Chapter 256: A Little Surprise

Chapter 256: A Little Surprise

Lin Nuo inadvertently tugged at the name of the royal family with the surname Luo.

But he quickly held his tongue.

Oh wow, this tea is so hot! I’m used to ice-cold water; this hot tea burned my mouth!

I better take a breather.

“Young Master Lin, what’s wrong?”

“Burned my mouth…”

“Ah, how careless of you, Young Master Lin! Let me blow on it for you.”

Luo Xiaoxue panicked and immediately leaned closer to Lin Nuo, blowing gently at his lips.

Lin Nuo was stunned; that was a shock that would last him a year.

Come on, you’re a young lady from a prominent family—be a little more mindful of your image!

He quickly turned his head, avoiding eye contact with Luo Xiaoxue.

However, Luo Xiaoxue wasn’t about to give up. She leaned in, determined to help him feel better.

“Don’t move, Young Master Lin, let me blow on it; it’ll feel better.”

Those who understood thought it was just her blowing at his lips, while those who didn’t might think Luo Xiaoxue was going to kiss him.

This drew all eyes to them.

In broad daylight, kissing in public? How shameless!

“Alright, alright.”

“Just a little blow; it’ll help.”

“Alright, alright.”

As a villain, it’s just a burned mouth, why do I need someone blowing on my lips? Am I really that delicate? Even Ruo’er never did this to me.

I can’t shake the feeling that this mouth-to-mouth blowing might lead to something awkward.

Just as Lin Nuo was worried about it, he accidentally bumped into a passerby while trying to back away.

Luo Xiaoxue, too, was caught off guard and ended up kissing Lin Nuo right on the lips.

That scorching mouth met her soft, cold lips.

Is this the legendary ice-and-fire combo?!

The random bystander instinctively turned to look.

Is it really that mad? So many people around, and they’re publicly kissing?

Can’t you give others a break?

“Oh wow.”

Lin Nuo quickly pulled away; the kiss came out of nowhere, and neither was prepared for it.

Luo Xiaoxue’s face turned slightly red. She was just trying to help him with his burned mouth. How did it turn into a kiss when he bumped into someone and stopped?

It was just an accident; she definitely didn’t mean to kiss Lin the Hero.

So this is what kissing feels like?

Luo Xiaoxue touched her lips.

For just a moment, their soft lips met—it felt so wonderful.

Please, let’s have this kind of surprise again!

But still hoping one day it could happen without accidents.

“Sorry, Young Master Lin! I didn’t mean it!”

Luo Xiaoxue apologized, but her smiling face suggested she didn’t actually feel regret.

“What are you smiling about?”

“Uh, I, I’m not smiling!”

Despite her words, Luo Xiaoxue couldn’t suppress her joy and ended up giggling.

“You were clearly smiling, and you haven’t stopped.”

“Ah, well, maybe my face and expression just look like that… It seems like I’m smiling, but I’m not… Alright, alright.”

Looking directly at Lin Nuo made her want to laugh even more; she covered her mouth, unable to hold it in.

Luo Xiaoxue wasn’t your typical shy girl. After accidentally kissing Lin Nuo, her face flushed like a red apple, but she didn’t shy away.

Her cheeks were only slightly tinted, as she was meant to be an empress in the making, unpretentious and brave enough to show her true self to Lin the Hero.

Now they both had attracted attention; everyone in the inn was staring at them.

“What are you looking at? Haven’t you seen people kiss before?”

Lin Nuo grumbled. Coming for tea, and now he was caught up in this mess.

That passerby was in trouble; it’s all your fault! A villain like me shouldn’t be getting kissed!

Seeing Lin Nuo’s fierce look, the passerby worried he might want to extort something and quickly fled.

Many outsiders were in the city, and since Lin Nuo hadn’t returned to the Lin family for years, most people didn’t recognize him.

As for Luo Xiaoxue, the common folk had never seen her true face.

Moreover, in the eyes of the public, royal aristocrats visiting the common towns usually arrived with a large entourage.

Nobody would think Luo Yi was actually Luo Xiaoxue, the princess of the dynasty.

Just then, footsteps echoed down from the upper floors, drawing everyone’s eyes.

A girl dressed in a sheer gown appeared, surrounded by several strong bodyguards.

She wore gold and silver, flaunting her nobility.

Descending the stairs, she spotted Lin Nuo, and he noticed her too.

The girl smirked disdainfully:

“I thought it was someone important. So it’s you. Well, with the Lin family’s big occasion, it’s expected you’d return. Long time no see, Lin Nuo.”

“Hmm, long time no see; I see you’re still alive.”

“Mind your manners!”

One of the guards beside her flared up at Lin Nuo’s remark.

The girl gestured for her guard to calm down:

“Don’t be rash; he’s just a bit mouthy.”

And then she turned her focus back to Lin Nuo:

“I didn’t expect the Third Young Master of the Lin family to kiss an ordinary girl in public. Well, your status is well-known; there’s no need for me to elaborate. Birds of a feather flock together, so you can only find someone of lower status.”

“Ha ha.”

Lin Nuo chuckled and lifted his teacup. The tea had cooled down; it was no longer hot, so he took a small sip.

He continued:

“Have you fallen so low that you’re staying at an inn?”

“It’s still early; I came in advance to explore the city, and I’m staying at the best room on the top floor.”

“Sure, but the rooms you stayed in aren’t much better anyway.”

Lin Nuo chuckled again. This girl, Zhou Hui, was originally just the daughter of a minor noble family who wanted to climb the Lin family ladder through marriage. The Zhou family was hoping to pair Zhou Hui with Lin Nuo.

Of course, they couldn’t ask the Lin family directly, so they aimed to develop their relationship privately.

Initially, things went smoothly, and Zhou Hui acted gracefully and demurely to win Lin Nuo’s favor.

But then, her family suddenly rose to prominence and gained fame, so they no longer sought Lin Nuo.

At that time, Lin Nuo had had a bit of a crush on her, but once Zhou’s family gained power, she showed her true colors, flipped on him, and began to ridicule him. Lin Nuo was quite hurt by that.

Now, he could only harbor disdain for this woman.

Zhou Hui smirked lightly:

“Even if you have money, you can’t stay there. Only people like me with status can afford it.”

“Right, the top floor—it’s better to avoid humiliation by staying down low.”

“Who are you calling lowly?”

Zhou Hui instinctively covered her chest,

“You pervert.”

“No amount of padding will help; it’s too fake. My maid, Ruo’er, is still young, but she’s more developed than you. Don’t worry; she’ll grow into it next life.”

“You… Ha! I’m a person of status, not going to stoop to your level.”

“Your waist can hold more water than a bucket; it’s thicker!”

Lin Nuo continued his tongue-lashing.