Song Ning daily life resume normal. Nothing strange out of ordinary day for her. Some days, she have to put on her acting skills. She does't understand why she is doing it but she knows that she is getting paid for it. Thus it is a valid reason for her to do so.
On the day of the invitation, She arrives alone and she is shown to the room where all the ladies are sitting down. Everyone is having a drink before the dinner starts. She listen from the other room that some important people have arrive. The men are all merry and laughing. After dinner, there are fire works. The sky is beautified with dazzling designs like flowers. As she say her good bye to Lady Wen, Song Ning finds the carriage of the Third Prince is waiting for her. He push the curtains aside and look at her.
"Come, i will take you home!"
"Good evening your highness, i have actually ordered a carriage so …"
"I told them to go off and i have paid them already."
She feels an anger is boiling inside her but she takes in a deep breath with her eyes close. She open them and smile at the Third Prince.
The next morning, she walk out of the snow. She is intending to walk to school as usual but she finds Bing Ming sitting in front of her house in a carriage, The Third Prince had order Bing Ming to give her a ride to school. Without a word, she board on the carriage and watch the scenery outside of the streets. White snow like powder fills the entire capital. Stall venders are starting to opening their stalls in the cold. She look at the cold breath that is push out, yet these vendors are happy and smiling. Everyone is greeting each other on the street. She soon arrive at school. Bing Ming watch her walk into the school and he drives off.
Song Ning finds a vase of fresh Winter Jasmine on her table. Addition, there is a letter place beside it. She open it and her ears turn red while reading it. She close it and she close her eyes as well. The Third Prince had written a love poem to her. She never receive a love letter before nor receive any letter. She open her eyes to look at the Winter Jasmine. They are beautiful and grow when spring is approaching. She carry the vase and walk to her class.
That night she lay on her bed with a small burner beside her bed. She is tossing and turning, thinking of the past. Her memories bring her back to when she is seven. That is when she follow her sister around. Wherever they goes, they would hold hands. Everyone knows who they are. Which family they belong to. It was a joyful time for her.
The third Prince appear in front of her two weeks later. She did not ask him nor he talk about what he was doing that past weeks. Instead he bring her on an outing to see the lake outside the city. He even organise to have a boat ride at the lake. With a boatman rowing slowly, they leisurely ride the boat with the food that The Third Prince had prepare. Song Ning watch him as he talks about where he got the food from. The more she watch him, she thinks that he is the different person she met years ago. He notice that she have a different look while he is introducing the food. He stop and rest his face on his hands in front of her.
"Why are you staring at me, with that look?"
"No. I am …"
"Is it because of this handsome face? Or how thoughtful is this Prince?"
She close her eyes and force herself to slowly nod her head. She smile to show her dimples. He pour Chinese wine in a cup and put it in front of her. He smile as he pour another cup for himself. That afternoon they watch the scenery as they drink and eat.
In the evening, she is drunk and laughing non stop. While he is still sober and looking at her. He carried her into his mansion and order a soup for her to drink. While waiting, he ask her softly while touching her long hair.
"Would you like to draw a picture of me?"
"You?! Sure! How much are you paying me?"
He smile and poke her cheeks.
"You are drunk yet still thinking of taels. Fine, i will pay you a hundred."
"Deal! Wait … my painting items … where are they."
"They are on the carriage. I will get my servants to bring in here."
He order Bing Ming to fetch her box while he continue to talk to her. When Bing Ming brings it over, The Third Prince order all servants too stay away. He close the door gently and turn around to see her. Opening her box and taking out her brushes. She look at them and giggle. He walk to the folded screen and remove his clothes. He only left his pants and socks on.
"What theme would you like me to dress in?"
She look up with her pinkish eyes. She stand up so fast that she lost balance and land on his chest. She listen to his heart beat. It sounds nice.
"That is a nice melody."
"You like what … is it my heart beat that you are referring to?"
"Hmm… it is strong. Like a drum… i never hear something like this before."
She look up to see a handsome face looking at her tenderly. She feels that her heart is staring to beat wildly. He bend down and give her a soft light kiss on her lips. For the first time, Song Ning receive a kiss on a lips. She never been kiss by anyone except her little brother who was growing up. As a painter, she watch couples kiss in front of her. She wonder how does it feels to kiss another. Other than a force kiss by Nan Yu, she never thought of kissing another person. Suddenly with a chance in front of her to feel this forbidden feeling, she takes her chance. She pull him down to her again and kiss him. This time, there is a wanting and a force of greediness in both of them.