A similar incident reminded Qin Zichen of something.
"General Mu, why are you participating in battles and working at the court? Women should stay in their houses and take care of their husbands." Prime Minister Bai smiled jokingly.
"How about you Prime Minister Bai? Why are you working in the court when you can't solve a problem? Useless people should only stay in their places." Mu Shuang'er sarcastically retorted. She had a playful smile on her face.
Prime Minister Bai's face turned ugly.
"Alright, stop it. His highness will come back anytime soon." Captain Li waved his hands and patted Prime Minister Bai's shoulder.
"How can you not behave when a moron's testing your patience early in the morning?" Mu Shuang'er rolled her eyes.
"Who are you calling a moron?!" Prime Minister Bai slammed the table and stood up.
"Who else is the moron I'm talking about here? Don't ask, it's you." Mu Shuang'er also stood up with an intimidating expression.
"Mu Shuang'er! I don't even complain about that horrendous birthmark on your face!" Prime Minister Bai shouted.
Mu Shuang'er touched her cheek. She hates it every time people keep bringing up the horrendous birthmark.
She chewed her lips and showed her angry expression.
She glared hatefully at Bai Lihu. It sent chills down Bai Lihu's spine.
Mu Shuang'er tried to grab Bai Lihu. But Bai Lihu had retracted himself before Mu Shuang'er could grasp him.
He immediately ran away as Mu Shuang'er tried to catch up to him.
On his way to the exit of the tea house, he accidentally smashed the porcelain teacups on the ground. The shards scattered everywhere. Bai Lihu had no time to care so he just ran.
"Hey! How dare you smash my cups!" The owner of the Tea house shouted.
Bai Lihu didn't pay any attention to the old man. He just continued running while other guests and customers kept staring at them.
"Bai Lihu! Come back here!" Mu Shuang'er shouted angrily as she took off her shoes. She threw her pair of shoes at his head.
Bai Lihu stopped in his tracks. He grasped his aching head.
Mu Shuang'er ran towards him.
"General Mu, don't. Don't get close! Becareful" Bai Lihu warned. Nonetheless, Mu Shuang'er ignored the warning.
Mu Shuang'er didn't know and was too busy chasing after Bai Lihu to notice that there were shards on the ground. She stepped on them and gritted her teeth in pain.
Bai Lihu and Mu Shuang'er got reprimanded by Captain Li.
"Alright, Captain Li! Go with Prime Minister Bai and look for Physician Jiang. That guy, he is always not around." Qin Zichen shook his head and sighed.
"Yes, your highness." Captain Li and Bai Lihu saluted Qin Zichen before leaving.
Mu Shuang'er kept gritting her teeth.
Qin Zichen approached her. He crouched down and then held her feet in his hands.
"Your-Your Hi-Highness. Prince Qin what are you doing?!" Mu Shuang'er wanted to retreat to her feet but Qin Zichen grasped her calf.
"There's no doctor around here. Were here in the province and there are not many doctors around. Let this prince help you treat them." He said in a low tone.
He disinfected the wound gently and then wrapped it in gauzes.
"T-Thank you, Your Highness." Mu Shuang'er sincerely thanked.
Qin Zichen smiled in return and said, "You're welcome, I'm only repaying the favor. You were always there to help me. Thank you for coming into my life."
Mu Shuang'er smiled brightly after hearing his response. Her cheeks turned red like tomatoes and her heart skipped a beat. His soft and gentle voice had given her comfort and it made her forget the pain.
"I did make the right choice." She whispered but Qin Zichen heard it all.
"What choice?" He asked her. She then answered, "That I followed you."
Qin Zichen smiled even deeper. His heart was filled with warmth and joy.
....
The next few days,
the rain stopped after raining heavily for a week.
The sun is now creeping through the clouds and shining brightly. The slippery roads were now dry.
"Qin Zichen, I'm going home now." Lin Feiyi lifted the corners of her mouth faintly.
"Alright, take care." Qin Zichen smiled brightly at the sun.
Lin Feiyi hummed in a low tone and nodded her head.
She went inside her car and started the engine. She drove away until it disappeared from Qin Zichen's sight.
[Not bad, you gained 17% of favorability after just a week.]
'Thanks.' Qin Zichen thanked the system.
[Welcome] the system answered back.
Qin Zichen took out his phone and called his secretary.
"Report to me all of Lin Feiyi's movements."
"Yes, sir." Secretary Liu answered back.
Later that day, Mei Suxian, the original owner's Mother came back.
Qin Zichen sat in front of Mei Suxian.
"Xiaochen, I heard you brought your girlfriend home. Why in the world is she not here?" Mei Suxian asked while cutting a steak on her plate.
"Ma, she went back home already. Second, she's not my girlfriend." Qin Zichen answered with a smile.
"Not your girlfriend? Then why bother bringing her home and taking care of her." Mei Suxian glared at her son.
"She is not my girlfriend, Mom." Qin Zichen stopped eating and explained everything to Mei Suxian.
Mei Suxian heavily sighed, "Xiaochen, you're not young anymore. Go and get married."
"Mom, we both know that my career is my priority. Let's not rush things, okay?" Qin Zichen spoke in a soft tone.
"But I'm getting old. I want a grandchild to play with." Mei Suxian pouted her lips.
Qin Zichen chuckled and said, "If you want kids to play with, then go to the kid's playground. There's a lot of kids there." Qin Zichen smiled and laughed after.
Mei Suxian was stunned.
Qin Zichen stood up and then went upstairs to his study.
"Hey! You brat!" She yelled at him.
She rubbed her aching temples.
"Madam, are you okay?" Aunt Mo asked Mei Suxian in a worried tone.
"Yes, I am. This Wednesday, Su Yan prepared a banquet for her daughter's 25fth birthday. I'll introduce a lot of young ladies to Xiaochen." Mei Suxian's stressed face had been replaced by a wide smile.
"By the way, Aunt Mo. That woman my son brought home, what is her name? My son didn't tell me."
"I don't know, Madam. I was away for a week and, I just got back this morning. But sure thing, she must be a second-generation rich lady. Her clothes looked very expensive!" Aunt Mo exclaimed excitedly.
Mei Suxian nodded her head.
After eating, she went upstairs and knocked on her son's study.
"Xiaochen, can I come in?" She asked.
"Come in." Qin Zichen answered.
Mei Suxian opened the door and went in.
Qin Zichen looked up and saw Mei Suxian's cheeky smile. He knows that she is clearly up to no good again.
"What is it again, Mom?" He bowed his head and continued doing his work.
Mei Suxian sat on the chair in front of Qin Zichen. She put her hands on her lap and sighed.
His son is quite hard to convince.
"You remember Aunt Su right? Lin Si's wife. Her daughter came back abroad. Now, they're going to throw a birthday banquet for her. By chance, can you.." She didn't get to finish her sentence when he immediately answered, "Yes, I'll be coming with you."
Mei Suxian was stunned and speechless.
"A-are you sure?!!" Mei Suxian widened her eyes.
"Hmm." He hummed lazily.
"That's great news then." Mei Suxian laughed. Her smile was so wide that it could almost tear her whole face.
Mei Suxian happily went out of the study.
How could Qin Zichen not say yes? He's going to use this opportunity to gain favorability.
....
A little while later, his phone rang. It was a call from his secretary and he picked it up without hesitation.
"Sir, you have to see the news!"
"What news?" He frowned and then turned the tv on.
"An anti-fan tried to kidnap the top trending actress, An Meiyou. But the President Li of Wuyuan entertainment protected her like a knight in shining armor? Here is a video showing..." The news anchor explained and continued reporting details.
"Fans had been speculating that they are dating..."
[Beep! Warning! Lin Feiyi's blackening rate is going up to 89% 94%]
In the Lin's Mansion..
Lin Feiyi smashed all the types of furniture inside her room. She clenched her fist and went mad like crazy.
"Miss Lin, what's happening? Are you okay?" A maid said worriedly. She tried to get close even so, but Lin Feiyi pushed her away.
The maid cried and said in a hoarse voice, "Young Miss! What's happening to you?!"
"Get out!!" Lin Feiyi yelled angrily.
"B-But M-Miss-" the maid didn't continue what she wanted to say because she got scared from Lin Feiyi's glare.
The maids crawled their way out immediately.
The room was messy. The lampstand broke that the lights were flicking off, The sheets and pillows were everywhere, and the curtains, paintings were not arranged neatly.
She sat on the bed and started crying helplessly. She combed her hair upwards with her fingers. She looked at the mirror in front of her. She looked horrible while crying. She continued staring at her petty state and laughed bitterly.
"Why did that guy failed kidnapping that woman!??" She stomped her feet in anger.
"Why can't Harris love me? Aren't I the best?" She cried in a hoarse voice.
"That woman didn't even get to finish high school. She had nothing at all. She's just a poor orphan that got lucky!" She bit her lips till they bled.
[Beep! Warning! Lin Feiyi's blackening rate is 95]
Qin Zichen can't stand seeing the blackening rate going up. He took his phone and dialed Lin Feiyi's number.
Lin Feiyi's phone rang multiple times. She tried to ignore it, but it kept ringing numerous times and was bothering her. She answered the phone and lazily placed it to her right ear. She doesn't care who the caller is.
"Miss Lin." The voice softly called. The gentle voice seems a little familiar to her.
"Miss Lin, are you there? It's me, Qin Zichen." Qin Zichen happily exclaimed.
"Qin Zichen? How did you get my number!??" She suddenly stood up and wiped her tears.
She cleared her throat to make the hoarse voice disappear.
"Oh, that? It's not important where I got it. How are you? Are you okay?" He asked softly in a gentle tone. It managed to calm Lin Feiyi's, heavy heart.
No one asked her how her well-being was. She was a little stunned when the man asked her how she'd be.
Her perfectionist's parents didn't even ask about her well-being after getting back. All they do is urge her to tie the knot with Harris as soon as possible.
Instead of a warm welcome, a cold atmosphere greeted her
Lin Feiyi was a little happy that someone asked her.
[Beep! Lin Feiyi's blackening rate is going down 77%]
"I'm fine." She spoke softly in a hoarse voice. Tears filled her eyes and then fell from her cheeks.
"Are you sure? But why is it like you're crying?" Qin Zichen asked worriedly.
"No, I'm fine." She spoke in a cold and low tone.
"Maybe because I caught a little cold." She pretended to cough.
"Since you're not feeling well, can I visit you?" Qin Zichen asked in a cheerful tone.
"Ah! No! No, Don't.." Lin Feiyi suddenly panicked.
"It's okay, i won't come. We will still see each other next time anyway." Qin Zichen smiled brightly.
"What!?" Lin Feiyi exclaimed in surprise.
"Take care! If you ever feel sad or if you have problems, chill. Don't stress and cheer up!" Qin Zichen exclaimed cheerfully.
"Thank you." She thanked him sincerely but in a monotone voice.
"Welcome, See you next week!" Qin Zichen spoke happily and ended the call.
Lin Feiyi froze on her spot.
"See you next time.." She muttered under her breath.
"What does he mean by that?" She stared at her phone in confusion. She went to her recent call log and saved Qin Zichen's number.
She felt relieved and calm. The man's voice felt nice to hear and comforting.
[Beep! +4 added to 17% Favorability 21% Favorability]
Qin Zichen smiled after hearing the notification.
Lin Feiyi looked at the mess around her. She clutched her head and bit her lips.
"oh no! this is so embarrassing! I just got back! I'm causing a mess?! Mom and Dad will come back soon! Why did I rant like a drama queen!??" she stomped her feet in frustration and kept facing back and forth.
She slowly opened the door and saw the maids waiting for her outside. She looked at them with an awkward smile. She felt a little embarrassed by her mental breakdown.
"Young Miss." the maid softly whispered.
"I want to apologize. I'm sorry." She apologized in a monotone voice. One would think she's insincere because of her tone. But she was sorry as well as the maids were considerate of her.
"Young Miss! It's time to eat." The butler told Lin Feiyi.
She nodded her head and headed downstairs.
"Isn't she having a mental breakdown just now?" The maid whispered to Aunt Ling.
"Let's just be considerate. The young miss is a very kind person. Poor child, She's shaped into a cold person because of her parent's lack of warmth and support." Aunt Ling sighed sadly