"Ziyun, we meet again." He waved a hand in front of her face, grinning mischievously.
Ye Ziyun looked up, her gaze still hazy and somewhat dazed, landing on Nie Li. She froze for a moment, then suddenly jumped as if startled by a grasshopper. "Why are you here?" A flash of panic crossed her eyes.
"Why wouldn't I be?" Nie Li chuckled. "I've decided to move in here, along with Little Yu!" He looked around, his gaze settling on a small building next to Ye Ziyun's residence. "From now on, we'll be living here."
Ye Ziyun hurriedly pushed against his arm, trying to shove him out. "Nie Li, are you courting death? My father will kill you! You need to leave quickly. If he catches you, you're finished!"
Her concern was still evident, and Nie Li felt a touch of warmth in his heart. However, he quickly put on his usual carefree expression. He stared at her with feigned surprise. "Didn't your father tell you?"
"Tell me what?" Ye Ziyun was taken aback.
Nie Li slapped his forehead, pretending to realize something. "Oh, so you don't know yet!"
"Know what?" Ye Ziyun's movements paused.
"That he's already agreed."
"Agreed to what?" Her curiosity was piqued even more.
"He said he's preparing to marry you off to me. The wedding is tomorrow." Despite secretly rejoicing, Nie Li kept a straight face.
"Ah?" Ye Ziyun's eyes widened further, her clear irises filled with disbelief. "How is that possible?"
"Why wouldn't it be? The other day, I was caught by your father here. After I went back, he had me captured and interrogated. I told him that you and I had already gone all the way. Though he was furious, he couldn't let a family scandal get out, so he's making me marry you tomorrow!" Nie Li looked utterly innocent. "Your father insisted, so I had no choice."
"You... how could you!" Ye Ziyun's cheeks flushed crimson with agitation, and she stamped her foot. "We absolutely did not—"
At this moment, her shy and alluring appearance sent a slight tremor through Nie Li's heart. Recalling memories from his past life, his thoughts became complex. In this life, he would never let her drift away again.
Nie Li took a moment to compose himself, then shrugged. "On this matter, I was originally opposed. But since your esteemed father has made it clear, I suppose I'll just have to make do."
"Make do? Settle?" Ye Ziyun glared at him. "Nie Li, are you saying I'm not good enough for you?" She angrily stomped on his foot.
Nie Li immediately howled dramatically, clutching his foot. "Of course you're good enough! How could you possibly not be?"
"You..." Ye Ziyun's small face turned crimson as she realized she had fallen into Nie Li's verbal trap once again.
Watching Nie Li and Ye Ziyun banter,
Ye Xiu had assumed there was a romantic connection between Nie Li and Ye Ziyun, and that the later conflict arose only because
What Ye Xiu didn't know was that Ye Ziyun's feelings for Nie Li were merely those of a friend. It had always been Nie Li persistently sticking by her side, while Ye Ziyun, being too shy and polite, didn't know how to refuse him outright.
"Alright, enough talk. I'm going to check out my room. I'll be staying here for a while, so if it's too shabby, I might not want to live in it!" Nie Li looked around again, his gaze landing on the pavilion where Ye Ziyun lived. His eyes lit up, and he started walking towards it.
Seeing this, Ye Ziyun panicked. Nie Li had already forced his way into her chambers once before, and she still remembered that incident vividly. She had even decided never to see him again, but here he was, making a beeline for her room once more.
Share a room with Nie Li?
Just the thought made Ye Ziyun depressed. Usually, she was gentle and soft-spoken, very polite in her interactions. But at this moment, she could no longer remain calm.
Her face flushed red, she drew a sharp sword and held it horizontally against her fair neck, staring straight at Nie Li. "Nie Li, I absolutely will not let you stay in my room. If you go in, I will..."
"What's with the dramatics? I never said I wanted to stay in your room. Can't I even take a look? So stingy. I'm going back to my own room." Nie Li laughed, grabbed his things, and headed towards the pavilion next door.
Watching his retreating back, Ye Ziyun stood frozen, her cheeks burning. She realized she had been tricked by Nie Li yet again.