Chapter 288: No Need to Trouble an Outsider
Outside the window, birds chirped on the branches.
Jiang Qingli was spun around, her waist held fast against the kitchen counter. At the same time, her chin was lifted, forcing her lips apart to accept his kiss.
She was already quite used to Ye Linyuan’s sudden attacks.
She closed her eyes, waiting for him to stir that familiar sense of pleasure within her.
But this time, Ye Linyuan’s kiss was much lighter than usual—one could even call it gentle.
At the same time, Jiang Qingli felt an intense gaze upon her.
When Jiang Qingli opened her eyes, Ye Linyuan stopped and lowered his head. She found herself staring into a pair of golden, vertical pupils fixed intently on her.
Instead of pleasure, Ye Linyuan’s eyes held a hint of anxiety she had never seen before.
It was as if he was desperate to confirm something in her eyes.
Jiang Qingli blinked in confusion, wondering what she had done to upset him.
Seeing the emotion in her eyes, Ye Linyuan ended the kiss and took half a step back.
Jiang Qingli had just been getting into it and was a little disappointed. "Not continuing?"
"You want to?" Ye Linyuan glanced at her. "Not enough time."
Jiang Qingli’s eyes widened. ’?’
Ye Linyuan averted his gaze, his tone returning to normal. "If I recall correctly, you asked me here to tutor you for your shooting class."
More question marks popped up over Jiang Qingli’s head. ’???’
’Hey! What is with this guy!’
’He’s the one who kissed me first! And now he’s playing the perfect gentleman? What’s a villain like him got to pretend for?!’
Just as Jiang Qingli was about to retort, Ye Linyuan had already turned and headed for the shooting range, his steps a little too quick, almost frantic.
’He sure runs fast.’
It was almost as if he were running from her.
Jiang Qingli caught up to him at the door to the training room, grabbing his wrist and asking directly, "Are you in a bad mood? Or are you injured again?"
His steps halted. Ye Linyuan turned, his eyes lowered to study the expression on her face.
A little concern, a little worry, a little curiosity.
But it still wasn’t the same way she looked at Baili Jing.
Ye Linyuan felt another surge of intense irritation, and his voice grew even colder. "No."
"All right."
Jiang Qingli didn’t press further.
Her terminal chimed with a new message.
The girl glanced at the sender’s name, and the corners of her previously calm lips instantly curled up. She gave a cough, trying and failing to hide her delight. "Um, I just need to reply to a message."
Ye Linyuan asked in a low voice, "Who is it?"
"I refuse to answer," Jiang Qingli said.
She walked into the lounge, sank into the sofa, and opened the social media app.
Youchen: [I’m heading back to the military academy in a bit. I have to give a speech.]
Jiang Qingli: [Got it.]
Youchen: [The mochi shop in Cafeteria Five is still open. Do you still like it?]
Theirs was delicious, but you could only pay with a student ID, and there were purchase limits. Jiang Qingli used to have Xie Youchen buy it for her.
’I can’t believe he still remembers.’
Jiang Qingli: [Can you get any?]
Youchen: [Want some or not?]
[Yes!] Jiang Qingli replied in a flash.
Her fingers habitually typed out [Thanks, brother] and sent it. The next second, her eyes flew open, and she quickly retracted the message.
But it was too late. He had already read it.
Youchen: [You’re welcome.]
[It’s what a brother should do.]
Jiang Qingli’s cheeks grew warm, and she pressed her cool fingers against them.
Then she furrowed her brow, uncomfortably pondering the meaning behind his words.
’Does he not feel that way about me? Does he just see me as his childhood friend, like a little sister?’
Jiang Qingli bit her lip in turmoil, simply sending a sticker to brush past the topic.
Xie Youchen changed the subject, asking if she was going to the library today. He said he could pick her up after his speech.
Jiang Qingli quickly refused: [No need, I’m practicing shooting at home with a friend today. The exam is the day after tomorrow.]
She thought for a moment, then added: [I have a supervisor.]
She didn’t dare say it was Ye Linyuan. It was better for those two mortal enemies to not meet.
Fortunately, Xie Youchen didn’t ask any more questions: [Next time, ask me. No need to trouble outsiders.]
Not far away, Ye Linyuan narrowed his eyes. He watched the girl as she lowered her head to type, her brows curved in a smile, and his own expression darkened.
Those friends of hers were also coming for shooting instruction today, but Jiang Qingli wouldn’t have that kind of expression when chatting with them.
’How could he describe the way she looked now?’
’It was as if her entire being was steeped in honey. Even the smile in her eyes had transformed into twinkling starlight that she couldn’t hide no matter how she tried.’
It was the same way she looked when facing Baili Jing.
’She liked the male on the other side of the terminal, too.’
’Liked him no less than she liked Baili Jing.’
But—
Jiang Qingli had never looked at him that way.
The moment he realized this, Ye Linyuan froze.
Especially after seeing her contact name for the sender and guessing who it was, an unbearable, stuffy pain spread through his chest.
The totem that had marked him began to throb with a faint, stinging pain. It was more unbearable than any bloody wound from his past duels, and he even found it difficult to breathe.
’How could this be?’
’Could there be a problem with the mark?’
Ye Linyuan pressed a hand over the spot where the totem was, a muffled groan escaping his throat.
The girl, who had been texting, heard the sound and turned to see his tightly furrowed brow. Startled, she asked, "What’s wrong?"
Jiang Qingli immediately dropped her terminal and ran to Ye Linyuan’s side. She supported his arm to help him sit on the sofa, then raised her hands to pull his clothes aside and check him.
Ye Linyuan didn’t move, letting her do as she pleased.
Jiang Qingli checked the great villain from head to toe and found him completely unscathed. His pollution value was normal, too.
Puzzled, she couldn’t help but ask, "Do you have an internal injury? Have you been in any brawls recently?"
"...No."
Nearby, the abandoned terminal was still vibrating.
Ye Linyuan glanced at it casually.
Xie Youchen had sent a few new messages, all just boring, everyday chatter.
’Was there any point in sharing that?’
’A waste of time.’
Ye Linyuan scoffed internally, unable to understand.
"Did you skip breakfast? Are you hungry?" Jiang Qingli patted his abs. "I think your abs have gotten thinner from hunger."
"I drank a nutrient solution before coming."
Ye Linyuan grabbed her mischievous hand and started to guide it downward, but she slapped it away.
"Behave yourself." Jiang Qingli shot him a glare, steering the conversation back on track.
"That stuff tastes awful. Can’t you just eat a proper meal?" Jiang Qingli couldn’t understand him. "Don’t you have a chef at home? It’s not like you’re afraid of being poisoned."
Ye Linyuan: "..."
He had grown up drinking nutrient solutions and couldn’t care less about food, clothing, or shelter.
Normally, he would be annoyed by someone meddling in his private affairs.
But hearing Jiang Qingli’s chiding tone, Ye Linyuan actually found the corner of his lips twitching into a smile. "What do you like to eat?" he asked.
He subconsciously wanted to know more about her.
"Lots of things! Congee in the morning, soup dumplings, toast..." Jiang Qingli counted them off on her fingers. "Anyway, there’s tons of delicious food. You can come have breakfast with me sometime if you’re free."
"Mm," Ye Linyuan replied, uncharacteristically docile. "I’ll try it next time."
Seeing his expression soften, Jiang Qingli gave him a few more instructions and started to climb off him.
But he grabbed her wrist and pulled her back down.
The young man’s legs transformed into a snake’s tail, which coiled around her calves. It started to tighten, then immediately loosened.
Looking into her eyes, Ye Linyuan suddenly had so much he wanted to say, something that wanted to break free from his heart.
He looked up at her, his voice barely a whisper.
"Do you... toward me..."