Chapter 304: The Childhood Sweethearts’ Battlefield
Jiang Qingli’s heart leaped, and she started to turn around.
But Baili Jing knew her too well. He anticipated her movement, raised a hand to the back of her head, and pressed her into his embrace.
Jiang Qingli’s face was buried in softness, enveloped by the pleasant scent of cedar as the tips of her ears burned.
A moment ago, she had only turned her head a little, but she had seen a tall, slender shadow.
It was Xie Youchen.
They had just confirmed their feelings last night. Jiang Qingli had planned to talk to him after waking up, but who could have known he’d catch her sitting in another male’s lap, calling him hubby.
And of all people, to be caught with Baili Jing.
In the past, whenever she and Baili Jing had secret dates, she’d be on pins and needles every time they were caught.
It was the same now.
Her heart hammering, Jiang Qingli raised a hand and gently poked Baili Jing in the small of his back, signaling for him to let go.
She thought her movement was very subtle.
Little did she know that Xie Youchen, standing opposite them, saw it all clearly, his expression darkening even further.
Baili Jing gave Xie Youchen a deliberately helpless smile, took Jiang Qingli’s hand, and advised in a low voice, "Female master, it’s not good to be so timid."
"This isn’t the first day Youchen has known you have Beast Husbands. He must be used to the existence of other Beast Husbands by now. He won’t mind."
Although Baili Jing lowered his voice, how could an S-class male Beastman fail to hear him?
As he spoke, he looked up at the grim-faced young man standing by the door and deliberately asked, "Youchen, what do you say?"
Xie Youchen didn’t answer.
If looks could kill, Baili Jing would have already been sliced into a thousand pieces by Xie Youchen’s gaze.
But when Jiang Qingli pulled Baili Jing’s hand away and turned to look over, Xie Youchen’s expression had already returned to normal.
"It’s almost nine." Xie Youchen glanced down at his watch. His attempt to change the subject wasn’t particularly skillful, but it wasn’t flawed either.
Jiang Qingli’s gaze darted from side to side. "Should I go change my clothes, then?"
"Okay," Xie Youchen said. "There’s a chance of rain today. Don’t wear a skirt that’s too short; you’ll get cold."
Baili Jing cupped Jiang Qingli’s face and, without any hesitation, placed a light kiss on her cheek. "I remember XN sent over some long skirts last time. There was a blue one you really liked."
"Oh, right. I wanted to wear it last time but kept forgetting." Jiang Qingli accepted the suggestion and turned to go to the walk-in closet.
She still felt a little guilty and didn’t dare to look at Xie Youchen. She practically fled, the sound of her sliding the glass door of the walk-in closet shut a little too loud.
Watching the girl’s figure depart, Baili Jing withdrew his gaze and smiled faintly. "Even if you’ve won her heart, you should still observe basic etiquette. Please knock before entering."
Xie Youchen sneered, "What an act."
’Leaving the door cracked open on purpose, wasn’t that just so I would see something? So you could declare your sovereignty?’
’Baili Jing has been like this since they were kids. He pretends to be considerate, gentle, kind, and generous in front of Jiang Qingli, but in reality, he’s petty, vengeful, jealous, and possessive—not lacking in any of those traits.’
’She’s still too naive.’
Baili Jing pretended not to hear and continued, "There are several others who ’put on an act’ just like me. You’ll need to get used to it."
"You’re the ones who need to get used to it." Xie Youchen sat down on the sofa, his attitude aggressive. "She’s staying with me tonight. Please be so kind as to inform the others."
Baili Jing’s smile vanished, and he looked at him expressionlessly. "You haven’t even officially entered the family, yet you’re already taking it upon yourself to manage the female master’s affairs. Youchen, that’s against the rules, isn’t it?"
Xie Youchen lifted his gaze and coolly looked back. "I think, compared to you, I’m more qualified to manage these things."
"Youchen, did you know?"
Baili Jing’s eyes curved into crescents as he said in a jesting tone, "In the old society, a mistress who dared to offend the main husband without even having official status would be despised by all."
"For a minor offense, they’d be drowned in a pig cage. For a serious one, they’d be beaten to death with clubs."
"Is that so?" Xie Youchen curled his lip in a disdainful sneer. "You should be thankful we’re in the new era. It’s not uncommon for a main wife who is promiscuous, seducing the female master and causing her to neglect her duties, to be cast aside."
"So, in your heart, you think I have that much charm over our female master?" Baili Jing feigned surprise, his narrow eyes curving. "I’m truly flattered."
Xie Youchen scoffed, "Such a smooth talker."
He was about to retort when his terminal vibrated a few times.
The name "Xie Zhengliu" flashed on the screen.
Having nothing more to say to Baili Jing, Xie Youchen got up, walked to the balcony, and pressed the accept button.
The moment the call connected, a furious roar came from the other end: "Xie Youchen! Guanqi is the only female in the Xie Family! How could you do something like this?! Are you trying to sever the Xie Family’s bloodline?!"
Xie Youchen replied flatly, "She still has her reproductive functions."
Hearing this, Xie Zhengliu nearly fainted from anger again.
’Is that what I was talking about?!’
Suppressing her anger, she said, "Your sister is just immature. She was misled by the malicious gossip of that young girl from the Bai Family, but her heart is in the right place! How could you, for an outsider like Jiang Qingli—"
"Compared to her, you’re the one treating me like an outsider, Aunt." Xie Youchen said coolly. "Don’t try to argue. The position of Family Head will not go to Xie Guanqi."
"If you still want to try any funny business, feel free to give it a shot."
Xie Zhengliu froze.
Immediately after, a dense wave of fear prickled up her spine.
Outsiders might think Xie Youchen was set to take over as Family Head, but only a few within the Xie Family knew the truth. They had gone to great lengths to bring him back, not so he could inherit the Xie Family, but to use him to pull the family back from the brink. Then, they planned to get rid of the tool once its job was done—to dispose of Xie Youchen and keep the Xie Family firmly in their own hands.
They never expected that Xie Youchen, who had seemed so obedient all this time, understood everything and had even made a move against Xie Guanqi!
Xie Zhengliu gritted her teeth, but she couldn’t afford to argue with him at this moment.
She could only soften her tone. "Youchen, we’re all family. I’ll keep a better eye on your sister from now on."
She took a deep breath and brought up the previous topic again. "Right, about your marriage alliance with Jiang Qingli..."
"You don’t need to trouble yourself with it, Aunt."
After saying that, Xie Youchen hung up the phone directly, not bothering to listen to another useless word from the other end.
He thought for a moment, found Chen Mi’s number, and dialed.
「Inside.」
Baili Jing picked up a glass of water from the coffee table and took a sip, his gaze falling on the nightstand.
When he arrived this morning, he had carefully counted the number of certain items in the nightstand drawer.
It was the same as when he had left two days ago.
They hadn’t used them.
’This means no intimate acts likely occurred last night.’
Baili Jing breathed a sigh of relief.
’In truth, he was far from being as magnanimous as he appeared in front of Jiang Qingli. He was also worried that Xie Youchen would steal her attention away from him. After all, they had been competing for her attention since they were children. In the past, he had always come out on top, but that was based on the fact that Jiang Qingli didn’t yet understand her feelings for Xie Youchen. Now that they have confessed their feelings for each other, Baili Jing also worried that he would fall out of favor. He wouldn’t stop it, because it was bound to happen sooner or later. He just hoped it would be a little later, giving him more time to be close to her.’
...
When Jiang Qingli finished changing and pushed open the door, the sight that greeted her was of two outstanding young men sitting at opposite ends of the sofa. Their postures were prim and elegant, and both acted as if the other didn’t exist.
Only when they saw her did their gazes turn toward her in unison.
They both held out a hand to her at the same time, leaving the choice to her.