Hypnosis, Does Ninth Royal Uncle Like You or Not

Serena Feng’s release from prison came so suddenly that not even the people at her West District courtyard, let alone William Warren, had heard the news. So—no one was waiting for her outside the palace; she had to make her own way home.

She patted her purse, only to realize with a pang that ever since she’d had maids following her around, she’d stopped carrying money when she went out. She really had gotten spoiled.

“Men of the Dongling clan are ruthless!” Serena cursed bitterly, dumping the blame onto Ninth Royal Uncle’s shoulders. She secretly decided that next time she saw him, she wouldn’t just bite him so he couldn’t show his face—she’d also kick him out of bed.

Ten days starving her, ten days freezing her, then tossing her out the palace gates without even sending a carriage—were they just hoping she’d fend for herself? Serena kicked at a stone on the ground, fuming.

Good thing she had her Smart Med-Pack, or she’d be nothing but a pile of mud right now, ready for anyone to trample. Serena looked up at the gloomy sky, feeling sorry for herself but secretly grateful it hadn’t snowed today.

Pulling her collar tighter, Serena forced herself to perk up and started walking toward her West District courtyard. She’d barely gone two steps when the sound of a carriage came from behind. Serena turned to look, quickly dodging to the side.

She had no desire to get run over by a carriage and end up back in Sky Prison. She’d had more than enough of that hellhole—it was even worse than solitary confinement.

But to her surprise, the carriage actually stopped right beside her.

“Miss Feng.” The curtain lifted, revealing a graceful, radiant face that looked vaguely familiar.

“Who are you? Do I know you?” Serena didn’t think she was famous enough for everyone to recognize her.

“You may not know me, Miss Feng, but I know you. I’m Su Rou, daughter of the Southern Lyn Summers family.” The young woman was warm and courteous.

“Su Rou? The Summers girl who competed with me in Su Wan’s place?” No wonder she looked familiar—she was Su Wan’s younger sister. Serena sized Su Rou up, nodding to herself.

This girl was much prettier than Su Wan—gentle and delicate, the very image of a noble lady. None of Su Wan’s annoying arrogance, just quiet poise and grace.

The Summers family really did know how to raise their daughters. But... Su Rou came out here in the dead of winter to challenge her to a riding and archery contest—was it really just about the match?

Standing by the carriage, Serena smiled at Su Rou, her eyes sparkling with a hint of mischief, appraising her like merchandise. If this were Su Wan, she’d have already lost her temper, but Su Rou remained gentle, polite, and somehow genuinely friendly.

“You know who I am? That’s wonderful! I’ve always admired your reputation, Miss Feng. When I heard I could come to Eastlyn and compete with you, I was over the moon. Where are you headed? There’s only me in the carriage—if you don’t mind, may I give you a ride?” Su Rou’s face lit up with adoration, her eyes and voice full of sincere excitement.

Admire her?

The Summers girls probably all wanted her dead—admire her, really? Serena snorted inwardly, curious to see what Su Rou was up to. She nodded, “Thank you, Miss Su. I’d be honored.”

“Wonderful! Hurry and get in, Miss Feng, it’s freezing out here.” Su Rou, like an eager child, quickly made room for Serena, beaming with delight.

As soon as Serena sat down, Su Rou handed her a hand warmer. “Miss Feng, warm your hands.”

The hand warmer gave off a faint fragrance. Serena wasn’t sensitive to scents, but... since Ninth Royal Uncle was allergic to floral smells, she didn’t like having any on her, either.

“Thank you.” Serena took it, but instead of holding it, she set it down beside her.

Women from the Summers family were never simple. Even Su Wan could make Reid Yale lose his head—Su Rou was even more formidable than her sister.

Su Rou saw Serena decline her hand warmer; a flicker of hurt flashed in her eyes as she quickly lowered her head, trying to hide it. But Serena caught it anyway.

A real actress! Serena thought, impressed.

When Su Rou looked up again, her smile hadn’t changed, as if she didn’t care about the hand warmer at all. She busied herself, pulling a heated towel from a hidden compartment. “If you don’t like hand warmers, Miss Feng, maybe just wipe your hands.”

The white towel steamed gently as Su Rou held it out with both hands, looking completely innocent.

“Miss Su, that’s very thoughtful.” The Summers girls were each more interesting than the last. Serena was curious to see what tricks Su Rou would play.

This time, Serena didn’t refuse—she wiped her hands lightly with the towel.

Honestly, after ten days without changing clothes—even in winter—it was miserable. She could smell her own sour stench, but Su Rou didn’t seem to mind at all. That was odd.

“Don’t be so formal! I admired you even before I met you, Miss Feng—and now that I have, I like you even more.” Su Rou was suddenly lively as a songbird, chattering away about Serena’s heroic exploits. In Su Rou’s eyes, Serena was an unstoppable iron woman—nothing could defeat her.

Especially when Su Rou mentioned Serena saving Reid Yale, her eyes sparkled. “Miss Feng, I love studying medicine too, but I’m nowhere near as skilled as you. All I can do is bandage little animals.”

“So you know medicine, Miss Su? That’s rare for a noblewoman.” Serena realized her own patience was extraordinary—she listened with a smile, not the least bit annoyed.

“Oh, please don’t tease me, Miss Feng. I only dabble in medical books—I barely know the basics, hardly enough to call it medicine.” Su Rou blushed and lowered her head.

“You’re earnest in your studies, Miss Su. You’ll achieve something one day.” Serena replied, half-heartedly.

“Really?” Su Rou looked up, her eyes meeting Serena’s—at some point, her black irises had turned green.

Emerald-green eyes shimmered, strange and hypnotic, like deep pools that could swallow a person’s soul. Serena, unguarded, met those eyes—and instantly lost focus.

A natural hypnotist!

Damn it, just my luck!

Su Rou smiled, her green eyes gleaming with a mesmerizing light. At some point, she’d produced a green bead, and as she released it, it dangled perfectly between Serena’s eyes, swinging back and forth. Serena’s gaze followed it, swaying in time.

Serena looked like a soulless puppet, vacant and dazed...

Su Rou smiled with satisfaction, her green eyes growing even more uncanny.

"Tell me your name." Su Rou's voice was no longer gentle, but seductive and devilish.

"Serena Feng!" Serena answered blankly, her eyes vacant. The scent from the hand warmer grew stronger.

"What's your father's name? Your mother's?"

"My father is Feng Zhan, my mother is Lu Yimo." Serena answered obediently, just as Su Rou asked.

At first, Su Rou asked simple questions, but gradually they grew more personal: "Serena, who do you like best?"

"My father and mother!"

"That's not what I meant," Su Rou complained, and continued: "What about your beloved?"

"Ninth Royal Uncle!" Anyone who knew Serena would know she'd done plenty of foolish things for him.

"Does he like you?" Su Rou kept her eyes on Serena, not missing a single expression...

Serena was too sly—Su Rou worried she might fail to hypnotize her, even though she was born with this power and had only used it on a person once before.