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

The distance between them suddenly closed.

Close enough to see her own reflection in his eyes.

Like prey being watched, Jiang Qingli sensed danger and shrank back a little, but she still couldn’t escape his pervasive presence.

Jiang Qingli lowered her head to look at the flowers, avoiding his gaze. ”...I never said you couldn’t.”

As soon as she spoke, she heard a low chuckle.

”Do you like them?”

He placed the flowers in her arms. His long, slender fingers gently arranged the leaves beneath the delicate petals. Fresh water droplets clung to his pale skin, making it look like one of those hand-focused videos you see online.

Jiang Qingli glanced at him for only a moment before looking away, a muffled sound escaping her throat. ”Mm.”

”’Mm’? What does that mean?” Xie Youchen mimicked her.

He took a step back, but his gaze remained fixed on her. ”Do you like them or not?”

Though phrased as a question, his tone was insistent, demanding an answer she couldn’t evade.

With no way out, Jiang Qingli whispered, ”...I like them.”

A light flashed in Xie Youchen’s eyes, and his voice softened. ”Then I’ll give them to you often from now on, Ah Li. How does that sound?”

”...Okay.”

Her tone was a bit reluctant, a bit resigned.

But after a while, once the atmosphere had relaxed, Jiang Qingli held the flowers tightly with no intention of letting go. It was obvious she really liked them.

The scenery flew past the window. Jiang Qingli fiddled with the ribbon on the bouquet and tilted her head to ask the young man beside her, ”Why did you suddenly decide to give me flowers?”

”It wasn’t sudden,” Xie Youchen said.

’If it wasn’t sudden, then what was it?’ He didn’t finish his thought.

’This guy always leaves his sentences half-finished.’

Jiang Qingli wasn’t in the mood to press him right now, so she changed the subject. ”Where are you taking me?”

”Somewhere you’ll like,” he said with a smile.

’What’s he smiling about... he’s always smiling.’

’Am I that funny?’

Jiang Qingli grumbled internally. At the same time, she felt like it was getting hot in here—so hot she could barely sit still.

Fortunately, it wasn’t long before they arrived.

Xie Youchen hadn’t lied. She really did like this place.

On the beach, the entire sea glowed with dots of fluorescent light, a result of microorganisms. White-crested waves gently curled up, washing over their ankles before receding and rising again.

This was a place they used to visit often.

There were many people by the sea. They walked against the flow of the crowd, strolling and talking.

They talked about many things from the past.

Jiang Qingli felt herself gradually slipping back into their old dynamic, the way she used to interact with her ”brother.” The turmoil in her heart began to settle, and she even started to think her earlier flushed face and hot ears had just been a misconception.

The sky gradually darkened. Jiang Qingli glanced at the time on his watch and said with a hint of regret, ”We should be heading back.”

”Okay.”

As he spoke, she saw him raise his hand. His long fingers gently tucked the strands of her hair, which had been ruffled by the wind, behind her ear.

A jolt, like an electric shock, shot through the spot where their skin touched.

Jiang Qingli took a step back, her voice flustered. ”Thanks.”

On the way back, Xie Youchen drove.

Jiang Qingli sat in the passenger seat with the window wide open. Her hair whipped wildly against her face, her mood just as chaotic.

They drove the rest of the way in silence.

-

Xie Youchen still had access privileges to the Jiang Family estate, so he drove the car up to the building and parked.

Jiang Qingli unbuckled her seatbelt and asked, ”Are you sure you’re not coming back to live here?”

”Maybe someday,” Xie Youchen said. ”But right now, I don’t have that right.”

”It’s not like anyone’s asking you for a certificate...”

Jiang Qingli muttered, pushing the car door open.

The young man suddenly spoke. ”Ah Li.”

Her fingers froze. Without turning back, she asked, ”Wh-what is it?”

”You forgot the flowers.”

”Oh...”

Jiang Qingli picked up the flowers, waved goodbye to him with a composed expression, and then turned to enter the house.

The moment she was inside, Jiang Qingli took off as if someone was chasing her. She didn’t even take the elevator, just bolted up the stairs in one breath, flowers in hand, and burst straight into her bedroom.

After setting the flowers on her desk, Jiang Qingli threw herself onto her bed.

She rubbed her cheek against the soft bedding and let out a small breath. A few seconds later, it dawned on her what she had just done.

’Just now... no one saw me parkouring through the house like a lunatic, right?’

Jiang Qingli seriously considered the question.

The household staff didn’t stay in the main building at night, and none of the Beast Husbands were here today, so no one should have seen her.

The slightly prideful Miss Jiang felt a little relieved.

But her heart was still racing, and the air was thick with an unbearable heat.

Jiang Qingli tugged at her collar and got up, wanting to open a window for some fresh air.

But as she pulled back a corner of the curtain, she saw a tall, straight figure standing downstairs.

Xie Youchen was looking up in her direction.

Jiang Qingli’s fingers trembled, and she yanked the curtain shut.

She pulled out her terminal and sent him a message: [Why are you just standing there?]

Xie Youchen replied: [Enjoying the view.]

Jiang Qingli: ”...”

’It’s the middle of the night, and there aren’t even any stars. What view is there to see?’

’He’s obviously looking in the direction of my room.’

’Doesn’t he have a meeting tomorrow? How does he have so much free time?’

Jiang Qingli pursed her lips: [You should head back soon.]

[Okay.]

A few seconds passed, then a voice message arrived.

She opened it. It was a simple phrase: ”Good night, Ah Li.”

The young man’s deep, magnetic voice echoed by her ear like an intimate, whispered greeting.

In TV dramas, this would usually be accompanied by a goodnight kiss.

The strange association made her face grow even hotter. Jiang Qingli climbed back into bed and pulled the covers over her head, turning herself into a large lump.

She was completely still.

Like a statue, perfectly still.

couldn’t watch this anymore. The little ball of light circled around Jiang Qingli. [Host, stop running away from it. You know perfectly well how you feel.]

Jiang Qingli buried her face in the blankets and said nothing.

Her mind felt like a pot of boiling rice porridge—her thoughts were thick and scorching, bubbling and churning. Even her breath was hot.

’I never thought...’

’No, actually, I have thought about it.’

’There were so many moments when he got close, and my breath would catch, but I’d deliberately pretend nothing was wrong and look away. Afterward, I’d sneak glances at his side profile, and if he caught me, I’d defiantly question him back, only secretly breathing a sigh of relief at his indulgent apology.’

All those details she had purposely ignored now tumbled through her mind, like a dense, tangled net ensnaring her thoughts.

Jiang Qingli was having trouble breathing. She called for outside help: [030...]

[Here, here!] 030’s tone instantly turned serious. [Please give your command! I actually have some... indescribable items here. For example, one that can instantly sap an S-class male of his strength, allowing you to do as you please...]

[Stop, stop, stop!] Jiang Qingli’s face turned even redder. [Didn’t you say you were a proper system? What in the world are you thinking about all day!]

[W-Well, I just want Host to be happy...] 030 defended itself in a small voice. [If baby Qingli is happy, our world is saved!]

[Reasonable and correct.]

It sounded quite proud of itself.

Jiang Qingli was speechless for a few seconds before getting to the point: [This afternoon, you could see the Emperor’s favorability score toward me. Can you see mine toward other people?]

nodded: [Of course. But that’s private information, so I’ll need your authorization. Whose do you want to see?]

Her fingers tightened on the blanket. Jiang Qingli said awkwardly, [...Don’t ask when you already know.]

let out a few cheeky laughs: [Alrighty then, querying Jiang Qingli’s favorability score toward Xie Youchen.]

A few seconds later, a translucent screen appeared in front of Jiang Qingli.

On it, a number was clearly written—

[99%]