“Emperor Ronghua.”
A cold, low voice sounded at the door.
Emperor Ronghua’s figure paused slightly. She patted the little fox’s head and said, “Xiao Jiu, go out for now.”
The dark red furball quickly darted past them. Xiao Hanjin didn’t even glance at it out of the corner of his eye as he stepped closer to Emperor Ronghua, one step at a time. “What are you doing?” he asked.
Emperor Ronghua replied indifferently, “Just tidying up a bit.”
The man spoke word by word, “You threw away my things.”
Emperor Ronghua frowned.
Xiao Hanjin’s gloomy gaze fell on her face. “Since you don’t want it anymore, what right do you have to touch it?” He suddenly gripped her chin, his suppressed voice tense, as if on the verge of exploding at any moment. “Pick it up.”
Emperor Ronghua laughed in anger.
What right?
If we’re talking about rights, what right did he have to keep her locked in the Crown Prince’s residence?!
Her icy gaze met his without flinching, her red lips parting slightly. “What if I refuse?”
Xiao Hanjin looked at the frosty defiance in her eyes—she hadn’t been like this before he left earlier. At least, she had been able to speak to him calmly.
But this thought only flashed through his mind for a moment. His long fingers tightened their grip with force. “Your Highness, considering your bad mood today, I’ve tolerated everything you’ve said and done so far. But I’ll say it again: pick it up.”
Emperor Ronghua sneered. “Oh, how noble of you to tolerate me. Do I need your tolerance? If you just let me go, wouldn’t that solve everything?”
“Emperor Ronghua.”
“I won’t pick it up, so what are you going to do about it… Xiao Hanjin!” The woman’s cold voice was replaced by a sudden scream as she stared in disbelief at her torn clothes. “What are you doing?”
The man’s eyes darkened coldly, and his thin lips curled slowly. “On our wedding night, what do you think I’m going to do?”
“Whose wedding night? Have you lost your mind?”
Lost his mind?
Perhaps, maybe.
From the moment he saw her throwing the wedding dress away like trash, or even earlier—when she appeared at the Second Prince’s residence, declaring she would marry another man, or when she announced the annulment of their engagement during the day…
This woman had repeatedly challenged his patience and pushed his limits.
Xiao Hanjin’s eyes darkened further as he gripped her chin and kissed her fiercely.
Emperor Ronghua’s pupils contracted, and a trace of panic surged in her heart. “Xiao Hanjin!” She abruptly turned her face away, almost screaming, “Fine, it’s just a stupid wedding dress, right? I’ll pick it up and return it to you. Is that enough?”
A stupid wedding dress?
The man’s lips curved deeper. “Ronghua, I must have been too good to you in the past, making you think you could manipulate me as you pleased.” He half-closed his eyes and chuckled lowly. “Compared to this ‘stupid wedding dress’ that you think is worthless, you are indeed more important.”
Emperor Ronghua’s eyes widened. “Don’t touch me!”
“Too late.”
[…I am a harmonious dividing line…]
The night was sleepless.
Outside, the sky was beginning to lighten. Xiao Hanjin looked at the woman who had already fainted beside him, his dark eyes shadowed by a deep gloom. His fingers brushed heavily across her face, carrying a hint of vented frustration.
She was so close, within arm’s reach, yet it felt as if an insurmountable distance separated them.
All he wanted was this woman. How could he not have her?
All he wanted was one woman. How could he allow himself to fail?
