Chapter 106: Two Masters of Drama

Yan Heru couldn’t hold back when she saw his reaction and burst out laughing. Then she reached out, pinched his cheeks, and gave them a little shake.

“You’re imitating me now, aren’t you? Trying to get back at me!”

“How could I ever want to get back at my beloved wife! Hehe.”

The two of them were inseparable at the moment, yet neither of them anticipated that their life would suddenly change just a few days from now.

After chatting with Yan Heru for a while, Shen Hezhi went to check on Yan Yi, who was just beginning to regain consciousness.

“Cough, cough… water…” Yan Yi, still groggy and unaware of his current situation, immediately asked for water.

Shen Hezhi smiled faintly and didn’t refuse. He poured a cup of tea from the table nearby and handed it to him at the bedside.

After drinking the tea, Yan Yi’s mind cleared considerably. He then looked up at the person who had given him the water. Upon seeing the man’s face, he instantly recoiled in panic on the bed.

“Your… Your Highness, the Ninth Prince…” Yan Yi’s expression was fraught with fear, as if he had done something wrong and was afraid of being found out.

Seeing this reaction, Shen Hezhi’s suspicion was confirmed. It was very likely that this man was the one sent by the late Emperor to harm him.

But Shen Hezhi was no longer the man he used to be. He had learned to remain calm and strategize carefully. Even if he knew this man had poisoned him in the past, he would not reveal a trace of anger or joy. Perhaps all the emotions he had left in this life would be reserved for Yan Heru alone.

He couldn’t quite explain why he was so fond of her—perhaps it was because she was unlike any other woman in this world. She was intelligent and brave, with an indomitable spirit. Moreover, she seemed to harbor some secrets, which Shen Hezhi felt would be deeply heartbreaking once revealed.

“Does seeing me really frighten you so much? After all these years apart, what do you feel upon seeing me again?” Shen Hezhi looked at the fearful Yan Yi and calmly reached out to take the tea cup from his hand, gently placing it on the table beside them.

“Why are you so nervous? That cup isn’t cheap. What if you accidentally break it?” Shen Hezhi suddenly said something completely unrelated.

Yan Yi was too terrified to pay attention to what he was saying. “Your Highness, how did you come to be here…”

Shen Hezhi blinked, feigning puzzlement. “Shouldn’t you be asking how you ended up here instead? This is a frontier station—my current residence.”

Yan Yi’s face grew even more sullen upon hearing this. He looked around and realized the surroundings were unfamiliar.

Seeing Yan Yi’s fear deepening only increased Shen Hezhi’s curiosity. “Why are you so afraid of me after all these years? Could it be that you did something wrong to me back then?”

Shen Hezhi posed the question lightly, merely probing without expecting an answer. Yet Yan Yi was so frightened by the suggestion that he immediately knelt by the bed.

“I’m sorry, Your Highness! I truly did wrong by you back then, but I never expected you’d still hold it against me after all these years. I’m wealthy now—if you insist, I can repay the money I stole from you at once!” Yan Yi looked at Shen Hezhi with terror.

Shen Hezhi was speechless at the mention of stolen money. He didn’t even recall losing any, but Yan Yi’s exaggerated reaction made him furrow his brows before chuckling.

“Oh? You say you stole my money? Do you remember where we first met? And how exactly did you steal it?”

Yan Yi thought for a moment, then shook his head. “It’s been so long, I barely remember the details. I only know I stole your money. All these years, I’ve lived in constant fear that you’d have me killed over it… I never imagined you’d still hold a grudge after all this time.”

He sighed helplessly, as if resigned to his fate, and as though the Ninth Prince might indeed kill him.

Shen Hezhi found his attitude odd. No ordinary person would remember such a trivial incident so vividly, and even if they did, who could guarantee the other party would remember it after so many years?

Recalling Yan Yi’s initial confusion when he first woke and hadn’t seen who gave him the tea, Shen Hezhi noted that his mannerisms didn’t seem those of an ordinary man.

Moreover, when Yan Yi saw Shen Hezhi, his fear wasn’t immediate; instead, he paused as if deep in thought.

Now, Shen Hezhi strongly suspected Yan Yi was feigning ignorance to conceal something. The stolen money story might very well be fabricated—few would remember such a minor event from so long ago.

“Since you know I haven’t let go of this matter, what do you intend to do now? It’s been years, so repaying the original silver won’t suffice. After all this time, you’ll have to pay several times over,” Shen Hezhi said with a smile.

Yan Yi lowered his head, seemingly resigned, but in truth, he was calculating his next move.

Shen Hezhi didn’t press him, waiting silently to see what answer he would come up with.

Yan Yi lifted his head again—this time no longer panicked, but composed and unruffled.

He straightened his clothes and the bedding, then addressed Shen Hezhi once more.

“How boring. You already figured it out, yet you still want to play along with me? Are you just trying to tease me for fun?” Yan Yi said.

Seeing him return to his usual self, Shen Hezhi smiled slyly and shrugged helplessly. “I don’t think you’re acting. You were just amusing earlier—I almost believed you and thought you’d offer to repay me several times over.”

Yan Yi glared at Shen Hezhi, utterly exasperated. “I seem to remember you weren’t always this shameless…”