Ling Chi Yuan spoke with an air of arrogance, as if he were bestowing a great favor upon Feng Ran.
Ling Chi Yuan set Feng Ran down, letting her walk on her own. However, he remained uneasy, trailing behind her and constantly monitoring her.
The carriage ride was relatively smooth.
Although Ling Chi Yuan spoke, his demeanor was at least proper, showing no intention of making things difficult for her.
As they alighted from the carriage, Feng Ran intended to get down herself. But at that moment, Ling Chi Yuan appeared before her again, reaching out to lift her down.
Feng Ran was stunned.
"Didn't we agree I would get down myself? Why are you reaching out now?" Feng Ran asked softly.
Ling Chi Yuan continued to extend his hand, forcefully embracing Feng Ran. "I agreed to you getting down the carriage yourself, but I didn't agree to you alighting without my help."
"No, that's not the same meaning, you..."
"It's exactly the same meaning. One must see things through. You can't let me go back on my word."
Just as Feng Ran was about to alight the carriage herself, Ling Chi Yuan scooped her into his arms.
Feng Ran struggled, but Ling Chi Yuan smiled and said, "If you keep struggling, I'm afraid everyone will be watching."
Feng Ran finally had no choice but to obey, remaining in Ling Chi Yuan's embrace. She buried her head in his chest, thinking that even if people saw, they wouldn't know the person in Ling Chi Yuan's arms was her.
With this thought, she felt at ease in Ling Chi Yuan's embrace.
Ling Chi Yuan was pleased with Feng Ran's change; after all, as long as Feng Ran didn't resist, everything else was manageable.
Ling Chi Yuan's mood instantly improved.
Since Feng Ran couldn't see where they were going, she asked softly in his arms, "Where are we going?"
"Hmm, you'll know when we arrive."
"..."
Feng Ran pondered for a moment, then swallowed the words she was about to speak.
She knew that if Ling Chi Yuan didn't want to answer, then there was no point in asking.
Because if he didn't answer from the start, he certainly wouldn't answer later.
"We've arrived."
Before Feng Ran could comprehend what was happening, she found that Ling Chi Yuan had brought her to the outskirts of the city.
There were many people inside. They all looked like people of status.
Feng Ran instinctively stepped back, her face filled with terror as she looked at Ling Chi Yuan. She pleaded in his ear, "Ling Chi Yuan, please let me go, okay?"
"Are you bringing me here to humiliate me?"
"If that's the case, then I want to say, no, it's really not necessary."
"I know I was wrong, please let me go, can you?"
Ling Chi Yuan's brow furrowed slightly. He looked at Feng Ran, his eyes filled with a deep confusion. She didn't understand why he had brought her here at all.
Her identity was so out of place with everything here.
"Feng Ran, don't worry. With me here, those people won't say anything."
"If anyone dares to speak, I'll take their life."
Feng Ran let out a soft scoff, a mournful smile on her face. Even so, it wouldn't silence the gossip.
"Feng Ran, are you still worried? You just need to let go of your reservations here."
"Why did you think of bringing me here?" Feng Ran asked, utterly bewildered.
Ling Chi Yuan seemed puzzled. After thinking for a moment, he truthfully replied, "I've heard many people say that women like you enjoy coming to places like this the most."
Feng Ran looked at Ling Chi Yuan, extremely serious, as if trying to discern something unusual from his eyes.
But after looking for a long time, she found that in the end, she saw nothing out of the ordinary.
Perhaps she was overthinking things.
"What is it? Am I not doing something right? If so, you can tell me."
Feng Ran sighed.
Should she say it? If she said it, would it ensure Ling Chi Yuan wouldn't be hurt?
Perhaps Ling Chi Yuan brought her here with good intentions. If she spoke her mind, that wouldn't be the case.
Sighing helplessly, she ultimately chose to say nothing.
As Ling Chi Yuan had said, as long as he was here, those people wouldn't make things difficult for her.
Therefore, she would be bold for once.
If Ling Chi Yuan hadn't brought her, with her status, how could she possibly enter such a place?
Ling Chi Yuan sensed Feng Ran's change and was filled with confusion.
His previously smiling face instantly vanished, and he said worriedly, "Feng Ran, if you really don't like it here, then let's go."
"I have many other fun places to take you."
Ling Chi Yuan, initially slow to react, realized what mistake he had made.
"Feng Ran, let's go."
Ling Chi Yuan took Feng Ran's hand, intending to lead her away, but Feng Ran remained rooted to the spot, unmoving.
"Feng Ran, you really don't need to force yourself. You've already done very well."
"..." Was she forcing herself? Had she done very well?
At this moment, Feng Ran gave a self-mocking smile.
She felt she was being somewhat melodramatic.
With her current status, how could she refuse? If she didn't comply, Ling Chi Yuan was the person she was supposed to serve, so shouldn't she accept her fate?
Ling Chi Yuan was filled with remorse.
"Feng Ran, let's go."
Feng Ran looked at Ling Chi Yuan, a smile appearing on her face. "No, you're right. This is a place many women dream of."
"Young Master Ling, I actually want to thank you. If you hadn't brought me here, I might never have had the chance to be here in my life."
"Since we're already here, we should naturally go in and take a look."
Ling Chi Yuan looked at Feng Ran, his eyes filled with confusion. He looked at Feng Ran and asked softly, "Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"But you weren't like this just now." Ling Chi Yuan desperately wanted to ask Feng Ran what had happened to cause such a change in her.
Just moments ago, she had been utterly unwilling.
Feng Ran looked at Ling Chi Yuan's confused gaze and smiled, a bright smile. "For someone of my status to be able to come here, it's a gift from heaven."
Just as the two were talking and laughing, they didn't notice that someone in the distance was watching them.
Sheng Yi stood beside the man, seeing his extremely displeased expression. She cautiously said, "Your Highness, appearances can be deceiving." As she spoke, she was met with Xuan Yuan Heng's cold gaze and ultimately didn't dare to say another word.
Sheng Yi wanted to make a sound, to create some noise. To get Feng Ran's attention.
But it was too late.
Xuan Yuan Heng's brows were tightly furrowed. He stared with a dark expression in the direction of Feng Ran and Ling Chi Yuan.