Han Zhan was momentarily stunned, unable to process what was happening.
The Chu Huaiyu he knew would never act like this.
To tell him to treat her however he pleased, knowing she was about to marry someone else!
But Chu Huaiyu's soft body was already pressing against his arm.
Han Zhan jolted and immediately pushed her away.
Perhaps the force was a bit too much, as Chu Huaiyu's legs gave out, and she fell to the ground with a thud.
"Huaiyu..."
He hadn't meant to, and wanted to help her up.
But her clothes were in disarray, and if he went to her, he would surely see her completely!
So, Han Zhan immediately retracted his foot, which had already begun to move.
He turned his back to her, his heart filled with guilt.
"Huaiyu, I know you care for me, but there's no need for this. You are marrying Prince Xuan, and as long as you live well, I will be at peace. I never force anything!"
He walked to the door, still with his back to her.
"Huaiyu, put on your clothes and go back to rest. It's late."
He actually pushed the door open.
The door opened and closed in an instant.
His martial arts were exceptionally high; the action of opening and closing the door was as fast as lightning, ensuring no one would see Chu Huaiyu's current state.
Han Zhan truly left.
Chu Huaiyu could not believe what had just happened.
She had undressed to this extent, and Han Zhan could still remain unmoved!
After he left, she quickly and clumsily pulled on her clothes and chased after him.
But Han Zhan had already gone far.
Chu Huaiyu leaned against a stone pillar in the corridor, feeling lost and heavy-hearted.
He was truly different from before.
Was it because of Chu Qianli?
Even she had clearly noticed that Chu Qianli had changed entirely after marrying Feng Yexuan.
She had returned this time, completely transformed.
Had Han Zhan fallen for Chu Qianli because of this?
... Han Zhan didn't know what was happening to him.
But after leaving, he did feel a bit guilty towards Chu Huaiyu.
Huaiyu was willing to give herself to him just to make him happy.
How could he have been so rude to her?
More importantly, she was about to be someone else's wife, and he wouldn't have those kinds of feelings for her.
As long as she lived well, he would be content.
As for other matters, he didn't think about them as much as he thought he did.
Not even a hint of impulse.
It was very strange.
Han Zhan walked around outside, and when he returned to his chambers, Chu Huaiyu had already left.
But unexpectedly, as soon as he entered, Chu Huaiyu's maid, Xiaoya, rushed towards him: "Young Master Han, Young Master Han, something bad has happened! Miss is in trouble!"
... Chu Huaiyu was attacked.
The attacker's target was clear: to ruin her appearance.
According to Xiaoya, if the mansion's guards hadn't arrived in time, Miss Huaiyu's face would have been disfigured by that person.
"Who was it? Did you get a clear look?" Han Zhan asked urgently.
At this moment, Chu Huaiyu was hiding under the covers, trembling.
Her face was indeed injured, but fortunately, it was only swollen and red, not broken.
Otherwise, she would truly have been disfigured!
The guard, who had rushed back, reported, "Young Master, that person fled towards the Li Courtyard and vanished without a trace."
"Li Courtyard?" Han Zhan frowned.
Chu Huaiyu, still under the covers, said hoarsely, "N-no, it's impossible. Although Fifth Sister did say she would... she would disfigure my face when she was angry, but..."
She thought for a moment, then shook her head: "It couldn't be Fifth Sister. Han Zhan, it definitely wasn't her. Although Fifth Sister is willful and overbearing, I believe she is kind at heart..."
"She sent someone to disfigure you, and you still say she's kind?" Xiaoya was on the verge of tears.
"Miss, you are too kind, too forgiving, that's why Fifth Miss has always bullied you!"
"Have you forgotten how Fifth Miss warned you three months ago?"
"What did Chu Qianli warn you?" Han Zhan stared at Chu Huaiyu.
Chu Huaiyu glanced at him, tears immediately rolling down her cheeks, and she just shook her head: "Fifth Sister didn't say anything. You... you don't ask."
Han Zhan knew she had always been kind-hearted and never liked to cause trouble.
He probably wouldn't get anything out of her.
He glared at Xiaoya: "What exactly did Chu Qianli say?"
Xiaoya, trembling, whispered, "Fifth Miss at that time... she warned Miss that if she dared... dared to get close to you again, she would disfigure Miss's face."
"Tonight, Miss went to find you, so that guard must have been sent by Fifth Miss."
"It's all my fault," Chu Huaiyu said softly, hugging her legs and crying. "I'm sorry, Han Zhan, it's all my fault. I insisted on looking for you, I'm sorry..."
"Chu Qianli, she's gone too far!"
Han Zhan was so angry he clenched his fists, his knuckles cracking.
During the battle at Phoenix Mountain, he had witnessed Chu Qianli's intelligence, composure, and brilliant strategies.
He had thought that woman had truly changed from before.
He hadn't expected her to be so ruthless!
She wouldn't even spare her own sister!
She had always bullied Huaiyu like this before!
Han Zhan could no longer restrain himself and immediately went to the Li Courtyard.
Strangely, the Li Courtyard had no defenses, not a single guard protecting the courtyard.
But Han Zhan's rage was blinding him, and he didn't think too much about it.
With a bang, he kicked open Chu Qianli's room door.
"Chu Qianli! How long are you going to bully Huaiyu? You must..."
Chu Qianli was not in the outer room. Han Zhan, blinded by rage, didn't even think and barged into the inner room.
But he never expected that as he barged in, he would see a expanse of snow-white skin!
Chu Qianli was applying needles and medicine to her shoulder blade; her clothes were pulled down, revealing half of her shoulder.
In the middle of the night, she hadn't expected a man to barge into her chambers.
However, for her, a modern person, half a shoulder was nothing.
Han Zhan was completely stunned.
His gaze fell on her shoulder, and he couldn't look away for a long time.
So, a woman's skin was truly so fair and tender!
Even without touching, just a glance made him certain it must be smooth and soft.
He didn't know what was happening to him; after his gaze fell on Chu Qianli's shoulder, he was completely captivated.
He couldn't move it, and it seemed he didn't want to...
Chu Qianli pulled out the silver needles from her shoulder one by one.
The momentary surprise from earlier had long been replaced by indifference.
As she removed the needles, she asked expressionlessly, "Had enough?"
Han Zhan was startled. Realizing what he was doing, his handsome face instantly turned crimson.
He hastily turned his face away, averting his gaze.
But his throat felt inexplicably dry.
His body also became increasingly tense, every nerve stiff, yet also... burning hot.
Just thinking about what he had just seen felt like a surge of heat rushing to his head!
Seeing the exposed skin, how could he... be so utterly overcome with impulse?