"Why did it take you so long to answer?" Lan Lingyan's cold voice cut through the phone line. Even at this distance, through a simple mobile connection, his formidable aura hadn't diminished; in fact, the absence of his physical expression amplified the pressure, like an inherently lofty noble whose presence rendered everyone else mere bowing serfs. Habit, it seemed, was dangerous; the instant Ning Yunhuan heard his voice, even without seeing him, she instinctively bent slightly at the waist, a placating look crossing her features:

"I was just eating downstairs; my phone was set aside."

He offered no acknowledgment of her obedient explanation, clearly dissatisfied. After a two-second silence, just as Ning Yunhuan's heart began to pound with apprehension, he finally spoke: "You didn't deliberately put your phone out of reach, did you?" The question made Ning Yunhuan’s heart skip a beat, but the line went silent again. After a long pause, he continued, "Consider today a pass. Either you come out after midnight, or I’ll be here to pick you up first thing tomorrow morning."

What was that tone for? Ning Yunhuan wondered, Was he unhappy about the way I said I was visiting my family home? She felt Lan Jiu was truly capricious, but she also understood his mercurial temperament. Even when standing before him, it was hard to guess his thoughts; over the phone, without seeing his expression, she had to rely entirely on guesswork. This made Ning Yunhuan even more anxious. She instinctively lowered her voice: "Don't be like that, I just got back. I saw Big Brother this afternoon, and I even tattled on him, but then he turned around and complained about me, saying I got a boyfriend..." Ning Yunhuan poured out words like a torrent. She dared not contradict the Demon King’s opinion; she could only talk ceaselessly, trying desperately to prevent Lan Lingyan from demanding she return immediately. As her mouth moved, her mind screamed: What on earth am I saying!

Lan Lingyan on the other end had already sensed her maneuver. A cryptic, cold curl touched his lips, and just as he was about to speak, he heard the word "boyfriend" drift across the line. He paused. The coldness on his face gradually melted like snow under the first spring sun, replaced instead by a look of satisfaction. He remained silent, simply holding the phone and listening to Ning Yunhuan’s relentless monologue.

This was the first time she had ever been so talkative while with him. Though she was still afraid of him, her incessant chatter transformed that tension into a delicate, almost coaxing lilt, rather than the usual frightened demeanor she adopted in his presence. Perhaps it was because he couldn't see her, or maybe the fear was absent, but Lan Lingyan found himself considerably more comfortable. He had never before possessed the patience to listen to someone drone on about trivialities like this; the sensation was entirely novel. Although he was still displeased that she was staying away at her 'family home' for so many days, her unprecedented garrulousness forced him to suppress the burgeoning irritability that would normally have driven him to lash out.

She kept talking until her throat was dry, surprised at where she found so many pointless things to say. Crucially, the other end of the line hadn't hung up. Ning Yunhuan cautiously entered her room, locked the door, and finally sat on the bed, letting out a sigh of relief. She whispered tentatively:

"Hello? Lan Jiu, are you still there?" Having heard no sound from him for a long time, Ning Yunhuan suspected he might have tossed the phone aside, letting her ramble on indefinitely. She pulled the phone away from her face to check the time; the screen showed she had been on the line with Lan Lingyan for over twenty minutes. Ning Yunhuan was horrified. Could she really have so much to discuss with Lan Lingyan? She recalled telling him about reporting Ning Yuncheng, and then...

Then, she seemed to grow increasingly indignant, railing against Ning Yuncheng's flaws. Indeed, speaking ill of someone seemed to trigger one's innate desire to complain. She had actually spoken to Lan Lingyan for half an hour!

Ning Yunhuan’s expression was odd. Holding the phone, she cautiously called out again. Certain that Lan Lingyan had already abandoned the call, she was about to pretend she had accidentally hit the disconnect button when his cool, measured voice finally sounded:

"So, this is how you address me in your thoughts?" His tone was slow and deliberate, with little fluctuation. Even without seeing him, Ning Yunhuan could picture his expression: elegant, reserved, radiating a detached nobility that kept others at arm's length—someone only worthy of distant admiration. She froze. The image of Lan Lingyan lingered in her mind for about three seconds before she shrieked.

What had she just said? She realized she had called Lan Lingyan "Lan Jiu." She had gotten too carried away, letting her guard down completely.

Hearing her cry, Lan Lingyan swallowed a laugh. He regretted not being there to witness her expression. Holding the phone in one hand, he curled the other loosely into a fist and tapped his forehead languidly. "I don't recall ever telling you that I am the ninth in my family ranking..."

He had never mentioned it. Ning Yunhuan felt stiff. She took a deep breath, and after a long pause, decisively stated: "I think I might be suffering from a bit of a change of bed sickness after coming home."

"Good girl!" Lan Lingyan was quite satisfied with her quick understanding. After listening to half an hour of rambling nonsense, his temples had been throbbing. Had it not been for the novel pleasure of hearing Ning Yunhuan finally drop her defenses and speak so freely, listening to any more of those inane complaints would have made him feel life was profoundly empty! But the half hour hadn't been wasted. Lan Lingyan smiled, tossed the phone onto a nearby table, and headed downstairs to order his carriage, ready to go claim the girl who had made him feel so unsettled for the past little while.

Father Ning felt a deep reluctance to see his daughter packing her bags only half a day after her return. However, his emotions were always restrained, so though his heart ached at her imminent departure without even spending a night, his face betrayed nothing. He simply frowned and asked:

"You just got back; why must you leave without staying the night?" His tone was slightly stern, but Ning Yunhuan was no longer a girl of seventeen or eighteen; she immediately understood the underlying sentiment. She smiled, slinging her bag over her shoulder as she walked over to kiss Father Ning and Mother Ning in turn. Then, suppressing her own feelings of reluctance, she pretended to be nonchalant: "I just got a call; someone at school needs to see me, Father. I promise I'll make more time to visit next time."

"You're going on a date with your boyfriend, aren't you?" Seeing how easily she charmed their father, Ning Yunhuan’s sister felt a surge of irritation, her words laced with sarcasm: "Who are you trying to fool with that old line? Brother and I stopped using those tricks years ago!"

Dears, please cast your recommendation votes; everyone should have some... Please give yours to me.................... I'm already holding out my hands to catch them... C