After an awkward dance, Cao Yang felt as if he had fought a real battle.
Returning to his seat, he noticed Diana's face was clouded; she silently drank her wine, saying nothing.
Diana was indeed annoyed. She had just been "threatened."
After all, she was an executive at a Fortune 500 company, always admired wherever she went. Today, in this small, remote place, someone had the audacity to forbid her from being with Cao Yang.
Whether or not she slept with him didn't matter anymore—what stung was the insult.
But she wasn't impulsive; she knew that the less developed the country, the wilder the customs. There was no reasoning with them. She would wait until returning to the U.S. to show Cao Yang her true intentions.
Cao Yang didn't dwell on it. He continued drinking with his sister.
At this moment, Prince Nanda approached with a cup of wine.
"Cao Yang, thank you again for saving my life."
"The prince is too kind." Cao Yang raised his cup and downed it in one gulp.
"I never like to owe anyone. If there's anything you need, speak up now. Whatever I can do, I'll do."
"The prince is too kind. The king has already rewarded me."
Nanda frowned, shaking his head. He considered the king's golden reward crude and vulgar—lacking refinement, like a nouveau riche gesture. He didn't like it.
"Anyway, if you ever need anything, just ask. I'll help if I can."
Cao Yang nodded with a smile.
At this point, the dancing girls exited, and the bonfire party moved on to the wrestling segment.
Two men, shirtless, grappled on stage as the audience cheered.
The spectators were mostly princes, princesses, or children of local aristocratic families like Cao Yiyue. Outsiders like Cao Yang were rare.
On stage, a tall, muscular man—about 1.9 meters—tossed several opponents with ease. Seeing no one dared challenge him next, he let out a wolfish laugh and pointed directly at Cao Yang.
"You! Come up here!"
He spoke in Mandarin, which was considered a second language in Nanluo.
Cao Yang froze. Why was he being singled out? He was just a spectator!
Nanda patted him on the shoulder, laughing.
"He's Jiba, the greatest warrior of the Mona tribe and an admirer of my sister. Since she invited you to dance earlier, he sees you as a rival. Be careful."
Cao Yang: What? She invited me to dance? No, that was me inviting her! I ended up embarrassing myself and somehow offending someone.
"Come on, Cao Yang! Don't disgrace the Cao family!"
Cao family members nearby egged him on—they were, after all, his brothers.
Cao Yang felt bewildered, but all eyes were on him, especially Nancy, who looked expectantly at him.
Sigh… Cao Yang stood up. He didn't want to show off, but was being forced into it.
Just as he got up, his phone rang. It was Sitou Meixin.
Cao Yang answered while walking toward the stage—a clear provocation, showing he didn't take his opponent seriously.
Sitou Meixin informed him she had entered Nanluo from Thailand and asked which hotel he was staying at, planning to meet him soon.
Cao Yang knew she was coming; her entry was arranged via Cao Yiyue and the border officials. Without that, she wouldn't have been allowed in.
After giving her the address, Cao Yang calmly put his phone away and studied Jiba.
In Nanluo, people were generally small. Women averaged around 1.5 meters; a girl like Nancy, over 1.6 meters, was considered tall. Men typically barely exceeded 1.6 meters; anyone above 1.7 was considered tall.
Jiba, at over 1.9 meters, was a giant by local standards.
Cao Yang sized him up. Jiba returned the gaze. Just as Cao Yang tried to ask about the rules of wrestling, Jiba lunged.
Jiba was strong and aggressive, but full of openings, making him easy to defeat in Cao Yang's eyes.
Before Jiba's hands even reached him, Cao Yang kicked his ankle, causing him to stumble and fall face-first in pain.
The audience gasped, thinking Cao Yang had overpowered him unfairly.
Most hoped Jiba would win; after all, he was "one of them," and losing to an outsider was humiliating.
Jiba struggled to rise, fury burning in his eyes.
"If there are no rules, ten of you wouldn't be my match. Step aside," Cao Yang said with a smirk.
Jiba lost his temper and kicked toward Cao Yang's face.
Cao Yang calmly intercepted, striking Jiba's sensitive area with precision. Jiba collapsed, writhing in pain.
Cao Yang held back—otherwise, Jiba would have been seriously injured.
Staff rushed to check on Jiba, eventually carrying him away on a stretcher.
Cao Yang shook his head. "What a boring show."
His cocky display angered many, especially the Mona tribe. But among the Han observers, several cheered him on. Nancy's eyes sparkled with admiration.
Finding it dull, Cao Yang waved to Nanda and Nancy, then left with Diana to return to the hotel.
Nancy and Cao Yiyue watched their backs.
"Princess, don't worry. I've warned Diana. She won't bother my brother anymore."
Nancy nodded, pleased with Cao Yiyue's intervention.
Cao Yiyue whispered, "Princess, have you taken a liking to my brother?"
Nancy shook her head. "No, I just can't stand Diana. She's flirtatious and annoying—I don't want her to trouble men in Nanluo."
Even Cao Yiyue didn't entirely believe that answer.
A princess liking Cao Yang? Not good. The king would never approve. Hopefully, Cao Yang could control himself.
Back at the hotel, Cao Yang wanted to continue what he and Diana hadn't finished, only to be met with a serious refusal.
"Mr. Cao, mind your manners. As a man and woman alone, your behavior is inappropriate. Please leave my room."
Cao Yang was stunned. Wait, didn't you just seduce me? Why are you suddenly acting all proper?
Damn it!
Fuming, he returned to his room, ready to sleep, when staff knocked again.
"Mr. Cao, Miss Sitou has come to see you."
"Send her in."
Sitou Meixin entered, guided by the staff. No one was in the room, only the sound of running water from the bathroom.
The frosted glass allowed her to vaguely see Cao Yang's silhouette.
With a "swoosh," Cao Yang emerged, wearing only a bath towel.
"What brings you here?"
Cao Yang was irritated. Diana's drastic change in demeanor had him suspicious that Sitou Meixin had influenced her, so he wasn't friendly.
Sitou Meixin was confused. Why was he upset with her for no reason?
"Put on some clothes before speaking. It's improper for a man and woman alone. What are you doing?"
Her lecture only made Cao Yang angrier. He already suspected she had ruined his chance with Diana, and now she was preaching to him?
Cao Yang yanked off the towel, ready to teach her a lesson.