Chapter 106: So He Can Laugh Too

"Still, you had better drink sparingly. Our safety for the night depends entirely on you!"

Baili Tianchang reached out without ceremony and took the wine skin from Nalan Dijiou’s hand.

"My little fairy, you must grow quickly. But do not grow too fast, for if you do, you will no longer need me." Nalan Dijiou sighed.

"We are friends now. Between friends, there is no need for such worries. As long as you do not betray me, I will always consider you a friend!"

After a few gulps of wine, Baili Tianchang patted Nalan Dijiou’s shoulder with grand spirit, offering him her vow.

"Little fairy, do you know? Once your training as a Space Mage reaches a certain rank, your true physical form will be able to enter your spatial realm. When that time comes, once night falls—let alone in the Devil’s Forest, even in places far more dangerous—you will possess the ability to protect yourself, and you will no longer need me to keep you safe."

Thinking of the day his little fairy would surely reach such a realm, Nalan Dijiou felt a complex mix of gratification and melancholy.

"If I no longer need you to protect me, then that’s perfect—I can protect you instead!" Baili Tianchang said dismissively, completely failing to grasp why Nalan Dijiou was so troubled. The future was still so far away; why did he enjoy daydreaming about it so much? She herself had hardly given it a thought.

"So, you are saying that no matter what, you will never leave me?"

Nalan Dijiou pressed her, as if desperate for a guarantee.

"I never easily abandon friends who have shared hardships with me or who have helped me," Baili Tianchang said, stating her life’s creed.

Friends... she only thought of him as a friend. However, that was already a very good start. Nalan Dijiou was full of confidence in himself.

The two ate the rabbit meat together, sharing the same wine skin. Nalan Dijiou held the rabbit in one hand and a small knife in the other, slicing pieces and feeding them to Baili Tianchang. She, in turn, held the wine skin, occasionally offering him a drink. Their coordination remained seamless, and they appeared remarkably intimate.

A woman watching from afar could not hear what they were saying, but seeing their affectionate movements and the genuine smiles they shared, she ground her teeth in hatred.

Yes, she had seen correctly!

The Ninth Prince, who had always presented an icy, aloof, and formidable front, was entirely unguarded in the presence of this useless, ugly woman, pouring his whole heart into their time together!

She had seen correctly!

The Ninth Prince never smiled. Yet, in front of this useless, ugly woman, he had smiled from the heart, time and time again! So, it was not that the Ninth Prince could not smile; it was simply that he only smiled for this one woman! So, the Ninth Prince was capable of laughter after all! It was just that his smiles had never been revealed to the rest of the world!

Her heart was deeply wounded. Even deeper was the injury to her pride and self-esteem, which she held so dear. They had been ruthlessly trampled by this useless, ugly girl! Ground beneath her feet into a puddle of mud!

How could she be worthy! How could this useless, ugly girl be worthy!