Chapter Eighteen: Little Green Tea

"He Zhi..." A gentle, delicate voice drifted in from the doorway, drawing both their attention.

It was a woman’s voice, and judging by the familiarity with which she addressed Shen Hezhi, it was clear she was someone close to him.

Yan Heru instinctively glanced at Shen Hezhi, only to find his expression strangely complex—there was happiness, sorrow, and even a faint trace of resentment.

Just as she was studying his face, Shen Hezhi looked back at her. "You should go back for now," he said. "If there’s anything, I’ll come find you."

Yan Heru nodded and left the room. As she pushed open the door, she found a young woman standing just outside. Though not particularly beautiful, the woman had an unmistakable gentleness about her, accentuated by her pale pink gauze dress, which seemed to wrap her in a soft, graceful aura.

The woman noticed Yan Heru as she opened the door. A flash of discontent flickered in her eyes, but she concealed it well. Yan Heru, absorbed in observing her, failed to notice the fleeting expression.

Yan Heru offered her only the briefest glance, intending to move on without a word. But the woman had other intentions.

She called out to Yan Heru, "You must be Brother Hezhi’s princess, am I right?"

Yan Heru paused and looked at her. "Is there something you need?"

Though the woman seemed the very picture of gentleness, Yan Heru couldn’t help but feel there was more beneath the surface. She didn’t understand why, but the sight of this woman filled her with an inexplicable aversion.

"Greetings, sister. My name is Cen Changjing. I’m Chang Xiao’s younger sister," Cen Changjing introduced herself with practiced sweetness.

Yan Heru nodded politely. "Hello."

Their conversation caught Shen Hezhi’s attention inside, though Yan Heru didn’t immediately notice him approaching the door, as her back was to the room.

When Cen Changjing saw Shen Hezhi emerge, she quickly stepped closer to Yan Heru, grasped her hand, and let herself fall backward with a startled cry. "Ah!"

Before Yan Heru could process what was happening, Cen Changjing was already being caught by Shen Hezhi.

He tried to release her, but Cen Changjing suddenly threw herself into his arms, her voice trembling. "Brother Hezhi, I was so scared, I thought I was going to fall!"

"It’s fine," Shen Hezhi replied coldly. "Let go of me." He pushed her away.

Cen Changjing hadn’t expected such indifference from him. Her eyes darted as she quickly continued, "Please don’t blame sister. I just wanted to see her hands and wondered why they were so calloused. She must have pushed me instinctively, probably because she doesn’t like people getting close. Please don’t blame her, Brother Hezhi."

Yan Heru was stunned by her words. Having read many novels in her previous life, she was no stranger to the archetype of the manipulative innocent. In her modern life, too, she’d encountered a few such women, though none had ever disrupted her life enough to warrant her notice.

But now, to encounter one like this in the flesh—it was almost amusing.

Does this little manipulator really think I’m interested in Shen Hezhi, trying to stir up trouble in front of him? Yan Heru couldn’t help but scoff inwardly.

Shen Hezhi, hearing Cen Changjing’s words, turned to Yan Heru. "You should go back," he said.

He offered not a word of explanation, nor did he address the incident. He simply dismissed Yan Heru.

She nodded and left.

Once Yan Heru had disappeared from sight, Cen Changjing flung herself into Shen Hezhi’s embrace again. "Brother Hezhi, I know I was wrong. The reason I came back was to admit my mistakes to you. Everything I did before was out of youthful ignorance. Can you forgive me?" Her eyes were misty with tears, making her look pitiful.

Listening to her plea, Shen Hezhi pressed his lips together, then gently pushed her away and replied with a question entirely unrelated to her apology.

"Why did you suddenly come to the prince’s residence? Wasn’t anyone at the gate stopping you? How did you get in so easily?" His brow furrowed slightly as he spoke.

Cen Changjing’s heart skipped a beat at his reaction. Has he really stopped caring about me? Impossible! I used to have him wrapped around my little finger. I won’t let him slip away now.

With that thought, she truly began to cry. This time, she didn’t attempt to throw herself into his arms, but instead stepped back, putting some distance between them.

"I know you’re still angry with me, and you no longer welcome my closeness. But if there’s anything you want me to change, I’ll do it, as long as you forgive me," she said, covering her mouth and nose with her wide sleeve, tears brimming in her eyes.

Most men, seeing her like this, would surely be moved with pity.

But Shen Hezhi replied with another question, just as cold and distant. "Does your brother know you’re back? You didn’t come here to see me before even telling him, did you?"

"I…" she stammered, nervously twisting her fingers. "I just wanted to see you as soon as I returned, and I hoped you would forgive me quickly."

"I am the Ninth Prince," Shen Hezhi said flatly. "You should address me as such, like everyone else does, rather than so intimately." His face was as cold as ever.

Not even the fiery red robe could conceal the chill that radiated from him, a coldness that kept others at arm’s length. Cen Changjing felt it acutely, and it filled her with anxiety.

He had never treated her like this before. In the entire Ninth Prince’s residence, she had always been the most special one. But now, everything seemed to have changed.

"Brother Hezhi… If you’re really angry, you can scold me, even punish me if you must, just please don’t be so cold to me," Cen Changjing pleaded, trying once more to move closer, but Shen Hezhi simply sidestepped her.

"I suggest you stand right there and don’t move," he said, his tone still icy. "I’m not angry, so there’s no need to scold or punish you."

He turned and prepared to go back inside. Before entering, he added, "If your brother isn’t aware that you’ve returned, I suggest you go see him first."

With that, Shen Hezhi went back inside and closed the door, shutting Cen Changjing out.

But being left outside only made Cen Changjing smile.