Pushing the divider aside, the second prince had heard that Lin Ning had gone out with an unknown man which threw him in a frenzy to hear that ‘his’ woman was with another. Looking to see that there was a man holding a woman in his arms, he did not think that Lin Ning would be that kind of woman. “It seems as though there is an open spot. I do not see an issue in joining you both.”

“We did not allow you to join us.” Cao Peizhi felt annoyed that the second prince would be so confident to come in and do as he pleased. ‘What is this prince trying to do?’

“I am the second prince. I can do as I please.” He hopped on over to sit across from the two of them, Cao Peizhi had Lin Ning scoot on over to his side. Lin Ning had heard the voice before, thinking back to the man whom she saved.

‘It’s the same person. So, he is the second prince.’ Lin Ning did not think that she had saved the second prince that time. ‘The second prince already has a princess consort. Why is he here? Shouldn’t he be pampering his princess consort?’ Lin Ning knew that the second prince did not favor his princess consort too much, but in the novel they seemed very affectionate from the details of her bringing him soup every night. Not only that, but both of them were said to be very compatible and they both held a lot of similarities in their mind. Both were very possessive with one another, mostly his princess consort who would not hesitate to get rid of any women who came after her husband.

“What brings the second prince here today?” Lin Ning kept her veiled hat on, taking her cup of tea into her hand as she took a sip behind the veil. The second prince was known to be a sly man, his name was Yi Qiao. The son of the current empress and the emperor, the crown prince was the son of the last empress who was now deceased.

Cao Peizhi did not know what she was thinking, to start a conversation with the second prince who just barged in as he pleased at their table and room. ‘What is this woman thinking at this time to start being all friendly towards this prince?’

“I just thought that I saw an old friend.” He held a smirk, seeing how the man who sat beside Lin Ning did not look too pleased to see him there.

“I do not ever recall us being friends. So, your old friend must be Brother Wei then.” Lin Ning knew that the second prince and Cao Peizhi were not on good terms since both worked for different people.

‘Is this woman stupid???’ Both Cao Peizhi and the second prince thought at the same time. ‘We will never be friends.’

“Miss Lin, you have misundersto-”

“Of course we are ‘old friends’. I did not expect to see you so soon, Second Prince.” Cao Peizhi preferred to be an ‘old friend’ with the second prince rather than having the second prince consider Lin Ning to be his ‘old friend’.

“I didn-”

“Oh, isn’t that great! I did not think that you would know the princes, Brother Wei.” Lin Ning ignored the second prince, knowing fully well that he was trying to clear up the ‘misunderstanding’ that was created.

“En, the second prince is quite the troublemaker at times. The crown prince knows how to act much better than him.” Cao Peizhi took his cup of tea into his hand, taking a sip after as well.

“What did you say?!” The second prince did not like how he was being compared to his older brother.

“I’ll be hoping for your help then if we come across any of them in the future.” Lin Ning smiled, facing Cao Peizhi who felt happy that she would depend on him rather than the second prince.

‘Why do I feel like the third wheel here?’ The second prince hated how Lin Ning was depending on the unknown man sitting next to her more than him when he was a prince with more status and power. “What brought you both here?” Yi Qiao (Second Prince) decided to ask and get more into the conversation with the two who had been ignoring and cutting him off when he tried to clear things up.

“I am here to try the noodles here. I came here with Brother Wei, and we had a lot of fun coming here!” Lin Ning told Yi Qiao, who did not look the least pleased by her response, about having a ‘fun time’ with Cao Peizhi (Wei).

“Why don’t we both go out together next time? Just you and me.” Yi Qiao said, seeing how he could not go out with Lin Ning when Cao Peizhi was able to.

“I already have Brother Wei. I don’t need someone else to take me when I already have someone.” Lin Ning would likely refuse Yi Qiao’s offer since she did not want to die too soon in this novel by his princess consort. Meanwhile, Cao Peizhi felt happy and warmth inside his heart to hear that Lin Ning did not want anyone else to take her out but him. “That is if Brother Wei is willing to take me out when he is free.” Lin Ning placed her cup down, knowing that it was now empty with nothing left inside.

“I will always make time for you.” Cao Peizhi said, making Lin Ning see that he was a very good friend.

‘How can anyone mistake this man?! He is not so cold and heartless like they all say!!!’ Lin Ning really wanted to punch the author who wrote everything about him, seeing that it was all nothing but nonsense written. “Oh, it’s getting late. Brother Wei, would you like to take me home?” Lin Ning asked him.

“I just got here!!!” Yi Qiao looked to see how both were clearly ignoring him like he was just a statue. They had already gotten up and left before he could even catch up to the both of them. “Hey!!!”