Hearing this, Cheng Xiran quickly followed his lead and flattered him feigningly, "Of course I'm unworthy. But I just had a sudden impulse and didn't think much. That's why I've upset Your Highness. I'm here to make a sincere apology."
However, Helian Duo showed no sign of accepting it. He deliberately quickened his pace, and soon left Cheng Xiran far behind.
Watching his tall figure that was still vaguely distinguishable in the crowd, Cheng Xiran couldn't help but pout and mutter, "Humph, what's the use of saying these words now? Weren't you just praising Cheng Zhiyue's beauty and talent? Sure enough, all men are no good!"
Just as she was scolding Helian Duo in her heart, she suddenly felt a chill beside her. Helian Duo had somehow appeared beside her, scaring Cheng Xiran into taking several steps back. Just as she was about to fall into the pickle jar behind her without realizing it, Helian Duo didn't even reach out to pull her.
As a result, Cheng Xiran fell right into it. Not only did she smell sour all over, but her eyes also got stung.
When she struggled to stand up from the pile of pickles amidst the exclamations of the onlookers, she saw Helian Duo trying hard not to laugh, "You're right. Men are indeed no good..."
"Helian Duo, you're so mean!"
Cheng Xiran casually grabbed the vegetable leaves stuck to her body and threw them at Helian Duo. But after throwing an entire jar of leaves and roots, she didn't even touch Helian Duo. He was highly skilled in martial arts, and dealing with a crazy Cheng Xiran was a piece of cake for him.
The onlookers suddenly gathered and surrounded the two of them, chattering away.
In the bright sunlight, Cheng Xiran looked like a shrew. Her image as a refined young lady had been completely ruined by Helian Duo today. But she was, of course, extremely angry. Seeing him standing there proudly like a pine tree, she didn't even think twice before rushing forward and hugging him tightly, even laughing recklessly, "Helian Duo, let me tell you, you won't get away with it either! Don't you always love to be clean? How do you feel now?"
In the eyes of others, the two of them were in a love - hate relationship.
Xue Lianyu and Chu Liyin, who had been waiting at the newspaper office, gagged when they saw the two of them come in, looking disheveled and smelling sour. After all, the smell was extremely pungent.
"Where on earth have you two been... There are still vegetable leaves and mud on you... Did you go to the cowshed?"
Chu Liyin was laughing so hard that she couldn't close her mouth, while Xue Lianyu's eyes were fixed on Cheng Xiran. Before she could say anything, he told the shopkeeper, "It's still some distance from here to the Prince's Mansion and the Cheng Mansion. Go to a nearby clothing store and buy two sets of clothes. Also, ask someone to boil some water in the backyard so that they can take a good bath."
The shopkeeper told the waiter to boil the water and then left the newspaper office himself.
Cheng Xiran stepped forward and sat down, but Xue Lianyu and Chu Liyin both avoided her.
"Are you still my friends? How could you dislike me?" Cheng Xiran rolled her eyes at them.
"Cheng Xiran, you're just a crazy woman."
Although Helian Duo scolded Cheng Xiran harshly, Xue Lianyu, as an onlooker, didn't detect any hostility in his words. Instead, there seemed to be a sense of harmony.
"Sister, where did you and the prince go to have fun without telling us?" Chu Liyin blinked her big, watery eyes.
Cheng Xiran was too lazy to talk about it, so she just casually lied to her. The silly Chu Liyin actually believed her.
Only Xue Lianyu knew exactly what was going on. He even saw a hint of affection in Helian Duo's constant glances at Cheng Xiran.