The system forced me to blow up the female lead's fishpond.

He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails almost dug into his palms, trying hard to control his emotions and not let the stinging in his eyes show.

After a long while, he lowered his eyes, turned around, and left.

Chu Chouchi was slightly taken aback, lowering his head to look at the strangely shaped bag of dumplings, his mind filled with only her words:

It was brought specifically for him.

The fierceness in his phoenix eyes lessened slightly. He lowered his gaze and took the dumplings. "Were these saved for me?"

“Yes, yes!” Shen Zhizhi nodded vigorously. “Pork dumplings are delicious.”

Chu Chouchi looked up and inadvertently noticed the flour stains in her hair. A faint smile appeared on his lips as he raised his arm to brush it away for her.

"Is it so delicious that even your hair is craving it?"

Shen Zhizhi was slightly taken aback, subconsciously smoothing her hair, somewhat embarrassed, "This flour monster is sticky..."

After speaking, as if she had thought of something, she suddenly turned around, only to find that Chu Tu, who had been behind her just moments before, had vanished without a trace.

Shen Zhizhi blinked in confusion, "Eh? That's strange, the Third Prince was just here a moment ago."

While she was still confused, the person in front of her became somewhat displeased, grabbed her hand and walked in the opposite direction, saying, "Who knows? Maybe she ate too much and is in a hurry to find a toilet."

"what?"

Shen Zhizhi was taken aback by Chu Chouchi's sudden action and stumbled a few steps before catching up with him.

After walking a few steps, she looked up and asked, "Second Prince, did you just finish the morning court session?"

Upon hearing this, Chu Chouchi seemed to realize something, stopped in his tracks, and suddenly turned around to stare at her, his phoenix eyes filled with resentment.

"Second, why is Your Highness looking at me like that?"

Seeing his appearance, Shen Zhizhi felt alarm bells ringing in her heart, and she shivered. She stiffened her neck and asked a question.

Chu Chouchi gritted his teeth, took half a step closer, and stood in front of him to block the light, casting patches of shadow. "Why is it that you gave him more things than I did?"

Thinking of what Zhang Jiali had said to him in court earlier, saying that "all the birthday gifts from the past seventeen years will be given to him," he was so angry that his teeth itched.

Shen Zhizhi blinked her almond-shaped eyes, looking at him with surprise, "What is it?"

Chu Chouchi snorted coldly, his resentment undiminished. "I heard in court today that Miss Shen is incredibly generous, having given away all the birthday gifts from the past seventeen years to certain shameless scoundrels. She's very extravagant."

His eyes were filled with displeasure, and his voice was colder because of it.

Shen Zhizhi was dumbfounded.

She pondered for a moment, then hesitantly shifted her gaze to his face. "The shameless scoundrel that Your Highness was referring to wouldn't be... the First Prince, would it?"

Upon hearing the answer, Chu Chou's dark eyes flashed with malice, his anger almost bursting forth. "So, Miss Shen is indeed generous, preparing so many congratulatory gifts for him, is that right?!"

She felt like she was in a chibi form, while Chu Chouchi had transformed into a demon, his eyes glowing red, and he roared at her.

Shen Zhizhi trembled with fright, waving her hands frantically. She leaned closer, grinning ingratiatingly, and said, "Oh, Your Highness, please let me explain. It's like this..."

Chu Chouchi gave her a cold look and snorted, "This is Miss Shen's private matter. Miss Shen does not need to explain her actions to this prince."

After saying that, he turned away and never looked at her again.

Shen Zhizhi was racking her brains about how to start her story when she heard his words, and a glint of light flashed in her eyes. "Your Highness is wise! So understanding! Then I will say no more."

Chu Chouchi: ? ? ?

He had thought she would rush to explain so he could calm down, but to his surprise, she actually took advantage of the situation.

Shen Zhizhi turned to leave, but her sleeve was pulled back by a force.

She shrank back and turned to look, only to be met with Chu Chouchi's face, which seemed to say, "You dare not explain? Try it." She felt a sudden heart attack.

She inwardly groaned, knowing this wouldn't be so easily fooled.

Helpless, she could only turn around, take small steps forward to massage his shoulders, and force a smile, "Your Highness should know that the First Prince has been living among the common people since childhood and has lost both his parents. Not to mention birthday gifts, it is probably difficult for him to even have enough to eat. Therefore, I wish to make up for the birthday gifts he received in previous years to make up for the regrets of his childhood."

Upon hearing her explanation, Chu Chouchi's expression remained gloomy. "He is not the only one in this world who has never received a birthday gift; I have never received one either."

Shen Zhizhi's lips twitched violently. It was because others didn't give it to her. If she hadn't read the original novel, she would have believed it.

In the original story, he ordered all the gifts except those given by Shen Qinshou to be burned, which was a terrible waste.

However, the villain's words were not something this little girl could refute!

Shen Zhizhi raised her eyes and chuckled happily, "Second Prince, your status is so esteemed that everyone in the palace is trying their best to present you with birthday gifts. It must be because you have high standards and find ordinary items unappealing."

The Crown Prince was in a difficult situation at the time, and I felt great pity for him. I hereby vow that I will prepare a proper birthday gift for you every year from now on.

As Shen Zhizhi spoke, she blinked her bright eyes and gazed at him, looking just like a little pet trying to show its loyalty, cute and obedient.

Gazing at her quirky and mischievous appearance, Chu Chouchi's resentment subsided somewhat.

He glanced sideways, avoiding her blatant gaze, and coughed lightly, covering his mouth. "Hmph, don't try to win my favor with flattering words. Who knows if you mean it sincerely?"

Although he said that, his eyes softened unconsciously.

Seeing that his attitude had softened somewhat, Shen Zhizhi quickly seized the opportunity, grabbing Chu Chou's red sleeve and shaking it lightly, "Every word I have said is true. If Your Highness does not believe me, I will atone with my death."

After saying that, he pulled up Chu Chouchi's arm and buried it in his armpit.

Chu Chouchi was slightly taken aback, and was about to ask a question when he heard her say in a muffled voice:

"This humble woman wishes to suffocate here."

Chu Chouchi gazed at her fluffy little head, his phoenix eyes filled with even more amusement. He reached out and covered her hair, mischievously ruffling it.

Feeling the warmth on her head, she tilted her head back with a grin, her bright eyes and white teeth showing, "Second Prince, you're not angry anymore?"

"I'm still angry."

Chu Chouchi curled his lips, put his hands behind his back, and walked forward gracefully, his tone full of arrogance, "What you give to this prince must be more than what you give to him."

Shen Zhizhi followed with small steps, nodding repeatedly, "Of course, I will definitely pick out many, many gifts for His Highness in the future."

Chu Chouchi stopped in his tracks, a smile flickering in his phoenix eyes, and raised his lips, "Really?"

Unaware that something was amiss, Shen Zhizhi continued to paint a rosy picture, "Of course I take it seriously!"

Upon hearing this, Chu Chouchi's steps seemed to quicken.

"Since that's the case, there's no need to wait until later. Let's go now."

"OK……"

Shen Zhizhi nodded subconsciously, but after hearing what he said clearly, she suddenly looked up.

"Huh?! Now?!"

Chu Chouchi: "What?"

Shen Zhizhi, tears streaming down her face, said, "No, it's nothing..."

Waaah, it seems this pie isn't so easy to draw after all.