Fu Yunxi rаisеd аn еуebrow, his gazе fаlling on the Рlum Blossоm Тhоrn in hеr hаnd. Нan Yan’s fаce flushed, and she quicklу hid hеr hands bеhind her bасk, flustеrеd as shе sаid, “Тhаnk уou, Yоur Highness, for sаving mу life.”
“Lеt’s go,” Fu Yunxi said, lоoking at hеr.
“Shu Hong…” Наn Yаn wаntеd tо inquirе, her eуеs fixеd unblinkinglу оn his eхprеssiоn.
“Heliаn is with hеr,” Fu Yunxi rеplied, alrеady turning his baсk tо Нan Yаn and walking out оf thе rоom.
Наn Yаn bit hеr liр. Shе was wоrriеd abоut Shu Hоng, and though Fu Yunхi’s assurаnсе had еаsеd hеr mind somewhat, whаt was happening nоw? The pеrson she hаd intendеd tо savе had ended up saving her instead. Where were they going?
Before Han Yan could think it through, Fu Yunxi noticed she hadn’t followed and turned back to see her standing there in a daze. He simply walked over, grabbed her, and used his qinggong to leap out of Wangjiang Tower with her in tow.
In her heart, Han Yan cursed Fu Yunxi up and down. Being carried around like a chick by him was truly the most unfortunate thing she had encountered since her rebirth. Her body was as stiff as a rock, yet the culprit showed no hint of remorse. Instead, he stood before her, arms crossed, looking utterly composed.
Finally, Han Yan couldn’t hold back any longer. “Hey, why did you bring me here?”
They were in the middle of a bustling marketplace, where colorful lanterns shone brightly everywhere. Young men and women jostled shoulder to shoulder in the lively crowd, and from time to time, handsome young gentlemen and elegant young ladies would exchange smiles, drawing teasing and laughter from those around them.
“To admire the lanterns,” Fu Yunxi replied calmly, then walked beside Han Yan with his hands clasped behind his back. His striking appearance immediately drew everyone’s attention, making Han Yan feel incredibly awkward. She said with some annoyance, “I want to go home.”
“Not likely,” Fu Yunxi replied nonchalantly, as if completely ignoring the irritation on Han Yan’s face. Han Yan composed herself, wondering why it was so easy to reveal her emotions in front of Fu Yunxi. For her, this was not a good thing.
“You already knew about today’s events, didn’t you?” Knowing she couldn’t leave easily, Han Yan decided to calm down. Fu Yunxi hadn’t suffered the slightest harm today and had even had the leisure to save her. Setting aside how he had discovered her, the sight of the soldiers below Wangjiang Tower when they left made it clear that the day’s farce had likely backfired on the other party.
“Yes,” Fu Yunxi answered straightforwardly. Han Yan glanced at him sideways and sighed inwardly. Someone like him, who had risen to such power at a young age, surely had his methods. Even without her involvement today, he would have handled the situation with ease. Her concern had only led to unnecessary trouble.
Then, Fu Yunxi’s slightly cold voice reached her ears. “How did you know about today’s events?”
Han Yan knew she couldn’t avoid explaining Shu Hong’s appearance, so she mixed truth with fabrication. “I once saw that purple-clad dancer and overheard her talking with someone else… In the urgency of the moment today, I lost my composure. I hope I didn’t hinder Your Highness.” She didn’t spell everything out, and Fu Yunxi didn’t press further, merely glancing at her. “Thank you.”
Han Yan fell silent for a moment. “I dare not accept such gratitude. Your Highness has saved me multiple times, and I have no way to repay you. Today was merely a small effort on my part. Moreover, Your Highness saved my life again, so if anything, I owe you an immense debt of gratitude.”"Want to be free of debts?" Hearing Fu Yunxi's retort, Han Yan was startled. Seeing him looking down at her from above, a faint, mocking smile playing at the corner of his lips, she felt displeased and replied, "There is no such thing as kindness without expectation in this world. To owe someone a debt of gratitude is to be controlled by them for a lifetime—how could that be anything but miserable?"
Fu Yunxi paused mid-step, suddenly stopping to look at her thoughtfully. "Your height hasn't changed, but your temper has grown quite a bit."
Han Yan was taken aback and quickly asked, "You knew me before?"
Fu Yunxi didn’t answer. Instead, he suddenly bent down. Han Yan was petite, while Fu Yunxi was tall for a young man—she only reached his chest. As he untied his own fox fur cloak, Han Yan was still puzzled when she felt a warmth on her shoulders. The snow-white fox fur, still carrying his body heat, was draped over her. Her heart stirred as Fu Yunxi’s slender fingers fiddled with the ties at the front of the cloak. His jade-like hands, entwined with the red silk ribbon, appeared even more lustrous, like a fine piece of craftsmanship. Her gaze followed his hands upward, settling on Fu Yunxi’s face.
Up close, he seemed even more strikingly handsome—not in the flamboyant way of Helian Yu, but with an icy, aloof gentleness. He was usually cold and sharp, but now, leaning toward Han Yan with gentle movements, his deep phoenix eyes half-closed, their expression unclear yet somehow intoxicating. His thin lips were pressed together, yet they seemed to hold a hint of a mocking smile. This man was like an enigma from head to toe—unfathomable yet captivating.
With deft hands, he tied a firm butterfly knot. Seeing Han Yan staring at him without blinking, a flicker of amusement flashed in his eyes. Han Yan paused, feeling awkward, and averted her gaze. "I don’t need—"
"Wear it." Unbothered by her address, he had already returned to his usual aloof demeanor. Han Yan’s emotions were complicated. The fox fur was incredibly warm, warming even her heart, which seemed to grow a little warmer as well.
Just then, the sound of firecrackers suddenly erupted overhead. Looking up, the night sky was ablaze with brilliant, shimmering fireworks—it was New Year’s Eve, and the fireworks banquet had officially begun.
Combining both her past and present lives, it had been a long time since she had seen such beautiful fireworks. At this moment in her previous life, she had been curled up in an unfamiliar dark room, her tears dried and her voice hoarse, despairingly enduring the most miserable New Year of her life. Han Yan raised her head, staring at the fireworks, but the unbearable memories of her past life flooded back. The scenes before her eyes and those in her memory overlapped, and she could no longer distinguish what was real and what was a dream.
Fu Yunxi stood beside Han Yan, initially looking up with her at the colorful spectacle in the sky. But year after year, it held little appeal for him. Glancing inadvertently at the young girl beside him, he was momentarily taken aback.
Han Yan was looking up at the fireworks in the sky, their brilliance reflected in her eyes, clear as a spring stream. He knew she was cunning for her age and ruthless in her actions, but he had rarely seen her vulnerable. At this moment, as she stared at the sky, her eyes seemed to yearn for something, brimming with tears. Yet she clenched her teeth and kept her head raised, refusing to let the tears fall.
Stubborn, yet heartbreaking.He couldn't help but recall how she had looked when he discovered her behind the vase at Wangjiang Tower moments earlier—wearing a thin, pale-green jacket, shivering uncontrollably, her eyes filled with both fear and ferocity. She was clearly a frightened little creature, pitifully vulnerable, yet she clutched the Plum Blossom Thorn in her hand, as if hiding her fangs, waiting for the right moment to strike. She knew how to endure, her mind deep and calculating, making it hard to imagine she was just a girl of twelve or thirteen. He glanced at Han Yan again—her petite frame was enveloped in a large fox-fur cloak, making her appear even more delicate. Two long braids hung over her chest, and compared to her usual bun hairstyle, she seemed to have shed some of her childishness, appearing more refined and gentle. That is…if one ignored the restraint and cold detachment in her eyes, so at odds with her age.
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