"I like a challenge," she said.
His dark eyes were deep, the corners of his eyes tinged with a faint red, and the corners of his mouth curved into a chilling arc. As he looked down at her, he seemed to possess a touch of tenderness.
Ye Luan brushed his hand away and took a few steps back.
Seeing her inability to dodge, Xie Beihan's eyes darkened, and he leaned in to kiss her.
Startled, she dodged, and the hidden weapon in her hand刺ed towards her own neck without hesitation. But before it could pierce her skin, her wrist was abruptly grabbed.
With a clang, it fell to the ground.
And she was pinned to the bed, his body pressing against hers.
Xie Beihan looked at her eyes, full of hatred, and narrowed them slightly, exuding danger.
"You'd rather die than let me touch you."
Ye Luan sneered, "A Crown Prince, truly that desperate. What a disgrace."
"Heh." A low, sinister laugh escaped his thin lips, and a playful glint resided in his long, narrow eyes. "If you willingly stay by my side for a month, I'll let you go. How about that?"
Ye Luan's heart tightened, and she narrowed her eyes to look at him.
"Don't look at me like that. I can't help myself." He smiled and stood up, releasing her. "I won't touch you. As long as you willingly stay for a month, I'll let you go."
"Is the Crown Prince serious?"
"Of course. You're so badly injured, you can't leave anyway, can you?"
Xie Beihan slowly picked up the teacup and took a sip, moistening his throat.
Ye Luan did not believe his words at all. Who knew if he had some other perverse intentions?
But of course, she agreed verbally.
"The Crown Prince's words are his bond. Do not go back on your promise."
Xie Beihan, dressed in a deep purple robe, with dark hair and red lips, drank his tea with a wild, unrestrained posture, appearing exceptionally noble and arrogant.
Upon hearing her words, he put down the teacup, stared at the person who had sat up, and curled his lips slightly.
"Of course."
Seeing this, Ye Luan breathed a sigh of relief and leaned back on the soft couch, forcibly suppressing the chaotic aura within her body. But the pain was too much, and she couldn't help but frown.
Xie Beihan slowly walked over, reached out, and lifted her from the soft couch. Seeing her struggle, he rebuked, "Don't move. I'll take you back to bed to rest."
After speaking, his steps faltered, and he looked down at her. "You haven't eaten in so long, you must be hungry."
Of course, she was hungry, but the pain made it difficult for her to eat.
"I'm not hungry. I want to sleep. You should leave."
"Not a truthful word from your mouth." Xie Beihan sneered at her and placed her on a round chair. "Rest after you've eaten."
As he spoke, he instructed the servants waiting outside to bring a table full of food.
"Eight-Treasure Soup, to replenish blood."
His long, slender fingers, like bamboo shoots, offered a bowl of soup.
Ye Luan no longer stood on ceremony, took the soup, and said in a low voice, "Thank you."
Xie Beihan sat beside her, leaning slightly to the side, propping his head with one hand, and watching her with a sideways, playful smile.
"A 'thank you' with your mouth is fine, but I want something more substantial."
She ignored him, quietly eating her meal.
Seeing this, Xie Beihan fell silent and simply gazed at her, his deep eyes filled with playful fire.
Ye Luan felt as if she were being stared at by a cold snake, and a chill of fear spread through her limbs.
But she suddenly remembered the scene at the bottom of the sea cave and lowered her gaze.
Regardless of his motives, he had indeed saved her life.
"Aren't you eating?"
Xie Beihan raised an eyebrow when he saw her speak first, and he straightened up, saying casually,
"I thought your heart was made of stone."
Ye Luan: "-----"
"I don't want to move. Feed me."
"Then don't eat."
Xie Beihan pouted in dissatisfaction. "Do you even know how to coax someone?"
Ye Luan looked at his actions with disgust. This was the first time she had ever seen him like this, and she was truly shocked.
She retorted, "How dare you ask a patient to serve you?"
"But I'm also a patient."
He said this, lifted his robe, and revealed his abdomen, which was wrapped in bandages.
Ye Luan immediately averted her gaze and rolled her eyes in exasperation.
Xie Beihan was always sinister, but in private, he was like this.
"I was bitten by a sea shark like this when I was saving you."
His voice was low, with a lingering lazy tail end, and his dark eyes flickered with cunning light. His handsome features were tinged with a layer of alluring妖冶.
The smile on his lips seemed to have shed his disguise, and as soon as he saw her look over, it quickly retreated.
Ye Luan raised an eyebrow, stood up, and served him a bowl of soup, "Here."
"I want Osmanthus Powder Porridge."
"---"
Ye Luan had no choice but to get up and serve him.
"Sweet and Sour Fish."
"Braised Beef Ribs."
He was truly annoying, and Ye Luan no longer wanted to serve him, putting down the serving chopsticks.
"It's late at night, don't eat so much."
After speaking, she sat back on the round stool and drank her soup.
Her body was already in so much pain, and now she had to be bothered.
Xie Beihan raised his dark eyes and smiled, his lips curving. "Then what do you want to eat? I'll serve you."
"No need."
'Tsk, it's called reciprocity. I'm not someone who takes advantage of others.'
This fellow was truly annoying, and Ye Luan was tired and sleepy, so she put down her chopsticks. "I'm done eating."
"You only ate this much."
"Yes. If the Crown Prince is finished eating, please leave first."
Xie Beihan ignored her and ordered people to clear away the uneaten food from the table.
After everything was tidied up, Ye Luan wanted to wash up. Seeing that he still hadn't left, she frowned. "It's so late, aren't you leaving?"
"This is my room. Where do you want me to go?"
He reclined lazily on the soft couch and looked at her with a smile, his eyes flowing like a soul-capturing demon.
Ye Luan's steps faltered, and she looked at him indifferently. "Then I'll go sleep in another room. Have someone take me there."
"There are no empty rooms."
"Is the Crown Prince telling me that in such a large City Lord's mansion, there isn't a single empty room?"
Xie Beihan chuckled. "Yes. Why don't you do me the favor of sharing a room with me?"
Ye Luan crossed her arms. "If I had known the Crown Prince was so poor, I would never have come to Bei Qi with you."
"Poor?" Xie Beihan's sinister eyes laughed wickedly, as if he had heard something amusing. He pulled at his crimson lips and said, "If I'm poor, you have to follow."
Ye Luan didn't want to bicker with him and strode towards the door.
But as soon as she pushed the door, she discovered it was locked from the outside.
Her eyes sharpened, and she looked back. "What do you mean by this?"
Xie Beihan got up, extinguished the night-shining pearl, and leaned casually on the soft couch.
"I'm afraid of dying, so I have to lock the door when I sleep."
Without the night-shining pearl, the entire room instantly darkened, with only the faint moonlight filtering in, casting a pale glow on the floor.
Ye Luan pursed her lips and looked at him. "Then why don't you nail the windows shut too?"
As she finished speaking, he snapped his fingers with a 'clack' and said casually with a smile.
"Little thing, you're right. I'll have someone nail them shut tomorrow."