Surviving In Another World With My Three Cups!-Chapter 161 -

Lin Xu froze when she saw who stood before her.

The Crown Prince.

For a brief moment, even she couldn’t hide her shock.

She set the teacup aside slowly, then stood up and walked toward the main gate. Her steps were calm, but her mind was already racing.

The carriage door opened.

The Crown Prince stepped down with unhurried grace, his cloak shifting as he landed on the ground. The lantern light caught his sharp features, making his presence impossible to ignore. Behind him, several guards followed silently, their expressions cold and alert.

The moment his feet touched the earth, a loud crack of thunder tore through the sky.

The Crown Prince paused, then laughed softly.

"It’s going to rain," he said, lifting his gaze to the dark clouds above. "How nice."

Lin Xu stopped a few steps away from him.

She lowered her head slightly in a polite bow, not deep, not submissive.

"Your Highness," she said calmly. "What brings you here at this hour?"

The Crown Prince’s lips curved into a lazy smirk. He took a step closer, his eyes studying her openly, without shame.

"I am the Crown Prince," he replied lightly. "I can go wherever I please."

Then his gaze sharpened.

"But I’m curious," he continued. "Why did you think you could leave so easily?"

Lin Xu frowned, confused. "Your Highness... I don’t understand."

He chuckled, amused by her reaction.

"You really don’t?" he asked. "As my slave, why did you think you could walk away whenever you wanted?"

Lin Xu’s breath caught.

"Slave?" she repeated slowly.

Her voice was steady, but her eyes hardened.

"I am not your slave," she said firmly. "And I don’t recall agreeing to such a thing."

The Crown Prince tilted his head, clearly entertained.

"You haven’t forgotten," he said. "You’ve simply been pretending you could."

Before Lin Xu could respond, hurried footsteps came from behind her.

Yan Mei had heard the sound of carriages and thunder. She stepped out of the house, still tying her outer robe, ready to protect Lin Xu if needed.

But the moment she saw the man standing at the gate, she stopped short.

Tall... well-dressed... dangerously handsome.

And surrounded by guards.

Yan Mei’s eyes widened slightly as she moved closer to Lin Xu’s side, lowering her voice.

"Lin Xu... who is that?"

Lin Xu didn’t take her eyes off the Crown Prince.

"The Crown Prince," she answered quietly.

Yan Mei stiffened.

The Crown Prince’s gaze shifted to Yan Mei, his smile widening just a little.

"So," he said calmly, "this is where you chose to hide."

Thunder rumbled again in the distance.

The wind picked up, rustling the trees in the courtyard.

Lin Xu took a slow breath.

The night air felt heavier now, thick with pressure and the promise of rain. She straightened her back and stepped forward, placing herself slightly in front of Yan Mei without making it obvious.

Then she bowed.

This time, it was deeper.

"Your Highness," Lin Xu said quietly, her voice clear and controlled, "about what happened that night... I owe you an apology."

The Crown Prince raised a brow, clearly surprised.

She lifted her head and met his gaze directly, neither trembling nor avoiding his eyes.

"I was wrong to have approached you that night your highness," she continued, "I liked about my identity and got to close to your highness, please forgive me for that."

Yan Mei’s fingers curled tightly at her side, but she said nothing.

The Crown Prince studied Lin Xu in silence, as if trying to peel her apart layer by layer.

Lin Xu inhaled again and went on.

"I accept responsibility for that mistake," she said. "If you were offended, then the fault lies with me."

Then she did something even Yan Mei did not expect.

She bowed again.

"Please forgive my disrespect," Lin Xu said softly. "And I ask Your Highness to let me go."

The words were simple, but heavy.

"I have already left the Mo residence," she continued. "I only wish to live quietly with my children. I do not seek power, favor, or protection. I just want peace."

The wind blew harder, lifting strands of her hair. The first drops of rain began to fall, light and scattered.

The Crown Prince laughed.

Not loudly... not cruelly... but with clear amusement.

"Let you go?" he repeated. "Lin Xu, do you truly think an apology is enough to erase what happened between us? Favor huh? you think I’ve taken a liking to you? what makes you think your words can chase me away so easily? huh?"

Lin Xu heard his words buts eh just stood still, expressionless.

She simply answered honestly.

"I don’t KNOW," she said. "But it’s all I have to offer."

Thunder rolled across the sky, louder this time.

The Crown Prince stepped closer until he was only an arm’s length away. His guards remained still, watching without expression.

"You are interesting," he said slowly. "Most people beg. Most people lie. You did neither."

His eyes darkened.

"But understand this," he added. "I don’t like being defied. And I don’t like losing what I consider mine. YOU BECAME MINE THE DAY YOU CALLED ME YOUR LORD AND MASTER, DO NOT EVER FORGET THAT"

Lin Xu’s fingers clenched inside her sleeves, but her face remained calm.

"I am not something that can be owned," she said quietly. "Not by anyone."

For a moment, the Crown Prince didn’t respond.

Rain began to fall more steadily now, dotting the stone path between them.

Yan Mei stepped forward, unable to stay silent any longer.

"Your Highness," she said carefully, "Lin Xu has already suffered enough. If there is anger to place, place it on me instead."

The Crown Prince glanced at her, then smiled faintly.

"Loyal," he remarked. "Very loyal."

His attention returned to Lin Xu.

"I will not decide tonight," he said at last. "It wouldn’t be fair.

Lin Xu’s eyes widened slightly.

Before she could respond, the Crown Prince had already turned away, his tone final, leaving no room for refusal.

"We will rest here for the night," he repeated. "Once the rain stops, we leave."

His guards immediately moved, efficient and silent, as if this place already belonged to him. Two of them stepped forward, clearly preparing to enter the courtyard.

Yan Mei stiffened beside Lin Xu.

"Your Highness," Lin Xu said quickly, forcing calm into her voice, "this is a private residence. It is small and not fit to host—"

The Crown Prince glanced back at her, amused.

"Then it will have to manage," he replied lightly. "I have slept in worse places."

Thunder cracked again, louder than before, followed by heavy rain pouring from the sky. Within moments, the courtyard stones were slick and shining.

The Crown Prince looked up once more, satisfied.

"See?" he said. "Even the heavens agree with me."

Lin Xu fell silent.

She knew that look.

Arguing further would only make things worse.

Slowly, she bowed again, this time out of necessity, not guilt.

"As Your Highness wishes," she said.

The Crown Prince’s lips curved into a faint smile.

"Good," he said. "At least you know when to yield."

He stepped forward, passing her as if she were nothing more than a gate he had already crossed. The guards followed closely behind.

Yan Mei grabbed Lin Xu’s sleeve the moment they were a few steps away.

"Lin Xu," she whispered urgently, "this isn’t right. We can’t let him stay."

Lin Xu’s jaw tightened.

"I know," she murmured back. "But we don’t have a choice."

They followed them inside.

Servants who had been half-asleep rushed out in panic, bowing deeply when they realized who had arrived. Orders were given quickly. Rooms were cleared. Lanterns were lit.

The Crown Prince removed his cloak and handed it to a guard, his movements unhurried, as though he were in his own palace.

He glanced around once more, then looked back at Lin Xu.

"You live simply," he remarked. "For someone who once stood so boldly before me."

Lin Xu met his gaze.

"A simple life is enough for me," she replied. "That is why I left."

"Left?" he echoed softly. "Or ran away?"

She didn’t answer.

Yan Mei stepped in smoothly. "Your Highness, we will prepare a guest room immediately."

"See that you do," he said, waving a hand. "And make sure no one disturbs me tonight."

His eyes returned to Lin Xu.

"As for you," he added, voice low, "you and I are not finished talking."

A chill ran down Lin Xu’s spine.

She bowed once more. "Of course."

The Crown Prince turned and followed the guards down the corridor, his footsteps fading slowly into the sound of rain against the roof.

Only when he was gone did Yan Mei let out the breath she had been holding.

"That man..." she whispered. "He’s dangerous."

Lin Xu closed her eyes briefly.

"I know," she said again.

She looked out toward the courtyard, where rain continued to fall under the moonlight, heavy and endless.

Peace.

The one thing she wanted most.

And now, it felt further away than ever.