The sudden appearance of another male made the others visibly tense.

Qin Muye crossed his arms, raising an eyebrow as he critically sized up the newcomer. "You’re Yuan Shimo?"

They had seen each other during the holographic call the other day.

Yuan Shimo understood. Qin Muye wasn’t asking because he didn’t recognize him, but to assert his own status with this aggressive attitude.

’A brainless, muscle-headed idiot. Everything he does is full of holes.’

’It seems the newspapers weren’t just spouting rumors. The Empire is truly unlucky to have a Prince who only knows how to swarm around a female.’

The young man sneered inwardly, but his expression remained impassive.

He grunted in acknowledgment, his gaze falling on the young white fox man to the side.

Baili Jing had been silent since Yuan Shimo’s arrival, quietly observing him. When their eyes met, he finally walked forward and extended a hand to shake the young man’s.

The young man’s eyes curved into a smile. "So it’s Dr. Yuan. You and your younger brother look so alike. For a moment there, I thought he was playing a game of ’pretend to be my older brother’ to tease us again."

Behind them, Qin Muye caught the key phrase. "What ’pretend’?"

"Nothing much," Baili Jing said. "When we were picking up Xiao Li yesterday, I saw Yuan Shiyao dressed up as Dr. Yuan. It’s probably just a game between twins."

Baili Actor’s attitude was friendly and his tone casual, yet his hesitant words clearly implied something more.

The speaker had his intentions, and the listener read between the lines.

Qin Muye’s mind immediately concocted a whole drama, and his anger flared.

’I knew it! That lowlife Yuan Shiyao hasn’t given up on being a homewrecker!!!’

’Squeezing in at every opportunity to make his presence known was one thing, but now he’s even stooping to impersonating his own brother to secretly get close to Jiang Qingli and try something crooked!’

’He’ll stop at nothing!’

Qin Muye’s face darkened, and he ground his canines.

Yuan Shimo pretended not to notice and started walking toward Jiang Qingli.

"Stop."

The words were ground out between clenched teeth as a long leg blocked the young man’s path.

Qin Muye stared at him, his gaze seeming to bore right through him. "How can you prove you’re Yuan Shimo right now?"

The snow leopard young man was aggressive, like a dog guarding its food.

A flash of annoyance crossed Yuan Shimo’s eyes. His voice was icy. "If that is what you wish to think, Prince, I can’t do anything about it."

Qin Muye gritted his teeth. "You—"

Jiang Qingli was exasperated.

’I was trying to help the Yuan Family brothers keep it a secret, but how did the whole world find out in the blink of an eye?’

Seeing Qin Muye getting angry, she reached out and patted his back.

At the same time, she declared, "This is definitely Yuan Shimo."

"How can you be so sure?" Qin Muye asked.

As he said this, Yuan Shimo’s gaze also fell on the girl’s face, a hint of inquiry in his eyes.

Jiang Qingli said, "If it were Yuan Shiyao, you two would already be fighting."

Qin Muye: "..."

’That’s true.’

Every time Yuan Shiyao saw him, he would call him "Prince" in that snide, passive-aggressive way.

Having confirmed the man’s identity, Qin Muye’s expression softened slightly, but he still wasn’t happy.

He found Yuan Shimo pretty annoying too.

Showing up out of nowhere and stealing Jiang Qingli’s attention.

Of course, it wasn’t just Yuan Shimo that Qin Muye disliked.

Rather, Qin Muye disliked every male around Jiang Qingli besides himself.

The thought that Gu Nian hadn’t arrived yet only intensified Qin Muye’s irritation, which even a pat on the head couldn’t soothe.

Beside him, Baili Jing sighed silently to himself but showed nothing on his face.

An outstanding female would never belong to a single male.

Before today, Baili Jing had already spent over a decade mentally preparing himself for this.

Even so, seeing other males surrounding his Xiao Qing Mei, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of loss.

After a moment, Baili Jing forced a smile. "It’s getting late, Muye. We should give Dr. Yuan his time."

Although he was smiling, Jiang Qingli keenly sensed his low spirits and reached out to take his hand.

Baili Jing lowered his eyes, his gaze landing on her face.

She probably didn’t know why he was in a bad mood, but she still instinctively comforted him, just like when they were children.

Baili Jing’s heart melted into a ball of light, soft cotton candy.

Having experienced separation, he didn’t dare to ask for too much, let alone think of having her all to himself.

’As long as I can stay by her side and be favored by her like this once in a while, that’s enough.’

Baili Jing pulled his fingers away and pinched her cheek. "Save some time for me this weekend. Let’s go see a movie, okay?"

After getting her approval, he turned and murmured to Yuan Shimo, briefly explaining the key points of Spiritual Healing.

Qin Muye clicked his tongue.

’That damn fox is acting like the head wife again.’

But since the damn fox had already conceded, there was no reason for him to keep blocking the way.

Qin Muye left reluctantly, glancing back every few steps.

Only Jiang Qingli and Yuan Shimo were left in the hallway.

Still not quite used to interacting with this Beast Husband, Jiang Qingli thought for a moment and asked, "Tonight, your room or my room?"

Yuan Shimo’s fingers, hanging by his side, tightened. A mocking curve touched his thin lips.

’I knew it.’

’Should I call her thoughtful? She’s even letting me choose the place where I lose my virginity.’ 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Yuan Shimo didn’t want to enter her territory. He asked flatly, "Excuse me, female master, where is my room?"

"There were a few left. Gu Nian chose the one in the middle of the third floor. There’s another room on the third floor, do you want it?" Jiang Qingli gestured. "I saw a huge bookshelf when I was shopping last time and bought it... You should like it, right? You seem to read a lot."

Hearing this, Yuan Shimo’s gaze flickered.

’She bought it?’

’But I can’t rule out the possibility that she’s watched too many ’movies’ and thinks a study would be more... interesting.’

His fingers by his side curled into a fist. Yuan Shimo’s wavering resolve hardened once more. He said in a low voice, "Everything is up to the female master."

"Then I’ll take you to see it." Jiang Qingli, wearing fluffy slippers, padded down the stairs.

Yuan Shimo followed silently, his eyes fixed on her slender back.

The truth was, he hadn’t planned on coming tonight.

His father, far away in the Third District, had called to urge him on, lecturing him endlessly about serving the female master well, and even offered to prepare clothes for him.

Yuan Shimo had left home, planning to spend the night at the lab.

But when he opened his social media app, he saw her chat window, with its light-green pear profile picture.

Flashes of his brother’s expression when he talked about Jiang Qingli kept replaying in his mind. By the time he snapped out of it, Yuan Shimo was already standing near Jiang Qingli’s house.

Perhaps cats really are intensely curious creatures.

Yuan Shimo was very curious. What kind of person was she, really?

-

The bedroom was south-facing, spacious, and bright.

"Look, this is the bookshelf I bought last time!" Jiang Qingli lifted her chin proudly. "It matches the decor perfectly, right?"

Yuan Shimo nonchalantly scanned the bedroom, his gaze pausing noticeably when it landed on the bookshelves that took up two entire walls.

"If you think it’s okay, you can stay here." As she said this, Jiang Qingli noticed his empty hands. "Where are your bags?"

"I don’t have any," Yuan Shimo said.

"We have the basics here." Jiang Qingli sent a message to Yi Nuo, asking him to prepare some things. "I’m going upstairs to take a shower. I’ll come find you in a bit."

"Yes, female master."

Yuan Shimo watched Jiang Qingli leave, closed the door, and turned to walk to the bookshelf. He reached out and ran a hand over it.

In this day and age, physical books were nearly obsolete, but Yuan Shimo loved them and had treasured his collection since childhood.

’The first shelf can be for humanities, the second for...’

Yuan Shimo mentally categorized his books and arranged them on the shelves, only realizing something was wrong after he was finished.

’Why am I planning to move my books here?’

’This isn’t my home.’

-

After showering in the master bedroom, Jiang Qingli changed into a new nightgown that Baili Jing had bought for her and prepared to go find Yuan Shimo.

Just as she descended a few steps, the girl paused and glanced back.

The warm light of the hallway lamp shone down; there was no one behind her.

However, the feeling of being watched was intensely strong, as if countless invisible tentacles were inching their way up her smooth, pale calves, leaving a sticky, dark caress as they probed inward with desperate desire...

An unbidden chill ran down Jiang Qingli’s spine.

She quickened her pace and rushed downstairs, bursting into Yuan Shimo’s room without even knocking.

CLINK.

Something fell to the floor with a crisp sound.

Jiang Qingli turned, about to explain herself, but saw a vial of medication slowly rolling to a stop by her feet.

Not far away, the young man was kneeling on the floor. His pale golden hair fell over his eyes, and an unnatural flush colored his pale cheeks. His beautiful figure seemed on the verge of collapse.

Jiang Qingli’s breath caught in her throat. She hurried over, wanting to help him up.

But just as her fingers drew near, they were slapped away.

The young man stared at her with disgust, his voice hoarse and cold—

"Don’t touch me!"