But when the words reached his lips, they came out completely wrong.

"Have you eaten yet?" Mingye managed to squeeze out the sentence. The moment the words left his mouth, he wanted to bite his own tongue off.

’Why, at such a crucial moment, did I have to ask such a random question!’

Su Yaoyao couldn’t help but be slightly taken aback when she heard the question.

Seeing how serious Mingye looked, she had thought it was something important.

"No," Su Yaoyao replied instinctively, a faint hint of disappointment in her voice.

"I... I’ll have someone prepare breakfast," Mingye blurted out. After saying this, he felt his face grow so hot it could fry an egg.

He didn’t dare to look at Su Yaoyao again, afraid he would lose his composure even further. He turned around in a panic and fled.

Su Yaoyao watched his slightly flustered back, feeling a little baffled.

Full of questions, Su Yaoyao made her way to the castle’s dining hall.

Shortly after she sat down, she saw attendants, sent by Mingye, approaching with a lavish breakfast.

Looking at the exquisite food before her, Su Yaoyao had little appetite. Although she knew Mingye had specially prepared it for her, her mind was still preoccupied with his strange behavior from earlier.

A little while later, Mingye also arrived at the dining hall.

The moment he entered, his gaze fell unconsciously on Su Yaoyao. Their eyes met for a brief moment before they both hastily looked away.

Mingye pretended to be casual as he walked to his usual seat. But after sitting down, his mind wasn’t on the food at all; his eyes kept stealing glances at Su Yaoyao.

’He was incredibly frustrated, silently cursing himself for being so useless. To choke at the critical moment and not even be able to get out a single word of confession.’

After breakfast, Su Yaoyao and Mingye left the dining hall together.

Su Yaoyao tilted her head up slightly, her gaze filled with some anticipation, and looked at Mingye to ask, "Regarding the peace talks, have you given them any more thought?"

Mingye frowned slightly, a contemplative look flashing in his eyes. He said slowly, "There are still some details that I feel need more consideration. It might take a few more days."

Su Yaoyao nodded lightly, a hint of apology in her expression. She said softly, "It seems I was being too hasty. Peace talks are a major affair, so it’s right to be cautious."

Seeing Su Yaoyao’s understanding expression, Mingye’s eyes filled with tenderness. He said, "Yaoyao, you’ve worked hard these past few days on the peace talks. It’s a rare sunny day today. Why don’t I show you around Snake Scale City? Think of it as a way to relax."

Su Yaoyao raised an eyebrow in surprise. She thought about it—she had been on edge for the past few days, so a walk might be nice. She smiled, nodded, and agreed, "Okay."

Mingye brought Su Yaoyao to the bustling market of Snake Scale City.

The place was teeming with people coming and going. All sorts of stalls were lined up one after another, displaying a dazzling array of goods, and the shouts of vendors rose and fell in waves.

Mingye and Su Yaoyao weaved through the crowd. Su Yaoyao looked around; nothing had changed.

Just then, a freight cart suddenly went out of control and rushed rapidly in Su Yaoyao’s direction.

The people around them screamed and dodged in terror, and for a moment, Su Yaoyao was also frozen to the spot.

In the nick of time, Mingye swiftly extended his powerful arms, pulled Su Yaoyao into his embrace, and held her tightly against his chest.

"Watch out!"

Still shaken, Su Yaoyao looked up and met Mingye’s concerned and tense gaze.

They were extremely close. Mingye’s rapid breaths fell on Su Yaoyao’s face, and she could clearly feel his powerful heartbeat.

Su Yaoyao’s face instantly flushed bright red, and her heart began to race uncontrollably, as if it were about to leap out of her throat.

Mingye asked worriedly, "Yaoyao, are you all right?" His voice trembled slightly with tension, and his dark green eyes were fixed on Su Yaoyao, filled with concern and lingering fear.

Su Yaoyao shook her head in a fluster. "I... I’m fine." They stared into each other’s eyes, and it was as if time had frozen in that moment. The noisy sounds of their surroundings faded away, and in their eyes, there was only each other.

However, this scene was witnessed by Su Yaoyao’s Beast Husbands, who were stuck in a corner.

Bai Lian and the others had heard at the inn that Su Yaoyao was out shopping, so they had immediately come out to find her.

Mingye had previously forbidden them from entering the castle to see Su Yaoyao. Now, seeing Mingye and Su Yaoyao so close, their hearts were filled with a mix of complicated feelings.

They were just about to step forward when they were immediately blocked by a crowd of Beastman citizens.

These Beastman citizens had all noticed their Lord’s feelings for the Holy Female. Eager to help him out, they naturally wouldn’t let the others get close so easily.

"You can’t go over there!" a burly Beastman citizen said loudly, blocking Bai Lian and the others with a determined gaze.

"Why won’t you let us pass? That’s our wife!" Reg shouted anxiously, his eyes filled with anger and indignation.

"Hmph, our Lord and the Holy Female are clearly in love. Don’t you come and cause trouble!" another Beastman citizen retorted, not backing down.

The two sides were locked in a stalemate. Meanwhile, Mingye and Su Yaoyao were still immersed in the unexpected and ambiguous atmosphere, completely unaware of what was happening in the corner.

Blocked by the crowd, Bai Lian and the others couldn’t get near Mingye and Su Yaoyao.

For the sake of the peace talks, they naturally couldn’t attack the citizens of Snake Scale City.

They could only watch helplessly as Mingye took Su Yaoyao’s hand and their figures receded into the distance, their hearts filled with both helplessness and rage.

Mingye led Su Yaoyao through the bustling market, and soon they arrived at a stall covered in a dazzling array of ornaments.

The jewelry on the stall was as brilliant and eye-catching as a sky full of stars. Each piece exuded a unique charm, glinting alluringly in the sunlight.

Mingye’s gaze drifted over the many ornaments before finally settling on a necklace inlaid with a blue gem.

He gently picked up the necklace. The gem was a deep blue, as if it held a tranquil ocean within.

Mingye turned around, his eyes as gentle as water. He carefully placed the necklace around Su Yaoyao’s neck, his movements so delicate it was as if he were afraid of disturbing this beautiful moment.

After fastening it, he lowered his head slightly, leaned close to Su Yaoyao’s ear, and said in a soft, gentle voice, "I remember I destroyed your necklace before. I’ve been thinking about it ever since. The color of this one is a bit like the last. Think of it as my compensation. It really suits you."

Su Yaoyao’s fingers gently touched the necklace, her gaze falling upon the deep blue gem. Her thoughts drifted as she said slowly, "Actually, that necklace... it was the first gift Bai Lian ever gave me." Her words carried a faint trace of nostalgia.

Mingye’s gentle smile instantly froze, as if a bucket of cold water had been thrown on him. The expression on his face became a little unnatural.

A complex mix of emotions flickered in his eyes—disappointment, and a faint, hidden trace of jealousy.