After chatting for a couple more sentences, Cheng Xiran and Helian Duo returned to the newspaper office.
They had only walked a few steps when Helian Duo took the initiative to strike up a conversation, asking how to cook the fish that night. At this, Cheng Xiran's face darkened.
This seemingly insignificant question of his fanned the flames of the anger that had already been burning in Cheng Xiran's heart.
"You can take it back to the mansion and let your chefs cook it for you..." Cheng Xiran quickened her pace and raised her voice. "Our newspaper office can't accommodate a big shot like you!"
Zhuque quickly followed up.
Helian Duo was slightly stunned for a moment. Then, as if he had thought of something, he quickly stepped forward and grabbed her. He explained, "Do you believe those things now? Those people just write nonsense. Why do you believe them?"
"The facts are right in front of me. It's hard not to believe!"
Cheng Xiran shook off his hand forcefully.
This action attracted the attention of many people around. After all, both of them were well - known figures. Any movement of theirs would be magnified a thousand or ten thousand times.
Helian Duo noticed this, so he stepped forward and tightly held her slightly cold little hand. He lowered his voice and said patiently, "Let's go back. I'll explain it to you, okay?"
"I just won't..." Cheng Xiran didn't know where she got the courage from. Anyway, she shook off his hand again fiercely, leaving no face for Helian Duo. At this moment, how could she care about his status?
She was too busy venting her anger!
"What's wrong with Miss Cheng and the prince?"
Whispers began to rise from the surrounding crowd.
Cheng Xiran ignored them and started to trot.
Helian Duo didn't chase after her anymore. He just slowly followed behind.
By the time they reached the newspaper office, dusk was approaching. He was still walking slowly, and his expression couldn't be clearly seen.
Cheng Xiran closed a door and roared, "Close the door. Don't let him in. We can't accommodate a big shot like him here!"
The shopkeeper hesitated whether to close the door or not. It seemed like this decision would determine the outcome of the following situation. If he took the wrong side again, there would be no way to make up for it.
Seeing Helian Duo getting closer and the shopkeeper doing nothing, Cheng Xiran simply took matters into her own hands. With a "bang", she closed the other door, completely isolating Helian Duo outside.
She still wasn't satisfied. She was a bit thirsty because she had walked in a hurry just now. After sitting down and taking a sip of hot tea, she saw Helian Duo climbing in through the window. Everyone else present was startled.
Cheng Xiran knew in her heart that this was his usual move.
She put down the teacup in her hand and was about to get up and leave, but Helian Duo didn't give her this chance at all. He flashed in front of her and blocked her way.
When she tried to go left, he blocked her; when she tried to go right, it was the same. In short, he just wouldn't let her go.
"Helian Duo, are you ever going to stop?"
Cheng Xiran reached out and hit him twice, but Helian Duo didn't stop there. He stared firmly and said, "What those people wrote is all false. I didn't know Hua Bairu since childhood. I've only met her a few times in a hurry. Moreover, I have no feelings for her. What on earth do you want me to do for you to believe me?"
"Then tell me, what did you do all day yesterday and what did you do all day today?"
Cheng Xiran coldly questioned. As soon as she said this, Helian Duo fell silent.
"Look, you're clearly guilty. You said you wouldn't hide anything from me anymore, but you still lied to me!"
Cheng Xiran shouted hysterically at Helian Duo. Helian Duo tried several times to pull her into his arms, but each time he was pushed away forcefully by Cheng Xiran. The others felt that they should avoid this situation, but they were also afraid that something might go wrong.
Anyway, the atmosphere was extremely strange. Even those on - lookers didn't know whom they should help.
Helian Duo's expression was already very hurt. His tone of voice softened a lot, filled with deep helplessness: "Why don't you believe my words? Am I really that despicable in your eyes? I thought you knew my feelings for you, but now it seems that you still don't quite understand..."
The more he refused to tell the truth, the angrier Cheng Xiran became, and the harder it was for her to believe him again. Through the anxiety and uneasiness of the past two days, she found that she had gained nothing but a lot of tiredness.
"Yes, I don't want to understand now, and I definitely won't in the future. You get out of here right now!"
Cheng Xiran walked towards the backyard angrily, and there was no sound of retention behind her.
She had only walked a few steps when she turned back. "Oh, I almost forgot. This newspaper office belongs to you. You're the biggest boss here. You shouldn't leave. It should be me who leaves!"
Helian Duo sighed heavily: "Do you really have to talk to me in such a sarcastic way?"
"How dare I? Who would dare to go against your face? It's just that I'm not worthy."
She glanced at Zhuque and Yun'er out of the corner of her eye, called only them, and walked out. Mu Li wanted to follow, but was stopped by her: "Mu Li, you're on his side. Don't follow me anymore. I don't want to see anyone related to him."
Saying this, she walked away gracefully.
Helian Duo was so angry that he didn't follow. His hand, which had been tightly clenched into a fist, couldn't help but pound the table heavily.
"Where is the young lady going? She probably can't go back to the Cheng Mansion either."
The shopkeeper was a bit worried.
Helian Duo was even more worried, but in the current situation, if he followed her again, it would only add fuel to the fire. So he could only give Mu Li a look. "Follow her secretly. Don't let her find out. Report to me immediately if there's any abnormality."
After Mu Li left, Helian Duo sat down, supporting his forehead with one hand. There was undisguised tiredness in his eyes.
After a while, he slowly calmed down his mood and began to deal with things: "I'll send people to get rid of those street vendors tonight. I won't let them spread rumors anymore."
Seeing the shopkeeper nodding, he continued, "Suspend the publication of the newspaper for two days. I guess she's not in the mood to write for the time being."
After giving all the instructions here, Helian Duo returned to the mansion.
He had only been in the study for a short while when Zuo Yan rushed in in a hurry: "Your Highness, A Li said that the young lady is now in the Huayan Pavilion... It's not safe for a young girl to go to such a place alone."
Helian Duo pursed his thin lips slightly, frowned, and said a bit anxiously, "Go and find a hotel near the mansion for her first. Then go and pick her up. I won't show up."
Zuo Yan knew that he was still angry, so he advised, "Your Highness, why don't you explain to the young lady that although you met Hua Bairu, you were just negotiating with her and had no other intentions?"
But Helian Duo countered with a question, "Do you think she'll believe it?"
The answer was obvious to everyone. Probably not.
"Let's talk about things after she calms down."
Since he said so, Zuo Yan didn't dare to mention it anymore.
At this time, Cheng Xiran was sitting in a private room in the Huayan Pavilion, sipping wine and listening to the tune played by Miss Ruoyue downstairs. As for why she was here, on the one hand, she wanted to vent her emotions, and the only place open at midnight nearby was the brothel; on the other hand, this was a place where most well - bred young ladies wouldn't come, and she just wanted to be the first to get drunk here!