CHAPTER SIXTEEN — WHEN YOU COME TO MARRY ME
"These words of yours remind me," Nangong Yi drawled, each syllable slow and deliberate, "that I ought to take Miss Tang to Phoenix City as my honoured guest."
His brows arched in a manner far too flirtatious to be decent, and the faintest smile tugged at his lips. The tone in which he spoke left no room for negotiation. It was not a suggestion. It was a declaration.
Tang Ke Xin felt a cold weight settle in her chest.
In the modern world, she had been a doctor of psychology—skilled in reading minds, dismantling defences, and manipulating the subtleties of human behaviour. She had never once lost a psychological battle.
Yet before this man, she found herself utterly on the defensive.
"Turn the carriage," Nangong Yi said lightly, laughter threading through his voice. "We are going to Phoenix City."
His tone was so cheerful it seemed flowers might bloom in its wake.
Dong'er, who held the reins, froze. Her hands tightened around the leather straps, and she turned her head slightly.
"Miss…?" she whispered, uncertainty trembling in her voice.
"Turn around," Nangong Yi repeated, still smiling—yet beneath that smile lay an authority that brooked no refusal.
Tang Ke Xin clenched her teeth.
He truly meant to take her to Phoenix City.
She knew all too well that Nangong Yi acted according to his whims. If he decided to drag her across the empire, he would do so without hesitation. And if he truly was the man from that night…
She did not dare imagine what awaited her.
Retreat was impossible. Escape was impossible. Avoidance was impossible.
Would she truly allow herself to be carried away at his mercy?
No. That was not her nature.
A spark ignited in her eyes—sharp, calculating.
"Don't tell me," she murmured, lifting her gaze to him, "that the Mayor has fallen for me?"
Her voice was soft, her expression a delicate blend of embarrassment and barely contained excitement. Her clear eyes shimmered with a hint of shy anticipation.
Nangong Yi blinked.
His brows lifted a fraction, his smile lingering as he studied her.
What trick is this woman playing now?
"It would hardly be proper," Tang Ke Xin continued with a sigh, "for an unmarried maiden to follow the City Lord to Phoenix City. Besides… I am still engaged."
Her tone was troubled, hesitant, as though torn between duty and desire.
His brows drew together slightly—not quite displeased, but certainly attentive.
"However," she added, lowering her lashes, "for a man as exceptional as the City Lord… what woman would not admire him? To marry him would be the dream of many."
She looked up at him with a bashful, perfectly measured infatuation—just enough to tempt, not enough to overwhelm.
Nangong Yi's eyes narrowed, his expression unreadable. He said nothing, waiting.
Tang Ke Xin paused, as though gathering courage. Then, with a solemnity that bordered on earnestness, she said:
"In truth… the City Lord's status and appearance far surpass those of my current fiancé. If the City Lord truly likes me… I could withdraw from that engagement and wait for the City Lord to marry me."
Nangong Yi stared at her.
The smile faded from his lips. His eyes narrowed further, searching her face—searching for the truth beneath her words. He, who had always seen through every lie, every scheme, every hidden intention… found himself unable to read her.
He had heard countless confessions before—many of them cloying, many insincere, many irritating.
But this…
This was different.
Tang Ke Xin saw the flicker of uncertainty in his expression and laughed inwardly.
Not enough, she thought. I need something stronger.
Before he could react, she leaned forward—swift as a spark—and pressed a kiss to his cheek.
A soft, fleeting touch.
Then she drew back, looking at him with eyes full of tender affection, as though she had just bared her heart to him.
The carriage fell utterly silent.
And for the first time, Nangong Yi's expression truly changed.