Frivolous

Three years later

Jin Kingdom

Fortune House

"Plenty of men have tried to get close to me, but you're the first who's dared to tear my clothes."

Xiao Yu smiled warmly at the man beneath him and tipped up his chin. "Tell me, how should I punish you?"

The man flushed crimson at his words. Gazing at the handsome Prince Yu, a trace of infatuation flickered in his eyes. He slid his hands onto Xiao Yu's shoulders, his voice tinged with coy seduction. "Your Highness..."

"Let your servant help you undress for bed."

A glint of amusement flashed in Xiao Yu's eyes as he caught the man's wandering hand.

His thin lips parted. "You teasing little minx. What's the hurry?"

"Don't worry. I'll give you everything you want."

The gauze curtains fell.

Clang-

Suddenly, a cold gleam flashed, and a sharp dagger hurtled straight toward his shoulder.

Xiao Yu rolled aside to dodge it.

For a moment, he looked bewildered.

Then he turned back, only to find that the man on the bed had vanished.

Damn it! I spent three months trying to catch him, and now he's escaped!

Let's see which bastard ruined my plans!

Xiao Yu looked up toward the window.

Sure enough, a man in black stood there, wearing a Ghost Mask and staring at him with cold, menacing eyes.

Xiao Yu froze.

His gaze darted away.

What was going on? Why did he see a hint of accusation in those eyes?

Wait.

He was the one who'd interrupted someone else. How did that make him the one in the right?

"Hey, you," he said irritably. "Why do you have to ruin other people's fun?"

After waiting a long time without an answer, Xiao Yu assumed the man hadn't heard him.

He stepped closer. "Did you hear what I said?"

Seeing Xiao Yu standing before him with his clothes in disarray, the masked man parted his lips and stared for a good while.

Then he looked away, seeming rather flustered.

Only then did he say, "My name isn't 'hey.'"

"I don't care what your name is!"

Realizing the man had ignored him on purpose, Xiao Yu flared with irritation. "You ruined my plans. How are you going to make it up to me?"

But no sooner had he spoken than the man toppled straight toward him-

Xiao Yu: "??"

Thud!

Both men crashed to the floor.

Xiao Yu had the misfortune of landing underneath, and the impact made his bones creak.

Ow!

Good thing I'm stronger and sturdier than most people.

Otherwise, that would've left me with internal injuries and broken bones.

"Hey, wake up?"

Xiao Yu looked at the man who had fallen on top of him.

He reached out to pat him awake, but at the sight of the mask on his face, he withdrew his hand halfway.

Since the man didn't want anyone to know what he really looked like, it was better not to pry into his secrets.

Instead, he pushed against the man's shoulder and moved him aside.

Only then did he notice the blood covering him. He had been wounded in the abdomen.

Honestly! Why come poking around a restaurant instead of going to a physician when he's injured? Does he have nothing better to do?

Xiao Yu helped him onto the bed, then turned to call for someone, only to have his hand caught.

Assuming the man was afraid he would reveal his whereabouts,

he reassured him, "I'm only going to the door to ask for a basin of hot water to clean your wound. Then I'll come right back."

The man paused at his words before releasing his hand.

Creak-

Xiao Yu opened the door.

Shen Zhijie, who had been waiting outside, immediately asked, "Well? Did you catch him?"

They had spent the past few years searching for the mask maker who could change people's faces.

The mask maker was so cunning that most people struggled to find any trace of him.

Only after considerable effort had they learned of his taste for men, which was why Prince Yu had personally stepped in to lure him out.

To their surprise, he had actually taken the bait.

"Something unexpected happened, and he got away."

Xiao Yu said matter-of-factly, "Have someone bring in a basin of hot water, and some medicine for wounds."

Shen Zhijie's heart lurched at his words.

"Your Highness, are you hurt?" he asked anxiously.

"Not me."

Seeing that he was about to ask more questions, Xiao Yu cut him off. "Anyway, it's too much to explain right now. Just get those things brought up first."

"All right," Shen Zhijie replied.

A little over seven minutes later

Shen Zhijie carried the water inside and noticed the man lying on the bed.

"Your Highness, who's this?" he asked casually.

"No idea."

Xiao Yu answered honestly, "He came crashing in through the window. Someone probably tried to assassinate him. He's wounded in the abdomen."

"All right, then."

Shen Zhijie carried the hot water to the bedside. "I'll treat his wound first."

He had barely reached out before the man swatted his hand away.

Shen Zhijie: "??"

Xiao Yu looked at the man on the bed and raised an eyebrow. "What, you want me to treat it myself?"

"You're dreaming," he added with a hint of mockery. "I've never treated anyone's wounds before."

"Your Highness, have you forgotten?" Shen Zhijie quietly pointed out. "When I got injured catching a criminal last time, you changed my dressing."

Xiao Yu: "..."

He shot Shen Zhijie a sidelong look. "Shut up, you."

Seeing that the man on the bed seemed determined to leave his wound untreated unless Xiao Yu helped him,

he told Shen Zhijie, "Leave the medicine and go outside."

Shen Zhijie glanced at Xiao Yu, then at the man on the bed, his eyes flickering.

Could this be His Highness's little lover?

"All right," he answered at once.

With that, he hurried out, remembering to close the door behind him.

Noticing his little gestures, Xiao Yu knew he must be letting his imagination run wild again.

He went to the bedside, wrung out a towel, lifted the man's clothes, and carefully wiped around the wound.

This is all Shen Zhijie's fault. His strange behavior has even made me nervous.

He tried changing the subject. "Is your face injured?"

The next instant, the man started to remove his mask. Xiao Yu hurriedly stopped him. "No, keep it on."

Don't think I don't know how you martial-world types love saying things like, 'Now that you've seen my face, you have to take responsibility for me.'

I'd better not look, or I might somehow end up with another wife.

At his words, Qi Yunheng's ears instantly reddened.

That wasn't what he had been thinking.

Oh, not a bad physique. Almost a match for mine!

As though something had occurred to him, Qi Yunheng's face suddenly grew even redder.

Good thing I'm wearing a mask, he thought.

Abruptly, his body stiffened.

He quickly caught Xiao Yu's wandering hand and said in a low voice, "Don't touch me there."

Xiao Yu's eyes flickered. "I'm checking for other wounds so I can treat them all at once."

Qi Yunheng lowered his eyes. "Don't stare everywhere..."

Xiao Yu said, "How am I supposed to know where the wounds are if I don't look?"

Suddenly, as though something had occurred to him,

an unreadable glint crossed his eyes. "Don't tell me you're feeling shy?"

Qi Yunheng: "..."

Xiao Yu: "..." He really is?

Seeing how innocent he was, Xiao Yu began to feel a little embarrassed himself.

"Don't worry," he said awkwardly. "I like... like women."

Qi Yunheng lowered his eyes.

Liar.

You were just lying in bed with another man.

Over the past three years in Southern Zhao, he had heard no shortage of rumors about Xiao Yu.

He was simply frivolous, falling for everyone he met.

He didn't even know who I was, yet he dared to flirt with me at our very first meeting.

Utterly wicked.