there, and then walked away with the grace of a princess.
Qiao Ying straightened up and walked back.
Just as she reached the bedroom door, she heard Karina's voice coming from the other end.
"I thought the duke was lying about having a girlfriend, and even now, I still think it's fake," said Karina, who had just come from the king.
Lin Cheng, who had just been intercepted by Karina again, said, "Princess Karina sure knows how to joke."
Qiao Ying thought to herself: One play after another, how lively.
These two sisters were also ruthless. One harassed her real boyfriend at his door, the other intercepted her fake boyfriend halfway.
Karina said, "I don't think she is worthy of the duke. I don't think she can compare to me in every way."
"In status and identity, how can she compare to me? She's so skinny, what exactly does the duke see in her? He is willing to give up power and make my father heartbroken for her."
When Karina called Qiao Ying skinny, it reminded Lin Cheng of what Qiao Ying said about Karina giving off a dumb vibe with her big chest. He couldn't help smiling, but quickly suppressed it.
Lin Cheng said, "Please respect my girlfriend, Princess."
"Has the duke respected me? The duke publicly rejected me with his so-called girlfriend. That was a slap in my face, and not just mine alone."
Lin Cheng said, "Feelings cannot be forced."
Karina said, "I still hope that the duke understands this is not just between the two of us, but a matter of the entire royal family and the country."
Then she added, "Even if she really is the one the duke likes, I won't give up as long as you two haven't married yet."
Qiao Ying was getting bored listening. Just as she was about to leave, Lin Cheng had already discovered her. Not wanting to continue entanglement with Karina, Lin Cheng called Qiao Ying out to use as a shield.
"Xiao Yin, were you looking for me?"
Qiao Ying walked out, and Karina looked at her immediately.
Using her as a shield was not a wise move. The moment Lin Cheng saw Qiao Ying walk out, he regretted it a little.
Sure enough, Qiao Ying, annoyed at being used by him, retaliated right there.
"The princess has a noble status and deep feelings for you. If you can't reject her, I actually don't mind a threesome—but I have to be the big one, she has to be the small one."
Karina scoffed, "Humph, it seems the duke's girlfriend doesn't like the duke as much as he thinks."
Lin Cheng quickly said, "No no, we have a great relationship. Xiao Yin just has this playful personality."
With those two sentences, Qiao Ying had inflicted major damage. The king and Karina would definitely not give up now that they knew Qiao Ying's feelings for Lin Cheng were not solid. What's more, they would definitely make a move against Qiao Ying next.
If Qiao Ying got annoyed by this, there was no telling what she might say or she could simply quit acting. More trouble was sure to come.
Lin Cheng felt a headache coming on. He really wished he could turn back time two minutes ago and keep his mouth shut.
Worried that Qiao Ying would continue to destroy him, Lin Cheng wanted to take her back to the room.
But Karina told him, "The duke is of high status while she is just an ordinary student. I hope she can withstand the various pressures and face them together with the duke." This was not a reminder, but a threat.
The royal family would definitely not let this go. Qiao Ying, who was blocking this political marriage, would become a thorn in their side that they must eliminate.
Lin Cheng was not worried about Qiao Ying's safety, however. "I believe in Xiao Yin's feelings for me, so there's no need for the princess to worry."
On the contrary, he hoped the royal family would make a move against Qiao Ying. That would put the royals in the wrong, which would be more advantageous for him.
Lin Cheng asked, "Miss Qiao came out to look for me?"
Qiao Ying answered in a childlike manner, "Came out to rescue the poor little Red Riding Hood being coveted by the evil wolf granny."
Lin Cheng said, "Hmm, not too sure who the evil wolf granny is, but this poor little Red Riding Hood wouldn't be me, would it?"
Qiao Ying replied bluntly, "Nonsense."
The room was large and luxuriously decorated. Qiao Ying took off the oppressively heavy and ostentatious dress and went to take a bath.
Her phone, which she had left on the bed, made a sound. Qin Hanyue sent a message: 【Found Lin Cheng?】
The vinegar flavor came through the screen, ready to spread out and fill the entire room.
While Qiao Ying was comfortably taking a bath here, Qin Hanyue was impatiently waiting with the phone over there, unable to sit still and started pacing around the room.
He sent another message: 【Asleep?】
Still no reply.
He struggled over whether it was necessary to explain to Qiao Ying about the princess pestering him. But it seemed she didn't care at all.
And right now, emotionally...
Lin Cheng was sitting on the couch in the living room reading a magazine when someone knocked on the door.
The large double doors opened sideways. Intricate patterns and inlaid gems adorned the doors, and both door handles were gold-plated.
Seeing Qin Hanyue, Lin Cheng asked knowingly, "Qin sir hasn't washed up and rested yet?"
Qin Hanyue didn't even bother addressing him as Duke. "Where is she?"
Lin Cheng thought to himself, what's going on here? Why is he suddenly so hostile towards me? He said, "Xiao Yin is taking a bath. Want to come in..."
Before he could finish, Qin Hanyue had already entered.
Lin Cheng smiled and closed the door.
Qin Hanyue's gaze swept over the magazines on the table and Lin Cheng's coat before he strode into the bedroom. Qiao Ying had just finished her bath and came out.
Seeing the man's emotionally charged state, Qiao Ying asked, "Not sleeping yet?"
She was wearing a nightgown that reached her calves. Qin Hanyue smelled the scent of her bath wash and watched her drying her hair, his gaze lingering for a moment on a certain part of her upper body.
He looked her up and down in silence, thinking that she would be spending the night with Lin Cheng, and his state of mind was somewhat out of sorts.
He went up and took the towel from her hand, carefully drying her hair for her. "I kept sending you messages but you didn't reply, so I came to check on you."
Even though he was a little angry at how indifferent she was, as soon as he saw her, he couldn't bring himself to resent her. His tone couldn't even harden.
Qiao Ying said, "I thought Qin sir was afraid someone might sneak into your room with ulterior motives tonight, so you didn't dare sleep."
Qin Hanyue: "..."
Qiao Ying asked, "Did the princess bring you new shoes?"
