A new expression carved itself onto Li Wei's face—an incommensurable rage, sharp and murderous.
How dare this man stand so close to her?
How dare he smile at her as though she belonged to him?
And worse… how dare Leena allow it?
Li Wei's fists clenched at his sides, knuckles whitening until his nails bit into his own palm. He said nothing, but his silence screamed with storm clouds.
If it were false, she would have denied it. The thought sliced through him like a blade. She stayed silent. Why?
His gaze slid to Leena. She looked different, unreadable. Was she angry at him? Did she still resent seeing Lady Jiang clutching his hands yesterday?
Is this vengeance? His chest tightened. Is she using this fool to hurt me?
The idea was intolerable.
Before his mind could consume itself, he acted. Li Wei reached out and seized Leena's arm, pulling her away from Hao Rui with a force that was primal, almost feral. His grip left no doubt—this woman was his.
His voice was low, controlled, but the rage beneath it coiled like a predator ready to strike.
"Your behavior is not acceptable. We are in quarantine—it is not the time to slip away and flirt with others."
He shifted his stance, placing himself between her and the other man, gaze flicking like steel toward Hao Rui.
"And let me be clear—Leena is not a woman to take lightly. She is my physician."
For a fleeting moment, Li Wei looked back at her, desperate for some flicker of reaction. But she gave him none. Her face was distant, almost absent, as if she were standing on the edge of some unseen cliff far away from them both.
Hao Rui's gaze lingered too long on her, a deliberate provocation. Then, with a smile that was far too smooth, he bowed.
"I understand His Highness's concerns. But since she is a physician—as you said—I see no harm in us talking. Or being… close."
The words coiled through Li Wei's veins like poison.
He was ready to strike, to tear the insolence from the man's mouth, but Leena broke free from his grasp. She did it abruptly, almost violently, and her voice rang cold through the garden.
"If His Majesty says so… then so be it."
She bowed quickly, then fled, her steps swift and desperate, vanishing before either man could stop her.
The courtyard fell silent. Only two remained—Li Wei and Hao Rui.
Jun stood a few paces behind, silent as a shadow. He had observed everything, every word, every flicker of expression on his master's face.
Li Wei's gaze sharpened, dark and menacing, pinning Hao Rui like a blade pressed to the throat.
But the young master only smiled, infuriatingly unbothered, his hands folded neatly behind his back. That smile was a challenge, a taunt.
Li Wei finally turned, brushing past him. His shoulder collided with Hao Rui's in a deliberate shove, a silent warning: stay away from her.
The walk back to his chamber was heavy, his mind storming louder than any thunder.
Once inside, he threw himself into his chair at the desk. For a long time, he stared blankly at the papers in front of him, though he read nothing. His pulse still raced with fury.
Jun shifted nervously before speaking—the first to break the silence.
"Your Majesty… how can I help you with this situation?"
Li Wei did not answer. He was lost in thoughts far darker than he wished to admit.
Jun swallowed, hesitant. "Should I investigate this Young Master?"
The prince's eyes snapped to him in a sudden, cutting glare. It sent chills crawling down Jun's spine. That look was lethal—dark, merciless, dangerous.
Without a word, Li Wei snapped the book in his hands shut. He had been pretending to read it earlier, hiding his face behind its cover, but now it landed on the desk with a sharp crack.
His voice was iron. "Send men to keep an eye on Leena."
Jun bowed. "Yes, Your Highness."
As he turned to leave, Li Wei added,
"And find me everything about this Hao Rui. How he met her. Why. When. Every detail."
Jun nodded quickly and departed, eager to escape the suffocating weight of the prince's aura.
Left alone, Li Wei reached again for the book he had slammed shut. His expression softened—slightly—when his fingers brushed over the cover.
The binding claimed it was a book of astronomy. But inside, its pages contained something far different. Not celestial charts, but words of guidance. Advice. The kind a man in love might seek in desperation.
Li Wei flipped through it, skimming absurd titles:
How to Seduce Her in Three Days.
How to Propose Properly.
How to Marry Her Within a Week.
What Women Like, What They Hate.
What to Do During Her Bleeding Days.
He exhaled heavily. "Nothing about what to do if she sees you with another woman and misunderstands the situation…"
His finger stilled on a chapter. His eyes narrowed, then widened slightly as he read.
What to Do If She's Angry With You.
At last—something useful.
Minutes passed as he absorbed the advice, his expression shifting between grim concentration and quiet embarrassment. When he was done, he slid the book into his drawer, locking it away.
His resolve was iron. "You won't stay mad at me forever, Leena."
He rose, determination in every stride, and left his chamber.
The courtyard buzzed with whispers the moment he appeared. Not because of his anger this time—but because of what he carried.
Flowers.
Armfuls of them.
The usually cold, unshakable prince was in the gardens, personally picking blossoms with obsessive precision. No wilted petals. No bent stems. Only perfection.
The maids and guards froze in disbelief, exchanging furtive glances and hurried whispers.
"What happened to him?"
"It's the first time I've seen him care for flowers—or anything other than his duties."
"I heard he ordered the maids to fetch the prettiest blooms in the entire estate."
And there he was, Li Wei, the terrifying prince who once silenced entire courts with a single glare—now inspecting petals
To be continued...