Intimacy, Who Knows If It Is Good or Bad

Uh...

Alright then. Faced with Prince Nolan's accusation, Serena Feng once again found herself at a loss for words. She was used to relying on herself, not on others, and she had never planned to change that habit—not even for Prince Nolan.

A man... she could love him with all her heart, but she couldn't bring herself to depend on him completely.

To love wholeheartedly, the worst that could happen was heartbreak. But to depend entirely could be fatal—not necessarily because the man was unreliable, but because he might simply not be able to appear when she needed him most.

She refused to turn herself into a tragic figure, so... Prince Nolan, sorry, you'll just have to bear with it.

Serena Feng spread her hands, admitting that even if she accepted Prince Nolan's accusation, she had no intention of changing: "I'm used to relying on myself. If you're not satisfied, you can return the goods."

"Return the goods?" Prince Nolan had long since been worn down by Serena Feng's personality. She'd always been this way since he'd met her. But hearing the words "return the goods" genuinely annoyed him. Did Serena think this was a game?

Serena Feng seemed oblivious to Prince Nolan's displeasure and nodded in explanation: "Yes, exactly—return the goods. Or you could say, abandon me."

"This prince abandon you?" Prince Nolan really wanted to crack open Serena Feng's head and see what was inside.

"That decision is yours. You don't need to ask me. I promise, if that day ever comes, I won't cling to you or make a scene." Serena Feng shrank her neck, alright, faced with a threat from a powerful force, she once again lowered her proud head.

"Hmph... Don't even dream about it. This prince will never abandon you." Prince Nolan snorted heavily. Serena Feng grinned, "I know. You don't have to keep promising me."

It's hard enough being a woman; being Prince Nolan's woman is even harder. If you want sweet words, you have to scheme for them yourself. Serena Feng smiled like a little fox whose plan had just succeeded.

Hmm... This time, it was Prince Nolan's turn to change his expression.

"Crafty woman." Prince Nolan growled fiercely, but his flushed ears betrayed his true feelings.

"Right back at you." Serena Feng accepted the jab with a smile, propping her chin on her hands and watching Prince Nolan with amusement.

Feeling frustrated, she amused herself by teasing Prince Nolan. Watching his sulky face, even the irritation she'd felt for days began to fade.

Ahem... Prince Nolan felt uncomfortable under Serena Feng's gaze. He turned away and gruffly said, "Alright, what do you want from this prince? And don't say you missed me—I won't believe it, even if you say it."

After speaking, Prince Nolan lifted his chin, clearly hinting that Serena Feng should play along and say she missed him.

He'd already said what Serena Feng wanted to hear. Now, out of courtesy, she ought to say something back to help ease his mood after these tense days.

Unfortunately, Serena Feng was never the gentle, perceptive type. She nodded, "You know me too well, Prince Nolan. Of course I wouldn't come just because I missed you. Someone asked me to come, so I had no choice but to show up."

"A Southlyn prince calls me sister? I really did get a good deal out of that," Serena Feng said with self-mockery.

As if she really cared about being a prince's sister. Back then, Evan Zhou was such a good kid, but after returning to Southlyn... it was like a fish leaping into the sea—he vanished without a trace. If Prince Nolan hadn't told her, she would have thought Evan Zhou was dead.

Really, people can be so heartless. She wondered if Simon Sun, her little medical apprentice, would remember her after he left.

"If you put it that way, I definitely won't argue." Serena Feng was here today to test Prince Nolan's patience to its limit.

All of a sudden, Serena Feng felt very lonely. She realized she didn't have a single true relative left; everyone around her would eventually leave.

Everyone said she was protecting Simon Sun, but the truth was she couldn't live without him. Simon had always stayed by her side. She needed a family member, someone she could trust wholeheartedly, and Simon Sun was the family she wanted.

Just thinking about the day Simon Sun would leave made Serena Feng feel heartsick, as if she were being left behind.

She was alone again!

Serena Feng was strong—so strong people forgot she was a woman. But sometimes she was like a child, fragile. At this moment, Serena Feng's vulnerability showed itself.

Prince Nolan gently patted Serena Feng's head, silently comforting her. "He's a prince now. He has his own responsibilities."

"I don't blame him. He's a Southlyn prince—what right do I have to blame him?" Serena Feng tried to smile, but it looked worse than crying.

"If you don't feel like smiling, then don't. No one will laugh at you." It wasn't the first time he'd said this to Serena Feng, but she always forgot it right after hearing. Even if she nodded, she'd soon go back to her old ways.

This time was no different. Serena Feng agreed without protest, then changed the subject: "Alright, enough about Evan Zhou—no, Prince Nathan. Let's talk about Felix Fuller. What do you think of him? Do you want to meet? If not, I'll turn him down for you."

Serena Feng pulled herself together and got down to business. Whether it was Evan Zhou or Simon Sun, they would eventually leave—they had their own lives and couldn't stay with her forever. Maybe she should have a child, Serena thought...

"I'll meet him. If he wants to talk, then let him come to Ninth Prince Manor tomorrow." Felix Fuller, half a mystic, half a charlatan—Prince Nolan was curious what he wanted to discuss.

Felix Fuller couldn't possibly think their conversation would be open and aboveboard, could he?

Talk? It was just a waste of time. He didn't want to see Felix Fuller because he didn't want to waste time, but he hadn't expected Felix to go after Serena Feng. He couldn't tell if Felix was clever or just foolish.

"Alright, I'll let him know. If there's nothing else, I'll be going." This time, she was genuinely saying goodbye, not just playing around.

"Come here." Prince Nolan didn't agree; instead, he beckoned Serena Feng over.

"What is it?" This time, Serena Feng actually cooperated and stepped forward, thinking Prince Nolan had something serious to discuss—only to be surprised...

Prince Nolan suddenly reached out and pulled Serena Feng, causing her to stumble and fall directly into his arms. Just as she was about to struggle free, Nolan tightened his grip. "Don't move."

He just wanted to hold Serena Feng, to let her know that even if everyone else left, she would still have him. Seeing her lonely expression just now made his heart ache.

Serena Feng obediently stayed still, finding a comfortable spot and nestling into Prince Nolan's embrace.

For some reason, the closer it got to her parents' burial, the more restless and uneasy she felt. It was as if... as if she really was being abandoned.

Her heart felt empty. Prince Nolan's embrace was exactly what she needed...

Prince Nolan held Serena Feng tightly, and when he sensed her emotions gradually calming, he whispered in her ear, "Don't worry, everything will pass."

"Mm."

"You don't need to be too wary of Felix Fuller. His goal is to restore the Fuller clan to the Nine Provinces. He won't go too far off the deep end. Just keep your guard up when dealing with him."

In Prince Nolan's eyes, Felix Fuller was also a pitiable man, crushed by the weight of his family. Of course, pity aside, when action was needed, he would not hesitate.

Who in this world isn't pitiable? He didn't have that much sympathy to spare.

"Mm."

Other than a soft "mm," Serena Feng said nothing more.

In fact, deep down, she felt uncomfortable around Felix Fuller. He'd used her more than once.

"As for Prince Nathan, it's up to you. If you want to acknowledge him, do so; if not, just treat him as a stranger prince. The Evan Zhou you knew is already gone."

Mm...

...

The two quietly held each other—one, usually silent, now murmuring on and on; the other, usually sharp, now docile and compliant. Their embrace formed a picture as beautiful as a painting...