Chapter 112: A Living, Breathing Person

Chu Bing hurried upstairs and caught up just as Li Mohan was about to enter his room.

“Wait a moment, Young Master!” she called out, lifting her skirt as she quickened her pace.

Looking up at Li Mohan, her voice carried a hint of unease. “Are you angry with me?”

Li Mohan lowered his gaze to the top of Chu Bing’s dark hair, his eyes slightly cold. “No.”

Chu Bing did not believe him for a second. If he wasn’t angry, why did he just fight with Li Yuxi?

Glancing around, she saw Old Zhao was nowhere in sight. It was just the two of them now. Seizing the moment, she hurriedly said, “Young Master, I don’t know why Li Yuxi keeps pestering me. Believe me, there’s nothing between us.”

Li Mohan studied Chu Bing quietly for a moment, realizing he couldn’t tell from her expression whether she was joking.

“...Then why did he come out of your room? You two stayed together all night?” Li Mohan’s voice was hoarse as he finally asked the question that weighed on his heart.

This matter was a thorn in his side; unless it was clarified, it would always hurt him deeply.

Chu Bing’s eyes widened in surprise as she quickly explained, “I don’t know either. Last night, when I came back from the inner room, I saw him there... He insisted on following me, and I just couldn’t get him to leave...”

She remembered breaking out in sweat at her forehead, speaking incoherently. Seeing her like this, Li Mohan’s anger subsided a bit.

No matter what, Chu Bing must care about him.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t be so anxious.

Chu Bing waited for Li Mohan’s response but, thinking he was still angry and harboring resentment toward her, her small face scrunched up in worry.

Li Mohan felt a pang of sympathy seeing her like that and was about to comfort her when footsteps approached from nearby.

It was Li Yuxi catching up.

Li Yuxi’s gaze flickered between Chu Bing and Li Mohan, the cold curve of his lips sharp. “Looks like I’m not in the right place to interrupt your heart-to-heart.”

Chu Bing was startled; she hadn’t even noticed when Li Yuxi came up. Turning around, she saw the chill in his eyes and instinctively hid behind Li Mohan.

Seeing this, Li Yuxi’s expression grew colder. Was he really so intimidating to Chu Bing?

He snorted coldly and strode toward her but only glanced at her briefly before turning his gaze to Li Mohan. “Big brother, this little maid is the one I have my eye on. If you still regard me as your younger brother, you’d better keep your distance from her.”

As he spoke, he forcefully pulled Chu Bing into his arms.

Chu Bing struggled hard twice and glared at him fiercely. “Nonsense!”

Li Mohan’s face darkened. He reached out and grabbed Chu Bing’s other arm, skillfully pulling her to his side.

Chu Bing staggered a couple of steps, steadying herself and hiding behind him.

“Since Hongxiu doesn’t want to follow you, then stop bothering her,” he said coldly, nodding slightly as he shielded Chu Bing behind him.

Chu Bing clung to Li Mohan’s clothes, peeking out with just her head, warily glaring at Li Yuxi.

Li Yuxi’s frustration grew. The two in front of him were united, clearly seeing him as an enemy.

He narrowed his eyes and sneered at Chu Bing. “That won’t do. What I claim can only belong to me.”

Chu Bing rolled her eyes; she hadn’t heard such childish talk in ages!

Li Yuxi was just an immature fool!

“You’re far too domineering. Hongxiu is a living person. No one can force her to be with anyone she doesn’t want,” Li Mohan said, staring coldly at Li Yuxi.

The atmosphere between the brothers grew tense. Li Yuxi smirked slightly. “Big brother, why say so much nonsense? Isn’t it true you also have your eye on this little maid? Fine, let’s settle it with a contest—whoever wins gets her.”

He hadn’t considered Chu Bing’s own wishes at all!

Chu Bing was so angry she nearly jumped up but realized she was no match for him. She had no choice but to suppress her fury and shrink behind Li Mohan.

Fortunately, Li Mohan was reasonably reliable and immediately rejected Li Yuxi’s unreasonable proposal. “Hongxiu can go with whoever she wants. None of us have the right to force her.”

He glanced coldly at Li Yuxi and added, “If I find out you threaten her, I’ll tell Father everything you’ve done lately.”

Li Yuxi’s expression shifted slightly.

He had just lost most of his power. If Chancellor Li learned of his deeds, he would surely imprison him within the estate, never allowing him to step outside again.

Though Li Mohan wasn’t afraid of Chancellor Li, if his strength became known, it would be difficult for him to act freely in the future.

He looked at Li Mohan protecting Chu Bing with cold eyes and smiled slyly. “Big brother, you’re really devoted to this little maid. Alright, since you’ve said your piece, I’ll abide by the rules. Don’t worry, I won’t force her.”

With a half-smile, he glanced at Chu Bing once more and then turned away, his robe billowing as he left with an imposing air.

Only after he had walked far away did Chu Bing let out a breath, nearly collapsing.

Li Mohan glanced at her, a flicker of concern passing through his cold eyes before vanishing.

Gratefully, Chu Bing looked up at him. “Young Master, thank you so much today!”

Otherwise, she had no idea how long that pervert Li Yuxi would have kept pestering her!

Li Mohan replied lightly and strode past her toward his room. Halfway there, he suddenly turned back, looking at her with a cool expression.

“If Li Yuxi keeps following us, our trip to the frontier will have to be postponed.”

“Why?”

She had just finally glimpsed a chance to complete her mission. Why were there more setbacks?

Chu Bing almost banged her head on the ground in frustration, clutching her head and wanting to cry.

Li Mohan explained calmly, “Our second brother has long resented Father’s favoritism toward the third brother. If he follows us, I worry he might harm the third brother.”

He didn’t care who Father favored, but Li Yuxi had always been rebellious. If he learned of Father’s plans, he would only hate the third brother more.

Chu Bing hurriedly lifted her skirt and followed after him. “Can’t we lose Li Yuxi and sneak off to the frontier?”

She had finally seen a glimmer of hope and absolutely couldn’t let Li Yuxi ruin it.

Li Mohan glanced at Chu Bing, seeing the anxiety etched on her face. Suddenly, he felt a heaviness in his chest.

All her worry was for Li Haoran. What exactly were her feelings toward the third brother?

Chu Bing looked up at Li Mohan eagerly, waiting for him to agree.

“If you can find a way to lose him, we’ll set off immediately,” Li Mohan finally relented.

A bit of the anxiety in her eyes eased.

Her mind raced, turning over ideas to shake off Li Yuxi.

Li Mohan returned to his room, and Chu Bing stood in the corridor for a moment before a sudden thought struck her. She quickly hurried back to her own room.