Surviving In Another World With My Three Cups!-Chapter 170 -

Mo Ying’s eyes stayed fixed on Lin Xu.

Lin Xu noticed.

She felt her chest tighten, but she kept her face calm.

The Crown Prince leaned slightly toward her.

"Are you nervous?"

Lin Xu replied quietly, "A little. But I won’t show it."

"Good," he said. "Though I can see someone’s eyes glued to you real bad." He was referring to Mo Ying, and Lin Xu only sighed.

"Crown Prince, can I ask you a question?"

"Sure, throw it at me," he said, tossing a nut into his mouth.

"Well.. I want to know what your relationship with the General is like. You two seem acquainted, yet not close."

"Hm." Xuan Lu rubbed his chin. "Well.. Mo Ying and I met before I became Crown Prince. We were young back then, and we trained and studied together. Back then, things were good. His mother was alive, my mother was alive, and everything was still rosy."

He explained calmly.

"And what happened after that? Why aren’t you close anymore like before?" Lin Xu stared at him with open curiosity, which the Crown Prince found both amusing and slightly bothersome. He wondered why she cared so much about his relationship with Mo Ying.

"Well.. he was sent away."

"Why was he sent away?"

Xuan Lu smirked.

"Wait a minute. You can’t be collecting so much information from me for free, right?"

"Huh?" Lin Xu turned, confused. "Is there something you want?"

"Now you’re talking. If you want me to tell you what you want to know, then you’ll have to go on a walk with me."

"On a walk? The Emperor isn’t here yet. I don’t think it would be advisable for us to leave."

"In that case, we can leave after the banquet is over. After that, I’ll tell you what you want to know, alright?"

"Hm.." Lin Xu nodded as she turned back to her food, still feeling Mo Ying’s heavy stare.

San Na, seated nearby, leaned toward Chu Ming.

"Do you see Mo Ying?"

Chu Ming frowned. "He hasn’t looked away once."

San Na lowered her voice. "If this continues, everyone will notice."

Mo Lan leaned in, smiling softly.

"Then let them notice. Wouldn’t it be interesting if the capital heard that the Crown Prince and the General want the same woman?"

San Na turned to her slowly.

"You’re trying to start trouble."

Mo Lan shrugged. "I’m just worried about Mo Ying."

San Na smiled faintly.

"So am I."

She suddenly reached out.

"Mo Ying," San Na said gently, taking the cup from his hand. "You’re spilling."

Mo Ying blinked. "What?"

San Na lifted her handkerchief and wiped the corner of his mouth.

"You were staring too hard," she whispered teasingly. "Anyone would think you were drooling."

Mo Ying didn’t answer.

He looked at her.

San Na adjusted his collar lightly.

"Sit properly," she said softly. "People are watching."

Mo Ying exhaled.

"I didn’t realize."

Across the field, Lin Xu felt something shift.

A soft chime echoed in her mind.

[Jealousy Rate: 35% WARNING! WARNING!]

Lin Xu’s brows furrowed slightly.

"What?"

Susu’s voice whispered.

[Host, Mo Ying’s affection for you is dropping.]

Lin Xu stayed silent.

After a moment, she murmured to herself,

"I knew this day would come."

She paused.

"Just not this fast."

"What are you going to do, Host?" Susu asked.

"I want to get this stupid mission done quickly," Lin Xu said as she gave Mo Ying and San Na a quick glance. Just looking at them facing each other made something pierce her heart.

"Is this the feeling of jealousy? I hate it," she whispered to herself.

She called over one of the servants serving food, who approached her and the Crown Prince.

"You have quite an appetite, huh?"

Lin Xu lifted her hand steadily.

The piece of meat rested neatly between the chopsticks.

For a brief second, the world seemed to stop.

The Crown Prince blinked. He looked at the chopsticks, then at her face.

"Open your mouth," Lin Xu repeated, her voice calm, almost flat.

Around them, servants froze mid-step. A few nobles stopped chewing. Someone let out a small cough.

Xuan Lu stared at her for a heartbeat longer.

Then, slowly, he smiled.

He leaned forward and opened his mouth without a word.

Lin Xu fed him.

Just like that.

The Crown Prince ate the food she offered, chewing calmly, as if this were the most normal thing in the world. He did not ask why. He did not question her. He simply accepted it.

A sharp breath rippled through the banquet hall.

Whispers burst out at once.

"Did you see that?"

"She fed him herself!"

"That’s the Crown Prince!"

"Who is that woman, really?"

"Is she his..?"

The noise spread like fire.

Xuan Lu swallowed and leaned back slightly, his eyes glinting with amusement.

"It’s good," he said lightly. "You chose well."

Lin Xu did not reply. She only picked up another piece.

And fed him again.

This time, even the musicians faltered.

Across the field, Mo Ying’s hand clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

His jaw locked.

He could see it clearly.

Her calm face.

The way she leaned slightly toward the Crown Prince.

The way Xuan Lu accepted her closeness without hesitation.

Something hot twisted in his chest.

Madame Mo noticed at once. She leaned toward him and whispered sharply, "Mo Ying, control yourself."

Mo Lan scoffed under her breath.

"Look at her," she said coldly. "She really doesn’t waste time."

Aunt Mo frowned.

"Isn’t this too much? In public like this.."

Mo Qing muttered, "If the capital sees this, rumors will explode."

Mo Ying didn’t answer any of them.

His eyes were locked on Lin Xu.

San Na felt it too.

She followed his gaze, then looked back at him. His breathing was heavier now, his posture stiff.

She smiled faintly and placed a hand on his arm.

"Mo Ying," she said softly, "you’re shaking."

He pulled in a slow breath.

"I’m fine."

"You’re not," she replied gently. "Everyone can see."

She looked toward Lin Xu and the Crown Prince, then back at him.

"This isn’t good for you."

Mo Ying said nothing.

San Na’s fingers tightened slightly around his sleeve, but her voice stayed calm.

"Sit properly," she said again. "Don’t lose yourself here."

He forced his gaze away at last.

But it hurt.

Back at the main table, Lin Xu fed the Crown Prince one last bite and finally lowered her chopsticks.

Only then did she hear it.

A familiar sound.

A soft chime.

[Jealousy Rate: 42%.. 48%.. 53%..]

Lin Xu’s fingers stiffened for just a moment.

Susu’s voice echoed in her mind, excited and sharp.

[Host! It’s rising fast! Mo Ying’s jealousy is increasing rapidly!]

Lin Xu kept her face calm, but her chest felt tight.

She glanced sideways.

Mo Ying was no longer looking at her.

But his clenched fist told her everything.

[Jealousy Rate: 61%..]

"This is stupid," Lin Xu murmured under her breath.

Xuan Lu heard her and leaned closer.

"What is?"

"Nothing," she replied.

He studied her face for a second, then smiled knowingly.

"You did that on purpose."

She didn’t deny it.

"You didn’t stop me."

"I wouldn’t," he said simply. "Why should I?"

More whispers followed them wherever they went.

Some full of shock.

Some full of jealousy.

Some full of fear.

At the Mo family’s table, the tension was thick.

Mo Lan crossed her arms.

"Brother, are you really going to sit here and watch?"

Madame Mo added quietly,

"If this continues, you’ll become the joke."

Mo Ying finally spoke, his voice low.

"Enough."

San Na looked at him carefully.

"Mo Ying.."

He stood up abruptly.

The chair scraped loudly against the ground.

Heads turned.

Mo Ying bowed stiffly toward the main seat.

"I need some air."

Without waiting for permission, he walked away.

San Na hesitated, then rose as well.

"I’ll check on him."

As they left, Lin Xu felt another sharp chime.

[Jealousy Rate: 68%..]

Her heart sank.

She pressed her lips together.

"I really hate this feeling," she whispered.

Xuan Lu watched Mo Ying’s retreating back, then looked at Lin Xu.

"You don’t look victorious," he said quietly.

"I’m not," she replied.

He tilted his head.

"Then why do it?"

Lin Xu didn’t answer right away.

Finally, she said softly,

"Because I need this mission to end."

Xuan Lu’s eyes darkened slightly, but he smiled again.

"I don’t know what so called mission you’re doing right now but I can tell it involves getting on someone’s nerve and I’m quite good at that," he said, "I suppose I’ll help you finish it."

Around them, the banquet continued.

Mq ahiel, Mo Ying stopped outside and walked to a more quiet place far from the banquet, musicn and voices.

San na followed behind him yet she didn’t say anything, she just stood there as she waited for him to get himself.

"I’m confused San na. I don’t know why exactly I want." Mo Ying revealed as San na nodded her head softly.

"Then talk to her."