Engagement Annulled? Now The Husbands Kneel and Beg for Her Favor

Jiang Qingli was already half-asleep. Hearing him chattering away, she kept her eyes closed and mumbled, ”What damn bird?”

”That red-haired little bastard from the supervision center.”

Qin Muye gritted his teeth just talking about the guy.

Que Feiling...?

An image of the Vermilion Bird flapping its wings at her surfaced in Jiang Qingli’s mind, and she couldn’t help but laugh at Qin Muye’s wild imagination.

Suppressing her laughter, she ruffled Qin Muye’s hair. ”Don’t be silly. Other than when I touch his forehead for healing, we have almost no physical contact. How could he possibly be interested in me?”

She offered an example, ”Do patients fall in love with their doctors just because they’re being treated?”

Qin Muye’s tone was resolute. ”His brain’s messed up. He would.”

He said it with the utmost seriousness.

Jiang Qingli couldn’t hold back her laughter anymore, shaking in his arms.

”What are you laughing at?” Qin Muye was getting a little annoyed. ”I’m serious.”

His words only made Jiang Qingli laugh harder, as if amused that he would even worry about such things, seeing threats around every corner.

Qin Muye felt a little embarrassed, but seeing her reaction, he figured she probably didn’t have any feelings for that damn bird.

At that thought, he relaxed a little. He wrapped his arms around her, buried his face in her chest, and nuzzled against her. His muffled voice still held a hint of worry. ”Don’t let him get too close to you. Ignore him if he tries to talk to you, and absolutely do not accept his stupid rocks.”

”If he dares to lay a hand on you, tell me immediately. I’ll get someone to take care of him.”

He was acting like a husband about to leave on a long trip, worrying that some scoundrel would try to seduce his wife. Jiang Qingli found it adorable, smiling as she stroked his snow leopard ears.

Then Qin Muye added, ”And that Yuan-whatever-his-name-is. I don’t even want to talk about him.”

Jiang Qingli could understand why he detested Que Feiling, but she had no idea why he had such a huge problem with Yuan Shiyao.

’Maybe it’s because Yuan Shiyao is a rather traditional, textbook noble type?’

Jiang Qingli smoothed the young man’s silver hair. ”Yuan Shiyao and I are really just friends.”

’Heh, friends.’

Qin Muye ground his canines, wishing he could just peel back that black cat’s hide and show Jiang Qingli his true colors. But after a moment’s thought, he held his tongue.

’Jiang Qingli is just an honest, innocent girl. She’s done nothing wrong. The ones at fault are all those homewreckers out there trying to seduce her!’

’Why should I let her know about their filthy intentions?’

’I have to find a way to make those vultures back off.’

Just as he was thinking, a soft sensation met his lips.

Qin Muye snapped back to reality. He looked at the approaching girl, his gaze burning, but he tested the waters, his voice restrained. ”Aren’t you tired?”

”You got me all worked up, so now I can’t sleep.” Jiang Qingli looped the snow leopard’s tail around her wrist. ”Today, I’ll allow you to... Mmph—”

Before she could finish, his kiss had already silenced her.

Outside the window, lightning flashed and thunder roared, the storm showing no signs of stopping.

At the break of dawn, as morning light crept in through the window, the debauchery within the room finally came to an end.

Qin Muye glanced at the time, carried Jiang Qingli to the bathroom for a bath, then placed her back in bed.

Jiang Qingli, nestled in the blankets, watched him put on his military uniform piece by piece, fumbling with it in front of the mirror. She couldn’t help but say, ”Come here.”

Qin Muye obediently came over and sat on the edge of the bed, his head lowered and the tips of his ears red.

This was his first time wearing a military uniform, and it felt incredibly strange. He wondered if Jiang Qingli would think it looked odd.

His gaze darted away for a moment before returning to her face.

Jiang Qingli sat up on the edge of the bed and straightened the hem of his uniform. Then she took the totem-emblazoned medal from his hand and pinned it on perfectly.

Watching her focused profile, Qin Muye felt as if he’d just eaten a mouthful of cotton candy, his entire heart steeping in a fluffy, sugary sweetness.

His Adam’s apple bobbed. He tried his best not to sound too impressed. ”How do you know how to do this?”

”Have you forgotten? My dad and my brother are in the military,” Jiang Qingli said, cupping his face for a quick kiss. ”Even if I’ve never done it myself, you think I haven’t watched them? Let’s go.”

She stood up to change, clearly intending to see him off.

Qin Muye pressed a hand to her leg, his thumb brushing over a lingering bite mark. His Adam’s apple bobbed, and he said guiltily, ”You don’t have to. I can go by myself. You should get some more sleep.”

”A little late to be growing a conscience, isn’t it?” Jiang Qingli huffed. ”Besides, I’m having lunch with Sister Shu and Qiao Lan. Since Sister Shu is seeing you off too, I’ll just leave with her later.”

Qin Muye wasn’t an idiot; he knew she just wanted to see him off. He didn’t protest further and instead grabbed an outfit to help her dress.

...

During the Moon Festival holiday, a no-fly order was in effect across the entire Empire, forcing everyone to travel by car.

Yuan Liang, an old subordinate of Qin Muye’s father, had arranged to meet him at the entrance to a military route.

When they arrived, he was already there, speaking in low tones with Qin Shu. Beside them stood Jiang Youchen, dressed entirely in black.

Jiang Youchen wasn’t in uniform today. He wore a simple black T-shirt and trousers, his choppy bangs hanging over his forehead. The style concealed some of his usual intimidating presence, lending him a more youthful air.

His dark eyes swept over their clasped hands before he coolly looked away. He nodded in response to Qin Muye’s greeting, a gesture of concession.

Seeing the couple approach, Yuan Liang greeted Jiang Qingli with the utmost respect before getting into the car with his secretary.

Qin Shu looked Qin Muye up and down. ”Not bad. You really look the part.”

”Like I need you to tell me,” Qin Muye grumbled, shooting her a look to get lost.

”Ah, youth.”

Qin Shu had barely finished her teasing remark when Qin Muye shot her another glance, his face flushed. She could only shrug and invite Jiang Youchen to go sit and chat with her in a nearby car.

Soon, only the two of them were left.

The feeling of imminent departure washed over Qin Muye again. He scratched his hair, wanting to say something, but after saying so much last night, he found himself at a loss for words.

In the end, it was Jiang Qingli who reached out and hugged him first.

Her slender arms wrapped around the young man’s waist as she whispered warmly in his ear, telling him to be safe.

”I know.”

Qin Muye wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her tight.

His breath was hot against her ear. ”Remember to miss me.”

”Master.”

-

CLICK

Inside the car, Qin Shu raised her terminal, snapped a photo of the young couple, and sent it to the Emperor.

The message was quickly marked as ”read,” and the Emperor replied: [Nice shot.]

Qin Shu: [If you had come to see for yourself, you might have even seen the boy’s bashful expression.]

Emperor: [No, I’m the last person he wants to see.]

Qin Shu recalled how, last night, when Qin Muye heard she was coming to see him off, he had awkwardly asked, ”Is it just you?” She sighed.

’When will those two ever realize they both care about each other?’

As she put her terminal away, Qin Shu’s gaze swept over the young man sitting opposite her.

In the morning light, Jiang Youchen watched the intimate couple embracing in the distance, and a trace of loneliness could be glimpsed on his profile.

But, as if accustomed to this feeling, Jiang Youchen reined in his emotions within seconds, his usual cold indifference returning.

It was as if nothing had happened.

Qin Shu raised an eyebrow, a thoughtful expression on her face.

In the distance, Qin Muye ducked into the car. Jiang Qingli stood and watched for a while, only turning to head back once the car had driven far away.

Suddenly, Qin Shu’s terminal chimed.

She glanced at the incoming message, then looked up at the young man opposite her. ”Marshal Jiang, are you free this Saturday?”

Jiang Youchen’s gaze was fixed on the approaching Jiang Qingli; he didn’t even glance at Qin Shu. ”Sorry, I’m busy these days.”

”Is that so,” Qin Shu sighed. ”That’s what I thought. You’re so busy petitioning the Emperor to let you stay in the Upper City District, how could you possibly have time to accompany Qingli to the supervision center for a mission this Saturday? Muye can be so thoughtless, making me trouble you over such a small thing. I guess I’ll go instead.”

The words had barely left her mouth when the young man froze.

Jiang Youchen: ”...”

Jiang Youchen glanced to the side and spoke slowly, retracting his earlier statement:

”Admiral Qin is a busy woman. There’s no need to trouble you with such a family matter.”

”I have time.”