Returning to Lin Cheng's castle, the first thing Qiao Ying did was take off her fake skin mask and take a nice hot shower.
When she lay down in bed, it was almost midnight. Although she had dozed off for over an hour in the car, she hadn't really slept at all.
First there was a knock at the door, then it was pushed right open.
Qin Hanyue walked straight into the bedroom and came to the bedside, holding a exquisite bag in his hand. Qiao Ying lazily opened her eyes to glance at him, sweeping over the brand name on the bag.
Then she closed them again.
Qin Hanyue sat down on the edge of the bed and stroked her half-dry long hair, saying gently, "You're going to sleep with wet hair like this."
Qiao Ying ignored him.
"You've been wearing that mask for several days now. It's not good for your skin, and the weather is cold too. I had someone go buy skincare products for you to apply, it'll make you feel better."
He took several skincare products out of the bag, first reading the instructions and product functions, then selecting two bottles.
"Let me apply them for you, you just sleep."
He opened one bottle and squeezed some onto his hand.
Qiao Ying, eyes closed: "Afraid I'll become like Karina?"
Qin Hanyue spread the moisturizer on Qiao Ying's face and gently massaged it in. He smiled without answering her. Instead he called her: "My dear Dr. Seely."
He said, "Haven't forgotten you have this identity too, have you?"
Qiao Ying let out a gentle snort through her nose.
Qin Hanyue looked at her and smiled. He especially loved hearing her snort like this, a bit childish, very different from her usual cold expression, and extremely cute.
Carefully applying skincare to her face, Qin Hanyue looked at her little face as white and delicate as a boiled egg, extremely satisfied.
Then he picked up her hand and started applying hand cream.
Qiao Ying had just been lost in thought and didn't notice at first. By the time she came to her senses, Qin Hanyue had already been applying the hand cream for several minutes.
He had a focused expression, seemingly thoroughly enjoying this activity.
Qiao Ying reminded him, "I didn't wear that thing on my hands."
Having finished one hand, Qin Hanyue grabbed her other hand.
"I know, your hands don't need this cream. But I specifically had someone buy hand cream anyway."
His two big hands held one of hers, making her hand look as small as a child's compared to his. Their skin tones differed greatly too, not that Qin Hanyue's skin was dark, but Qiao Ying's was too white.
He straightforwardly gave voice to his thoughts: "I just wanted to hold your hand for a bit, wanted to apply these things to you, wanted to...wanted to touch."
Holding one of her hands, Qin Hanyue spread the hand cream on the back of her hand. The ball of his thumb gently caressed her fair and delicate skin. The soft sensation made Qin Hanyue's heart itch. He was afraid his hands were too rough and would scratch her.
In the car just after coming back he had kept holding her hand. Any chance he got, he would grab her hand.
Afraid of embarrassing himself, Qin Hanyue hastily finished up.
He turned his face away and stealthily let out a breath. Then, as if to cover up, he started putting away the skincare products.
Qiao Ying: "Aren't you going to apply some?"
Qin Hanyue: "I didn't wear a mask. Besides, this is stuff for you girls. What would I, a grown man, apply it for?"
Qiao Ying stared at him.
Qin Hanyue realized she likely wanted to say he was old again.
Qin Hanyue said earnestly, "My skin is very healthy. Anyway, it'd be more practical if you gave me a few detox injections instead of me using these."
Qiao Ying's mouth quirked up slightly. Her phone received a message and she picked it up to look. It was from Yue Ying.
Yue Ying and Liu Ying hadn't come back with them, instead remaining in the King's palace. Halfway through the banquet, she had left the hall to pursue Lai En's father but hadn't found him.
Afterwards she had Yue Ying and Liu Ying continue looking, searching the entire palace without catching sight of him or seeing Lai En's father return to the hall.
Now Yue Ying was telling her that Lai En's father had holed up in his room without coming out, unclear whether he was resting or intentionally hiding.
The palace was still very lively right now. Lin Cheng's actions made the royal family members gather in groups of three to five, not to mention sleeping, they weren't even rushing home yet.
Karina's bedchamber was also very lively.
She had been badly frightened and even after taking medicine and lying in bed now didn't dare close her eyes, with doctors and servants filling the room.
Qin Hanyue: "What's wrong?"
Qiao Ying put her phone down: "Nothing."
Qin Hanyue: "You're meeting Lai En privately. If his father makes excuses not to show up, what are you planning to do?"
Qiao Ying: "Lai En won't return east in the short term. If he doesn't show up, I'll go find him myself."
Qin Hanyue: "The C Kingdom's royal relations are complex. Whether it's Lin Cheng or Lai En, we should withdraw as intact as possible."
Qiao Ying: "I won't make trouble for you, besides I'm wearing that fake face, what are you afraid of?"
Qin Hanyue: "You know I'm not worried about myself or afraid of trouble. I just don't want too much entanglement between you and them."
He held one of her hands. "I especially don't want you wasting energy and emotion on irrelevant people and matters."
Qiao Ying: "The King's two daughters wish they could kill me sooner rather than later. It's unlikely to end without a few deaths."
Qin Hanyue stroked the back of her hand with his thumb. "Do what you want, I'll clean up the aftermath."
Qiao Ying looked at him.
Holding her boneless little hand, meeting her gaze, Qin Hanyue suddenly asked in puzzlement: "With hands this soft, how'd you have the strength to pinch my chin and forcibly kiss me?"
Somehow this sounded a bit cocky. Qiao Ying thought his tone was also a bit insolent.
Qiao Ying's lips moved slightly, her tone languid but with a hint of danger: "Not just pinching your chin and forcefully kissing you. I'm even stronger when killing people."
Qin Hanyue: "......" Ruining the atmosphere again.
The next morning,
Guests came in waves to Lin Cheng's castle, all people from last night's state banquet. Lin Cheng declined to meet them, leaving the great hall for them and hiding away in the castle by himself, telling Qiao Ying and the others not to go down.
"Duke, a phone call from your uncle." The attendant brought the phone to Lin Cheng.
Lin Cheng took it: "How is your health recently, Uncle?"
"Don't bother with them, Sir. Although you've been away from the C Kingdom for so many years, they still shamelessly seek you out."
"Yes, I'm certain. I don't want that position, even if I don't have to marry Karina, I still don't want it."
"Thank you for understanding me."
"You want to meet my girlfriend?"
"No problem, of course you can. I'll arrange for you to meet her."
"Oh right, Uncle. My girlfriend is a hacker expert. Please send me a copy of Baby's DNA data. I'll ask her to use big data to help look, maybe she'll have some method."
Hearing his uncle praising Qiao Ying on the other end of the call, Lin Cheng smiled. "Yes, she's very capable, and her personality is also great. You'll like her."
"Alright, take care of yourself."
"Don't worry yourself over my affairs, Uncle."
Then, holding the DNA data, Lin Cheng went to find Qiao Ying.
Qiao Ying didn't ask whose DNA it was either. She transmitted the data to Qin Hanyue: "You do it."
She was too lazy to bother.
Then she told Lin Cheng simply: "Mr. Qin's hacking skills aren't inferior to mine."
Lin Cheng: "Is that so? Mr. Qin really keeps a low profile. You two excel in the same field. No wonder..."
Qin Hanyue humbly told Qiao Ying: "I'm still a bit lacking compared to you."
Lin Cheng thought to himself: This little married couple flatters each other.
