Chapter 33: Chapter 33: Learning Self-Control for Her

His lips stopped, hovering just millimeters from the girl’s.

The impending kiss came to a sudden halt.

Qin Muye stared at the girl, so close he could feel her breath. His own breathing was a mess, and conflict churned in his gray-blue eyes.

The beast in his bones urged him to lean in. If he wanted, he could kiss every inch of her, do anything he pleased.

Besides, the entire galaxy knew Qin Muye was a scoundrel who did whatever he wanted. No one would be surprised if someone like him did something despicable.

Especially not for just stealing a kiss from his own female master.

But at this moment, Qin Muye couldn’t bring himself to act so wantonly in front of Jiang Qingli.

His mind was flooded with what had just happened in the spiritual realm—

She knew it was a memory, knew it was impossible to stop, yet she had still rushed forward to protect him.

In that never-ending, filthy black rain, the immaculate girl had knelt and held his younger, scar-covered self. In that moment, her slender arms possessed the strength to hold up the world.

The purification process took a toll on a female’s spiritual power. Yet for someone as delicate as her, she hadn’t even frowned, only gazing with compassion at the snow leopard in her arms.

She had gently stroked his head and softly praised him for being a good boy.

Besides his adoptive father, Jiang Qingli was the first person in his entire life to ever praise him.

Thinking of her expression then, Qin Muye’s heart burned hot. It was as if a ceaseless warmth was flowing from it, spreading through every fiber of his being.

Qin Muye didn’t move any closer.

He abandoned the idea of stealing a kiss from Jiang Qingli.

Because he realized he wanted something more: for a fully conscious Jiang Qingli to kiss him of her own free will.

Qin Muye sat up, his back ramrod straight, perching on the edge of the sofa.

His pollution levels hadn’t completely settled, but miraculously, just being near Jiang Qingli filled Qin Muye with an incredible sense of peace.

After watching her for a moment, Qin Muye heard a strange noise.

It sounded like something was gently thumping against the floor.

He glanced back and saw his own tail swaying gently, thumping happily against the floor.

Qin Muye: "..."

Qin Muye slammed a hand down on his tail, his eyebrows bristling.

"You, be quiet, damn it!" he seethed.

’Pathetic!’

’I’m just grateful to Jiang Qingli, that’s all. Don’t act like some dog seeing its owner.’

’In three years, we’re still getting a divorce!’

- 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Jiang Qingli did not sleep well that night.

She kept feeling like someone was staring at her. The gaze was so tangible it felt like it was physically roaming over her body—scorching hot. It was as if countless tentacles were about to drag her down into molten lava, enveloping every inch of her skin...

It was utter torment. After what felt like an eternity, her eyelashes fluttered.

When she opened her eyes, she was met with a pair of gray-blue pupils.

The memory of nearly being pounced on by Qin Muye last night came rushing back. Jiang Qingli’s eyes flew open, and she grabbed the nearest throw pillow and hurled it at him!

The pillow hit him square in the face.

As the pillow fell away, it revealed a handsome face etched with annoyance.

Qin Muye’s face was grim. "What do you think you’re doing?"

"I..." Seeing that he was lucid, Jiang Qingli breathed a sigh of relief. "I should be asking you what you’re doing! Why were you staring at me? Do you have any idea how terrifying it is to wake up to a pair of eyes staring right at you?"

"I was just checking to see when you were going to wake up," Qin Muye said stiffly. "And who said I was watching you all night? You’re so full of yourself."

He quickly averted his gaze and got up to get a glass of water, but a faint blush crept up the tips of his ears.

He practically radiated an aura of someone desperately trying to cover something up.

Qin Muye swore he hadn’t meant to stare at Jiang Qingli.

He’d just been lost in thought, and before he knew it, the entire night had passed.

Jiang Qingli didn’t press the issue, simply getting up to freshen up.

When she came out, breakfast was already laid out on the dining table, and Qin Muye was pouring water.

Jiang Qingli felt like she had to be dreaming.

’Qin Muye is setting the table for me?’

’Is this a sci-fi drama, not a beast-world novel?’

"What are you standing there for?" Qin Muye glanced at her, his tone awkward. "Come and eat."

"Oh."

Jiang Qingli walked over to the dining table and sat down across from him.

Qin Muye usually gave off the vibe of a school delinquent, but his table manners were surprisingly elegant.

’It’s actually quite pleasant to watch.’

With a handsome man who was a feast for the eyes right in front of her, Jiang Qingli couldn’t help but sneak a few extra glances.

Qin Muye kept his head down as he ate, but his body gradually tensed. Finally, he looked up. "What are you staring at?"

"You’re sitting right across from me. Who else am I supposed to look at?" Jiang Qingli retorted, perfectly reasonably.

Qin Muye: "..."

He was speechless.

The two continued their meal in silence.

But under Jiang Qingli’s occasional glances, Qin Muye’s movements grew increasingly stiff.

Qin Muye couldn’t suppress his irritation.

Back in the Lower District, he had to fight for everything. When it came to food, people fought like rabid dogs. Every time he managed to snatch something, he would wolf it down in a panic, terrified it would be stolen from him.

After returning to the Imperial Family, the habit never really went away. He was scolded for it countless times by his tutors and the Empress, and the servants often whispered behind his back that he was crass and ill-bred.

Qin Muye had never cared before.

’So what if I’m ill-bred and crass?’

He had always done as he pleased.

But now, sitting across from Jiang Qingli, it was as if an invisible hand had clamped down on his limbs, making him feel restrained. He discreetly straightened his back.

Of course, Jiang Qingli had no idea so much was going through Qin Muye’s head.

She was simply enjoying the view.

After breakfast, a robot delivered a fruit platter.

Seeing there were apples on the platter, Jiang Qingli quickly speared a slice and offered it to Qin Muye’s lips.

Qin Muye froze, his gaze lowering to meet hers.

Her eyes sparkled as she looked up at him, her voice as soft as it had been during the Spiritual Healing last night. "Have some apple."

Qin Muye stared at the slice of apple. His chest felt tight, as if stuffed with waterlogged cotton, making it hard to breathe.

Jiang Qingli probably didn’t know that in his memory, he had spent an entire day digging through trash just to find a single, whole apple.

It wasn’t for himself. He had wanted to bring it back for his dying adoptive father.

But the apple had been crushed, and his adoptive father had died that very night.

From that day on, Qin Muye never ate another apple. Sometimes, even the smell of one was enough to make him nauseous.

Qin Muye’s brow furrowed. His gaze fell on her expectant eyes. Finally, fighting back his revulsion, he parted his lips.

But Jiang Qingli didn’t press forward. Instead, she watched him intently, seeming to study his expression.

A moment later, a glint appeared in her eyes. With a flick of her wrist, she popped the apple slice into her own mouth.

"This apple doesn’t taste very good," Jiang Qingli mumbled, her mouth full. She grabbed an orange from the platter and tossed it to Qin Muye. "Here, have this instead."

Qin Muye’s eyes widened slightly.

But Jiang Qingli offered no explanation, acting as if it were just a casual gesture.

She was about to ask Qin Muye if he had any spare clothes for her when her terminal rang.

She answered the terminal, and Baili Jing’s gentle voice came through. "Qingli, good morning."

"Good morning," Jiang Qingli replied politely.

He paused for a few seconds before continuing in the same gentle tone, "I figured you’d be awake by now, so I had some new clothes prepared for you. They should be arriving any moment."

Just then, the doorbell chimed.

Jiang Qingli went to open the door and saw a chubby robot hovering in mid-air, its two slender mechanical arms holding a garment bag.

Inside the bag was a light-blue, pure cotton dress.

Touched by his thoughtfulness, Jiang Qingli said, "Thank you for the clothes."

"You don’t have to thank me; it’s my pleasure," Baili Jing chuckled, then his tone shifted. "By the way, Muye is there with you, isn’t he? Could you put me on speaker?"

"Sure."

Jiang Qingli switched to speakerphone.

The terminal faithfully broadcast Baili Jing’s cheerful voice. "Muye, thank you for looking after Qingli last night. I’m waiting in the garage to take you both home."

Qin Muye raised an eyebrow, his lazy drawl laced with sharp aggression. "Oh, it was a lot of work. But she worked much harder."

There was a pause on the other end, and then Baili Jing hung up.

’Not laughing now, are you, you damn sly fox?’

Qin Muye watched Jiang Qingli take the clothes into the dressing room, gritting his teeth in frustration.

He had been on the verge of telling her about the new clothes he’d bought for her, which were sitting in the closet.

But that damn sly fox had swooped in and stolen his chance!

Gritting his teeth, Qin Muye peeled the orange in his hand, the fresh, sweet-and-sour scent filling the air.

By the time he’d finished the orange, Jiang Qingli had emerged from the dressing room.

She remembered something and asked Qin Muye, "By the way, do you remember what happened during the Spiritual Healing last night?"