Chapter 60: Fine, Keep Acting

Chapter 60: Chapter 60: Fine, Keep Acting

With that, he suddenly turned his head, his gaze locking directly onto Cui Lingyao. He smiled and said, "How about we make a bet?"

"If you win, this Prince will grant you a promise. If this Prince wins... you need only answer a single question."

Cui Lingyao was about to refuse without a second thought.

"Think carefully before you answer,"

The superficial smile on his face faded as Xie Jinbai’s eyes darkened. "You’re the one who said, ’fortune favors the bold.’ Is a promise from this Prince not worth the risk?"

To wager the answer to a single question for one of his promises.

It was an absolute steal.

The onlookers, putting themselves in her shoes, were all rather envious.

Cui Lingyao did hesitate.

It wasn’t that she particularly coveted his promise, but rather the warning implicit in his words.

Clearly, he hadn’t dismissed his suspicions and was still relentlessly testing her.

’Constantly avoiding it won’t solve the problem.’

Cui Lingyao didn’t make the decision on her own. Instead, she turned to look at the person beside her.

As it happened, Shen Tingyu was also looking at her.

Their eyes met. He gave a slight, encouraging smile. "Do what you think is best. If you want to, then you should accept."

Cui Lingyao froze.

In the past few days, they had spent a good deal of time alone, and he had said many things that impressed her and made her like him even more.

But none of it moved her as much as his attitude right now.

His eyes told her that he never wanted to tell her what to think.

Cui Lingyao’s eyelashes trembled. She felt the steady beat of her heart suddenly stop, only to resume at a frantic pace.

Witnessing the two of them exchange another loving gaze, Xie Jinbai could no longer contain himself. He shoved the low table aside, shot to his feet, and strode toward them.

His aura was terrifyingly oppressive. Startled, Cui Lingyao snapped out of her daze and instinctively took half a step back.

"What are you afraid of?"

Xie Jinbai’s eyes were savage as he stared at her with a humorless smile. "Did you do something to weigh on your conscience? Is that why you’re so afraid of me?"

’He even dropped his formal title and was referring to himself as ’I’.’

Cui Lingyao pressed her lips together. "I have not."

’I have not...’

Xie Jinbai closed his eyes, swallowing all his emotions. In a hoarse voice, he asked, "Will you bet? I’ve heard your mother is gravely ill. I can raise the stakes. If you win... I’ll give you Qingquan Manor in the suburb of the capital. In fact, I’ll give it to you win or lose."

Everyone in the Capital City knew that Qingquan Manor possessed a natural spring, perfect for recuperating.

It was more effective than any spiritual pill, and the once-unrivaled Consort Lian had even lived there for three years.

Cui Lingyao was even more tempted. During her three years as Princess Consort Yu, they would go to the manor for a short stay every winter.

Soaking in the hot springs in the dead of winter was unbelievably comfortable.

And it was indeed very good for one’s health.

Her eyes lit up, and she nodded. "I’ll bet!"

She had the distinct look of someone whose eyes light up at the sight of money.

The sight made Xie Jinbai’s heart soften. He almost reached out to pinch her cheek—his hand even began to rise—but when he remembered their current relationship, he managed to stop himself.

He pressed his lips into a thin line and said, "You choose first."

The tiger or the black bear.

’Who will win?’

A moment ago, Cui Lingyao had chosen the black bear without hesitation.

The stake had been a bracelet.

But now, she stared intently at the two powerful, well-fed beasts in the Beast Fighting Arena.

Just as Shen Hanyun had said, the tiger was newly adult, while the black bear was old, its hide clearly showing old scars.

After hesitating for a few moments, Cui Lingyao said, "I’ll choose the tiger."

"Fine. Then I’ll bet the black bear wins,"

Xie Jinbai seemed completely unconcerned with the wager. After his casual declaration, he sat down right beside her—in Shen Hanyue’s seat, which he simply took. He then gestured to the space next to him and said casually, "You sit, too. If we’re going to have a bet, it’s more fun to watch together."

Cui Lingyao was speechless.

Utterly speechless, she reminded him, "This is my cousin’s seat."

’Cousin...’

Xie Jinbai was again reminded of the phrase, ’I’ll help you handle him.’

He turned his head, his gaze falling upon Shen Hanyue. After staring at her for a moment, he ordered, "Arrange another seat for her cousin."

Zhao Shijie complied.

Soon, a servant brought over a chair.

The guests all returned to their seats.

Xie Jinbai once again gestured to the seat beside him. "Sit."

Cui Lingyao fell silent, her first instinct to look toward Shen Tingyu.

He was two seats away. Before her gaze could reach him, she heard two soft taps.

Xie Jinbai had tapped his knuckles on the low table.

When he saw her look over, he smiled. "So considerate of his feelings, are you?"

He practically ground the words out through his teeth.

He sounded remarkably jealous.

Cui Lingyao was speechless.

’Her feelings were a complicated mess.’

Just as they reached a stalemate, neither knowing what to say, a sudden wave of gasps erupted from the surrounding viewing platforms.

The two iron cages in the Beast Fighting Arena had been opened.

Aside from the guests on their platform, whose attention was fixed on them, every other guest’s gaze was now directed down into the arena.

Cui Lingyao said no more, smoothed her skirt, and sat down.

Their seats were adjacent, separated by only an arm’s length. His familiar scent drifted into her senses, stirring a restless feeling in her heart.

Xie Jinbai raised his arm and downed his cup of wine in one gulp.

The cool liquid flowed down his throat, barely suppressing the parched feeling inside him.

When he glimpsed out of the corner of his eye that her full attention was on the two beasts brawling below, anger flared in his heart again.

’Parted by her death for three years.’

’They were finally this close, and yet she was so calm.’

’So indifferent.’

’She hadn’t spared him a single extra glance.’

’How could any woman be so heartless?’

Xie Jinbai pursed his lips and called out softly, "Cui Lingyao."

Down in the Beast Fighting Arena, the black bear was retreating again and again under the tiger’s claws, which had just left another gash on it. Cheers erupted from the crowd, and Cui Lingyao excitedly clenched her fists. Just then, she heard her name and instinctively turned toward the sound.

She met a pair of familiar eyes.

As soon as she turned, his jet-black pupils began to swirl with a stunning, profound light.

It was the look of a traveler, lost in the desert and dying of thirst, who had just confirmed that the oasis that could save his life was right before him.

That look alone was enough to make goosebumps prickle her skin.

She froze for a second before blinking, trying her utmost to appear nonchalant, as if she had merely glanced aside casually and was about to turn back to the fight.

"Stop pretending," Xie Jinbai said, unable to bear her act any longer. "You heard me call your name, didn’t you?"

Cui Lingyao replied, "I don’t know what you are talking about, Your Highness."

’I thought his tests would be more convoluted,’ she thought. ’I never expected him to try and catch me off guard like this.’

Cui Lingyao cursed inwardly—’It’s impossible to guard against him!’—but her expression remained calm. "I simply saw that I was about to win and couldn’t resist glancing at you, Your Highness."

"Is that so?"

Xie Jinbai laughed. "So you didn’t hear me?"

...

Wary, Cui Lingyao ignored him.

She was afraid of falling for another one of his tricks.

Xie Jinbai pressed, "If you didn’t hear me, then why are you explaining yourself?"

Cui Lingyao’s brow furrowed tightly. "I don’t know what you’re talking about, Your Highness. Nor do I feel I was explaining anything."

’She’s really committed to this act.’

’And so unbelievably stubborn.’

Infuriated, Xie Jinbai gritted his teeth and forced a smile. "Fine. Keep up your act."