Shen Mingzhu paused slightly. She never expected him to ask such a question. This...
Seeing that Shen Mingzhu didn't answer, Xie Lang maintained the smile on his face, but the look in his eyes darkened slightly.
Shen Mingzhu was thinking about what kind of relationship she and Xie Lang really had.
If Xie Lang was really the good-for-nothing as rumored, then they should be in an opposing relationship. But Xie Lang was too special. Shen Mingzhu didn't even know all his cards. If it weren't for her mind-reading ability, she might have been deceived by him.
Shen Mingzhu was inclined to think that they were in a cooperative relationship.
But...
Thinking of that absurd night and the natural kiss in the carriage just now, Shen Mingzhu suddenly felt a bit confused and couldn't even find an answer for herself.
Shen Mingzhu admitted that she did have a faint liking for Xie Lang, but this liking was not enough to offset other dangers for the time being.
She hardly knew anything about Xie Lang. Although Xie Lang was gradually removing his disguise in front of Shen Mingzhu, she still couldn't trust him wholeheartedly.
After sorting out her thoughts, Shen Mingzhu looked up at Xie Lang and said, "Young Master Xie, aren't we cooperating?"
The smile on Xie Lang's face suddenly faded. The look in his eyes when he looked at Shen Mingzhu was filled with disbelief, and then he sneered.
"Young Master Xie?"
Xie Lang continued to sneer. The look in his eyes when he looked at Shen Mingzhu was filled with indescribable emotions. "You're really heartless. If we're just in a cooperative relationship, then what was that kiss just now?"
"Was it just a moment of distraction? Or was it me throwing myself at you?"
As he said this, Xie Lang stood up and gave Shen Mingzhu a cold look.
Shen Mingzhu instinctively stood up to stop him, but only lightly touched the sleeve of the person in front of her.
[Cooperation? What on earth does Shen Mingzhu take me for? Does she have no heart? Can't she see my feelings?]
Hearing Xie Lang's dejected thoughts, Shen Mingzhu instinctively watched him leave, but she sat there motionless.
...
Xie Lang left the room with a cold face and hurried away.
What on earth was Shen Mingzhu thinking?
Xie Lang found for the first time that he really couldn't fathom Shen Mingzhu's thoughts. These days, his mind was always filled with this question from time to time.
Before he could leave the small courtyard, Xie Lang was stopped by Chun Tao.
The maid, who usually didn't like to talk to him, looked hesitant. She stared at him in silence for a moment before opening her mouth and saying, "Would Young Master Xie like to have a few words with this servant?"
No way!
Xie Lang shouted in his heart and planned to turn around and leave immediately. However, his body was extremely honest, and he obediently followed Chun Tao out.
Stopping, a trace of sadness appeared on Chun Tao's face for some reason. She said to Xie Lang, "Young Master Xie, this servant saw everything through the curtain just now."
"Did you and Her Highness have a quarrel in the room just now?"
Xie Lang didn't say a word. His face was gloomy. He looked at Chun Tao as he spoke, and a hint of mockery appeared on his face.
"Young Master Xie." Chun Tao looked embarrassed, but still said to Xie Lang, "Her Highness is just..."
"Just what?"
Xie Lang sneered and folded his arms as he looked at Chun Tao.
"Since Her Highness..." Chun Tao suddenly stopped talking. Seeing the cold look on Xie Lang's face, she still continued, "This servant has served Her Highness for many years, so I naturally know some of her thoughts."
"Please don't be impatient, Young Master Xie."
After saying this, Chun Tao planned to leave, but Xie Lang looked at her and asked, "Why are you telling me all this?"
She didn't even want to call him son-in-law, yet she still told him these things. Xie Lang couldn't help but suspect that Chun Tao had ill intentions, but he still couldn't help but want to get an answer.
Did Shen Mingzhu really have feelings for him in her heart?
"This servant can't bear to see Her Highness sad." Chun Tao didn't turn around. She stood there with her back to Xie Lang and said, "She has lost too much, so she has to be careful. There always has to be someone who takes the initiative to get close to her."
Xie Lang was stunned.
Shen Mingzhu usually behaved so normally that Xie Lang rarely saw a sad look on her face.
But Xie Lang almost forgot about her past. Xie Lang also had his own forces and naturally vaguely guessed what Shen Mingzhu was investigating, but he never thought deeply about it.
Now it seemed that he had been too presumptuous. In fact, he had done nothing. How could he expect to gain Shen Mingzhu's trust?
Xie Lang sighed and realized his mistake.
But should he go back into the room now?
Thinking of the way he had just left in a huff, Xie Lang felt really embarrassed. He had only lasted for a moment before being easily swayed by Chun Tao.
Xie Lang stood at the door, pacing back and forth. For a moment, he didn't know whether he should go in or not.
Shen Mingzhu had already gone to bed, but then she saw a figure flickering at the door. She couldn't help but frown and ask, "Who's there?"
Xie Lang was startled. It was too late to run away now, so he gritted his teeth and said, "It's me."
Shen Mingzhu was stunned. She originally wanted to let Xie Lang in, but she just couldn't bring herself to say it. So she had to sit up with the quilt in her arms and silently stared at the door.
The two of them were at a stalemate for a moment.
Chun Tao had just gone to get something for Shen Mingzhu. As soon as she entered the courtyard, she saw Xie Lang standing motionless at the door and knew that her words had worked.
Although Chun Tao didn't like Xie Lang very much and thought he was too jumpy, she had to admit that when Xie Lang was by Her Highness's side, there were always more smiles on her face and her emotions were richer.
Sighing in her heart, Chun Tao planned to give him a hand. So she deliberately raised her voice and said, "Why don't you go in, Young Master Xie? It's windy outside now. I'm worried you'll catch a cold."
Xie Lang was just waiting for someone to give him an excuse. Hearing this, he immediately said, "I just got back. I'll go in now."
Shen Mingzhu: "..."
Just got back? Then who was that person pacing back and forth at the door just now?
Shen Mingzhu couldn't help but want to laugh. When she saw the door being pushed open, she restrained the expression on her face and looked at Xie Lang and said, "Come in."
Xie Lang nodded and walked to his small bed.
Both of them were holding their breath and neither of them wanted to be the first to speak.
But Shen Mingzhu didn't expect Xie Lang to be able to hold out for so long.
In the next few days, when they met, they were as polite as if they were meeting for the first time. But neither of them was willing to give in, so there was always an awkward silence when they met. Shen Mingzhu also didn't dare to touch Xie Lang in such a situation, so naturally she couldn't hear his thoughts.
This stalemate continued until Li Xiyu, Shen Mingcheng's fiancée, returned to the capital.
Early in the morning, Shen Mingzhu left the mansion.
Xie Lang had never seen Shen Mingzhu so excited before, but he was too proud to ask her. Immediately, he felt uncomfortable.
Coincidentally, he had nothing to do today, so Xie Lang followed behind Shen Mingzhu, planning to see what she was going to do.
Xie Lang was extremely skilled, and Shen Mingzhu's guards didn't notice. It was not until Shen Mingzhu reached the lake and got on a small boat that Xie Lang realized something was wrong.
Something wasn't right. Why was Shen Mingzhu being so sneaky? Who on earth was she going to meet?
Shen Mingzhu didn't know that Xie Lang was now watching her boat with a worried heart. She got on the boat and saw a green-clothed woman wearing a bamboo hat sitting there. When the woman saw her coming, she smiled and said, "Chaochao has grown up."
Shen Mingzhu felt a pang of sadness in her heart. Just as she was about to speak, she felt the boat suddenly shake. The guard outside shouted, "Protect Her Highness! There's an assassin!"