It was unclear when Ye Linyuan had arrived, or how much of their conversation he had overheard.

But the cold, gloomy gaze he sent her way was heavy with a sense of bitter grievance.

It inexplicably brought to mind a scene from a palace-intrigue drama: a favored consort, having heard the Emperor took a fancy to some palace maid and planned to promote her, now standing at the door to block their path.

Jiang Qingli was almost amused by her own imagination and quickly schooled her features into a serious expression, trying to explain. "I didn’t ignore your message on purpose. When you sent it yesterday, I think I was in the shower and didn’t see it. Yi Nuo told me about it later."

"Is that so?" Ye Linyuan snorted, his eyes narrowing, his tone thick with condemnation.

Jiang Qingli: "..."

’Such intense resentment.’

’Could it be the effect of the marking?’

Jiang Qingli walked forward and tilted her head up to look at Ye Linyuan.

Knowing this snake only looked hard and cold but was actually a sucker for a soft approach, Jiang Qingli softened her voice. "Alright, alright, I’ll be sure to reply the next time I see your message."

"So don’t be angry anymore, hmm?"

Looking down into the girl’s smiling eyes, some of Ye Linyuan’s anger dissipated.

Ye Linyuan snorted lightly. "It’s not like I care."

Having spent some time with him, Jiang Qingli had grown used to his way of speaking. She knew this meant his anger had subsided and nodded repeatedly. "Right, right."

His golden, vertical pupils shifted to the girl’s slender, pale fingers, and Ye Linyuan’s own fingers twitched at his side.

He had just raised his hand a few centimeters when footsteps and Baili Jing’s smiling voice sounded from behind him.

"I put your clothes in the dryer..." He walked to Jiang Qingli’s side, feigning surprise as if he’d only just noticed Ye Linyuan. "Mr. Ye, what a coincidence."

Ye Linyuan retracted his hand and lifted his eyes to the newcomer.

Baili Jing seemed a bit tired, raising a hand to brush back his white hair.

The movement clearly exposed the scratch marks on the inside of his forearm to the person standing opposite him.

They were thin, light pink, and looked like fresh fingernail scratches.

Ye Linyuan’s gaze turned glacial in an instant, his voice chilling. "None of your business."

With that, he turned and went downstairs.

Baili Jing looked at the girl with feigned innocence. "Is Mr. Ye in a bad mood? Or did I interrupt something?"

Jiang Qingli, however, didn’t think it was anything out of the ordinary. She waved her hand dismissively. "Oh, he’s always like that."

The subject of their discussion, who hadn’t gone far, let out a cold sneer.

Killing intent flashed in his golden, vertical pupils.

’If Jiang Qingli hadn’t been there, Ye Linyuan would have killed Baili Jing on the spot.’

’Damned fox spirit.’

’He manages to be seductive just once and already he’s putting on such an act.’

’Pathetic.’

’When Jiang Qingli marked me, who knows where he was off courting death.’

-

「Lunchtime. In the dining room.」

Jiang Qingli sat between the two men, feeling a little awkward.

It was just that Baili Jing was constantly serving her soup and putting food on her plate, his gentle voice introducing the dishes he’d made.

One moment it was "baby," the next it was "Xiao Li," until Jiang Qingli felt like she didn’t even know what the words meant anymore.

In stark contrast to Baili Jing were Ye Linyuan, sitting on her other side, and Yi Nuo, standing diagonally behind her.

Both were completely silent, like a pair of taciturn statues.

Throughout the meal, aside from a few bites at the very beginning, Ye Linyuan never touched his chopsticks again.

After finally getting through the meal, Yi Nuo went upstairs to grab the things Jiang Qingli needed for class today, then followed behind her.

Baili Jing had wanted to go with them, but his agent had called several times during the meal about an urgent matter.

Not wanting Jiang Qingli to think he was the type of useless male who neglected his work, Baili Jing had no choice but to agree to handle it.

He dawdled as he walked Jiang Qingli to the garage, stopping in front of the flight vehicle.

As Jiang Qingli got into the back seat, she was surprised to find Ye Linyuan already sitting primly inside.

Outside the door, the color drained slightly from Baili Jing’s face.

Ye Linyuan shot him a glance, a flicker of mockery in his golden, vertical pupils. "What, are you scared?"

Baili Jing gave a gentle smile. "I’m not quite sure what you mean by that."

Jiang Qingli shut the flight vehicle’s door and leaned on the windowsill. "It’s fine. I’m just going to class. If you came along, you’d just cause another commotion."

"Alright, I’ll listen to whatever Xiao Li says." Baili Jing’s expression softened.

"But... can I have a kiss before you go?" He moved closer and bent down slightly. "A kiss from you will motivate me to work hard all day."

His pale golden eyes were filled with such sweetness it was impossible to refuse.

Jiang Qingli reached out to him, and he obediently leaned his face toward her.

Jiang Qingli planted a quick kiss on his cheek, then swiftly pulled back.

Though it was only a kiss on the cheek, Baili Jing was delighted. He leaned in, a grin on his face as his lips brushed the corner of hers. "See you tonight, baby."

The sight of them being so clingy was exceptionally jarring to Ye Linyuan’s eyes.

After the flight vehicle took off, Jiang Qingli heard the person sitting beside her suddenly let out a cold snort.

Jiang Qingli: ?

Jiang Qingli glanced over in confusion.

But Ye Linyuan’s face was perennially cold, so even after staring for a while, she couldn’t discern anything unusual.

After a moment’s thought, Jiang Qingli asked, "So, what were you up to last night?"

So, after dealing with the fox spirit, she had finally remembered she had another Beast Husband here.

Ye Linyuan said coldly, "Dealing with traitors."

"Why do you have so many traitors over there?" Jiang Qingli remarked. "It was the same last time."

"Many people want to take the City Lord’s seat," Ye Linyuan said faintly.

Jiang Qingli recalled that the book had mentioned something about this. The Underground City was full of abandoned beasts and chaotically managed, so strength was king.

Not long after Ye Linyuan arrived in the Underground City, he killed all the high-level leaders and became the City Lord.

But at the same time, many refused to submit to him, so people were constantly challenging him, wanting to take his place.

Jiang Qingli grew a little worried. "You didn’t get hurt this time, did you?"

Hearing this, the tension in Ye Linyuan’s face eased slightly. "Just a minor injury."

"You’re not lying to me, are you?" Jiang Qingli frowned, making a gesture. "Last time you called that huge gash on your stomach a ’minor injury’."

The girl leaned in, her eyes scanning his entire body as if she were interrogating a criminal.

Her gaze made Ye Linyuan feel a little restless, and his Adam’s apple bobbed unconsciously.

After a pause, Ye Linyuan spoke. "You can check for yourself."

He had never been one for explanations. Before she could react, he raised his hands and started unbuttoning his shirt.

A distinctly masculine physique appeared before her: broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and muscles that were not exaggerated but aesthetically pleasing.

The male leaned back against the seat, raising an eyebrow slightly.

He had the air of being completely at her mercy.

Jiang Qingli swore she hadn’t meant to, but her hand, as if with a mind of its own, suddenly landed on Ye Linyuan’s abs.

’She didn’t really want to touch them, but somehow, after one touch... came another...’

’Ugh, what was she doing?’

While her hand roamed, Jiang Qingli spoke with feigned seriousness. "Hmm, it seems you really weren’t lying..."

The tips of the girl’s ears turned a little pink. Her words were casual, but her hands were very honest.

Ye Linyuan’s lips curved. "Are there any other places you need to inspect?"

’Other... places?’

Jiang Qingli’s gaze drifted downward unconsciously, but before she could answer, the flight vehicle lurched violently.

"My apologies," Yi Nuo’s voice came from the front. "We’ve hit some traffic, Miss."

Only then did Jiang Qingli remember someone else was driving up front. Even though the partition was raised and he couldn’t see, she felt an inexplicable sense of shame.

Reason won out over lust. Jiang Qingli buttoned Ye Linyuan’s shirt back up, one button at a time.

The flight vehicle moved quickly today, arriving at the academy’s garage in no time.

Just as Jiang Qingli got out of the vehicle, her wrist was grabbed.

Ye Linyuan sat in the vehicle, staring intently at her. "I want one too."

Jiang Qingli was confused. "Want what?"

The next second, Ye Linyuan leaned in and bit her earlobe.

After a slight sting, she heard his disgruntled huff. "You guess."

Having said his piece, Ye Linyuan left.

Jiang Qingli, however, had a theory class, so the two of them headed off in opposite directions.

When she reached the classroom and pushed open the door, every eye in the room instantly fell on her. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

She looked back at them, and they immediately averted their gazes, lowering their heads to whisper among themselves.

Lin Xiyue came over, her expression worried. "Qingli, someone took a picture of you and posted it on the forum..."