Yuan shut the door behind him with a soft click, releasing a long breath the moment he turned around. Prince Jian stood near the low table, already pouring tea, his sleeves rolled neatly, posture composed—as always.
Jian: "You practically ran in here. Should I assume Princess Lian is chasing you again?"
Yuan walked in, shoulders slumping.
Yuan: "She was waiting at my door like some kind of spirit of doom. I chose survival."
Jian laughed under his breath—a quiet sound, rare and warm. It surprised Yuan every time.
Jian: "You speak as if she intends to devour you."
Yuan: "At this point? I wouldn't be shocked. First Princess Lian, now Princess Ming… Your palace is dangerous."
Jian raised a brow.
Jian: "To hear you talk, you would think you were the most desired man alive."
Yuan: "I'm not! That's the problem! I shouldn't be! I'm trying to stay low-key, live quietly, and not die before my time—yet all your sisters are circling me like hungry cranes."
Jian's lips curved.
Jian: "You could simply refuse them properly."
Yuan glared.
Yuan: "You think I didn't try? Princess Lian hears 'no' and translates it to 'try harder.' Princess Ming hears 'please leave me alone' and somehow interprets it as 'pour more tea.' I fear for my future."
Jian offered him a cup.
Jian: "That is why you are hiding here?"
Yuan accepted the tea… and realized Jian hadn't sat down yet. The prince was watching him too closely. Yuan cleared his throat and sat first, hoping Jian would stop staring holes through him.
But Jian sat beside him instead of across. Not too close—but closer than usual.
Yuan: "…Why are you sitting here?"
Jian: "Because you came to me for help. It would be rude to ignore you."
Yuan: "No, no, I came to avoid being trapped in a conversation I didn't want. I did not come to burden your—"
Jian: "Yuan Wei."
The prince rarely interrupted him. Yuan instantly shut his mouth.
Jian: "I said earlier that I would protect you if you asked."
Jian: "If you don't want to be around my sisters, just say so. You don't need excuses."
Yuan blinked.
This slow, patient tone.
This gentle gaze.
Why was Jian treating him like someone precious?
It was dangerous.
Deadly dangerous.
Yuan: "I… didn't want you to think I was being rude."
Jian: "You worry too much," Jian said softly. "If you dislike something, speak. I'll handle the rest."
Yuan stared at him.
Why was the crown prince this… kind?
In the novel, this man was cold, noble, strict, and easily misunderstood. A hero—but not gentle.
Yet with him…
Yuan: "Jian, can I ask something?"
Jian: "Of course."
Yuan: "Why are you being so… nice to me? I mean, really nice. Too nice."
A beat.
Jian lowered his gaze to his teacup, swirling it slowly.
Jian: "Do you want the honest answer?"
Yuan swallowed.
His heart thumped once—loudly.
Yuan: "…Yes?"
Jian looked up.
And for a moment, Yuan stopped breathing.
His eyes were calm.
Clear.
Steady.
Holding a warmth that Yuan wasn't prepared for.
Jian: "Because you matter to me."
Yuan almost choked on his tea.
Yuan: "—I WHAT??"
Jian's lips twitched.
Jian: "Look at you. You can't even accept simple words."
Yuan: "Simple?! That was not simple! That was—"
Jian: "Truth."
Yuan froze.
If the world had a pause button, he needed to hit it now.
But Jian continued quietly:
Jian: "We grew up together. You've always been here."
Jian: "You bicker with me, annoy me, question everything, disturb my work, and yet…"
Jian: "I find myself looking for you."
Yuan stared, wide-eyed, trapped in the prince's steady tone.
And somewhere in his mind, alarms were ringing.
—THIS WAS NOT IN THE NOVEL.
—THIS WAS A NEW ROUTE.
—A DANGEROUS ROUTE.
—A BL ROUTE.
Yuan opened his mouth.
Yuan: "I-I think you misunderstood. I'm just here to escape being cornered by women! I didn't come to… to… matter to anyone!"
Jian chuckled, leaning back.
Jian: "I know. You came running like a terrified rabbit. It was quite entertaining."
Yuan slapped the table.
Yuan: "Don't describe me like that!"
Jian: "Am I wrong?"
Yuan: "YES!"
Jian: "Who hid behind a pillar earlier?"
"…Okay that one was valid," Yuan muttered.
Jian's expression softened, something deep settling behind his eyes.
Jian: "Stay here tonight."
Yuan choked again.
Yuan: "WHAT—WHY—WHY WOULD I STAY HERE?!"
Jian: "Because you said you wanted to spend more time with me."
Yuan covered his face.
Yuan: "That was an excuse to escape Princess Lian!"
Jian: "An excuse I accepted."
Yuan peeked through his fingers.
Yuan: "…You're enjoying this, aren't you?"
Jian: "A little."
The prince poured him more tea, calm and composed, completely unfazed by Yuan's internal collapse.
Jian: "Relax, Yuan Wei. I'm not imprisoning you."
Jian: "Just… stay until she leaves your corridor."
Yuan sulked.
Yuan: "…Fine."
Jian's lips curved again.
Jian: "Good."
They sat in quiet for a moment, the atmosphere shifting—lighter yet strangely intimate.
Yuan cleared his throat.
Yuan: "Jian."
Jian: "Hm?"
Yuan: "About what you said earlier… Do I… really matter to you that much?"
Jian didn't look at him this time.
He simply sipped his tea and answered calmly:
Jian: "More than you realize."
Yuan's heart thumped.
Too loud.
Too fast.
He looked away quickly.
He came here to escape women.
Not fall into the hands of a man.
Especially not this man.