"Then what do you want?" Ying Hua asked. "Do you want me to return the kiss?"
'Impossible!' thought Prince Dwei, wide-eyed as he continued to comb Ying Hua's expression. 'How could she seem calm and relaxed? Does she kiss men often? My heart hurts. This is harassment!' While clenching his fists.
"I'm waiting, Prince," Ying Hua rebuked when Prince Dwei showed no sign of responding. She watched him from head to toe. 'He looked annoyed, seen from his pursed lips, also his stiff forehead. His hands also clenched into fists. Was it because of that kiss? Have I made him angry?'
She let out a very long breath. 'If only I was allowed to steal other people's minds, then I would. I'll catch Prince Dwei's brainwaves so I can find out what's on his mind. But Emperor Liang said it was a sin. So I can't do it.'
"No!" said Prince Dwei with a slightly harsh tone after awakening from his daydream. He suddenly felt very annoyed.
'Why is he getting angrier?' Ying Hua thought in confusion. 'I have several probabilities, but I still have to ask him all of them. And I'm not sure he wants to answer all my questions.'
"I don't want your kisses, or need them," Prince Dwei said, annoyed. "I also don't care even if it's my first kiss. But as long as you know some people have principles. And I was principled to give my first kiss to my wife. Maybe this is not a big problem for you."
"Unfortunately I can't turn back time," Ying Hua said, finally knowing what had offended Prince Dwei. "And I apologize for being presumptuous. I should have asked your permission before I kissed you. I don't want any misunderstanding to occur. So if you want something then just say it, and I will grant it. But I hope you don't ask me to never see you again, because I still have to do it."
"Why?" Prince Dwei's voice was challenging. He was a young man twenty years old, a mature age for a man to marry, especially in that era. "What more do you want from me?"
"As you already know that I had a promise with you in the past, in your past life."
"What's that promise?"
A red mega appeared in the sky as the wind continued to blow, shaking more leaves and branches as well. Ying Hua's white hair fluttered, looking soft and shiny.
Beauty radiated from her figure, which was as soft and bright as a pearl at the bottom of the ocean.
The wind that blew seemed to possess Prince Dwei, making his heart beat fast. He immediately turned around, covering his red face.
"I promise to save your life," Ying Hua replied, starting to feel pain all over her body. Every time she had a new fight, she would feel the same way. That's because her father right now must be torturing her fourth soul.
"If you made a promise in my past life, then why do you have to do it in my current life? Isn't a promise broken if it's already been kept?"
"Unfortunately I haven't been able to keep it."
Prince Dwei widened his eyes, and suddenly his face turned pale as if he remembered something.
Ying Hua could only observe without intending to ask further. For now, her job was only to save him once, and her promise would pay off. Her necklace would light up and gain energy.
"Then does that mean that I..."
She frowned, seeing him throwing random glances in various directions. His eyes widened, looking alert. "Yes," she nodded. "You were already killed before I could save you. That's why..."
"You don't have to," he said quickly, interrupting like he was choking. When he saw her frown, he continued his words. "Because it wasn't me. I was never killed in my past life. No."
He shook his head decisively, even more so than the general who was interrogating an enemy.
Suddenly anger resurfaced on his face, mixed with a look of alarm and worry. Everything seemed ambiguous, seemed annoying.
"But that's exactly what happened, Prince," Ying Hua muttered. "Perhaps someone's face can change. But my necklace never lies. It can sense the energy of a reincarnated person, so…"
"I'm not him!" interrupted Prince Dwei snapping without him even realizing it. A second later, he cleared his throat, reached into his trouser pocket, and handed a hair accessory to Ying Hua. "I'm giving this to you, so you can return it to Princess Fan Ni. Now go! You don't need to see me anymore. Because I'm not the person you've been looking for."
He left after laying down, kicking a branch a bit too much. At first, he wanted to remove the red cloth in his hand, but suddenly he stopped it.
There was still Ying Hua who had not moved from her position, who was now looking confusedly at Prince Dwei, especially when he suddenly turned around and walked towards her again. His hands were on his waist.
"Lend me the hair accessories first," he said while looking away. 'Ugh, this is embarrassing! My pride.' But it looked like he didn't have any other choice.
"What for?" she asked casually. "Do you want to take it again?"
"I'll duplicate it," he said irritably. "So I'll say that I never gave it to her. And later on, there won't be any misunderstandings. Besides that, I'll be looking for new hair accessories to give to my future wife. So if you meet her, you better say that it doesn't mean anything anymore."
"Doesn't that mean you want to expose that you are the thief she was looking for?"
Prince Dwei cursed himself for not thinking that far. 'Seems to be the effect of me skipping royal lessons.' He shook his head quickly. "I take back what I said. You don't have to say anything to her. I'll be the one to say it in person. So give it to me first." Seeing that Ying Hua still didn't want to give it to him, he said more firmly, "You can follow me if you want!"
Finally, for the common good, Ying Hua agreed to Prince Dwei's request. After calling Old Man Mo and explaining a few things, she immediately went with Prince Dwei to the nearest accessory-making shop.
They passed through a short forest area, encroaching on a very dense market area. Not many people paid attention to them, due to their inconspicuous appearance.
This surprised Prince Dwei. "Your hair is so white and shiny. Your clothes look unique and stand out. But why don't people in this market look at you one bit? Have you been to this market often?"
"Before I answer that question, I will ask you a question, Prince. What do you think of me? Who do you think I am?"
"You?" Prince Dwei frowned. "You are a demon, a white flame-haired demon. Then why? What does that have to do with the question I just asked?"
"You think I'm a demon," said Ying Hua, looking up. "So, isn't that the answer?"
Prince Dwei frowned, gazing deep into Ying Hua's eyes. Then subconsciously on her nose that was pointed and narrow, then on her lips that were soft and moist.
Full of suspicion, she watched him non-stop. 'Why does he keep gulping when he looks at my lips?'
***