Rebirth of the Duke's Daughter and the Little Imperial Uncle

Chapter 50 Confirming Feelings

Qin Yaoyao glanced at her, a half-smile on her face, and said, "You really only came to play with me after you learned to ride a horse?" Hearing Qin Yaoyao's question, Cheng Ying couldn't keep up the act any longer. She sighed and said helplessly, "Oh, no, I came to ask for your help." Qin Yaoyao looked at Cheng Ying, a slight smile playing on her lips, and said softly, "What kind of help do you want? Tell me." After saying that, Qin Yaoyao told Yingchun and Xiaocui to go play by themselves, leaving only her and Cheng Ying in the room.

Cheng Ying took a deep breath and slowly recounted the whole story to Qin Yaoyao. She said, "He Mingfeng said he had three days off, which would be perfect time to teach me horseback riding. I thought it was a good idea, since my brothers are usually too busy to teach me. Now that someone's teaching me, I might as well learn, otherwise what will I do if I don't have the chance later?" Qin Yaoyao asked curiously, "Then why aren't you learning today? Did you learn it so quickly?"

Cheng Ying bit her lip, hesitating to speak. Seeing this, Qin Yaoyao quickly said, "Sister Ying, if you want me to help, I need to know what happened before I can help!" Cheng Ying hesitated for a moment, but finally decided to tell Qin Yaoyao the truth. She whispered, "Then you can't laugh at me after I tell you." Qin Yaoyao solemnly assured her, "Don't worry, I definitely won't laugh at you."

Cheng Ying took a deep breath and continued, "Actually, I originally planned to study for three days, but something unexpected happened yesterday, so I couldn't go today."

Qin Yaoyao asked curiously, "Does he know about this?"

Cheng Ying shook her head and replied somewhat helplessly, "He came to the General's Mansion to see me today, so I had someone tell him that I came here and haven't left yet."

Qin Yaoyao frowned and asked, puzzled, "Don't you want to see him? If that's the case, why not just say it directly? Why lie to deceive others? It will be very hurtful if you get caught."

Cheng Ying pouted, retorting with a wronged expression, "I didn't lie! I really did come here." Qin Yaoyao said, "But the time was different. Regardless, the damage has already been done..."

Qin Yaoyao sighed and earnestly advised, "You should hurry up and find someone to explain things clearly. If you really don't want to have any more contact with him, then just tell him directly. Judging from the Fifth Prince's appearance, he shouldn't be the kind of person who would pester you relentlessly. As long as you make things clear to him, he definitely won't force you."

Cheng Ying collapsed onto the table in despair, saying weakly, "Oh, I just didn't want to make things so awkward..."

After hearing Cheng Ying's words, Qin Yaoyao became uncertain about her own thoughts. Could it be that Sister Ying didn't like the Fifth Prince, but rather found him annoying? To clarify the matter, Qin Yaoyao pressed further, "So, Sister Ying just doesn't want to see the Fifth Prince, is that what you mean? If that's what you mean, then you don't need to tell him. I'll have Brother Yanxi tell him, and it won't make any difference."

Cheng Ying hurriedly shook her head and said, "No, that's not how it is..."

Qin Yaoyao blinked and asked in confusion, "What does it look like?"

Cheng Ying bit her lip and said helplessly, "Oh dear, I just don't know how to face him..."

Qin Yaoyao sighed and asked curiously, "So what exactly happened to you yesterday?"

Cheng Ying blushed instantly when she thought about what happened yesterday. She hesitated for a moment, then finally mustered up her courage and said to Qin Yaoyao, "Yesterday we started by going horseback riding, but then my horse went out of control, and He Mingfeng saved me. After that..." Cheng Ying paused for a moment.

Qin Yaoyao asked with a gossipy look, "What happened next? What exactly happened between you two?"

Cheng Ying hesitated for a moment, but ultimately decided to tell Qin Yaoyao everything that had happened yesterday. So, she took a deep breath and began to recount her experiences. Of course, she didn't mention the embarrassing things, only some simple accidents.

Qin Yaoyao's eyes widened, and she said in disbelief, "So... you two really kissed yesterday?"

Qin Yaoyao was truly taken aback. Given Cheng Ying's personality, she shouldn't be so intimate with men. Could it be that this girl actually liked the Fifth Prince? Although she already knew about these things yesterday, she was still shocked when she heard Cheng Ying say it herself, and her voice unconsciously rose.

Seeing this, Cheng Ying quickly reached out and covered Qin Yaoyao's mouth, whispering, "Shh! Keep your voice down! Do you want everyone to know about this?"

Qin Yaoyao realized she had overreacted and quickly apologized, "I'm sorry, I was just too surprised."

"So did you two really kiss yesterday? I want to hear the details," Qin Yaoyao asked Cheng Ying in a low voice.

Cheng Ying replied irritably, "What details are there? We just bumped into each other by accident, it shouldn't count as being intimate."

Qin Yaoyao raised an eyebrow, remaining silent, but inwardly thinking, "You're not telling the truth, are you? Luckily, Brother Yanxi took me with him yesterday, otherwise we wouldn't have witnessed your show. And you say that doesn't count? Then what about He Mingfeng kissing you later? That didn't count as a kiss! Humph!"

Seeing Qin Yaoyao's "guess if I believe you" expression, Cheng Ying quickly explained, "We really didn't mean to."

Qin Yaoyao laughed and said, "Since the intimate contact happened accidentally, it's nothing. You're not such a dramatic person, so how could you not know how to face him? Did something else happen between you two afterward?"

Cheng Ying looked at Qin Yaoyao with a slightly evasive gaze.

Qin Yaoyao sighed and said helplessly, "Never mind, I won't ask anymore."

Cheng Ying hurriedly said, "Something did happen, but the problem is, it's not that I'm afraid to face him, but rather..." At this point, Cheng Ying stammered, unsure how to continue. Seeing her so nervous, Qin Yaoyao didn't urge her, but simply watched her quietly, waiting for her to continue. After all, this was the first time Qin Yaoyao had seen Cheng Ying so nervous, and she already guessed that she probably wanted to talk about returning to the manor. However, Qin Yaoyao didn't press her for details, but simply waited silently.

Finally, Cheng Ying took a deep breath, seemingly preparing herself mentally, and decided to tell Qin Yaoyao everything. So, she slowly said, "Later, some things did happen, Yaoyao, I think I might be sick." Hearing this, Qin Yaoyao quickly asked, "How so?"

Cheng Ying lowered her head and thought for a moment, then looked up at Qin Yaoyao, her eyes filled with confusion and bewilderment. She said, "We've played together before, but back then I just felt happy. However, yesterday was completely different." Qin Yaoyao asked curiously, "What was different?"

Cheng Ying's voice trembled slightly, as if recalling yesterday's scene. She said emotionally, "Yesterday, my horse went out of control, didn't it? Just when I was about to fall off, he suddenly appeared beside me and caught me. At that moment, I felt like I had met a savior, and my heart was filled with gratitude. Moreover, I could smell a faint fragrance on him at that time, and that feeling was truly indescribable."

“Yaoyao, I lied to you just now. Some things didn’t happen by accident. After he lifted me off the horse and made sure I wasn’t hurt, he pulled me into a tight embrace.” Qin Yaoyao’s eyes widened, and she hurriedly asked, “Did you push him away?” Cheng Ying hesitated for a moment before answering, “Actually, I did want to push him away then, but at that moment, I noticed his body was trembling slightly, and even his voice was trembling when he spoke to me. So…”

Qin Yaoyao interrupted her impatiently, saying, "So instead of pushing him away, you comforted him, right?" Cheng Ying couldn't help but look surprised and asked suspiciously, "How did you know?" Qin Yaoyao thought to herself, "Of course, it was Brother Yanxi who took me to see him!" However, on the surface, she pretended to be nonchalant and replied, "Is that even a question? I guessed! So what happened next?"

Cheng Ying continued, "Later, he didn't want to teach me to ride horses anymore, but I managed to get him to agree to continue teaching me before he refused."

Qin Yaoyao chuckled inwardly, "Of course I know, and you're even trying to act cute." But she said aloud, "Did he teach you?"

Cheng Ying nodded and said, "He did teach me, but he was afraid I would encounter danger again, so he changed the method."

Qin Yaoyao smiled meaningfully and said, "I understand."

Seeing that Qin Yaoyao's reaction was no longer as hesitant as before, Cheng Ying said directly, "We stopped to rest after riding two laps, and then..." This time, Cheng Ying told the whole story in detail.

Qin Yaoyao pressed on, "So what exactly is it that makes you unable to face him? Is it because he kissed you?"

Upon hearing Qin Yaoyao's words, Cheng Ying immediately scrambled up from the table, her face instantly turning bright red. She hurriedly said, "What are you talking about? When did I say he kissed me?" She couldn't help but wonder, "I didn't say that. How did this girl know?" Qin Yaoyao suddenly remembered that it wasn't Cheng Ying who said it, but she herself who saw it, and quickly said, "Oh right, didn't you just say that you two accidentally kissed? Was there anything else?" Cheng Ying hurriedly denied it, "No, nothing else." But her face turned even redder than before.

Qin Yaoyao pressed, "Then why? You two got along very well after what you just said, didn't you? There's nothing you can't face, right? Is there something else?"

Cheng Ying looked at Qin Yaoyao, hesitated, and nodded, saying softly, "Yes... it's because of what happened on the way back to the manor."

Qin Yaoyao was secretly delighted, thinking: This girl is finally getting to the point! But on the surface, she pretended not to know and asked, "What happened?"

Cheng Ying leaned back onto the table, her voice growing softer as she said, "On the way back, I didn't have the carriage driver from the manor pick me up beforehand, so we rode back on the same horse." Qin Yaoyao continued, "And then?"

Cheng Ying continued, "It's a bit chilly at night, and we're standing a little too close."

Qin Yaoyao thought to herself with amusement, "They are quite close, practically touching." But on her face, she asked, puzzled, "How close could they be?"

Cheng Ying continued, "It's just that... he pinched my waist yesterday."

Qin Yaoyao feigned surprise and said, "He pinched your waist?!"

Cheng Ying continued, "The important thing isn't that he pinched my waist, but that the sound I made wasn't good. I don't know what he'll think of me, and I don't know how to face him, so I ran away today."

Qin Yaoyao thought to herself, "So that's how it is. No wonder she wanted to run away." But she still comforted her, "It's okay, maybe he won't think too much about it. But why did you make that sound?"

Cheng Ying blushed and said, "I don't know either. You used to pinch my waist often, but I only felt a little itchy. But yesterday, He Mingfeng's feeling was different from yours."

Qin Yaoyao laughed and said, "Okay, don't worry. Maybe he doesn't even care. But what are you planning to do now? Keep avoiding him?"

Cheng Ying frowned in distress: "I don't know, I really don't know how to face him."

Qin Yaoyao patted her shoulder encouragingly, "Don't be afraid, it's not that serious. In a few days, everyone will forget about it. Or you can take the initiative to explain to him, make things clear, and maybe that will solve the problem."

Cheng Ying nodded after hearing Qin Yaoyao's words, but still looked worried: "Okay, I'll try. But I still feel so embarrassed."

Qin Yaoyao comforted her, "Don't think too much about it. It's just a small incident. I believe you'll still be good friends in the future."

"He contacted you today, but you refused. I think he might think you're angry with him and don't want to be friends with him anymore!"

Cheng Ying looked at her in surprise: "Why?"

Qin Yaoyao said speechlessly, "Are you really stupid, or are you pretending? Of course it's because he pinched your waist! Aren't you angry? He was taking advantage of you. You should have slapped him right then and there. Why are you worried about how to face him? I would have beaten him to death. I don't care if he's a prince or not."

Cheng Ying explained somewhat embarrassedly, "Perhaps it was an accident. I didn't think much of it at the time. Besides, I don't think he's the kind of person who would deliberately take advantage of others or be lecherous. Otherwise, given his status and age, he would have a whole bunch of wives, concubines, and maids by now."

Qin Yaoyao smiled slightly and said softly, "Maybe so. Then you two should have a good chat. Maybe he came to you today because he didn't hear your voice?" Her tone was a mix of teasing and comforting.

Cheng Ying shook her head, a look of frustration on her face, and retorted, "How could that be? I clearly felt his body tremble after I made a sound, which means he definitely heard my voice. Besides, we were so close at the time, not miles apart." Her eyes were full of doubt and confusion.