The carriage Gao Shan had sent to pick him up returned empty. The report was that Prince Zhao had already left the Imperial Palace, and no one knew where he had gone.

Hua Manman was very anxious.

’It’s raining so hard. Where could he have gone all by himself?’

He Family advised, "Don’t worry too much. Prince Zhao is a grown man, and he’s so skilled. Nothing will happen to him. We’ll send people to find him right away. They should be able to bring him back soon."

She had just finished speaking when Si Yun cried out in delight.

"The Prince is back!"

Hua Manman immediately looked outside and saw Prince Zhao, drenched from head to toe, walk up the steps and cross the threshold.

He Family was startled. "Prince, why are you soaked to the bone? You didn’t walk back in the rain, did you? Quick, bring a towel! And hot water and clean clothes! Go prepare them, quickly!"

Si Yun rushed to bring a towel.

She knew the Prince never liked to be touched, so she didn’t dare reach out to dry him off. Instead, she said urgently,

"Prince, please dry yourself."

But Li Ji seemed oblivious.

He stared straight at Hua Manman, his eyelashes wet with rain.

He looked as if he were about to cry.

Hua Manman’s heart ached at the sight.

She took the towel with her uninjured hand and said to He Family and Si Yun,

"Please leave us."

He Family could also see that something was wrong with Prince Zhao’s state. She tactfully asked nothing and led Si Yun out.

The two of them thoughtfully closed the door on their way out.

As Hua Manman wiped the water from Prince Zhao’s face, she asked,

"What’s wrong?"

Li Ji opened his mouth. "I..."

Hua Manman waited a moment, but no other words followed.

She couldn’t help but ask, "What is it?"

Li Ji didn’t know what he wanted to say, either.

He just felt a stifling pressure in his chest.

It felt as if something was lodged in his heart, making him unbearably miserable.

Seeing the rims of his eyes turn red, Hua Manman quickly pulled him into a hug, stroking his back again and again.

"You don’t have to talk if you don’t want to. It’s okay." 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Li Ji leaned down and held her tightly.

He buried his face in the crook of her neck, his nose pressed against her skin.

Hua Manman was still injured, and his forceful embrace was inevitably a little painful.

But she said nothing, simply hugging him back in silence.

Unconsciously, the downpour began to subside.

Droplets of water slid down the large banana leaves, falling with a PLOP into the soft earth.

Li Ji’s voice was hoarse.

"I’m sorry."

Hua Manman asked, "You didn’t do anything wrong. Why are you apologizing?"

Li Ji’s voice trembled. "When my father was in dire straits, I couldn’t save him. When my mother was struggling in agony, I couldn’t protect her. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry..."

Hua Manman felt a warm liquid wet the skin of her neck.

The small patch of skin felt as if it had been scalded, and she couldn’t help but stiffen for a moment.

But she quickly hugged him even tighter.

「An unknown amount of time passed.」

The rain outside had finally stopped, but the sky remained a gloomy gray.

The dark clouds felt like a heavy weight on one’s heart, making it hard to breathe.

Li Ji let go of Hua Manman.

He took the towel from Manman’s hand, pressed it against his eyes, and said hoarsely,

"Sorry. I must have scared you."

Hua Manman pressed her lips together and said softly, "You don’t need to apologize."

She paused, then added in an even quieter voice,

"I’m glad you held me just now."

Her voice was incredibly soft.

If the rain hadn’t stopped, if they weren’t the only two in the room, if they weren’t standing so close...

He might not have heard her at all.

But he did.

He felt an emotion swell rapidly in his chest, spilling out with unstoppable force until even his fingertips trembled.

Li Ji slowly lowered the towel.

The towel had wiped away the moisture, but the corners of his eyes were still tinged with red.

He stared intently at the woman before him and called out in a husky voice,

"Manman."

Hua Manman looked up at him. "Mm?"

Li Ji couldn’t stop himself from calling her name again. "Manman."

She answered patiently, "I’m here."

No matter when, no matter where, she was always there for him.

Li Ji no longer wanted to hold back.

He followed his heart’s desire, leaned down, and crushed his lips to Hua Manman’s.

His kiss was harder and more ferocious than ever before.

He was like a starved beast, ready to devour the prey he had craved for so long.

After a fierce assault, Li Ji gradually softened his movements.

The kiss, in turn, became tender and lingering.

Hua Manman was left dizzy and disoriented, her breathing a ragged mess.

She snapped back to her senses only when she felt the sash of her dress come undone.

She used her uninjured hand to push him away.

Li Ji yielded, moving back slightly.

Hua Manman said, panting, "You’re still soaked. Go change your clothes."

Li Ji clung to her, refusing to let go.

"Help me change."

Hua Manman wiggled her bandaged hand. "I’m still injured, you know," she reminded him.

To her surprise, Li Ji took her arm, lowered his head, and kissed her wound through the gauze.

"I want you."

His voice was husky, thick with intense desire.

"I want you so, so much."

He lifted his long, narrow eyes, the red at their corners bewitching and seductive.

"Can I?"

Hua Manman was speechless.

’Reason told her she should say no.’

’She was still injured and wasn’t suited for any strenuous activity.’

’But when she met Prince Zhao’s gaze, which held the same longing as a child begging for candy, she couldn’t bring herself to refuse.’

’The skin of her neck was still damp from his tears.’

’She didn’t want to see that sorrowful expression on his face again, the one that looked like he could burst into tears at any second.’

’She didn’t want to hear him say "I’m sorry" again.’

The light in Li Ji’s eyes gradually dimmed. "Can’t I?"

The next moment, Hua Manman rose onto her tiptoes, hooked her uninjured arm around his neck, and pulled him down to kiss his lips.

Li Ji froze for a second, then immediately cupped the back of her neck and kissed her back with even greater force.

Clothes rustled to the floor.

...

「Afterward.」

Hua Manman was sprawled on the bed, utterly spent. Her long hair was fanned out behind her, the corners of her eyes were red, and faint traces of tears were still visible on her face. Her neck and chest were covered in telltale red marks.

She was so exhausted she didn’t want to lift a single finger.

Li Ji carefully checked her injury, and only relaxed after confirming the wound hadn’t reopened.

He leaned in to kiss her lips and asked insatiably,

"Again?"

Hua Manman managed to reply with a single, breathless word.

"Scram."

’Normally, she would never dare to speak so brazenly to this jerk.’

’But she was truly exhausted. Her slender legs were still trembling, and her lower back ached painfully.’

’She simply didn’t have the energy to put on her usual act of being sweet and gentle.’

Instead of getting angry at being told off, Li Ji just let out a low chuckle.

...