The two soon boarded a carriage and set off for the crown prince's residence.
Ning Rongrong sat in her seat and reached out to poke curiously at the camera hanging from Wang Xiaoming's chest.
"Xiaoming, why are you hanging a lump of iron on your chest? To ward off evil or bring good fortune?
"If you want a pendant, I'll bring you a few gems tomorrow. I guarantee they'll look better than that."
Amused, Wang Xiaoming looked at Ning Rongrong and raised the unusually shaped camera in his hand.
"This? It's not a pendant. It's a camera."
"A camera chicken? Stop trying to fool me. No matter how you look at it, that's not a chicken."
Not only had Ning Rongrong never seen anything that looked like it, she had never heard its name either.
Her words struck Wang Xiaoming like a bolt of lightning for a moment.
The two of them seemed to be on different wavelengths.
"It really isn't a chicken. It... never mind, I'll show you."
With that, he raised the camera, aimed it at the bewildered Ning Rongrong, and pressed the shutter.
When it wasn't being used to collect power, it really was just an ordinary camera.
A sheet of photo paper soon came out of the bottom of the camera, with Ning Rongrong's puzzled face printed on it.
"Here, this is what a camera does."
Wang Xiaoming handed the photo to Ning Rongrong so she could examine it carefully.
"What is it? Why are you being so mysterious..."
When Ning Rongrong took the photo, her eyes instantly widened.
"Th-this is a camera? How is it like a mirror and a portrait at the same time?"
Once her shock passed, it was followed by confusion.
"But why have I never seen you take it out before? You had something this fun, and you kept it from me all this time?!"
She was numb. Completely numb.
Ning Rongrong had lost count of how many things this guy had hidden from her.
But Wang Xiaoming shrugged at her words.
He had only gotten it yesterday, so it wasn't too late to tell her now.
In the end, Ning Rongrong pestered Wang Xiaoming into taking lots of cute photos of her. Only then did she cheer up, planning to give these interesting things to her father and two grandpas.
Having passed the journey like that, the two finally arrived in front of the crown prince's residence.
After they got out of the carriage, the steward at the entrance quickly came up to greet them and sent a servant to take the carriage to its designated place.
Wang Xiaoming sized up the crown prince's steward.
The steward was a stern middle-aged man who looked quite capable, at least compared to Meng Zhuang back home.
He bowed to Wang Xiaoming and Ning Rongrong and said respectfully, "Please wait in the courtyard, you two. I'll go inform His Highness the crown prince."
"Go on, go on. You do this every time I come."
Ning Rongrong waved her hand.
Seeing that Wang Xiaoming hadn't said a word, she thought he was nervous about meeting Xue Qinghe.
Once the steward had left, she reached out and patted the back of Wang Xiaoming's hand, comforting him softly.
"Don't worry, there's no need to be nervous. There are no women in the crown prince's residence, so you could walk around with your eyes closed. As long as you don't go into Brother Qinghe's study and rummage through his memorials, there's nothing to be afraid of here."
With that, she leaned close to Wang Xiaoming's ear. "But don't be alone with him. He still hasn't married, and there are already rumors going around that he likes men. You especially need to watch out for that!"
"Huh? Really?"
Hearing that, Wang Xiaoming admitted he was a little nervous. He unconsciously clenched his butt twice... Even though he knew Xue Qinghe didn't have that function, Ning Rongrong's devilish whisper was still a little frightening.
What man wouldn't fear a sneak attack on his chicken from behind?
There was a saying that put it well.
Until it went in, he thought you were joking-[despicable gay man].
Though what Xue Qinghe used might be the Angel Holy Sword.
No... Maybe Xue Qinghe was the one in front...
"I don't know. Anyway, just be careful..."
Ning Rongrong gave him a serious warning.
Although she didn't know whether it was true, she wouldn't want a man who had experienced that sort of thing.
Xue Qinghe soon appeared, led there by the steward.
"Xiaoming, Rongrong, you got here so quickly. I only just sent out my invitations, and you two are already here."
Xue Qinghe's voice was as warm and smooth as jade, giving the impression of ice water melted by sunlight, warm and relaxing.
"Brother Qinghe!"
Ning Rongrong quickly put on a delighted expression, turning back into that cute little girl as she greeted Xue Qinghe.
Wang Xiaoming, meanwhile, discreetly stepped back half a pace. Wearing a courteous smile, he cupped his hands and bowed to the person before him.
"Since Your Highness the crown prince was kind enough to invite me, how could I, Wang Xiaoming, dare be slow to respond?"
"Oh, I only just told you last time that there was no need to bow. It seems you haven't taken me to heart, little brother."
There was a trace of barely perceptible complaint in Xue Qinghe's voice.
But to Wang Xiaoming, it carried a hint of feminine charm.
Knowing that the other person was a woman made that filter even stronger.
He hurriedly bit the tip of his tongue to bring his thoughts back to normal.
It was all Ning Rongrong's fault for telling him those things just now!
Wang Xiaoming straightened up and scratched his head sheepishly, like a child.
"Brother Xue... I'm just a little socially anxious. Please don't mind me."
"Socially anxious?"
Xue Qinghe shook his head, unable to keep from laughing.
From the information he had gathered, this little fellow really wasn't very fond of socializing. He hadn't bothered to maintain any of the connections his parents had left behind, nor had he sought help from them. He had simply stayed on his own little plot of land.
So hearing him say something like that now seemed perfectly normal.
But someone like that would also be easier for him to win over.
The fewer people Wang Xiaoming came into contact with, the greater the chance that he could bring him under his wing.
Unfortunately, he didn't know that Wang Xiaoming simply didn't want to reveal too much in front of him, lest he bring unnecessary trouble upon himself.
The fact that this person had taken Xue Qinghe's place for so many years without being exposed was enough to show that her eye for people... was razor-sharp.
Unless this face-con took a fancy to them, ordinary people wouldn't receive the same treatment as Tang San.
Just then, Ning Rongrong stepped forward.
"Brother Qinghe, don't mind him. Xiaoming's just a wimp. But did you prepare any snacks for us?"
Xue Qinghe smiled and rubbed her head. "Of course. The snacks Rongrong likes were prepared long ago... Come inside with me."
"Yay!"
Ning Rongrong pretended to jump for joy, then winked playfully at Wang Xiaoming when Xue Qinghe turned around.
Wang Xiaoming gave her a thumbs-up.