Chapter 393: Your Lover Has Come

When Yu Zhizhi heard the question, she slowly pulled the covers up until only her eyes were showing. She looked at Lou, her heart still happy. "I... I miss both."

’I miss Louis, and I miss Lou, too~’

Lou moved slightly, and before Yu Zhizhi could react, he suddenly collapsed onto her.

He hugged Yu Zhizhi tightly, right through the covers.

"You’re such a handful..."

Lou’s voice was muffled.

His little rabbit had been gone for so long. Without her in Paradise, the place had become dull and tasteless. Even the thought of the hunting season, which he had always loved, brought him no sense of anticipation.

The only thing that could pique Lou’s interest was looking for the little Spider hatchlings.

They all liked to hide the hatchlings.

For some reason, every time Lou found a good hiding spot, Louis and the Spider would find them in no time.

Lou often suspected those two had teamed up against him.

’Hmph. But I’m the one in control of the body now, aren’t I?’

Lou wrapped the little rabbit even more snugly in the covers. Yu Zhizhi started to feel a bit hot. Her rabbit ears twitched as she felt Lou’s embrace grow tighter.

"Lou~" she said in a soft, sweet voice, "I’m getting a little hot. Can you pull the covers back?"

"No," Lou refused sternly.

Louis’s mistake was a cautionary tale.

If he couldn’t hold back around his little rabbit, it would be easy for the other personalities to "take advantage of the opening."

He wouldn’t make that kind of mistake.

Yu Zhizhi shifted slightly, and a moment later, Lou pinched her cheek.

She lifted her gaze to meet his emerald eyes, which were just inches away. Lou gave a mock-ferocious warning, "Don’t fidget!"

Yu Zhizhi’s cheeks flushed red. She nodded.

Lou pulled the covers back just a little to let his little rabbit get some air.

Then, deciding the Luminous Pearls in the bedchamber were "too bright," he simply locked them all away in a cabinet.

With the bed curtains drawn, the space became a hidden sanctuary where it felt like he and his little rabbit were the only two people in the world.

Yu Zhizhi gradually grew drowsy.

She couldn’t help but doze off.

In the darkness, Lou stared at her little face for a long time. He couldn’t resist leaning in and placing a gentle peck on her lips.

He watched over his little rabbit just like that, all the way until dawn.

When Yu Zhizhi woke up, she was alone in the bedchamber.

Every morning, servants would arrive promptly.

After washing up, she asked if Prince Canglan had returned.

A maidservant shook her head.

The corners of Yu Zhizhi’s lips curved slightly. She always felt more at ease when Cang Lan wasn’t around.

She had her Spirit Art lesson in the afternoon.

When Yu Zhizhi saw "Vic" again, a flicker of confusion crossed her eyes. Because he was in disguise, she couldn’t tell if the Teacher Vic standing before her was Louis or Lou.

But the moment he spoke, Yu Zhizhi knew.

"Let me see what that other guy taught you."

’—It’s Lou.’

Yu Zhizhi lifted her skirt and walked into the main hall. She remembered the Wind’s Breath technique Louis had taught her and demonstrated it for Lou.

He scoffed at it.

"Teacher Vic," dressed in a brown cloak, suddenly opened his palm, where a small cluster of flames danced to life.

’Are we going to learn a simple fire-related Spirit Art today?’

Yu Zhizhi couldn’t resist moving closer to Lou.

For the next several days, Lou continued to play the part of Vic, teaching Yu Zhizhi Spirit Art in the main hall every afternoon.

On the sixth day, Lou conjured a small ball of water.

Yu Zhizhi held it in her palm, chatting cheerfully with Lou.

Outside the door, the Lizard Servant tilted its head slightly.

’Ms. Zhi Zhi and Mr. Vic seem to be quite friendly with each other?’

’Could it be that she...’

’...has taken a liking to Mr. Vic?’

The Lizard Servant was alarmed. ’This is bad, this is very bad! I have to report this to Prince Canglan immediately! There absolutely cannot be any mishaps before the wedding!’

That evening, Cang Lan returned.

He detected the lingering scent of another male in his little rabbit’s bedchamber.

As usual, Yu Zhizhi had been taking care of the Ice Crystal Dragon and only returned after it had fallen asleep. She had just gone a bit later than usual today, so it was nearly dark by the time she got back.

She entered the bedchamber and was brought to a halt by the sight of a tall, slender figure in golden armor. "...Your Highness?"

A biting chill still radiated from Cang Lan’s armor. He turned, his frigid gaze landing on the Rabbit Clan girl’s porcelain-white face. "The wedding hasn’t even been held, and you’re already in a hurry to find a male consort?"

Yu Zhizhi froze.

Feeling a pang of guilt, she stammered, "N-No, I’m not."

"Look at me." The man’s figure closed in, the metallic scent of blood on his armor growing stronger. Yu Zhizhi slowly lifted her head to meet his golden-brown eyes.

’I’m done for...’

’Did the Big Tiger find out about Louis?’

Yu Zhizhi’s rabbit ears trembled. She desperately wanted to run, but her legs felt as if they were nailed to the floor, completely immobile.

"Your mating season isn’t over yet?" Something occurred to Cang Lan, and his brow furrowed as he scanned her from head to toe.

Yu Zhizhi replied softly, "It’s over..."

’The whole mating season thing was just a lie I told him before to complete my mission.’

Even though she was from the Rabbit Clan, she wasn’t like the others.

’It’s probably because my real identity is a "smuggler"...’

Cang Lan thought about how he had deliberately stayed away from the Extreme Ice Palace for the past few days just to let her rest, and in return, she had gone behind his back to find a male consort—

A flash of fury lit the man’s eyes. He suddenly seized Yu Zhizhi’s wrist and yanked her into his embrace.

Yu Zhizhi slammed into the cold armor, startling her. A moment later, he gripped her jaw, forcing her head up and to the left. The man’s icy lips were instantly at her neck.

"Ngh—" She winced, her hands clutching at his clothes.

’That familiar pain...’

Cang Lan finally tasted her sweet blood again. His eyes darkened as he held her petite frame even tighter. The little female’s soft waist felt as if it might snap in his grasp.

Yu Zhizhi’s eyes grew red-rimmed. "It hurts..."

Cang Lan paused for a moment. He slowly licked the bite mark on her neck. "This is nothing. The real pain comes later."

A wave of sadness washed over Yu Zhizhi.

The Big Tiger had bitten much harder than usual this time.

Before her tears could fall, she heard the man’s mocking tone. "The Crown Princess Consort certainly does enjoy her lessons, doesn’t she."

’Vic, is it?’

Cang Lan remembered he was someone Cang Jie had brought.

’Hah.’

’Wanting a male consort...’

’That’s absolutely impossible, even after we’re married.’

A thick killing intent rose in Cang Lan’s heart. He released the little female before him and slowly straightened up.

The room was pitch-black.

Lou had put all the Luminous Pearls away.

When Yu Zhizhi saw Cang Lan’s dark eyes, her heart sank. She instinctively grabbed his wrist. "Your Highness, I won’t take lessons anymore..."

She could clearly sense Cang Lan’s murderous intent.

It wasn’t directed at her.

’Which means...’

Cang Lan glanced coldly at the red bite mark on her neck. Just then, the sound of clear footsteps echoed from outside the secluded hall.

Yu Zhizhi’s heart was racing in panic. She was terrified that Lou and Cang Lan would run into each other—

Cang Lan wrenched his arm from the little rabbit’s grasp. He sneered, "Your lover has arrived. Aren’t you going to go welcome him?"

Outside the hall, a faint light shimmered on the frozen ground. Even the moonlight couldn’t penetrate the gloom, yet the newcomer’s silhouette was strikingly clear.