Chapter 25: Chapter 25: Cornered in the Dressing Room: "Why Are You Avoiding Me?

Before coming here, Bai Yiyi had done her research on her target.

Qin Muye was a very special Prince.

The other members of the Imperial Family strove to maintain a low profile. Their social media feeds only contained official itineraries or holiday greetings.

He, on the other hand, would occasionally share videos of himself car racing and doing extreme sports.

The system’s analysis concluded that Qin Muye rejected tradition and disliked the current societal matriarchy, making him a wild, untamable boy at heart.

A rebellious bad boy was always paired with a pure, innocent girl.

Conveniently, the persona Bai Yiyi had always cultivated was that of a pure, innocent girl.

So she had specifically chosen a pure white minidress, with natural makeup that gave her innocent, downturned eyes. Her soft, delicate voice made one feel an irresistible urge to cherish and protect her.

Bai Yiyi was fully prepared for Qin Muye to speak to her in a soft, gentle voice.

But, as if he hadn’t heard her, Qin Muye walked straight past.

’Was my voice too quiet? Did he not hear me?’

Bai Yiyi bit her lip, gently tugging the corner of Qin Muye’s jacket. Her voice was even softer. "Prince..."

Qin Muye finally noticed the short stack standing next to him.

He frowned, his tone clearly impatient. "And you are?"

"I—I’m Bai Yiyi... I’m a student in a lower year..." Bai Yiyi, startled by his harsh attitude, lifted her gaze with a pitiable expression. "Have you forgotten? We were in the same shooting class..."

Qin Muye: "..."

Narrowing his long eyes, Qin Muye finally remembered who this person was.

’So this was the female who stole Jiang Qingli’s five useless Beast Husbands.’

’Her taste is just as bad as Jiang Qingli’s, falling for those scumbags.’

DING!

[Affection from target ’Qin Muye’ has decreased by 10!]

[Punishment: Host’s Beauty -2! Charm -3! Item ’First Love Snow Skin’ deactivated for three weeks!]

In an instant, Bai Yiyi felt her face become a little dry. She raised a hand to touch it and felt a slight, bumpy texture.

She hastily bowed her head, but afraid this hard-won opportunity would slip away, she quickly reached out and grabbed his sleeve.

Only to be violently shaken off.

Qin Muye glanced in the direction where Jiang Qingli had disappeared, his voice laced with an irritation he himself didn’t even notice. "What is it you want?"

Bai Yiyi composed herself and recited the excuse she had prepared. "Yesterday, Sister Qingli didn’t reply to my message, and I wanted to know if she was upset... I want to apologize to her. She’s liked Chi Yun for a long time, so I shouldn’t have paired up with him..."

Qin Muye looked at the girl, whose head was bowed lower and lower, and cut her off coldly. "If you have something to say, say it to her yourself. I’m busy."

’Does she think I’m an idiot?’

’Why can’t she take this up with the person involved? Why come to me?’

’She’s clearly trying to stir up trouble.’

’How pathetic. And boring.’

’And Jiang Qingli actually let someone like this steal her Beast Husbands? She really is an idiot.’

But even as he thought this, listening to Bai Yiyi drone on with "she likes Chi Yun" and "she always used to be paired with Chi Yun," Qin Muye’s expression grew increasingly grim.

’So that’s why Jiang Qingli was so eager for me to be her partner yesterday! It was only because Chi Yun ignored her. She was just using me as a backup!’

’I’m going to find that little liar Jiang Qingli and settle this score right now!’

Seething with anger, Qin Muye had no more patience to listen to Bai Yiyi. He spun around and stormed off in the direction Jiang Qingli had gone.

On his way, he stripped off the leather jacket she had touched and threw it into a nearby trash can.

THUD—

The force of the impact made the trash can wobble back and forth.

As if she were the one who had been struck, Bai Yiyi’s body swayed, and she started to walk away in a daze.

"Sister Yiyi?" A pair of hands suddenly gripped her shoulders. "What’s wrong?" a tense voice asked. "You look completely out of it."

It was Chi Yun’s voice.

Bai Yiyi lowered her head even further, her voice choked with sobs. "Chi Yun... what am I going to do...? My face... it’s ruined..."

"What happened? Let me see!" Chi Yun said urgently. "Did someone bully you again? I’ll get revenge for you!"

"Will you... be disgusted by me...?" Bai Yiyi asked.

"Of course not!" Chi Yun said, raising his voice.

Bai Yiyi lifted her head.

Chi Yun’s pupils constricted—

Dozens of pimples had erupted across her once-smooth cheeks, leaving the surface of her skin bumpy and uneven.

"What happened to you? Did someone bully you again?" Chi Yun asked anxiously.

"It was no one... It’s not Sister Qingli’s fault. I wasn’t careful and I upset her and the Prince..." Bai Yiyi’s tears streamed down her face, making for a pitiful, wretched sight.

’So it was Jiang Qingli again!’

Seeing Bai Yiyi in such a state, Chi Yun helped her to the infirmary.

The school doctor prescribed some medication, saying the pimples would disappear within half an hour. However, the marks left on her skin could only be treated with more medicine or at a cosmetic clinic—and a trip to the clinic would require two or three days of recovery.

Cosmetic procedures were very advanced these days, but Bai Yiyi refused. If she went to a cosmetic clinic, what would happen to her image as an all-natural beauty?

She took the medicine and cried in Chi Yun’s arms. "I have a party to go to tonight... What am I going to do...?"

Chi Yun gritted his teeth. "She did this to you. She’s not going to get away with it!"

’She did this to Yiyi’s face? Fine. Then she can just wait to have her own face ruined!’

-

Jiang Qingli had no idea that Bai Yiyi’s title as an "all-natural beauty" was in jeopardy.

She was currently out shopping with Lin Xiyue.

Girls are always drawn to beautiful things.

It was only after arriving at the mall that Jiang Qingli realized how many beautiful clothes there were, and she couldn’t resist the urge to shop.

Besides, she was now a rich young lady with more money than she could spend. Passing by a glittering storefront, Jiang Qingli asked Lin Xiyue if she wanted to go in and try something on.

Lin Xiyue looked at Jiang Qingli, a little surprised.

She had heard that Miss Jiang never wore off-the-rack clothing; each season, a designer would be commissioned to create a hand-sewn wardrobe just for Jiang Qingli.

’These clothes only cost five figures, yet she’s actually interested?’

’It seems the real Jiang Qingli is different from what I thought.’

While she was still hesitating, Jiang Qingli had already walked into the store.

Seeing Lin Xiyue still lingering outside, Jiang Qingli came back, took her by the wrist, and pointed to an outfit. "I found this—it would look great on you. Want to try it on?"

Lin Xiyue followed her finger and her eyes lit up. "It’s gorgeous!"

"Right?" Jiang Qingli lifted her chin, a little proud. "You have to model it for me after you try it on!"

Lin Xiyue’s lips curved into a smile. "Okay."

The two of them went into the fitting rooms.

For some reason, the zipper on the back of the dress Jiang Qingli picked was stuck. It wouldn’t budge.

Getting a little frantic, she braced herself against the wall and strained to pull it up.

The door behind her opened, then was abruptly slammed shut.

The person outside retreated with flustered footsteps.

Jiang Qingli thought it was Lin Xiyue and quickly called for help. "Xiyue, can you get this for me...?"

Her voice was soft and coaxing.

After a pause, the door opened again from the outside.

A hand covered hers, and with a slight tug, pulled the zipper the rest of the way up.

Jiang Qingli breathed a sigh of relief. "Ah, thank you..."

She looked up as she spoke, but froze the moment her eyes met the mirror.

In the mirror, a tall young man stood behind her. His large palm hovered at her side, and his half-lidded, grayish-blue eyes were fixed on her slender waist.

From the side, their posture looked... almost as if he were... from behind...

Jiang Qingli violently shook herself from the strange thought, spinning around and raising her hands to push him away.

But Qin Muye simply leaned in, planting a hand on the wall beside her.

The distance between them closed in an instant.

He stared down at her, his eyes filled with the intense, predatory look of a Hunter—

"Why are you avoiding me?"