A Warm Afternoon

Atlanta was about to walk off towards the castle before running into a strange man.

She bowed down to pick up the chain that fell from her hand and hurried away with a polite apology.

"Atlanta Siazis, the noble daughter of the duke's household, obsessed with the third prince of this kingdom, scheming enough to get rid of the woman of his heart. I am not wrong, am I?" 

The guy spoke slowly in a playful way. Atlanta paused immediately.

She looked back, squinting her eyes, and pointed the hidden laser shooter at him.

Yongzheng coldly stared back at Atlanta. Seemingly mocking the childish weapon in her hands.

Atlanta held herself back from pulling the trigger and enquired seriously, "How is it any of your business?"

"Heh, of course that's my business. I think it would be better for you to co-operate with me if you don't want the third prince to know about how you worked together with his own brother to build up a misunderstanding between him and the woman he loves?"

Yongzheng was aware of all the strings she had pulled to date, even the ones that Zibao is unaware of. Such a cheap lady, with a low IQ. If not for the fact that he is in a hurry to bring Xixi back with him, never in his life would he join allies with someone like her.

"If it's something I can do, then I will help you." Atlanta sensed that this guy was not as simple as he appears to be, he probably knows more than what he said. 

"Great! Reach the lake near Hazelnut Cabin Cafe at sharp 3'0 clock. And by the way I don't sprout anything without having proper evidence in hand. So it will be beneficial for both of us if we reach an agreement."

Yongzheng teleported immediately without leaving a single trace after warning her. 

'After telling one lie, it's inevitable to tell more lies to cover up the first one.' Atlanta shook her head in a vain attempt to get rid of the tiredness. There is no going back now. Most probably she won't be successful but she can't turn back anymore.

Childhood crush is one of the purest feelings in the world. The sweet heart flutterings, butterflies in the stomach for the very first time. When the other person doesn't reciprocate it sure hurts, but the mind stays untainted and with the flow of life it moves on. Only the cherished memories continue to stay.

-------------------------------------------------------

"What would you like to order? I have scribbled down the taste of each dish."

Xixi looked away from the beautiful scenery outside and took the menu from Ziran's hand.

She couldn't help but feel warm and fuzzy inside as she ran through the side notes in prominent handwriting by all the dishes.

'So for this one hour or so while I was sipping the drink he was patiently doing all this?'

She carefully chose a few dishes, depending on the side notes.

He gently pressed the order bell to call over a waiter. While he ordered, adding some more dishes, her eyes rested on the charismatic guy sitting in front of her. Her resistance was gradually falling apart. She could clearly feel it. But….this isn't the best idea to get so close to someone in a world which she is not even sure whether exists or not.

It could all be nothing but her illusions or ...….

At this very moment, she realized the poetic line "They wished if only time could stop there."

Yes, she is enjoying the moments with him. She is cherishing the little memories they made and are making. She wants to stay right here and continue to know him more. 

She started thinking back to her senior year in high school when she first seriously started considering the idea of entering a higher dimension without involving the physical body.

It has been a while since then now that she looks back.

"I happen to have some official work to do in the eastern kingdom, and Riwansa has left too. So, do you want to come with me?"

"I actually have some notes to take, I can't.."

"You can take notes there too. Don't worry you won't have to accompany me to on-site visits if you don't want to." 

Ziran asked with some anticipation.

She stayed silent for a while. Just as she was about to say no, her eye lingered over his nervous expression, as if something tugged inside her heart she nodded to show her agreement.

Ziran grinned, unable to not show his excitement.

"Can I bring Reliott with me?" She dropped a bomb.

'Of course no, how could she even bear to bring up that annoying third wheel?'

Then again he couldn't just say that out loud.

"That...she easily falls sick in a cold atmosphere. It might even snow over there. So.." He trailed off with an apologetic face.

With his perfect way of delivering the act, Xixi didn't doubt his words the slightest bit.

"Ohhh.. I am really sorry I was completely unaware of this. I won't bring her with me then." 

"Mhm" Ziran gloated inside, seeing his plan succeed with a tiny tinge of guilt which disappeared quickly.

The silence was starting to make Xixi feel awkward. However fortunately the waiter entered to serve the food at that very moment. 

Ziran helped her plate the dishes orderly. Being quite unfamiliar to the way of plating she didn't try to stop him. 

It was almost dark by the time they left the cafe.