Lin Yuwei cast a cold glance at Chu Chenyi, saying nothing more. Let him be, as long as he didn't bother her again.
"I'm tired and want to sleep."
This was not the first time she had asked him to leave. She had said it several times already.
Yet Chu Chenyi, as if not understanding, stubbornly lingered, showing no intention of leaving.
Lin Yuwei's gaze remained on Chu Chenyi, scrutinizing his expression. Just as she was about to speak again to drive him away, Chu Chenyi, acting with unusual perceptiveness, stood up. "Then you should rest well. I'll come to see you again later."
As his words fell, Chu Chenyi stood up under Lin Yuwei's surprised gaze and walked towards the door.
It wasn't until the door was closed and the sound of it shutting reached Lin Yuwei's ears that she came back to her senses. Chu Chenyi had been unusually cooperative this time, leaving obediently, which struck her as almost unbelievable.
After a moment's pause, Lin Yuwei slowly stood up from her chair. Her gaze fell upon the half-embroidered tiger-head hat. After some hesitation, she reached out and picked it up, continuing to embroider.
Before her child was born, she needed to prepare all the small clothes, hats, and shoes for the baby, ensuring they would be warm and comfortable from birth.
…
After leaving the room, Chu Chenyi's tense emotions gradually relaxed. He let out a long sigh of relief, finally free.
Every second he had spent in the room, he had been extremely nervous, even carefully considering whether he could speak a single word, and then worrying if he had said the wrong thing. It had been an agonizing experience.
It had truly been a torment. Chu Chenyi reached up and touched his forehead, which was covered in sweat, a testament to how tense he had been.
"You're out. How did it go? What was the situation?" Feng Jin, who had been guarding the area and never left, hurried forward as soon as she saw Chu Chenyi emerge from the room, urgently inquiring, eager to know what had just happened.
"Walk slower, don't fall." Ling Mohan, who was following behind, rushed to Feng Jin's side and embraced her protectively. What if she stumbled and fell after running so fast?
Ling Mohan's gaze towards Feng Jin was filled with deep concern. For someone so grown, she was indeed as worrying as a child.
"I know what I'm doing, stop nagging. My mind is full of your droning voice."
Feng Jin said with great helplessness. Every time she closed her eyes now, all she heard was Ling Mohan's incessant chatter, which was truly driving her mad. She couldn't understand how a grown man could have so many unnecessary words.
Watching the two of them flirt, Chu Chenyi was suddenly struck by a sense of loneliness. How pathetic he seemed, alone now.
"If you two want to flirt, go somewhere else. Don't flaunt it in front of me."
He stood between them, a living third wheel, feeling utterly superfluous wherever he was.
It would be best to leave quickly and not be the extra person here. Chu Chenyi turned to look at the closed door behind him and sighed helplessly. He didn't know when Lin Yuwei would truly forgive him.
Just the other day, they had been inseparable. Now, he was left alone, a pitiable figure, to be teased by the two of them.
"You're alone, do you want everyone else to be as lonely as you!"
Feng Jin said indignantly. Every word was like a knife twisting in Chu Chenyi's wound, sharp and venomous.
Why did she feel Chu Chenyi was exuding an aura of resentment? Especially when he saw couples displaying affection, it was as if it was bad luck for him, making him extremely unhappy.
This was typical jealousy, a complete distortion of his psyche. He was unhappy in his own life, and he wanted others to share his misery.
And Feng Jin was determined to make Chu Chenyi feel even worse. Since he couldn't stand to see others being affectionate, she would let him see it to his heart's content.
Let's see if he learned his lesson and dared to anger Lin Yuwei again. Only then would it leave a deep impression on him. Every time he thought of arguing with Lin Yuwei, he would recall this scene.
Feng Jin gently placed her arm around Ling Mohan's, their intimacy more pronounced.
Ling Mohan was also pleasantly surprised. After the last incident, Feng Jin had always been cold and indifferent towards him. Her current display of affection felt like a lifetime ago.
Without further pretense, Ling Mohan pulled Feng Jin into his arms. If he hadn't been mindful of Chu Chenyi's presence, his actions would have been even bolder.
After all, an opportunity for a beauty to throw herself into one's arms was rare and precious, and of course, he had to seize it firmly.
It was a pity that Chu Chenyi, like a literal third wheel, was standing there, truly an eyesore. He wished Chu Chenyi would disappear quickly and stop being a nuisance.
Ling Mohan's patience was at its limit. Finally, he kindly opened his mouth to remind him, "Your Highness the Prince of Jing, it's getting late. Are you planning to stay for dinner?"
Chu Chenyi's eyebrows rose slightly. He remained silent, merely watching what further excessive actions the two of them might take.
After a long silence where Chu Chenyi offered no reply, the quiet atmosphere was soon broken by Ling Mohan's words, "You're still not leaving. What are you standing here for!"
His words clearly conveyed a desire for Chu Chenyi to leave, but some people were simply oblivious, lacking the wit to understand the implied meaning and stubbornly remaining.
Ling Mohan, too lazy to continue speaking with Chu Chenyi, decided that if he wouldn't leave, he would have to.
Having made up his mind, Ling Mohan was about to sweep Feng Jin into his arms. However, before he could act, Feng Jin's action immediately doused his enthusiasm.
"Alright, that's enough from you!"
Feng Jin had also perceived Ling Mohan's intention and quickly pulled her hand away from his arm. She was still waiting to ask Chu Chenyi about the situation. If Ling Mohan were to carry her away like this, wouldn't her long wait here be in vain?
"Your Highness the Prince of Jing, how did things go inside? What did you talk about?"
"It was… alright," Chu Chenyi replied vaguely. He didn't know exactly how it had gone. At least Lin Yuwei's attitude towards him had softened considerably, no longer so stiff, though she hadn't explicitly stated she forgave him.