Ning Yan: "..."

Such a swift and decisive rejection.

“A few days ago, I visited the Duke of England’s estate…”

Bai Qingqing looked up, hesitating for a moment. “I know. My brother already told me.”

“Oh? And what did he say?”

Bai Qingqing paused, caught in a delicate silence. There was no way she could tell him everything. If Ning Yan knew the version of himself her brother had painted, he’d probably be furious. Her brother’s vivid descriptions had practically turned him into a ruthless, cold-blooded monster with three heads and six arms.

“Well… he said that you, my lord, are a man of high station, deeply favored by the Emperor. That our Bai family would be overreaching, and associating with you might bring you trouble, and so on.”

She reviewed her words and felt they were acceptable, nodding solemnly. “Yes, that’s exactly what he said.”

Ning Yan sneered inwardly. Bai Yan had flatly refused to let Bai Qingqing see him that day; who knew what he’d said behind his back. But he didn’t call her out, merely nodded casually. “I see. I thought he might have mistaken me for some kind of monstrous scourge to be kept at arm’s length.”

Bai Qingqing was stunned—wow, he guessed it exactly! That’s precisely what her brother had said, word for word!

Her face, so transparent and guileless, betrayed her in an instant. The look of clumsy innocence made Ning Yan want to laugh. Grinding his back teeth slightly, he couldn’t help but reach out and pinch her cheek.

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Bai Qingqing let out a little yelp, quickly retreating, cradling her face as she glared at him. “Why do you keep pinching me? That’s exactly why people are afraid of you!”

“The others,” those two words oddly pleased Ning Yan. His brow lifted slightly. “And you? Are you not afraid?”

Bai Qingqing’s expression grew a little more serious, as if weighing her words. “I… sometimes am.” Her head dropped, fingers twisting the silk sash at her waist, voice soft and low. “You’re so fierce…”

The mix of complaint and tenderness in her tone was like a soft puff of cotton candy—light and warm. Ning Yan’s fingers itched again. He narrowed his eyes. “When have I ever been fierce to you?”

“...You see? You’re glaring again.”

Ning Yan: “...”

Bai Qingqing unconsciously pouted a little. “You act without order or restraint. It’s no wonder people criticize you. But still, I should thank you.”

She said solemnly, “I may not know how you learned that man harbored ill intentions toward the Bai family, but the fact remains—you helped us. For that alone, you are my benefactor.”

Bai Qingqing spoke with unwavering seriousness. In this life, her only wish was to protect the Bai family, to keep them free from unjust accusations, and to ensure her loved ones lived in peace. Whatever it took, she was willing.

“I’m deeply grateful. If he’d made his move in silence, the Bai family might have been wrongly accused.”

Ning Yan met her clear, round eyes, his lips pressing together slightly.

He hadn’t intended to pay any special attention to the Bai family—if Bai Qingqing hadn’t spent a fortune trying to investigate the southwest rebellion, he wouldn’t have cared about their affairs at all.

But fate had a strange sense of timing. He did notice something was off, and among the intercepted reports was a line about striking during the Duchess of England’s birthday celebration.

Had he overlooked it, and the Bai family been implicated one day, he might not have doubted it either.

“So tell me—how do you plan to show your gratitude?”

It was as though Bai Qingqing had already prepared for this. Though clearly reluctant, she carefully unfastened the jade token Ning Yan had given her from her waist.

“You’ve done the Bai family a great favor. That’s enough to settle the debt I owed you.”

She held the token out to him. But Ning Yan didn’t take it. Leaning back in his chair, he looked at her with a half-smile. “You were so unwilling before. And now you’re giving it back?”