Chapter 77: Good System

Chapter 77: A Good System

Little K was dumbfounded, as if its program had frozen.

Until it watched helplessly as Xiao Yan picked a Ferghana horse from the stable, patted it with great satisfaction, and said, "Mm, this one will do."

Little K finally reacted: "Host, are you really going?"

Xiao Yan: "I am."

"But... but..." Little K felt something was off.

Xiao Yan said: "I won't let them know."

Little K: "Just secretly follow?"

Xiao Yan: "Mm."

Little K still thought it was wrong. What's the use of just secretly following? The host wasn't fooling it, was he?!

When the time came, as soon as he saw Liu Qingci, the host would definitely rush straight over!

"How do you plan to follow? Do you know the route?" Little K asked.

Xiao Yan said: "Don't I have you as a living GPS?"

"Ah! (•̀へ•́) Host! What makes you think I'd help you?!"

"You won't help me?" Xiao Yan's tone even carried a hint of innocent surprise. "What if I get lost and stumble into someplace I shouldn't, triggering an even more absurd plot deviation..."

"Host, you're cheating! This is a threat!!"

"Of course not! Actually, I know you'll definitely help me," Xiao Yan said seriously.

Little K became curious: "Why?"

Xiao Yan said: "Because I knew from the beginning that you're a good system. You're definitely different from those cold, heartless systems."

Little K: "(￣▽￣)~*"

Of course! It was determined to become the best system in the world!

Little K pulled up a translucent route map, projecting it onto Xiao Yan's visual interface. The approximate current location of Liu Qingci's carriage was still marked with a small red dot.

"But host! You promised you'd just secretly follow! You absolutely can't show up and interfere with the plot!" Little K still had some sense left, not forgetting to remind him.

Xiao Yan squinted, focusing on the red dot on the map. As he left the residence, he brushed her off: "Mm, don't worry."

Little K huddled in a corner of the system.

It watched its own host, whose stance clearly showed he was going to escort and protect, while also being ready to intercept at any moment—it felt like crying, but no tears would come.

At the side gate of the Prince's mansion.

Fu'an, with his hands tucked in his sleeves, watched his Highness's figure riding away on horseback, completely bewildered in the early winter wind.

Young Master Liu had just left, and His Highness rode out alone right after?

Could His Highness be... chasing after Young Master Liu?

This grand mansion, with even its master, His Highness, gone.

He'd thought the days ahead would be tough.

But who knew... the days ahead would be even better!

Fu'an shook his head and walked back with a light step, even humming a tuneless little song.

——

At the agreed meeting spot on the main road, Chen Huaian had already been waiting for a long time.

He was pacing restlessly, occasionally looking into the distance.

When he saw a green-canopied carriage appear in his sight, his eyes immediately lit up with anticipation.

The carriage curtain was lifted, and Liu Qingci, wearing an outer silver fox fur coat, stepped down from the carriage stool.

"Qingci!" Chen Huaian quickly approached.

His gaze quickly swept over the several disguised and well-trained personal guards behind Liu Qingci, then fell back on Liu Qingci. In a low, disbelieving voice, he said: "Qingci, you... you really came out? His Highness Prince Yu allowed you to leave the capital?"

Liu Qingci took in his stunned expression, nodded slightly, and said: "Mm, Huai'an, I'll go with you."

Chen Huaian still couldn't snap out of it, looking his friend up and down.

Liu Qingci's complexion was better too than when they met at the banquet last time.

"These... these men are?" Chen Huaian couldn't help asking.

"Guards His Highness assigned," Liu Qingci answered briefly, not wanting to say more on the matter. "Let's get in the carriage first. It's a long way to Qingshan Town; we need to get going."

As he spoke, Liu Qingci had already turned and walked back to the carriage.

Seeing this, Chen Huaian had to suppress his shock and doubts and quickly followed.

The two got into the carriage one after another. The compartment was spacious, covered with thick velvet carpets, and even had a heater and tea set in the corner—clearly prepared with great care.

Chen Huaian's gaze swept over these details again, his shock deepened even further.

This was nothing like a prisoner being released from a cage; rather, it was like... a pampered young master traveling?

"Qingci, you..." Chen Huaian hesitated and asked, "Is your body holding up?"

He secretly felt that although Liu Qingci looked fine on the outside, he might have suffered some treatment that just wasn't apparent yet.

The guards and the coachman following—claiming to protect but actually monitoring.

Liu Qingci's calm eyes looked at Chen Huaian: "My body is fine. Why do you say that?"

Chen Huaian shook his head: "Alas, several of our friends were all worried about your situation. We really didn't expect... to see you in person now."

As he spoke, he even wiped away some tears emotionally.

Liu Qingci looked at Chen Huaian's genuine concern, feeling a slight warmth in his heart, but also a complex sense of guilt.

His friends were all worrying about him, while his days at Prince Yu's mansion were actually quite comfortable.

He was silent for a moment, then spoke carefully: "His Highness Prince Yu... has not mistreated me."

Chen Huaian was startled by these words, forgetting even to wipe the wetness at the corners of his eyes as he stared at him in shock.

Not knowing whether he believed it, he just sighed: "Ah, at least you're out now. Leaving Prince Yu's estate means you're finally free. You won't have to see that Prince Yu ever again..."

"Never see him again?" Liu Qingci murmured, repeating the words.

He turned his face to look at the scenery flashing past the carriage window, his gaze seeming distant and hollow. The low repetition didn't sound like a question, but more like an absent-minded mutter to himself.

But Chen Huaian didn't notice; he was simply filled with the joy of having rescued his friend from that den of wolves.

"Yes!" He nodded emphatically. "It's a long road ahead. Since you're out now, you'll definitely never have to see him again!"

Liu Qingci withdrew his gaze, pressed his lips together, which were slightly pale, and looked down at the hand warmer cradled in his palms.

He said nothing.

Chen Huaian was puzzled, feeling that Liu Qingci seemed to be in low spirits.

Maybe it just hasn't sunk in yet, he thought.

The carriage traveled on, and the sky gradually darkened.

After a full day of travel, they found an inn to rest for the night.

After dinner, everyone went back to their rooms.

Worried about Liu Qingci, who had been in a bad state throughout the journey, Chen Huaian sought out Yun Feng and pulled him to sit at a square table, deliberately keeping away from the other guards.

"Young Master Chen, is there something you need?" Yun Feng asked.

Chen Huaian's brows were tightly knitted, his eyes full of concern. Lowering his voice, he asked, "Yun Feng, your master's been quiet and down all day today. Is he still unwell? Or did something happen at the prince's place that's bothering him?"

Yun Feng was shocked: "How could that be? What's wrong with my master?"

He was fine when we left!

Chen Huaian quickly said, "He just seems to be in a poor mood. I'm not sure if something's going on..."

Yun Feng thought for a moment: "A few days ago, my master had a bad fever, but he's already recovered. As for why he's in a bad mood... I don't know either."

As soon as Chen Huaian heard that he had even had a fever, he was convinced Brother Qingci had said Prince Yu didn't mistreat him just to keep him from worrying.

He asked Yun Feng again: "Aren't you always by Brother Qingci's side? How could you not know?"

Yun Feng scratched his head a bit awkwardly. "No, Young Master Chen, it's not that. You might not know this, but when my master was at Prince Yu's estate... he always stayed with His Highness Prince Yu. I didn't need to wait on him, so there's plenty I don't know..."