Chapter 394: Keeping the Appointment
The entire ceremony lasted about two hours.
For most of that time, Jiang Qingli stood ramrod straight, her gaze fixed forward.
Because if she looked to her left, Qin Muye was watching her like a hawk, terrified she’d be snatched away.
And to her right, she would meet Qin Yu’s fake, overly-friendly smile, who looked like she couldn’t wait to whisk her away.
Jiang Qingli: "..."
When it was finally over, Jiang Qingli walked off the stage, took out her terminal, and snapped a few pictures from a good angle. She sent them to Jiang Yi, followed by a "waiting" sticker, anticipating her mother’s praise.
The official photos from today’s award ceremony had already been posted on the Empire’s official website. Jiang Qingli knew that no matter how busy Jiang Yi was, she would definitely make time to see them.
Sure enough, a moment later, a message arrived from Jiang Yi: [Are you free to talk with Mom?]
Of course she was.
A smile touched Jiang Qingli’s lips as she walked backstage and made the call.
The call connected, and Jiang Yi’s smiling voice came through. "I knew it. Our Xiao Li can stand on her own two feet now. Mom is so proud of you."
"Dad is too!" Xie Qizhen’s voice piped up from the side. "Xiao Li, Dad already got that thing you said you liked last time—"
He stopped mid-sentence, as if silenced by a warning glare. Xie Qizhen’s voice came to an abrupt halt, replaced by a slightly guilty cough. "Uh, Xiao Li, you didn’t hear anything. Dad meant we prepared a surprise for you. When we’re all back in the First District, we’ll go see it together!"
Jiang Yi sighed. "Go away."
The sound of footsteps followed, and it seemed Jiang Yi had moved to another area. She warmly asked about Jiang Qingli’s recent health, sharing her own past experiences down to the smallest detail.
But most importantly, she asked how Jiang Qingli was feeling now.
Ever since she was a child, Jiang Yi had always put Jiang Qingli’s health and happiness first.
Jiang Qingli had grown up taking this kind of love for granted.
But after having been separated and then returned, she often felt a deep sense of happiness from this ordinary yet profound love.
Her lips curved. "Mom, I’m doing what I want to do right now, and I’m very happy."
"As long as you’re happy." Jiang Yi laughed too. "Mom will always be Xiao Li’s number one supporter."
Jiang Qingli lifted her chin, a little smugly.
Just then, the curtain was pulled aside, and a female looked over in her direction.
Backlit, Qin Yu’s expression was unclear, but Jiang Qingli could feel that her gaze was different from usual, seemingly filled with a hint of incredible disbelief.
Jiang Qingli: "..."
’What are you looking at! Haven’t you ever seen a daughter acting cute with her mom!’
But being caught acting like that with her mom at her age was indeed a bit embarrassing. Jiang Qingli said a few more words to Jiang Yi, hung up, and looked at Qin Yu. "Third Prince, do you need something from me?"
Qin Yu smiled. "Marshal Yuan booked out the largest restaurant in Zone A to host a celebratory banquet for us. We’re just waiting for you."
Jiang Qingli hesitated for a moment.
Ye Linyuan had warned her not to go to Zone A unless she had to.
"What’s wrong, Qingli? Don’t want to go? Do you need me to make your excuses for you?" Qin Yu smiled thoughtfully. "But as the guest of honor, it probably won’t be much of a party if you’re absent."
rolled its eyes. [Wowzers, it’s been a while since I’ve heard such a lame threat.]
[Go, you have to go! I’ll give you a prop! A powerful protective device! If anyone dares to try and assassinate you, we’ll just counter-kill them all!]
was fired up, its little stick-figure hands waving so fast they left afterimages.
Jiang Qingli nodded and agreed.
She didn’t want to stir up trouble, but if someone was coming for her, she wouldn’t back down either.
...
「As evening fell and the lights came on.」
Yuan Liang had filed an application and was now driving a group of the award recipients, plus Qin Muye, Que Feiling, and three other team members, toward Zone A.
Inside the vehicle, several team members sat next to Qin Muye.
The atmosphere was quite good.
Contrary to Jiang Qingli’s worries.
In reality, Qin Muye was quite popular in the military district.
Males always prioritized strength, and this was even more true in the military. Qin Muye’s power was more than enough to command respect.
On the other hand, while the Prince was irritable and had a sharp tongue, he had worked his way up from the bottom. When it came to official business, he followed discipline and never shirked his duties. In fact, he was very loyal. He would never abandon his companions in danger, and if a team member made a mistake, he would at most chew them out a bit and let it go. Those who had worked with him all sang his praises.
So, without Qin Muye even realizing it, his popularity had grown to a terrifying degree.
On the way to the auditorium that afternoon, Qin Muye hadn’t liked people looking at his female master, so he’d been on high alert the whole time. He failed to notice that the shock from the other males fell into the category of: "My god, the Prince really does hang on his female master’s every word! The rumors are true!"
He didn’t pay attention to it, but this conclusion quickly spread throughout the military district.
As a result, while speaking to Qin Muye, several of the team members kept sneaking glances at Jiang Qingli.
Their eyes were filled with admiration for the one who had tamed Qin Muye.
Upon entering Zone A, the vehicle made a smooth turn and headed toward the tallest building in the district.
Even in Zone A, which was crowded with skyscrapers, this building stood out from the rest. Its architectural style was unique; the tower had a slight curve, and its surface rippled like water.
Yuan Liang, having heard that Jiang Qingli hadn’t been here before, enthusiastically explained, "Miss Jiang, see how it looks like a snake rearing up? And because it’s so wide, it shimmers in the daylight. A lot of people call it the ’Snake Barrel.’ Fun, right?"
Qin Muye disliked snakes. His one-word review was sharp: "Lame."
Que Feiling held the opposite opinion. "I quite like it."
Because snakes were considered one of the Vermilion Bird’s food sources, and this place also had a lot of delicious food.
Qin Muye shot him a look. "That just proves you have no taste."
Que Feiling: "..."
’You just have to insult me in front of Miss Jiang, don’t you?!’
Que Feiling’s mouth moved, but then he suddenly remembered the post he had read that morning.
The retort on the tip of his tongue was forcefully swallowed back down. His gaze toward Qin Muye was even tinged with a bit of pity...
If it weren’t for that post, Que Feiling would have never known that his arch-rival of so many years... was dysfunctional.
A male, dysfunctional.
How was that any different from being disabled?
His primary function as a male was inherently flawed. Meanwhile, the other Beast Husbands were so creative and skilled, and there were excellent males like himself, eyeing the positions of Seventh or Eighth...
No wonder Qin Muye was so irritable all day long.
’Who could possibly endure that?!’
’Sigh!’
Que Feiling desperately suppressed the smile tugging at his lips. He sighed, patted Qin Muye’s shoulder, and gave him a look of comforting pity.
Qin Muye: ?
...
Amid the chatter and laughter, the vehicle pulled into the underground garage of the "Snake Barrel."
Qin Yu got out of the vehicle first and held out a hand to Jiang Qingli. "Come, our greatest hero. Let me help you."
Jiang Qingli smiled and hopped down from the vehicle herself. "Thank you, but that’s not necessary."
Withdrawing her hand, Qin Yu said softly, "Qingli, you don’t have to avoid me like the plague."
"You’ve been distracted this whole ride. Are you worried I’m going to do something to you?"
Jiang Qingli also lowered her voice to reply, "That’s not it. You’re overthinking things."
Jiang Qingli was telling the truth.
What she was actually thinking about was...
This building is shaped like a snake. Could Ye Linyuan have built it?
Will I run into Ye Linyuan tonight?