Looking at his nervous expression, Su Mingyu felt as if the softest part of her heart had been firmly pinched, making it both soft and numb.
The moment Gu Ruobai's boat pulled up, Su Mingyu jumped onto it without a second thought.
Seeing Gu Ruobai, who looked completely different from what she had expected and was full of worry, Su Mingyu curled her lips into a gentle smile. "Why does His Highness Prince Ruixian have the time to go boating on the lake today?"
Gu Ruobai gave her a sidelong glance. "Some people just promised me not to take risks one moment, and then got on someone else's boat the next. You really don't take me seriously."
Su Mingyu pursed her lips and smiled prettily. "What are you talking about? I didn't come here voluntarily. My sister brought me."
Gu Ruobai snorted. "Su Yueyue wants to get to me through my younger brother. Do you think she'd willingly bring you, who's in the way?"
Surprised that this man had seen through everything, Su Mingyu crouched beside his wheelchair and whispered, "I didn't do anything. What Mei Qing saw was just him helping me up because I lost my balance."
Gu Ruobai lowered his deep eyes. "Why are you telling me this?"
Oh, was he really angry?
Receiving a confused look from across, Su Mingyu quickly got up and pushed Gu Ruobai's wheelchair forward a bit. "Your Highness Prince Yu, sister, His Highness Prince Ruixian has come to pick me up. I won't disturb you two from enjoying the beautiful scenery. We'll take our leave first."
Prince Yu looked at the flattering smile on Su Mingyue's face. For some reason, a hint of displeasure welled up in his heart.
Su Yueyue, of course, couldn't wait for Su Mingyue to leave. She nodded vigorously. "Then be careful on your way, sister. I'll ask Prince Yu to take me back later."
Su Mingyu gave a soft "mm" and then told Mu Yi to steer the boat away.
After making sure the two boats were far enough apart, Su Mingyu explained, "I really didn't do anything with him. But my sister almost threw herself at him."
Gu Ruobai narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean?"
Seeing that he was finally looking at her, Su Mingyue raised her eyebrows and smiled. "Su Yueyue prepared a scented incense that can arouse desire. Then she deliberately took Prince Yu back to her room to chat."
"How do you know that?" Gu Ruobai looked into her eyes, his own gaze deep.
Su Mingyu raised her head confidently and pointed to her ears. "I may not be good at other things, but my ears are quite sharp."
"However, I sent a boatman to interrupt them when things were getting intense."
Gu Ruobai lowered his eyes. "You listened quite intently, even knowing when it was getting intense."
Sensing the strong jealousy in the air, Su Mingyu twitched the corner of her mouth into an embarrassed smile. "Alright, let's not talk about this. I want to know how Mei Qing's plan is going."
If she hadn't mentioned this, Gu Ruobai wouldn't have been so angry. But once she did, he remembered what Mei Qing had reported, that he had seen Prince Yu nervously hold Su Mingyu who was about to fall.
Immediately, his face darkened, and his tone turned colder. "I've been worried about you here, while you've been enjoying grilled fish and watching lanterns. You've been having quite a good time."
Su Mingyu knew she had stepped on a minefield. She quickly lowered herself. "Alright, I know I was wrong. I really had no choice at that time. Since Mei Qing's plan is going smoothly, I'll just back out."
Gu Ruobai gave her a cold look. "It's precisely because someone is too charming that Mei Qing's plan isn't going smoothly at all."
"Ah?"
This time, it was Su Mingyue's turn to be stunned. "Compared to me, Mei Qing, who is a charming woman, should be the one he pursues, right?"
Seeing her completely unaware look, Gu Ruobai got angry. "It seems you've been having a great time playing around."
Su Mingyu shook her head like a rattle. "How could that be! I've been on tenterhooks! Didn't you see me jump onto your boat as soon as you came?"
Thinking of how she had rushed towards him in a hurry, with joy in her eyes, Gu Ruobai's expression softened a bit. "This is really the last time. If I see you using yourself to get close to him again, I'll break your legs."
???
Su Mingyu stood there, completely stunned. Although she had always known that Gu Ruobai had a strong possessive nature, he had always suppressed it quite well.
This was the first time he had given her such a clear order like this. It seemed that this time she had really stepped on his bottom line.
Su Mingyu pursed her lips and gently touched Gu Ruobai's shoulder. "I promise there won't be a next time!"
Then she pointed to the lanterns across. "Look at such a beautiful scenery. How can we look at it with an angry face?"
"By the way, let's release some lanterns!" Su Mingyu turned around and called out, "Mu Yi, could you please prepare some lanterns for us?"
Mu Yi gave a soft "mm" and soon came up with the lanterns.
Su Mingyu obsequiously handed one to Gu Ruobai. "They say it's very effective to make a wish facing the lantern on the water."
Gu Ruobai gave the lantern a disdainful look. "I don't have any wishes. You can make one if you want."
Su Mingyu persistently handed the lantern to him. "Make a wish for the country to be prosperous and the people to live in peace."
Seeing her happy look, the frost in Gu Ruobai's eyes melted a bit. "If making such a wish here could make it come true, then why would I need to go to the battlefield?"
Why was this man so unromantic?
Su Mingyu rolled her eyes helplessly. "It's just a beautiful wish. Don't be so serious."
Then Su Mingyu picked up a lantern and held it in her hands. "My first wish is that our prince will stop being angry with me. My second wish is that our prince's wish for the country to be prosperous and the people to live in peace will come true."
The words "our prince" seemed so pale and powerless, yet they landed heavily on Gu Ruobai's heart.
They smashed a hole in his frozen heart, allowing the softness inside to overflow.
Even his cold eyes softened. Suddenly, he curled his lips into a smile, so clear and unexpected, like the warm sun shining through in winter, lighting up the whole bow of the boat.
Su Mingyu looked back at him in surprise and then carefully placed the lantern on the water.
"Look, my first wish has come true so quickly. I believe my second wish will come true soon too."
Seeing her self - satisfied look, Gu Ruobai felt as if a kitten was scratching his heart, making it tingle. His expression also softened a lot. "I find that your ability to make me happy is truly unparalleled in the world."