Chapter 33: My Prince and I Are the Best of Friends in the World

Chapter 33: His Highness and I Are the Bestest Friends in the Whole World

"So what'd you and His Highness go do?"

Chen Shuoan looked at Zhang Chenggong's shameless face leaning in and was totally speechless.

"What do you think we could do?"

Zhang Chenggong let out a sly chuckle, letting his mind run wild: "Did His Highness give you a good lesson, making you cry your eyes out with regret?"

Huh?

Why would he need to be taught a lesson? Was he some kind of jerk or what?

That got Chen Shuoan fired up. He punched the man's arm and said coldly, "Want me to beat you till you're bawling your eyes out?"

Li Wei stood nearby, shocked that Zhang Chenggong dared to provoke the very person in question, and jumped in to smooth things over: "Shuo'an, go easy on him. Zhang Chenggong's been a few fries short of a Happy Meal since he was a kid—don't make him even dumber."

"Do you guys have some misunderstanding about me and His Highness the Sixth Prince? You keep talking gibberish nobody can make heads or tails of."

Qin Zhonglian thought to himself, It's not us who's got it wrong—it's you who's got the wrong idea about His Highness.

He decided to give this idiot a nudge and couldn't help asking, "So what do you think your deal with His Highness is right now?"

Chen Shuoan puffed up his chest without a shred of shame, about to say they were bros, when he suddenly realized that calling himself a brother to a prince was indeed inappropriate. He said weakly, "Friends... maybe?"

Qin Zhonglian: "..."

His Highness basically wants to fuse with you and become a two-headed flower, and you're still standing there like "duh"?!

Pissed off that he wasn't getting through to him, he patted Chen Shuoan's shoulder, wanting to speak but holding back.

"Ignorance is bliss. Ignorance is bliss."

Chen Shuoan felt like the world had left him in the dust. He looked around and spotted Zheng Yuanzhi's equally confused and innocent eyes, like he'd found his people. He huddled up with him for comfort, trying to figure out why Qin Zhonglian had even asked.

Zheng Yuanzhi stared off into space, mumbling, "I don't know. The teacher never covered that."

After a bunch of back-and-forth got them nowhere, the other three all had that "the gods must not be questioned" look on their faces, telling them to figure it out themselves.

Chen Shuoan: "..."

Figure out my ass, yeah right.

These guys usually talk out of their asses with zero filter, but now they're clammed up like newborns who can't talk yet.

Chen Shuoan mentally added every single one of them to his grudge list.

In the end, the bros had a falling out, and Chen Shuoan was left crying alone till dawn.

"So how's Gangpao doing these days?"

Just thinking about it gave Chen Shuoan a fresh headache.

Before the dog, life was a mess of little problems. After the dog, it's just fur everywhere.

He waved a hand in defeat and said with a pained look, "He eats more, poops and pees more, but man, he's getting better looking every day."

Li Wei really couldn't picture Chen Gangpao being handsome, and asked, totally skeptical, "How do you figure?"

Chen Shuoan looked like a proud dad: "The fur around Gangpao's mouth's all turned white. I'm telling you, it won't be long before he's a real little white dog."

Li Wei: "..."

Defying genetics, rewriting the story of fur color evolution.

What an inspiring little pup—clap if you get it!

Zheng Yuanzhi thought of the puppy he'd found six months ago—black head, white everywhere else—and cracked up: "He's not gonna go his whole life thinking he's a white dog, is he?"

Chen Shuoan had a full-on beauty filter when it came to Chen Gangpao. He shot Zheng Yuanzhi a dark look: "You laughing at him? I'm warning you, Gangpao's about to hit his glow-up. Keep ignoring him now, but once he turns into a drop-dead gorgeous dog, you won't even be in his league."

Unexpectedly, Zheng Yuanzhi laughed even harder: "That's not him blooming—that's you losing your mind."

Chen Shuoan: "..."

What, was he everyone's public enemy number one now? Why was everyone coming for him and his cute little dog?

He slammed the table, planning to bring Chen Gangpao out that afternoon to show him off, so these people could see Chen Gangpao's stunning looks for themselves. He'd barely stood up when Zhang Zhi walked in and caught him.

"Shuo'an, what's got you so fired up today? Usually you're so bored by the sight of me you're snoozing off. Something good happen? Spill it for everyone."

Hit with Master Zhang's rapid-fire triple question, Chen Shuoan's face went bright red. His so-called friends at the side were doubled over the table, laughing their asses off in silence, the whole study felt as lively as Chinese New Year.

Chen Shuoan: "..."

Does my misery make your happiness twice as sweet or something?

Chen Shuoan was totally cornered, and flustered, he caught Yuan Rang's teasing look from the front row.

The guy seemed to be in a good mood, his usually tight lips curved into an easy, relaxed smile.

In his daze, Chen Shuoan read his lips.

"Shuo'an, what's the good news?"

Chen Shuoan licked his lips, which were a little dry from nerves, and looking a little shy, he said slowly and seriously, "Being close with His Highness the Sixth Prince—it makes me really happy."

Yuan Rang froze on the spot.

His ears turned red before he even realized it, his eyes flustered but not backing down. His burning gaze locked onto the boy standing there in the moon-white robe, his expression intense and almost unhinged.

Shuo'an was just too damn good.

So good that he was starting to forget how lonely it got, how much the pain cut to the bone, and what suffering even tasted like.

He made up his mind to walk to Chen Shuoan's side, shining bright.

Zhang Chenggong let out a sharp squeal of excitement, leading the hype, and the whole study turned into a total madhouse, the noise making everyone's hearts race.

Chen Shuoan couldn't figure out why everyone was so hyped. The ruckus made his own heartbeat pound in his ears.

He felt a little lost, not knowing where this feeling was coming from, and could only look at Yuan Rang for help.

The guy's phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, like a laugh slipped out from deep in his throat. Then he turned his head away, not bothering to hide the soft, lingering smile anymore.

Chen Shuoan: "..."

Why does he look like he's having way too much fun with this?

Yuan Rang, intending to help him out of the situation, stood up and spoke leisurely, a stark contrast to his usual reticence.

"This prince is also quite pleased."

The cheers suddenly grew louder, interspersed with the embarrassing, attention-grabbing monkey screeches from Zhang Chenggong.

Chen Shuoan burst into laughter instantly.

Now that's more like it—tit for tat, and everyone's happy.

Chen Shuoan and His Highness the Sixth Prince were the absolute best of friends in the whole world.

After all, Yuan Rang had personally stamped that seal of approval.

It was already time for school to let out. Qin Zhonglian spun around with a flourish, waving goodbye to everyone, leaving only a devastatingly cool figure behind: "Alright, fellas, see you tomorrow at noon."

Chen Shuoan was totally confused and asked humbly, with a hint of reluctance in his tone: "Why does he have to see us at noon tomorrow? Did he secretly take leave behind our backs?!"

He was screaming internally, twisting and crawling in the dark.

Jealousy had twisted his face beyond recognition.

I don't wanna go to school either!

Li Wei kindly patted his head: "The day after tomorrow is His Majesty's birthday feast. Tomorrow, all the ministers will go to Daxiangguo Temple to pray for the Emperor. You get it now?"

Chen Shuoan nodded humbly, this time truly remembering.

To really get the hang of things, he'd need to hang around here for a few more years.