Chapter 72 -

Chapter 72: Chapter

"What are you saying?!" Zhengyu snapped, slamming his palm against the bed frame. "I was practically kidnapped by you! How on earth isn’t it my business?!"

Just then, a knock sounded at the door. Liu Feng’s respectful voice called out from the hallway. "Young Master, Young Madame, I am here to help the Young Master get ready."

Yimei immediately stood up, smoothing down her robes. "Come in, Liu Feng," she called out, completely brushing off Zhengyu’s outburst. She turned on her heel and walked out of the room, leaving Zhengyu glaring at her back with his questions left entirely unanswered.

Soon, it was time for them to depart.

The rest of the guards and maids from the Bai Manor had already returned to the carriage line, whispers breaking out among them. Many wondered why on earth the Young Master and Young Madame hadn’t stayed at the grand house prepared for them, ending up at a small inn instead.

Yimei swiftly silenced every single one of them. With a few sharp, deadly warnings and a generous handful of silver coins slipped to the senior servants, the rumors were crushed before they could even start.

When everything was packed, Yimei and Zhengyu were helped into the private carriage. The driver called out, the heavy wheels began to turn, and their long journey back to the Bai Manor officially started.

[Ding! Accessing character files...] Nine’s electronic voice chimed in her mind.

The carriage journey was quiet, as usual. Zhengyu sat across from me, his eyes focused on a book he held in his hands, while I sat on the opposite cushions, busy jotting down notes on a fresh piece of parchment.

Soon, it would be time to prepare for the grand engagement banquet of Xiao Jun’s sister. I had to make sure I was fully prepared to use the special ginger tea recipe Grandmaster Zhang had taught me. We were probably going to reach the Bai Manor late at night, so that was just one more thing piling onto my thoughts.

Feeling my hand grow tired from writing, I dropped my brush and set the book aside, already getting bored. My eyes drifted over to Zhengyu, who sat silently, turning a page.

This was the first time I wasn’t so tense and could actually sit back to look at his features properly. He seemed average in height though maybe that was just because I hadn’t seen him standing on his own two feet yet, so he probably wasn’t much taller than me. His long black hair was neatly styled, with smooth strands falling down his back, making him look ridiculously handsome for a man.

A sharp curve pulled at my lips as I leaned back against the silk cushions.

Nine, I called out in my mind. Give me his bio information now.

[Host, loading target character profile now,] Nine chimed in smoothly. [Name: Bai Zhengyu. Age: 22. Status: First Young Master of the Bai Family.]

I crossed my arms, waiting for the juicy details as I kept my eyes fixed on his handsome face.

[Height: 188 cm...] Nine continued.

My brows twitched. Wait, 188 cm? I glanced down at his legs under the soft robes, then back at his face. He’s almost six-foot-two?! Okay, fine, so he wasn’t average height after all—he just looked shorter because he was constantly stuck sitting down or leaning back on cushions.

[Core Traits: Cold, hyper-observant, highly strategic, deeply distrustful of outsiders,] Nine listed off. [Background: First Young Master and brilliant strategist of the Bai clan. Poisoned during the family ambush three - two years ago, leaving his legs paralyzed and internal meridians blocked.]

Tell me something I don’t know, I thought, tapping my fingers against my knee. What about his hidden traits? Why is his favorability so hard to raise?

[Warning, Host,] Nine’s voice suddenly dropped, sounding slightly cautious. [Target possesses an extreme ’Tsundere’ psychological profile paired with high emotional defensiveness. He actively suppresses positive feelings toward you because he fears vulnerability. Expressing affection directly triggers suspicion, whereas practical care and teasing lower his guard.]

I held back a laugh. So he’s literally a textbook tsundere who acts tough because he’s scared of getting hurt?

[Also, Host... there is a locked entry under his profile regarding his former fiancée and the inner circle betrayed during the ambush. Unlocking this requires 30 favorability points.]

Before I could reply to Nine, Zhengyu’s dark eyes suddenly flicked away from his book. He caught me staring dead at him with an amused smirk on my face.

He narrowed his eyes instantly, shutting his book with a soft snap.

"What?" he asked, his voice low and defensive as a faint pink tint crept up the back of his neck. "Is there something on my face, or are you just admiring your husband?"

I leaned back against the silk cushions, letting a slow, playful grin spread across my lips.

"Can’t a wife just admire how pretty her husband looks while reading?" I teased, leaning forward slightly. "Besides, I was just wondering how someone with such a long, handsome face manages to be so grumpy all the time."

Zhengyu’s throat worked as he swallowed, the faint pink flush on his neck quickly spreading up to his ears. He let out a sharp scoff, trying his absolute best to pull his usual stoic, unbothered expression back into place.

"Nonsense," he muttered coldly, snapping his book back open and holding it high enough to completely hide his face from me. "You’re just bored and looking for trouble."

Look at him hiding behind a book, I thought, completely amused. Nine wasn’t kidding. He really is a total tsundere.

"If you say so, First Young Master," I said softly, my voice dripping with fake sweetness. "Just don’t hold that book too close, or you’ll go blind before we even reach the estate."

From behind the pages, I heard a quiet, irritated hum, but he didn’t lower the book.

Host, Nine chimed in quietly. Target’s heart rate has slightly increased. Favorability is stable at +17 points, but emotional awareness is rising.

Good, I replied in my mind, pulling my notebook back onto my lap. Let him stay flustered. It’s much easier to deal with him when he’s on the defensive.

By the time the sky turned dark and the cold night air settled in, the loud rumbling of carriage wheels against paved stone announced our arrival. We were finally back at the Bai Manor.

The heavy iron gates creaked open, and the carriage slowly pulled to a stop in the main courtyard. Guards and servants immediately swarmed the area, holding lanterns and bowing low to welcome us back.

I peeked out the small wooden window. The atmosphere in the main courtyard felt heavy, tense, and full of watching eyes.

"We’re home," I murmured, turning back to Zhengyu.

Zhengyu finally lowered his book, his warm, flustered expression from earlier vanishing completely. In its place was the icy, calculating First Young Master of the Bai clan.

"Remember where you are, Yimei," Zhengyu said in a low, firm tone as Liu Feng opened the carriage door. "The walls in this manor have ears, and not everyone here is happy to see us return."