"Zuo Yan, what brings you here?"
Not only was he there, but there were also two or three people behind him, each carefully holding a brocade box...
Perhaps they were being too cautious or the brocade boxes were too exquisite, which made Cheng Xiran can't help but wonder what precious items were inside.
Zuo Yan was equally puzzled to see Cheng Xiran. "Miss, why are you at the newspaper office so early?"
"Oh, I woke up early today," Cheng Xiran replied perfunctorily.
Zuo Yan instructed the men to carefully carry the things to a small cubicle on the second floor while patiently explaining to Cheng Xiran, "It's like this. The prince said he would be working in the newspaper office these days, so he asked us to move all the necessary things here."
He was a big shot, and besides, this newspaper office was originally his territory. So Cheng Xiran didn't bother to ask why. She just nodded slightly. "Oh, I see. That's fine."
She took big bites of the steamed bun, staring blankly into space... She was thinking about how to start writing today's manuscript.
Zuo Yan went upstairs to organize things. When everything was in order, he came back down. By then, Cheng Xiran had already finished her bun and was stretching contentedly.
"If the miss has no other instructions, I'll take my leave."
Cheng Xiran nodded imperceptibly, watching him leave. Then she watched Helian Duo stride in.
Some people are just like a beautiful picture just standing there.
Cheng Xiran sighed silently in her heart and then averted her gaze, going upstairs.
The small cubicle Zuo Yan had tidied up was right next to Cheng Xiran's. There was only a purple bamboo screen separating them.
Listening to the sound of footsteps on the wooden stairs, one step after another, tap-tap-tap, it was like a drumbeat on her heart, making her feel itchy and her thoughts in a mess.
She felt that she couldn't write a manuscript at all with Helian Duo around.
"You're here early today."
He was the third person to mention this. Did she used to get up late?
She was quite dedicated, okay!
"The prince is early too."
Cheng Xiran picked up her writing brush but didn't know where to start.
Seeing her frown slightly, Helian Duo suddenly sat down opposite her, scaring Cheng Xiran so much that her writing brush trembled and left a blot of black ink on the rice paper.
Helian Duo asked expressionlessly, "Are you afraid of me?"
Cheng Xiran shook her head vigorously. "No, I was just lost in thought. You sat down so suddenly that you gave me a fright."
"Thinking about me?" Helian Duo asked without hesitation.
Cheng Xiran opened her eyes wide and couldn't help laughing. "Come on, when did you become so narcissistic?"
Just as Helian Duo was about to reply, he heard footsteps. He sat up straight, and both of them looked towards the stairway.
It was the shopkeeper, holding an invitation card in his hand.
"Miss, this was sent by someone from the Xiao Mansion. It says Miss Xiao invites you to the Xiao Mansion for a chat."
Cheng Xiran took the invitation card. When she opened it, a delicate handwriting came into view.
After reading it, she casually tossed it aside. Helian Duo noticed the strange look on her face, so he picked it up and had a look.
"It seems that she wasn't convinced that she lost to you in the palace yesterday and wants to get back at you today."
After reading it, Helian Duo also tossed it aside casually... The same action as Cheng Xiran, which made the shopkeeper mutter in his heart.
Cheng Xiran refused firmly. "I'm not going. Just looking at her ugly face makes me sick!"
Helian Duo originally intended to leave it up to her, but then he thought it would be a good opportunity to test her. So he teased her, "You're not going because you're scared? The poem you wrote yesterday was so good. Was it just a fluke?"
He used reverse psychology, and Cheng Xiran just fell for it.
Cheng Xiran didn't notice Helian Duo's hidden meaning. She just let out a scoff. "Who's scared of her? I just think it's beneath me to compete with her. I'm afraid that if her identity as the 'Number One Talented Lady in the Capital' is exposed, she'll blame me."
Helian Duo stood up and didn't even look at her. He said calmly, "Since that's the case, then go and see what tricks she's up to..."
He paused for a moment. A glint of cunning flashed across his eyes, and he continued, "Besides, she didn't just invite you. There are other young ladies too. You might as well take this opportunity to gather some gossips."
What he said made sense. She was out of inspiration anyway. She might as well take this opportunity to find out some secrets.
She naively fell into Helian Duo's trap.
"Okay, I'll go now."
Cheng Xiran stood up abruptly, picked up the invitation card on the ground, and went downstairs with the shopkeeper.
Zuo Yan emerged from the shadows, and Helian Duo's face returned to its usual coldness.