Chapter 225: The Main Character
The moment the Eighth Prince’s words fell, Wang Gege immediately turned toward Xie Rong.
"Husband, let’s go!" She grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the eastern pavilion before he could say anything else.
Xie Rong allowed himself to be dragged along, a faint smile appearing on his lips.
Behind them, the Eighth Prince watched their departing figures for a moment before turning away.
Meanwhile, Wang Gege was already looking forward to finally enjoying the hot spring.
After all the troublesome incidents they had encountered recently, she desperately needed a day where she could simply relax without having to deal with assassins, scheming women, mysterious systems, or unexpected revelations about her past.
"I’m finally going to enjoy the hot spring!" she exclaimed happily.
Xie Rong glanced at her. "Furen seems very excited."
"Of course!" Wang Gege looked at him with a bright smile. "Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for this?"
"This husband remembers."
"Then you should know that nobody is allowed to disturb me today."
Xie Rong nodded solemnly. "Understood."
"No villains, no assassins, no troublesome guests..." Wang Gege counted on her fingers as they walked toward the eastern pavilion. She paused before glancing back toward the direction they had just come from, muttering slowly, "And definitely no Eighth Prince."
Xie Rong’s lips twitched. "Furen... you should at least show your gratitude. He was the one who gave you the opportunity to enjoy this hot spring."
Wang Gege turned her head and looked at him. "I am grateful."
"Really?" Xie Rong bit his lip, holding his mouth from smiling.
"Of course." She nodded seriously before adding, "I am grateful that he let us stay, and I am also grateful that he saved us from having to spend half the day searching for another hot spring."
Xie Rong nodded in satisfaction. "That sounds better."
Wang Gege narrowed her eyes at him.
"But..." She leaned closer and lowered her voice. "Why is he following us?"
Xie Rong’s expression stiffened slightly. He turned around and looked behind him, only to find the Eighth Prince a few steps away, leisurely walking in the same direction.
"Your Highness," Xie Rong said politely, "you can have your time. We won’t disturb you."
The Eighth Prince stopped and looked at them. "This is the only way back."
Wang Gege’s eyes widened. She looked at the path behind them, then at the Eighth Prince, and finally at Xie Rong.
"Oh..." Xie Rong remained silent for a moment.
Of course.
Naturally, there was only one path.
He had almost forgotten that this was a secluded mountain estate, not some modern resort with several different entrances and pathways.
Wang Gege awkwardly smiled. "Then... Your Highness, please go ahead."
The Eighth Prince nodded and continued walking.
Wang Gege waited until the Eighth Prince had passed them before quietly tugging on Xie Rong’s sleeve.
"Husband..." She leaned closer to his ear and lowered her voice. "This is so embarrassing..."
Xie Rong glanced at her, trying his best to suppress his laughter. "Let’s go..."
"Let’s go..." Wang Gege grinned awkwardly. "But I really thought he was following us."
Before Xie Rong could answer, the Eighth Prince suddenly stopped a few steps ahead.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
The faint smile that had been lingering on his face disappeared completely, replaced by his usual cold and unreadable expression.
He turned his head toward one of the guards following behind him. "I will rest in my chamber for the whole day. Don’t let anyone disturb me."
The guard immediately bowed. "Yes, Your Highness."
The Eighth Prince gave no further explanation. He simply turned and continued walking, his expression remaining cold as he headed deeper into the estate.
Wang Gege watched him leave, then quietly glanced at Xie Rong. "Husband... Did his mood change too quickly?"
Xie Rong’s gaze remained on the Eighth Prince’s retreating figure. His expression also became slightly more serious. "Perhaps something has happened."
Wang Gege watched the Eighth Prince’s retreating figure for another moment before shrugging. Whatever had caused his expression to change, it had nothing to do with them, and she certainly did not want to ruin their long-awaited day of relaxation by worrying about someone else.
She quickly turned back toward Xie Rong, her eyes brightening again. "Anyway, let’s go!"
Xie Rong looked at her for a moment before a smile returned to his lips. "All right."
Wang Gege immediately grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the carriage, her steps noticeably lighter than before. "We finally get to relax!"
Xie Rong chuckled as he followed her. "Furen... be careful..."
But before he could take another step forward, one of the palace guards approached and stopped him.
"Young Master Xie, your chamber is at the end of this corridor. Please do not cross to the eastern side. His Highness’s chamber is located there."
Xie Rong nodded calmly. "Understood..."
The guard cupped his fists before stepping aside.
Wang Gege, who had already walked a few steps ahead, turned around when she noticed Xie Rong had stopped. "Husband? What happened?"
"Nothing." Xie Rong walked toward her and took her hand again. "The guard was merely informing this husband where our chamber is."
"Our chamber?" Wang Gege’s eyes immediately brightened.
Xie Rong’s lips curved into a faint smile. "Mm. Our chamber."
She happily pulled him forward again. "Then let’s go! I want to see what it looks like!"
Xie Rong could only laugh as he followed her, while the palace guard watched them disappear down the corridor.
Then, the guard headed back toward the Eighth Prince’s chamber and knocked on the door.
"Your Highness, both of them are already in their chamber."
The Eighth Prince glanced toward the closed door before calmly replying, "Understood. You may go."
The guard bowed and left.
Once the footsteps had faded away, the Eighth Prince’s eyes returned to the small red ladybug hovering in front of him. "You failed the mission again, how would you return to your main character?!"
"I just don’t want to play dirty to just get back to my place..." He leaned back and sighed.
"Ex...cuse me, Your Highness." The little ladybug placed its tiny hands on its hips, clearly irritated. "Did you forget what kind of system I am?"
The Eighth Prince glanced at it calmly. "A troublesome one."
"I’m a Main Character System!" the little ladybug shouted.
The Eighth Prince remained expressionless.
"You are the main character of this world," the ladybug continued, waving its tiny arms dramatically. "You are supposed to be at the center of the story, yet look at what is happening now!"
A holographic screen suddenly appeared in front of them.
[WORLD BALANCE: 63%]
[MAIN CHARACTER PRESENCE: 7%]
[SUPPORTING CHARACTER INFLUENCE: 93%]
The Eighth Prince’s eyes narrowed slightly.
The ladybug pointed angrily at the screen. "Do you see it?! The supporting characters are becoming more important than you!"
The Eighth Prince was silent for a moment before his gaze settled on the last figure. "Xie Rong?"
"Correct!"
"And Wang Gege?"
"Also correct!" The ladybug flew closer to his face, its expression becoming unusually serious.
"They were never supposed to become this important. Their actions have already changed too many events, and the more they interfere with the original storyline, the more your position as the main character weakens."
The Eighth Prince leaned back against his chair, his fingers lightly tapping against the armrest. "So that’s why the world is becoming unstable?"
The ladybug nodded, "Exactly! The balance is slowly cracking."
The Eighth Prince lowered his eyes, seemingly deep in thought. "Then what does your system want me to do?"
The little ladybug immediately smiled. "Simple! Take back your place as the main character."