Qian Renxue sat up straight again, her hands instinctively settling on her knees as she gripped the fabric tightly.
She lowered her head, not daring to meet Chen Xuan's eyes.
She could still feel the warmth of his palm lingering on her knee.
The sensation seemed branded onto her skin, impossible to shake.
She knew even better that her heart had been thrown into complete disarray.
This man was like an unfathomable whirlpool. He frightened her, yet she couldn't help wanting to draw closer and find out more about him.
After a long while.
Only then did she slowly get to her feet. This time, her movements were slow and steady.
"...Qinghe, I'll take my leave."
Her voice carried a faint, almost imperceptible rasp and tremor.
With that, she turned and hurried out of the courtyard, almost as if fleeing.
Watching her somewhat flustered retreat, Dugu Yan held her teacup and smiled.
"Teacher, you really know how to tease people."
"I'm afraid His Highness the Crown Prince won't be able to sleep for days."
Chen Xuan ignored her teasing. He simply gazed toward the place where Qian Renxue had disappeared, his eyes deep and unreadable.
A heart wrapped in pride and pretense had developed its first tiny crack.
That was enough.
The following few days passed peacefully at Blue Silver Academy.
Ning Fengzhi and the others didn't return. They had likely gone to handle the transfer of the Seven Treasure Sea.
Xue Qinghe didn't appear again, either.
That is, until dawn on the fifth day.
A troop of royal knights clad in golden armor appeared outside the gates of Blue Silver Academy.
At their head was a solemn-looking palace attendant, pale-faced and clean-shaven.
The attendant carried a golden scroll. After confirming his identity at the academy gates, the attendants