CHAPTER THIRTEEN — CARRY HER UP
The moment Tang Ke Xin lifted the carriage curtain and saw the man seated within, her breath caught in her throat.
Nangong Yi lounged against the cushions as though the carriage belonged to him, his devilishly handsome face half‑lit by the afternoon sun. His presence was so striking, so effortlessly commanding, that the small space seemed to shrink around him.
Tang Ke Xin sighed inwardly.
Wasn't he supposed to have gone down the mountain?
Why is he here? When did he get in?
She had not sensed a thing—not a footstep, not a shift of air. Even Mu Shaoyi, who had been standing nearby moments ago, had noticed nothing.
This man was far too dangerous.
Facing someone like him, she dared not act rashly. She knew with absolute clarity that she held no advantage—not in strength, not in cunning, and certainly not in the realm of charm. Her only option was to remain still, observe, and wait for him to reveal his intentions.
So she stood at the carriage entrance—neither stepping inside nor retreating—silent, composed, unreadable.
Nangong Yi's lips curved into a languid smile. His peach‑blossom eyes shimmered with a beauty so enchanting it bordered on sorcery. When he looked at her, it felt as though the world tilted ever so slightly.
Even Tang Ke Xin, who prided herself on her discipline, felt momentarily dazzled.
This man is too dangerous, she thought. Too beautiful. Too flirtatious. Who on earth could resist him?
A reckless idea flickered through her mind—perhaps she should simply pretend to be smitten, intoxicated by his beauty. It would be far easier to feign infatuation than to match wits with him.
But he did not give her the chance.
"So," he drawled, his voice smooth as velvet, "Miss Tang is not stupid after all."
The words drifted lazily through the air, pleasant to the ear yet leaving her no room to manoeuvre.
Tang Ke Xin banished her fleeting thoughts and replied evenly, "Master Hui Yuan cured me."
"Is that so?" His smile deepened. "A fool cured only yesterday can already remain so calm… and wield poison with such precision?"
He clearly did not believe her. Nor did he intend to let her slip away with a simple explanation.
Tang Ke Xin's eyes narrowed slightly. He had seen everything earlier—perhaps more than she realised. Explaining further would only make her appear guilty. A man like him was not easily deceived.
"Why has the Mayor suddenly appeared in my carriage?" she asked coolly. "Surely it is not merely to question my intelligence?"
Her heart tightened as she spoke.
Could he be the man from that night?
The one whose aura had chilled her to the bone?
If so… then she was already standing at the edge of a precipice.
Nangong Yi's expression shifted. His earlier sharpness melted into a lazy, almost teasing charm.
"I have no carriage," he said lightly. "Walking down the mountain is terribly tiring. I wondered if Miss Tang might be kind enough to give me a ride."
His half‑smile blossomed fully—radiant, dazzling, and utterly shameless.
Tang Ke Xin's mouth twitched.
The Mayor of Phoenix City… has no carriage?
He was clearly toying with her.
"If I refuse," she asked dryly, "will the Mayor get out?"
"No."
The answer came instantly, decisively, and with a smile so bright she wanted to swat it off his face.
Tang Ke Xin felt her patience fray.
"The sun is shining, the scenery is lovely, and the mountains look like a painting," she said calmly. "Dong'er, let us take a walk."
If he would not leave, then she would.
"Oh…" Dong'er murmured, still dazed by the surreal situation.
Nangong Yi leaned back, his eyes gleaming with mischief.
"Actually," he said, his voice low and teasing, "I do not mind carrying Miss Tang back into the carriage. She is as lovely as a spring blossom—soft, fragrant, and quite irresistible."
His smile widened, wicked and breathtaking.
His words were casual, but the meaning beneath them was unmistakable.
And Tang Ke Xin realised, with a sinking feeling, that escaping him would not be easy.