Five Big Bosses are Too Clingy After Transmigrating into a Book - Chapter 14

Chapter 14: Does She Want to Indulge in Debauchery During the Day?

Miaobi’s suggestion made Xie Ziqing feel a jolt of anxiety. Finally, suppressing his impatience, he took the initiative to write a poem to Chu Xingchen, offering his first proactive sign of goodwill and giving Chu Xingchen hope.

Chu Xingchen received the letter shortly after lunch. She understood the general meaning: he was explaining that his previous strange behavior was due to physical discomfort. “Tsk tsk… such a perfunctory explanation. Only a fool would believe that excuse.”

Only the original host, being foolish, would have believed him, always thinking he was righteous and inviolable. In reality, he only acted noble with her, but he was a complete lackey in front of Chen Ruoshui.

“Everyone’s a lackey, who’s looking down on who?”

Chu Xingchen muttered, tossing the letter aside, and acted according to her plan. “Let’s go see Lord Ling.”

Visiting at night caused misunderstandings, so she changed it to daytime. Chu Xingchen set off grandly under the warm winter sun, carrying gifts for Ling Zhou.

Ling Zhou had just finished lunch and was rubbing his belly to aid digestion when he suddenly heard the Crown Princess had arrived.

“This is definitely daytime, right?” Does she want to indulge in debauchery during the day? Ling Zhou jumped up, greeting Chu Xingchen with a face full of wariness.

“Why has Your Highness come?”

Jingqiang, standing nearby, couldn’t help but close his eyes. That sounded like he was trying to drive her away!

Chu Xingchen heard the lack of welcome. “I just came to see you and drop off some things.”

Seeing the gifts, Ling Zhou snorted inwardly. She sent gifts, alright. But he wasn’t that easy to placate. He had already decided: like Cangzhu-ge, he wouldn’t easily give in!

He still remembered the insulting words she had spoken before. He wouldn’t forgive her just because she crooked her finger.

Ling Zhou sat aside, crossing his arms, a look of “I’m difficult to deal with” plastered on his face, remaining silent.

Chu Xingchen looked at his raised chin, her eyes filled with a touch of nostalgia. “Youth.”

“What ‘Youth’? What ‘Spring’? I am Ling Zhou. If you’re looking for ‘Youth,’ look elsewhere!”

Chu Xingchen burst out laughing. Seeing his expression, she couldn’t help but tease him. “But ‘Youth’ is right here.”

Chu Xingchen’s eyes curved in a smile, looking a little mischievous. Ling Zhou involuntarily leaned back defensively. A thought flashed through his mind: A weasel paying a New Year’s call to a chicken has no good intentions.

He tried hard to remember if anyone in his palace was named ‘Youth’ but couldn’t recall anyone. Noticing Chu Xingchen’s gaze linger on Jingqiang and Baojian (Precious Sword), who grew up with him, his face changed. His mind filled with images of them being taken away by Chu Xingchen and abused by the wicked woman. He blurted out:

“Jingqiang and Baojian are my people! They aren’t even good-looking. Doesn’t Feng’an City only like pale-faced, red-lipped pretty boys? They are all tanned!”

Jingqiang and Baojian: “…” We’re touched, but also somewhat distressed.

Chu Xingchen had merely been curious, noticing that the two attendants had a vitality that other palace staff lacked. They stood tall like two young poplars, clearly having spent time in a military camp.

She had always had a good impression of soldiers and officers who defended the country. She hadn’t expected a simple look to be so misunderstood by Ling Zhou, and his words were hilarious. She couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

“Ling Zhou, you… you are so amusing! Hahaha! It’s the first time I’ve learned that ‘Youth’ is a person’s name! And Jingqiang and Baojian—did you name them? That’s so… so much like you!”

Truly the Young General. Even his names are so distinctive.

But misunderstanding that she wanted to take his people and claiming they were “too dark” was ridiculous.

“They aren’t dark at all; that wheat complexion is just perfect.”

Ling Zhou watched Chu Xingchen laughing heartily, realizing he had misunderstood. His face flushed beet red. “You… what are you laughing at? What’s wrong with these names? Who told you to look at them!”

“Alright, alright, I didn’t say anything was wrong. I won’t tease you anymore. Don’t worry, I won’t steal your Jingqiang or Baojian. After all, I don’t use a spear, and I can’t use a sword.” Chu Xingchen made a small joke, then forced her expression to become serious. “Looking at the names you gave them, your preferred weapons must be the spear and the sword, right?”

Ling Zhou, who was about to lose his temper from being laughed at, immediately straightened his neck. “Of course!”

“Our Young Lord inherited the King’s true mastery of the spear! His red spear is unstoppable! Even the barbarians are terrified of him!” Jingqiang immediately praised Ling Zhou.

Ling Zhou saw Chu Xingchen’s eyes light up, looking at him with curiosity and admiration. He felt very pleased. “It’s nothing, still not as good as Father.”

“You’re still young,” Chu Xingchen said, feeling most relaxed when speaking to Ling Zhou. “Have you been to battle many times? Have you ever been injured?” She looked him over and noticed a scar on his left hand. “Was this from a battle injury? Does it hurt?”

Ling Zhou’s hands were well-defined, with long, slender fingers, very handsome, making the scar very prominent. Chu Xingchen gently touched it, feeling pain just by looking at the wound.

Ling Zhou was shocked. She touched his hand again! She touched his right hand yesterday, and his left hand today. Both hands had now been touched by her.

Realizing what happened, Ling Zhou quickly pulled his hand back, putting it behind his back. “Why are you touching me randomly? It happened so long ago; why would it hurt?”

“It’s good that it doesn’t hurt.” Chu Xingchen asked a few more questions about other injuries.

Ling Zhou felt unaccustomed to her caring words. He lost his mother early and had no sisters. He was raised by his father and brothers, who, being big men, wouldn’t fuss like this. He was even teased when he cried as a child.

In the military camp, one bled and sweated, but never cried. Experiencing feminine care for the first time, Ling Zhou was somewhat distracted. Chu Xingchen noticed this and said goodbye.

She came and went quickly. Watching Chu Xingchen’s retreating back, Ling Zhou realized belatedly: Why did she leave right after giving the gifts? I didn’t even chase her away!

Jingqiang saw his expression and quickly comforted him. “Little General, the Crown Princess genuinely likes and cares about you. Maybe she’ll come tonight! Don’t be disappointed.”

“Who? Who is disappointed? Don’t talk nonsense! I just think she has some sense!” She knows the Little General isn’t willing.

Ling Zhou urgently took a drink of water, then thought of Chu Xingchen’s smiling, curved eyes just now. He slammed the cup on the table. So, who exactly does she like? Is she really just trying to anger Xie Ziqing?

Before Ling Zhou could figure it out, he heard the latest news about Chu Xingchen: after leaving him, she went straight to Lord Xiao’s residence.

“She’s quite busy, isn’t she?” Ling Zhou sneered.

Chu Xingchen simply wanted to take advantage of her free time to deliver all the necessary gifts; she couldn’t show favoritism.

Xiao Wang was calm about her arrival, remaining his usual self, perfectly composed toward her, as were his attendants.

“Since I don’t know what you like, I brought a little bit of everything.” This was true; Wan Dong didn’t know what Xiao Wang liked, and neither did Chu Xingchen from her reading.

“Thank you, Your Highness. Your servant likes everything you send.” Xiao Wang also didn’t take the opportunity to mention his preferences.

“You don’t need to be so formal.” Chu Xingchen was slightly uncomfortable hearing him refer to himself as ‘Your servant’ (chen shi), the male equivalent of a court concubine’s self-address.