Haoran marched through the palace halls, wet robes clinging, his pride hanging by a thread. Every step made an embarrassing squish, squish.
Behind him…
pat pat pat pat
Xiaoxi waddled along, arms outstretched, still dripping like a leaky faucet.
"Froggieee~ wait for your ducklinggg~ quack quack~ 🦆"
Haoran froze. The servants nearby bowed low, shoulders trembling to hide their laughter.
"STOP CALLING ME THAT!" he snapped.
But Xiaoxi just tilted her head innocently.
"What? You don't like being called Froggie? Then how about… Soaked Noodle Prince?"
"WHAT?!" Haoran spun around, horrified.
Xiaoxi grinned. "Or… My Royal Laundry Bag~?"
The palace staff lost it. One eunuch nearly dropped the tea tray, another maid stuffed her fist in her mouth to keep from laughing.
Haoran's ears burned. "You—!! Brainless Puffer Fish! Walking Disaster! Catastrophe in human form!!"
Xiaoxi puffed her cheeks. "At least I'm cute. Unlike you. You're just… wet."
Haoran was about to retort, when SLIP!—Xiaoxi's slippers betrayed her again. She slid across the shiny floor like a penguin and—THUMP!—crashed right into Haoran's back.
The two tumbled down together in the middle of the corridor.
"Uuugh… why do you always bring destruction wherever you go?!" Haoran groaned.
Xiaoxi, sitting on top of him, flashed a cheeky smile.
"Because fate wants me glued to you, Froggie~."
At that exact moment, the empress, grandmother, sister, and brothers came around the corner.
The sister raised her brows. "Oh look. Our future emperor… flattened by his duckling."
The brothers tried to hold in their laughter.
"Should we… help?"
"Nope. This is better than theater."
The grandmother sighed. "My poor grandson…"
Haoran pushed Xiaoxi off, scrambling up in horror.
"DON'T GET THE WRONG IDEA! She's just—just—"
"His soulmate," Xiaoxi interrupted, flashing a peace sign. ✌️
The courtyard erupted in laughter again.
Haoran buried his face in his palms. "Why me… why ALWAYS me?!"