Struck by Lightning

When Helian Weiwei woke up, she found herself in a peculiar situation. The man in front of her, stretching lazily, exuded a cunning and elegant aura, reminiscent of a fox. Reflecting on the concubine selection banquet, she realized it was the quickest one she had ever witnessed. In the past, when she read novels, she had to sift through layers of information. She wondered about the Qinqi calligraphy and painting performance and why she fell asleep, only to have the Third Prince offer a cloth to Helian Jiao'er. It seemed that the renowned first prince of the world wasn't as impressive as expected.

With a nonchalant yawn, she planned to gather her belongings and leave when she noticed everyone around her wearing expressions of shock, as if they had seen a ghost. Helian Jiao'er, on the other hand, displayed a pale face filled with resentment and malice directed at her, as if she wished to strangle her to death.

Before she could react, a hand appeared in front of her eyes—a well-groomed hand with slender fingers and immaculate nails. It reminded her of the beauty and sharpness of a gun. A cool baritone voice broke the silence, urging her to wipe her face. The voice was icy, jolting her back to reality.

Helian Weiwei followed his finger and wiped her face, realizing her fingers were stained with pastry crumbs. She glanced at the fingers that had offered her the cloth—they were clean and pleasing to the eye. She couldn't help but wonder about the man's sexual orientation, given his attention to cleanliness. It seemed her earlier assumption about the Third Prince's preferences was correct.

To her surprise, he didn't refuse her when she returned the cloth, which contradicted her expectations. She had anticipated him rejecting it due to his apparent hygiene preferences. It was the first time in her life that her reasoning failed her. This man seemed even more unpredictable than she had imagined.

Rather than dwell on it, she considered it just a cloth and didn't see the need to argue with men. She picked it up, casually wiped the corners of her mouth, and inadvertently carried the faint scent of a man, indicating his refined lifestyle. She handed the cloth back to him, addressing him as "His Royal Highness Xie San."

Baili Jia Jue examined the cloth, now stained with crumbs, and furrowed his eyebrows slightly. Helian Weiwei continued her casual demeanor and suggested that she would wash it in the future and return it to him. She expected him to refuse, considering his cleanliness, and she didn't want to waste time washing a cloth for him.

To her surprise, Baili Jia Jue observed her for a moment, a fleeting smile crossing his eyes, and he responded in a low voice with a simple "Hmm." Helian Weiwei was dumbfounded. How could he not follow her script? For the first time, her reasoning had failed her.

His unexpected reaction left her questioning her assumptions about him. Baili Jia Jue looked at her with a calm expression, but his eyes appeared colder than when he had arrived. Everyone present watched the scene, confused by the Third Prince's intentions.

Helian Weiwei's figure was attractive, but her dark complexion was unflattering—like a black briquette. It seemed unlikely that the Third Prince would choose such a person. The onlookers couldn't comprehend Baili Jia Jue's thoughts, as he didn't say a word to Helian Weiwei but strolled away, one hand hanging casually by his side while the other held a small bald head, heading towards the Spirit Realm Forest.

It was as if the handkerchief he had thrown to Helian Weiwei was just a casual gesture. Even Sun Gonggong, who followed him, was bewildered and promptly followed suit.

Helian Jiao'er felt the utmost embarrassment and humiliation. She had expected Baili Jia Jue to address her, and those around her shared the same anticipation. She prepared to stand up, but to her dismay, Baili Jia Jue ignored her.

Helian Jiao'er's fingertips clenched the cloth tightly, contorting its shape. She seethed with anger, blaming Helian Weiwei once again. Why did that woman always appear in such situations?

To alleviate Helian Jiao'er's embarrassment, Helian Mei stood up and took her arm while expressing disdain. She sarcastically mentioned that it was well-known that the Third Prince had certain preferences, and Helian Weiwei had attempted to attract his attention. The ladies present, who had also held a negative view of Helian Weiwei, stood up in agreement.

Helian Mei stated that everyone knew how to play such tricks to gain the prince's favor, implying that Helian Weiwei's attempt was futile. Mockery filled the air as they belittled her.

Helian Weiwei paid no attention to them. She didn't engage in arguments because, since Baili Jia Jue had left, she had a more important matter to focus on. Yuan Hao, who had awakened, communicated with her through their spiritual connection, advising her to be cautious in the Spirit Realm Forest. He warned against using her martial qi carelessly and emphasized the need to observe the divine beasts and release energy only when necessary. Otherwise, she might encounter a powerful divine beast that could overpower her.

Helian Weiwei acknowledged his instructions and stood up. As she rose, she noticed the disdainful looks from the wealthy young girls and even the princes standing behind them. She had long become accustomed to such treatment. Now, her mind was focused on what Yuan Xiaoxiao had told her. The quality of the divine beast she encountered would likely affect her cultivation as a warrior.

She hadn't expected that a simple concubine selection would lead to involvement with divine beasts. Her initial purpose in attending the event had been thwarted, but she considered exploring the Spirit Realm Forest to be a potentially rewarding alternative.

With a cold smile, she disregarded the people around her and grabbed an osmanthus cake before leaving the banquet. Her attitude annoyed them, as she seemed uninterested in engaging with them.

Helian Jiao'er bit her lip, tightly clenching the meager piece of flesh. Despite taking a deep breath, she couldn't suppress the jealousy brewing deep within her heart. It seemed she had been too lenient with Helian Weiwei, that shameless woman. She shouldn't have listened to her grandfather and let her be.

Now, Helian Jiao'er was determined. If Helian Weiwei wanted to enter the Spirit Realm Forest, she wouldn't allow it!