The wolf's den still wasn't a place to go.
Cui Yunchu hadn't forgotten the purpose she came with. She turned around the room, searching for her sachet.
"Are you looking for this?" Another object had somehow appeared between Shen Xiabai's fingertips. Cui Yunchu lunged to snatch it, but he was quicker, dodging her move.
"That's my sachet."
"If you stole it by skill, what proof do you have it's yours?"
Stole?
Cui Yunchu's mind involuntarily drifted back to that kiss in the quiet, secluded path just moments ago.
Could he have taken it right then?
So, Eunuch Liu's words were just a pretext to lure her here.
"What do you want?"
"I'm drunk, and Yu Feng isn't here. I'd trouble Eldest Miss Cui to see me back."
Cui Yunchu wasn't keen on it. "Can't you have Prince An escort you?"
"He's no good. What if he tries something against me?"
"...That actually makes sense."
That scoundrel really wasn't a decent sort. Cui Yunchu nodded in agreement.
"Don't worry, I won't make you come for nothing. This luminous pearl is a gift for you." He pressed his hand to his chest, but what Cui Yunchu saw was a small patch of bare, firm chest exposed through his partly open collar.
Shen Xiabai dangled the pearl, then followed her gaze downwards. His expression darkened.
He pulled his loose collar together. "Seen enough?"
"I've seen enough. Now I don't want to see you anymore."
Shen Xiabai's fingers loosened the collar again.
"Then how many have you seen enough of?"
"None at all." Cui Yunchu shook her head, reluctantly tearing her gaze away. "The Crown Prince and Prince An aren't as generous as you. They don't let me see."
"..."
She reached out to take the luminous pearl from Shen Xiabai's hand.
He suddenly withdrew it, then bit down on the smooth, lustrous pearl.
Cui Yunchu froze, watching as he pulled it from his mouth, wiped off the moisture, and showed it to her.
What was once flawless now had a blemish. The indentation wasn't deep, but it was far from the original beauty.
"What are you doing?" Her voice pitched higher, eyes wide.
What a waste of a treasure—that was a tribute-grade luminous pearl. With a flaw, it wouldn't fetch a good price anymore.
Shen Xiabai opened his palm, raising an eyebrow. "Tit for tat. I'm returning the favor."
If she said another unpleasant word, he would bite the pearl again.
Cui Yunchu gritted her teeth, her face a mix of anger and grief.
Shen Xiabai extended his hand toward her. "Help me up."
"Yes, Lord Shen." Cui Yunchu stiffened her expression and stepped forward, putting all her strength into pulling him upright. But the man on the daybed didn't budge an inch.
Shen Xiabai watched her grip his wrist, his eyes deep and dark. He applied a little force, and Cui Yunchu tumbled toward him.
"Eldest Miss Cui hasn't got much strength, has she? So frail—how can you see me home?"
Cui Yunchu barely steadied herself, glaring at him in annoyance. "Are you coming or not? If not, I'm leaving."
A pearl—just a flawed one anyway. Who knew when he'd bite it again? At worst, she'd just give up on it.
Shen Xiabai lowered his eyes, then finally stood up, leaning on her strength.
He hadn't lied. Perhaps due to his mood, he truly was drunk today—not incapacitated, but his mind was still somewhat hazy.
Seeing him sway unsteadily, Cui Yunchu offered her arm and let him lean on her as they walked out.
His weight on her wasn't too heavy, just within what she could bear.
"Your face powder today—good scent," Shen Xiabai said suddenly.
Cui Yunchu's steps faltered. She furrowed her brows. "Didn't you say it was unpleasant?"
"Got used to it now. It's okay."
Cui Yunchu nearly jumped in frustration again. "What do you mean 'got used to it'? Do we even have a relationship? Can you stop saying things that lead to misunderstandings?"
At that moment, they were standing on the steps. Cui Yunchu threatened, "If you keep talking nonsense, I'll push you down here and you'll break your neck."
Shen Xiabai chuckled softly, leaning closer to her, and murmured, "What counts as leading to misunderstandings? How many things have you done that made me misunderstand, and you dare say that? Cui Yunchu, don't you feel even a twinge of guilt when you say that?"
"That was for other purposes, and you know it well," Cui Yunchu replied.
They stood on the steps, leaning in crookedly. Shen Xiabai tilted his head, smiling lightly at her, while Cui Yunchu frowned, straining to support his weight. Sunlight bathed them, making the side of his face look impossibly gentle, his brow and eyes brimming with unrestrained delight.
"Big... Eldest Sister."
A stammering, sudden voice made Cui Yunchu's expression shift drastically. She shoved Shen Xiabai away, her dodging motion almost a blur.
Shen Xiabai raised an eyebrow. His previously tipsy, unsteady frame suddenly stopped swaying, and he smoothly leaned against a porch pillar.
"Yun, Yunfeng? What are you doing here?" Cui Yunchu smoothed her hair, smiling awkwardly at Cui Yunfeng, who stood in the courtyard.
Cui Yunfeng: "..."
Wasn't it you who had Xing'er summon me to save your life?
Cui Yunfeng didn’t speak. Her eyes narrowed as if lit from within, scanning back and forth between Cui Yunchu and Shen Xiabai with scrutiny and curiosity.
Cui Yunchu scratched her head. She had forgotten about that part.
"Oh, that's not it. Xing'er must have heard wrong."
Xing'er, standing nearby, was utterly speechless. But since her mistress said so, she kept quiet and dared not chime in.
Shen Xiabai's expression remained neutral. He watched a guilty-looking Cui Yunchu stammering her excuses, saying nothing.
Cui Yunchu stepped forward quickly, blocking Cui Yunfeng's penetrating gaze. "What I mean is, you should think about tidying up Prince An's residence. Especially that steward of yours—he's deceitful, won't let me see you. He deserves a beating."
The steward, who had just rushed in with people to hastily rescue Cui Yunchu, overheard this. He halted, his old face stiff as he stared at the tattling Cui Yunchu.
Cui Yunfeng tilted her head, dodging Cui Yunchu's obstruction to look at the man leaning against the pillar. "Eldest Sister, they're not the point now."
The real issue was... "Why did you come out like that with Lord Shen?"
And smiling so happily.
Cui Yunfeng might be naive, but she wasn't foolish.
"Like that"? The phrasing made Cui Yunchu both embarrassed and shy.
"He was drunk, said no one was there to pick him up, so he asked me to see him home, with a luminous pearl as payment."
