Here's a Lollipop-We're Friends from Now On

"It's nothing. I just feel that you and I really... really hit it off..."

Ye Tangtang's tongue trembled as she forced the words out.

Hit it off with the male lead?

How the hell was that possible?!

This male lead was an absolute lunatic, the ultimate villainous boss. He would eventually unite the Seven Kingdoms, slaughter countless people, and prove ruthless, coldhearted, and utterly uninterested in women!

A textbook villainous male lead.

If not for her lollipops, she would never have said another word to him.

[Little Useless System, waaaah, I'm scared. He's so scary. Can I quit? (ノ_・.).]

The system: [Do you still want lollipops? Do you still want delicious Cloud Ice Cream?]

The system kept coaxing her. Counting on this lazy, slacker host to complete missions was absolutely impossible. Only points could tempt her.

He absolutely could not let Tang Tang discover that he had withheld those tens of thousands of points. Otherwise, she would fight him to the death.

[I do. I'm not scared. I'm not scared at all.]

Ye Tangtang tried to bolster her courage, but she was actually on the verge of tears. The male lead looked at her as though he wanted to kill her.

Yet she was clearly so lovable that everyone adored her and even flowers bloomed at the sight of her.

Jun Yuyuan frowned, one hand unconsciously touching his face. Was he that frightening?

And what was Little Useless System?

She was scared to death, yet she pretended not to be afraid.

This little girl was rather interesting.

Shen Qingqing said, "Tang Tang, why did you get down? Come back up. We'll reach the Palace of Gathered Elegance soon."

"Okay, Mommy dearest. I'll be right there."

Ye Tangtang steeled herself and walked over to the boy. She was more than a full head shorter than him, and the closer she got, the stronger the oppressive feeling became.

Ye Tangtang pulled a lollipop from inside her clothes and painfully placed it in Jun Yuyuan's hand.

The boy's cool voice rang out. "This is...?"

"It's a lollipop. Once you eat my lollipop, we're friends from now on."

Ye Tangtang raised her head and flashed a brilliant smile, her eyes curving and two adorable dimples appearing. Jun Yuyuan's gaze shifted slightly, and he was momentarily distracted...

She has a pretty smile. She's just a little dirty.

Ye Tangtang had no idea he had found fault with her. She was still mourning her lollipop.

[Waaaah, my lollipop! How tragic! I only had three lollipops to begin with, and now I have to give the male lead one. I'm so miserable! The male lead probably doesn't like lollipops, right? He'll give it back, won't he? I was only being polite.]

Ye Tangtang's heart was bleeding. Lollipops were her life!

A faint smile curved Jun Yuyuan's lips as he accepted the lollipop from Ye Tangtang's hand.

It was his first time meeting such an amusing little girl. She looked only about ten-a fascinating little thing.

[He took it! He actually took it! Little Useless System, my lollipop! I don't want to live anymore! I don't!!]

The little version of Ye Tangtang inside her heart was already rolling around on the ground.

Jun Yuyuan: "..."

Shen Qingqing: "..."

If she hated parting with it so much, why did Tang Tang insist on giving that boy a piece of candy?

She did not think she had ever seen that boy before.

Ye Tangtang stared at the lollipop in Jun Yuyuan's hand, turning back three times with every step before reluctantly climbing into the sedan chair.

"Return to the Palace of Gathered Elegance."

Eunuch Wang's shrill voice rang out.

Jun Yuyuan stood where he was and watched Ye Tangtang leave. His fingers shifted, and he took out the lollipop to examine it. A piece of candy with a twig attached underneath?

He had never seen anything so peculiar.

"A lollipop... interesting..."

The Palace of Gathered Elegance...

Tang Tang...

The enormous palace was lavishly appointed, with the three large characters for "Palace of Gathered Elegance" inscribed above in calligraphy that soared like dragons and danced like phoenixes.

[Wahaha! Do I finally have a big house? Hahahahaha! It's huge, and there's a big courtyard too! In a prime location, this would cost tens of millions at least, wouldn't it?]

[I'm finally a homeowner!]

Then Shen Qingqing watched her daughter hug a pillar in the main hall and rub herself against it.

"..."

The child must have become terrified of living in the Cold Palace. That was why she was so excited to see such a large house. From now on, she would give Tang Tang only the very best.

"Tang Tang, this will be our home from now on. Don't hug that icy pillar. Mommy will give you a bath in a little while."

"Mommy dearest, it's so big here! I love it!"

Ye Tangtang spotted the enormous bed and flung herself onto it. It was so, so soft! Then she rolled over and lay there, unwilling to move. From now on, she would lie back and take it easy right here.

Shen Qingqing looked helplessly at her daughter, a gentle smile on her face. How long had it been since she last saw her Tang Tang smile so happily?

"Lady-in-Waiting, these are the four palace maids His Majesty has bestowed upon you, along with some clothing, jewelry, and other things. If you need more, you may collect them from the Imperial Household Department. There is also a senior palace maid who will serve you and the little princess here from now on."

"Thank you, Eunuch Wang."

Shen Qingqing took out a jade-green bracelet of excellent quality and placed it in Eunuch Wang's hand. "Please convey my thanks to His Majesty."

Eunuch Wang beamed at the item in his hand, then nodded. "You're too kind, Lady-in-Waiting. This servant will certainly pass on your words."

"Lady-in-Waiting, this servant is Chunyu."

"This servant is Xiahe."

"This servant is Qiulu."

"This servant is Dongmei."

Shen Qingqing said, "You may all rise. From now on, your duty is to take good care of the little princess."

"Yes, Lady-in-Waiting."

"Lady-in-Waiting, this servant is Jinxiu."

"Please rise, Auntie."

While Shen Qingqing gave the maids instructions, Ye Tangtang was already sprawled on the bed, taking it easy. But she was so hungry. She had eaten nothing today except a flatbread she had gnawed on, and it had nearly knocked out her teeth.

"Mommy."

Hungry, Ye Tangtang climbed down from the bed and nestled into her mother's arms.

"What's wrong, Tang Tang?"

Ye Tangtang said, "I'm hungry. Mommy, I want something to eat."

"All right. Dongmei, go with the others and see whether the Imperial Kitchen has any pastries. Bring some back."

"Yes, Lady-in-Waiting. This servant will go right away."

Looking at her filthy daughter, Shen Qingqing felt a headache coming on. She had better get Tang Tang cleaned up first.

The Palace of Gathered Elegance was a principal palace. By rights, only women of consort rank or above could reside there, yet Shen Qingqing had moved into a principal palace when she was first appointed a lady-in-waiting. That alone showed how greatly she had been favored.

All these years, no one else had ever lived in the Palace of Gathered Elegance.

Qiulu had already prepared the water. There was an enormous bathing pool in a side room of the Palace of Gathered Elegance. Rumor had it that the Northern Emperor had built it specifically for Lady-in-Waiting Shen back then, though no one knew whether that was true.

"Tang Tang, let's get you washed. You're so dirty. Shall Mommy wash your hair for you?"

"Okay!"

Ye Tangtang gazed at her beautiful mother with her large, sparkling black eyes.

[I finally get to bathe with my gorgeous mommy, lalala! Hehehe, I can take a look... Does Mommy dearest have a really nice figure? Slurp, slurp...]

[Oh no, I'm about to drool. Better wipe it away quickly. I can't let Mommy discover what I'm thinking.]

Shen Qingqing: "..."

She hurriedly tugged her clothes tighter. Could she still change her mind?