ASTRP -Chapter 12 Caught Red-Handed While Trying to Run Away

Just as Feng Jinge steadied herself and lifted her eyes, about to offer thanks—

The moment she saw who stood before her, her whole body stiffened, and the words of gratitude froze on her lips.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

Xiao Jinghan’s voice was low and chilling, his gaze sweeping over the bundle on Feng Jinge’s back.

“……”

Damn it!

Why is this guy here?!

Panic surged through Feng Jinge’s mind as her brain raced for a solution, though her face remained composed.

Suddenly, from the corner of her eye, she caught sight of the star-filled sky and the bright full moon hanging above.

An idea struck.

Grinning, Feng Jinge raised her hand and lightly punched Xiao Jinghan’s shoulder in a coy, affected manner.

“Oh, you’re so annoying. Your Highness is already waiting here for me, yet you still ask where I’m going.”

Seeing “himself” act coquettishly toward him—though the face carried undeniable beauty—it was still hard for Xiao Jinghan to accept.

His expression turned colder as he uttered two icy words, “Stand properly.”

Feng Jinge immediately straightened up.

Xiao Jinghan looked her up and down. “Dressed like this… planning to run away with this prince’s body?”

“Run away?”

Feng Jinge widened her eyes and laughed it off.

“Your Highness must be joking. How would I dare?”

“I just thought the moon tonight looked nice, so I came up to admire it.”

Xiao Jinghan said nothing, his eyes fixed on her, making her increasingly uneasy.

Since he wasn’t speaking, she decided to take the initiative.

Her eyes flickered, a faint smile curling on her lips.

She stepped forward, closing the distance between them.

Her eyes sparkled as she looked at Xiao Jinghan—who was now shorter than her—with a smile.

“Isn’t Your Highness here to admire the moon too?”

Xiao Jinghan frowned.

Feng Jinge raised her hand and pointed to the sky.

“Look at the stars, the full moon hanging high—such a beautiful night, isn’t it?”

Following her gesture, Xiao Jinghan looked up. The stars filled his vision, and his lips curved slightly.

“It is indeed beautiful.”

Seeing that he was momentarily distracted by the scenery, Feng Jinge quietly stretched her hand behind his back.

“Perfect weather… for making a run for it.”

“Right, Feng Jinge?”

The moment the words fell, Xiao Jinghan reached behind and grabbed her arm.

So fast!

Feng Jinge was startled, instantly realizing his martial skills far surpassed hers.

Ning An and Qing Shan were still lurking in the shadows.

Three against one—there was no way she could win.

Endure!

“Your Highness, that hurts, hurts!”

Feng Jinge cried out.

Xiao Jinghan remained expressionless, unmoved, as he grabbed her and leapt down from the rooftop.

They landed.

Ning An and Qing Shan emerged from the shadows.

“Your Highness.”

“Your Highness.”

“Guard the door.”

After giving the order, Xiao Jinghan dragged Feng Jinge into the inner room.

Bang! The door slammed shut.

Qing Shan jumped at the sound, then turned to look at Ning An, whose expression hadn’t changed at all.

Leaning closer, he whispered, “Do you think Miss Feng will be okay?”

Ning An glanced at the tightly shut door and replied coldly,

“What could happen to her? If anything, the one in trouble is the prince.”

Qing Shan: ???

“The prince in trouble? What could possibly happen to him?”

“Our prince—you know him—great martial skills, strong stamina. No matter what, Feng Jinge is just—”

Qing Shan kept rambling outside, while inside the room—

After dragging Feng Jinge in, Xiao Jinghan pinned her against the wall.

The distance between them was razor-thin.

His sharp gaze locked onto her.

“You’re not Feng Jinge. Who are you?”

Feng Jinge’s heart skipped a beat.

Exposed this quickly?

But—

No matter what, she couldn’t admit she came from another world.

That was far too absurd. No one would believe it.

“Your Highness, I—”

She was about to make something up, but Xiao Jinghan cut her off mercilessly.

“Feng Jinge was foolish and mad—she knew no martial arts.”

“When I came to see you yesterday, you couldn’t even recognize your own face.”

A cold smile tugged at his lips.

“No matter how stupid someone is, they wouldn’t fail to recognize their own face.”

Feng Jinge: “……”

She’d been careless!

She hadn’t even inherited the original host’s memories before getting knocked out!

Still… there might be a way to turn things around.

Raising a brow, Feng Jinge regained her composure.

“Your Highness, in this past day or so… haven’t you felt that something is off?”

As soon as she said that, Xiao Jinghan’s expression darkened visibly.

Having suddenly turned into a woman—everything felt off.

Seeing his expression sink, Feng Jinge realized she’d misspoken and quickly clarified:

“What I mean by ‘off’… is your face.” She pointed at it.

“My face?”

Xiao Jinghan frowned.

“What about it?”

Seeing that he hadn’t discovered the secret yet, Feng Jinge said, “Your Highness, stand still. Don’t move.”

As she spoke, her hand moved to the side of his ear. With a gentle peel, she removed a thin, almost invisible layer of skin.

“See? The reason I didn’t recognize it yesterday was because—”

She waved the face mask proudly and looked up at him—

And froze.

The face beneath… was exactly the same as hers.

Even the tiny mole on the earlobe was identical.

This… this…

How could there be a face in another world identical to hers?

Feng Jinge stood stunned, an inexplicable sense of unease rising in her chest.

Xiao Jinghan caught the fleeting panic in her eyes. His gaze darkened slightly, and he let out a faint chuckle.

“Seeing your true face makes you this shocked?”

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen it… naturally, I’m a bit surprised,” Feng Jinge admitted without hesitation.

Xiao Jinghan asked coldly, “Who is your father?”

Feng Jinge: ?!

How would I know?!

Just as the thought formed, her mouth moved on its own.

“Feng Qianshi.”

She froze.

Xiao Jinghan continued, “Your mother?”

“Never seen her. Don’t know.”

Again—an answer beyond her control.

Panic surged within her.

If this man keeps asking, won’t he dig up my entire ancestry?!

But judging from Xiao Jinghan’s expression, her involuntary answers seemed to have convinced him. Her panic eased slightly.

“What do you want?” he asked. “Say it. As long as I can do it, I’ll try to satisfy you.”

“Really?”

Feng Jinge’s eyes lit up.

“Mm.”

Xiao Jinghan nodded.

Regarding her attempt to run away tonight, he could have forced her submission—or used harsher methods.

But for some reason…

He didn’t want to.