The young man before the girl had black hair and black eyes. He was tall and slender, and while he was not particularly handsome, he could at least be called delicate-featured.
The young man slowly crouched down, his smile gentle as he raised a hand to stroke the girl's waterfall-like hair. His voice carried a hint of teasing. "What? Princess, you don't recognize me anymore?"
"Xiao... Xiao Yan?"
Liuli stared at that familiar face etched deep into her memories and murmured his name.
"Greetings, Prince Xiao!"
The palace maids and attendants behind Liuli hurried over. Upon seeing the black-haired young man, they quickly bowed.
"P-Prince?" Liuli's beautiful eyes slowly widened as though she had realized something. Her voice rose in shock. "You're the Crown Prince of the Xiao Kingdom?"
So it really was such a coincidence?
The young man chuckled. "I am unworthy of the title, but I am indeed the Crown Prince of Great Xiao."
"Still pretending! You're still pretending!" The emotions Liuli had suppressed these past days immediately surged forth. She threw herself into Xiao Yan's arms and began punching and kicking him, tears spilling from her eyes as she cried, "Do you know how scared I've been? Everyone was trying to push me into marrying someone I didn't even know! I was about to put horns on you, and you were still here pretending!"
"Fine, fine, my fault..." Xiao Yan fended off Liuli's completely harmless little fists and said with a bitter smile, "Wasn't I just following the normal procedure? Sooner or later, you'll be mine anyway."
"Pah!" Liuli spat. Her lovely face was flushed red from agitation, making her especially alluring as she snapped, "You self-cuckolding turtle! I was already planning to run away. Once I succeed, you can spend the rest of your life alone!"