Pampered By All In Different Planes

"Miss, earlier... it's a shame I couldn't act faster, otherwise your hat wouldn't have been knocked off," the Third Prince's words carried a hidden meaning, ostensibly expressing regret for Su Zhiruan, but actually subtly taking credit.

Su Zhiruan's gaze was filled with pride, like a student who scored a hundred on a test asking their mother for a reward, not maliciously but casually raising the topic.

"Thank you, young master," Su Zhiruan listened to Hong Xiu's piano playing and didn't embarrass the Third Prince, nodding with a smile, "I can see you're a righteous and kind person. May I ask your name, young master?"

"Ji..." The Third Prince began to speak but changed his words when he met Su Zhiruan's eyes, smoothly claiming, "Ji Xiaoyuan, that's my name."

Su Zhiruan: "..."

The attendant student at the door almost hurt his jaw from surprise; his eyes widened incredulously as he looked at his Third Prince.

"Young master—" The attendant student frantically winked at him, but the Third Prince ignored it.

Su Zhiruan drank her tea calmly, smiling as she examined the man before her.

He certainly couldn't be named Ji Xiaoyuan.

This must mean he was sure she didn't know who Ji Xiaoyuan was. Moreover, Su Zhiruan could tell that the man before her definitely knew Ji Xiaoyuan, and perhaps they were on good terms.

Looking closer, she noticed some similarities in their appearances.

"Meeting you today, Miss, seems fated; may I know your name? I would gladly escort you safely home," the Third Prince's intentions were clear, his eyes sparkling as he looked at Su Zhiruan, "Would you do me the honor?"

"I was at the restaurant," Su Zhiruan listened as Hong Xiu's piano music gradually softened, and she said, "Today, I saw you at the restaurant; surely, you noticed me too."

"Miss, you're clever." The Third Prince didn't deny it either.

After playing the piano, Hong Xiu walked straight to Su Zhiruan, reaching up to wrap her left hand around her arm, "Sister~"

"Miss Hong Xiu, why did you stop playing?" The Third Prince was displeased by the interruption, turning his attention to Hong Xiu.

"Young master... you scared me~" Hong Xiu clutched her chest, feigning fear and moving closer to Su Zhiruan, "Didn't my embroidered ball hit you earlier, sister? Are you hurt~ Let Hong Xiu take a look, ok~"

Seeing Hong Xiu almost leaning entirely on Su Zhiruan, the Third Prince angrily slammed the table, "What are you doing?"

While he was furious, Hong Xiu ignored him, pinching Su Zhiruan's fingers and then stroking her arm, taking a deep breath, "Sister~ you smell so nice~"

"Sister~ your arm is so beautiful, your skin is lovely too, how do you do it~"

Watching the two beauties pressing close together before him, with Su Zhiruan not rejecting it, the Third Prince was utterly dumbfounded.

"You... you..." The Third Prince was on the brink of collapse.

The attendant student peeked through the door, witnessing the scene, and mirrored the Third Prince's expression.

The waiter following Su Zhiruan was straightforward, thinking that even if two women were close, it didn't matter; maybe they were just kindred spirits. He even thought the attendant student was making a fuss over nothing.

The Third Prince stood there, his finger trembling as he pointed at them.

"Miss, I'll take you out of here; this place is terrifying!" The Third Prince took a quick step forward, trying to grasp Su Zhiruan's other arm.

"No, hold on." Su Zhiruan, helpless, interrupted their actions.

"Let's sit down and talk," she looked out the window, for the first time realizing her curiosity had led her to watch this drama unfold.

"Miss, you choose: will you pick this woman who hit you, or have me escort you back safely to the restaurant," the Third Prince clung to her sleeve stubbornly, refusing to let go, "And that brothel owner seemed shady to me; who knows if this woman aimed at you on purpose."

Hong Xiu froze for a couple of seconds after his words, a bit bewildered.

Su Zhiruan recalled her tearful eyes earlier and asked, "You're not here by choice, are you?"

"I was brought here by force," Hong Xiu dropped her pretenses and said with downcast eyes, "I came from Wan Dynasty to find a cousin in the Wang Dynasty."

"You were kidnapped while searching for family? Kidnappers?" The Third Prince bombarded her with questions, continuing, "Where is this cousin? Why hasn't she come to find you? Do you remember what your cousin looks like?"