Chapter Thirty: Big Brother! Pull Yourself Together!

She truly wished to see her.

Zheng Xuan pondered this, then solemnly took a precious, delicate wooden box from the shelf.

"Your Highness," Zheng Xuan said, handing the box to Xiao Yixi.

Xiao Yixi took the box and carefully placed the jade pendant inside. She hoped little sister Yingying would like this gift.

***

Chu Manor.

Chu Ying was still fast asleep, unaware that her first attempt at playing matchmaker for her brother and future sister-in-law had ended in total failure. In fact, their potential romance was on the verge of vanishing entirely due to Lin Xiaoyue, who was lurking in wait inside Chu Hengyang’s bed.

Dreaming happily, she was busy devouring delicious meat, laughing "hehe" in her sleep with immense contentment.

***

Dining Hall.

Chu Hengyang had finished his meal. He stood up and bowed to Chu Jue and Liu Shuang'er before taking his leave.

"Strange," Chu Jue remarked, noting how little his eldest son had eaten today. What was wrong with him? Could it be that, like himself, he felt guilty for burdening his sister and depriving her of a happy, free life, and was thus in low spirits?

Chu Jue looked at Liu Shuang'er, perplexed. She shook her head, saying nothing. It seemed their youngest daughter’s scheme to lie and leave space for Hengyang and the Princess to connect had not gone as planned.

Chu Hengyang walked toward his courtyard, his mood heavy. He had tried so hard to suppress his feelings for the Princess, yet the more he resisted, the more he found himself unable to control the dark thoughts in his heart. He let out a long breath, feeling a sense of relief—thankfully, he had seen his little sister upon returning to the manor. Her presence had calmed his dark impulses, allowing him to eat at least a little. Otherwise, he feared he might currently be in his room, committing some ruthless act of violence to vent the shadows within him, rather than remaining as composed as he was now.

As Chu Hengyang neared his courtyard gate, Lin Xiaoyue received a notification from G97. She curled her lips into a smile, filled with anticipation and joy.

***

Soon, she would be able to conquer this man of the ancient era.

"Creak..."

The bedroom door was pushed open gently. Lin Xiaoyue immediately signaled to G97: [G97, activate the "Enchanting Scent" skill.]

[Skill "Enchanting Scent" activated for the host,] G97 replied.

As Chu Hengyang stepped inside, before he could even discern what was on his bed, his mind and body were completely captured by a wispy, intoxicating fragrance. His brain grew hazy, and he couldn't help but inhale the drifting scent more deeply.

"Brother~ Come here~" Lin Xiaoyue’s voice was laced with a bewitching quality that coiled around his heart.

Chu Hengyang felt an itch in his soul and stepped deeper into the room, drawn toward the source of the fragrance and the woman whose voice tempted him so profoundly. Hearing his footsteps, Lin Xiaoyue smiled.

Hmph. Her "Enchanting Scent" newcomer gift pack provided her with a full half-hour of bewitching fragrance. In half an hour, she could finish him off twice over. Her smile became even more wanton and alluring.

"Gulp—"

Chu Hengyang swallowed, his cheeks burning as he reached the bedside. On his handsome, jade-like face, his eyes were clouded, as if veiled by something that prevented him from seeing what was truly before him; there was only the desire driven by the scent.

Who? Who was it? Who possessed such a seductive fragrance, leaving him desperate to possess her, to smell more?

Lin Xiaoyue looked at Chu Hengyang, her alluring eyes fixed on him, her lips curving upward. She extended an arm, fair as a lotus root, and reached toward him. "Brother, do you... want to smell this scent? Why don't you... come closer and take a breath?"

Chu Hengyang, as if entranced, grabbed her hand. Under her triumphant gaze, he leaned toward the back of her hand, inhaling greedily as his warm breath brushed against her skin. "Fragrant... so fragrant..." he whispered.

Watching his gentle, refined face—which looked as if it were carved from the finest warm jade—devouring her scent so deeply, Lin Xiaoyue’s disdain and pride swelled. Hmph. A man from this ancient era who had deducted so many favorability points during her first attempt at wooing him—wasn't he now just like a dog,乖乖 (obediently) coming to her, waiting to be conquered and toyed with as she pleased?

[Xiao Yixi favorability +1, +1, +1, +1...]

G97’s notification chimed in her mind. Lin Xiaoyue’s smile widened. She moved her hand, pulling it from his grasp, and as he reached out to find her again, she guided his hand toward her chest...

"BIG BROTHER!!!" Chu Ying panted heavily as she shoved open the door to Chu Hengyang’s bedroom.

She saw the clothes scattered on the floor, the bare, fair arm reaching out toward Chu Hengyang from the bed, and the rounded shoulder and sliver of skin exposed from beneath the covers, making it obvious that the woman was unclothed. A shrill scream echoed in her heart.

*Ahhhhhhh!!!* No! Her big brother was about to lose his innocence! He was going to be tainted!

She had only taken a nap because she was too tired, so why had everything turned into this when she woke up?!

"BIG BROTHER!!!" Chu Ying slammed the door shut and rushed to his side, anxious and distraught.

"Lit...tle sister?" Chu Hengyang called out, his consciousness blurred. Through the chaos in his mind, he saw a glimmer of light—a presence that would make him clear-headed in an instant, even if he were sinking into the deepest, darkest mire.

Lin Xiaoyue was annoyed, her smile faltering. Why did this ancient man’s sister always appear at the perfect moment to ruin her plans?

"Big brother!" Chu Ying ignored everything else and grabbed his arm, hoping to snap him out of it. "Have you forgotten? You need to rest early so you can take me to the Imperial Academy tomorrow! And... and..." Chu Ying glanced at Lin Xiaoyue. "This girl is just the fool Mother saved and brought into the manor. You cannot let Mother be disappointed in you!"

Chu Ying stomped her foot in frustration. Wasn't his relationship with the future sister-in-law developing perfectly today? Why was he suddenly like this with the female lead?

*Could it be...*

Chu Ying sniffed the heavy fragrance in the air and realized with a start. Had the female lead used the "Enchanting Scent" prop—which in the original plot was meant for the second male lead, the Crown Prince—on her brother instead?

"Big brother... Imperial Academy... disappointed?" Chu Hengyang repeated her words over and over.

In his clouded mind, Chu Ying’s smiling face appeared. He recalled her saying she wanted to enter the Imperial Academy quickly so they could go together every day. He also remembered Liu Shuang'er telling him to protect Chu Ying well.

Chu Hengyang’s body suddenly stiffened. As his consciousness slowly cleared, he finally saw clearly what was in front of him.