The Trick to Teasing a Noble Family's Son - Chapter 24

The moment Wei Lan extended her hand, Xie Zichen grabbed it without hesitation. Seeing Wei Lan appear, the hidden agents who had been lurking in the shadows, fearful of being discovered by the Crown Prince’s men, finally gained the courage to act. They jumped out and started fighting the assassins.

These assassins were third-rate at best, and as soon as Wei Lan’s men engaged them, they were quickly cut down. Wei Lan shielded Xie Zichen in front of her, looking down at his injuries and frowning, ““How did you let yourself get into such a state?

“That Wei Shizi would come,” Xie Zichen smiled, covering his wound, his face pale, “is truly beyond my expectations.”

“If it were anyone else, I certainly wouldn’t have come,” Wei Lan looked down at him, her eyes laden with meaning, “but for you… it’s different.”

Xie Zichen: “…”

I don’t want to talk! I absolutely don’t want to talk!

He should’ve known. Talking to someone like this requires caution, caution, and more caution!

Seeing Xie Zichen’s reaction, Wei Lan couldn’t help but laugh out loud, her tone indulgent yet helpless, “You, always relying on my affection.”

“Wei Shizi,” Xie Zichen frowned, “if you have a grievance, just say it. I, a Seven foot man, cannot endure such humiliation!”

“Humiliation?” Wei Lan was startled, then realized. Yes, men here have the mindset of women in her time. If Xie Zichen spoke to her this way, swapping their genders…

Hmm, it would indeed be humiliating.

So Wei Lan quickly adjusted her tone and said warmly, “Fourth Young Master Xie, I’m not trying to humiliate you. I sincerely hope you can live a better life.”

“You, being a bastard son, are in a difficult position,” she rode steadily, her voice soft, almost seductive, “Without help, your path will only become more arduous. Zichen,” her hand encircled his waist, seeing him obediently lower his eyes, watching her pale hand, she couldn’t resist touching it. Although he looked frail, the muscles under his clothes were firm. She used great willpower to restrain herself from doing more and continued, “I am willing to be your support, your shield, your great tree, willing to protect you. Whatever you want to do, I will do it with you. Wouldn’t that be good?”

“Wei Shizi,” Xie Zichen sneered, “All these words, what do you want in return?”?”

“I want nothing.” Wei Lan looked at him with deep affection, “I simply can’t bear to see you suffer.”

Xie Zichen laughed but said nothing, and Wei Lan sensed that he seemed somewhat swayed.

See, men are always like this. As long as you are willing to pamper them, they might initially protest about dignity and independence, but in the end, they would obediently submit.

Wei Lan couldn’t help but smile more gently, “Zichen, I truly don’t need you to do anything. You just need to stand behind me, and I will handle everything. Your smile is my greatest reward.”

“Wei Shizi,” Xie Zichen laughed again, this time with a chilling edge., “I truly admire you. Where did you learn to say such nauseating things?”

Hearing this, Wei Lan couldn’t help but freeze. After a moment, her expression slowly cooled, though she kept a smile on her face, it lost its previous warmth. Only then did Xie Zichen realize that she was the favoured heir of the Marquis of Changxin, while he was merely a Xie family bastard. Her willingness to help him was a favour, and his audacity to speak so boldly was like eating the heart of a bear and the gall of a leopard.

Seeing Xie Zichen slowly retract his cold smile, resuming his usual calm and silent demeanour, Wei Lan said coldly, “Understood?”

Xie Zichen nodded, respectfully saying, “Just now, I was rude and offended you, Shizi. Please forgive me.”

“That’s not what I want you to understand.”

Wei Lan gazed at him steadily, one hand on the reins, the other pulling him to lean against her arm. Xie Zichen’s entire body leaned against her arm, his expression changing slightly. Wei Lan looked down at him from above, saying coolly, “I want you to understand that you’re already spoiled by favour. Xie Zichen, your greatest reliance now is simply my affection for you.”

Saying this, Wei Lan slowly smiled, her beautiful eyes fixed on him, and said softly, “But I like you this way, spoiled by my favour..”

This time, Xie Zichen’s expression completely changed.

Indeed, he had become arrogant because of her favour.

He couldn’t even pinpoint when, but she had made him lower his guard so easily. Somehow, this person had disarmed him. He knew she was Wei Shizi, knew that a hint of disrespect could anger her, knew she could kill him far more easily than Xie Jie. Yet, inexplicably, he had the audacity to sulk and scowl at her.

Wasn’t it because he knew she doted on him?

In his heart, Xie Zichen mocked himself, feeling utterly hypocritical.

Wei Lan quietly observed his expression.

Treating a beauty requires a delicate touch. If you spoil them too much, they won’t consider it as a favour but rather as an entitlement. Wei Lan liked beautiful people, and a little bit of their wilfulness was a special privilege for her. But if they were wilful to the point of disregarding her, that wouldn’t be endearing anymore.

She saw Xie Zichen’s expression quickly return to calm. His beautiful eyes slowly moved to her, and she couldn’t help herself. She leaned down, kissed his forehead, then quickly pulled back.

Xie Zichen’s newly settled emotions exploded again, but this time he controlled himself, quietly looking at her and calmly straightening up. He said coldly, “Even now, Shizi still treats me as a plaything?”

“No,” Wei Lan smiled, “I see Fourth Young Master Xie as the one at the tip of my heart. How could you be a plaything?”

“Wei Shizi,” Xie Zichen remained calm, “When I mentioned our deal earlier, I wasn’t deceiving you. If I save you, will you still see me as a prey in your hunt for romance?”

“Save me?” Hearing this, Wei Lan couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow. Quickly, she recalled Xie Zichen’s actions today.

Xie Zichen didn’t trust her, so he must have arranged the assassins himself. He staged an attack at the hunting grounds to draw the Crown Prince’s men, then lured Xie Jie to the ruined temple and threw him to the Black Wind Fortress’ bandits while feigning brotherly love in front of the Crown Prince’s men.

With the Crown Prince’s men present, his safety was ensured, and they could testify that he had nothing to do with Xie Jie’s predicament. If Xie Jie was stupid enough to reveal his acquaintance with the Black Wind Fortress’ bandits in front of the Crown Prince’s men, the incident would become a scenario where Xie Jie tried to kill Xie Zichen but ended up getting caught in his own trap. Even if Xie Jie wasn’t stupid, once the Xie family sent people to rescue him and the court attacked the Black Wind Fortress’ bandits, they would certainly implicate Xie Jie, sealing his fate.

A man with such calculations, sincerely talking about saving her, made Wei Lan, who usually didn’t think much of men’s intelligence, fall silent for a moment. Then she asked, “What information do you want to share with me?”

“If I tell you, how will you repay me?” Xie Zichen looked at her seriously. Wei Lan smiled. At this moment, she finally placed Xie Zichen on the platform of an ally to discuss matters.

“That depends on the information you provide. Different values deserve different rewards.”

“Alright.” Xie Zichen curved his lips slightly, “If I save the Changxin Marquis Manor from collapse, how will you thank me?”

Wei Lan’s heart tightened.

The collapse of the Changxin Marquis Manor…

That could only mean her father.

At this moment, she didn’t have the ability to contend with her two uncles. If anything happened to her father, the Changxin Marquis Manor would be in grave danger.

She looked at Xie Zichen seriously and spoke earnestly.

“If Fourth Young Master Xie truly saves the Marquis of Changxin’s household from ruination, I will grant you your wish…”

“I will truly regard you as my brother, Wei Lan’s brother”

A man capable of saving the Changxin Marquis Manor as a bastard son would be wasted confined in her inner chambers.