Chapter 115: Chapter 115: Tsundere and Awkward, but Craving Cuddles

Yuan Shiyao hadn’t expected his twin brother to suddenly come looking for him, and his movements paused.

It was Yuan Shimo who spoke first, asking Gu Nian, "Here for a signature?"

"Yeah." Gu Nian nodded.

He was in a bad mood after his earlier blunder and couldn’t be bothered to talk in front of the two brothers.

Yuan Shiyao said, "The document should be on the left..."

Before he could finish, Yuan Shimo had already pulled open the third drawer on the left, spread the document on the desk, and picked up a pen to sign his younger brother’s name.

Yuan Shiyao’s expression stiffened slightly.

He had forgotten. Just as he could pretend to be his older brother, his brother also knew him well enough to perfectly imitate everything about him, including his handwriting.

Yuan Shimo handed the document to Gu Nian. "It’s done."

Gu Nian’s gaze shifted between the brothers—identical in face but different in expression—and he raised an eyebrow.

"Thank you." He took the document, then suddenly spoke up. "By the way, did you sleep well last night? Sister likes to kick off the covers at night. It must have been tough taking care of her."

Yuan Shimo glanced at his younger brother, his tone flat. "Very well, thank you for your concern."

’Last night, Jiang Qingli spent the night in my brother’s room?’

’Aren’t they supposed to be following the schedule?’

’Weekends are for free choice, which means... Jiang Qingli chose my brother...’

Yuan Shiyao froze, as if someone had hit a pause button.

He frowned, his gaze turning cold as he looked at Gu Nian.

’He’s only been here a few days and he’s already trying to drive a wedge between us brothers.’

’Jiang Qingli is my sister-in-law. My sister-in-law.’

’The sister-in-law I had already accepted, the one I had called by that title so many times.’

’How could I have feelings for my sister-in-law—’

Yuan Shiyao was furious, but also felt an indescribable ache in his heart.

KNOCK, KNOCK.

There was a knock on the door.

Yuan Shiyao turned to see the very person he had just been thinking about standing in the doorway.

She must have just finished her shooting class. Her hair was in a ponytail, she held a half-empty bottle of electrolyte water, and her face still had a healthy pink glow, making her look like a fresh, beautiful apple.

"What a coincidence, you’re all here." Jiang Qingli walked in, her ponytail swinging with her movements.

Yuan Shimo, who hadn’t stood up when his brother and Gu Nian entered, now rose to his feet and took two steps toward Jiang Qingli. "Why are you here, female master?"

"Hm? Didn’t you see the group message?" Jiang Qingli said. "Gu Nian mentioned he had to get a document signed, so I thought I’d take him to lunch. I even asked you, but you didn’t reply."

Yuan Shimo said, "My apologies. I was with my mentor this morning and didn’t see it."

Yuan Shiyao, who was closest to Yuan Shimo, clearly saw his brother’s fingers tap the tabletop twice.

It was an unconscious habit of Yuan Shimo’s.

’He’s lying.’

’He must have seen Jiang Qingli’s message. It’s just that his reserved nature wouldn’t allow him to proactively ask to join her.’

’So after finding out Gu Nian was coming to the Student Council office, he sat here lying in wait.’

’Waiting for Jiang Qingli to invite him herself.’

Of course, Jiang Qingli didn’t notice such a subtle gesture.

She reached out and grabbed Yuan Shimo’s wrist. "Let’s go, then. I’ve already booked a restaurant. After we eat, I have to go shopping with Yueyue..."

Yuan Shimo glanced down at the wrist she was holding and didn’t resist.

He simply asked calmly, "Female master, who is Yueyue?"

"She’s a friend of mine." Jiang Qingli’s eyes sparkled as she talked about her friend. "A really cute girl who loves matcha ice cream just like me. I’ll introduce you to her next time!"

Yuan Shimo’s eyelashes trembled slightly. "Okay."

Gu Nian sidled up, taking her other hand and batting his big eyes coquettishly. "Sister, can I meet her too? I promise I won’t be any trouble. I’ll even carry your bags! Sister~ Please, please, please~!"

"Yes, yes, of course you can."

Jiang Qingli waved her hand magnanimously, then turned and waved goodbye to Yuan Shiyao.

Beside her, Yuan Shimo lifted his eyes to glance at his younger brother.

It was a very subtle movement.

Others might not have noticed the look, but Yuan Shiyao clearly felt his twin brother’s warning.

Then, they left the Student Council office hand in hand.

Yuan Shiyao stood by the window, looking down.

After walking out of the Student Council building, Jiang Qingli let go of Yuan Shimo’s hand.

But the next second, Yuan Shimo actually reached out and took the girl’s wrist himself.

He only pulled his hand back when she shot him a questioning look.

In that instant, Yuan Shiyao suddenly felt that his brother had become a stranger.

Growing up, Yuan Shimo had been in poor health and spent most of his time in a hospital bed, so they rarely had time to interact.

Later, when they grew up, his twin brother’s health improved, but he became absorbed in his academic pursuits. Even though they were closer than before, it always felt like there was a barrier between them.

Even those jade-green eyes, identical to his own, rarely met his gaze.

Their blood ties made them unconsciously close and understanding of each other, but they had never truly opened up their hearts.

’But how long has Jiang Qingli even known Yuan Shimo?’

’How could my usually aloof brother care so much about her, even resorting to playing childish tricks like this...’

’And Jiang Qingli.’

’It’s only been a few days, and she’s already so familiar with several males? She clearly met me first—’

Yuan Shiyao pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling as if his brain was broken.

Just a few days ago at the auction house, he had forced himself to call her sister-in-law, trying to get used to the fact that they would be family in the future.

But just now, when she stood before him, he suddenly couldn’t control his thoughts—

’If only Jiang Qingli wasn’t my sister-in-law.’

’If only my brother and Jiang Qingli weren’t together.’

’If only I was the one married to Jiang Qingli.’

-

「Wednesday’s theory class.」

The moment Jiang Qingli walked into the classroom, most people turned to stare at her.

She sat down next to Lin Xiyue and asked strangely, "Am I on the campus forums again?"

"Not you, it’s Bai Yiyi." Lin Xiyue said, pulling out a few screenshots to show her.

They were screenshots of a post on the campus forums.

Title: [Anyone know about Bai Yiyi’s new Beast Husband? He got locked up. Three months.]

1F: [That long? Didn’t the last guy who broke the rules only get three weeks? He was just here to attend class with BYY, right? He’s not even from our college.]

2F: [Must’ve pissed off the wrong person. I heard his uncle, the district administrator, had already smoothed things over to get him out in three days. But then the judge got a phone call and did a complete 180. Three days turned into three months.]

3F: [Heh, good for him. At least we don’t have to see Bai Yiyi’s daily nine-photo grid of her husband on her feed, or watch them make out in the front row at school.]

4F: [Someone upstairs jealous? Some of you females can’t find a high-quality male, so you just love to whine about others. Tsk, tsk, tsk...]

5F: [Speaking of which, didn’t my friend say this Beast Husband is a notorious scumbag in District Two?]

6F: [A reformed playboy, then. Bai Yiyi must be pretty impressive.]

7F: [Who knows how many hands he’s been through. "Reformed playboy," my ass. Bai Yiyi’s pathetic for taking on someone like that.]

...

The rest of the thread was basically an argument about whether a reformed playboy is worth taking, so Lin Xiyue didn’t screenshot any more of it.

"I screenshotted this post first thing in the morning. It was deleted by a Student Council admin just an hour after it went up." Lin Xiyue said regretfully, "Damn it, I didn’t even get to see the flame war that came after!"

"Was it Qin Muye who talked to the judge for you?" Ai Li leaned in. "That judge is notorious for trying to smooth things over and always sides with males. I’m afraid only a Prince could put pressure on him."

Jiang Qingli had only mentioned it to Yi Nuo the night before last, asking him to keep an eye on it. She had only just found out about the long sentence herself.

That evening, after taking a shower in Qin Muye’s room, Jiang Qingli stroked his ear and asked him about it.

Qin Muye thought for a moment. "I asked Qin Shu to keep an eye on it for me. It was probably her."

Members of the Imperial Family aren’t allowed to contact government officials without permission. Since Qin Shu had already entered politics, Qin Muye asked for her help.

For this, he even paid her with a gemstone thumb ring.

Of course, it was just a thumb ring. Qin Muye would never mention it to Jiang Qingli; it would make him seem stingy.

"Sister Shu is too kind," Jiang Qingli said with a grin. "I have to thank her properly."

"Thanking me would be better than thanking her," Qin Muye huffed. "She’s lying in a hospital bed, and I’m right here in front of you."

"Then how should I thank you?"

Jiang Qingli put down her book, turned to wrap her arms around his neck, and leaned in close, her nose touching his as she smiled softly.

"Your... High... ness."

She drew out each word, her breath brushing against his cheek and lips.

Qin Muye had been called "Your Highness" for so many years—sometimes with ridicule, sometimes with fear, sometimes with flattery.

But never before had anyone said it like she did, laced with a smile, so soft and sweet.

Even knowing she was just teasing him, Qin Muye’s heart couldn’t help but race.

He wrapped one arm around Jiang Qingli’s waist, lifted her up, and sat her down with him on the sofa before kissing her.

Only a single table lamp was on in the room, casting a warm yellow light, yet everything became clear amidst their mingling breaths.

When their lips parted, Qin Muye’s gaze traveled down the thin straps of her nightgown, to the soft, dizzying expanse of white skin.

She didn’t refuse him. She was looking at him and smiling.

’This means I have her permission to continue, right...?’

Qin Muye’s breathing grew unsteady, and the feeling of dizziness intensified.

A wave of heat surged through him. In a daze, he thought he felt a liquid trickle down.

The familiar sensation made Qin Muye freeze abruptly.

Before he could even react, Jiang Qingli’s panicked voice cried out:

"Qin Muye, you have a nosebleed!"