Chapter 72: Peeping
"Why are you all looking at me like that? We can discuss this. I’m not just going to snatch it."
Duan Feiye’s tone was resigned.
He seemed to exude a sense of control.
"There’s a Half-awakened in my family who is highly compatible with the ling beast. I just wanted to try and secure it for him."
His expression was calm. "Since she’s unwilling, I’ll just keep an eye out for the next Beast Taming Competition."
It was almost funny. The person at the center of it all hadn’t said a single word, yet these three men had already started shooting daggers at him with their eyes.
Duan Feiye marveled at Jian Yu’s charm, even though he couldn’t see what was so charming about her.
"Let me see Yan Qin’s report," Ling Yanzhi said, changing the subject.
Pei Yin tossed it to him from a good distance away.
He, on the other hand, picked up the Incubation Chamber and gently placed it on the small table beside Jian Yu.
"Remember to take it with you."
His tone could hardly be called gentle as his pale arm flashed past.
"Thank you." Jian Yu’s eyes brightened, and the weary look on her face finally shifted ever so slightly.
’She really is cute.’
Duan Feiye glanced over at her.
He hadn’t been watching for long before he saw her purse her soft, pale pink lips and stroke the ling beast’s head.
Duan Feiye realized his train of thought was a bit off. His focus should have been on the ling beast’s reaction.
’A fast, hot-tempered, and aggressive creature... would it really let her pet it so docilely?’
But he had ignored that point, unconsciously finding himself observing Jian Yu’s expression instead.
He watched her impassive face, her eyelids drooping listlessly.
Her small face was ghastly pale, her aura tinged with a faint, gentle melancholy.
When the corners of her eyes drooped slightly, their redness stood out starkly against her pale, cool-toned skin.
Duan Feiye’s expression grew pensive. He thought he was beginning to understand why they all liked her.
That calm, inscrutable face could easily pique a man’s interest.
It made one unconsciously want to shatter that calm, to see her reveal a different expression, to become the special person who could stir the waters of her gaze.
To want...
But those thoughts were cut short.
The moment Ling Yanzhi finished the report, he swept Jian Yu into his arms and flew out of the lab.
Xi Yu trailed after them, his eyes wide with longing.
Pei Yin cursed under his breath, "He didn’t even use the main door. Almost shattered my protective shield."
Good thing his reflexes were fast.
Duan Feiye withdrew his gaze. "I told you to use the time treating her leg to get close to her slowly. Why are you following her around and spying on her like a stalker?"
He lightly clasped his hands. "I covered your tracks for you. No need to thank me."
"It was on my way! I wasn’t following her!" Pei Yin’s face flushed with shame.
He really thought he had been stealthy.
Lesson learned. Next time, he would spray some medicine to conceal his presence.
...
The buzz on the forums came in waves.
First it was Xu Jianjuan, then Jian Yu, and today it was Yan Qin’s turn.
They had both entered and exited Zone 5 on the same day, but the discussion threads only mentioned Yan Qin.
The way the original poster was trying to steer public opinion was interesting, too.
Looking at the poster’s IP address and the real name behind their alt account, Jian Yu felt a wave of second-hand embarrassment for Yan Qin.
"Baby, one more sip." Ling Yanzhi held a bowl of nourishing soup, feeding her with a spoon.
’This is torture.’
Jian Yu really wanted to just down it all in one go.
"Nine o’clock. Time for your foot bath." As soon as Ling Yanzhi fed her the last bite, Yang Zhang came in carrying the water.
It used four of its eight tentacles, looking quite clumsy.
It was rare to see Xi Yu acting so normal.
He sat beside them, his expression grave.
"She was fine this afternoon, but after practicing for a bit tonight, her leg started hurting. Could there be a problem with that Hidden Beast Aura?"
’Hidden Beast Aura?’
Jian Yu hadn’t expected him to actually call it that, and for a moment, it didn’t register.
In truth, she knew exactly why she was in pain.
"It rained today."
She thought for a moment before adding, "It’s better than before. The last time it rained, it hurt more."
Jian Yu’s thoughts were the complete opposite of Xi Yu’s.
She felt that the Hidden Beast Aura might have actually been what was providing her with some relief.
A scheduled alarm rang.
Jian Yu quickly held out her hand. "An hour’s up. Give me the book."
The book from Pei Yin was very useful to her. When she practiced on the lower level that afternoon, she had felt completely in her element.
"Not so fast. You’ve been browsing the forums; your eyes haven’t had any rest." Ling Yanzhi lifted her legs and placed them in the foot bath.
The honey-yellow shorts offset her pale legs, lending them a certain lustrous glow.
The water rose past her knees. Jian Yu wiggled her toes. "I’m not a child."
Her expression soured.
"Baby, don’t throw a tantrum." Xi Yu suddenly crouched down and gave a squeeze.
Jian Yu instinctively pulled back, but her retreat was blocked by Ling Yanzhi behind her.
He wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his chin lightly on her shoulder.
His warm lips brushed against her earlobe. "I’ll read it to you."
Xi Yu grabbed her ankle and pulled it back. "You haven’t soaked long enough."
His movements were a little clumsy.
His thumb held her curled toes, rubbing them slowly. He clumsily cupped the arch of her foot, his kneading pressure alternating between light and heavy.
His hot breath ghosted over Jian Yu’s leg, sending amorous ripples across their points of contact.
A blush crept onto Jian Yu’s face.
She almost couldn’t catch her breath.
Ling Yanzhi had one arm wrapped around her waist, his voice languid as he read aloud.
"When a human is Awakened, a virtual beast form materializes on their body; this is considered a Beast Soul. When the Beast Soul separates from the main body and coalesces into a corporeal form, it can be called a Soul Beast. Spiritual power..."
Jian Yu’s eyelashes trembled, and she clutched at his bathrobe in her embarrassment.
As time went on, she actually found herself getting drawn into the words.
She was so focused that she didn’t even notice when Xi Yu finished drying her feet.
"Ten o’clock. Bedtime." Ling Yanzhi swept her up into his arms.
Jian Yu’s fingers didn’t let go.
With the pull, his bathrobe slid halfway off.
Pale, cool-toned pectoral muscles suddenly filled her vision, and his well-defined eight-pack abs were faintly visible through the gap in the fabric.
Jian Yu blinked, her eyes openly sizing him up.
’He’s built.’
Ling Yanzhi froze for a second, the tips of his ears turning red.
He pulled his bathrobe closed, a faint blush gradually spreading across his exposed, pale skin.
"You took advantage of my absence to seduce Baby." Xi Yu’s tone was dangerously low, his earring glinting coldly in the moonlight.
He materialized in a dark corner of the room, his aura chilling. His gaze was cloying, his features androgynous and somber.
Slime oozed from his fingers, dripping all over the bedroom floor.
Jian Yu’s heart began to race.
’What a charmed life. I’ve even managed to snag a ’Vampire’.’
Ling Yanzhi couldn’t be bothered to deal with Xi Yu.
He wrapped his arm around Jian Yu’s waist and lay down to sleep.
Jian Yu glanced back uneasily, only to see dark tentacles writhing out from behind Xi Yu.
She stretched out a hand and beckoned with her finger.
Xi Yu paused, a flicker of innocence crossing his eyes.
He hesitantly climbed onto the bed, his conflicted little expression inexplicably endearing.
The word "obedient" involuntarily popped into Jian Yu’s mind.
"I’ll let it slide this time, but remember to take me with you next time."
Xi Yu hugged Jian Yu’s waist from behind, pressing his face against her neck. "I’ll go to class with Baby tomorrow."
Ling Yanzhi shot him down, "There’s a board meeting tomorrow."
That shut him up.
Professor Lin’s class was as early as ever. When Jian Yu left, she was still escorted by Lin Yu and his group, only this time, Shen Gu was with them.
Noticing her confused look, Lin Yu explained, "Chief Ling told me to bring him along."
Shen Gu added, "Professor Lin’s lecture is a general course. I was there last time, too."
"Oh, right." Jian Yu nodded blankly. Unable to think of anything else to say, she didn’t try to continue the conversation.
She had woken up too early and felt sluggish, with no energy to spare.
The area sectioned off for villas 1 through 7 was large, and the direct elevator could be set to go to any of the academic buildings.
After getting off the direct elevator, Jian Yu lifted her head, her eyes searching.
That strange feeling of being watched was back again.
With a suspect in mind, she sent a message to Ling Yanzhi: Can you take a picture at your meeting?
A few photos arrived instantly.
Jian Yu tapped to open them.
Pei Yin, Duan Feiye, Sheng Yue, Xi Yu...
So, who was it that was watching her?