Chapter 43: Chapter 43: Don’t Be Afraid of Me, Okay?

As if bewitched, Jiang Qingli went along with his words, asking, "What kind of reward do you want?"

Baili Jing straightened up slightly, creating a little distance between them, and asked in a low voice, "Can it be any reward?"

He tucked a strand of hair that had fallen across Jiang Qingli’s cheek behind her ear.

His long fingers brushed nonchalantly against the skin behind her ear, sending a strange, tingling sensation through her.

Perhaps because they were so close, Jiang Qingli smelled his cologne, which was similar to her own perfume.

The two scents mingled, and combined with the sight of his flawlessly handsome face, her cheeks began to burn.

"Well, that depends..." Jiang Qingli struggled to remain rational under the assault of his good looks. She said earnestly, "Nothing illegal or criminal. And you have to consider my capabilities."

Baili Jing simply looked at her and smiled.

’This is so weird,’ Jiang Qingli thought. ’Why does he keep smiling at me? Was something I said funny? Or do I look ridiculous right now?’

She frowned and asked, "What are you smiling at?"

"Our dear Xiao Li is so cute," Baili Jing said.

He had changed his form of address, from "Qingli" to the more intimate "Xiao Li," adding an endearment that meant ’little sister’.

Jiang Qingli found the address strange, yet it held a certain familiarity.

It was as if someone had called her that a long, long time ago.

Baili Jing leaned back against the pillows of the hospital bed and opened his arms to the girl. "Come."

"Hm?" Jiang Qingli looked back at him, a little confused.

He was so charmed by her reaction that he couldn’t help but smile again.

He slowly stated his request, "I want our Xiao Li to hug me, of her own accord, for ten minutes. Is that okay?"

Jiang Qingli stared blankly for a moment. "That’s your ’reward’?"

’She had been steeling herself for an outrageous request from Baili Jing, but he was just asking for a ten-minute hug?’

"Is that too long?" Baili Jing said. "Five minutes is also fine."

"Don’t make me sound so stingy." Jiang Qingli sat down on the edge of the bed. "Ten minutes it is. I can even throw in an extra five."

Baili Jing said, "How generous. Thank you, Xiao Li."

She sat on the edge of the bed, wrapped her arms around the young man’s waist, and rested her head against his chest.

As she pressed against him, Jiang Qingli felt his muscles tense up involuntarily.

As if infected by his mood, she also grew inexplicably nervous. "Like this?" she asked tentatively.

"Mhm," Baili Jing’s voice was very soft, as if he were afraid of startling her. "This is perfect."

Baili Jing’s heart was pounding, but his movements were careful, not even daring to apply any pressure.

The girl in his arms was like precious, fragile porcelain—or even more, like a beautiful dream he had lost and finally found again.

This was the first time Jiang Qingli had hugged him since she returned to this world.

He had waited three years for this moment—over a thousand days and nights.

Baili Jing closed his eyes and gently nuzzled his cheek against Jiang Qingli’s hair, like a small animal’s affectionate greeting.

A heartfelt sigh escaped him:

"I’m so happy."

Outside the window, the wind lifted the white gauze curtains, and pink petals blew into the room, dancing in the gentle spring sunlight. The scene was one of serene beauty.

Perhaps influenced by the atmosphere, the tension in Jiang Qingli’s heart slowly eased. Her arms, once tentatively holding Baili Jing, now tightened around him with practiced ease.

She even buried her face in his chest and nuzzled him.

Baili Jing’s lips curved into a smile as he pressed a kiss as light as a dragonfly’s touch onto her hair.

"Xiao Li," Baili Jing said suddenly.

"Hm?" Jiang Qingli’s voice was a bit muffled. "What is it?"

"I just wanted to tell you that I would never do anything to hurt you," Baili Jing said softly. "So please don’t be afraid of me, okay?"

Jiang Qingli couldn’t help but marvel at his perceptiveness.

’How on earth did he figure that out?’

’Is this guy a mind reader?’

But for some reason, Jiang Qingli felt a natural trust for the person she was holding.

Jiang Qingli nodded. "Okay."

Baili Jing stroked her hair, pressing his face into the crook of her neck to feel her breath.

’If she can’t remember the past, then so be it.’

What Baili Jing had always wanted was a future with Jiang Qingli.

***

They held each other in silence for a while.

The harmonious atmosphere was shattered by a red dot that suddenly flashed before his eyes.

Baili Jing looked up and saw a miniature robot floating in mid-air outside the window.

The thumb-sized robot faced Baili Jing. A camera emerged from its chassis, and a red dot aimed directly at the center of Baili Jing’s forehead.

This was the military’s latest research achievement. With its high accuracy and ability to kill without a trace, it was the perfect choice for an assassination. On the black market, a single unit was already fetching a seven-figure price.

Baili Jing raised a slight eyebrow, and his index finger twitched.

The next second, a translucent Barrier enveloped the robot. A watery vortex surged within the confined space, silently crushing it to dust in a matter of breaths.

Jiang Qingli was completely oblivious to all of this. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

’She only thought that Baili Jing smelled wonderful, his embrace was warm, and his muscles made a comfortable pillow...’

Unconsciously, her eyelids grew heavy. Still hugging Baili Jing’s waist and inhaling his scent, Jiang Qingli drifted off to sleep.

His long fingers gently stroked Jiang Qingli’s hair. Baili Jing eased her out of his embrace and carefully laid her head on his lap so she could continue sleeping soundly.

’She used to love watching those strange dramas, going on about lap pillows. She’d sneak away from Jiang Youchen to my room and demand to sleep with her head on my lap...’

Baili Jing gave a resigned smile, his fingertips toying with a strand of her hair.

About an hour later, the door was suddenly pushed open.

Baili Jing’s first reaction was to cover Jiang Qingli’s ears to keep the noise from waking her.

Only then did he look up at the newcomer.

A defiant young man stood in the doorway, glaring at them. His face was full of annoyance, his eyes screaming accusations like "damned fox spirit."

Baili Jing created a Barrier around Jiang Qingli to block her hearing before asking in a gentle voice, "How did it go?"

"I already beat the hell out of that scum."

Qin Muye strode in like a general announcing his victory.

「One hour earlier, in the interrogation room.」

A large screen was playing footage from the swimming pool. The girl struggled in the water, looking pathetic and wretched.

Yu Chenglan watched the recording, his posture as elegant as if he were watching a movie.

He spoke to the interrogator with complete ease. "You know, Miss Jiang and I were once engaged. We had a great relationship, and now we’re friends. I was just playing a little joke on her."

"We used to do this all the time. She never got angry; in fact, she liked it." Yu Chenglan tapped his forehead, feigning a troubled expression. "Sometimes I wonder if she’s a masochist—"

Before he could finish, the door was suddenly yanked open from the outside.

Qin Muye strode forward and smashed a fist into his eye!

Gasps erupted from all around.

The interrogator quickly tried to stop him. "Seventh Prince! This is an interrogation room! Please remain calm!"

"I *am* calm!"

As Qin Muye spoke, he gave Yu Chenglan a matching one in the other eye.

Still not satisfied, he grabbed Yu Chenglan by the back of his collar, hauled him up, and slammed his face into the wall!

BANG! BANG! BANG!

The sound of bone hitting the wall echoed through the spacious, quiet interrogation room.

Yu Chenglan came to his senses and lunged, starting a brawl.

The interrogation room had a Superpower-dampening field. A pampered aristocrat like Yu Chenglan was no match for Qin Muye, who had been brawling since he was a kid. He got beaten to a pulp.

The fight was finally stopped by a call from the Empress’s personal guard captain.

The voice on the other end was calm. "Prince, Her Majesty is very displeased with your impulsiveness. She hopes you will return to your quarters and stay there for a few days."

But by then, Qin Muye had already had his fill of fighting, so he didn’t mind being confined. He grunted an acknowledgment and hung up.

’He’d wanted to come back and report his victory, but who knew he’d return to see her sleeping peacefully on that damned fox spirit’s lap.’

’She sure knows how to live it up.’

Qin Muye scoffed but couldn’t bring himself to wake Jiang Qingli.

He reached out and pinched the girl’s cheek. Just as he was about to straighten up, Jiang Qingli’s eyes slowly fluttered open.

Rubbing her eyes, Jiang Qingli recognized the person in front of her and asked in surprise, "How did you get hurt?"

There were a few faint scratches on Qin Muye’s face, courtesy of Yu Chenglan’s fingernails.

He coughed. "That’s not important. First, let me show you something."