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

Shen Zhizhi looked around and found that she was the only one standing there, and couldn't help but shiver.

He quickly bowed and said, "Greetings, Second Prince."

Chu Chouchi's eyes darkened slightly. Compared to her obedient and docile appearance, he missed her uninhibited manner in front of him in the past.

"Get up, all of you," Chu Chouchi said in a calm tone.

"Thank you, Your Highness!"

The crowd shouted and stood up in an orderly fashion.

Chu Chouchi took two steps forward, pulled the arrow out of the wooden barrel, turned around and glared at the disaster victims. The black mole on the side of his nose looked even more arrogant with his cold smile.

The disaster victims couldn't help but take two steps back.

The officers gripped their swords tightly, ready to strike at the Second Prince's command.

These disaster victims are incredibly audacious, speaking so recklessly. Now look what happened; they've been caught red-handed by the Second Prince, and their lives are probably numbered.

A tremendous sense of unease surged forth like a tidal wave, as if they had already witnessed mountains of corpses and seas of blood before they even made a move.

Shen Zhizhi's palms were sweating as she secretly pondered how to plead for them later.

"What are you all standing there for? Line up and stand in a row!"

In the tense atmosphere, Chu Chouchi coldly uttered a single sentence, his voice not loud, but clearly striking the hearts of everyone present.

Shen Zhizhi stared in surprise.

Does this mean he's not going to pursue the matter?

But thinking about it carefully, if he really wanted to hold a grudge, that arrow probably wouldn't have hit the barrel, but the refugee's head.

Thinking of this, Shen Zhizhi was overjoyed. Judging from this trend, Chu Chouchi's dark side would soon disappear.

Zhang Jiali was naturally stunned by Chu Chouchi's reaction.

A moment later, he glanced at Shen Zhizhi, whose eyes were crinkled with laughter, his expression unreadable.

The crowd stopped fighting and quickly lined up, allowing the porridge distribution to proceed in an orderly manner.

Shen Zhizhi was in charge of distributing porridge, while Zhang Jiali was responsible for handing out steamed buns.

"Thank you, Lord Shaoqing, thank you, beautiful sister." A little girl reached out with trembling hands to take the porridge, smiling sweetly at them.

Then, carrying two bowls of porridge and two steamed buns, he ran to the side and handed them to the old man before wolfing them down himself.

Shen Zhizhi stared intently at the scene, her heart aching. She lowered her eyes, tears welling up in them.

Living in the 21st century, she had only ever seen homeless children like this in the news, and at that time she only felt heartbroken and couldn't bear it.

But when you are in it yourself and witness it with your own eyes, you feel it deeply.

Suddenly, a hand with distinct knuckles reached out, with a square handkerchief in its palm.

Shen Zhizhi looked at him with tears in her eyes. Zhang Jiali smiled faintly, and his black hair, which was fluttering in the wind, seemed to be edged with gold in the soft morning light.

She took the handkerchief, wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, and looked up gratefully.

"Thank you, Master Zhang."

Zhang Jiali smiled and said, "Miss Shen, there's no need to be sad. Everything will be alright."

Inside the soup kitchen, Chu Chouchi stood in an inconspicuous corner.

He stared sadly at the two people distributing porridge in front of him; their seamless cooperation had already displeased him to the extreme.

Now, seeing her take his handkerchief and smile so brightly at him, his face darkened, and he strode forward.

As soon as they set off, the people in line fell silent, staggering forward, afraid of accidentally bumping into the important person and losing their lives.

After all, he is the Second Prince. Who in the entire Nanliyue Star City doesn't know his reputation?

Shen Zhizhi looked up to hand out the porridge, but saw that the crowd was staring straight at her from behind, and dared not move forward. She turned around in confusion.

She would have been fine if she hadn't turned around, but as soon as she did, she was met with Chu Chouchi's dark face, his eagle-like gaze freezing her smile.

"I am here." He reached out to snatch the wooden spoon from Shen Zhizhi's hand.

Shen Zhizhi shivered, then smiled ingratiatingly, "Haha, Second Prince, you don't need to trouble yourself with such matters. Please go over there and sit down."

The fact that he came to the disaster relief site was already very touching for the victims.

But with his arrogant and domineering face standing there while distributing porridge, which refugee would dare to come over?

Thinking this, Shen Zhizhi tightened her grip on the wooden spoon in her hand.

"I, the prince, am coming!" Chu Chouchi said firmly, clearly unwilling to let go.

"..." Shen Zhizhi was speechless.

What kind of epileptic seizure did this person suddenly have?

Fearing the refugees wouldn't be able to wait and would go hungry, Shen Zhizhi had no choice but to let go and hand him the wooden spoon. "Second Prince, shall we take a step back and talk?"

"..."

Chu Chouchi remained silent, but his body obediently took two steps back.

Shen Zhizhi smiled and grabbed his wrist, so that the two of them were facing away from the refugees. She then whispered, "Your Highness, look, those refugees are afraid of you and dare not come forward."

"Is this prince scary?" Chu Chouchi frowned, his eyes filled with displeasure.

Shen Zhizhi nodded like a chick pecking at rice.

Chu Chouchi reached out and lightly pinched the back of her neck, his gaze sharp as a distance. "Are you looking for death?"

Shen Zhizhi's neck stiffened, and she chuckled, "Oh dear, I was just joking with you. His Highness is so dignified, how could he be scary?"

Chu Chouchi raised an eyebrow, signaling her to continue.

"It's just that as a noble prince, Your Highness is distributing porridge to everyone, so they're bound to be a little nervous. Therefore, Your Highness, please don't have that sour face. Speak gently, and smile, like—"

Shen Zhizhi lowered her eyes and pondered for a while, then turned her head and pointed at Zhang Jiali, curving her lips, "Just like Lord Shaoqing, you see, the disaster victims are so close to him."

It's unclear what remark angered him, but Chu Chouchi's expression darkened.

"presumptuous!"

The roar silenced the noisy crowd once more, and everyone looked at the two men with trepidation.

Shen Zhizhi chuckled, feigning composure as she tugged at his sleeve and coaxed him softly, "Your Highness, the people's hearts are with you. If you are kinder to these disaster victims, you will surely gain their support and love in the future, and your unsavory reputation will not spread."

As soon as the words left her mouth, Shen Zhizhi regretted them.

Chu Chouchi has always been self-willed and doesn't even bother to curry favor with important officials of the court, so how could he possibly care about the feelings of these disaster victims?

As she expected, Chu Chouchi was not moved at all after hearing this, and snorted coldly, his eyes revealing a hint of contempt.

"Let them spread rumors if they want. They should be grateful that His Highness came here to personally distribute porridge. Do they really expect His Highness to force a smile on their faces?"

Shen Zhizhi pouted, knowing that her persuasion would have no effect whatsoever.

Chu Chouchi is a man who only responds to gentle persuasion, not force.

After a moment's thought, she looked up and blinked, her eyes filled with a sense of grievance. "Your Highness, please listen to my advice! Please! Please!"

Chu Chouchi looked down in astonishment, staring at her obedient little face. Under the sunlight, her almond-shaped eyes shone like stars. Even though he knew she was doing it on purpose, he still couldn't bring himself to refuse.

The aggressive gaze made his heart race. He turned his face away, trying his best to suppress the panic in his eyes.

"Well, since you're begging me so much, I'll grant your request."

"okay!"

Shen Zhizhi smiled and pulled him to the porridge table. "His Highness is so considerate of everyone that he is personally serving the porridge. Please be patient and follow the order."

Li Zhuang's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

The Second Prince personally served porridge? Was he really not dreaming?