Neither a Rogue nor a Thief

Samuel Summers was silent for a moment before saying, "Maya, I know you. There's no way you'd tolerate a mistress like this! You simply don't trust me! You think I'm trying to drive a wedge between you and Prince Cheng?"

Maya Summers turned her head to look at the low wall beside her, saying nothing.

"Maya, have I ever lied to you since we were kids?" Samuel asked. "Why do you doubt me like this?"

"Then let me ask you, did you really just bump into me by chance today?" Maya asked.

Azure Phoenix's heart tightened instantly.

Samuel wasn't good at lying—don't slip up now!

If he slipped up, her aunt would tear him to pieces.

"It wasn't a coincidence. I asked Azure Phoenix to invite you here," Samuel admitted, making Azure Phoenix sigh helplessly.

But that sigh made Maya suddenly call out, "Who?"

Startled, Azure Phoenix quickly hunched over and dashed into the depths of the dense forest.

Her speed and posture could only be described as 'scurrying away like a startled rat.'

As she ran, she suddenly slammed on the brakes.

There was someone up ahead!

She grabbed onto a tree, just barely avoiding crashing straight into the person.

The person was dressed in deep purple, with a black cloak draped over his shoulders, lazily leaning against a crooked tree. In the shadowy forest, he looked like a living ink painting—elegant and full of mystery.

And who else could it be but Evan Xiao—the very man Azure Phoenix had been grinding her teeth about these past few days.

Glancing back to make sure no one was following, Azure Phoenix asked him, "What are you doing here?"

Evan Xiao curled his lips. "Take a guess."

"Hmph! Sneaking around in someone else's back forest—you're either a thief or up to no good!"

"And what about you? Are you a thief or up to no good?" Evan Xiao raised an eyebrow.

Seeing him suddenly, Azure Phoenix's heart was a mess.

Anger, resentment, confusion, and... just a hint of surprise—all swirling together made her lose her head for a moment, forgetting she was also sneaking around in someone else's forest.

Evan's comeback left Azure Phoenix speechless. She shot him a glare and snapped, "I'm here to catch thieves and troublemakers, okay?"

Evan Xiao stood up and walked toward her, stopping just short of her personal space. "The dignified eldest miss of the Zhu family, sneaking outside the City God Temple's back wall to catch thieves and troublemakers? Really?"

"None of your business!" Azure Phoenix huffed, slipping past him and plopping herself onto the crooked tree trunk he'd just been leaning on. "So what are you really doing here?"

"Looking for you."

"Me?" Azure Phoenix was baffled. "How did you know I was here?"

"Your antler snake led me here."

"Antler snake?" Azure Phoenix reached into her pocket—her little cutie was gone!

"Huh? When did it run off?" Azure Phoenix frowned, peering into his cloak. "Where is it now? Is it with you?"

"Your antler snake seems to love spirit jade. It saw Louis Lin holding some and just followed him off."

"What?" Azure Phoenix glared at him. "No way! My spirit pet would never leave me for someone else!"

"It's true."

"Louis Lin must've lured it away! He tried to borrow it from me last time and I refused! Where is Louis Lin? I'm going to find him!" She jumped up, ready to storm off.

Evan Xiao grabbed her arm, his voice low and teasing: "Since it wants to go with Louis Lin, let your antler snake stay at my place for a while... When I see it, it's just like seeing you."

Hearing that, Azure Phoenix couldn't help but recall how Louis Lin said the General missed her so much he couldn't focus on work. She bit her lip and said nothing.