Chapter 17

Yu Changning’s heart softened again when she saw her like that.

She let out a sigh and held Chu Yunmiao by the shoulders. “I didn’t even use much force. Why are you so wronged?”

Chu Yunmiao finally came back to herself. She reached out and pushed her away, not forgetting to snap, “Yu Changning, you’re a total bastard!”

Under the dim yellow streetlamp, Yu Changning narrowed her eyes slightly.

She rubbed the spot where Chu Yunmiao had shoved her, then actually defended herself. “If I really were a bastard, do you think you’d still be able to...”

Her voice grew softer and softer; by the last few words, Chu Yunmiao could no longer hear them clearly.

But the Imperial Crown Princess’s keen sixth sense still made her shiver on the spot.

She wanted to leave. After turning around, she suddenly remembered something and came back, holding out her hand to Yu Changning. “Give me back the card.”

The Fang Juanyu card she had been holding earlier had been snatched away by Yu Changning. Even though she had no intention of contacting Fang Juanyu through it, first, she didn’t want her things in Yu Changning’s hands; second, she still hadn’t figured out the smell on the card, and she didn’t want to leave in such a muddle.

Yu Changning clasped both hands behind her back. When she brought them back up, her fingers were spread wide; nothing could be seen.

She was practically being openly shameless with Chu Yunmiao. “It’s gone.”

Chu Yunmiao: “...”

If she believed Yu Changning’s nonsense, then her twenty years of life would have been for nothing.

Yet Yu Changning’s skin was thick enough that not a trace of guilt could be found on her calm face. Seeing the Long Princess’s indignant expression, she even kindly suggested, “If you don’t believe me, why don’t you search me yourself?”

As she spoke, she took a step forward, looking as if she were offering herself up for Chu Yunmiao to do with as she pleased.

Chu Yunmiao frowned, then slowly reached out toward her.

In the night, the young instructor wore only a simple shirt and trench coat; her sleeves were rolled up, revealing two slender wrists as pale as scallions. Add to that her slightly spread arms, and she looked fully prepared to cooperate with any search. She really didn’t seem threatening at all; instead, she gave off a strange, vulnerable sort of beauty.

But no one knew better than Chu Yunmiao what kind of warmth and strength were hidden beneath that deceptively harmless body. During training, she had been trapped in Yu Changning’s arms countless times; she knew that fact all too well.

But this time, it seemed she actually had a chance to challenge Yu Changning’s authority. Performing a search on the other woman when she offered no resistance, in what was admittedly a somewhat humiliating act, made her hesitate instead.

Why?

Yu Changning clearly had all kinds of reasons and excuses to brush it off. She could have denied it outright; she could have even just walked away. After all, with the huge gap in their abilities, Chu Yunmiao couldn’t possibly force her down and demand an explanation.

So why was Yu Changning willing to give in? Why was she willing to put on such a show just to coax her?

Chu Yunmiao’s outstretched hand froze in midair.

She suddenly understood. Yu Changning was just treating her like a child to be placated.

Like an elder hiding candy from a child because she doesn’t want them to eat it, then making up an excuse that someone else already ate the sweets.

The Long Princess felt an endless sense of frustration.

She didn’t understand. If Yu Changning still wanted to be good to her, why wouldn’t she simply go along with her completely? But if she was deliberately going against her, why was she still trying to deceive her like she was a little kid?

What exactly was wrong with this friendship?

Could they ever return to the close relationship they’d had in childhood?

Her mind a little muddled, Chu Yunmiao desperately wanted to find a quiet place and be alone for a while.

She dropped her hand. “...Forget it.”

Yu Changning looked somewhat puzzled, but then she changed the topic as well.

“Mm. Tired? It’s late today too; go back and rest early.”

She made the invitation again. “Same time tomorrow afternoon. I’ll wait for you at the Training Gym.”

Chu Yunmiao looked up in surprise. “You’re still willing to... help me train?”

Yu Changning’s gaze was gentle. “Why would you ask that?”

She quoted, out loud, a text message she had sent earlier. “When have I ever refused your request?”

Chu Yunmiao pressed her lips together. “...”

There was this feeling that made her want to grind her teeth in hatred, but she still couldn’t just bite the other person openly.

Still, if you had the chance and didn’t take advantage of it, you were an idiot.

Chu Yunmiao nodded. “Okay. Three o’clock tomorrow afternoon. A3 Training Gym.”

Yu Changning nodded back.

Before leaving, she said one last thing. “Your training these past two days has been very effective. Give it a little more time, and I’ll be able to confirm your follow-up specialized training plan.

“These next few days, focus entirely on training; keep away from those people whose origins are unclear.”

Chu Yunmiao knew she was still alluding to what happened tonight.

“Got it.” She answered reluctantly.

After that, the two of them said goodbye, and the Long Princess finally returned to her dorm.

Back in her room, she took a shower and washed away all the strange smell she’d brought back from the bar, then lay down in bed and prepared to sleep.

Just before falling asleep, another question surfaced in her mind. Since it was still early, Chu Yunmiao opened her light-brain terminal and found the chat group she shared with her two younger sisters.

【Chu Yunmiao: Do you know Fang Juanyu?】

The two little princesses didn’t reply right away. Chu Yunmiao stared blankly at the chat window, lost in thought. Just as she was about to drift off, several new messages popped up.

【Chu Yunli: Fang Juanyu? I don’t really remember her. Does Second Princess know her? @Chu Yunhuan】

【Chu Yunhuan: ...】

【Chu Yunhuan: I just remembered a little. We met her when we were little.】

Chu Yunmiao’s sleepiness was instantly driven away.

She had really met Fang Juanyu before?

【Chu Yunmiao: When? I have no memory of it at all.】

【Chu Yunhuan: Why are you suddenly bringing her up, Ah Jie?】

Chu Yunmiao typed an explanation.

【Chu Yunmiao: We’re at the same school, and we happened to run into each other today. She said she knew me, but I don’t have the slightest memory of her.】

【Chu Yunhuan: I see.】

【Chu Yunli: Second sister, can you stop dragging it out? If you know, just say it.】

【Chu Yunhuan: Is your skin itching again?】

Though she had gone off on a tangent, Second Princess still quickly typed out a message to clear things up.

【Chu Yunhuan: It seems like it was during one of the summer vacations. Grandma brought back a cute older sister for Ah Jie and said she wanted her to be friends with Ah Jie. Ah Jie, don’t you remember? That cute older sister was a child from the Fang family; I think her name was Fang Juanyu.】

Chu Yunmiao frowned and thought hard, but after a long while, she gave up.

【Chu Yunmiao: Did I remember wrong? Why do I remember never meeting any new friends during summer vacation?】

Far away in the Imperial Palace, Second Princess sneered.

【Chu Yunhuan: Of course you don’t remember her.】

【Chu Yunmiao: On the first day she was brought to the Imperial Palace, Sister Changning happened to feel unwell; later she was even taken back to the Yu Family to recuperate. You were restless for two or three days and didn’t even play with your toys anymore. In the end, you couldn’t help going to beg Grandma and Mom, and you were taken to the Yu Family to keep Sister Changning company.】

Chu Yunmiao: “...”

Now that Chu Yunhuan had said it, she did have some impression.

At the beginning of middle school, during one summer vacation, Yu Changning had somehow fallen ill. Chu Yunmiao followed her to the Yu Family to take care of her; Yu Changning recovered quickly, then took her to spend the entire summer at one of the Yu Family’s vacation estates.

She had been so happy at the Yu Family estate that she didn’t want to return to the Imperial Palace at all. By the time school was about to start and she had no choice but to go back, that newly brought-in playmate had already been sent away.

At that time, she had been worried about Yu Changning and completely ignored the unimportant people and things around her. Naturally, Fang Juanyu had left no impression on her at all.

【Chu Yunmiao: I remember now...】

【Chu Yunmiao: Thanks, Yunhuan. Your memory is better than mine.】

Second Princess almost rolled her eyes.

After thinking about it, she couldn’t help but remind her.

【Chu Yunhuan: Ah Jie, have you noticed that during that period, it seems like you only had Sister Changning as a friend.】

【Chu Yunhuan: Mother and Grandma found several people for you to keep you company, but later... cough cough, they all somehow left.】

In front of the light-brain screen, Third Princess glanced at Second Princess.

Chu Yunli: “What do you mean, ‘they all somehow left’?”

Her eyes widened. “Do you mean, ‘they were somehow chased away’?”

As for who chased them away...

The two of them tacitly chose silence.

Chu Yunhuan touched her chin. “So you noticed too?”

Chu Yunli rolled her eyes. “I’m not an idiot.”

The chat window vibrated; there was a new message.

【Chu Yunmiao: It seems so.】

【Chu Yunmiao: Ah, maybe it was just a personality mismatch; we couldn’t get along. Was I hard to deal with back then?】

Chu Yunli & Chu Yunhuan: “...”

Coming back to herself, Chu Yunli really couldn’t hold it in anymore.

【Chu Yunli: Ah Jie, you’re an idiot.】

【Chu Yunhuan: Ah Jie, you’re an idiot.】

【Chu Yunmiao: ???】

Second Princess propped her chin on her hand and forcibly ended the topic.

【Chu Yunhuan: It’s late. Time to sleep, or you’ll be out of sorts tomorrow.】

Chu Yunmiao froze, deleted the question she had been typing, and replaced it with a simple “Good night.”

But until she fell asleep, the words “idiot” still lingered in her head, making her think about it over and over without understanding.

How exactly did she look like an idiot?!