Xu Yi frowned, thought for a moment, then sighed softly and opened the door.
"President Xu, I heard you were busy working without even taking a bath. You really do work hard." Standing outside the door, Princess Caroline brushed back her hair, which was still slightly damp. With her newly changed, loose nightgown and languid expression, she looked even more alluring, her every movement seemingly laden with temptation.
Remembering Vivian's question earlier, Xu Yi swept his gaze over Princess Caroline's enticing face and figure. He frowned slightly and hesitated, but still stepped aside to let her in.
Princess Caroline looked around the study, her gaze settling on the map Xu Yi had been examining. Looking at its various strange markings, she asked curiously, "President Xu, what do these markings mean?"
"They're just some thoughts on the Xinfei Merchant Guild's long-term plans," Xu Yi answered vaguely.
Princess Caroline extended a slender finger and tapped the Drake Duchy in the upper-right corner. Smiling, she asked, "Then, President Xu, is our Drake Duchy included in these plans of yours?"
"Not for the moment." Xu Yi shook his head without hesitation.
"That's such a shame," Princess Caroline said regretfully. "President Xu, you don't know much about our Drake Duchy, so you aren't aware that our duchy is actually very well suited to the Xinfei Merchant Guild's development."
"Well... I can't be certain without conducting an on-site survey."
Hearing his answer, Princess Caroline turned to look at Xu Yi, her brows drawing together. "President Xu, why do I feel as though we've grown more distant when all I did was go take a bath? Back at the City Lord's Manor, you clearly agreed to cooperate with us."
Xu Yi's gaze passed over the figure faintly visible beneath Princess Caroline's nearly transparent white silk nightgown. *The