Chapter 77: Chapter 77: Rescheduling, and Everyone’s Sending Selfies

The group chat for Jiang Qingli and her five Beast Husbands was usually quiet.

Aside from the first few days after they were bound, when Baili Jing had asked when the other two Beast Husbands were coming back, no one had said a word.

The males didn’t have much to talk about with each other. If anything came up, they would message Jiang Qingli privately.

But the moment Jiang Qingli sent a message, someone in the group replied instantly.

Qin Muye: [Here!]

’Isn’t that guy working out? He replied so fast.’

The urge to tease him flared up, and she sent Qin Muye a private message: [Not working out? Replying so fast, you’re not taking it seriously.]

Qin Muye: [?]

Qin Muye: [Who’re you calling not serious?]

Qin Muye: [I just happened to be on a break and saw your message. Don’t you dare slander me.]

Qin Muye: [[Image]]

He sent a picture out of the blue.

Jiang Qingli tapped to open it.

It was a selfie, taken from the collarbones down.

A thin layer of sweat from his recent workout glistened on the young man’s skin. The veins on his neck stood out, and further down, a black tank top clung to his firm muscles, exuding an overwhelming aura of young male virility.

She closed the image, but Qin Muye’s messages kept popping up:

[?]

[Where’d you go?]

[What’s that supposed to mean?]

System notification: Your friend[Qin Muye]has unsent [Image].

Jiang Qingli asked: [Why’d you unsend it?]

Qin Muye: [...]

Qin Muye: [It was a bad picture. The real thing is more impressive.]

Qin Muye: [Seriously, you better believe me!]

The prideful Prince was trying so hard to emphasize his point, completely unaware that the more he acted this way, the more it made people want to tease him.

Jiang Qingli deliberately asked: [Really?]

Qin Muye: [Where are you? I’ll come over.]

’Looks like he wants to show me the real thing.’

A new message popped up in the group chat, so Jiang Qingli quickly replied: [Definitely next time, for sure!]

In the gym, Qin Muye saw her message and felt incredibly frustrated.

He was starting to suspect Jiang Qingli was doing it on purpose.

She always told him "definitely next time" without ever specifying when "next time" would be.

’She’s going too far.’

Looking down at his "little brother," Qin Muye grunted in annoyance.

’In any case, whenever ’next time’ is, I’ll definitely make Jiang Qingli understand that none of the others are better than me!’

Back in the group chat, the second person to reply to Jiang Qingli was Ye Linyuan.

Ye Linyuan’s reply was simple: [Here. What is it?]

Jiang Qingli: [Something important.]

Just then, Yuan Shimo replied: [Please speak, female master.]

Baili Jing’s message also popped up: [Present.]

Jiang Qingli froze when she saw the message. Turning her head, she realized Baili Jing had woken up at some point and was now leaning against the headboard, watching her with a smile.

"Did my messages wake you up?" Jiang Qingli moved a little closer and asked softly, "Do you want to sleep a bit more?"

"No need. I’ve been awake for a little while." Baili Jing hooked his finger around hers, tilted his head in thought, and said casually, "Probably since around the time Qin Muye sent that photo."

Jiang Qingli: "..."

’No way, how did he see everything?’

It wasn’t a big deal to interact with her Beast Husbands, but being seen—especially by Baili Jing—made Jiang Qingli feel as awkwardly exposed as if someone had seen her underwear.

"You didn’t have to say it out loud," Jiang Qingli complained in a low voice.

"Sorry, I didn’t mean to." Baili Jing apologized with practiced ease and opened his arms to her. "Want to cuddle?"

Jiang Qingli kicked off her slippers and slipped into the covers.

She and Baili Jing didn’t spend that much time together, yet her body expertly found a comfortable position to snuggle into.

She picked up her terminal to check it.

Gu Nian, who was usually so eager to send selfies, was surprisingly late to reply this time.

He only replied a few minutes later: [What’s going on?]

Now that everyone was present, Jiang Qingli announced her rotation schedule plan.

And she provided the preliminary schedule:

[Ye Linyuan on Monday, Baili Jing on Tuesday, Qin Muye on Wednesday, Yuan Shimo on Thursday, Gu Nian on Friday.]

Qin Muye was the first to object: [What is this based on? Why am I on Wednesday?]

Jiang Qingli: [By age.]

As soon as she said that, a little suck-up popped up in the chat to praise her.

Gu Nian: [You’re so smart, Qingli, to think of such a fair method. [Awed bunny.jpg]]

Yuan Shimo: [I have no objections.]

Ye Linyuan: [Fine.]

Since everyone else agreed, Qin Muye couldn’t really object: [Fine.]

Baili Jing didn’t say anything in the group chat.

The white-fox youth wrapped his arms around the girl’s waist from behind, rested his chin on her shoulder, and kissed the base of her ear. "Baby, I don’t have any objections either."

"I’ll listen to whatever our female master says."

His breath tickled the tip of her ear. Jiang Qingli rubbed it and typed with one hand.

Jiang Qingli: [Since no one objects, shall we start next week?]

Gu Nian suddenly said: [Qingli, I have a question. [Bunny raising hand.jpg]]

Jiang Qingli: [What is it?]

Gu Nian: [Well... Brother Yuan Si and I haven’t been around this whole time. Can we make up for it after we get back? [Pleading][Pleading]]

Gu Nian: [It won’t interfere with your other time, Qingli. You can just schedule me for the weekend. [Pleading]]

Qin Muye: [?]

Qin Muye: [No way! It’s your own problem that you can’t come back. What’s that got to do with her?]

Gu Nian: [Sorry, I was just asking QAQ. I’ll listen to whatever Qingli says.]

Just as Jiang Qingli was about to reply, Yuan Shimo spoke up.

He first sent a series of ellipses, then quickly unsent them. A few seconds later, he resent a very rational reply.

Yuan Shimo: [Our female master needs to balance her studies and family life right now. She will be using her spiritual power on the five scheduled days, which is very tiring. She needs the weekends to rest. I believe a Beast Husband needs to be independent and shouldn’t interfere with the female master.]

That’s what he said, but Jiang Qingli got the feeling that Yuan Shimo wasn’t very keen on spending time with her.

’This was... absolutely! perfect!’

’If every Beast Husband were this clingy, she wouldn’t have any personal space left.’

’Since Yuan Shimo doesn’t like me, doesn’t that mean the Thursday originally scheduled for him will be very relaxing? I might not even have to see him. It’s not like he wants to see me anyway.’

’How delightful.’

Jiang Qingli went along with Yuan Shimo’s point and said there would be no make-up days. However, if their spiritual power needed healing, she could schedule a weekend for it.

Everyone was satisfied with this arrangement, and the meeting was adjourned.

After leaving the group chat, Jiang Qingli received a private message from Gu Nian.

The boy with the meticulously chosen selfie for an avatar first sent a crying bunny sticker.

Then he wrote: [I’m sorry, Qingli. I didn’t know the rules of the First District. Please don’t be angry QAQ]

Jiang Qingli hadn’t been angry to begin with: [It’s fine.]

Gu Nian: [Thank you, Qingli. You’re the kindest person I’ve ever met.]

In their scattered chats over this period, Gu Nian would often gush over her. He could spend ages praising even a casual remark from Jiang Qingli.

Jiang Qingli was already used to it: [I’m not that kind. You should be prepared for me to be harsh with you.]

Gu Nian: [I’ve been ready for a long time ^^]

A moment later, Gu Nian sent another tentative message: [By the way, Qingli, I just bought a few new outfits. Could you help me take a look?]

[I’m coming to the city next week, and I’m so scared I’ll dress badly and embarrass you [Crying bunny.jpg]]

In their chats over the past few days, Gu Nian had always mentioned that he’d never traveled far from home.

Because of this, her impression of him was that of a timid, adorable bunny.

Naturally, Jiang Qingli wouldn’t refuse his request: [Sure.]

A video call request popped up immediately.

This time, Gu Nian initiated a flat-screen video call, not a holographic projection, so it was just a small window on her screen.

When she accepted, a pair of fluffy rabbit ears appeared on the screen.

The rabbit ears twitched, and then the camera panned down, revealing a pair of pink, glass-like eyes.

The boy’s delicate features were full of smiles. "Qingli!" 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

The next second, the young man resting on Jiang Qingli’s shoulder looked up.

Gu Nian noticed the other person’s presence and looked surprised. "Uncle Baili—" He paused, as if realizing his mistake, and quickly corrected himself, "Ah, sorry, sorry, Brother Baili."

The boy blinked and spoke, as if unintentionally,

"What a coincidence. Every time I look for Qingli, you’re there."