Chapter 207: Chapter 207: Yet Another Debt of Gratitude, How to Repay It?

“It’s getting late. I won’t disturb your rest, Your Highness.”

“Are you going to come over yourself, or should I get down there and carry you up?”

“…”

Seeing Song Lianhe still standing frozen in place, he threw back the covers and made to get up.

“There’s no need to trouble yourself! I’m coming…”

Song Lianhe reluctantly shuffled over and lay down on the very edge of the bed, still fully dressed. With her back to him, she didn’t dare move a muscle, her body as stiff as a board.

’Actually, it wasn’t hard to figure out Zhou Cangyan’s motive. They say that reuniting after time apart is even better than a wedding night.’

’Since they were husband and wife, what couple wouldn’t sleep together after being reunited?’

’It was all for show.’

’She got it.’

Suddenly, an arm wrapped around her waist.

She froze in fright. “Y-Your Highness?”

“I’m cold.”

All she got was this seemingly reasonable answer.

But now that Zhou Cangyan mentioned it, Song Lianhe realized the room was indeed rather chilly.

Unlike other places that were already in the throes of summer, July in Sui Bei was different. The temperature could fluctuate by as much as twenty degrees between day and night.

It had rained during the day, making the night even colder and the room feel damp and chilly.

Having grown up in Ling’an City, Song Lianhe wasn’t yet accustomed to this climate.

“I guess… it is a little cold.”

The moment she started thinking about it, all her senses began screaming in protest. Still, she was too embarrassed to try and snatch the blanket from him. Thankfully, the man’s body was like a furnace. With his chest pressed against her back, she could feel a steady source of heat.

Song Lianhe instinctively snuggled closer, and the chill began to subside.

His eyes half-lidded, the man stared at her reddening earlobe, a hint of a smile in his gaze. Then, he forcefully pulled her into his embrace.

Song Lianhe’s eyes flew open in shock, but she didn’t dare look up at him.

’In a situation like this, she was already at a disadvantage. It would be better to… better to just pretend to be asleep!’

So she squeezed her eyes shut decisively. She wouldn’t open them again, even if lightning flashed and thunder crashed outside.

’It was as if a string was pulled taut in her heart. Whenever she was alone with the villain, that string would tighten, a constant reminder not to give anything of herself away! If she ever crossed the line, the string would pull even tighter, until it snapped back at her like a rubber band.’

’Once it snapped and hurt, she’d be jolted back to her senses.’

“…Regarding the matter in Yu State, I’ve already told you—everything is under control. You don’t need to worry about it.”

The man’s voice rumbled from above her head. She perked up, listening intently.

’After all, she was supposed to be “asleep,” so she couldn’t show any reaction.’

“You don’t need to worry about Ling’an City, either. I’ve already sent someone to inform Marquis Lin. As for the Medical Clinic, with the Xuan Chang Marquis Mansion, the Prince Qing Mansion, and the Scholar Mansion all looking out for it, no one dares to make a move for now. Besides, its current manager is the new Top Scorer.”

At this, Zhou Cangyan let out a soft, inscrutable chuckle. “That Yan Rongbai is a clever one,” he said nonchalantly. “He took the initiative to report to the Court that he’s the manager of the Medical Clinic. It’s true that officials are not supposed to engage in commerce, but the clinic sponsored him, and he signed a contract. How could he break his word and forget his benefactor just because he became the Top Scorer? That would not be the act of a gentleman. His words and actions gained the staunch support of the non-aligned faction in the Court, led by your maternal grandfather. Coupled with the widespread praise for the clinic’s charitable work, the Holy Emperor granted him special permission to continue managing it in his spare time.”

Song Lianhe was filled with emotion as she listened.

’Thinking back to that rainy night, she knew saving him had been the right thing to do.’

’But she had to admit, forcing him to sign a contract and become the manager by leveraging the fact she’d saved his life was definitely selfish.’

’At least Yan Rongbai still became the Top Scorer, so she hadn’t wasted his potential.’

’And look at what he’d done—so honorable and righteous! He had stuck by the clinic and never abandoned it during the entire time she was “missing.”’

’From what Song Lianhe knew of Yan Rongbai, he must have been prepared to give up his official position when he reported the matter to the Holy Emperor.’

’Sigh. Now she was even more indebted to him. How could she ever repay him?’

Zhou Cangyan peeked through half-lidded eyes at the woman in his arms. Though her eyes were squeezed shut, the expressions flitting across her face—one moment touched, the next conflicted—were truly a sight to behold.

But the moment he realized this kaleidoscope of emotions was all for another man, Zhou Cangyan’s expression turned cold.

“You certainly have a good eye for talent, finding a Top Scorer like Yan Rongbai to be your manager. Oh, that’s right… I remember you saved his life, didn’t you? Using a… hmm… a truly *breathtaking* method! Heh, what a coincidence that I happened to witness it firsthand. It left quite an impression.”

Song Lianhe’s face flushed from pale white to crimson.

’ARGH!’

’Of all the sore subjects to bring up!’

’Originally, she hadn’t thought anything of it. It was just CPR. As long as it was to save a life, it was a sacred act and shouldn’t be interpreted in any other way.’

’But hearing him talk about such a serious, clinical procedure made it sound so…’

’…lewd?’

Song Lianhe couldn’t help but roast him in her mind. ’And he calls himself a prince? His mind is in the gutter!’

“…If you keep cursing me in your head, I won’t be so forgiving.”

“!”

Startled, Song Lianhe’s eyes flew open. “I wasn’t!”

The man raised an eyebrow. “So you’re awake?”

Song Lianhe awkwardly rubbed her nose. “…Haha, I’m a light sleeper. I just… just woke up.”

Now that she was “awake,” she had to face their incredibly intimate position.

’He was holding her in his arms, one hand around her shoulders and the other on her waist. It was the kind of embrace you’d see from an old married couple. How was he so ridiculously smooth and practiced at it?’

“Um… it’s a little… hot…”

It was a subtle hint. At the same time, she tried to lean back and create some distance.

But who would have thought he’d just pull her back again? “I’m not hot.”

Song Lianhe’s cheek was pressed flat against his chest.

The fresh, faint scent from his recent bath enveloped her, both gentle and domineering. Song Lianhe’s cheeks instantly felt like they were on fire.

Desperate to break the awkwardness, she quickly searched for another topic.

“Did you really kick Cheng Xidian out of the mansion?”

His voice grew even lazier. “Mm.”

“But she’s a young woman, after all…”

“When she was trying to harm you, did she stop to think that you’re also a young woman? And a few years younger than her, at that.”

Song Lianhe nodded. “You have a point.”

’One of the signs of being an adult is learning the law of equivalent exchange.’

She didn’t dwell on it. Instead, she started rambling, chatting with him about anything and everything. She talked about Da Xi, about Sister Mi, about the guard dog at the mansion, and even about the shifty-eyed Chun Hua…

Not until the woman in his arms fell silent did the man let out a helpless, soft chuckle.

’Her little schemes… she’s terrible at hiding them.’

The man gently extracted his arm, pulled the blanket up to cover her properly, then swung his legs over the side of the bed.

Once he was fully dressed, he pulled open the door and stepped out.

A Shadow Guard was already waiting outside.

Zhou Cangyan glanced back one last time at the closed door before slowly looking away.

“Let’s move out.”

“Yes, sir!”

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