31 The game has started

"Rumors that you conspired, my missing." Yi Hua stops just before a shocked Tao Tao who stared at Yi Hua with her wide eyes and open mouth, composing herself she gasps out dramatically.

Yi Hua does the same, but even more dramatically, she cups her mouth and blinks her eyes, "Opps, I shouldn't have said that. You will be offended." Yi Hua adds, and Dao Ye frowns and watches her in surprise.

Her words and actions are very unpredictable, "Are you mad? Of course, nonsense like this would offend me! Who do you think you are talking to!" Tao Tao shouts, raging up but in relief at what she heard from Yi Hua.

"You actually thought I was being serious?" Yi Hua asks, tilting her head and pursing her lips, Dao Ye chuckles but stops seeing Tao Tao snapping her head towards Dao Ye.

"Here, look at me and answer. Did you think I was just blabbering? I mean I am not accusing you but the rumors." Yi Hua shrugs off, Tao Tao widens her eyes, "What nonsense are you saying?!" Tao Tao snaps, growing agitated.

"I think the same! The people must be crazy, how can you, my own- I mean my own step-sister want to hurt me, right?" Yi Hua asks, walking closer and towering over Tao Tao with a forced smile.

"Who said that?" Tao Tao asks, growing nervous, "Peoples." Yi Hua says, tilting her head and looking intensely at Yi Hua, "Is that, right?" She asks, trying to corner Tao Tao.

"What?! No! I even was the witness and helped the court find you! It was your maid-"

"As far as I know, I do remember Lin Yi had nothing to do with my missing. How could you witness that?" Yi Hua asks, raising a brow and waiting for a reply as To Tao opens and closes her lips searching for proper words.

"She was talking to one suspicious man! I saw her with my own eyes!" Tao Tao roars, clenching her fist and composing herself and her emotions, she couldn't afford to throw herself in trouble.

"Oh really, ah. Lin Yi did mention that earlier but I forgot to ask who he was." Yi Hua says, widening her eyes and walking to her side, she leans back and startles Tao Tao.

"What?" Tao Tao gulps, "I will make sure to find out who he was. I will see you then." Yi Hua says, warning Tao Tao with a smile, Tao Tao widens her eyes, surprised by the changes she had noticed in her style and her words, mostly her aura.

"You-"

"Pray that I don't find dirt on you, dear sis." Yi Hua says, patting Tao Tao's shoulder and grinning, she looks back and gestures to Dao Ye to follow her as she walks away.

"You!! Who do you think you are threatening?!" Tao Tao screams, Dao Ye turns around and looks at Tao Ye but Yi Hua smirks, minding her business but her feet halt.

"Why are you shouting?"

She freezes, Dao Ye looks ahead but gets startled finding Yi Hua standing still, maintaining a fine distance he stands straight, "Your Highness?" He calls out, looking at her.

Yi Hua slowly turns around, "W-What are you doing here?" Tao Tao stutters, looking at Yi Hua and then at Gu Chen who was eyeing her weirdly, he frowns and follows Tao Tao's eyes and gasps.

"Hua?" He calls out, bewildered.

Yi Hua clenches her fist, her breathing escalating as she finds the person she least wanted to see before her, Dao Ye frowns, "Your Highness, do you want me to do something?" Dao Ye asks, bringing Yi Hua out of her trance.

"Hua! Oh my! You are fine!" Gu Chen exclaims, acting surprised and relieved, "Nothing…just watch." Yi Hua says, taking in a deep breath she smiles, "Chen!" Yi Hua shouts back, all smiley and surprised.

She runs to him, "Oh my god, Hua. I was so scared…where were you?" Gu Chen asks, grabbing her by her arms, Yi Hua flinches but lets him, she forces out a sweet smile, "I was… let that be gone. I am back now so it's fine."

Yi Hua says, removing his arms away, Gu Chen frowns at this unusual act of hers, she never denies his touches before. Yi Hua looks around acting nervous. "Remember, we are outside." She mutters, Gu Chen blinks his eyes and chuckles, buying her words.

Certainly, he wouldn't risk getting caught when they had been a secret as per his wish.

"I have to go now…I am out of the room for long as I am grounded." Yi Hua says, looking around she found Tao Tao crossing her arms and watching her with a bitchy gaze, she smirks startling Tao Tao.

"But why are you here?" She asks, innocently eyeing Gu Chen who goes stiff at her question, Tao Tao eyes Gu Chen and frowns, tilting her to the side, "How do you know her?" She adds that Gu Chen gets more frightened.

Yi Hua enjoys them growing scared and nervous, 'It's just not the time yet, kids.' She mocks them inside her head, "Ah, maybe you came here to investigate her too, right? She seems suspicious for now." Yi Hua speaks up, on her own.

Gu Chen blinks his eyes and then nods his head, "Yeah, I- mean, right. I thought of asking around myself. How could you go missing just like this?" Gu Chen chuckles, and Yi Hua pouts and nods her head.

"But you shouldn't just blame anyone. She is your sister, Hua. Also, she spoke up for you." Gu Chen says, looking at Tao Tao and then at her, "But still, she blamed my maid. I trust her more than I trust Tao Tao."

Yi Hua says, seemingly sad, Gu Chen widens her eyes, "You shouldn't say that, Hua. Why will she hurt you? And maids are not trustworthy." Gu Chen says, trying to cup her cheeks but she looks away.

"If you say so then…okay." Yi Hua says, looking at Tao Tao, Gu Chen awkwardly retraces his hand back, "That's like my girl." Gu Chen says and chuckles while sharing a glance with Tao Tao.

"I will go back, it's getting late." Yi Hua says and turns around, walking towards a baffled Dao Ye who stood still like a statue, "Ye Ye, let's get going." Yi Hua says, smiling at him and walking past him.

Dao Ye blinks his eyes and follows after her.

'The game has started… the days you all played me like a goat will not exist longer.' Yi Hua thinks to herself, feeling her anger getting replaced by satisfaction.