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Longyang's obsidian-like dark eyes were inches away, staring at her unblinking. One hand supported her spine, while the other hovered not far from her chest.

"You--" Before she could finish, he casually cut her off.

"Why are you staring at me with such big eyes? Like me?"

"Why are you here?"

"The Ministry of War has always been responsible for security and invigilation inside Dongxu Mansion, didn't you know?" Longyang said as he wrapped an arm around her back and slowly pulled her closer to his chest.

"...Then what are you doing now?" She raised a finger and poked Longyang's unruly hand.

"Patting you down, or did you think I was flirting with you in front of all these people?"

"...You aren't actually planning to touch me, are you?" He knew full well she was a woman. This could no longer be called a pat-down—it was taking advantage of her!

He didn't speak, merely lifting a long finger. The pad of his finger brushed past her sweaty, damp neck, and he tilted his head to whisper in her ear, "I touch you, or I let the Inspector touch you. Choose."

"I..." Letting the Inspector touch her could spell disaster at any moment, and letting Longyang touch her—yet he knew she was a woman, this--

"Is there a third choice?"

"There is."

"What is it, what is it?" Her eyes lit up with hope as if she had found a savior.

"Turn around, go home, and give up the examination."

"...What kind of third choice is that? He might as well just told her there was no choice at all!"

"What is a young lady doing taking the Autumn Examination and entering the court? Go home." Sneaking into Dongxu Mansion was dangerous enough, yet she still harbored delusions of entering a