Chapter Seventy-Six: An Unexpected Kiss

Although Old Zhao knew that Li Mohan was just looking for an excuse to send him away, he still left, reluctant and resentful.

Chu Bing watched the old man’s grumbling figure recede and couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

“Is it funny?” Li Mohan’s voice was exceptionally calm. Chu Bing paused, feeling that something was off about him today.

She shrank her neck, pretending not to have heard the question, and ladled a bowl of soup for him. “Hurry and drink it, or it’ll get cold.”

Unable to restrain herself, she added with a grin, “This is the best tonic for the body. When you marry a wife, you’ll understand its benefits.” As she spoke, she shot him a sly, sidelong glance.

Li Mohan’s face darkened. “Hongxiu.”

“Huh?”

“If you keep this up, I’ll have Uncle Zhao teach you some manners.” His expression was blank.

Chu Bing was startled. She immediately ran her finger across her lips, signaling that she would be quiet.

Li Mohan lifted his robe and sat down, the tips of his ears, hidden beneath his hair, flushing slightly.

“I’ll be going out in a bit. Stay in the courtyard and don’t wander around,” he said, sipping his soup, his tone indifferent.

Chu Bing’s eyes lit up. Li Mohan rarely left the residence—could it be that he was going to see Li Haoran today?

She clasped her hands together with a pitiful look. “Young Master, I’ve been here so long and never gone out with you even once! Take me with you, please! I promise I won’t cause any trouble!”

Li Mohan glanced up at her, his eyes dark and unreadable.

It suddenly dawned on Chu Bing that he was especially cold toward her today.

She bit her lip, deflated. “Fine, if you won’t take me, so be it!”

At worst, she’d simply follow him secretly, making sure he didn’t notice!

Seeing the girl’s head droop, even the butterflies on her hairpin seemed less lively.

After a moment’s silence, he spoke. “If you want to go, then come. But you must listen to my instructions.”

“I’ll do whatever you say!” Chu Bing’s head snapped up, eyes blazing with excitement.

Under such an intense gaze, Li Mohan felt a flicker of discomfort. He turned his head awkwardly, saying no more.

Chu Bing propped her chin in her hands, openly admiring him.

So handsome!

Li Mohan calmly put down the bowl. “Let’s go.”

Chu Bing glanced at the empty bowl and then at Li Mohan’s hurried figure, unable to suppress a smile.

Was he… embarrassed?

When Chu Bing caught up, Li Mohan was speaking with Uncle Zhao.

“…The Prime Minister is currently in talks with him, likely about the second young master…”

The second young master, Li Yuxi?

Chu Bing couldn’t help but shuffle closer, trying to overhear.

Uncle Zhao was reporting seriously to Li Mohan when he caught sight of Chu Bing sneaking closer from the corner of his eye. He clammed up at once.

Li Mohan turned, immediately spotting Chu Bing trying to slip away nonchalantly.

He frowned slightly, his voice chilly. “Come here.”

Busted, Chu Bing shuffled over awkwardly, head down.

“What are you doing here?” Uncle Zhao eyed her suspiciously.

Chu Bing rolled her eyes, hands on hips. “Young Master said I could go out with him this afternoon, so of course I’m following him!”

“Young Master, you mustn’t be so muddleheaded!” Uncle Zhao immediately turned to persuade Li Mohan.

“It’s just a stroll, nothing more,” Li Mohan waved him off.

“But the second young master’s men are searching everywhere for you. It’s dangerous enough as it is, and now you’re bringing along this deadweight…” Uncle Zhao jabbed a finger at Chu Bing, face full of disdain.

Chu Bing hadn’t realized Li Mohan’s circumstances were so dire. She looked up at him, but his expression remained utterly unchanged, as if none of it concerned him.

A strange feeling welled up in her chest, and she retorted at Uncle Zhao, “Uncle Zhao, you should feel more at ease with me by the young master’s side!”

She raised her fist, a fierce gleam in her bright eyes. “As long as I’m here, no one will harm him!”

Li Mohan was under her protection!

Both the system and Uncle Zhao responded with a synchronized, derisive snort.

“Get in the carriage,” Li Mohan said, putting an end to their bickering.

Chu Bing and Li Mohan rode together in the carriage. The cramped space seemed even smaller with the two of them inside. Chu Bing curiously lifted the curtain, peering outside.

“Where are we headed?” she asked.

Li Mohan flipped through a book, not looking up. “To discuss business.”

So they weren’t going to see Li Haoran after all?

Chu Bing’s spirits drooped instantly.

She pouted for a while, then couldn’t help but ask, “Young Master, why haven’t I seen the other two young masters since I arrived?”

Li Mohan paused, glancing at her. “The second young master is the one who tried to kill me the other day. As for the third young master… he’s secluded himself for intense study.”

Chu Bing’s eyes brightened. She pressed on, “Where is the third young master studying?”

A flicker of something unreadable passed through Li Mohan’s eyes. Was she too concerned about his younger brother?

Had she come here just to find out where he was?

Chu Bing’s heart pounded wildly—she was so close to the answer! As long as Li Mohan told her, she could find him and complete her task!

Suddenly, the carriage jolted, the horse outside whinnied, and, caught off guard, Chu Bing tumbled straight into Li Mohan’s arms.

Without thinking, she grabbed onto him. Her arms looped around his neck, pulling his head down. Their lips met in an accidental kiss.

…

Her heartbeat thundered in her ears. Shock rendered her motionless.

She could feel the softness of his lips against hers. Her mind exploded, leaving nothing but a roaring in her ears.

“Young Master, are you all right? A child ran into the road just now and startled the horse,” Uncle Zhao’s worried voice called, breaking the awkward silence in the carriage.

It brought them both back to their senses.

Boom!

Chu Bing’s eyes went wide. She shoved Li Mohan away and scrambled into the corner, mortified.

She—she had kissed Li Mohan!

She clutched her lips in disbelief, on the verge of tears.

Li Mohan, too, recovered. Seeing her curled up and flustered, occasionally banging her head in frustration, he couldn’t help but let out a low chuckle.

He turned away, the lingering warmth on his lips making his ears burn.

Peeking through her fingers, Chu Bing caught his movement, her face flushing even redder.

She jumped to her feet, banging her head on the carriage roof.

“Ow…”

It hurt so much!

Li Mohan froze, a warm smile growing in his eyes. He found her utterly adorable.

Although he’d often been away on tasks, he’d seldom interacted with girls. The only one he’d spent any real time with was this “Hongxiu.”

Lately, he’d been pondering whether all girls in the world were this endearing, or if it was only Hongxiu who was special.

Meanwhile, the girl, mortified, pounded the roof twice and finally lifted the curtain to escape.

Uncle Zhao’s voice drifted through the opening.

“Why aren’t you sitting inside?”

“It’s stuffy in there. I thought I’d keep you company.”

“Heh. Up to your tricks again, aren’t you?”

…

Listening to their banter, Li Mohan suddenly found himself stifling a laugh behind his fist.

He’d thought she was just a shameless little thief, but as it turned out, she was genuinely innocent.

It was… an unexpected surprise.