Xia Wei sat cross-legged on her cushioned chair, tapping her fingers against the table as she stared at the large, ornate box in front of her.

Her maid, Xiao Lan, looked equally distressed.

“My lady…” Xiao Lan hesitated before whispering, “His Highness sent this with a note.”

Xia Wei raised an eyebrow. “Read it.”

Xiao Lan cleared her throat nervously.

> “For Lady Xia Wei. A token of my sincerity. — Li Xuan.”

Xia Wei let out a long sigh.

“That’s it?”

Xiao Lan nodded cautiously.

Xia Wei leaned forward, narrowed her eyes, and studied the box.

It was huge, lacquered in deep red with golden phoenix carvings. A very royal gift.

Too flashy. Too showy. Too… suspicious.

“Open it,” she ordered.

Xiao Lan gulped but obeyed. She carefully lifted the lid and—

A mountain of expensive jewelry, jade ornaments, and silk scarves spilled out.

Xia Wei blinked.

Xiao Lan gasped.

“My lady!” Xiao Lan clutched her chest. “These are all priceless treasures! He’s clearly—”

“Trying to test me,” Xia Wei finished for her.

Xiao Lan paused. “Huh?”

Xia Wei tilted her head, deep in thought.

This was not a simple romantic gift.

If Li Xuan was seriously interested in her, he wouldn’t send something so extravagant this early.

No, this was a trap.

He was testing to see if she would greedily accept it.

If she did, he’d label her as materialistic. If she refused, he’d think she was acting fake and playing hard to get.

Tsk. How annoying.

Xia Wei smiled lazily.

“Xiao Lan, return everything.”

Xiao Lan almost choked.

“Return… everything?”

Xia Wei nodded.

“But, my lady! These are—”

“I don’t need them.” Xia Wei waved dismissively. “Tell His Highness: ‘I am too insignificant to accept such generosity.’”

Xiao Lan frowned. “Isn’t that… a bit too polite?”

Xia Wei grinned.

“Exactly.”

Li Xuan wanted to see if she was a greedy villainess?

Too bad. She wasn’t playing by his script.

Meanwhile…

Li Xuan sat in his study, casually flipping through reports when his servant arrived, looking uneasy.

“Your Highness, Lady Xia… has returned your gift.”

Li Xuan’s hand paused mid-turn.

“…Oh?”

The servant hesitated before reciting Xia Wei’s message:

> “I am too insignificant to accept such generosity.”

Li Xuan leaned back in his chair, deep in thought.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

Any other noble lady would have blushed and happily accepted such a favor.

But Xia Wei didn’t fall for it.

Instead, she rejected him so gracefully that he couldn’t even find fault with it.

Li Xuan chuckled.

He had underestimated her.

Later That Night…

Xia Wei was feeling pleased with herself.

She had successfully deflected Li Xuan’s test, roasted Bai Yueru’s followers, and even managed to enjoy a peaceful dinner.

Everything was going great.

Until—

A second gift arrived.

Xia Wei stared blankly at the new box in front of her.

Xiao Lan clutched her head.

“My lady! He sent another one!”

Xia Wei exhaled deeply.

“Alright. Open it.”

Xiao Lan opened the box with trembling hands…

Inside, instead of jewelry or silk, there was a single elegant hairpin.

Xia Wei narrowed her eyes.

This was different.

This wasn’t a test.

This was a message.

And the message was clear:

“You can reject my riches, but can you reject something personal?”

Xia Wei smirked.

Fine.

If Li Xuan wanted to play games, she would play.

She picked up the hairpin, twirled it between her fingers, and whispered—

“Let’s see how long you can chase me, Your Highness.”

---

End of Chapter 12

(Small theater)

Xia Wei: You think I’ll fall for your tricks? Please. I’ll make you fall for mine. Li Xuan: Why do I feel like I’m the one being trapped? Bai Yueru: WHY WON’T SHE DIE YET?! Gu Yan: Should I step in? …No, let’s see how this plays out.

--- Sky~