Chapter 39: The Crown Prince Has Fallen for That Woman

Everyone turned their attention back to Bo Jin Xiu.

At this moment, his face was devoid of expression, yet the aura radiating from him was chilling to the bone. Instantly, no one dared utter a word.

On the other side, Jiang Ciyou had failed to extract the answers she sought. Yan Feng had once again drunk himself into oblivion, his entire body nearly collapsing against her. She had no choice but to support him as they left the grand hall of Prosperity.

The crowd watched Bo Jin Xiu’s expression with utmost caution. Fang Bo, unable to hold his tongue, remarked, “Rong City may be small, but its women are daring indeed. To think she would toy with our Crown Prince. Your Highness, why not leave her to me? I know plenty of ways to teach a woman like that a lesson. I guarantee she’ll regret ever crossing you.”

Bo Jin Xiu remained silent. The others took his silence as agreement and began to tease Fang Bo. “Help the Crown Prince vent his anger? Please, you just have your eye on a pretty face. You already have eight girlfriends and you still can’t change your ways. Fang Bo, you must have been an octopus in your past life—no one can juggle as many boats as you.”

Fang Bo protested, “A fickle woman like her needs a sea king like me to handle her. I’ll pursue her, and when I’ve succeeded, I’ll set up two mahjong tables and introduce everyone present as my girlfriends. She’ll be so bewildered, she’ll doubt her whole existence and never forget it.”

Emboldened by his own fantasy, Fang Bo went further, his words growing more explicit. “Three days. At most, three days, and I’ll have her in my bed.”

The next second, Bo Jin Xiu suddenly turned around and punched Fang Bo square in the face.

Fang Bo was knocked to the ground, utterly stunned.

Bo Jin Xiu took a step forward, grabbed him by the collar, and hissed, “Try laying a finger on her.”

With that, he released Fang Bo and strode toward the door.

The group was left in a daze. Though the Crown Prince always seemed aloof, he had always treated his childhood friends well. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have summoned them all the way from the capital to Rong City at a word. But just now, for the first time, they had seen genuine murderous intent in his eyes.

Xue Tao sighed, “The Crown Prince has truly fallen for that woman.”

After Bo Jin Xiu left, he happened to see Jiang Ciyou helping Yan Feng into a car before driving away from Prosperity.

He hadn’t brought his own car tonight; there was no way to catch up. He pulled out his phone and dialed Jiang Ciyou.

She glanced at the incoming call—“Pretty Boy” was flashing on the screen. She was about to answer when the phone shut off automatically, battery drained.

Driving along the overpass, Jiang Ciyou took Yan Feng straight back to the old family estate.

The Yan family had long since retired for the night. Jiang Ciyou had to escort Yan Feng to his room by herself. Originally, she intended to leave after settling him in, but Yan Feng suddenly woke up again, clutching her hand and calling her “Little Worry.”

Seeing him half-awake, she thought to probe for answers, but Yan Feng seemed to have forgotten the last three years, speaking only of the past—mostly their childhood.

In the middle of his rambling, he suddenly lifted his shirt, pointing to the long scar that snaked down from his waist. “Little Worry, you despise me, don’t you? Because of this. But you once promised to take care of me for life, even if I became a cripple.”

Jiang Ciyou’s heart quivered as she gazed at the scar.

She remembered—when they were twelve, they’d attended an outdoor adventure camp together. One night, hungry, Jiang Ciyou had dragged Yan Feng out of the tent to steal a few packs of instant noodles. They’d set up a makeshift stove over the campfire to cook them.

When the noodles were done, Yan Feng picked up the pot, but one of the handles broke off. The scalding soup spilled all over his waist, leaving him severely burned.

Jiang Ciyou recalled how grave his injuries had been—he spent a long time in the hospital, even a few days in the ICU due to a serious infection. She had kept vigil at his bedside day and night. At the worst of it, the doctor warned that if the infection couldn’t be controlled, amputation might be necessary.

Weeping, she promised Yan Feng she would care for him forever, even if he became disabled.

After Yan Feng was discharged, he never spoke of it again, nor did he ever let her see the extent of his injury.

Now, for the first time, she saw the scar: the muscles were warped, the skin uneven, some areas deep, some shallow, and this was only the part he revealed. The worst burns had been on his left leg—she could only imagine how dreadful the scars there must be.

The memories surged. Staring at his wound, Jiang Ciyou’s eyes grew red.

“Ah Feng, why would you say that? When have I ever despised you?”

“You wrote it in your diary. Are you still trying to deny it?” Yan Feng’s tone was devastated. “I’m so broken, a cripple. I’m not worthy of you.”

Jiang Ciyou wanted to ask more, but Yan Feng suddenly flew into a frenzy and shoved her out the door. “Go! Jiang Ciyou, just go. I don’t want your pity or your sympathy!”

With a loud slam, he shut the door.

Jiang Ciyou was about to leave when she ran into Yan Feng’s mother. Delighted to see her, the older woman took her hand and fussed over her, finally insisting she stay the night.

It was already late, and besides, Jiang Ciyou still had questions she wanted answered. She agreed to stay in the adjoining room.

That night, she tossed and turned, unable to sleep. What had Yan Feng meant by his words? And what was this about a diary?

She rose early. When she went to the dining room for breakfast, she ran into Yan Feng. He glanced at her, a complicated emotion flickering in his eyes.

“Was it you who brought me home last night?”

Jiang Ciyou, calm and composed, sat down and began to eat. “You were drunk. Xiao Kai called me.”

Yan Feng was silent for a moment. “Next time, I’ll tell them we’ve broken up. They won’t bother you again.”

Jiang Ciyou’s expression remained indifferent. “As you wish.”

Yan Feng stared at her. She was fresh-faced, without a trace of makeup, looking nothing like her usual polished self. When made up, she was dazzling, seductive as a fox spirit. Without makeup, she looked so young—almost like a college student.

He lost himself for a moment, then said, “I’ve looked into the online post. It was Xia Ling who orchestrated it. I don’t know why she targeted you, but on her behalf, I apologize.”

Jiang Ciyou said nothing, merely glancing at him.

He continued, “I can make it up to you. You can name any condition.”

She arched an eyebrow. “Any condition?”

Yan Feng’s expression darkened, a flicker of wariness in his eyes. “As long as it’s within my power.”

Jiang Ciyou found his caution almost amusing. He was treating her as if she were a threat.

“Don’t worry,” she said. “I won’t ask you to leave Xia Ling and come back to me.”

His brow furrowed even more deeply.