Free Web NovelChapter 248: Chapter 248: So Desperate to Get Married?
She’d been too busy recently, healing two S-rank males in a row. It had taken a huge toll on her spiritual power and stamina.
Making the most of some rare downtime, Jiang Qingli slept all the way until the afternoon on Sunday.
When Jiang Qingli had fallen asleep, she had been in her own room, on her own bed, hugging a fox tail.
When she woke again, she found herself curled up on the sofa, her head pillowed on the young man’s thigh, which was clad in suit pants. Her forehead rested against his abs through his shirt, and a hand was on her back, patting her gently.
From this angle, the moment she opened her eyes, she saw Cat Teacher’s slightly raised face. His bone structure was so exceptional that even looking up at him from this notoriously unflattering angle revealed no flaws.
Yuan Shimo was reviewing some documents while simultaneously lulling her to sleep.
The tips of his pale-gold hair hung in front of him, swaying gently like little tails, as if waiting for her to reach out and grab them.
Jiang Qingli smiled. It was only when she went to lift her hand that she discovered a fluffy cat tail coiled around her wrist.
She stirred slightly, and the man holding her instantly noticed.
Yuan Shimo pushed away the electronic screen displaying the documents and looked down at her, the corners of his lips lifting. "Awake?"
"Mmm... I slept for so long..."
Jiang Qingli rubbed her face against his shirt, feeling his body tense up, which gave her a sense of mischievous delight.
The cat tail wrapped around her wrist tightened for a moment but loosened again after a few seconds.
’She was already so tired yesterday.’
’Besides, there were other things to do today.’
Yuan Shimo helped her sit up. "Want to sleep a little longer?"
"I don’t need to. I feel wide awake now," Jiang Qingli said, then asked, "How long was I out? I didn’t even notice you arrive."
"It’s one in the afternoon now." Yuan Shimo showed her the time on the screen. "I came over after my meeting this morning, around ten. You woke up once and said you wanted breakfast. I carried you to the sofa, and you fell asleep again while we were waiting."
As he spoke, he stroked her face with affection and said in a gentle voice, "You’ve worked hard, Qingli."
"It was a mission. It’s all part of the job."
Jiang Qingli didn’t mention Jiang Youchen. She had a feeling he didn’t want anyone to know about it.
Yuan Shimo knew who her mission target was. He paused, then said, "Que Feiling came by this morning."
"Huh? When?" Jiang Qingli was surprised.
"I ran into him as he was leaving when I arrived." Yuan Shimo’s knuckles combed through her soft, dark hair as he said nonchalantly, "He seemed to have brought a thank-you gift, but Yi Nuo didn’t let him in, so he asked me to bring the gift inside."
Last night, the Healing Association had already delivered the reward. Jiang Qingli had thought she and Que Feiling would have no further contact, so she was surprised they’d made a special trip.
These frequent gifts were making Jiang Qingli a bit embarrassed. "Why didn’t anyone wake me up? It’s so rude to make him come all this way for nothing..."
"They were in a hurry to get to the Lower District, so there wasn’t time." Yuan Shimo pointed to a gift box on the coffee table. "It’s over there."
Jiang Qingli opened it and found a set of jade jewelry.
The deep green was rich and lustrous, the craftsmanship was exquisite, and it was clearly worth a fortune.
Jiang Qingli marveled once again at how gracious the Que family was. She decided she’d have to prepare a gift for her "little bird" for his next visit.
’The little bird is actually quite easy to please,’ she thought. ’He always has the cutest smile whenever he sees me.’
Thinking of the several times Que Feiling had wanted to nuzzle up to her but had managed to restrain himself, Jiang Qingli couldn’t help but let out a laugh.
Watching the back of Jiang Qingli as she looked at the gift, Yuan Shimo recalled the other little incident that had happened that morning—
When they had accidentally met, Que Feiling hadn’t known who he was. Thinking he was a butler or some other household staff, he’d tried to get him to pass a message to Jiang Qingli, his hand already pulling a few rubies from his pocket.
However, Que Qingqiong, who was at his side, recognized Yuan Shimo. She stopped her brother and exchanged a few polite words before they departed.
The military seemed to be rushing them, so Que Feiling had to depart immediately. He wanted to see her one last time but was blocked by Yi Nuo, and he didn’t want to wake Jiang Qingli, so he cast a lingering, reluctant gaze upstairs.
Because he didn’t know which room Jiang Qingli was in, his gaze swept back and forth several times.
Finally, he let out a long sigh.
Before Yuan Shimo entered the house with the thank-you gift, he heard the pampered young master complaining unhappily to his sister, "I should have just come last night. Now there’s no time to see her again before I leave..."
"And whose fault is that? You were picking out clothes until dawn," Que Qingqiong scoffed in amusement. "You’re just like a peacock spreading its feathers. Why are you so desperate to marry yourself off, Xiao Ling?"
"I am not—"
"Right, you’re not. It only took you another three hours this morning to pick out your clothes, shoes, accessories, and cologne. Any later and you wouldn’t have even had time to come here at all." Que Qingqiong’s tone held the unique mix of helpless exasperation and doting affection of an elder, tinged with amusement. "Why are you blushing? Honestly."
"..."
"Alright, don’t look so down." Que Qingqiong’s voice faded as she walked away, offering comfort. "Hasn’t Prince Muye already given his tacit approval, even his blessing? Don’t feel too burdened. You’re my brother, the Que family’s most dazzling Ruby. There isn’t a female alive who wouldn’t be moved by you."
She hadn’t bothered to lower her voice at all while speaking.
’Yuan Shimo knew perfectly well that Que Qingqiong had revealed that information to him on purpose.’
The Que family and Qin Shu belonged to the same faction, both supporting the Second Princess’s ascension to the throne.
The fathers of both Qin Muye and the Second Princess were from the Shen Family. His marriage to Jiang Qingli also represented the Jiang Family’s stance to some extent. It was a true political alliance; love was just an accidental byproduct.
But Que Feiling was different.
He was the Que family’s most doted-on youngest son. The family couldn’t bear to use him in a political marriage; in a noble society where profit was paramount, they actually supported his pursuit of so-called true love.
Que Qingqiong’s attitude also proved that Que Feiling’s future female master would definitely receive the immense financial backing of the Que family.
Yuan Shimo’s gaze fell on her profile, and irritation surged in his chest.
’They both grew up surrounded by love. Would that make it easier for them to fall for each other?’
’Guarding against Yuan Shiyao was already a big enough headache, and now an even harder-to-stop bird has appeared...’
"Why are you staring at me?" Jiang Qingli noticed his gaze, sat back down beside him, and played with his tail as she said, "I’m hungry."
"Lunch has been kept warm for you. It’s all your favorites." Yuan Shimo reined in his thoughts and sent a message to the kitchen.
The food arrived quickly. Jiang Qingli pulled Yuan Shimo over to join her for the meal, which could have been called either a late lunch or an early afternoon tea.
Jiang Qingli opened her terminal while she ate.
Having slept for over ten hours, her terminal was crammed with unread messages.
Yuan Shiyao: [File] The group photo from after the festival. And some close-ups of you.
Ye Linyuan: [Money Transfer] Message me when you’re awake.
Qin Muye: I’ve arrived. [Base Photo]
Qin Muye: Got my uniform. Signal is bad, I’ll show you on video tonight. [Selfie]
Que Feiling: Miss Jiang, I’m off now. If there’s anything you don’t like about the gift, just tell me and I’ll have them change it. [Cute Smile]
Yueyue: Babe, you up? Wanna go see the fireworks tonight? They say it’s going to be even more spectacular than last year. I bet tons of cute guys will be there~
It was only after seeing Lin Xiyue’s message that Jiang Qingli remembered the holiday ended tomorrow.
As was tradition, on the last day of the holiday each year, the Empire would hold a very grand fireworks show.
Jiang Qingli hadn’t seen it since leaving this place three years ago, and she found herself feeling quite nostalgic.
Jiang Qingli: I’M IN!!!
After she replied to Yuan Shiyao and a few of her other Beast Husbands, a new message came from Lin Xiyue: "Seriously? You’re just replying now? Just how wild was last night?"
Her friend was always spouting such shameless things, and Jiang Qingli was used to it. But nestled in Yuan Shimo’s arms as she was, she worried he might see the message and misunderstand, thinking she and Baili Jing had spent a passionate night together. She didn’t want him to get competitive, so she guiltily covered her terminal screen.
She caught a glimpse of his normal expression out of the corner of her eye before replying: "I was just exhausted from the mission."
"So, did Que Feiling let you feel his abs, too?" Lin Xiyue’s next message said. "Your progress is a little slow. Ai Li already bagged her mission target."
Jiang Qingli covered her terminal screen even more tightly and changed the subject: "Where should we meet?"
Lin Xiyue sent over an address.
Jiang Qingli replied with an "OK," and as she switched out of the chat, she also asked her other Beast Husbands and Jiang Youchen if they wanted to go.
’That’s strange,’ she thought. ’Gu Nian is usually the one who loves to send messages. Why has he been so quiet today?’
Jiang Youchen hadn’t replied either.
A little worried that her brother’s injuries hadn’t healed, Jiang Qingli finished her meal and headed to the nearest bedroom on the lower floor.
She knocked on the door several times, but no one answered.
Losing her patience, Jiang Qingli used her fingerprint to unlock the door and pushed it open—
