I've Got This Cannon Fodder Trope Covered!

Chapter 145

"What's wrong?" Xiao Junzhan chuckled softly, cradling her in his lap as he coaxed her. "Tell me, what happened?"

Wei Hanzhang didn't want to speak. Sitting on his lap, she tilted her head slightly and found herself gazing into his warm, luminous eyes.

Xiao Junzhan was naturally handsome, with a cold and refined demeanor. Yet now, there wasn't a trace of his usual aloofness. His face was filled with unabashed tenderness and affection, causing Wei Hanzhang's resolve to maintain proper decorum to waver instantly.

She couldn't help but want to kiss him. She could hardly resist when he looked at her like this. Thankfully, her self-control was strong enough that she managed to suppress the urge once again, lowering her head to avoid his gaze.

With the weight of state affairs on his shoulders, he had been busy from morning till now. Only after finding a sliver of free time did he rush to see her. How could she burden him with her trivial matters of the inner chambers?

Besides, the mere mention of Chen Zishu had once stirred his jealousy. If she could avoid bringing it up, she definitely would...

Wei Hanzhang's refusal to speak left Xiao Junzhan puzzled. He had promised her he wouldn't pry into her every action, so he genuinely had no idea who she had met or what had happened today—he only knew she had visited her family's estate that afternoon.

Holding the petite figure in his arms, reluctant to let her go, Xiao Junzhan pondered for a moment before asking, "Did your parents say something to you?"

Could it be that the couple, Wei Heng and his wife, had voiced concerns about him letting Ranran live in the inner city, where they saw each other daily, and said something to make her so restrained today?

"You're overthinking it," Wei Hanzhang said, surprised by his sharp intuition. She detected a hint of subdued anger in his tone and, worried he might take it out on her parents, quickly explained, "I've just been reflecting on myself. We aren't married yet, and yet we're always playing around on the bed—it's really not appropriate."

Even Wei Hansu had dared to say such things outright...

"What's so inappropriate about it?" Xiao Junzhan frowned slightly. Over the past days in the palace, they had spent almost every moment together. He had grown accustomed to holding her in his arms and coaxing her. Tonight, her sudden change in demeanor unsettled him.

Lowering his head, he brushed a light kiss across her lips and said gently, "Ranran, don't worry. I won't do anything more—just don't avoid me."

Although her mischievous antics sometimes pushed him to the edge, making him want to punish her, the thought of her suddenly acting distant and unwilling to be close was even harder for him to accept.

When his lips met hers, Wei Hanzhang instinctively wanted to dodge, but his hand gently cupped the back of her head, making it impossible to avoid him.

After failing to evade the first time, how could she resist any further?

As his cool breath approached, the defenses she had just set up wavered. Then she heard his coaxing tone, and finally, she couldn't hold back any longer. She tilted her head up and nuzzled against him.

The moment her lips met his, all of Wei Hansu's words were temporarily forgotten. What did it matter what she had said?

Xiao Junzhan froze for a moment when the girl in his arms initiated a kiss, then let out a soft laugh and pulled her even closer.

As their kiss deepened, it became clear that sitting on the chair wasn't satisfying enough. Xiao Junzhan scooped her up and carried her to the bed, laying her down before leaning over her.

Wei Hanzhang obediently let him kiss her. In the past, her hands would have wandered mischievously, but this time, she kept them properly wrapped around his neck.

This change didn't escape Xiao Junzhan's notice. His Adam's apple bobbed slightly as he leaned down to kiss her more fervently. Taking her hand from his neck, he guided it under his robe.

Amidst their intimacy, Wei Hanzhang vaguely heard him say something but couldn't make it out. Then, feeling the texture beneath her fingers, she froze.

This time, his words were clear: "Feel it."

Wei Hanzhang was utterly stunned. In the past, it had always been her who couldn't keep her hands to herself, only to be sternly stopped by him. Now... their roles had reversed.

...All because she mentioned things being "inappropriate"? Had he really gone to such lengths to prove otherwise?

This was his abdominal muscles she was touching—she had only gotten a fleeting feel once before...

Knowing her refusal at this point might make him overthink things, Wei Hanzhang quickly gave in and let her fingers explore.

Xiao Junzhan looked down at her, his breath uneven. "Ranran, this is how it should be between us."

"...?" Wei Hanzhang hesitated, then withdrew her hand from his robe. "Xiao Boqian, you've changed."

He had gone from being cold and reserved to someone who couldn't resist teasing her. Before, though he allowed her kisses, he would at least stop her wandering hands. But now...

"Yes, I've changed." Xiao Junzhan pressed his forehead against hers and smiled. "It's your fault."

Taking her hand, he kissed her soft fingertips and asked naturally, "Does it feel good?"

"...It's alright," Wei Hanzhang replied, feeling slightly overwhelmed by his sudden change in demeanor. While she loved teasing him and watching him blush or struggle to maintain composure, it seemed she couldn't match him when he turned the tables.

For instance, hearing her answer, Xiao Junzhan looked at her with a teasing smile. "Just alright?"

Wei Hanzhang's face turned red as she retorted in embarrassment, "How would I know if yours is good or not? It's not like I've touched anyone else's."

Xiao Junzhan froze, his expression stiffening as his smile faded slightly. "Don't say such nonsense."

If she had touched someone else's, that would be unacceptable.

"Alright, alright, I won't say that again," Wei Hanzhang quickly conceded, realizing her mistake. She hurried to appease him. "It's very nice—feels great. I really like it."

Although older by ten years, Xiao Junzhan was also new to love. Hearing her straightforward praise, the man who had just been teasing her became slightly flustered himself.

His eyelashes trembled as he murmured, "From now on, it's yours to touch anytime."

"...?" Wei Hanzhang blinked in surprise. "Didn't you always stop me before, saying I was being unreasonable?"

"I was mistaken before," Xiao Junzhan admitted sincerely. "How could closeness between us be unreasonable? You only wanted to touch me because you like me."

...Wonderful.

Wei Hanzhang, who prided herself on being thick-skinned, was somehow utterly embarrassed by his words. She buried her face in his chest, too flustered to respond.

Xiao Junzhan stroked her long hair, his heart softening completely.

After a long pause, Wei Hanzhang quietly tilted her head up, her gaze landing on his slightly prominent Adam's apple. In a soft voice, she said, "Brother Boqian, can I ask you something?"

Xiao Junzhan replied, "Go ahead."

"I've only known you for a few months, but I... left everything behind to be with you and share my feelings," Wei Hanzhang said, leaning closer to study his expression. "Do you think I'm being fickle?"

Her childhood betrothal had been dissolved, leaving the parties separated. Wei Hansu had mentioned that Gu Yunran, after his marriage, hadn't even entered his wife's room. And yet she... had wholeheartedly fallen in love with another man.

Before their wedding, she was already living with him in the inner city, seemingly unable to stay away from him even for a day.

Compared to Gu Yunran, wasn't she the one who had been fickle? Perhaps even driven by greed for power and status, given that Xiao Boqian was the Crown Prince.