Chapter 201: Like Who?

Seeing his complicated expression, An Luo pressed her lips together and said nothing.

"Uh…"

Thinking of her own excited expression from just now, she awkwardly scratched her palm with her fingernail, her toes gripping the ground so hard they cramped.

Crap, she'd been way too obvious just now.

Cheng Chengxuan wouldn't think she was some improper girl, would he?

Although she really was that kind of person, she still wanted to argue her case a little.

An Luo anxiously scratched her head.

"Um… the third-person perspective is random, I can't control it either."

"I didn't expect to bump into such an awkward scene."

As she spoke, she tried her best to widen her eyes into that uniquely college-era gaze, still clear and untainted by the beatings of society.

Let me recall properly.

This is the look, right?

"Pfft."

Cheng Chengxuan watched with composed ease as she scratched her ears and cheeks, racking her brain for explanations, taking in every little expression and movement of hers.

Although his face showed nothing, he even looked a little suspicious of being angry.

But in truth, he had been holding back laughter the whole time.

But when he saw that look in her eyes, he really couldn't hold it in anymore.

She really was too cute.

Hearing the laughter, a wave of heat instantly crawled up An Luo's face, flushing all the way to the backs of her ears, and she muttered softly with a red face.

"What's so funny, is it really that hilarious?"

"Ahem."

Cheng Chengxuan restrained his expression, but the smile in his eyes still couldn't be hidden.

"I just think Miss An is very cute."

What to do—such a real, cute, mischievous, vivid her—he liked her even more.

He was truly happy to discover this new side of Miss An.

Cute?

That word applied to an adult isn't exactly a compliment!

An Luo puffed up her cheeks and looked up, about to retort a couple of lines, when she met someone's deep gaze, those eyes carrying undisguised emotion; she felt as if scalded and instinctively looked away.

"An Luo, don't dodge, look into my eyes."

Sensing her tentative cat-like paw trying to shrink back again, Cheng Chengxuan naturally wouldn't agree to that.

Unlike his usual clear and mellow voice, this time his tone was unusually stern, carrying a hint of overbearing and unquestionable authority.

That voice reminded An Luo of her homeroom teacher back in school.

She immediately puffed out her chest, sat up straight, and with the attitude of seriously listening to a lecture, stared intently into his eyes.

Cheng Chengxuan gazed at her eyes with both gentleness and dominance, speaking word by word.

This time, he wouldn't let her retreat any further.

"I like you, do you like me?"

His dark, burning gaze, so direct it didn't hide a thing—An Luo fell into it, her mind went completely blank, as if she couldn't even think, and almost instinctively opened her mouth to respond.

"L-like."

Hearing those two words, the corners of Cheng Chengxuan's mouth lifted unconsciously, and he continued in a gentle voice, coaxing patiently.

"Hmm? Like who?"

An Luo nervously clenched her hands together, looking at him firmly.

"Cheng Chengxuan."

"I like Cheng Chengxuan!"

"Good, I heard you."

Cheng Chengxuan smiled with complete satisfaction, his tone carrying a faint indulgence.

"Knock knock knock!"

The room door was suddenly knocked several times urgently.

"Prince's Son!"

Cheng Chengxuan glanced at the door with slight displeasure, then looked at An Luo, his tone gentle.

"I have some matters on my end, let's talk again later."

After hanging up the video, An Luo hadn't even had time to pat her burning cheeks when she inadvertently caught sight of herself in the mirror.

"Oh my god!"

She had just used that pious, about-to-join-the-Party expression to say those words to Cheng Chengxuan?!

"Aaaaaah!"

An Luo covered her face, nearly going crazy.

"So embarrassing!"

"Oh god! Let me lose my memory on the spot!"

……

Ever since hearing the news that the Sun and Meng families had escaped from the Capital, the Shunhe Emperor was furious.

He hadn't had a good expression for several days straight, which made things miserable for the Imperial Officials attending court, as well as the palace attendants serving in the bedchamber.

These past few days, in this imperial palace, who knows how many eunuchs and palace maids have been dragged away, and how many more wronged souls have been added to the depths of the palace's backyard.

As for Minister Sun and Vice Minister Meng, the two who stirred up this storm, they were sitting in a horse carriage, hurrying along the road.

"Slurp, slurp."

Vice Minister Meng cradled half a watermelon in his arms, scooped up a big mouthful with a spoon and stuffed it into his mouth, squinting his eyes in enjoyment and satisfaction.

"This kind of weather is perfect for a bite of ice-chilled watermelon."

"Old Sun? Why aren't you eating? Don't like it? Then leave it there, don't touch it, I'll eat it later."

Hearing this, Minister Sun rolled his eyes, glared at him, and fiercely scooped up a big chunk and put it in his mouth.

What kind of person is this?

Eating from the bowl, eyeing the pot, and still coveting what's in someone else's hands!

Wouldn't it be better if everything was just given to you?!

If Vice Minister Meng heard this, he would surely cry out in great injustice.

He would certainly shrug his shoulders and wave his hands with an innocent look, then say: "I really just don't want to waste it."

"Sigh!"

Minister Sun let out a heavy sigh, his face full of worry.

"I'm just worried about Yanqing. This child has set his mind entirely on going after A Yun. This journey of mountains and rivers is long, and I can't set my mind at ease."

"What's there to worry about?"

With half a watermelon down his belly, Vice Minister Meng took out a wet cloth and wiped his mouth and fingers.

"Your grandson, my grandson-in-law, is clever, resourceful, and capable, and his martial arts are not bad either. He'll definitely be able to protect himself."

"Besides, there are quite a few guards following by his side, so he'll surely be fine. Just set your mind at ease."

Although he said this, looking at the fried chicken, pizza, and cola on the table, Vice Minister Meng suddenly lost his appetite too.

He cast a resentful glance at a certain someone.

"Look at you, why on earth did you have to bring this up? Now look, I can't eat either."

Seeing him like this, Minister Sun's expression eased slightly.

At least you still have some semblance of an ancestor.

But the next moment, Vice Minister Meng casually pulled out a small paper bag.

"Fine then, let's have some hawthorn slices to whet the appetite."

Minister Sun's mouth twitched uncontrollably, and he rolled his eyes dramatically.

I thought you had a conscience after all, so worried you couldn't eat.

Turns out when you said you couldn't eat, it was because you'd stuffed yourself!

The two old children, bickering and fussing all the way, the sky quickly turned dark.

At night, the moment Vice Minister Meng entered the farm and saw Cheng Old Madam, he asked.

"Old Madam, has that child Yanqing already reunited with you all?"

For several days in a row, every time they met, Vice Minister Meng's first words were to ask whether Yanqing had found them.

Cheng Old Madam had already grown used to it.

She shook her head once again.

"Not yet, but Qiuyun has already sent people to meet and assist him."

Vice Minister Meng sighed.

"Sigh, let's hope everything goes smoothly."

Although he had told Old Sun with his mouth that children and grandchildren have their own blessings, comforting him and telling him to set his mind at ease.

But after all, he was their own child, and one he had watched grow up—how could he possibly not worry?

But the two of them couldn't both fall apart.

So, he could only continue to put on a brash, carefree front.

Vice Minister Meng wiped his bitter, woebegone face.

Sigh, this is really tough!

"Alright then, I'll head back first."

"If there's any news of Yanqing, please trouble Old Madam to let me know."

After saying this, Vice Minister Meng rubbed his worried face and returned to reality.

Yu'an came over carrying a large food box, just in time to see his disappearing back.

The little fellow glanced at the big box of snacks in his arms, then at the disappearing back of his Zengwaizufù, tilted his little head, and blinked his big eyes in confusion.

"What's wrong with Zengwaizufù?"

Today he actually didn't take snacks back with him?