118 An Engagement From the Pas (2/2)

”Fuyao,” he called out while looking at her. ”I passed by Yaocheng and heard that Tie Cheng had followed you. Why isn't he here?”

”I sent him on another mission,” she answered slowly. ”He will catch up when it's completed.”

”What could possibly be more important than protecting you?” Zhan Beiye questioned without signs of relaxing. ”He does not seem like the sort to be willing to leave your side.”

”I ordered him to,” she explained simply before turning around.

”Why?” he questioned again, refusing to leave it as it is.

”No why!” she exclaimed, no longer able to contain herself. ”I like it!”

Zhan Beiye remained silent and calm. Seeing him look at her got her feeling guilty immediately. She sucked in a breath before rambling, ”Oh, sorry, I am a little tired and lost it.”

”You're unhappy, Fuyao,” Zhan Beiye stated. ”From the moment I saw you at the cliff, I knew something was off. What is happening?”

Meng Fuyao opened her mouth and closed it. 'What happened? Nothing, just… I met someone and as long as she exists they will meet sooner or later. Nothing bad about meeting earlier, though.'

She sighed, wondering how an aggressive man like him could actually be so delicate. What she did not know was that his care and concern was a limited edition. For example, Ya Lanzhu would never get a taste of it.

But what was the point in her confiding in him? That would only add to his already troubled heart.

”It's about him, isn't it?” Meng Fuyao remained quiet, but Zhan Beiye had already answered with a tinge of loneliness in his voice, despite the smile on his face. ”Only he is able to cause such a disruption to your behavior.”

Meng Fuyao's her jumped. She looked up at him and saw that he was focusing on roasting the fish. Sensing her gaze, he laughed. ”Why are you looking at me? Afraid I'll get hurt? I'm happy enough that you have that thought.”

”It's not that!” Meng Fuyao raised her voice as if to prove herself. ”I've said this before, and I'll repeat this. I do not have any weird feelings toward any of you. What I hope for the most, is for you guys to go on your way and I on mine.”

”It is us who have strange feelings toward you,” he smiled cheerily. ”Knowing that it is a rejection for him as well makes me feel better. Aye, Fuyao, you have rejected us both, so make sure you don't change your mind, or I won't let you off.”

”That's enough.” Meng Fuyao let out a helpless laugh. After some thought, she added, ”I sent Tie Cheng to escort the Lotus Princess back to Zhongzhou. Bumped into her group and happened to rescue her from a group of bandits.”

”Buddha Lotus?” Zhan Beiye frowned. ”Feng Jingfan? The youngest 14th princess? Known to be born with a lotus in her mouth?”

”You know her too?” asked Meng Fuyao, before it occurred to her that if the princess was Zhangsun Wuji's wife-to-be, why wasn't a royal member of Tiansha Nation aware of it?

”Not really, but I have heard of her,” he responded slowly. ”Why is she heading there?”

Meng Fuyao bit her lips, hesitating but eventually sharing what she knew. ”Said she's Zhangsun Wuji's wife-to-be, and she is heading there to visit.”

”Wife-to-be?” Zhan Beiye repeated, eyes widening and almost dropping his fish into the fire. ”Why hasn't anyone mention… ah, not right.”

”What's wrong?” asked Meng Fuyao, evidently nervous.

”Now that you have mentioned it, I do remember him getting into an engagement when he was a teen, and a painting containing military strategies was given to her. No other news came after. But if he was really in an engagement, he should have been married a long time ago. Why has that not happened?”

Suddenly, he flew into a rage. ”What a man he is! Vowing to take care of you when he has a wife. What is his motive?”

Meng Fuyao kept quiet, and Lord Yuan Bao poked his head out before scuttling to stand in between them. He slapped his chest and bum, pointing here and there while squeaking out loud. The duo stared at him, not understanding what intense emotions he was trying to express. Realizing that he wasn't getting his point across, he shot his tiny head toward the sky in exasperation. His biscuit box came to mind for sure, but he had unfortunately finished them. Anxious, he started plucking the hair on his bum to form the word ”no.”

Massaging his bum, Meng Fuyao said, ”When you're finally done it's going to be a new day and your bum will be bald. Forget it, it's not worth the trouble.”