Reborn Spoiled Girl Tames the Regent

Chapter 93 The Feeling of Being Abandoned

His heart tightened, his breathing quickened, and he scanned every face in the crowd.

Just when he thought she had run away again, he suddenly saw a person stand up in front of a stall not far away, hand the lantern he had picked up to the vendor, then turn around, raise a smile, and wave at him.

Xiao Hengzhi breathed a sigh of relief as if his strength had been released, and quickly walked over, keeping his eyes on her.

"What's wrong? Why is Your Highness staring at me like that?" Jiang Wan asked, tilting her head.

He hesitated, then turned to look at the child who was skipping away, and said, "What did you just say to that child that made him so happy?"

Jiang Wan raised her eyebrows: "I saw him staring longingly at the lanterns, so I bought two for him."

After saying that, she took the cat-shaped sugar figurine from his hand, licked it lightly, and smiled, her eyes crinkling: "It's so sweet, thank you, Your Highness."

Looking at her smile, Xiao Hengzhi suddenly felt as if he had returned to the past.

At that time, he was not yet a prince, and she had not yet entered the palace.

They often strolled through the market under the moonlight. Although the town was not as bustling as the capital, it had its own unique tranquility.

The neighbors all said that the two of them were a handsome man and a beautiful woman. At first, she explained that they were brother and sister, but later she stopped explaining and let others misunderstand.

He had long considered her his wife, but he kept it hidden in his heart and never dared to say it.

If Jiang Mian hadn't taken the initiative to propose marriage, he probably would have had to endure it for the rest of his life.

He used to be so foolish it was almost pathetic...

But things are different now. Now that things have come to this, he would never let Jiang Mian leave again.

Ning Zhi's motives were impure; in both his past and present lives, he had no good impression of this person. But if Jiang Mian could stay by his side, he might spare his life.

He pondered what Jiang Wan had just said—

My wish is that Your Highness will be a good person.

Xiao Hengzhi lowered his head slightly, a soft emotion flashing in his eyes.

If she were always by my side, being a good person might not be so bad.

He smiled faintly, took her hand, and strolled leisurely down the street like an ordinary couple.

Jiang Wan's fingers twitched slightly, and a sense of resistance welled up inside her. She couldn't help but say, "Your Highness, people will misunderstand if we hold hands like this on the street."

"A misunderstanding?" Xiao Hengzhi chuckled. "Then let it be a misunderstanding."

Jiang Mian knew that Xiao Hengzhi was a person without any sense of propriety or shame, but she was.

In this capital city, it's inevitable that someone will recognize her. If she's seen being so intimate with him, there will definitely be gossip behind her back.

Public opinion can be a powerful force; as it spreads, the words can become distorted, and she didn't want her reputation to be ruined again.

She tilted her head, trying her best to cover her face so that no one could see it.

Seeing her like this, Xiao Hengzhi's previous sweetness and tenderness vanished instantly.

Is it shameful to walk with me?

"Huh?" Jiang Wan was taken aback. "No, it's not..."

"Jiang Wan." He suddenly stopped, his voice filled with undisguised disappointment, "Can't you even pretend to be a little more convincing?"

After he finished speaking, he let go of her hand and walked ahead alone. At first, he walked slowly, as if deliberately waiting for her to catch up, but seeing that she didn't react, he really strode away.

Jiang Mian stood there stunned. She hadn't expected that Xiao Hengzhi had already seen through her act.

She thought she had shown her true feelings very well...

In this situation, what should she do?

Should I go and try to coax him? Even if it's just feigned affection, I should pretend to be sincere and try to coax him in every way possible, just like a faithless man's vow.

Jiang Mian also decided to do the same, and went to him to 'sincerely' argue that she hadn't been faking it.

She hurried over, and as fast as she could, she saw that Xiao Hengzhi had already boarded the carriage.

She quickened her pace, but after taking only two steps, she saw that the carriage had already set off, showing no intention of waiting for her.

Jiang Mian watched it drive away, opened her mouth as if to speak, but the carriage quickly disappeared around the corner.

The night wind was quite strong, and there were few people around; street vendors were starting to pack up their stalls.

She stood alone in the street, her feet seemingly rooted to the spot. She stared blankly as the carriage gradually disappeared from view.

She never imagined that she would be abandoned by Xiao Hengzhi one day. It seemed that every time before, she was the one who left him first, but this time it was the other way around.

So this is what it feels like to be abandoned...

It's really not good...

She stood there blankly for a moment before she came to her senses.

The night grew darker, the fog thickened, and the air grew increasingly cold.

She shivered, sniffed, crossed her arms, turned and walked in the other direction, intending to find a shortcut back.

It's alright, it's just a bit dark, but we still know the way.

As she walked, she thought to herself that perhaps she really didn't know how to get along with Xiao Hengzhi, and that she shouldn't have been so resistant just now.

If you want to win someone's heart, you should take the initiative. Since you're already out with him, why are you afraid of being seen by others?

It's just holding hands...

But she didn't know why, she reacted that way subconsciously, no wonder he was angry...

As she walked, she thought to herself, and a cold wind slipped into her collar, causing her to sneeze.

Suddenly, I felt my arm being squeezed tightly, and I was pulled into a warm embrace.

The cloak enveloped her, and the scent of sandalwood filled her nostrils. She was pressed against this man's chest, and she could hear his clear heartbeat.

"Jiang Mian..."

The sound came out, and I could feel a slight vibration in my chest.

Xiao Hengzhi lowered his voice, as if hiding countless emotions within it: "Where are you going again?"

Jiang Wan poked her head out from under the cloak: "What do you mean, 'Where am I supposed to go'? Didn't the prince leave me here?"

"I just wanted you to call me back."

"How could I possibly get the prince's attention?" she pouted, feigning displeasure.

Xiao Hengzhi sighed softly, "You knew perfectly well that if you told me to come back, I would definitely come back. Why didn't you even call out to me...?"

Jiang Mian looked at his furrowed brows and suddenly felt a little confused.

He was the one who was angry, so why is he the one who's starting to feel wronged now?

She pulled away from his embrace and said softly, "It's too cold outside, Your Highness, you should go back soon. The carriage is still waiting for you, so I won't waste any more time."

She was about to leave after she finished speaking when Xiao Hengzhi grabbed her wrist, his eyes full of helplessness.

"Stop it."

"I wasn't making a fuss..." she muttered softly.

"Go back with me."

Seeing that he was no longer angry, Jiang Wan rolled her eyes, turned her wrist around, and took the initiative to place her hand in his palm.

"Why are Your Highness's hands warm now? They used to be always ice-cold."

This can be considered an act of admitting fault.

Xiao Hengzhi did not answer, but smiled slightly, took her hand, and quickly got into the carriage.

It was much warmer in the carriage, and Jiang Mian rubbed her hands together as her body gradually warmed up.

Xiao Hengzhi untied his cloak and draped it over her, then sat down on the soft couch opposite her. The carriage had just started moving when he moved to sit next to her again.

The distance suddenly closed, and Jiang Mian turned her head to meet his gaze, which was deep and carried an elusive emotion.

In that instant, the air seemed to freeze, and the atmosphere inside the sedan chair underwent a subtle change.

Jiang Wan turned her head away, avoiding his gaze: "Why is Your Highness looking at me like that...?"

She bit the sugar figurine in her hand somewhat awkwardly.