Chapter 132: Chapter 132: Sister-in-law, If You Are Willing...

Realizing it was someone she knew, Jiang Qingli breathed a sigh of relief.

She patted her chest. "What a coincidence. What are you doing here?"

Yuan Shiyao avoided her gaze, his eyelashes lowered. "The student council has always been in charge of matters related to the spiritual power assessment."

"Oh, I see." Jiang Qingli nodded and added casually, "You all must be working hard."

His lashes trembled. Yuan Shiyao’s eyes flickered, and he said in a low voice, "It’s just part of my duty. It’s no trouble."

After he said that, the atmosphere fell silent.

Jiang Qingli took a sip of her juice, then suddenly moved closer, staring at Yuan Shiyao’s face.

When I say "moved closer," she had really only taken one step forward and tilted her head to look at his face.

But Yuan Shiyao’s reaction was very strange.

The moment Jiang Qingli approached, he almost instinctively bent down slightly, as if to accommodate her movement.

But the next second, as if struck on the head by something, he stumbled a step back in a panic.

His back hit the wall with a soft THUD.

The boy’s breathing grew tense, and he lowered his head even further, as if he didn’t dare face the girl in front of him. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Jiang Qingli didn’t understand his behavior. "What’s wrong with you?"

Yuan Shiyao’s hands, hanging by his sides, tightened into fists. "It’s nothing," he said in a low voice.

"Really?" Jiang Qingli was worried. "You’re acting really strange."

Yuan Shiyao was giving her a very strange feeling today.

Not long ago, at the underground auction, Yuan Shiyao had used his Superpower to calm her nerves, helped her when Su Jue was harassing her, and even used his handkerchief to wipe her ankle.

They hadn’t seen each other for just one day, yet he was like a different person, avoiding her like the plague.

Jiang Qingli was completely bewildered.

’I thought we were friends...’

Being suddenly avoided by a friend, Jiang Qingli felt a little dejected.

But she was someone who cherished her friends, so she still wanted to ask and get things straight.

She took another step forward, standing an arm’s length from Yuan Shiyao, and looked up at him. "Is there some kind of misunderstanding between us?"

Yuan Shiyao averted his eyes and asked in a low voice, "What misunderstanding?"

Jiang Qingli wanted to know what the misunderstanding was, too. ’I don’t think I did anything. How did I manage to upset this black cat again?’

After thinking for a moment, Jiang Qingli asked, "Do you think I was bullying your brother again?"

As soon as she said this, she noticed the boy opposite her hold his breath, his body growing even more rigid.

’Did I guess right?’

Having found the root of the problem, Jiang Qingli quickly tried to clear it up, explaining, "Don’t misunderstand. Your brother and I have been getting along quite well lately. Yesterday, we even did homework problems together and played with his shadow..."

Yuan Shiyao was stunned. "You two—" He opened his mouth, his voice strained as he repeated her words, "—used his Superpower... together?"

"What... did you think of his Superpower?"

Jiang Qingli said honestly, "Your brother’s Superpower is very interesting."

Yuan Shiyao’s mind went blank for a moment.

Yuan Shimo’s true Superpower had always been a secret that couldn’t be mentioned in the family. If not for an argument where Du Yushan let it slip, he, the younger brother, would have never known.

The Yuan Family rejected aberrations, so Yuan Shimo never used his Superpower.

In over two years, Yuan Shiyao had only seen his brother’s Superpower once.

That one time, a machine in the training room had malfunctioned and was about to strike him from behind.

He had already braced for impact, but the shadow at his feet had precisely controlled the mechanical arm, dismantling the dangerous weapon.

Yuan Shimo had stood nearby, his expression indifferent.

Yuan Shiyao felt his brother’s Superpower was definitely no weaker than his own. He wanted to see it again, but his brother refused, saying he "couldn’t control it."

But now, Yuan Shimo had actually shown his Superpower to Jiang Qingli...

And from the sound of it, it wasn’t in a threatening way.

He must have used his Superpower to amuse her.

For a moment, Yuan Shiyao didn’t even know what expression to make.

On one hand, he was relieved that his brother’s Superpower hadn’t been met with disgust but was instead praised as interesting. He could imagine how happy his brother would be about that.

On the other hand, he was shocked that their relationship had become so intimate that they could even share the deepest of secrets.

Seeing his face grow paler and his body even begin to sway slightly, Jiang Qingli grew worried.

"Are you not feeling well?"

She steadied Yuan Shiyao by the arm, and just as she was about to lead him to the lounge, she suddenly heard footsteps behind them.

"It’s taking you this long just to pick someone up..."

A female voice called out, then quickly died down.

Jiang Qingli turned around and saw a red-haired girl’s gaze darting between her and Yuan Shiyao, a teasing smile on her face. "Am I interrupting something?"

Yuan Shiyao steadied himself and took a step forward to shield Jiang Qingli. His voice was cold. "I wasn’t feeling well. Jiang was just helping me."

Ke An said, "Oh," and gave Jiang Qingli a friendly smile. "Miss Jiang, I’m Ke An, the vice president of the student council. We’ve met before, remember?"

"I remember." Jiang Qingli nodded. "Hello."

Ke An said, "It’s almost your turn, so I came over to check."

She pointed toward the examination room. Jiang Qingli thanked her and started to walk out.

Feeling her fingers release him, her warmth leaving him, Yuan Shiyao pressed his lips together.

The girl took a few steps, then suddenly paused and turned her head to ask him, "Are you busy later?"

Yuan Shiyao unconsciously straightened his back. "No."

"Then wait for me for a bit. I have something to tell you."

After saying that, Jiang Qingli turned and walked toward the examination room.

Yuan Shiyao didn’t look away until her figure disappeared from sight.

Seeing him like this, Ke An clicked her tongue. "I told them you only came because of Jiang Qingli, but they didn’t believe me."

Yuan Shiyao’s brows furrowed. "Shut up."

"Me, shut up?" Ke An gave a helpless laugh. "Secretary General Yuan, you’ve been in a daze all day, your work is a mess, and the president told you to go home and rest, but you insisted on coming here to do this supervision work that isn’t even your responsibility."

Yuan Shiyao said with a straight face, "I have an obligation to participate in all student council work."

"Then what about those huge dark circles under your eyes? Aren’t they because of her? Last year, when our people were getting crushed by the Melt Star Association, I didn’t see you look this worn out."

"The weather is hot and stuffy. Insomnia is a normal phenomenon." Yuan Shiyao’s excuse was airtight. "Besides, the Moon Festival is just around the corner, and I need to help with the celebration preparations."

Ke An: "..."

’I’ve never met someone so stubborn.’

-

The results of the physical examination came out quickly.

The data showed that Jiang Qingli was in excellent health and fully met the requirements to participate in the spiritual power level assessment.

When she walked out of the examination room, Yuan Shiyao was waiting for her not far away.

Jiang Qingli waved at him.

Yuan Shiyao twitched his fingers but didn’t raise his hand.

They walked side by side to a terrace.

The early summer breeze blew past the flowerbeds, carrying a sweet floral scent.

Jiang Qingli stood beside Yuan Shiyao, looking at his profile.

The wind blew her hair, and a few strands gently brushed against the boy’s cheek.

The gentle touch he had imagined was within his reach.

But Yuan Shiyao knew clearly that he had no standing, much less the right, to tuck her hair back for her.

So, he simply took a few steps forward, subtly shielding her from the wind.

With his back to the light, Jiang Qingli couldn’t see his expression clearly. She could only feel his gaze on her face, watching her intently, as if he were saying a final farewell.

Seeing the confused look on her face, Yuan Shiyao spoke. "What did you want to say to me?"

The boy’s head was lowered, his voice bitter and dejected, completely devoid of his usual high spirits.

Jiang Qingli didn’t like beating around the bush, so she asked directly, "Since the misunderstanding is cleared up... are we still friends?"

Yuan Shiyao silently met her gaze.

In those eyes, the same as his brother’s, her face was reflected.

The person he had tossed and turned all night thinking about was standing right in front of him, just a step away. All he had to do was take that one step to pull her into his arms.

But he couldn’t.

Unspeakable pain twisted and churned within him, devouring his heart and tearing at his sanity.

His shadow overlapped with hers on the ground. Yuan Shiyao looked down at them for a long time.

The wind stopped.

In the utter silence, he heard himself say:

"If you’re willing, I’ll be whatever you want."

"Sister-in-law..."