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

Jiang Qingli froze.

For a fleeting moment, she thought she saw a hint of nervousness and worry in Ye Linyuan’s perpetually cold, indifferent golden, vertical pupils.

But in the blink of an eye, any emotion that didn’t suit him vanished.

She thought for a few seconds before asking uncertainly, ”The way you’re asking me this... it feels a little like you’re... jealous?”

Her tentative question was like a stone tossed into stagnant water.

After two seconds of silence, Ye Linyuan suddenly rose without warning, transformed into a cloud of black mist, and vanished on the spot.

Jiang Qingli: ”...”

She slowly turned her head, her gaze meeting Yi Nuo’s in the corner.

Yi Nuo frantically averted his eyes and bowed his head low, resuming the posture of a proper butler.

A few seconds later, a pair of pristine white leather shoes entered his line of sight, stepping closer across the floor.

’A wolf’s sense of smell was far too sensitive.’

He caught the faint, sweet scent coming from her, and then, without warning, her face appeared before his eyes.

Jiang Qingli was bent over, looking up at him from below.

Startled, Yi Nuo subconsciously took a step back, but his back was already against the wall. There was no escape. He tilted his head up, his Adam’s apple bobbing with difficulty as he whispered, ”Miss.”

”Why are you so afraid of me?” Jiang Qingli asked, raising an eyebrow quizzically. ”It’s not like I’m going to kill you to silence you.”

The joke was a sign that she was in a decent mood.

Yi Nuo breathed a sigh of relief. ”I’m not afraid,” he said deferentially. ”Do you have any orders for me, Miss?”

”Don’t tell Xie Youchen about what just happened,” Jiang Qingli said in a low voice, adding, ”Last time, you said I was your only master.”

’So that’s what she was worried about.’

The Gray Wolf Butler lowered his eyes and gave a slight smile, his posture respectful. ”I listen only to you, Miss.”

”No need to be so serious,” Jiang Qingli said with a laugh, patting his shoulder.

Her red lips curved into a smile, and Yi Nuo’s lips curved up in response. His gray eyes lingered on her for a few seconds before he looked down with restraint.

The door slid open from the outside, and a young man’s sweet voice called out, ”I’m here, Sis... Huh? Why isn’t Uncle Ye here?”

”He had something to do, so he left,” Jiang Qingli said. By now, she was used to Gu Nian calling Ye Linyuan and Baili Jing ”Uncle.”

’After all, he was the youngest-looking of the bunch.’

With Ye Linyuan gone, Gu Nian sat down beside Jiang Qingli without a second thought and poured her some soy milk.

Jiang Qingli took the glass, had a sip, and then used her terminal to find Ye Linyuan’s new phone number. She sent a message: [Are you still coming back to spend the night on Monday?]

The message was marked as ”read” the moment it was sent.

After a moment, the unsaved number replied: [Yeah.]

-

Final exams at the Imperial Royal Academy were incredibly hectic. With so many courses, everything had to be completed within one week, making the schedule exceptionally packed. Some days had as many as six exams, which led people on the forums to quip that you ”wouldn’t even have time to get laid.”

Jiang Qingli had heard about this three years ago when she first passed the entrance exams for the Imperial Royal Academy, but this was her first time experiencing it firsthand.

On Monday alone, she had four exams: one required course, two electives, and a physical fitness assessment.

The test sites were in different colleges, spread far apart.

Jiang Qingli spent the entire day spinning like a top from one exam to another. By the time she got home, she was so tired she could only reply to her friends’ messages with voice notes.

After a shower, she lay prone on her bed, reviewing the past exam questions Yuan Shimo had compiled for her. Her eyelids gradually grew heavy, and the hand propping up her head began to tremble.

She glanced at the time. It was ten o’clock.

Ye Linyuan wasn’t back yet.

Jiang Qingli yawned and sent Ye Linyuan a ”good night” message, then fell asleep right on top of her screen.

In a daze, she felt someone pull the screen out from under her hand. She was turned over and settled into a cool embrace.

Jiang Qingli was still somewhat conscious. With her eyes closed, she tilted her head back and mumbled, ”Ye...”

”You got it right,” Ye Linyuan said, pushing her head back down. His snake tail coiled around her ankle. His voice was very soft. ”Don’t talk. Go to sleep.”

Jiang Qingli didn’t answer. Her breathing was steady.

His golden, vertical pupils narrowed slightly in the darkness. Ye Linyuan lowered his head, his lips brushing against her cheek as he held her and fell asleep.

...

「Friday afternoon.」

After their last required-course exam, Lin Xiyue walked out of the exam hall arm in arm with Jiang Qingli. Gazing at the setting sun, she looked like she was about to cry. ”I don’t even know how many days it’s been since I last saw the sky! I’m finally seeing the light of day again!”

”Oh, stop being so dramatic. Let’s go, let’s go.” Ai Li pushed the two of them forward from behind. ”If we’re any later, we’ll miss Senior Qin Shu’s farewell party.”

Lin Xiyue glanced at her watch and retorted, ”It’s only a little after five. The party doesn’t start until eight, you know...”

Qin Shu was stepping down from her position at the Melt Star Association to take up a post in the Sixth District. Knowing that Qin Shu loved a lively atmosphere, Qiao Lan had invited a ton of people and thrown a farewell party for her at the most luxurious club in Zone A Center.

It was still early, so the three of them ate a little something at a nearby mall and planned to browse for a while.

Ai Li was dressed very casually. Having heard that the ”department hunk” from the neighboring college was going to be there, she was now scouring the top floor for a new, prettier outfit to wear.

With nothing better to do, Jiang Qingli and Lin Xiyue went to look at accessories in the store next door.

Inside a glass case, a ruby bracelet shimmered dazzlingly under the lights.

Jiang Qingli’s gaze lingered on it for just a moment, and the male salesclerk immediately took the bracelet out and presented it to her respectfully.

She held out her wrist for him to put it on for her. She turned it once, quite satisfied.

Just as she was about to pay, a voice suddenly came from behind her. ”It’s beautiful. I’ll buy it for you.”

Jiang Qingli looked up and met a pair of red eyes.

Chi Yun stood before her, staring at her intently, his lips pursed nervously.

”Is there anything else you like?” Chi Yun asked, holding his breath as he stared at her anxiously. ”Does your friend like anything? I’ll buy it all.”

”That won’t be necessary.”

Jiang Qingli refused, sizing him up.

Although he was dressed exquisitely, there were smudges of dirt on his pant legs and arms, his hair was a bit of a mess, and a thin sheen of sweat beaded on his face.

’This guy most likely snuck out of his house.’

Jiang Qingli looked down at her terminal, searching for the Chi Family’s contact information.

Being ignored by her left a sour taste in Chi Yun’s mouth. ”Did you hear what I said?”

”I don’t want to hear it,” Jiang Qingli said. ”I thought I made myself perfectly clear last time. I don’t want to beat someone up in public, so I’ll have the Chi Family come get you.”

The girl’s expression was indifferent. Chi Yun grew frantic. ”Jiang Qingli!”

Chi Yun’s family had been keeping a tight leash on him lately. He had just barely managed to escape, and the first thing he did was find out where Jiang Qingli was and follow her here. But he never expected that she would want to get rid of him after just one look.

’It used to be... ’

Thinking of the past sent a sharp pain through Chi Yun’s chest. His tone took on a hint of humility. ”I admit, I did you wrong, but I’ve really thought things through now... You—you can at least let me pay for this for you!”

As he spoke, he slapped a card down on the counter and ordered forcefully, ”Charge it! Charge it now!”

Chi Yun used to bring Bai Yiyi to this luxury store all the time. Was there anyone here who didn’t recognize him?

Everyone knew his temper and didn’t want to be on the receiving end of it. The salesclerk, ignoring Lin Xiyue’s attempt to stop him, quickly swiped the card.

However, as soon as the card touched the terminal, a sharp warning beep sounded.

The salesclerk held the card and looked at Chi Yun awkwardly. ”Mr. Chi, did you perhaps use the wrong card?”

”What do you mean?” Chi Yun frowned. ”I told you to charge it, so charge it!”

The salesclerk swiped it again, but the sharp beeping continued incessantly. BEEP BEEP BEEP.

He said awkwardly, ”Um... Mr. Chi, your card has insufficient funds...”

It was more than just insufficient funds.

The payment screen clearly showed the card’s balance: 0.00.

”It’s no big deal.” Chi Yun feigned composure, sneaking a glance at Jiang Qingli out of the corner of his eye. ”I just grabbed the wrong card.”

He pulled out several more cards, but the balance on every single one was 0!

All his money was gone!

’How is that possible?! The Chi Family gives him a seven-figure allowance every month! How could he be broke?!’

A small crowd had already gathered around them.

The hushed whispers and gloating stares made Chi Yun’s skin crawl.

’He finally had a chance to show off in front of Jiang Qingli, and who knew he’d end up humiliating himself this badly!’

Chi Yun’s eyes widened. Shame and anger surged through him, and his face turned pale, then livid.

Just as the atmosphere turned rigid, a black and gold card was presented to the salesclerk.

A young man’s cold, deep voice spoke up: ”Charge mine.”

Jiang Qingli looked up, her eyes meeting Xie Youchen’s from across the crowd.