Chapter 444: Chapter 444: Her One and Only Male Lead

Footsteps sounded behind her.

Song Lianhe didn’t turn around.

Not until she was pulled into an embrace.

She glanced to the side, her smiling eyes filled with a constant gentleness.

"So tired." 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Zhou Cangyan leaned his weight against her, but his hands held her waist tight.

"Did you receive the Holy Emperor’s decree?"

Zhou Cangyan nodded. "It’s just for show, for the court officials. It won’t affect the outcome."

Song Lianhe turned to face him. "Are you really willing to give it up?"

He raised an eyebrow. "What’s there to be unwilling about? Zhou Sui’an, on the other hand, ran to Kunyi Palace and cried in the Empress’s arms for ages, saying he absolutely wouldn’t inherit the throne."

"Haha... And what did the Empress say?"

"The Empress ordered the palace gates closed and refused to let him back in."

"That does sound like something the Empress would do." She added, "It’s strange, isn’t it? Everyone scrambles for it, yet it ends up in the hands of Prince Wei, who doesn’t even want it."

"His preferences don’t matter." Zhou Cangyan leaned against her, his tone leaving no room for argument. "He’ll take this throne whether he likes it or not! I’ve already asked Marquis Xuan Chang, the Assistant Minister, the Minister of the Ministry of Rites, and others to watch him for me. He can’t run."

Song Lianhe couldn’t help but give him a thumbs-up. "If you’ve left it to my maternal grandfather, then he can forget about escaping!"

Zhou Cangyan lifted her chin, staring at her. "Aren’t you afraid I’ll follow the original ending and take that throne myself?"

"Of course I am." She blinked her clear eyes, staring at him intently. "But what’s the use in being afraid? I’ll just have to make a long-term plan."

"Oh?"

His eyes were filled with amusement. "Let’s hear it. Will you be planning to crash the wedding, or kidnap me?"

Song Lianhe lifted her chin proudly. "Those ideas are so uncreative! After transmigrating into a few books, I’ve learned one thing: as long as I kill myself before the ending, I get a chance to start all over again!"

But at that, Zhou Cangyan’s expression changed in an instant.

He pinched her cheeks, glaring at her. "Kill yourself? You actually dare to think that! What if you don’t come back?"

"Oh, you’ll have already moved on, a new beauty by your side. Would you even care if I came back? By then, it’ll be out of sight, out of mind for both of us. What’s so wrong with that?"

"No! Absolutely not!"

Zhou Cangyan was so angry he wanted to teach her a lesson.

But Song Lianhe just smiled and smoothed the crease between his brows. "Aiya, that would be a last resort. By the way, I heard you brought Song Xilan back to your residence?"

Her expression immediately turned cold. "What’s this? Can’t bear to part with her?"

Zhou Cangyan’s lips curved into a smile. "Mhm, I brought her back." He said, "She sought me out on her own several times, and I discovered that whenever I saw her, my will would stray from my own intentions. How could I let someone else control me? So..."

"So... you imprisoned her?!"

Song Lianhe’s eyes widened in disbelief. "She’s the female lead!"

"I don’t know anything about leads. As far as I’m concerned, you’re the only one I acknowledge." He said nonchalantly, "I didn’t kill her because I was afraid this world would collapse. So, I might as well just keep her until she dies of old age."

"But... but..."

Song Lianhe still felt a little sympathy for Song Xilan.

’None of this was her fault, and besides, after her ’awakening,’ she actually seemed kind of likable.’

As if displeased that her attention was diverted by someone else, he said irritably, "She’s been locked up for a few days and has already sent a message: if I let her go, she won’t be obsessed with me anymore."

"Then you should let her go."

But Zhou Cangyan just sneered. "I don’t believe a word she says."

Song Lianhe clicked her tongue. ’A villain is a villain, after all.’

He pulled her in front of him, staring at her as he asked, "What would you think if I said I plan to return to Sui Ning after I’ve made sure Zhou Sui’an ascends the throne?"

"That’s great!"

Song Lianhe was thrilled. "I haven’t seen the old man in so long! And Da Tao and Da Mei... oh, right, and Zhong Shimin..."

Before she could finish, he pinched her cheeks again. "You’re not allowed to see him."

"Why not?"

"No reason."

Song Lianhe grinned. "Are you jealous?"

Zhou Cangyan shot her a look, his eyes full of warning.

She laughed and waved her hands. "Alright, alright, I won’t see him, I won’t. But why do you have to watch Zhou Sui’an?"

"That kid is crafty. Even if you lock him up, he’s the type who would dig a tunnel to escape."

Song Lianhe burst out laughing. "Then you’ll have to tighten security."

She glanced up at the top of his head—the male lead’s halo was still there.

Her heart skipped a beat.

’But...’

’Who cares!’

She suddenly hugged him, pressing her cheek against his chest in reassurance.

’So what if he’s the male lead?’

’He can only be *my* male lead!’