Bai Qingqing pursed her lips, stopped in her tracks, and reluctantly turned around. "I've already thanked you."

  "A simple sentence or two counts as gratitude? Your debt is really easy to repay."

  Bai Qingqing still held a grudge. Seeing this, she asked perfunctorily, "Then what does the lord mean?"

  Ning Yan took half a step forward. When he saw a fleeting trace of unease in her calm eyes, he finally smiled with satisfaction. "Aren't you quite skilled in making fragrances? Even the Princess Consort of Prince Ping praised you highly, which proves your skills are indeed remarkable."

  Mentioning the fragrance made Bai Qingqing angry again. "The lord ftters me. I carefully thought over your words st time and found them reasonable. I shouldn’t casually give away the fragrances I personally create. So, please return the fragrance to me—I would be most grateful."

  Ning Yan's phoenix-shaped eyes slightly lifted. This huffy expression of hers was rather amusing.

  He pretended to ponder for a moment. "I heard that the fragrances you make are only given to those close to you. Is that true?"

  Bai Qingqing: "!"

  She stared at him in embarrassment. "Did you eavesdrop on me?"

  "'Eavesdrop' is not the right word. I don't like it."

  Bai Qingqing was speechless. She was so embarrassed that her toes curled inside her embroidered shoes, and her cheeks uncontrolbly turned red. But she still wanted to expin, "I—I only said that earlier to reject his request. It doesn't actually mean anything."

  Ning Yan tilted his head slightly, his lips curving with amusement. "I never said it meant anything. So, there is something behind it after all?"

  "No!"

  Bai Qingqing’s face turned bright red with anger. Every time she spoke with this man, she ended up feeling stifled. She shouldn't have stopped in the first pce!

  Ning Yan seemed to have discovered a new source of entertainment. Bai Qingqing, when flustered and exasperated, did not bore him; on the contrary, he found it quite interesting. Especially the way her cheeks flushed—it was more radiant and delicate than any flowers by the roadside, truly a delight to the eyes.

  Bai Qingqing knew this couldn't go on. In front of Ning Yan, she felt like a fool.

  She took a deep breath, commanded herself to regain composure, and straightened her posture. "Lord Ning, although you may not believe me, I am not the kind of person who gives away my handmade items so easily—"

  "I—"

  "Don't interrupt, I'm not finished!"

  Ning Yan paused, then actually chuckled. He couldn’t recall anyone daring to speak to him like this before. But Bai Qingqing, with her slightly sulky yet charming tone, didn't make him angry at all. He simply closed his mouth and listened.

  Bai Qingqing wasn’t sure where her sudden courage came from. After snapping at him, her heart trembled, but since she had already done it… "In the past, I didn’t pay much attention to such things, but I only ever gave them to women. However, you were right—this indeed isn’t appropriate. From now on, I won’t make the same mistake. Since the lord doesn’t like that box of fragrance, please return it to me, and let’s consider the matter settled."

  She finished speaking in one breath and felt she had grown braver. But before she could revel in this, she saw Ning Yan raise an eyebrow. "Are you done?"

  "Yes."

  Ning Yan smiled. "When did I say I didn’t like that fragrance?"

  Bai Qingqing licked her lips. "But you weren’t pleased when you received it. Doesn’t that mean you dislike it?"

  Ning Yan’s gaze nded on her rosy lips, lingering there for a moment before he finally looked away. His dark eyes were unreadable. "Can a gift, once given, be taken back?"

  That… did seem a bit inappropriate.

  Bai Qingqing felt a little defted but then heard him say, "As for how you should thank me this time, I’ve already decided."

  Bai Qingqing widened her eyes in confusion, waiting for him to continue. Her clear, bck-and-white eyes were so pure they seemed untouched by the world. Ning Yan suddenly had the urge to cover them.

  "That fragrance was indeed nice," he said slowly, his voice low and deliberate. "This time, I want another one."

  "Still fragrance?" Bai Qingqing was puzzled. This man was so difficult to understand. He hadn’t been happy when he received it, yet he wanted more?

  "What kind do you want?"

  Ning Yan leaned in slightly, his voice deep and unhurried. "I want the one you use yourself. I pn to use it to scent my bedding—it should give me sweet dreams."

  Bai Qingqing’s blood rushed to her face, her neck and ears turning a soft pink. Her lips parted slightly in shock, and she froze, overwhelmed by the sheer audacity of his words.

  Her eyes glistened with anger, and her body trembled slightly as she shouted, "You—you’re spouting nonsense!"

  That was probably as fierce as she could get. Ning Yan suddenly ughed, his shoulders shaking with mirth. She was no more intimidating than a wolf pup that hadn’t been weaned.

  Bai Qingqing grew even angrier—she was practically a pufferfish now, so mad she wanted to leap up and smack him!

  Fueled by her frustration, she did something she had never done in two lifetimes—she stomped down hard on Ning Yan’s foot and even ground her heel in for good measure before turning and running away.

  But after a few steps, she stopped, bit her lip, and turned back. "If Prince Ping’s household causes you trouble, I can go expin."

  Ning Yan was still chuckling, his phoenix eyes filled with amusement, making him look particurly charming. "What trouble could they possibly cause me?"

  "I know your rank in the Jinyiwei is high, but that is still Prince Ping’s household. If they truly pursue the matter, what can a mere Jinyiwei do? Besides, you have terrible social skills—I doubt anyone would stand up for you."

  Ning Yan was taken aback. "My social skills are terrible?"

  Bai Qingqing gave him a look that clearly said, Do you really not know? "Anyway, thank you for today. If the prince’s household troubles you, I won’t stand idly by."

  "In that case, it’s only fair. So about my reward…"

  "No!"

  Bai Qingqing lifted her skirt and ran away with quick, light steps. Ning Yan stood in pce, his tongue pressing against his cheek, forming a small bulge.

  Interesting. She was delicate and a little pampered, but quite loyal. It was just a pity—he truly wanted the scent on her, soft and sweet. Surely, it would bring good dreams.

  His impulsive decision to take a detour today had proven worthwhile.

  Ning Yan only turned away once Bai Qingqing’s figure disappeared from sight. Soon, he vanished soundlessly from the Bai residence.

  Inside, Bai Yan was enjoying the lively banquet, toasting and drinking with his guests when Xuan Shu hurried over, whispering a few words in his ear. Bai Yan’s expression instantly changed.

  "Are you certain? Where is the invitation? And where is he?"

  "I sent people to search, but no one has seen him. However, the invitation is real."

  Bai Yan let out a long sigh. "Forget it. That esteemed lord clearly does not wish to reveal himself. But I never expected him to come to the Bai residence—what a surprise."

  Had he known, he would have personally waited at the entrance, just for the chance to say a single word to him. What a pity.

  "My lord, you've returned... Were you ambushed again?"

  Wen Jiang’s tone shifted several times as he hurried to grab his medical kit, fumbling to check Ning Yan’s condition.

  Ning Yan sat down nonchantly. "Don't make such a fuss. It's just a small cut. It'll heal soon enough on its own."

  Wen Jiang cut open his sleeve, revealing the wound. It was indeed minor and not in a critical area. He sighed in relief but still nagged while treating it.

  "My lord, you shouldn't be wandering around at times like this. You've only been back in Xuancheng for a short while, and you've already been attacked several times. The safest pce is the yamen."

  Ning Yan chuckled. "I'm meant to be a target. Any news from the other side? Are they all safe?"

  "They're safe, thanks to you drawing attention away. Everyone assumes that as long as you're in Xuancheng, so are they."

  Ning Yan finally closed his eyes to rest. "Remind them to stay cautious. If anything happens to the person the Emperor wants to see, not even the heavens can save them."

  Wen Jiang swiftly finished bandaging the wound but then noticed a stain on Ning Yan's shoe. "My lord, did you injure your foot as well?"

  That was unlikely. Having followed Ning Yan for so many years, he knew his master’s terrifying level of skill. Suffering minor injuries was rare enough. But this...

  Ning Yan remained still, his eyes shut, though a faint smile touched his lips. "A little cat stepped on it."

  Wen Jiang’s eye twitched. "...What kind of cat leaves a footprint that big?"

  A strange feeling rose in his heart, and he hesitantly asked, "My lord… you didn't break the poor thing’s neck, did you?"

  To step on Ning Yan and survive—was that even possible?

  An image of Bai Qingqing’s slender, snow-white neck fshed through Ning Yan’s mind. When tinged with a slight flush, it seemed inexplicably enticing.

  "Her neck is rather nice," he murmured. "I’ll keep it intact for now."

  Wen Jiang fell silent. He no longer wished to understand.

  After a while, Ning Yan opened his eyes again. "Have someone keep an eye on the Ping Prince’s residence."

  "Why? Have you noticed something unusual?"

  Ning Yan propped his chin on his hand, chuckling. "No particur reason. I just don’t like how leisurely their lives seem."

  "...Understood."

  The Bai family's flower-viewing banquet was a great success, and the guests left in high spirits.

  Bai Qingqing stood beside Bai Yan, helping to see the guests off, while discreetly scanning the crowd.

  "Are you looking for someone, Qingqing?"

  She quickly shook her head. "I just feel like... some guests might have left early. I wonder if there was any pse in hospitality."

  Bai Yan smiled. "You organized the event wonderfully. I heard many guests praising it—how could there be any shortcomings? But yes, some did leave early. The Ping Prince’s people had matters to attend to, and a few others left due to urgent business. It has nothing to do with you."

  So, Ning Yan had also left early?

  Bai Qingqing had been holding back for days, but today, she finally couldn't resist asking.

  "Brother, st time you said that Lord Ning was righteous and warmhearted—was that really true?"

  Bai Yan was surprised she still remembered. "Why bring that up again? Why would I lie to you? Though I haven’t interacted with Lord Ning much, he is very approachable, honest, and forthright—a rare and honorable man. Your brother wouldn’t misjudge someone."

  Bai Qingqing: "?"

  Approachable? Honest? Forthright?

  Did she meet a fake Lord Ning?

  "But perhaps it’s because he is unmarried that his behavior seems overly straightforward. No matter—it simply makes him easier to get along with."

  Bai Qingqing's face was bnk.

  Ning Yan’s snarky, sarcastic nature had been rebranded as "straightforward?" Her brother was way too kind.

  Bai Yan had drunk quite a bit. Though not entirely intoxicated, the alcohol had softened his thoughts. Seeing how troubled his sister was by her dreams, he gently reassured her.

  "Think of it this way: if that dream of yours were real, I believe Lord Ning would be a reliable choice. I'll deepen my connection with him in the future—will that ease your worries?"

  Bai Qingqing didn’t respond, but in her heart, she trusted her brother.

  Her brother had a sharp eye for people, which had always kept the Bai family secure. Those he deemed unworthy of friendship would eventually reveal their fws. But once he approved of someone, their character would prove sound over time.

  So...

  Had she only seen Ning Yan’s outer facade and failed to glimpse his true nature?

  Bai Qingqing hesitated, second-guessing herself. But since her brother spoke so highly of him, then surely Ning Yan must have some redeeming qualities she had simply yet to notice.

  Yes. That must be it.