Mama's Princess Is Daddy's Beloved

While Li Xue was concentrated on her thoughts, she felt the continuous stares of Shen Bingling from her side. Feeling it out of no reason, she turned to ask with a slight tug on her brows. "Is there something on my face, Princess Shen? You are suddenly staring at me like you have discovered two horns on my head."

She asked as a curl lifted the corner of her lips on one side. But even on her joke like that, Shen Bingling didn't laugh, instead, she stared at her more seriously before putting a straight question from her heart. "Li Xue, was she really your best friend?"

Li Xue looked at her with a frown before nodding. "Mhm. She is my best friend. But why are you asking?"

"She sounded so childish. You two don't seem similar, then how did you accept her as your friend?"

Li Xue pondered over her words for a moment before chuckling. "First of all, you guessed her wrong. She is not childish. That's her case only around me, otherwise, to others, no woman could be as ruthless and arrogant as her. And secondly, two people don't need to be similar to establish a friendship between them. It's just based on two people's sincerity and mutual respect. Once these two things are there, two people could be friends."

"Although people say 'birds of a feather flock together'; they don't mean the literal meaning actually. What they mean is that when two birds connect with each other, they get adapted to each other's habits. We are also the same. When I and Yi Lan are together, we get adapted to each other's tempo and that's what makes us good or more like best friends."

Li Xue said as Shen Bingling listened to her words. None had ever explained friendship like that to her and she couldn't deny that friendship this way felt much more relaxing. One doesn't have to fear pretending, nor does one have to feel scared of how the other would be evaluating them.

As she thought more about this side of friendship, Shen Bingling's lips curled up in anticipation. Beaming with excitement, she turned back to look at Li Xue. "Xiao Xue, later when we would become friends, promise me, you would also help me become a bird with whom you would easily flock around."

Li Xue's foot almost stepped on the brakes as she choked on her breath, hearing that unusual demand of the woman. Who demands things like that? This was her first-time hearing someone present their proposal of friendship like this. She turned to look at the princess who blinked her eyes expectantly at her.

Giving an awkward smile to her demand, Li Xue had nothing else to say and escaped with. So, she could only say, "We would see that when the time comes. Let's go and have our lunch first." She said before turning back to focus on the road.

But as if Shen Bingling was not yet finished, she immediately turned back to Li Xue; once again hesitating in herself before bringing her curiosity out.

Li Xue would have encouraged her to speak, but it was just a moment back that she had gotten speechless with the strange demand of the princess. So, she felt it was only better if she reached the restaurant without hearing any other words from the woman.

But Shen Bingling's curiosity has got her best. Not able to hold it any longer, she finally asked, "Li Xue, there is something I am concerned about. Don't get me wrong, but can I ask you one thing?"

Li Xue looked at her and wanted to reject her, but the expectation in the girl's eyes made her nod instead. But before it could get too late, she added, "Only if it's not again asking about our not-so-happening friendship."

Shen Bingling smiled and then shook her head. "It's not about that, believe me. It's something concerning to you."

"About me? What is it?" Li Xue was not sure what the girl was up to. So, she could only ask while keeping her concentration on the road.

Princess Shen Bingling took a deep breath before framing her words in her heart to ask, "Are you really caged by your boyfriend?"

"…" Li Xue didn't understand. She turned to look at the girl with slight confusion on her brows that seemed like fright to Bingling. "Princess Shen, what do you mean? I didn't understand."

Shen Bingling became more concerned for Li Xue as she explained forthrightly. "Li Xue, there is nothing to be scared about. Earlier, I heard Shin You Jun saying that your boyfriend could be easily compared to a Devil. Although I didn't believe him at that time, now hearing the concern in your friend's voice, I couldn't help but think twice about it. Furthermore, she also added to say that he has caged you in the house and has left people to guard your whereabouts."

Li Xue understood where this whole misunderstanding had gotten started. At this moment, she wanted nothing but to go back to the great hall and twist the ears of the boy. He has really been courageous in calling his Brother-in-law a Devil in front of an outsider.

"Princess Shen, you have gotten it wrong. Those were just some cynical metaphors that both of them have used against him. My boyfriend isn't like that. He is quite good to me."

"But just now, you, yourself, said on the call that he has left men to look over you." Shen Bingling retorted. "Xiao Xue, you are a princess. You don't have to worry. Just tell us and we will help you out of this toxic relationship. Believe me."

She said and the sincerity of her words seemed genuine. But even if it was genuine, Li Xue couldn't accept it because it was simply not right. Smiling, Li Xue shook her head. "There is nothing like that, Princess Shen. I am not scared, rather I am very much in love with him. He treats me the way no one could treat anyone. Furthermore, yes, he has left men to look over me, but those are there just for my safety. If he had really locked me up to the place, how do you think, I would have come to attend the royal meet today?"

She said and even though her words seemed to have logic, Shen Bingling just felt that Li Xue was behaving like a teenage girl, who was covering her relationship with her toxic boyfriend. She was reluctant to give up the topic but knowing Li Xue for the short time, she understood one thing about her – the girl always prevents arguing when with friends. And since she wanted to become her friend, she had to follow the ritual.

So, in the end, she nodded to her and said, "Fine, since you are saying so. I would believe that for now. But you can always come to share with me later. I would be all ears to you." She said and Li Xue just shook her head,

"Don't worry, Princess Shen I can understand that you are concerned for me. But once you meet my boyfriend, you won't feel the same." Li Xue said.

Shen Bingling didn't say more, instead pressing her lips in a smile, she turned to look out of the window. Suddenly her gaze caught someone following them from behind. She stiffened as she quickly alerted to say, "We are being followed by someone, Li Xue. Look back. Someone is following us on the bike."

As Li Xue heard the girl, her expression changed. Her eyes turned sharp as she looked at the side mirror, truly finding someone following them closely from behind, trying his best to not come to the notice.