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

It was a sweltering summer afternoon.

But Yuan Shiyao felt as if he were inside a ball of cotton candy, every breath a soft sweetness.

Something tugged at his sleeve, and the calico kitten in his arms let out a soft, delicate meow.

”Is this the kitten?” Jiang Qingli’s attention was caught, and she reached out to pet the cat in Yuan Shiyao’s arms.

The kitten tilted its head back, bumping it against Jiang Qingli’s fingers, and her heart melted. ”You’re so cute! How can you be so adorable?”

When she spoke to the kitten, her voice would unconsciously become light and soft, which was especially endearing.

The girl bent over to pet the kitten, and the distance between them closed without them realizing it.

As she spoke, her breath fell unintentionally on the arm holding the kitten. Yuan Shiyao’s body went rigid, his muscles tensing instinctively. But he was afraid of squeezing the kitten, so he could only endure it, his Adam’s apple rolling subtly.

But this unconscious intimacy lasted only a few seconds before Xiao Xue, in Jiang Qingli’s arms, let out a throaty hiss and bared its teeth at the calico kitten.

It was clearly displeased that Jiang Qingli was petting another kitten right in front of it and couldn’t tolerate it any longer.

It even unsheathed its sharp claws and swiped at the calico kitten—its own littermate.

In the nick of time, Yuan Shiyao suddenly raised a hand and caught Xiao Xue’s paw.

”Xiao Xue.” Yuan Shiyao’s voice was gentle yet firm. ”Be good. Don’t hurt your mother.”

The words were a bit strange, but Yuan Shiyao didn’t give her a chance to dwell on it. He hooked Xiao Xue with one hand and brought it into his own embrace. ”I’ll take it to get its chip registered first.”

Jiang Qingli nodded.

The academy had an official animal protection association, which stipulated that all cats adopted from the academy had to be vaccinated, microchipped, and registered with the association to prevent abuse and abandonment.

Jiang Qingli had brought Xiao Xue to the academy this time precisely because it needed to be microchipped.

When Yuan Shiyao heard about this, he said he missed Xiao Xue too. Conveniently, Ai Bin was the vice-chairman of the animal protection association, so if he brought the microchip over for the injection, Yuan Shiyao could also see Xiao Xue.

Thinking it was on the way, Jiang Qingli had come over.

Fortunately, Xiao Xue still recognized Yuan Shiyao and was familiar enough with his scent to retract its claws and settle into his arms.

Before leaving, Yuan Shiyao lifted Xiao Xue’s paw and, just as Jiang Qingli had done when she arrived, waved it at her. ”Say ’see you later’ to Mommy.”

Xiao Xue meowed.

Yuan Shiyao patted Xiao Xue’s head and praised it, ”Good boy.”

After he left with a smile, Ke An, who was standing to the side, was completely speechless. ”...”

’This guy... he’s really getting into the role of being the dad.’

’I really want to take a picture of this and show it to Yuan Shimo.’

Secretary Yuan went to the next office with the cat, but the atmosphere didn’t turn cold.

Ke An took the opportunity to chat about the collaboration between their two associations for the next semester.

Previously, due to the personal grudge between Xie Guanqi and Qin Shu, the Student Council and the Melt Star Association had been like fire and water. But after their collaboration during the Moon Festival, their stereotypes about each other had lessened considerably.

They would likely be in contact for many large-scale events in the future.

Of course, the two associations hadn’t merged into one; their relationship was more competitive.

But both new chairmen were willing to engage in healthy competition.

As for Xie Guanqi...

He was a relic of the past, already pushed out, and could no longer interfere in the Student Council’s internal affairs.

-

After they finished discussing official business, Ke An’s eyes darted around, and she started asking Jiang Qingli about her and Baili Jing’s progress.

”Qingli, did you two make up a long time ago?” Ke An’s gossip-loving soul was burning bright. ”Back in Professor Ye’s shooting class, Mr. Baili spoke up for you. Did you two get together back then?”

”Not that early...” Jiang Qingli thought for a moment. ”It was a while after that.”

”Who made the first move?!” Ke An pressed.

”Both of us?” Jiang Qingli said. ”But it was mostly him.”

”I knew it! A good, virtuous male should be considerate of his female master like that!” Ke An slammed her palm on the table, looking as if she shared in the glory.

She was about to ask more when a piercing, mournful cat screech came from the next room.

Both of them jumped in alarm and rushed next door.

Pushing open the door, they saw Xiao Xue nestled primly in Ai Bin’s arms, happily munching on a cat treat stick. Opposite them, the back of Yuan Shiyao’s hand was covered in several claw marks, deep enough to draw blood.

Seeing Jiang Qingli enter, Yuan Shiyao’s first reaction was to hide his hand behind his back, but she took a few steps forward and pulled it out.

Before she could speak, Yuan Shiyao gripped her hand back, his tone reassuring. ”It’s nothing. Xiao Xue is still young. It hurts when the chip is implanted, so it’s normal for it to resist. Don’t worry about me.”

He said that, but the scratch was still bleeding, and his long knuckles were slightly curled, making him look particularly pitiful.

Jiang Qingli glanced back at Xiao Xue, who was still happily eating its treat stick, then looked at the meek and submissive Yuan Shiyao. She suddenly felt a sense of déjà vu, like she was cleaning up after a naughty child.

”Let me bandage that for you first.”

Jiang Qingli had him sit down. Just as she was about to get the first-aid kit, a young man’s surprised voice sounded from behind her. ”Senior Yuan, it seems your younger brother is injured.”

Hearing a voice that had no business being here, Yuan Shiyao’s brow furrowed.

In the next moment, the pretty, rabbit-like young man sat down next to Jiang Qingli, hugging her arm and speaking with concern. ”That looks so serious, Senior Yuan. You’re not going to get an infection, are you? Should you go to the hospital? Actually, I know a little about bandaging. Let me help you, so Sister doesn’t have to.”

Gu Nian’s eyes curved into crescents and his tone was sweet and obedient, but the look he gave Yuan Shiyao was full of rejection.

Jiang Qingli couldn’t see it, but Ke An, sitting not far away, saw it crystal clear.

She had seen Yuan Shiyao trying to use his injury to gain sympathy and have some time alone with Jiang Qingli, and had been about to leave. But now that it looked like a fight was about to break out, she settled back down in her seat nearby.

’Who doesn’t love a good show?’

’Especially a show between the main husband and an unofficial (and not yet successful) consort.’

Another figure in white entered her line of sight.

”I’ll do it.” Yuan Shimo walked up with the first-aid kit and sat next to Yuan Shiyao. ”Give me your hand.”

He didn’t look directly at him, but his voice left no room for argument.

Yuan Shiyao had no choice but to extend his hand.

Yuan Shimo disinfected the wound simply with a cotton swab and povidone-iodine, then applied a medicated patch. ”It’ll heal in five minutes.”

The implication was clear: it wasn’t serious, so he shouldn’t use it as an excuse to see his sister-in-law again.

Yuan Shiyao: ”...”

With the matter resolved, Gu Nian looked at Jiang Qingli. ”Sister, didn’t you say Senior Sister Lin asked you for afternoon tea? Should we head over? I’ll take Xiao Xue home.”

”Okay.” Jiang Qingli nodded.

Before leaving, Jiang Qingli made a point to go over and pet the calico kitten. She said, ”I’ll post on my social media when I get back and see if anyone wants to adopt this little one. It’s so cute, someone is bound to love it.”

”Thank you for the trouble, Qingli.” Yuan Shiyao said, clutching his wound, his eyes gentle. ”If no one adopts it by the end of the week, I’ll take it home.”

”When the time comes, if there’s anything I don’t know, I hope Chairman Jiang will not hesitate to enlighten me.”

Jiang Qingli said, ”Of course!”

Then it suddenly occurred to her that this was an opportunity for the two brothers to reconcile. She paused and said, ”But your brother has been the one taking care of Xiao Xue most of the time. I think you should ask him more...”

Gu Nian chimed in with a smile, ”After all, both seniors are felines, and brothers with similar tastes, aren’t they?”

He even looked at Yuan Shimo, feigning concern. ”Senior Yuan, saying that... you won’t get angry, will you, Senior?”

Yuan Shimo: ”...”