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

The summer sun was blinding, and a warm, slightly salty sea breeze rustled her hair.

As a young man’s voice sounded, a shadow fell over her, blocking the sun.

Yuan Shiyao was wearing a white T-shirt, his choppy black hair falling over his forehead. His pair of jade-green eyes were as clear as if they’d been washed with water, giving him a bright, boyish air that was a change from his usual uniform.

Jiang Qingli hadn’t expected to run into him here and was a little surprised. ”What a coincidence. You’re here for fun, too? Are you alone?”

”Not alone. The senior student council members are having a team-building event, so I came with them.” Yuan Shiyao’s lips curved into a smile as he pointed to a group of people clustered in the distance.

Five or six people were chatting by the beach volleyball net. Their expressions were unclear, but Ke An’s red hair stood out in the crowd.

Yuan Shiyao gazed at the girl’s profile, his Adam’s apple bobbing slightly. He lowered his voice. ”Sorry, sister-in-law. We were just playing beach volleyball, and I spiked the ball too far. I didn’t startle you, did I?”

He moved a little closer, his voice softening. ”If you’re free, we’re having a bonfire tonight. Would you like to join us? I also want to apologize for what happened today...”

But before Jiang Qingli could answer, a cough cut in from the side.

”Sorry, but she’s going to be busy with us. She’s not free.”

Gu Nian put an arm around Jiang Qingli, pulling her back slightly to create some distance. He was making a point to this shameless homewrecker, reminding him of his own existence as her main husband.

Yuan Shiyao glanced sideways as if just noticing someone else was there. ”Gu Nian,” he said in surprise. ”What are you doing here?”

Gu Nian, still holding Jiang Qingli: ”...”

’This damn, scheming pretty-boy, acting all innocent and clueless.’

’For the past few years, the student council’s holiday team-building trips were always to the outdoor park in the Second District. This year, they suddenly came to this beach.’

’And what a coincidence, the trip was suddenly moved up a week, happening at the exact same time as Jiang Qingli’s trip.’

’Even more coincidentally, the volleyball was hit with just the right amount of force, landing perfectly next to Jiang Qingli’s chair without even kicking up a speck of sand.’

’How could there be so many coincidences in the world?’

’But what left Gu Nian the most speechless was—’

’that shameless male, Yuan Shiyao, kept hooking a finger in his collar and tugging at it while he spoke. He made it look like he was trying to cool off, but the movement made his collarbone and the silver chain he wore flash in and out of view. He was clearly trying to seduce the honest and innocent Jiang Qingli!’

And yet, he acted as if nothing was amiss, turning to Ai Li, who was lying nearby. ”Ai Li, would you and your Beast Husband like to come to the bonfire? It’ll be a lot of fun.”

Ai Li had just been playing on her terminal and only looked up when she heard Yuan Shiyao call her name.

She froze for a second when she saw him. She was about to agree, but then she remembered her friend wasn’t there and changed her tune. ”I’ll have to ask Xiyue...”

Just as she was speaking, Ke An’s voice came from behind them. ”Hey, what’s taking you so long to get a ball? You’re not deliberately hitting on a female, are you? Careful, or I’ll tell your si—”

Before she could finish, Yuan Shiyao turned around and narrowed his eyes in warning.

The words caught in Ke An’s throat. She glanced at Jiang Qingli, then back at Yuan Shiyao, and forced a cough to suppress a mischievous grin. She greeted them, ”Well, this is a huge coincidence! You’re all here! Why don’t you join our bonfire tonight? It’ll be fun~”

”When Lin Xiyue gets back, we’ll ask her and her Beast Husband what they think. We’ll let you know later.” Jiang Qingli bent down, picked up the beach volleyball beside her, and handed it to Yuan Shiyao. ”Here. Have fun.”

Yuan Shiyao, who had supposedly come over to retrieve the ball, only now realized he had completely forgotten about it. The tips of his ears burned as he took it and thanked her.

But his feet seemed to be nailed to the spot; he didn’t move.

Not far away, Ai Bin saw them standing motionless and thought something was wrong, so he started walking over.

At this rate, the whole student council would end up surrounding the two females. Ke An quickly hurried Yuan Shiyao along. ”Let’s go, hurry up.”

She waved at Jiang Qingli and Ai Li. Halfway back, she wrapped an arm around Ai Bin’s waist and gave it a squeeze. He lightly smacked her hand, so she just hugged him tighter. As they returned, the group of student council members started hooting and hollering, their exclamations rising and falling.

Ai Li covered her face with her hands and sighed. ”She’s practically glued to him... So that’s how that guy ’found his footing.’ I can’t believe someone actually wants my idiot brother. What a blessing for our family!”

Lin Xiyue had seen the crowd from afar while she was surfing. When she walked over and heard that last sentence, she inquired about the situation and became very interested. ”I’m going. I want to hear Ke An and your brother’s love story.”

Lin Xiyue’s Beast Husband naturally had no objections.

Jiang Qingli was actually quite interested in the bonfire, but seeing Gu Nian’s silence, she waited for the others to disperse before asking him in a low voice, ”You don’t want to go, do you?”

Gu Nian pressed his lips together.

Jiang Qingli said, ”If you don’t want to go, I can go somewhere else with you instead?”

”No, it’s fine.” Gu Nian leaned in and nuzzled the girl’s cheek. ”Let’s go together. I just haven’t been to many group activities, so I’m not really used to them.”

As he spoke, he glanced behind him.

Ye Linyuan had been lying listlessly on a lounge chair behind them ever since they got to the beach. He probably wouldn’t join a group activity.

’In that case... if he and Jiang Qingli attend the group activity together, could that barely count as a world for two?’

’No matter how shameless Yuan Shiyao is, he wouldn’t dare try to seduce Jiang Qingli in front of everyone, right?’

’As long as I keep a close eye on her, she’ll be all mine.’

With one thought after another, Gu Nian managed to talk himself into a better mood. He even started helping Jiang Qingli pick out an outfit for the bonfire that evening.

After choosing the clothes, Gu Nian hooked his finger around Jiang Qingli’s and swung their hands, saying coaxingly, ”Qingli, can we go swimming again? Please? You can teach me more.”

”Okay.” Jiang Qingli let Gu Nian pull her to her feet and grabbed the little duck floatie nearby, slipping it over him. ”Let’s go, my little duck-bunny.”

”I’m much better now, I don’t need the floatie!” Gu Nian insisted. ”Really, Qingli.”

”Didn’t you swallow enough water earlier?” Jiang Qingli teased. She cupped his cheek, gave him a quick kiss, and whispered a few words in his ear. Then she pulled back and asked, ”How about now?”

The tips of the young man’s ears turned red. All his resistance vanished with that one kiss, and he obediently let her lead him away with the childish floatie on.

On the lounge chair behind them, Ye Linyuan lifted his eyelids for a cursory glance, then closed them again.

’Out of sight, out of mind.’

-

A romantic, pinkish-purple sunset filled the sky.

After playing beach volleyball all afternoon, the student council members gathered everyone at the resort’s event area and lit a bonfire.

As the fire blazed to life, shadows danced around it.

Ai Bin saw an empty spot next to Yuan Shiyao and habitually walked over. Before he could even sit down, Yuan Shiyao lifted his eyelids and said flatly, ”It’s taken.”

Ai Bin: ?

”That’s for his sister-in-law. You can sit with me,” Ke An said as she passed by, grabbing Ai Bin’s hand and pulling him away.

Ai Bin still hadn’t processed it. ”Who’s his sister-in-law?”

The next second, he understood.

Yuan Shiyao, who had just been giving him the cold shoulder, now wore a smile that could almost be described as gentle. ”Sister-in-law,” he said to the approaching Jiang Qingli, ”there’s a spot right here. Please, sit.”

Jiang Qingli had just started to move when Gu Nian inserted himself between them and sat down.

Seeing this, Jiang Qingli simply sat down next to Gu Nian.

Yuan Shiyao: ”...”

But the culprit felt no guilt whatsoever. Instead, he flashed a triumphant smile. ”Thanks, Secretary Yuan.”