2568

2568 Side Story 72: Chase

“And?”

Xiao Ba stopped in her actions and placed the remaining petal back before she continued asking curiously, “Then, how did your friend react after hearing this?”

Tuan Zi was dazed and muttered, “Um, it seems like she didn’t say anything… I-I think she slept…”

Xiao Ba snorted and felt regret. “How can she not say anything? Don’t you know how to ask?”

“A-ask what?” Tuan Zi was beyond confused.

Xiao Ba shook her head helplessly. “Of course, ask him who he likes! This is such a good opportunity. How can she not ask? Your friend is too dumb.”

Tuan Zi’s ears warmed up. “She… probably didn’t think so much…”

At that time, the impact was too huge, and she was stunned. Then, she fell asleep in a daze.

Xiao Ba grunted lightly, expecting better from that friend. “You need to know your enemies to win all your battles. She hasn’t even fought but escaped first. What is this? Now, she doesn’t even know who her love rival is…”

As she spoke, she felt her head hurt.

Tuan Zi shrunk her neck like a quail.

Seeing her in this manner, Xiao Ba could not help but chuckle. She patted Tuan Zi’s head lovingly. “Okay, okay. I’m not talking about you. Why are you afraid?”

Tuan Zi lowered her head. “N-nothing. It’s just… My friend is quite close to me, so I’m a little worried… I see that she hasn’t been sleeping or eating well lately…”

Xiao Ba sighed and gently pinched her face. “I can tell. Did she also lead you to suffer? Sigh, our Tuan Zi is good at everything, but you’re too soft-hearted.”

However, it sounds like Tuan Zi should be really quite close to that friend. If not, she wouldn’t care so much.

She also unknowingly found out that Tuan Zi seemed rather weak these two days and came to ask her in detail. Then, she found out that Tuan Zi had a friend who met with some trouble.

“According to what you previously said, your friend knew him for quite some time but only recently discovered that she likes him?”

Tuan Zi nodded, and her entire person seemed to be on fire.

Luckily, Xiao Ba was thinking seriously and did not notice her abnormality. “Were they on good terms previously?”

Tuan Zi stammered, “I guess… quite good…”

“Then, before this, did that man say that he has someone he likes?”

“…Nope.”

Xiao Ba suddenly thought of something, and her eyes lit up. “In this case, could the person he’s talking about be your friend?”

Tuan Zi was dazed. “I don’t think so?”

She thought for a while and struggled to explain, “He seems to have… always treated m-my friend as a younger sister—no, treated her as a child… I don’t think this is very possible. Besides, he does have another girl beside him, and he treats her well. He only said these words after that girl appeared.”

With this connection, it was understood tacitly who he referred to.

Xiao Ba knitted her brows slightly. “I see… That’s indeed rather troublesome then…”

She supported her chin with one hand. “In that case, there might not be much hope.”

Tuan Zi’s face fell.

Xiao Ba’s heart ached as she hugged Tuan Zi and comforted her. What kind of scum broke Tuan Zi’s friend’s heart and even implicated Tuan Zi!?

Xiao Ba scolded the other party in her heart, but she still had a gentle and sweet smile.

She did not wish to see Tuan Zi suffer. After much thinking, she decided to salvage the issue. “That man didn’t say who he likes, right?”

“…Mm.”

“He also didn’t reject your friend to her face, right?”

“…Yeah.”

“He’s still not together with anyone now, right?”

Tuan Zi thought about it closely and lightly nodded.

Xiao Ba snapped her fingers. “That’s right! Anyway, he’s still single. She just has to pursue him!”

Tuan Zi suddenly coughed and grabbed Xiao Ba’s sleeves tightly, her entire person burning. “W-what?”

Xiao Ba patted her back and said, “I’m saying that your friend can pursue him since he hasn’t decided! Didn’t you previously say that the man didn’t know your friend’s interest in him? Perhaps she has a chance? Hm?”

Tuan Zi’s face flushed red. “T-that’s not too good, right…”

Xiao Ba thought that she had just grown up and was confused. She was inevitably shy when she heard such matters.

She pressed her lips against each other and smiled, her eyes dazzling. “Little Tuan Zi, you still don’t understand. Actually, it’s not very important who does the chasing. What’s important is that your friend really likes him. If she doesn’t even confess or try, won’t she have regrets? She can’t wait until he settles everything before she says these things, right?”

As Tuan Zi listened, she felt that it made sense.

She nodded in a daze. “T-then, let me think… I’ll ask her to think…”

Xiao Ba gently rubbed her face. “If you have any issues, you can come find me!”

…

Tuan Zi started thinking about this problem seriously. Later on, she realized… that it was very hard.

It was mainly because she had not much experience. Not only did she have no experience of chasing other people, but she also had no experience of being pursued.

It wasn’t that nobody liked her.

On the contrary, she had always been very attractive. In the red-gold heavenly phoenix clan alone, quite a few people had such interests in her.

It was a pity that for so long, everyone loved, doted on her, and treated her preciously, so they didn’t even dare to seriously confess to her. They were afraid that it was too sudden.

Thus, when Tuan Zi realized this, she did not even have an example for reference.

She thought deeply. The person closest to me is A’Yue.

She thought about A’Yue and the Emperor… How did the Emperor chase her?

…

Zi Chen had not seen Tuan Zi these few days. It wasn’t that he did not want to, but he realized that Tuan Zi seemed to have been intentionally and unintentionally avoiding him after he said those words.

He reflected on it and felt that he was too anxious, even if he was already very careful and restrained. However, he really could not lie when she asked her those two questions. Hence, he just allowed Tuan Zi to hide from him.

At night, he returned to his residence.

Once he stepped into the courtyard, he felt that something was amiss. He paused in his tracks and looked into the room.

The candles were lit, and there were faint noises.

There was seemingly a familiar aura.

He squinted his eyes slightly and still pushed the door to enter.

Hearing the noise, Tuan Zi knew that he was back. She hurriedly put away her things and sat behind the table alone.

Seeing the incoming person, her heart skipped a beat as she broke out into a huge smile. “Zi Chen, you’re back!”

Zi Chen rapidly scanned the room.

There was food on the table, and the bed… was messy. It seemed like a ransacking had just happened here.

He asked, “What… are you doing?”

Tuan Zi looked enthusiastic. “I brought some good food and even helped you make your bed!”

Zi Chen fell silent for a moment.

The food was clearly picked according to someone’s own taste. As for the bed… It was hard to tidy it.

His lips moved, but he still walked over. “You don’t have to do these things.”

He didn’t spoil the girl for her to do such things.

Half of Tuan Zi’s heart turned cold. She looked down and softly said, “I thought you would be happy…”

Zi Chen sat down beside her, and his brows twitched slightly when he heard her. He found it incredulous, but he still looked over reluctantly.

The candles burned, and the jumping fire seemed to leap into the depths of his eyes, causing them to shine.

After a while, he said, “You have a request?”

Tuan Zi immediately shook her head. “No.”

Zi Chen laughed. “Then, why are you suddenly so nice to me?”

Tuan Zi still felt awkward. Thinking of Xiao Ba’s teachings earlier, she immediately suppressed her embarrassment.

She coughed and tried hard to make herself seem natural. “I just want to. Is there something wrong?”

In this world, there wouldn’t be somebody who treated another person well for no reason, especially so suddenly.

Zi Chen looked at her quietly and couldn’t help but laugh in his heart when he saw her magnanimous look. She probably doesn’t know how red her ears are.

He didn’t say much as he shifted the dishes she liked the most to her. “Let’s eat.”

Tuan Zi acknowledged him and found it warm, so she hurriedly picked up her bowl.

She wanted to bury face in her bowl, completely forgetting that she came to treat him to food.

Zi Chen sat at the side and ate slowly, but he seemed to be in an excellent mood.

After he finished his meal, Tuan Zi’s surrounding warmth finally dissipated. She ran to wash up before she directly walked to Zi Chen’s bed.

Zi Chen’s eyelids twitched as he grabbed the back of her clothes. “What are you doing?”

“Let’s sleep together.” Tuan Zi turned around and blinked. In the past, didn’t the Emperor always go to A’Yue’s room to warm her bed?

Seeing her expression, how could Zi Chen not know what she was thinking?

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “Go back.”

Tuan Zi originally refused, but seeing Zi Chen’s insistent attitude, she could only give in.

Anyway, there were long days ahead.

In the past, A’Yue always chased the Emperor out.

Thinking of this, she quickly accepted her ‘setback’ and nodded smoothly.

Zi Chen was worried and still sent her back personally.

Seeing that he wanted to leave, Tuan Zi hurriedly grabbed his sleeves and asked hesitantly, “Then… Zi Chen, are you still going to help Miao Xuanxuan nurse her health? Ahem, I’m just casually asking—”

Zi Chen looked down at her and shook his head. “Today is the last day. From tomorrow onward, I’ll hand her over to someone else.”

…

“What? You won’t care anymore? How can this be!? I’m not a heavenly doctor, so how would I know any of this?!” Facing Zi Chen’s suggestion, Si Jing hurriedly shook his head and refused to agree.

Zi Chen looked leisurely. “Her health has recovered up to ninety percent, and she just has to continue accepting nourishment in the lightning pool for a while longer. Nobody needs to intervene. You’re in charge of the lightning pool, so you’re most suited for this.”

Si Jing was stumped and still stiffly rejected him. “Don’t tell me you don’t know that Miao Xuanxuan has other intentions toward you. I don’t want to interfere!”

He hated such matters the most.

Zi Chen said, “That’s precisely why I need you to help me.”

Si Jing glanced at him in shock. Zi Chen never begs other people. Did he take the wrong medicine today?

As if seeing through his doubts, Zi Chen laughed. “…A girl is chasing me, so I don’t want her to misunderstand.”

2568 Side Story 72: Chase

“And?”

Xiao Ba stopped in her actions and placed the remaining petal back before she continued asking curiously, “Then, how did your friend react after hearing this?”

Tuan Zi was dazed and muttered, “Um, it seems like she didn’t say anything… I-I think she slept…”

Xiao Ba snorted and felt regret. “How can she not say anything? Don’t you know how to ask?”

“A-ask what?” Tuan Zi was beyond confused.

Xiao Ba shook her head helplessly. “Of course, ask him who he likes! This is such a good opportunity. How can she not ask? Your friend is too dumb.”

Tuan Zi’s ears warmed up. “She… probably didn’t think so much…”

At that time, the impact was too huge, and she was stunned. Then, she fell asleep in a daze.

Xiao Ba grunted lightly, expecting better from that friend. “You need to know your enemies to win all your battles. She hasn’t even fought but escaped first. What is this? Now, she doesn’t even know who her love rival is…”

As she spoke, she felt her head hurt.

Tuan Zi shrunk her neck like a quail.

Seeing her in this manner, Xiao Ba could not help but chuckle. She patted Tuan Zi’s head lovingly. “Okay, okay. I’m not talking about you. Why are you afraid?”

Tuan Zi lowered her head. “N-nothing. It’s just… My friend is quite close to me, so I’m a little worried… I see that she hasn’t been sleeping or eating well lately…”

Xiao Ba sighed and gently pinched her face. “I can tell. Did she also lead you to suffer? Sigh, our Tuan Zi is good at everything, but you’re too soft-hearted.”

However, it sounds like Tuan Zi should be really quite close to that friend. If not, she wouldn’t care so much.

She also unknowingly found out that Tuan Zi seemed rather weak these two days and came to ask her in detail. Then, she found out that Tuan Zi had a friend who met with some trouble.

“According to what you previously said, your friend knew him for quite some time but only recently discovered that she likes him?”

Tuan Zi nodded, and her entire person seemed to be on fire.

Luckily, Xiao Ba was thinking seriously and did not notice her abnormality. “Were they on good terms previously?”

Tuan Zi stammered, “I guess… quite good…”

“Then, before this, did that man say that he has someone he likes?”

“…Nope.”

Xiao Ba suddenly thought of something, and her eyes lit up. “In this case, could the person he’s talking about be your friend?”

Tuan Zi was dazed. “I don’t think so?”

She thought for a while and struggled to explain, “He seems to have… always treated m-my friend as a younger sister—no, treated her as a child… I don’t think this is very possible. Besides, he does have another girl beside him, and he treats her well. He only said these words after that girl appeared.”

With this connection, it was understood tacitly who he referred to.

Xiao Ba knitted her brows slightly. “I see… That’s indeed rather troublesome then…”

She supported her chin with one hand. “In that case, there might not be much hope.”

Tuan Zi’s face fell.

Xiao Ba’s heart ached as she hugged Tuan Zi and comforted her. What kind of scum broke Tuan Zi’s friend’s heart and even implicated Tuan Zi!?

Xiao Ba scolded the other party in her heart, but she still had a gentle and sweet smile.

She did not wish to see Tuan Zi suffer. After much thinking, she decided to salvage the issue. “That man didn’t say who he likes, right?”

“…Mm.”

“He also didn’t reject your friend to her face, right?”

“…Yeah.”

“He’s still not together with anyone now, right?”

Tuan Zi thought about it closely and lightly nodded.

Xiao Ba snapped her fingers. “That’s right! Anyway, he’s still single. She just has to pursue him!”

Tuan Zi suddenly coughed and grabbed Xiao Ba’s sleeves tightly, her entire person burning. “W-what?”

Xiao Ba patted her back and said, “I’m saying that your friend can pursue him since he hasn’t decided! Didn’t you previously say that the man didn’t know your friend’s interest in him? Perhaps she has a chance? Hm?”

Tuan Zi’s face flushed red. “T-that’s not too good, right…”

Xiao Ba thought that she had just grown up and was confused. She was inevitably shy when she heard such matters.

She pressed her lips against each other and smiled, her eyes dazzling. “Little Tuan Zi, you still don’t understand. Actually, it’s not very important who does the chasing. What’s important is that your friend really likes him. If she doesn’t even confess or try, won’t she have regrets? She can’t wait until he settles everything before she says these things, right?”

As Tuan Zi listened, she felt that it made sense.

She nodded in a daze. “T-then, let me think… I’ll ask her to think…”

Xiao Ba gently rubbed her face. “If you have any issues, you can come find me!”

…

Tuan Zi started thinking about this problem seriously. Later on, she realized… that it was very hard.

It was mainly because she had not much experience. Not only did she have no experience of chasing other people, but she also had no experience of being pursued.

It wasn’t that nobody liked her.

On the contrary, she had always been very attractive. In the red-gold heavenly phoenix clan alone, quite a few people had such interests in her.

It was a pity that for so long, everyone loved, doted on her, and treated her preciously, so they didn’t even dare to seriously confess to her. They were afraid that it was too sudden.

Thus, when Tuan Zi realized this, she did not even have an example for reference.

She thought deeply. The person closest to me is A’Yue.

She thought about A’Yue and the Emperor… How did the Emperor chase her?

…

Zi Chen had not seen Tuan Zi these few days. It wasn’t that he did not want to, but he realized that Tuan Zi seemed to have been intentionally and unintentionally avoiding him after he said those words.

He reflected on it and felt that he was too anxious, even if he was already very careful and restrained. However, he really could not lie when she asked her those two questions. Hence, he just allowed Tuan Zi to hide from him.

At night, he returned to his residence.

Once he stepped into the courtyard, he felt that something was amiss. He paused in his tracks and looked into the room.

The candles were lit, and there were faint noises.

There was seemingly a familiar aura.

He squinted his eyes slightly and still pushed the door to enter.

Hearing the noise, Tuan Zi knew that he was back. She hurriedly put away her things and sat behind the table alone.

Seeing the incoming person, her heart skipped a beat as she broke out into a huge smile. “Zi Chen, you’re back!”

Zi Chen rapidly scanned the room.

There was food on the table, and the bed… was messy. It seemed like a ransacking had just happened here.

He asked, “What… are you doing?”

Tuan Zi looked enthusiastic. “I brought some good food and even helped you make your bed!”

Zi Chen fell silent for a moment.

The food was clearly picked according to someone’s own taste. As for the bed… It was hard to tidy it.

His lips moved, but he still walked over. “You don’t have to do these things.”

He didn’t spoil the girl for her to do such things.

Half of Tuan Zi’s heart turned cold. She looked down and softly said, “I thought you would be happy…”

Zi Chen sat down beside her, and his brows twitched slightly when he heard her. He found it incredulous, but he still looked over reluctantly.

The candles burned, and the jumping fire seemed to leap into the depths of his eyes, causing them to shine.

After a while, he said, “You have a request?”

Tuan Zi immediately shook her head. “No.”

Zi Chen laughed. “Then, why are you suddenly so nice to me?”

Tuan Zi still felt awkward. Thinking of Xiao Ba’s teachings earlier, she immediately suppressed her embarrassment.

She coughed and tried hard to make herself seem natural. “I just want to. Is there something wrong?”

In this world, there wouldn’t be somebody who treated another person well for no reason, especially so suddenly.

Zi Chen looked at her quietly and couldn’t help but laugh in his heart when he saw her magnanimous look. She probably doesn’t know how red her ears are.

He didn’t say much as he shifted the dishes she liked the most to her. “Let’s eat.”

Tuan Zi acknowledged him and found it warm, so she hurriedly picked up her bowl.

She wanted to bury face in her bowl, completely forgetting that she came to treat him to food.

Zi Chen sat at the side and ate slowly, but he seemed to be in an excellent mood.

After he finished his meal, Tuan Zi’s surrounding warmth finally dissipated. She ran to wash up before she directly walked to Zi Chen’s bed.

Zi Chen’s eyelids twitched as he grabbed the back of her clothes. “What are you doing?”

“Let’s sleep together.” Tuan Zi turned around and blinked. In the past, didn’t the Emperor always go to A’Yue’s room to warm her bed?

Seeing her expression, how could Zi Chen not know what she was thinking?

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “Go back.”

Tuan Zi originally refused, but seeing Zi Chen’s insistent attitude, she could only give in.

Anyway, there were long days ahead.

In the past, A’Yue always chased the Emperor out.

Thinking of this, she quickly accepted her ‘setback’ and nodded smoothly.

Zi Chen was worried and still sent her back personally.

Seeing that he wanted to leave, Tuan Zi hurriedly grabbed his sleeves and asked hesitantly, “Then… Zi Chen, are you still going to help Miao Xuanxuan nurse her health? Ahem, I’m just casually asking—”

Zi Chen looked down at her and shook his head. “Today is the last day. From tomorrow onward, I’ll hand her over to someone else.”

…

“What? You won’t care anymore? How can this be!? I’m not a heavenly doctor, so how would I know any of this?!” Facing Zi Chen’s suggestion, Si Jing hurriedly shook his head and refused to agree.

Zi Chen looked leisurely. “Her health has recovered up to ninety percent, and she just has to continue accepting nourishment in the lightning pool for a while longer. Nobody needs to intervene. You’re in charge of the lightning pool, so you’re most suited for this.”

Si Jing was stumped and still stiffly rejected him. “Don’t tell me you don’t know that Miao Xuanxuan has other intentions toward you. I don’t want to interfere!”

He hated such matters the most.

Zi Chen said, “That’s precisely why I need you to help me.”

Si Jing glanced at him in shock. Zi Chen never begs other people. Did he take the wrong medicine today?

As if seeing through his doubts, Zi Chen laughed. “…A girl is chasing me, so I don’t want her to misunderstand.”