Chapter 89: Chapter 89: Just Smelling Her Scent...

Yuan Shiyao recoiled under his twin brother’s sharp gaze, taking a step back in guilt.

But at the same time, an even deeper sense of irritation and defiance surged within him.

The words tumbled out of Yuan Shiyao’s mouth without a thought, "We didn’t do anything!"

"What about you?" The black-cat boy lifted his chin, his voice laced with an anger even he didn’t understand. "You’re the one who hates her, aren’t you? You returned to the First District without telling her, hid your heat from her, and would rather inject yourself with high-strength inhibitors than accept her soothing—"

"And what about you?"

Yuan Shimo, who had been listening quietly, suddenly shot back.

The dark-haired boy froze.

"I remember around this time two years ago, you told me that the young lady of the Jiang Family’s pursuit of you was beyond annoying. That she was rude, had no morals, and was just plain detestable." Yuan Shimo stated each word deliberately, his voice growing quieter. "You also said that even if every female in the world turned into a pig, you would never fall in love with her."

Every single word, once spoken in a moment of extreme disgust, was now being replayed for him.

Yuan Shiyao saw an almost mocking expression surface on his brother’s face—a face identical to his own.

It reminded him of the warning glare Baili Jing had given him not long ago, his arm wrapped around the girl.

His face burned with a stinging heat.

"I never said I liked her! You’re all overthinking this." Yuan Shiyao cast aside his usual respect for his older brother, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Or what, you think she still has feelings for me? That if I get close, she’ll eagerly throw herself at me and ignore the rest of you?"

"Quite a smooth delivery," Yuan Shimo remarked, watching him quietly with a slight raise of his eyebrow, his voice devoid of emotion. "Is that what you’ve been thinking?"

At those words, the furious expression on Yuan Shiyao’s face instantly froze.

His mouth fell open, his wide emerald eyes filled with disbelief. Whether from anger or embarrassment, a deep blush spread across the boy’s fair neck and face.

The air was tense for a few seconds. Then, the usually cool-headed honor student cursed under his breath, turned, and left, the slam of the door deafening.

After his younger brother left, Yuan Shimo stood rooted to the spot for a moment.

He calmly replayed the conversation with his twin. His long, pale-gold lashes cast faint shadows on his sickly pale face.

This wasn’t the first time Yuan Shiyao had impersonated him.

When he was sick in the past, Yuan Shiyao had attended a few group meetings in his place.

Likewise, he had also impersonated Yuan Shiyao before.

They were twins with nearly identical appearances. Even though they didn’t spend all their time together, they knew each other inside and out. No one had ever noticed when they switched places.

’How did Jiang Qingli find out?’

Yuan Shimo didn’t think Jiang Qingli was familiar enough with the two of them to tell them apart at a glance.

’Yuan Shiyao must have given himself away.’

’First possibility: Yuan Shiyao exposed himself unintentionally.’

’Second possibility: Yuan Shiyao subconsciously wanted Jiang Qingli to be able to tell them apart, so he deliberately let his act slip.’

Either possibility irritated Yuan Shimo.

He felt an even greater aversion to the female master he had yet to even meet.

His fingers picked up the jacket draped over the back of the chair, and Yuan Shimo caught a fragrant scent on it.

The lingering scent was faint, but it was enough to make him picture the girl’s face.

In fact, Jiang Qingli’s scent was just as he had imagined.

’Weak, soft, and cloyingly sweet.’

Yuan Shimo tossed the jacket into the trash can and walked toward a pile of books.

His time was precious. He didn’t want to waste it on such tedious matters related to females.

He had only warned Yuan Shiyao today because...

He had only taken two steps when his body suddenly swayed. He staggered a few paces before collapsing to one knee.

His body was burning up, his temperature soaring. He could feel his cat ears and tail popping out uncontrollably. Every breath of air turned to scalding fire, searing his skin and nerves.

He was in heat.

Despite having injected so many vials of inhibitors, just the scent of Jiang Qingli had sent him into an uncontrollable heat.

Yuan Shimo’s hand trembled as he grabbed a nearby inhibitor and injected it into a wrist already covered in needle marks.

He had already taken three doses today, which was, by all accounts, a severe overdose.

But he had used them so often that he’d developed a strong resistance and had no choice but to increase the dosage.

The effects would only kick in about half an hour after the injection.

Yuan Shimo curled up, his cat ears drooping amidst his hair, and waited quietly for the fever and pain inside him to subside.

Suddenly, his terminal beeped.

His emerald eyes shifted. He sluggishly picked up the terminal. It was a message from Jiang Qingli.

Her profile picture was a green pear.

Jiang Qingli: [I heard you’re sick. Make sure to get some rest tomorrow and drink lots of water!]

Seeing this message, Yuan Shimo almost wanted to laugh.

As a female master, she received the protection and devotion of the males. It was her duty to perform Spiritual Healing for them.

She was the one who disliked him and didn’t want to see him, yet she phrased it as if he were feigning illness to avoid her, while she was graciously letting it slide.

’Such a conniving female.’

Yuan Shimo sneered inwardly.

’Whatever. It’s not like he needed a female anyway.’

-

「In the dimly lit room.」

Before bed, Jiang Qingli opened her terminal for a look. Yuan Shimo hadn’t replied.

"What are you looking at?"

A slight weight settled on her shoulder, and a young man’s lazy voice sounded out.

Jiang Qingli put away her terminal and said, "I was looking at my messages with Yuan Shimo. He hasn’t replied yet."

"Then he’s definitely not coming." Qin Muye had been sleepy, but now he was suddenly wide awake. "In that case, I can reluctantly take his place tomorrow..."

"Your ulterior motives are practically slapping me in the face." Jiang Qingli patted his head, amused. "I’ve told you several times, no. If you come, the others will get angry, and the schedule we worked so hard to set up will be a mess again."

"Fine."

Qin Muye grumbled. Then, feeling it was a waste to just go to sleep when the day wasn’t quite over, he sidled closer with a whine, his gray-blue eyes locking onto Jiang Qingli in the darkness. "I want a kiss."

Jiang Qingli generously kissed him on the lips.

Just as their breaths began to mingle, Qin Muye’s terminal started chiming repeatedly.

He didn’t want to bother with it, but Jiang Qingli pushed him back a little and told him to check it.

Qin Muye reluctantly opened his terminal and saw a friend request.

The sender’s profile picture was a ball of red fire.

Without even reading the request message, Qin Muye blocked the user.

A moment later, another account sent a friend request. It had the same profile picture. Without even looking at the name, Qin Muye knew it was that stupid bird, Que Feiling.

Que Feiling: [You there?]

Que Feiling: [I suggest you add me. We’ll be spending a lot of time together in the future. Don’t make things difficult for her.]

Qin Muye: "..." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

’This damn bird is really putting on airs.’

’Spending time together my ass. And all this "her, her, her" crap... is he trying to use Qin Shu to pressure me? Like I’d be scared?’

’I’ll beat him up every time I see him.’

Qin Muye replied with a single, crisp word: [Scram.]

Then he tossed his terminal aside, cupped the face of the person in his arms, and pressed her down into the soft bedding...

-

Jiang Qingli had thought Yuan Shimo not returning home was a well-kept secret.

But as soon as she got home, she saw two men standing in front of her bedroom door.

Baili Jing gently held out a hand to her. "Xiao Li, I’ve prepared the sparkling water and snacks you like. Shall we watch a movie together tonight?"

Qin Muye took a step forward, hefting a game console. "My favorite shooting game is way more interesting than a movie!"

"Xiao Li has class tomorrow. Getting absorbed in a game doesn’t seem appropriate," Baili Jing said with a smile. "A movie is more relaxing."

"And who knows if your stupid movie is even decent?" Qin Muye retorted, annoyed. "Games relieve stress, you get it?"

A fight was about to break out, giving Jiang Qingli a bit of a headache.

Just as she was thinking they could just all watch a movie together, a gentle yet detached voice sounded from behind her—

"If I’m not mistaken, tonight is my time."

Jiang Qingli turned to see Yuan Shimo walking toward her, step by step.

The boy’s emerald eyes landed on Jiang Qingli’s face as he called out to her softly,

"Female master."