Zhou Yi Pretends to Be Angry, Xiao Jia Reflects

Zhou Yi carried Little Jia on his back as they walked along the quiet path back to the Prince's Mansion.

This secluded road was rarely traveled, and Little Jia had often walked here alone in the past.

"Zhou Yi."

Little Jia had long shed her sweet and gentle facade, revealing her true nature.

Endearments like "Brother Zhou" were gone—now she only called him by his full name, Zhou Yi.

Still, compared to other men, Zhou Yi at least had the privilege of being addressed properly. Little Jia collectively referred to the men who flattered her as "dogs."

Clearly, in Little Jia's eyes, Zhou Yi was different from those men.

If those men were nothing more than gold-diggers in her mind, then Zhou Yi was the untainted white lotus—or at least, that was the image he had carefully crafted for her.

Zhou Yi tilted his head slightly and asked softly, "Hmm? What is it now, my dear lady?"

Throughout the journey, Little Jia had been complaining—first that Zhou Yi walked too fast, then that he wasn’t holding her tightly enough. Her attitude toward him was downright hostile.

Yet Zhou Yi wasn’t angry.

To him, it was just like teasing a kitten.

Hearing him call her "dear lady," Little Jia secretly smiled against his back, though her tone remained sharp:

"You think I’m too harsh, don’t you?"

"Not at all. I just think you’re like a child who needs to be pampered."

"Of course! I’m the treasured jewel of the entire Prince’s Mansion. It’s your honor to carry me. Go on, tell me—what do you want?"

Harsh as she was, Little Jia was also incredibly generous.

"You still don’t understand. I don’t want anything from you. I’m only escorting you home because you asked me to."

"—That’s all."

Zhou Yi emphasized those last two words.

Little Jia pretended to be furious and smacked his shoulder. "You’re so ungrateful! My family has countless rare treasures. Even if you don’t care about money, surely you’d be interested in antiques and artifacts."

She tilted her head and rested it on his shoulder, her eyes gleaming.

Truthfully, every time Zhou Yi refused her, she felt a little pleased.

If he were like those other men, she’d see him as no different from the "dogs."

At least in the beginning, Zhou Yi never accepted anything from her.

Little Jia truly meant it when she offered gifts—but the moment someone took them, she lost all interest in them.

Zhou Yi replied calmly, "Of course I like treasures. Who wouldn’t? But we’re not family, nor are we close. Accepting such expensive gifts from you would feel wrong."

Little Jia smirked and said haughtily, "Honestly, you’re so... stubborn. Fine, then what would you accept?"

"Why are you so insistent on giving me things?"

"Because I want to! Isn’t that how the world works? No one stays friends without some benefit."

"There you go again with your twisted logic. If I’d only agreed to walk you home because I wanted something from you, would you still be friends with me?"

"But you didn’t, so I want to give you things. Hey, no more arguing! If you’re my friend, you have to accept my gifts. You need to be worthy of being my friend."

Little Jia had a strange way of thinking, likely instilled in her since childhood.

She was noble, so her friends had to be noble too. Even if they started as ordinary, she would elevate them until they were "qualified."

She liked Zhou Yi, found him interesting—so she had to give him something. To her, this was how relationships were maintained.

But she didn’t realize the subconscious superiority in her actions.

Suddenly, Zhou Yi set her down.

"Walk the rest of the way yourself."

His expression turned cold as he turned to leave. Little Jia panicked and shouted after him:

"Hey! What’s wrong with you?!"

No one had ever walked away from her like this before. Stunned, she could only stand there and demand an answer.

Zhou Yi waved without looking back. "Go on home."

Little Jia narrowed her eyes. "You’re really going to leave a girl alone this late at night? What if something happens to me?"

Sure enough, Zhou Yi stopped.

She raised an eyebrow—see? At his core, Zhou Yi was still a kind and chivalrous man. She stepped in front of him and bit her lip.

"Well? Did I say something to upset you?"

She didn’t notice how cautious her tone had become.

If Zhou Yi really abandoned her here, Little Jia would hold a grudge for life—she never forgot a slight.

Without a word, Zhou Yi crouched down, gesturing for her to climb onto his back. But he still refused to speak.

Little Jia clung to him and poked his shoulder.

"Just now you were lecturing me like a philosopher, and now you’re mute? People say women are hard to read, but men are the ones who change their minds in a blink."

As the Prince’s Mansion came into view, Zhou Yi didn’t even glance at its grandeur. He set Little Jia down and turned to leave again.

She grabbed his hand. "Aren’t you coming in?"

Zhou Yi shook his head. "No. Grandfather Qu is waiting for me at the hospital."

Little Jia’s heart itched with frustration. She had to know why he’d gotten angry.

She darted in front of him, blocking his path. "No! You have to tell me why you got mad just now. I deserve an explanation."

Zhou Yi pushed her hand away and stared at her impassively.

"Little Jia, whether you’re a princess or a treasure in the Prince’s Mansion, it’s fine that everyone spoils you. But you and I are equals. Have you ever treated me as one?"

His words left her frozen.

Her lips parted, her unease impossible to hide.

Zhou Yi let out a quiet laugh, laced with cold amusement.

"Giving gifts like they’re rewards for servants—I don’t like that. You used the word 'worthy.' Friendship is about mutual respect and shared interests, not matching status or wealth. By your logic, I suppose I’m not 'worthy' of being Little Jia’s friend."

"Little Jia, I don’t feel respected by you."

His blunt statement struck her like a slap.

Zhou Yi brushed past her and disappeared into the night.

Little Jia stood there, staring after him, her brow furrowed.

"Did I... do something wrong?"

For the first time, her values clashed with Zhou Yi’s. For the first time, she questioned herself.

Should she change how she spoke to him?

She’d only wanted to give him gifts, to be his friend.

Her father had always said: If you like someone, you should be good to them, shower them with presents, make them happy.

Had she been wrong?

When Little Jia returned to the Prince’s Mansion, her usual arrogance was gone. She sat in the courtyard, gazing at the moon, her small face cupped in her hands as she wondered:

"How can I make him feel respected?"

[Little Jia]