Free Web NovelChapter 406: Chapter 406: Coaxing
Ye Chutang raised an eyebrow, seemingly flattered.
"Oh?"
Shen Yanchuan glanced at the sky. "It’s snowy and cold out. I’ll take you home."
Chutang paused briefly before gracefully acquiescing with a curtsy. "Then I must thank you in advance, Princely Heir."
The moment she stepped into the carriage, Chutang felt a wave of warmth wash over her.
She glanced in surprise at the small brazier on the low table.
’It’s still early in the season. Is Shen Yanchuan already using one of these?’
The faint, warm scent of sandalwood drifted through the air, and in just a moment, it melted away the biting chill of the wind and snow that clung to her.
Chutang sat down across from Shen Yanchuan, feeling much warmer and more comfortable than she had just moments before.
She sighed softly.
’This man certainly lives a comfortable life.’
"Your people are truly attentive, Princely Heir. Despite such heavy snow, it’s as warm as spring in here."
Shen Yanchuan, who was holding a scroll, paused at her words and lifted his gaze to glance at her.
Outside the curtain, Yun Cheng grew restless upon hearing this and couldn’t help but turn back to explain, "Actually—"
"If you feel the cold, why did you have to go out and make this trip?" Shen Yanchuan said, cutting him off.
Chutang blinked.
’That tone... why does he sound so displeased?’
’Who upset him?’
’That can’t be right, can it?’
’Judging from Xu Jie’s expression just now, everything today should have gone very smoothly.’
’Besides, Shen Yanchuan knew exactly why I came out today.’
"Some matters can’t be delegated, so it was best for me to come in person," Chutang said, not shying away from the topic. "Besides, if I hadn’t braved the snow today, I wouldn’t have been able to witness such a marvelous scene just now."
Shen Yanchuan watched her. Seeing that her once-pale face had regained a touch of warmth and that she was now even in the mood to joke, his heart finally settled slightly.
But in the next moment, the inexplicable vexation lodged in his chest swelled and grew heavier.
’Her body is already frail and can’t handle the cold, yet she’s this careless about it?’
His phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, his tone calm and detached.
"You could have just left these things for your subordinates to handle. It wasn’t worth you going to such lengths."
It was only then that Chutang realized something. She looked up, meeting his gaze.
’Hmm... is Shen Yanchuan angry because I went out in the wind and snow?’
The moment that thought crossed her mind, Chutang fell silent.
She desperately wanted to ask if he was being serious, but after a glance at the faint chill around the corners of his eyes, she wisely kept her mouth shut.
—Her survival instinct was always on full alert.
’Right now, this man was not to be trifled with.’
After careful deliberation, Chutang gave a light cough. "I didn’t think it would snow today when I left."
The moment the words left her mouth, Chutang felt something was off—’Why do I sound like I’m explaining myself to Shen Yanchuan?’
’What is this feeling of being inexplicably guilty and at a disadvantage!?’
Shen Yanchuan said nothing, merely lowering his gaze back to the scroll in his hand, his expression frigid.
The atmosphere inside the carriage grew strangely delicate.
It was a difficult feeling to describe.
Because in all of Chutang’s experience, spanning from this life all the way back to her last, she had never encountered a situation like this.
—It felt as if she had done something wrong and was apologizing, but the other party wasn’t accepting her apology.
More importantly, in this situation, she was somehow still the one who felt guilty.
’Something’s wrong.’
’He was the one who offered to pick me up in the first place.’
’How did the tables turn the moment I got into the carriage?’
Chutang paused, then finally shrugged. "...Alright, fine. I just thought a snowy day was a good day to send someone on their way."
She adjusted her fluffy, snow-white fox-fur collar. "It’s not actually that cold..."
Suddenly, her voice faltered.
—’Wait a second, something is even more wrong here!’
’Why does it sound like I’m trying to placate him?!’
