Why did Cheng Xiran feel that his reason was a bit far - fetched? In her perception, Helian Duo was not a person who liked to meddle in others' affairs.
Since he had said so, there was no need for her to ask further. She should try to restrain herself as much as possible.
"But you said it's early tomorrow morning. Why did you call me out so late? I might as well go back to sleep."
Cheng Xiran made an excuse of being sleepy and wanted to leave, but was stopped by Helian Duo without any explanation: "I guess you won't want to go back. Your mansion is in such a mess now. Even if you go back, you won't be able to sleep well."
Cheng Xiran ignored him. She never thought about the real intention of Helian Duo to keep her. When she heard what Helian Duo said, she frowned slightly and said indifferently, "If you tell me this is the so - called grand show you mentioned, I might as well go back to my mansion and watch the show in my own home."
She yawned lazily and felt a bit sleepy. She had taken a nap during the day, but now she was really a bit tired.
She thought about going to a wonton shop in the long lane on the East Street to have a bowl of wontons to warm her stomach, and then go back to the mansion under the gentle moonlight. Wouldn't it be wonderful?
She had already made such a plan in her heart and hesitated whether to invite Helian Duo. But privately, she thought that he was the Regent. How could he care about such common things? Moreover, considering his status, if they went directly, wouldn't it scare the old woman selling wontons?
So she gave up the idea.
Then she voluntarily bid farewell to Helian Duo, whose face was not very pleasant: "Your Highness, if you have no other instructions, I'll go back first."
Helian Duo didn't say a word, but Cheng Xiran could see that his originally gentle look gradually turned gloomy.
After not getting a response from him for a long time, Cheng Xiran left dejectedly. With great difficulty, she made her way through the crowded people to the door. She just looked back once and saw that around that extraordinary man, there were quite a few women all of a sudden. Each of them was showing off their charm to him, but he seemed unmoved.
"With so many women around, it must be hard not to be affected even if he doesn't want to..."
She murmured to herself. Then she saw several girls start to touch him. One of them even picked up a handkerchief and gently slid it across Helian Duo's fair and slender neck... She seemed to see his face change slightly and his Adam's apple move.
This guy usually kept away from women. Why did he seem to be on the verge of being seduced now?
Seeing that he remained indifferent, neither responding nor rejecting, Cheng Xiran felt inexplicably angry. Without thinking, she stepped forward and pushed the group of women aside.
She didn't notice the flash of joy in Helian Duo's eyes.
Instead, the women she pushed aside complained to her, "What are you doing so rudely? Are you jealous that our Regent has people who like him while you don't?"
"I'm not jealous at all..." Cheng Xiran glared at them and then said, "I'm just acting on orders."
One of the more experienced girls commanded arrogantly, "But it seems that you really care about the Regent. Could there be something between you two..."
After saying that, she let out a meaningful "eh".
Cheng Xiran immediately understood and couldn't help but glance at Helian Duo subconsciously. But his face remained the same as usual, showing no sign of change, which made Cheng Xiran quite helpless. Didn't he understand?
"I'm a friend of Young Master Xue. I..."
Cheng Xiran found that no matter how she explained, it was in vain. So she simply stopped answering and winked at Helian Duo beside her, signaling him to leave. But he ignored her as if nothing had happened.
Did he think she was meddling?
Thinking of this, Cheng Xiran was about to leave without looking back, but was blocked by the three women. "Hey, are you trying to run away because we hit the nail on the head? Actually, it's nothing. Our Regent is loved by everyone, regardless of age. If you really like him, just tell us straight. We can help you think of a way."
"I like you."
Cheng Xiran stared blankly at the woman who was speaking and blurted out such a sentence. Maybe her expression was too serious, so the woman took it seriously. She was completely stunned at first and then covered her lips and laughed, "So the young master likes both men and women?"
What kind of people were these!
Cheng Xiran ran out without looking back and didn't care about Helian Duo anymore. If she had known this earlier, she wouldn't have looked back for him. Helian Duo was really heartless!
Cheng Xiran cursed all the way in her heart. When she came out, she saw the madam still pestering Mu Li, who was in a difficult situation.
Mu Li saw her and seemed to grab a life - saving straw. She quickly ran towards her. The madam chased after her all the way. Seeing Cheng Xiran, she asked curiously, "Young Master Cheng, are you done so soon?"
After saying that, she looked greedily at Mu Li beside Cheng Xiran. "Young Master Cheng has had a good time, but I haven't had enough fun yet."
Just as Cheng Xiran was about to find an excuse, the madam's eyes suddenly lit up and she ran towards behind them: "Oh, isn't this the Regent? Why did the Regent come here tonight? I didn't meet you before. If I had known you were coming, I would have served you well..."
Helian Duo lazily waved his hand, and the madam wisely stepped aside.
Cheng Xiran rolled her eyes at him angrily, but he quickly walked to her side. Mu Li immediately gave up her position.
"What are you going to do next?"