Chapter 101: Chapter 101: I Start Missing You the Second We’re Apart

Bai Yiyi froze, her gaze snapping toward booth 011.

Her head was buzzing.

’She never would have thought that the male she’d gone to such lengths to win would be so casually split among other people!’

’Five people, at that!’

’How the hell is this any different from a scalper!’

And yet, there was nothing wrong with what the guest in booth 011 had done.

In the underground auction house, pets were considered property. The winning bidder could dispose of them as they pleased.

Some VIPs, in the spirit of sharing the wealth, would resell partial ownership.

As long as the auction house collected its fee and registered the transfer, it wasn’t concerned with what happened next.

But for a VIP like the one in booth 011 to resell directly to five people—that was a first for many!

After announcing the result, the auctioneer on stage quickly processed the transfer of rights.

He took a peek at the back-end system. The five VIPs had each transferred twenty million in chips to the guest in booth 011.

In other words, not only had the guest in booth 011 managed to "group-sell" the peacock, but she’d also turned a profit of ten million...

The auctioneer was shocked, but also breathed a sigh of relief.

’Haha, when the guest from 011 was bidding earlier, I thought the boss was going to have me killed tonight...’

He glanced at his watch. Forty minutes had passed. The auctioneer quickly summoned an attendant and whispered in his ear.

-

Booth 011.

Jiang Qingli pointed to the incoming ten million credits, lifting her chin smugly at Ye Linyuan. "What do you think? Impressive, huh?"

’Guys like Su Jue, who take pleasure in being scumbags, should get a taste of how cruel the world can be!’

’As for the ten million I earned and getting to piss off Bai Yiyi in the process... that was all just my just desserts!’

Ye Linyuan’s eyes darkened as his cool knuckles tapped the side of her face.

’But what replayed in his mind was the image of her throwing herself into his arms, calling him ’hubby’ in that affected, coquettish voice.’

’Even when she was deliberately causing trouble, it wasn’t the least bit annoying.’

Something stirred in Ye Linyuan’s chest.

’He suddenly realized she didn’t bother to restrain her wicked side in front of him at all.’

’It felt like... he was a little closer to knowing the real her.’

His expression softened, and Ye Linyuan said in a low voice, "Impressive."

"It’s nothing compared to you!" Jiang Qingli said with a wide smile.

’After all, he was the great villain. My little tricks were child’s play in comparison.’

As she was thinking this, a figure approached them.

Jiang Qingli turned her head to see an attendant holding out a room key with both hands. "Honored guest of booth 011, please proceed to the upper floor to enjoy your prize."

Taking the card, Jiang Qingli held it between two fingers and glanced at it. "Is this for the rabbit I bought earlier?"

"Yes," the attendant said with a smile. "Everything has been prepared for you. We hope you have a wonderful evening."

The fingers gripping her wrist tightened, Ye Linyuan’s silent protest.

Jiang Qingli didn’t really want to leave either.

’I’m not familiar with this place. Who knows what might happen if I just follow him? It’s safest to stay by Ye Linyuan’s side.’

Jiang Qingli looked troubled. "Can’t you just bring him here?"

"Please rest assured, we absolutely guarantee the safety of our honored guests." The attendant seemed to notice her hesitation. He glanced at Ye Linyuan and added with a smile, "Of course, if your male companion is concerned, he is welcome to wait by the door."

Ye Linyuan fell silent.

Jiang Qingli nodded and said to Ye Linyuan, "You can wait here for me. I’ll go collect him and be right back."

Ye Linyuan’s expression eased slightly. He nodded in reluctant agreement.

After the attendant led Jiang Qingli away, Ye Linyuan glanced at another attendant standing in the corner.

The man shot a discreet glance in his direction, then lowered his eyes respectfully. He quickly and quietly left the auction hall, following in Jiang Qingli’s footsteps.

Ye Linyuan picked up his wine glass and sank lazily back into his seat.

However, he had just settled in when the crystal chandelier overhead gave a soft CLICK, and everything was plunged into darkness.

Panicked shouts erupted from the crowd.

Ye Linyuan narrowed his slitted pupils, his gaze fixed on booth 013.

Yu Chenglan was gone. Only Bai Yiyi remained.

Unlike the other panicking females, she sat with a leisurely posture, sipping her tea.

In booth 017, a few seats down from booth 013, a student council member shifted nervously. "Um... Secretary-General," he whispered, "could you use your Superpower to create some light? It’s so dark..."

"As I recall, you’re a Snake Beastman. You don’t need me to light the way," Yuan Shiyao refused coolly. "Besides, anything too bright will become a target."

His logic was sound.

The subordinate rubbed his nose.

’Right. He really is our calm and rational Secretary-General. Always by the book, never showing favoritism to anyone.’

A few minutes later, Yuan Shiyao suddenly lowered his voice. "I’m stepping out. You stay here. We’ll rendezvous in half an hour."

"Huh?" His subordinate was stunned and immediately protested. "No, no, the auction hall is the safest place to be! I can’t let you go out there and risk it alone... It’s against regulations, too. If the President finds out..."

"It would be less safe to bring you."

Yuan Shiyao cut him off with a raised hand and strode toward the exit.

The subordinate was left speechless.

-

Jiang Qingli was halfway down the corridor when her vision was suddenly plunged into darkness, making her jump.

She instinctively took a few steps forward to catch up with the attendant, only to realize the sound of his footsteps had vanished.

’Wait... hold on. Don’t tell me I’m about to get assassinated, just like in some novel?!’

Jiang Qingli’s pupils quaked. She backed up several steps, trying to press herself against the wall to prevent a sneak attack from behind.

But after just a few steps, her back met the cool, crisp fabric of a suit.

At the same time, a pair of strong hands wrapped around her waist, and a low, magnetic voice whispered in her ear, "Don’t be afraid, baby."

The breath on her ear sent a terrifying chill through her.

Jiang Qingli was so startled she nearly jumped out of her skin.

The next second, as if by muscle memory, her hand shot out with practiced ease and clamped around his neck. Tightening her grip, she ground out his name through gritted teeth, "Bai! Li! Jing!"

"So clever, my baby. You recognized me right away."

Even with his throat in a death grip, Baili Jing’s demeanor remained gentle. He leaned in to kiss her cheek, then guided her hands to wrap around his waist, pulling her into a hug.

"Get away from me." Jiang Qingli’s heart was still pounding, and her voice held an unconscious note of grievance. "You scared me..."

"I’m sorry, baby. It’s all my fault." He lifted her hand, his tone apologetic. "Forgive me, baby."

Jiang Qingli was speechless.

’Does this guy use the word ’baby’ as a comma?’

But she had to admit, his voice was just too pleasant. When he said "baby," his tone was so tender and affectionate it made her heart race.

Baili Jing’s clingy, saccharine affection quickly soothed Jiang Qingli’s terror.

She pushed his face away slightly. "What are you doing here?"

"I was worried about you being here alone." The young man took the opportunity to brush his lips against her palm. "I missed you so much, baby."

Jiang Qingli found herself unable to resist. She hugged him back around the waist and mumbled, "We’ve only been apart for a few hours, haven’t we?"

"If we’re apart for even a second, I start to miss you."

As if to prove his point, he pressed his cheek against her palm and chuckled softly. "Baby... did you miss me?"

Jiang Qingli huffed. "You followed me without telling me. You’re so disobedient. I didn’t miss a bad fox like you at all."

"Then... how can this bad fox earn his female master’s forgiveness?"

Baili Jing asked softly.

He hooked her chin with his well-defined fingers and leaned down, pressing his lips to hers.

His slender fingers slipped between hers, lacing their hands together. His other hand pressed against her back, preventing her from pulling away.

’Has he really never filmed a kissing scene? How is he so good at this...?’

Her thoughts grew hazy.

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed nearby.

Jiang Qingli’s eyes fluttered open, her body feeling boneless. She saw a tall, slender figure holding a wavering point of light, walking slowly toward them.