Chapter 60: Chapter 60: I Promise I Won’t Touch You

The male’s gaze was so intense it felt physical, landing on the girl’s face and tracing over her brows and eyes.

Before Jiang Qingli could speak, she saw Ye Linyuan avert his gaze and let out a familiar, cold snort.

Meanwhile, Yi Nuo lowered his eyes, his expression somewhat somber.

The three of them stood some distance apart, forming a very stable triangle.

Jiang Qingli glanced from one to the other, not daring to be the first to speak.

’I feel so guilty.’

’The sounds we made last night seemed a little loud. Even though Baili Jing promised me several times that he’d put up a Barrier and activated the room’s soundproofing mode...’

’But I was still afraid someone might have heard. I have no interest in broadcasting my private life...’

After a few seconds of standoff, Yi Nuo spoke respectfully. "Miss, what would you like for lunch?"

The Gray Wolf Butler’s attitude was the same as always. ’Looks like he probably doesn’t know.’

Jiang Qingli breathed a sigh of relief. "Whatever is fine..."

She stopped abruptly before she could finish.

Her normally clear voice was now impossibly hoarse.

Jiang Qingli: "..."

Touching the tip of her nose, she added awkwardly, "Um, you can decide."

"Then I will have the kitchen add a bowl of steamed pear with rock sugar," Yi Nuo said, his expression unchanging. He nodded and left.

Only, his steps were a little faster than usual.

Jiang Qingli closed her bedroom door and was about to head downstairs when a hand grabbed her wrist.

"Spiritual Healing?" Ye Linyuan advanced on her, his deep voice thick with sarcasm. "This is the first I’ve heard of Spiritual Healing being performed in bed."

"Are you angry?" Jiang Qingli found this very strange. "But Baili Jing is my Beast Husband. Whatever we do is perfectly normal, isn’t it?"

Ye Linyuan froze, his grip on her fingers loosening slightly.

Jiang Qingli had felt awkward earlier because she didn’t want attention on her private life, but that didn’t mean she would tolerate being interrogated about it.

’Then again, this snake Ye Linyuan has a peculiar way of thinking.’

Jiang Qingli guessed, ’He’s probably afraid I’ll end up doing the same with him and delay his Spiritual Healing.’

’After all, most of our intimacy has been for the sake of his healing.’

"Don’t worry, I’ll stick to our agreement." Jiang Qingli patted Ye Linyuan’s shoulder. "Tonight, I promise I’ll only touch you spiritually!"

Ye Linyuan: "..."

Jiang Qingli wasn’t sure if it was her imagination, but she felt like Ye Linyuan’s expression grew even darker after she said that.

-

Ye Linyuan stared at Jiang Qingli for a few seconds before turning and leaving without a word.

Jiang Qingli was already used to his temper, so she went downstairs as if nothing had happened.

In the dining room, Baili Jing was placing the dishes on the table.

Sunlight filtered through the leaves in the courtyard, landing on the young man’s white shirt and creating dazzling spots of light.

Jiang Qingli felt a momentary daze. There was something inexplicably familiar about the sight of Baili Jing in a white shirt.

’Did he shoot a commercial like this before?’

Her stomach chose that inopportune moment to growl, and Jiang Qingli quickened her pace toward the dining room.

As she drew near, Baili Jing glanced at her, then suddenly ducked his head, turned away, and quickly covered the left side of his face.

Jiang Qingli asked, puzzled, "What’s wrong?"

"It’s nothing..." Baili Jing lowered his eyes, avoiding her gaze. "Can you please not look at me right now?"

The more Baili Jing tried to hide, the more curious Jiang Qingli grew.

She reached for his hand, but he pulled away.

’How dare he dodge?’

Jiang Qingli feigned displeasure. "Didn’t you say last night that I could do whatever I wanted to you? Let go of your hand. Let me see what’s wrong with your face."

The handsome young man pursed his lips. "I’m afraid you’ll be disgusted with me."

"I’ll decide whether or not to be disgusted after I take a look," Jiang Qingli said with perfect fairness.

Baili Jing reluctantly moved his hand away.

Jiang Qingli leaned in for a closer look and saw several faint pink scratches on his left cheek.

Baili Jing lowered his long lashes, his voice muffled. "Stop looking. I know it’s ugly."

"No, you’re still just as handsome." Jiang Qingli hadn’t realized a celebrity’s anxiety about their looks could be this severe, so she quickly reassured him.

"You’re not disgusted with me?" The young man pulled her hand to his cheek, rubbing it gently. "I knew my baby was the best to me."

Jiang Qingli felt a pang of guilt.

’These... were probably... most likely... from me last night...’

’As the culprit, I can’t very well be disgusted with my own "masterpiece."’

Just as they were getting affectionate, a deadpan voice came from behind them. "Mr. Baili, there is ointment in the infirmary. Would you like me to fetch some for you?"

Yi Nuo stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the man’s face before landing on Jiang Qingli. "There’s no need to worry, Miss. Even without ointment, it will heal in a few hours."

"Is that so?" Baili Jing’s lips curved into a smile as he looked at the girl. "Then will my baby help me put it on? Please?"

After last night, Jiang Qingli was now a little triggered by the two words "help me."

"Alright, alright, let’s eat first." She pinched her hot earlobe. "I’ll help you after we eat."

Ye Linyuan didn’t show up for lunch. Baili Jing was stuck to Jiang Qingli’s side the entire time, so attentive and doting he was just short of feeding her mouth-to-mouth.

Jiang Qingli had the distinct impression she was being treated like a child.

After lunch, Jiang Qingli applied the ointment for Baili Jing, then took Yi Nuo’s car to the academy to register for her assessment.

The spiritual power assessment for females was held twice a year.

Jiang Qingli managed to register in the last few days of the application period for the first half of the year. If her application was accepted, she could take the assessment with the other females next month.

On the way there, she even saw a few familiar females.

Because spiritual power levels were unstable for the first five years after awakening, assessments were required annually. Afterward, the interval changed to every five years, then ten, then twenty, and so on.

High Level females received generous rewards from the Empire, but in return, they were also required to accept missions assigned by the Empire and contribute in equal measure.

However, missions were generally not assigned until one’s spiritual power had stabilized, so Jiang Qingli didn’t need to worry about that for now.

The registration required a one-on-one verification. Jiang Qingli was number 5.

When she reached the door, she realized Bai Yiyi was the next number after her.

Bai Yiyi was holding Ling Qing’s arm. Her eyes widened when she saw her, and it took her several seconds to speak. "Sister Qingli? What are you doing here? Did you awaken a Superpower?"

Jiang Qingli said coolly, "It’s none of your business."

She walked straight into the registration office without giving them a second glance.

Surprise flashed in Ling Qing’s eyes.

’She has a Superpower? A second awakening?’

’How is that possible? She’s just a useless, wicked female...’

Ling Qing instinctively dismissed the idea, but his gaze couldn’t help but follow the girl’s retreating figure.

He hadn’t been watching for more than a few seconds when the Gray Wolf Butler raised a hand and shut the door, cutting off his line of sight.

Looking at Yi Nuo’s indifferent expression, Ling Qing let out an amused huff.

’He doesn’t really think I’m interested in Jiang Qingli, does he? How laughable.’

’A good-for-nothing. Even if she did have a second awakening, it’s probably a Low Level Superpower, just like her Beast Husbands. She can’t possibly compare to Yiyi!’

At that moment, Bai Yiyi had no time for Ling Qing. She was calling out to the system in her mind.

The system’s voice was mechanical. [Present. Please state your query, Host.]

[Why is Jiang Qingli here? Does she have a Superpower?] Bai Yiyi grew frantic. [She’s just cannon fodder! How did she awaken a Superpower? What element is it? What level? Hurry up and check for me!]

The system gave her an official-sounding reply to her doubts: [Apologies. This system is a Guidance System, designed to help the Host capture high-quality males and become a universally adored and pampered female protagonist. As of now, this system possesses a vast database of information on males, but querying information on females is outside of this system’s functional scope.]

Bai Yiyi was furious. [Then what good are you to me?!]

[Without this system, how would you have redeemed the items to become the perfect female everyone in the Upper City District now envies?] Upon hearing her, the system let out a mechanical, eerily sarcastic laugh. [If you have forgotten your original appearance, I can repossess the items and let you experience that again for a few days...]

[Never mind, never mind!] A wave of terror washed over Bai Yiyi, and she quickly cut it off. [I won’t check!]

Although the system couldn’t provide any help, Bai Yiyi didn’t give up. She had been here long enough to build some connections.

She sent Ling Qing away and started asking around.

But unfortunately, no one knew anything about Jiang Qingli’s situation.

An idea occurred to Bai Yiyi. [Can I use my items on Jiang Qingli? Hypnotize her, like I did with those males before? Control her?]

System: [Only if you designate her as a capture target.]

[However, as capturing same-sex and opposite-sex targets involves different systems, designating her as such would reset all of your current points to zero.]

Bai Yiyi: [...]

’What a joke! Give up all my points for Jiang Qingli? I’d have to be insane!’

Bai Yiyi pinched the bridge of her nose, feeling incredibly frustrated.

The system offered some comfort: [There is no need to worry. Your Superpower was granted according to the protagonist standard. She cannot surpass you.]

That may have been true, but the moment Bai Yiyi thought about that good-for-nothing—who used to be inferior to her in every way—actually awakening a Superpower, a strong sense of crisis washed over her, and she grew intensely agitated.

After a moment’s thought, Bai Yiyi suddenly looked up.

In her line of sight stood the Gray Wolf Butler, his posture ramrod straight, his profile handsome.