Not This One

Cui Zilu's eyes darted around, looking left and right.

She just didn't dare to meet Shangguan Yunying's gaze.

After a brief, dead silence, Cui Zilu climbed down from the bed with stiff movements.

Brushing off non-existent dust from her clothes with flustered hands, she kept her head down and mumbled incoherently, her voice as quiet as a buzzing mosquito:

"Ah... well... it's... it's getting late... I... I should go home for dinner..."

"...Father and Mother must... must be waiting for me... I have to hurry back, otherwise they'll... they'll worry..."

As she spoke, Cui Zilu tried to inch toward the door.

However, before she could even take two steps, she felt a tightness around her neck. A hand had firmly grabbed her back collar.

Shangguan Yunying's voice sounded above her head, so gentle that it was almost eerie:

"Zilu, it's so late, and it's not safe outside. Let your big sister escort you home."

Cui Zilu trembled violently, like a little chick whose neck had been seized by fate.

She didn't even dare to struggle, standing rigidly in place, too afraid to even turn her head.

Still holding onto Cui Zilu, Shangguan Yunying turned to Gu Chengyin with a gentle smile on her face:

"I'm so sorry. Zilu has been spoiled since she was a child. She's impulsive, and this time she really almost caused a huge trouble for you."

For some reason, from Shangguan Yunying's gentle smile and polite words, Gu Chengyin could clearly sense the young woman's wafting murderous intent.

This killing intent wasn't directed at him; it felt more like a rage on the verge of erupting.

Gu Chengyin immediately spoke up, trying to ease the tension and make a few excuses for Cui Zilu: "Yunying, Zilu meant well. She was worried about my safety, which is why she took the risk to come here."

"She was just about to leave after seeing I was fine, but then you happened to arrive, so she got... well, delayed."

These words set the tone for Cui Zilu's actions, implying that she already knew she was wrong and it was just a coincidence.

Hearing this, Shangguan Yunying's smile didn't change in the slightest. Her eyes narrowed into two crescent moons, making her look even gentler.

She pulled Cui Zilu into her arms, her arm affectionately wrapping around the girl's shoulders.

She even lowered her head and rubbed her cheek against the top of Cui Zilu's head, her voice as gentle as water:

"Don't worry, I will definitely make sure to properly escort Zilu home."

Shangguan Yunying deliberately emphasized the word properly, making Cui Zilu shudder again.

"After all..." Shangguan Yunying's smile deepened as her gaze landed on Cui Zilu's pale little face, "We are the absolute best of friends, aren't we, Zilu?"

Held in Shangguan Yunying's arms, Cui Zilu felt the seemingly intimate yet overwhelmingly oppressive embrace.

Listening to that voice, which was so gentle it made her scalp tingle, she felt a chill shoot straight from the soles of her feet to the top of her skull.

She turned her neck inch by inch to meet Shangguan Yunying's crescent-moon eyes. Her throat felt blocked, and it took a long time before she managed to squeeze a few trembling syllables through her teeth:

"Y-yes... S-sorry to trouble you, Sister Yunying..."

"It's no trouble at all."

Smiling brightly, Shangguan Yunying released her embrace and instead grabbed Cui Zilu's wrist tightly. She waved at Gu Chengyin and said:

"I'll be taking Zilu away now. Take good care of yourself."

Gu Chengyin nodded in response, "Thank you for the trouble."

Shangguan Yunying said no more, pulling Cui Zilu out of the guest room.

They walked briskly through the complex corridors and courtyards.

With her wrist held in a vice grip, Cui Zilu could only jog to keep up. Her wrist ached from the tight grasp, but she didn't dare to breathe loudly, let alone beg for mercy.

She could clearly feel that Shangguan Yunying was angry! Extremely angry!

The storm brewing in this silence terrified her far more than a direct scolding.

The two remained silent all the way until they boarded the waiting carriage.

The carriage curtains fell, isolating them from the outside world and leaving only the two of them.

Shangguan Yunying let go of Cui Zilu's wrist and sat down on one side by herself.

She closed her eyes, seemingly trying to calm her emotions, or perhaps simply not wanting to pay any attention to Cui Zilu.

Rubbing her reddened wrist, Cui Zilu carefully shuffled to the other side of the carriage and sat down, shrinking into the corner like a child who had made a mistake and was awaiting judgment.

She sneaked a glance, observing Shangguan Yunying.

Moonlight filtered through the sheer fabric of the carriage window, illuminating Shangguan Yunying's frosty profile.

Her tightly pursed lips and slightly furrowed brows all indicated her extreme displeasure.

Eventually, Cui Zilu could no longer hold back. She took a deep breath and suddenly sprang up from her seat.

She threw herself to Shangguan Yunying's side, reaching out with both hands to tightly grasp Shangguan Yunying's hands.

"Sister Yunying..."

Cui Zilu's voice carried a heavy, pleading sob. Her eyes instantly turned red, tears welling up within them:

"I know I was wrong! I really know I was wrong! Please don't be mad, and please don't ignore me, okay? I'll never dare to do it again! I swear!"

She shook Shangguan Yunying's hands, trying to soften her with coquettish pleading and apologies:

"I was just... I was just so worried about Brother Chengyin! You have no idea what it was like this afternoon when those bad men stopped his carriage and took Brother Chengyin away."

"I was watching from inside my carriage. They were so scary! The things they said were terrifying too! I... I was frightened out of my wits!"

Cui Zilu's tears finally fell, her voice filled with lingering fear:

"My first thought was to go find my father, but he was so busy he couldn't spare me a moment."

"I... I was afraid they would bully Brother Chengyin! I was afraid they would beat him and torture him in there!"

"I... I got so anxious and hot-headed. I just wanted to save him. I really didn't think that much about it!"

"Sister Yunying, please forgive me this once, okay? I definitely won't dare to do it next time! I will absolutely listen to you!"

Cui Zilu cried a river of tears, her emotions genuine and sincere, holding nothing back as she revealed her previous worries and impulsive recklessness to Shangguan Yunying.

Hearing this tearful confession and explanation, Shangguan Yunying finally slowly opened her tightly closed eyes.

Her long eyelashes fluttered, complex emotions surging within her gaze.

Finally, she turned around, holding Cui Zilu's hands in return, and spoke in an incredibly serious tone:

"Zilu, listen to me."

Intimidated by this solemn attitude, Cui Zilu forgot to cry and just stared blankly.

"I am very angry, but that is not what I am angry about."

Cui Zilu froze, not understanding what she meant.

Shangguan Yunying continued, "Gu Chengyin is very capable. It's safe to say he is the most formidable person of our age I have ever met."

"In this regard, even His Highness cannot compare to him."

"Just as I said yesterday, I am not surprised in the slightest that you like him."

"And I would never criticize you for it. It is simply human nature."