Rebirth: After Becoming the Villainess-Chapter 206: Husband in Name Only

CLANG.

Zhou Cangyan slammed the cup in his hand down on the table, got up, and walked away without looking back.

"Hey, why are you leaving? You haven’t told me what’s going on in Yu State yet!"

No matter how Song Lianhe scrambled behind him on her short legs, the man continued to take long strides.

"Zhou Cangyan, why are you so moody? Everything was fine, and I didn’t even do anything to provoke you. What are you throwing a fit about? You said you rushed back from Yu State—did you really come all this way just to get angry at me? You..."

Song Lianhe was muttering under her breath behind him, completely oblivious that he had stopped. He stood there like a great mountain, and she walked right into him.

"Ouch~"

She rubbed her forehead and, without thinking, raised a hand to pound on his rock-hard back. "Is this thing made of stone?"

But then, her wrist was suddenly grabbed. She was pushed into a corner as the man’s scent washed over her. He used his body to block her in completely, leaving no escape.

He smiled, a devilishly handsome grin.

"That’s right. This Prince received just one letter from you. I knew it was only a joke, yet I rushed back without stopping. Tell me, why do you think that is?"

Song Lianhe tilted her head back and looked at him blankly. "Uh, you... you’re grateful for everything I’ve done for Sui Bei? So you came back specially for that?"

’Yeah, that makes sense.’

She then chuckled and said modestly, "I didn’t really do much, it was just a small effort. Even if it weren’t in Sui Bei, even if it were in Yu State, I would do my best to help if I saw so many people starving."

"Oh? So you would also draw the vine seedlings and teach them the cultivation methods?"

"..."

Song Lianhe froze, then instinctively shook her head. "Of course not."

She could still tell the difference between kindness and aiding a tyrant.

Seemingly satisfied with her answer, the man’s lips curled into a faint smile as he leaned closer. "Most people in this world are just looking for food and warmth. Do you realize that the bargaining chip in your hand is enough to turn the world upside down? And you just gave it to us so easily? Without asking for anything in return?"

"Oh, right!"

Thinking about it now, Song Lianhe felt she had gotten a bad deal.

However, the Boss Song of today was loaded, and she had no particular desire for power. Her current status was more than enough for her to live extravagantly, so she truly didn’t need any reward.

She waved her hand magnanimously. "You are my husband in name! For the time being, we have to act as one body and defend against our common enemies! When we first met, you protected me, so of course I have to return the favor!"

"Husband... in name?"

Zhou Cangyan narrowed his light-colored eyes and suddenly let out a sneer. "This Prince truly detests those two words!"

"Hmm?"

Song Lianhe eyed him suspiciously, but before she could ask what he meant, he turned his head and glanced behind him.

"Young Master, everything is ready."

It was a Shadow Guard.

Song Lianhe blurted out, "Ready for what?"

Zhou Cangyan reached out and casually pinched her cheek. "The hour is late. It’s time to rest."

"Oh."

She followed behind him and suddenly realized something!

"Uh, as the Young Master of Prince Si Mansion, your room must be very comfortable, right? Hehe, not like mine. It’s just a single cot, only big enough for one person. Sometimes I nearly fall off when I roll over."

The man walking ahead glanced back at her, his eyes full of amusement. "If that’s the case... then why don’t you, my Princess Consort, sleep in my chambers instead?"

Song Lianhe’s expression tightened, and she immediately said with a serious face, "Actually, I love my room. It has a certain simple, down-to-earth feel."

The man scoffed. Just as Song Lianhe was about to hurry off toward her own guest room, he hooked an arm around her and unceremoniously hauled her into his.

"How could this Prince bear to let you go back to that room of yours that can only fit a single cot?"

"Ah, Prince, you really don’t have to be so polite with me! I’m perfectly fine sleeping there, it suits my disposition perfectly!"

Zhou Cangyan turned to look at her, his eyes seeming to hold a magical power that could pierce a person’s heart.

"If we’re just a husband and wife in name, what are you so afraid of?"

"I’m... I’m just afraid of disturbing your rest, Prince."

Her voice grew quieter as she spoke.

"Then you’re worrying too much."

He led her into the room. "Don’t overthink it, Princess Consort. This Prince just wants you to attend to his bath."

"A bath?"

Song Lianhe froze. "Is the Prince Mansion that short on servants these days?"

’Even something like bathing requires my personal attention?’

"So, what the Princess Consort means is that you want to announce to the whole mansion, with great fanfare, that this Prince deserted his post?"

"...When it comes to bathing, it’s my specialty!"

Song Lianhe immediately rolled up her sleeves, looking ready to get down to business.

Zhou Cangyan lowered his gaze and let out an almost inaudible laugh.

In the bathing chamber, the man sat in a wooden tub filled with hot water. His head rested against the rim, his hands draped casually over the sides, and his eyes were closed in exhaustion.

Song Lianhe had mentally prepared herself before going in.

She wasn’t some sheltered young lady from a noble family. In modern society, with its flood of information, it wasn’t like she’d never seen a naked man before. Plus, she had studied medicine with her grandfather and understood human anatomy. It was all rigorous academic knowledge, so she didn’t think it would be awkward at all.

But when she saw the man in the tub, she couldn’t help but feel that her past self had been far too naive.

Zhou Cangyan’s proportions were perfect, and he was a clavicle connoisseur’s dream!

His upper body was solid muscle, the lines of his arms were smooth, and his chest was taut, radiating masculine charm.

’The real thing really is the best!’

"If you’ve had your fill of looking, you can start."

Zhou Cangyan spoke lazily, without even opening his eyes!

Song Lianhe’s face flushed. She gave two awkward little coughs, walked over, picked up the bath towel, and began to wash him.

But when she saw the crisscrossing scars on his body, her hands suddenly stopped.

"Are these all from the battlefield?"

The man gave a lazy "mhm."

Song Lianhe’s movements as she washed him became much gentler.

Zhou Cangyan chuckled softly. "They stopped hurting long ago."

"I know."

’But I feel that he’s still in pain.’

It seemed Zhou Cangyan really had just wanted her to help him bathe. The entire time, he lay comfortably in the tub, occasionally ordering her to add more hot water.

In any case, after she finished washing him, she was once again covered in sweat.

Zhou Cangyan changed into a clean inner robe and looked at her with utter disdain.

’He’s really showing the ugly, wicked face of a capitalist down to a T!’

By the time Song Lianhe came out of the bathing chamber, the man was already lying on the couch. She tried to tiptoe past him to get to the door.

"Where are you going?"

"You’re not asleep?"

"Naturally, I was waiting for my Princess Consort."

Zhou Cangyan opened his eyes, rolled onto his side, and propped his head up with one hand. He looked at her with great interest, saying nothing, simply patting the empty space beside him.

’Song Lianhe could swear that whether something was cheesy or not really depended on the person!’

’When Zhou Cangyan made that gesture, it was full of wicked temptation, yet deeply alluring! It made one want to pounce on him and do whatever they pleased...’