Xiaoxi happily ignored the chaos she had just caused and skipped straight to the grandmother.
"Good morning, Grandma!" she said cheerfully. "Why didn't you come to the prison this morning? Everyone else was there!"
The hall froze. Everyone thought š this girl is finished, no way grandma will forgive her after what she did to Haoran.
The grandmother's stern eyes softened just a little. She cleared her throat and asked gently, "Child, will you not apologize for what you just did? That is not good behavior."
Xiaoxi gasped. "Oh right! I forgot! Sorry, sorry!" Then she marched proudly to the middle of the hall, spread her arms dramatically, and announced:
"I sincerely apologize for making you all wait for two hours without breakfast! I am very sorry! So nowā¦ let's all eat together happily!"
Haoran slammed the table. "Not to everyone! You have to apologize to me! You stepped on me! Grandma told you to apologize to me!"
He looked at his grandmother with desperate eyes, like a prince begging for justice.
But the grandmother only smiled faintly. "She did nothing wrong apologizing to everyone. You are also included, Haoran."
Haoran's face: š¶ seriā¦ous..lyā¦?
Xiaoxi leaned toward him with her mischievous grin.
"See? Even Grandma agrees! You're included too, Frog Prince!"
And before Haoran could explode, she darted away with a laugh.
That was the last straw. Haoran jumped up, fire in his eyes, and shouted:
"Stop, brainless Puffer Fish!"
"Catch me if you can, Froggie!" Xiaoxi teased, running in circles.
The two of them tore through the grand hall like children playing tag, chairs scraping, breakfast dishes clattering. The three brothers covered their faces in shame while the sister clapped, laughing so hard she cried.
The grandmother sighed but her lips curved. "So much for the serious prince."
The empress pinched her forehead. "Unbelievableā¦" yet even she smiled secretly.
Outside, the chase continued. Xiaoxi's laughter echoed like silver bells, and Haoran, though furious, couldn't help but notice how her messy hair danced behind her, how alive she looked.
Thenādisaster. Or fate.
Xiaoxi tripped on a stone near the pond, yelping. Haoran instinctively grabbed her wrist, trying to steady her. She, in panic, grabbed onto him.
Both lost balance.
SPLASH! š¦
They fell straight into the pond.
The world went quiet. Just ripples of water, their heavy breathing, and two shocked faces inches apart.
Haoran's arms were still around her waist from trying to protect her. Xiaoxi blinked up at him, water droplets sliding down her cheeks like crystal beads. For a moment, their eyes locked ā her mischievous sparkle against his frozen seriousness.
Her lips curved into the faintest grin.
"See, Frog Princeā¦ you really are a frog. You look perfect in water."
Haoran's heart skipped ā but he quickly masked it with a groan.
"Cute little Puffer Fishā¦ no, just a brainless Puffer Fish. And a walking disaster for me."
Xiaoxi tilted her head, water dripping from her hair. "Hm? Did you say something?"
Haoran muttered, still holding her close:
"Yes. Ever since I met you, I've been in nothing but trouble."
Instead of letting go, Xiaoxi giggled, splashing his face with a playful kick.
"Good! Then stay in trouble with me, Froggie!"
And just like that ā soaked, bickering, laughing ā their first romantic encounter unfolded, equal parts chaos and sweetness. šøš¦