In the antique palace, soft lights along both sides of the second-floor corridor illuminated every corner.
"Knock, knock, knock..."
Xu Lanqing's footsteps fell on the wooden floor as he knocked on Ice Empress's door.
Footsteps sounded. With a click, the door opened a crack, revealing half of Ice Empress's face.
"It's the middle of the night. If you don't have a good reason, you'll be sorry." Ice Empress spoke viciously.
But she looked so... adorable. Her emerald-green hair hung loose down her back instead of being tied in twin ponytails, and her sleepy, dazed eyes were especially beautiful.
Xu Lanqing's gaze softened as he looked at the captivating woman before him. "Bing'er, you're just too cute. I like you more and more."
Ice Empress's displeased expression froze. She stared at Xu Lanqing without expression for a moment, and just as he was about to speak again, she slammed the door shut with a bang. The sound echoed down the entire corridor.
What was that supposed to mean?
Xu Lanqing rubbed the tip of his nose, utterly baffled.
She used to either mock him or go straight to laying hands on him. He wasn't used to her doing nothing at all.
"Phew..."
Ice Empress leaned against the door, her face red as a blaze. She clutched her chest, her heart pounding like a drum.
Something was wrong. Very wrong.
What was going on? Xu Lanqing seemed different from before.
His tone, the affection in his voice—it hadn't sounded like one of his offhand jokes.
And she wasn't acting like herself, either. Had she... fallen for him?
But when had that happened? She clearly liked Snow Maiden. How had that turned into Xu Lanqing?
When had it started?
Her thoughts tangled together like a messy ball of yarn. The more she thought,