An Ning gritted her teeth.

At that moment, she really didn’t turn around.

But she couldn’t help saying, "Then why don’t you turn around!"

It was clear that Lin Zichan didn’t immediately turn around; his words were right by her ear.

"Your body is not unattractive, madam."

"Do you know that your current actions deserve death a thousand times!" An Ning threatened, her face seemingly redder.

She had no idea what Lin Zichan was staring at behind her?!

An Ning’s fists were clenched tightly.

"If you want to kill me, madam, I would die willingly a thousand times," Lin Zichan’s voice carried a different tone.

"Hurry up and leave!" An Ning’s repressed voice sounded very agitated.

After she spoke.

She directly wanted to leave Lin Zichan.

But at that moment.

Lin Zichan suddenly grasped her shoulder.

Her heart skipped a beat.

This person was truly unafraid of death.

Daring to make a move himself...

Just as An Ning wanted to resist.

"Ugh..." An Ning gasped in shock, a hand covering her mouth.

She only let out a small muffled sound.

At the same time, she suddenly saw a water snake appear in front of her, tightly grasped in Lin Zichan’s hand.

So Lin Zichan hadn’t turned around because he discovered a snake beside her, trying to catch it.

Even stopping her from moving was to prevent the snake from biting her.

She felt a lingering fear.

Though she knew the snake was non-poisonous, psychologically she was greatly repelled by such soft-bodied, cold-blooded creatures.

Lin Zichan slowly released An Ning’s shoulder.

An Ning snapped back from the shock of the water snake.

Coming to her senses, she noticed Lin Zichan standing rather close.

She could even feel his breath, not knowing whether it was from the earlier rush to catch the snake, or...

"Snakes often appear near hot springs," Lin Zichan said, "Next time before bathing, have some realgar scattered around."

An Ning bit her lips tightly.

Though they weren’t close enough to be touching skin.

The ambiguous feeling was even stronger.

"I don’t know if there are any more snakes in the water or nearby, madam, you’d better get ashore first," Lin Zichan suggested, adding, "I’ll close my eyes."

An Ning’s eyes subtly moved.

She didn’t dwell too much at that moment.

What if there were more snakes...

And she needed to get out for Lin Zichan to leave the hot spring.

She said nothing and directly swam to the shore.

Then climbed ashore.

Under the night glow, everything was... visible.

Even though An Ning quickly dressed herself.

After dressing, An Ning turned to look.

A man stood still in the center of the warm water.

In the backlight, she couldn’t see if his eyes were closed.

But she always felt that he saw everything.

An Ning quickly left the hot spring.

Yan Jinyao looked puzzled seeing An Ning come out so quickly, "Boss, are you done already?"

"There was a snake."

"What?!" Yan Jinyao exclaimed.

"Get someone to deal with it next time."

"Was the boss bitten?"

"No," An Ning replied directly.

But she didn’t know if Lin Zichan had been bitten.

In such an environment, she couldn’t examine him.

And when she saw the snake, Lin Zichan had already caught it.

"I’ll get someone to check immediately," Yan Jinyao said, preparing to instruct someone to go to the hot spring.

"It’s dark now, it’ll be useless to check. Handle it tomorrow."

Yan Jinyao thought for a moment, nodded, and left with An Ning.

Meanwhile.

In the hot spring.

Lin Zichan only stood up from the water after An Ning left.

The not-so-big water snake in his hand was killed on the ground by his strong grip.

He climbed ashore to dress.

While dressing, he paused for a moment.

Breathed slowly, calmly, until completely cooled down, then actually dressed, and left for his room.

Upon reaching the corridor.

From afar, he saw a figure waiting at the door.

Lin Zichan’s fingers slightly moved.

He walked over calmly, "Madam."

Bowed to greet.

An Ning looked at him.

Looked at his composure, unaffected by tonight’s events.

As if, nothing had happened tonight.

They hadn’t met in the hot spring.

"Were you bitten by the snake?" An Ning asked directly.

Lin Zichan lifted his eyes to glance at An Ning.

An Ning seemed impatient.

She reached out and grabbed Lin Zichan’s hand.

Touched his hand and frowned.

Why was his hand so cold?

Honestly, he seemed chilled all over.

After coming out of the hot spring, he should be warm.

She still felt warm now.

She had waited at his door for a long time.

She thought he would return quickly.

Waiting impatiently.

Imagined Lin Zichan still enjoying the hot spring.

Not afraid of being bitten again.

An Ning didn’t ask why his body was so cold!

She just had a humanitarian approach, treating him.

Lin Zichan watched An Ning’s somewhat abrupt action, his eyes moved slightly but chose silence.

His sleeve was rolled up by An Ning.

A snake bite mark, red and swollen, was clearly visible.

She knew he might have been bitten.

In the water, it was impossible to catch such a quick water snake instantly.

If she hadn’t checked herself, wouldn’t he have told her?!

"It’s not painful," Lin Zichan said watching An Ning’s expression, "It’s non-poisonous."

"Non-poisonous, but even animal bites need cleaning and dressing," An Ning’s voice was a bit deep.

Lin Zichan nodded slightly, "Thank you, madam."

He pushed open the door, "Madam, please come in."

An Ning carried her medicine box and entered Lin Zichan’s room.

The room was simple, though she didn’t mistreat servants, ultimately, their living conditions differed from hers.

An Ning walked in, silently placed the medicine box on the bed’s head, and sat on the bed edge.

Apart from the bed, there was nowhere else to sit.

Once she sat, her brow furrowed.

The bed was too hard.

The quilt looked thin.

As if unused for long, had a bit of musty smell.

An Ning watched Lin Zichan walk over, not daring to sit with her on the bed, stood before her, bent over, presenting his arm to An Ning.

An Ning didn’t show much emotion.

She took out disinfectant to clean Lin Zichan’s wound.

Lin Zichan frowned slightly.

Stimulating liquid on his wound stung a bit.

An Ning’s touch was gentle.

"Why didn’t you leave last time?" An Ning suddenly asked.

Lin Zichan didn’t understand.

"Weren’t you leaving the Imperial Palace? Why not leave me and Youyou behind that night?" An Ning asked.

Lin Zichan lowered his gaze, "Do you want me to go, madam?"

"Wasn’t that your choice?"

"Yes," Lin Zichan suddenly admitted.

An Ning bit her lip.

"But I promised the Crown Prince to escort you safely back to the Imperial Palace, and once you’re back safely, I’ll resign," Lin Zichan said calmly in assurance, "Don’t worry, madam, I won’t affect you."

An Ning just stared directly at him.

Lin Zichan kept his eyes lowered.

On his cold face, no emotion could be seen in his eyes.