"Why is he trying to poison me?" Zhou Ye thought, her fingers tightening slightly around the teacup.
Her heartbeat grew louder with every passing second.
"Well… if you insist so much… I'll drink it."
"Okay, then take this," Xu Yang said calmly, his expression unreadable as he pushed the cup toward her.
Zhou Ye picked up the cup slowly.
"I'm really drinking this… please, God, protect me," she thought nervously.
Her hands trembled slightly.
Then suddenly—
"Wait… should I give him my drink instead?"
Her eyes flickered toward Xu Yang.
"Yes… that's it! I'll feed it to him, and I'll be safe."
Just as Xu Yang was about to lift his own cup—
Zhou Ye moved quickly.
She leaned forward and forced her cup toward his lips, making him drink it.
Xu Yang froze for a moment, surprised.
"Princess Zhou Ye… why did you give me your drink?" he asked, slightly confused but still composed.
Zhou Ye forced a small smile.
"Because… I wanted to give my husband tea with my own hands for the first time," she replied.
Xu Yang stared at her for a moment.
Then a faint smile appeared on his lips.
"If that's what you wanted, then it's fine… you are my wife," he said.
Zhou Ye blinked.
"Wait… I just gave him poisoned tea… why is there no reaction?" she thought anxiously.
Both of them sat at the table.
Zhou Ye kept glancing at him.
"Are you okay? What if something happens to you?" she asked carefully.
Xu Yang shook his head.
"No, Princess. I am fine."
Zhou Ye frowned slightly.
"The poison hasn't taken effect yet…"
Time passed slowly.
Zhou Ye kept waiting.
She watched his every movement… every breath…
But nothing happened.
Minutes turned into hours.
Her eyelids began to feel heavy.
Without realizing it—
Both of them fell asleep on the table.
🌙 The Next Morning
The sunlight filtered softly into the room.
Zhou Ye slowly opened her eyes.
Her head felt heavy.
She blinked and turned her head—
And saw Xu Yang.
Alive.
Completely fine.
"You… you're still alive?" she said, shocked.
Xu Yang raised a brow slightly.
"Why? Was I supposed to die?" he asked calmly.
Zhou Ye froze.
"You didn't poison my tea," she said slowly.
Xu Yang stood up.
"Leave that. I'm going," he said casually and walked away.
Zhou Ye sat there, completely confused.
"How is this possible?"
"He didn't mix poison in my tea…"
"But I wrote this in my novel… Zhou Ye was supposed to die…"
She held her head.
"I don't understand anything."
"Now I don't even know how to save myself… I was supposed to die in the story."
She stood up and started pacing.
"I have to think of another way to survive."
"Should I bring Xu Yang and Zhou Lian together?"
She paused.
"No… no, that idea is terrible."
"Should I kill Xu Yang?"
She shook her head.
"No… that won't help me."
"I want to kill that Xu Yang… no, forget it."
She sighed deeply.
"I don't want to think about all this nonsense… I just want to go back to my world."
She paused again.
"Should I trap him in my love?"
Her face twisted slightly.
"Oh God… I don't even like him."
"Princess, do you need something?" Song Lan asked gently.
Zhou Ye turned to her.
"Song Lan, I want to go outside."
Song Lan immediately shook her head.
"No, Princess, you cannot go out right now."
"Why not?"
"Because the Queen has not allowed you to leave."
Zhou Ye groaned.
"Oh God… why is all this happening to me?"
She suddenly looked at Song Lan.
"Give me your clothes."
Song Lan blinked in surprise.
"Princess… why do you want my clothes?"
"Just give them to me."
Song Lan hesitated, then nodded.
"Okay, Princess… here."
After changing—
Zhou Ye looked at herself.
"I'm wearing Song Lan's clothes… now where should I go?"
She smiled slightly.
"Let's go to the market."
"Princess, can I come with you?" Song Lan asked.
"There's no need," Zhou Ye replied and quickly left.
🌸 The Market
The market was lively and beautiful.
People moved around, shops were filled with colorful items, and laughter echoed everywhere.
"Wow… this market is so beautiful," Zhou Ye said.
She wandered around happily.
"I've done so much shopping here in my novel…"
After walking for a while, she noticed a place where people were playing cards.
Zhou Ye walked in.
"Why are there no girls here?" she muttered.
Three boys were playing cards.
Zhou Ye sat down with them.
One of them was Jing Yen.
They started playing.
Zhou Ye won again and again.
"You play very well. What is your name?" Jing Yen asked.
Zhou Ye paused for a moment.
"My name is Song Lan," she said quickly.
"Your name is very nice," Jing Yen said with a smile.
"Thank you," Zhou Ye replied.
After some time, she stood up.
"I've played enough. I'm leaving now."
She smiled to herself.
"Good thing I used Song Lan's name."
"Hey, hey, Song Lan!" Jing Yen called.
Zhou Ye turned back.
"Are you free? I want to be friends. Shall we have a drink together?" he asked.
Zhou Ye thought for a moment.
"…Okay, I'm free."
"I couldn't return to my world… at least I can drink," she thought.
"No one can defeat me in cards or alcohol. My friends made me a champion," she smiled proudly in her thoughts.
They sat together drinking.
"So, what do you do, Song Lan?" Jing Yen asked.
"I am the princess's servant," Zhou Ye replied.
"Which princess?" he asked.
"The third princess… Zhou Ye."
Jing Yen smiled.
"She's my childhood friend. I don't remember her face well because I don't stay here much."
Zhou Ye froze internally.
"Childhood friend? I never wrote such a character…" she thought.
"That's great," she said out loud.
They continued drinking.
Soon—
They drank so much that they could barely stand.
"Princess! You are here! I've been looking for you everywhere!" Song Lan said, worried.
"Princess?" Jing Yen repeated.
"Oh— I mean… the princess is looking for you," Song Lan quickly corrected.
"Okay, let's go," Zhou Ye said.
"Bye, Jing Yen!"
"Okay, bye! See you soon!" he replied.
"Why do you serve me so much?" Zhou Ye asked while walking.
"Princess, why did you drink so much?" Song Lan said worriedly.
"No, no… I only drank a little."
Back at the palace—
Xu Yang was waiting.
"Xu Yang! Princess Zhou Ye has drunk a lot," Song Lan said.
Xu Yang looked at Zhou Ye.
"Are you alright? Why did you drink so much?"
Zhou Ye looked at him, her eyes slightly teary.
"I'm fine… but why do you want to do this to me? Why do you want to kill me? Am I that bad?"
Xu Yang frowned slightly.
"Leave that. You are a very troublesome person."
Zhou Ye walked away toward the back, where the moonlight was visible.
She looked up.
"Oh God… why is this happening to me?"
"I don't have my phone… I don't have anything…"
"And everyone is trying to kill me…"
"What should I do?"
"I want to go back to my world…"
Xu Yang quietly followed her.
He gently took her inside the room and made her lie down.
He looked at her sleeping face.
"She looks cute when she's sleeping… but not so nice in real life," he murmured.
🌙 Morning
Zhou Ye slowly woke up.
"What am I doing here? I was drinking…"
"You're awake?" Xu Yang asked.
"Yes… did you bring me here?"
"No. Song Lan brought you."
Zhou Ye froze.
"I never wrote Jing Yen in my story… then how did he appear?"
"Is the story changing?"
She looked serious.
"I have to find a way to go home quickly."
"I also created a villain… what was his name?"
She suddenly said—
"Minister Wen."
Xu Yang's eyes darkened slightly.
"Why did she suddenly mention Minister Wen? He is dangerous… I need to follow her," he thought.
"I will follow Minister Wen," Zhou Ye said.
From a distance—
Xu Yang watched her sitting on the roof.
"Song Lan, give me your clothes again."
"Princess, I don't have more clothes."
"If I give you money, what will you do with it?"
"…Fine. Go bring Xu Yang's clothes."
Soon—
Zhou Ye left wearing Xu Yang's clothes.
"Where is she going now?" Xu Yang muttered.
She entered the royal court secretly.
"I have to find Minister Wen…"
Xu Yang followed her.
"She has gone mad… why is she here?"
Zhou Ye climbed a wall.
"Oh God… how do I get down now? My back is broken…"
She quickly hid.
"There he is… Minister Wen."
Minister Wen entered a room.
"Whose room is this? I'll go too…"
Xu Yang frowned.
"This is dangerous…"
Zhou Ye followed the minister inside.
Xu Yang followed her.
Minister Wen was searching for something.
Suddenly—
Zhou Ye stepped on something.
A sound echoed.
Minister Wen turned.
Xu Yang reacted instantly—
He grabbed her hand and pulled her back.
Then he covered her mouth—
so she wouldn't make a sound.