Reborn Daughter: The Young Lady Wants to Make a Trouble

After breakfast, Li Xueyue was taken back to her room where she was supposed to stay in bed.

She sighed as she played with her geography book, twirling the quill in her pen in boredom. She was tired of a long day of study; this was all she could learn about the area around Wuyi and the route to Hanjian.

"As studious as ever." A lazy voice came from outside the door.

Her head snapped to that direction, her eyes widening in disbelief when she saw his tall frame leaning against the door.

"What are you doing here? Who let you into my room?" Li Xueyue asked, although she was grateful for his company. However, she couldn't let him know this, otherwise his huge self-esteem would be aroused.

"As warm and sunny as ever." Yu Zhen snorted.

"I would feel much better if you could make an appointment instead of just coming randomly."

His eyes twinkled with amusement. He wondered if she caught the double meaning in her curious words.

"Besides, if you come to me like this again, it will be bad for both of our reputations." Li Xueyue frowned and looked towards the door. She didn't want to sound so spoiled and bad-tempered, but these words had to be said. Once or twice was fine, but now... they should publicly identify what they are, but what are they? Friends?

What if Wen Jinkai was right and she came across as a loose woman? In times like these, a woman's virtue meant everything.

Yu Zhen considered her words thoughtfully. "I'll take that into consideration."

"how so?"

"You'll see."

Li Xueyue blinked at his ambiguity.

"And, aren't you glad to see me? I'm here to get you out of the cage."

Before she knew it, her eyes lit up and her face beamed with joy, like a child stumbling into a surprise birthday party.

"Really?" she asked.

"Really," he confirmed.

"really?"

"Yes," he deadpanned, raising an eyebrow at her childish antics. Without hesitation, she dropped her book and quill and jumped out of her chair.

"Today, many merchants are coming into the city, and it's very lively." Yu Zhen couldn't help but give her a doting smile.

"Really?" she asked, hastily getting ready.

"I'm beginning to regret asking you to give up studying. Apparently, you need to develop a larger vocabulary," he said humorously.

Yu Zhen watched her pull the tulle from one ear to the other, revealing only a pair of bright eyes that twinkled like stars. He shuddered at his own words, deciding that she was right, that he was indeed tacky.

"Why are you wearing a veil?" he asked sincerely.

She adjusted her hair to hide the golden threads that held her veil upright. "Well, I'm already bedridden, and wandering around with my face exposed isn't the best idea. What if the Emperor finds out the truth?"

Yu Zhen immediately noticed the caution in her words. "I understand."

"Have you asked my parents to agree to take me on this outing?"

Yu Zhen pursed his lips. "No."

"What?" She turned to look at him, her eyes suddenly filled with disappointment. The previous excitement and energy vortex disappeared. Her eyes, which sparkled like topaz in the sun, suddenly became dull and turned into dull river pebbles.

"Then I'm not sure I can go—"

"But one of your brothers recommended that I take you out." Yu Zhen hurriedly explained, panicking. He eagerly examined her face, hoping to see her appearance clearly. The veil was thin, barely covering her features, but from a distance, all he could see were her doe-like eyes, like a fawn nibbling in the forest.

"Which one...?" Li Xueyue asked, grateful for their help.

“He thinks he’s cool because he’s as cold as an iceberg, but in reality, he’s just too arrogant.”

"Hehe! Brother Chen is not arrogant!" She bit her lip and opened her eyes wide to defend him. What's more, if a person is in the same position as him, they have every right to be proud of their achievements.

"Well, that's an apt description. You thought of him immediately, didn't you?" Yu Zhen smiled.

"You shouldn't have insulted him."

"Who says arrogance is an insult? Just have confidence in yourself." When she hesitated, his smile widened.

"Well, are you coming, Sunshine?" He held out a hand in her direction, waiting for her to take it.

Li Xueyue stared at her thick leather-gloved palms. His clothes looked particularly intimidating, dark and fitted, hugging his muscles perfectly. Her eyes flickered to the pattern of his clothes, a brave dragon roaring on his chest. From the sleek sleeves protecting his forearms to the loose white jacket, everything about him was perfect, and she dared not neglect it.

Yu Zhen noticed her obvious hesitation and immediately took off his gloves. "Force of habit," he explained, and handed it to a man behind him whom she recognized as a foreign guard.

"Well, that's better now, isn't it?" He held out his hand thoughtfully.

She placed her hand over his, barely touching it. His fingers instantly clasped her small hand. If she had known, he would never let her go from now on. Their hands intertwined, and he pulled her forward until she stood closer to him.

"You're so cheeky," she said, wrapping an arm around her back to hold her closer. He was much taller than she was, and he could rest his chin comfortably on the top of her head if he wanted to.

They were in her cozy room, but she realized how sensitive he was. Were all the men in Han like this? Did they judge the women there less? In Wuyi, no one ever put the blame on the men, but of course, that was true in many places on the mainland.

"That's a complicated word," he quipped, lowering his head so she wouldn't have to crane her neck so much. He enjoyed the intimacy of this position, and she finally let her guard down, admiring his features, her eyes wandering.

“You’ve improved, and I’m impressed.” He smiled softly as she kicked his shin. It stung, but he was too proud to admit it. He just smiled at the cub trying to be a lion.

"Don't you have anything better to do than bully me?"

Yu Zhen’s eyes swept across her face, staring deep into her eyes. His lips twitched with suppressed laughter. Another remark with a double meaning. She accused him of bullying her, but she was the biggest teaser he had ever seen.

He leaned forward, and her body tensed. His lips brushed her ear gently and teasingly, tickling her. "I prefer being you."

Li Xueyue tilted her head, not quite understanding the hidden meaning in his words. To do...? She opened her eyes wide in disbelief and tried to pull her hand back, but it was too late. She had fallen into his trap.

Yu Zhen laughed at her words, his chest rumbling, and he bit his lower lip as her pale skin flushed a lovely pink, deciding that from now on, that would be his favorite color.

"Relax, little one," he soothed her attempts to break free and her feeble kicks.

"How can you say such dirty words in public?!"

"How could you understand it so quickly? Unless you are too dirty." Yu Zhen sneered.

"That's because it's so obvious!"

"Are you sure?" He shook his head and scolded. "Who would have thought that such a strict woman could have the dirtiest mind?"

"I don't have dirty thoughts!" Li Xueyue defended, her face getting redder and redder.

"Oh, but you did."

"no, I do not."

"Honey, I can argue with you all day long." Yu Zhen teased. He couldn't wipe the bright smile off his face. She was too flustered to think properly.

"Me too," she retorted.

"So you admitted it," he pointed out

"Admit what?"

He said expressionlessly: "You are not only filthy-hearted, but also narrow-minded."

Her jaw dropped open in disbelief at his false accusation. "Y-Y-!"

"Yes, yes, I'm so shameless to have pushed you to this point." When she whispered back, his smile widened to his eyes, "Humph!"

"Has anyone ever told you that you are cute—"

"—when I'm angry." She finished for him. "You need a better phrase."

"Oh, I'm sure you're quite the flirt, Miss Know-It-All," he teased, raising his hand to touch her cheek, but she beat him to it and grabbed his, pulling angrily at both of her cheeks. It was together. What irritated her was that he had no baby fat on his face, and she was just pulling at his flawless skin.

He laughed again at her feeble attempt and her height. She stood on her tiptoes, and with one thrust, she fell on top of him.

"Why do we always fall!" She complained in irritation as she bumped into his chest, but as always, he was able to steady them both. This gave him the perfect opportunity to hug her tightly while resting his chin comfortably on the top of her head. He enjoyed the unexpected hug, the scent of her hair and the coolness of her skin.

"I'd rather you fell in love with me," he told her.