Twisted Logic

Zhao Xing didn't have anything specific she wanted from the prince, but wouldn't it be a shame not to take this opportunity?

She was just worried that if she doesn't directly ask for a reward he'd probably decide what her reward would be, by then she wouldn't be able to decline the offer.

Zhao Xing grinned widely. "That's more like it. Don't worry I'm not unreasonable, I won't ask for anything silly for sure."

Zhang Zhengyang chuckled.

"I heard that you hadn't been so well behaved at Little Merchant Valley and got into multiple arguments with Xiao Qi." He asked smiling.

Zhao Xing's triumphant smile faded a bit when she heard this, she almost thought the matter of poisoning had been exposed, her eyes subconsciously observed Zhang Zhengyang's expression. She cleared her throat, "I…Isn't it Xiao Qi's bad temper? How can you keep people like that by your side? She's so annoying why won't we argue? Besides, it's not like I was the one going against her, it's more of the other way round…I didn't do anything wrong…" Zhao Xing answered and folded her hands. She cursed within her, if Xiao Qi wasn't keeping her secret, she would have badmouthed her there and then.

The Crown Prince saw her looking a bit guilty and decided to pry a bit further, "Is that so?"

Zhao Xing looked at him from the corner of her eyes, "Zhang Zhengyang, I've only left your side for so long and you no longer trust me?"

The Crown Prince scoffed. "When has this prince ever trusted you?"

Zhao Xing almost choked when she heard this. She glared at him, but the other party didn't seem to care at all, he poured himself a cup of water and slowly drank.

"But it does seem that you had lots of fun when I wasn't by your side." He asked.

Still annoyed Zhao Xing didn't hesitate to take this opportunity to strike back. "Of course I did, with no fear of being watched, and enough freedom." She wasn't lying, she really did have fun. She didn't have to worry too much even if her gender was revealed. She could just act freely like a spoilt child. If she had an opportunity she would like to visit Little Merchant Valley.

"Zhang Zhengyang, though that city is small, and there's nothing much that's special about it, it's a very comfortable place to be. In the future I'd like to visit it once again." She said thinking about the fun '2 week vacation' she got. Even if she returned poisoned, she had still enjoyed it. The place was lively, and had so many fun customs she wanted to try. It's true she hadn't seen much about this empire, but she just liked the feeling of being far from watchful eyes. And the ability she had to just get up and go outside when she felt like it.

The Crown Prince looked at her, "Is that what you wish for?"

His words brought her back to her senses. "How can that be?" Her eyes narrowed. "Zhang Zhengyang, unless if I explicitly say this is my wish, you can't count it as fulfilling the promise you made today." This guy was so cunning, if she had absentmindedly agreed just now, wouldn't it mean that she had lost the wish she painstakingly worked for? That would be unfair.

Zhang Zhengyang smiled. "You really are smart when it has to do with your interest."

Zhao Xing scoffed, "It's called survival instinct." Nothing weird about it. If she always falls into his trap, she was sure to get herself in trouble one day. She had to be extra careful.

Zhao Xing looked outside the window and saw how dark it was. "Zhang Zhengyang, it's so late and you haven't had anything to eat yet…" She wondered if it was ok for a man his age to stay a day without eating, especially someone of his caliber. He had been out working all day. If it were herself she would have already collapsed. Just going to school was already mentally and physically draining for her. She would have to eat and rest to revitalize herself, oh, and of course and read manhuas.

The Crown Prince hadn't come in the name of a prince and so there were certain privileges he couldn't enjoy. She wondered if she could get anything for him. But the last thing she knew how to do was to cook. The last time she tired she remembered what her mother told her.

["Xing Xing, look…look at this, what is this? The poor ingredients! Look, if this continues, they are sure to sign a petition against you to never touch them again. Forget it, you'll learn sooner or later, in the future you let mommy cook, alright?"]

She had tried so hard that day but had failed woefully. She no longer has the confidence.

Zhao Xing sighed. At this time it should be around 11pm. Should they just sleep on it?

Just as she was brainstorming for ideas, there was a knock on her door.

"Sir Zhao, is Sir Zhang with you? I prepared some food for my husband and there's still a lot left, I was wondering, if you don't mind…"

Zhao Xing heard the first few words of her sentence and rushed to open the door. The Mayor's wife had already packed the food into food boxes. Zhao Xing couldn't be happier.

"Madam, my friend is here indeed, he had neglected his supper today, thank you madam for caring." She said this and turned to beckon at Zhang Zhengyang to come.

Zhang Zhengyang stood up and walked over, he also thanked the madam.

In the Mayor's house, people only knew that Zhao Xing was Zhang Zhengyang's friend that had accompanied him to the south for disaster relief. Though Zhao Xing didn't seem to be there to help them and had even disappeared for some time due some official matters she had to attend to (according to what Zhang Zhengyang had explained to them, of course), they were grateful that the government had come to their aid and didn't mind Zhao Xing living in their house at all.

Zhao Xing took the box and wanted to hand it over to him. "Zhang Zhengyang, you can go now, go eat."

The corner of the Crown Prince's lips rose. "Are you chasing me out?"

"How can that be?" It was already late, though she's a well-known night owl, and had idled around the whole day, she already got used to sleeping early here, especially her time in Little Merchant Valley, even if she didn't sleep, she wanted to lie down and do nothing but roll in bed, ok?

But the prince had other plans, and that was for her to keep him company as he ate.

Zhao Xing figured out what he wanted, "You go first, let Xiao Chen keep you company"

"I asked him to retire. In addition this prince never eats alone."

Zhao Xing's face darkened.

'What was the logic behind that?'

In the end Zhao Xing succumbed to her fate. It wasn't easy having this kind of life.

She suddenly wanted to go home.

Zhang Zhengyang smiled, he was glad that things were going back to the way it was, when she would get annoyed and he would tease her. "You should also try some."

Zhao Xing glared at him.