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

In the silent night, their gazes met in the mirror.

In an instant, the intense aggression in his dark eyes burned Jiang Qingli, and she lowered her head, the tips of her ears flushing red.

She struggled slightly, trying to pull away, but she was held fast, with no chance to escape.

Her calf brushed against something. Jiang Qingli looked down to see a jet-black tail coiling around her leg.

Xie Youchen was always restrained and self-possessed. Apart from their first time together, Jiang Qingli had never seen his tail again.

Compared to Ye Linyuan’s cold snake tail, Xie Youchen’s dragon tail was very warm, though not uncomfortably so.

The surface of the dragon tail was covered in black scales. It felt slightly rough to the touch, but not unpleasant. As it tightened its coil and rubbed against her, it stirred a peculiar sensation.

...

”Ah Li, open your eyes.”

Her chin was suddenly lifted.

Her eyelashes fluttered.

Through her blurry vision, she could vaguely see him leaning closer, propped up beside her, tilting his head to kiss the tears from the corner of her eye.

His low, magnetic voice, laced with a smile, landed gently beside her ear with a kiss. ”What’s wrong?”

Jiang Qingli wouldn’t look at him. ”...As if you don’t know.”

She tried to maintain her defiance, but a gentle press to the small of her back made her tremble uncontrollably.

A soft chuckle sounded by her ear, as if teasing her for not meaning what she said.

’I feel like a fish dragged from the depths of the sea, thrown onto the sand, and forced to bake in the sun,’ Jiang Qingli thought. ’And to make it worse, someone is sighing in my ear, saying how beautiful it is.’

’Where on earth did he learn to say things like that? Has he no shame...?’

’Or maybe... this is the fervent side hidden beneath his cold exterior...’

Her thoughts in a jumble, Jiang Qingli closed her eyes, her voice so soft it was devoid of strength. ”Don’t say any more... shut up...”

”Alright, I won’t.”

Xie Youchen kissed the corner of her lips, feigning obedience. But just as she let her guard down, he fixed his gaze on her, his voice a seductive murmur—

”Ah Li, take a good look.”

”And remember it well.”

Steam spread, fogging the surface of the mirror.

Yet clear fingerprints were left behind...

...

The night was thick and dark.

Jiang Qingli was nestled in the blankets, hands clutching the edge of the covers. She peered out with red-rimmed eyes, watching Xie Youchen pack his luggage.

Xie Youchen had bathed her and dried her hair, waiting until she was comfortably tucked into bed before taking a shower himself. When he came out, he had nothing on but a bath towel wrapped around his waist.

The light in the room was dim and yellow, but Jiang Qingli’s eyesight was far too good. She could clearly see the scratches on his back, and the bite marks... all her handiwork.

Xie Youchen had laughed when she’d scratched him, so, feeling defiant, she had deliberately bitten him. She only let go in satisfaction after he let out a cooperative hiss of pain.

She had meant to torment him, but now that he was displaying her work so openly, Jiang Qingli, the culprit, felt a little sheepish.

A droplet of water fell from the tip of his hair, tracing a path down his V-line...

Jiang Qingli’s gaze followed its path, and when it reached the towel, she couldn’t help feeling a little disappointed and unsatisfied.

She made no sound of disappointment, merely pouting a little, yet Xie Youchen, as if he had eyes in the back of his head, asked in a low voice, ”What’s wrong?”

”What do you mean, ’what’s wrong’?” Jiang Qingli feigned ignorance, her gaze falling to his luggage. ”You’re packing a lot for just a week.”

”I told Qin Xiangning I’d be gone for half a month,” Xie Youchen explained, closing the suitcase.

As he moved, the towel shifted slightly.

”Xie Youchen.”

Jiang Qingli suddenly called out to him, holding out her arms.

”What is it?”

He walked over and sat on the edge of the bed, picking her up and cradling her in his lap. His long fingers found the small of her back with practiced ease, kneading gently.

Jiang Qingli traced the scratches on his back and said lazily, ”I have reason to suspect you were just trying to seduce me.”

”No need to suspect. It’s a fact.” Xie Youchen kissed the tip of her ear. ”Officer.”

The title, coupled with his candidness, made the tips of Jiang Qingli’s ears burn.

She cleared her throat and changed the subject. ”By the way, what did you talk about with Qin Muye? He wasn’t angry, was he?”

”Mm.”

Xie Youchen’s expression was placid.

But Jiang Qingli knew this was his usual evasive tactic.

She propped herself up on his shoulders, urging, ”What do you mean, ’mm’? Say something. What did you two talk about?”

Unable to refuse her, Xie Youchen briefly recounted his conversation with Qin Muye.

His retelling was calm and civilized, but Jiang Qingli knew Qin Muye too well. She could effortlessly imagine the Prince’s actual words and tone, and after a few more follow-up questions, she was able to piece together a pretty accurate picture of the full conversation.

It was rare to see Xie Youchen looking so thwarted. Jiang Qingli wanted to laugh but didn’t dare, so she lowered her head and feigned indignation on his behalf. ”How can he be so mean? I’ll be sure to give him a piece of my mind next time!”

After a moment of silence, Xie Youchen raised a finger and tapped the corner of her lips. ”If you want to laugh, just laugh.”

This time, Jiang Qingli couldn’t hold it in. She threw her arms around his neck and burst out laughing.

Perhaps her laughter was just too infectious, because Xie Youchen’s lips curved into a smile as he watched her.

Ever since they got together, he no longer hid the heat and desire in his gaze; his eyes were always following her.

Jiang Qingli grew a little shy and gave him a couple of pushes. ”Go dry your hair. You’ll catch a cold with it dripping wet like that.”

”Alright.”

Knowing she was just being shy, Xie Youchen obediently got up and went to the bathroom to dry his hair.

Jiang Qingli took out her terminal and checked her unread messages.

She hadn’t looked at her terminal for a few hours, and Qin Muye had sent a flood of messages, rambling on about all sorts of things.

[Just got my shot. Have you had dinner? I’m getting out of the hospital next week. I’ll take you out for some good food.]

[It’s gotten dark. Where are you staying? Send me the room number.]

[...]

[I don’t mean anything by it, just asking.]

[I’m done eating. [Image of a nutrient solution] This flavor is pretty good. You should try it tomorrow.]

[Have you found Que Feiling yet?]

Jiang Qingli replied to each message in turn: [I’ve eaten.]

[I’m in 6603, but if you’re not planning on coming to find me, then I guess that’s that.]

[Green apple flavor? Looks good. If I can’t finish mine tomorrow, you can have the rest.]

[I didn’t realize you were so concerned about your coworker. I’ll let you know the second he’s back. Now go to sleep.]

Jiang Qingli: [Good night ^^]

[Good night.] Qin Muye replied, then added, [I asked. I’m allowed to have someone stay in my room. If you’re not busy, you can come sleep here with me.]

Jiang Qingli: ”...”

’He actually asked the nurse about that? Seriously...’

’He has the nerve to ask, but I’d be too embarrassed to go.’

Jiang Qingli: [Be good now. Go to sleep.]

Exiting the chat window, Jiang Qingli received a friend request. The note was just two words: Qin Xiangning.

She rejected it outright, then went back to reply to her friends’ messages and check her group chats...

Her finger slid down the screen, nearing the bottom, and finally stopped on the profile picture of an unsaved, unknown contact.

Her last conversation with Ye Linyuan had been several days ago.

’There’d been no word from him recently, and she wasn’t sure what to say to him anyway...’

Her finger tapped into the chat window and then back out. Jiang Qingli felt inexplicably conflicted. As she went to swipe the screen away, her finger slipped and double-tapped by mistake.

[System Notification: You patted ’29&#fa@17’]

Jiang Qingli: ...

’So embarrassing. It’s like I was caught spying on him.’

’But Ye Linyuan is so elusive. He barely uses his terminal and is almost never online. He probably won’t see it. I just need to retract it, and it’ll be fine.’

But then, something even more embarrassing happened.

The moment Jiang Qingli retracted the message, a small green dot appeared beneath Ye Linyuan’s profile picture.

Ye Linyuan was online.