Chapter 116: I’m Jealous—So Very, Very Jealous (Bonus 3,000 Words with Red Envelope)

Jin'er was slightly startled, and her face flushed immediately. Shy and annoyed, she exclaimed, "You! Did you do that on purpose?"

Mo Yan’s lips curled slightly as he offered her a weak smile. "I was woken up by your kiss."

Jin'er rolled her eyes at him. "As if! You never change!" With that, she turned to leave, feeling somewhat vexed.

Just as she was about to stand up, her hand was caught by his warm, large palm.

Mo Yan looked at her with a wronged expression, saying pitifully, "I am telling the truth. Can you really bear to leave me all alone?"

Jin'er rolled her eyes inwardly, though her heart couldn't help but soften. It seemed this was her weakness, wasn't it? Who said only beautiful women could make one feel pity? When a handsome man acted hurt and aggrieved, no woman could likely remain immune.

Wasn't Qingyue the same back then? Always wearing that faint, sorrowful look that made her heart ache with sympathy.

"Jin'er... I'm hungry." Just as Jin'er was lost in thought, Mo Yan spoke in a soft, coquettish tone that immediately sent shivers down her spine.

After an involuntary shudder, Jin'er sighed helplessly and said, "The food isn't ready yet. Lie down for a while; I'll go check on it." As she went to stand up, her hand was gripped tightly again. She looked at him in confusion, wondering what he wanted now.

"Help me sit up. I want to go out and get some fresh air."

"You are severely injured; you should just lie here," Jin'er said, frowning.

"I'm fine, I won't die." Seeing the worry on her face, a wave of warmth surged in Mo Yan's heart. "By the way, is the person who saved us still here?"

His consciousness had been hazy that morning, but he vaguely recalled that someone Jin'er knew had rescued them. After she bandaged his wounds, he had fallen into a coma and hadn't had the chance to thank the stranger.

"He's still here," Jin'er said, feeling a bit uneasy. "He won't be leaving for a while, so you should focus on your recovery..." Before she could finish, Mo Yan was already struggling to sit up.

Jin'er hurriedly supported him, knowing his stubborn streak had returned. She had no choice but to carefully assist him out of the carriage.

"Your Highness is awake?" Hearing the movement, Xiao Die turned around. Seeing Jin'er supporting Mo Yan, she jumped up happily and ran over to help.

When they reached the campfire, Fusheng and the others also rose to salute Mo Yan. Mo Yan gestured for them to sit, then turned his gaze toward the stranger sitting across from them.

At first glance, he couldn't help but marvel at how cold, arrogant, and handsome the man was.

Seeing the man staring at the fire without looking at him, Mo Yan smiled faintly and walked over to sit beside him.

Jin'er, who had been supporting Mo Yan, sat down with him, positioning themselves diagonally opposite to Liuye.

"May I ask your name, sir?" Mo Yan turned his head and asked Liuye with a smile.

Hearing this, Liuye turned his head. His gaze first landed on Jin'er beside him, then shifted to Mo Yan, and he said coldly, "Liuye."

Mo Yan sensed a faint hint of hostility in the way Liuye had looked at him. But he pondered that he had never met the man before, and since he owed him his life, where would such hostility come from? It must have been his imagination.

"I am Mo Yan. I am truly grateful for your help this morning!" As he spoke, Mo Yan cupped his hands in a traditional martial arts salute, showing none of the airs of a prince.

However, Liuye did not seem to appreciate it, merely replying coldly, "Think nothing of it," without even glancing at him.

Mo Yan’s subordinates were somewhat dissatisfied with Liuye's dismissive attitude. But since he had indeed saved everyone, and their Second Highness, usually an easygoing man, didn't seem angry, they decided to endure it.

Seeing Liuye’s extreme coldness, Mo Yan initially raised an eyebrow, feeling a flicker of annoyance. But he quickly changed his mind—this man had single-handedly taken down so many of Mo Fan's archers and captured him, proving his exceptional martial arts skills. Perhaps such an icy demeanor was simply his nature, so he decided not to take it to heart and lowered his hands with a smile.

He turned to look at Jin'er and, noticing her strange expression, remembered that she knew Liuye. He asked, "Jin'er, is he your friend?"

The moment he called her "Jin'er," Liuye couldn't help but turn his head, his gaze settling on her face.

Jin'er turned and offered a slightly awkward smile. By chance, she caught Liuye looking at her, and she felt a sudden rush of nervousness. After hesitating for a long moment, she finally forced out, "Yes, he is."

Mo Yan nodded as if he understood. He looked at Liuye, who wore a subtle change in expression, then back at the unnaturally acting Jin'er. His heart sank, and he felt a sudden, inexplicable sense of irritation and unease.

The scene fell into a deathly silence, broken only by the occasional crackle of the fire and the chirping of insects in the darkness. The atmosphere was awkward and eerie.

It wasn't until the scent of roasting meat wafted through the air that the tension eased slightly.

After a while, the two birds Fusheng had been roasting were ready. One was definitely for the Prince, but he hesitated about the second one. Should he give it to their savior or to the Young Lady?

He thought that since their savior had saved everyone’s lives, giving him a bird was only right. Besides, the Young Lady was usually easygoing and wouldn't mind.

After a long moment of hesitation, Fusheng gave one bird to Mo Yan and the other to Liuye. Clearly, he had overthought it; Jin'er didn't mind his actions in the slightest.

However, the moment Mo Yan took the fragrant bird, he turned and handed it straight to Jin'er.

Jin'er shook her head and pushed it back. "You are severely injured and have been unconscious for a whole day; you need to eat something yourself." But Mo Yan wouldn't take no for an answer, insisting she take it, while Jin'er politely declined.

The back-and-forth looked incredibly sweet. Everyone else giggled in silence, casting glances at the two—with the exception of a few.

Liuye stared at the fire without moving his eyes, Shiyuan roasted the pheasant with a blank face, while Mo Fan, who had been immobilized by pressure points, was hungry and furious. Not daring to make a sound, he could only swallow his saliva and curse under his breath through gritted teeth.

In the end, Jin'er couldn't resist Mo Yan and accepted the roasted bird. Glancing sideways, she saw Liuye looking at her again, his cold eyes reflecting the flickering firelight, filled with an indescribable, strange emotion.

Not daring to look longer, Jin'er averted her gaze and began eating in a fluster.

After only a few bites, a faint "gurgle" sound came from beside her. Turning around, she saw Mo Yan quickly turning his head to stare at the fire, looking quite uncomfortable.

Jin'er chuckled softly. Seeing there was still plenty of meat on the bird, she nudged his arm gently with her elbow.

When he turned to look at her in confusion, Jin'er offered him the bird she had already taken a few bites from...

Mo Yan was stunned and quickly shook his head. "I'm not hungry, you eat. The meat on the rack will be ready soon."

Jin'er pouted and feigned annoyance. "What? Are you disgusted because I’ve already bitten into it?"

"How could I be?" Fearing she would misunderstand, Mo Yan quickly took it, took a happy bite, and then smilingly passed it back to her. He looked incredibly adorable.

Jin'er tried hard to suppress her laughter and accepted it without further hesitation. Seeing the joy in her eyes, Mo Yan finally realized, and he smiled back at her helplessly, though his heart felt warm.

Watching the two being so intimate, Liuye felt a bitter, agonizing sensation in his heart. But aside from eating in silence and pretending not to see, what else could he do?

Even if he knew he had fallen for her, and even if he had saved her, he knew that nothing could be undone. Some wounds would never heal, and she would never truly be able to forgive him.

Shiyuan, sitting across from them, watched their behavior. His face remained impassive, but his heart was once again stirred by strange emotions. However, as he watched Liuye, he realized there was someone else suffering just as much, perhaps even more, and his own mood seemed to improve slightly.

After the meal, everyone rested by the fire while Jin'er helped Mo Yan back to the carriage.

Once they were inside, Mo Yan turned and cornered Jin'er in a corner, his nose almost touching hers.

Jin'er was pressed against the carriage wall with nowhere to go. She could only stare wide-eyed at his slightly fuming, handsome face, stammering, "W-what are you doing?" She hadn't provoked him; why was he acting as if she owed him something?

Mo Yan narrowed his eyes, looming over her, and whispered, "Tell me the truth: what is your relationship with that Liuye?"

Jin'er hesitated, her eyes darting around involuntarily. Not daring to evade, she whispered back, "We’re just friends. What other relationship could there be?"

"You're lying! What kind of friends act so awkwardly around each other?" He hadn't missed the strange looks they exchanged.

Jin'er pouted and rolled her eyes at him. "There really is nothing. Believe what you want." This guy—she was already his, why was he still asking such nonsense?

"Do you like him?" Mo Yan tilted his head slightly, staring unblinkingly into her eyes, as if searching for the real answer.

"What nonsense are you spouting?!" Jin'er glared at him in annoyance, looking truly angry.

Seeing her anger, Mo Yan didn't dare press further. He sighed helplessly, pulled her carefully into his arms, buried his head in her hair, and muttered aggrievedly, "I'm jealous. So, so jealous..."

Jin'er was amused by his words and tone. Her anger vanished, and she couldn't help but laugh, asking, "And how does it taste?"

Mo Yan straightened up, glared at her with a sullen expression, and said in a low voice, "You make me suffer this much, and you dare to gloat? See how I punish you!" With that, he leaned down suddenly and quickly captured her soft, delicate lips, kissing and nibbling them in a domineering way.

Jin'er had nowhere to retreat, and not daring to push him for fear of tearing his wounds, she could only let him have his way.