TRWSB – Chapter 189 Zuo Shao cares about you a lot

Qi Shaorong looked at Qi Heng’s flushed cheeks with concern. “Ah Heng, are you okay?”

Qi Heng shook his head. “I’m fine.”

“Zuo Yunfei didn’t do anything to you, did he?” Qi Shaorong asked.

Qi Heng shook his head again. “No, he didn’t.”

Zhuang Hao examined Qi Heng’s face. “Qi Heng, your face is really red!”

Qi Heng rubbed his face and forced a smile. “Is it? Maybe the sun’s too strong and I got a bit sunburned.”

Qi Shaorong: “…”

Zhuang Hao looked at Qi Heng and said, “I saw Zuo Yunfei give you flowers. Did he confess to you?”

Qi Heng gave Zhuang Hao a look and turned his face away. “Nothing like that, Young Master Zhuang. Don’t overthink it.”

Zhuang Hao rolled his eyes and muttered to himself: It’s not that I want to overthink things—it’s that what Zuo Yunfei does forces me to overthink.

+++++

Li Ying glanced in Zuo Yunfei’s direction. “Young Master Zuo and Qi Heng seem to have an unusual relationship.”

Jiang He nodded. “Yeah, they do.”

Although Zuo Yunfei was always cold and distant, with his striking appearance and outstanding strength, many people still braved his icy attitude to try and get close to him. But to Zuo Yunfei, those people were like air. Li Ying had never seen him take any real interest in anyone—until now.

“I saw Young Master Zuo give red cherry blossoms to Qi Heng earlier,” Jiang He said.

Red cherry blossoms symbolize love. The meaning behind Zuo Yunfei giving them to Qi Heng was self-evident.

Jiang Qinxin sat on the ground, silent.

Earlier, when she saw Zuo Yunfei picking red cherry blossoms, she’d allowed herself a brief moment of hope—if he gave the flowers to her, she’d be the happiest woman in the Jin Kingdom.

But instead, he gave them to Qi Heng.

Jiang Qinxin looked in Qi Heng’s direction and took a deep breath. What kind of past did he and Zuo Yunfei share, that would leave Zuo Yunfei so attached, caught between love and resentment?

Qi Shaorong looked at Qi Heng and said, “Qi Heng, those people from Jin Kingdom seem to be staring at you.”

Qi Heng frowned. “I’m not some rare exotic beast. What’s there to stare at?”

“I think that Jiang Qinxin lady seems a bit jealous of you,” Qi Shaorong added.

“You’re overthinking it, Young Master. There’s nothing about me worth being jealous of,” Qi Heng replied.

“Of course there is. That Zuo Yunfei clearly cares about you, and it looks like Miss Jiang likes him,” Qi Shaorong said.

Qi Heng turned his head and looked seriously at Qi Shaorong. “Young Master, can you not joke like that? It’s giving me goosebumps.”

Qi Shaorong: “…” The one involved is often blind to the truth, while outsiders see clearly. Qi Heng was completely oblivious.

“Did I scare you? Sorry about that,” Qi Shaorong said.

Qi Heng turned his face away, frowning in frustration. “Young Master, you’re even talking like Zuo Yunfei now. Stop it—it’s creeping me out.”

Qi Shaorong: “…”

“All right, if we’ve gathered enough flowers, let’s head back. Princess Yueting is probably getting impatient,” Zuo Yunfei said.

Zhuang Hao nodded. “Good idea.”

“Even though there’s no set time limit for collecting red cherry blossoms, getting back early should leave a good impression on the princess,” Qi Shaorong said.

One after another, Zuo Yunfei and the others boarded the sea vessel.

+++++

Standing at the bow of the ship, Qi Heng took a deep breath and felt a sense of relief.

Finally, they were on the return trip. Maybe this would all be over soon.

Qi Heng turned his head and saw Zuo Yunfei standing not far away, looking grim.

Qi Heng pursed his lips and said, “What is it?”

“You threw away the flowers I gave you,” Zuo Yunfei said coldly.

Qi Heng looked at him, and for some reason, felt a pang of guilt.

“They withered, so I tossed them. Naturally,” Qi Heng said.

Zuo Yunfei stared at him darkly. “Those flowers weren’t something you could just throw away.”

Qi Heng replied irritably, “Well, I did throw them. What do you expect—want me to go dig them out of the trash?”

Zuo Yunfei continued to glare at him, then pulled out another bouquet—half-wilted—from his spatial ring and shoved it into Qi Heng’s hands. “Keep it. Things I give away aren’t for others to toss at will.”

With no choice, Qi Heng put the flowers away in his spatial ring.

Qi Shaorong walked out of the cabin and said, “Ah Heng, Young Master Zuo really has a strong personality, doesn’t he?”

“Young Master!” Qi Heng rolled his eyes in exasperation. Zuo Yunfei didn’t have a strong personality—he was just insane.

++++

Li Ying looked in the direction of Qi Heng, sighed, and said, “Young Master Zuo seems to treat Qi Heng unusually well. Looks like Miss Jun Lanyue will be disappointed.”

Jiang Qinxin narrowed her eyes. Jun Lanyue was Zuo Yunfei’s fiancée through an arranged engagement from childhood. In the beginning, their relationship was quite good, and they were already at the stage of discussing marriage. However, after Zuo Yunfei had an accident, the Jun family, worried that Jun Lanyue would be implicated, hastily broke off the engagement and quickly arranged another marriage for her.

After Zuo Yunfei regained his strength and returned to the Zuo family, Jun Lanyue immediately broke off her new engagement and tried to restore her previous engagement with Zuo Yunfei. Unfortunately, Zuo Yunfei completely ignored her.

Jun Lanyue breaking off two engagements became a joke in the capital of Jin Country.

“If Qi Heng goes to Jin Country, Miss Jun Lanyue probably won’t let it go so easily,” Jiang Qinxin said.

Though Jun Lanyue was in the wrong for breaking off the engagement, she had tried multiple times to reconcile with Zuo Yunfei, all to no avail, and made quite a fool of herself in the process.

Still, Jun Lanyue was arrogant and domineering. Whoever got close to Zuo Yunfei would become her target.

“Qi Heng belongs to Qi Shaorong. Once this matter is over, I doubt he’ll stay in Yun Country much longer. He’ll probably return to his home country with Qi Shaorong,” said Li Ying.

“That may not be the case,” Jiang Qinxin took a deep breath and thought to herself: It’d be best if Qi Heng left with Qi Shaorong, but I’m afraid that Qi Heng might have other plans…

“That’s true. The relationship between Zuo Yunfei and Qi Heng seems quite good. Maybe Qi Heng will want to go to the capital with Zuo Yunfei,” Li Ying said.

Jiang Qinxin: “……” If Qi Heng wants to go after the Jiang family, will Zuo Yunfei help him?

+++++

Yun Country’s imperial capital.

“Your Highness, a prince has returned.”

Princess Yueting looked at the messenger in surprise. “A prince has returned?”

“Yes.”

Princess Yueting glanced again in disbelief. “Someone returned this quickly? Which prince?”

“It’s Prince Tang Tianying from Yuan Country and Prince Li Ying from Jin Country.”

“As expected, those two. Among all the guards, Zhuang Hao and Zuo Yunfei are the most capable.”

“Then Your Highness, who are you more inclined to choose? Prince Tang Tianying or Prince Li Ying?”

Princess Yueting frowned, a trace of disdain flashing across her face. “Neither of them is that impressive. If either of them had even half the skill of Zhuang Hao or Zuo Yunfei, I wouldn’t be so troubled.”

The guard looked at Princess Yueting and said, “Your Highness, the Emperor has already given an order—you must choose one of the princes who came this time.”

Princess Yueting replied impatiently, “That old man is always so impatient. I’m still very young—does he really have to worry about me not getting married so early?”

“Your Highness, actually, both Prince Tang Tianying and Prince Li Ying are quite good,” said the guard.

Princess Yueting sneered, “Good? What’s good about them?”

+++++

In a separate residence.

Qi Shaorong and Zhuang Hao sat facing each other, playing chess.

Qi Heng watched from the side. “Young Master, both the Fourth Prince and Prince Li Ying have entered the palace. Who do you think Her Highness the Princess will choose?”

Qi Shaorong glanced at Qi Heng and casually said, “I don’t think Her Highness is someone who’ll be easily impressed.”

Qi Heng smiled. “I agree.”

Footsteps approached. Qi Heng smiled and said, “That should be the Fourth Prince returning. I’ll go take a look.”

Tang Tianying pushed the door open and walked in, looking troubled.

Zhuang Hao looked at Tang Tianying and said, “Fourth Prince, how did it go? You presented flowers to Her Highness—did she take a liking to you?”

“If Her Highness were so easily moved, she would’ve already found someone within Yun Country to marry. Why would she even consider foreign princes like us?” Tang Tianying slumped into a chair, looking exhausted.

Zhuang Hao asked, “Did Her Highness make any specific requests?”

“She said her future husband doesn’t need to be a peerless hero, but he must at least be an outstanding individual. That means he must be at least equal to her in strength,” Tang Tianying said.

Qi Shaorong tilted his head. “So, to marry the princess, you have to fight her first?”

Tang Tianying nodded. “Yes.”

Qi Shaorong patted Tang Tianying’s shoulder. “Fourth Prince, you’re one of the Seven Talents of the Capital. This princess seems a bit arrogant—you should beat her down and show her that the Seven Talents of the Capital aren’t to be messed with.”

Tang Tianying gave a wry smile. “Qi Shao, maybe the Seven Talents used to be famous, but ever since you beat Shen Yuan in one move, we’ve become a joke. Now, the Seven Talents of the Capital are practically a laughingstock.”

Qi Shaorong chuckled. “Fourth Prince, don’t underestimate yourself. No matter what, you’re far more capable than that idiot Shen Yuan. Since the Seven Talents are in disgrace, this is your chance to restore their reputation.”

Tang Tianying looked at Qi Shaorong with embarrassment. “Qi Shao, the princess is actually really strong. It’ll be tough to meet your expectations.”

Qi Shaorong thought to himself: This guy really lacks ambition.

Zhuang Hao chuckled. “Getting a wife isn’t easy for anyone. If you’re hoping for a pie to fall from the sky, that’s unlikely. Better just accept your fate.”

Tang Tianying: “……” Was that Zhuang Hao speaking from experience?