Ren Yupei was Gone 3

Contrary to her thoughts, An Zhengnan shook his head. "I am buying it for The Princess."

Ling Xiaochen smilingly said: "Don't you know that she hate strawberries right to her core?"

The corner of An Zhengnan's lips lifted into a smile. "I know. That's why I'm buying it for her."

She laughed and remarked jokingly. "You are such a tease! She will hate you for that!"

"Don't you find it interesting how her face blushed crimson and her cheeks puffed up when she's angry?"

Ling Xiaochen's smile froze.

It was at that moment that she suddenly realized that the man was smiling brightly. It was such a huge and wide smile that stretched across his face and painted a childlike innocence to him. His pair of obsidian and dark pupils were shining full of mirth and amusement.

Surely, it was the first time that Ling Xiaochen had seen him smile so broadly. It was a real, genuine smile unlike the polite and slight smile he usually presented.

The smile was so beautiful that Ling Xiaochen felt the world around her seemed to wilt and the only color she could see was him.

It made him look increasingly charming and suave that Ling Xiaochen felt her heart was squeezed tight by an invisible hand and she couldn't breathe for a moment.

Yet, the reason of that smile wasn't her…

It was another girl.

Ling Xiaochen smiled bitterly as she tried to brush it off. It was natural right? After all, they had known each other since a long time ago. It was unreasonable for her to feel jealous just because of this matter.

She tried to forget, but then subconsciously, she began to notice more.

Like how An Zhengnan would always think of the Princess, like how he could always link their conversation back to the princess, like how he would always show that bright and genuine smile when they talked about the princess.

An Zhengnan himself probably didn't realize that when they talked about Ouyang Xueqing, the corner of his mouth would curled naturally and the sharpness of his eyes would softened a lot. Even when the tone of his voice was still even and polite, she could definitely detect the hidden gentleness beneath them.

It was so subtle that if she didn't pay close attention to him, she would definitely miss it.

Unfortunately, she did.

Because she had always been looking at him.

Because all her attention was always focused on him, never wavered even a bit.

That was when the accident before the birthday banquet happened.

An Zhengnan was supposed to escort her back and forth as The Princess' order. Yet, when Ling Xiaochen had dashed back after searching her entire manor for the gift that she had forgotten as fast as she could when she knew that An Zhengnan was waiting, she realized that An Zhengnan couldn't be found anywhere.

When she saw the empty courtyard, she couldn't help but feel disappointed and envious.

Disappointed because even when the person with him was her, he would still think of another, to the point of forgetting her.

Envy…for the girl that had always been on his mind.

Was all the time that they had spent together didn't mean anything for him?

Was she the one that had been enjoying and having fun?

Ling Xiaochen was sulking as she waited at the main door of her manor. When An Zhengnan had returned after being shooed away by Ouyang Xueqing, he found the girl that he had accidentally left behind was crouching on the ground staring at him with accusing glare.

He didn't do it on purpose ah, he swore!

It was just that…the thought of leaving the Princess alone with Ren Yupei didn't sit well with him. Thus, he had sneaked away just to make sure that she was safe and sound before going back to his duty.

Yet, he had unknowingly stayed longer when he found himself couldn't take his eyes off the Princess.

She was wearing a golden robes and thin, elegant crown on her hair with many delicate accessories. Even when he knew that she must have felt uncomfortable with the heavy make-up that she wore, he commanded her composure and elegance as she took every one of her steps.

Her lifted chin and confident eyes, the faint smile plastered upon her face, her slightly blushing cheeks because of the heat.

She was so…dazzling at that moment as he subconsciously held his breath.

He snapped back from his reverie when The Princess asked about her friend's whereabouts. He dashed back as fast as his four legs could bring him, but then it was too late.

An Zhengnan could only put on an apologetic smile as he bowed guiltily. "Miss Ling, please forgive me for my tardiness. I was held back by something just now."

Ling Xiaochen turned her gaze away as she replied in a low spirit. "What was it?"

"Um…" An Zhengnan scratched his head awkwardly but he felt that keeping the matter was unnecessary so he replied honestly: "I escorted The Princess."

Ling Xiaochen smiled in dismay. She knew it. What would she expect? Did she want An Zhengnan to say anything, any excuse that didn't have to do with The Princess? Did she hope that he could at least lie to make her feel better?

But then, why should he lie? What was she to him?

An Zhengnan felt guiltier when he saw the young girl's gloomy face. He felt that he hadn't been responsible about his job so he bowed once again and apologized genuinely. "I am very sorry, Miss! You can punish me however you want!"

Ling Xiaochen patted her dress as she waved her hand dismissively. "No, that's okay." It was not the first time anyway, Ling Xiaochen had somewhat gotten used to it. "Let's go to the palace. And I told you not to call me 'Miss', Xiaochen is okay."

An Zhengnan wanted to say more, yet the girl had already turned and walked away. In the end, he just swallow his words down his throat. Their journey that was supposed to only last fifteen minutes felt like fifteen years.

It was awkward, silent and weird inside the carriage. Ling Xiaochen was a bubbly and talkative girl, that's why, her being this quiet and gloomy is such an unusual sight that An Zhengnan couldn't get used to.

After all, they had known each other for quite some time. So the girl's rarely abnormal behavior was noticed by him.

An Zhengnan felt like it must be his fault.

He shouldn't have left her alone and gone to The Princess. After all, she was The Princess' friend. She must have felt lonely from being left behind.

An Zhengnan remembered how whiny the little Ouyang Xueqing was whenever she had to play alone, she was adamant to follow him and Ren Yupei anywhere. She had clung to his sleeve and beg him to take her with her. Her big round eyes was glistening with tears.

She looked so aggrieved that no one could ever resisted her pitiful look.

In the end, An Zhengnan had to do his duty as a knight while babysitting the Princess at the same time.