Chapter 28: Chapter 28: His Blood Stained the White Dress

Through the glass, Jiang Qingli and Baili Jing’s eyes met.

Those gentle, pale gold eyes narrowed slightly, holding a sharpness rarely seen in them.

Jiang Qingli’s breath hitched.

A single thought hammered wildly in her mind—

’Damn it all! Why is it Baili Jing again!’

It was bad enough that he caught Ye Linyuan in her bedroom last time.

Now he was catching her making out with Ye Linyuan in a car...

Jiang Qingli’s scalp tingled with dread.

For some reason, she was terrified of meeting Baili Jing’s disappointed gaze, afraid to see the hurt in his eyes.

After a moment of her brain short-circuiting, Baili Jing suddenly pulled his hand back and stopped knocking.

He looked at the glass for a few more seconds, then turned and left.

Jiang Qingli let out a huge sigh of relief.

Only then did Ye Linyuan, who had been leaning back, speak coolly. "It’s one-way glass."

Jiang Qingli: "..."

Jiang Qingli slammed a fist on his serpentine tail, fuming, "Why didn’t you say so sooner!"

"All flying vehicles are like this. Haven’t you seen one before?" Ye Linyuan’s gaze swept over the girl’s face, his eyes seeming to probe for something.

Jiang Qingli glared back, declaring righteously, "Am I the female master, or are you? If I say you should have reminded me, then you should have!"

"Yes." Ye Linyuan raised an eyebrow, his thin lips slowly forming the words, "Female master."

Perhaps because the healing had just finished, he seemed a bit languid.

After speaking, he picked up a gift box from the side and handed it to Jiang Qingli.

Only then did Jiang Qingli realize that Ye Linyuan’s flying vehicle was already parked in the garage.

A short distance away, several socialites were stepping gracefully out of another flying vehicle, likely also here for the banquet.

Jiang Qingli opened the gift box, then thought of another problem. "Wait, where am I supposed to change?"

"Here." Ye Linyuan gestured to the spacious interior with his chin.

Jiang Qingli: "..."

Jiang Qingli: "Then turn your face away and close your eyes."

Ye Linyuan reluctantly turned his head, no longer looking at her.

Jiang Qingli climbed off his lap and took a quick shower using the flying vehicle’s built-in cleaning facilities.

Then, while keeping a wary eye on Ye Linyuan, she put on the formal dress.

The long black satin dress was simple in style, with a narrow cut that outlined her slender waist. The skirt fell like the night sky, adorned with tiny diamonds that twinkled like brilliant starlight with her every move.

It was beautiful.

But she didn’t recall ever seeing this dress in her closet...

’Did Ye Linyuan buy it?’

Jiang Qingli looked at the silent male Beastman.

Ye Linyuan was resting his chin on one hand, his profile sharp. He was still turned away, maintaining the "turn your face away and close your eyes" posture.

’So obedient.’

Jiang Qingli’s lips curved into a smile. "Hey, you can look at me now."

Ye Linyuan looked up.

His gaze lingered on Jiang Qingli for a moment, and his Adam’s apple bobbed subtly.

"What are you looking at me for? Does it not fit?" Ye Linyuan’s voice was calm, but his gaze drifted slightly.

"I just wanted to tell you I love it." Jiang Qingli walked up to him and said with a beaming smile, "Thank you, Ye Linyuan."

When she smiled, her eyes curved like two crescent moons.

Ye Linyuan’s heart skipped a beat, and his breath caught without him realizing it.

A few seconds later, Ye Linyuan spoke in a cold, hard voice, "If you like it, then perform... healing for me."

Jiang Qingli: "..."

’Healing is all he ever thinks about!’

She huffed.

Before getting out of the flying vehicle, she suddenly turned her head and said to Ye Linyuan, "For the sake of the dress, I’ll perform healing for you this weekend."

Ye Linyuan nodded and picked up his terminal, looking very busy.

Jiang Qingli hadn’t expected much of a reaction from him anyway. She gathered her skirt and stepped out of the flying vehicle, then stood to the side to send a message to Lin Xiyue.

She didn’t notice that inside the vehicle, Ye Linyuan, who was supposed to be busy, had his gaze drift back to her.

His gaze felt tangible as it roamed over the girl’s smooth, jade-like bare back.

Ye Linyuan frowned.

’How did I not notice how revealing this dress was when I bought it?’

’But, she seems to really like it.’

’She smiled so happily.’

’She even relented and agreed to perform... healing for me.’

Ye Linyuan lowered his eyes. When he came to his senses, he realized he had already ordered over a dozen custom-made formal dresses on his terminal.

Ye Linyuan: "..."

He tossed the terminal aside, but his fingers unconsciously drifted to his own lips.

In truth, when a female master performed a spiritual power soothing, a simple touch was remarkably effective.

But when she looked at him, he felt an uncontrollable urge to lie, to coax her into parting her soft lips.

His gaze unexpectedly fell upon a bundle of pure white in the corner.

His serpentine tail hooked the white bundle, and Ye Linyuan realized it was the white dress Jiang Qingli had just changed out of.

The originally clean and neat dress was now wrinkled and crumpled from his earlier actions, the bloodstains on it creating a stark contrast with the pure white cotton.

His fingers touched his wound, and Ye Linyuan couldn’t help but recall the scene from just now.

Her slender, pale fingers pressing on his wound—the contrast had been just as stark.

It made one want to crush and wrinkle it.

Ye Linyuan buried his face in the white dress.

He inhaled Jiang Qingli’s scent, mingled and intertwined with his own.

Ye Linyuan’s knuckles tightened, veins bulging on his hand.

He hated the two words "female master."

Two words that carried such a submissive meaning should have no place in his life.

He, Ye Linyuan, would never submit to anyone.

But now, when he remembered her saying, "I am your female master," he couldn’t stop the blood from boiling in his veins.

-

"Mhm, yeah, I’ve arrived... You’re in a different garage? Should I come find you? Oh, okay! Then let’s meet inside!"

Jiang Qingli cheerfully confirmed the meeting spot with Lin Xiyue, hung up the call, and walked over to an attendant.

Just as she was about to ask him to show her the way, a gentle voice came from behind her.

"Qingli?"

The moment she heard the voice, Jiang Qingli froze.

She was like a terrible actor in a play, suddenly frozen in place, not knowing what expression to make.

The attendant looked up and saw an elegant young man in a pure white suit and quickly greeted him, "Mr. Baili, good evening!"

"Mm," Baili Jing smiled at him. "You can go on with your duties. I can take Miss Jiang from here."

"Well..." The attendant glanced at Jiang Qingli.

She wore a pained expression, looking utterly pitiful.

Any male would soften at the sight, and the attendant hesitated.

Baili Jing narrowed his eyes. He reached out, his arm hovering around Jiang Qingli’s shoulders as his voice turned slightly cold. "I said... I’m all that’s needed here."

"You can go," Jiang Qingli said with a sigh, knowing she could run but not hide forever.

"Very well." The attendant quickly departed.

Jiang Qingli stood there, feeling his gaze circling her profile, impossible to evade.

She frantically racked her brain for a strategy.

But Baili Jing didn’t say anything about it. Instead, he asked, "May I hold your hand?"

"Ah? Yes, you may." Jiang Qingli breathed a sigh of relief and offered her hand.

Baili Jing took her hand with practiced ease.

His hand was large and warm, enveloping her fingers.

They were attending a nobleman’s banquet this time. The residence was massive, and the path was splendidly decorated. Though it was nighttime, strategically placed lights illuminated the road as if it were broad daylight.

They walked slowly. Along the way, an attendant was pushing a cart full of ice cream, and Baili Jing pulled Jiang Qingli over to it.

The attendant asked, "What flavor would you two like?"

Jiang Qingli’s gaze swept over the options. As she opened her mouth to speak, she heard Baili Jing’s voice say, at the exact same time as her own, "Vanilla."

Walking onward with their ice cream, Jiang Qingli felt the silence was a bit awkward and tried to make small talk. "You like vanilla, too?"

"Because it’s your favorite flavor," Baili Jing said very seriously.

Jiang Qingli felt her heart skip a beat.

’Probably... out of shock.’

Jiang Qingli shut her mouth and focused on her ice cream.

After walking for a while, Baili Jing suddenly spoke. "Qingli."

"Hm?" Jiang Qingli blinked.

"You look very beautiful today."

"Thank you."

The next second, Baili Jing’s tone suddenly shifted. "I’ve never seen this dress in your closet before."

His voice was gentle, and he looked into her eyes with a smile as he asked, "Was it a gift?"