Free Web NovelChapter 272: Chapter 272: Touching the Wolf’s Ears, As Long as Miss Likes It
Jiang Qingli had just said goodbye to Baili Jing when she ran into a few of her female classmates.
They pulled her into a private room and showered her with congratulations. The sweet smell of perfume and their friendly well-wishes made her feel almost euphoric. Before she knew it, Jiang Qingli had downed several glasses of low-alcohol fruit wine.
After bidding them farewell, she pushed open the door. Not noticing the step in front of her, she missed her footing.
Before she could even react, a hand with long, slender fingers grabbed her arm, steadying her in a half-embrace.
"My apologies, Miss."
A fresh, pleasant scent enveloped her senses. The young butler’s low voice was right by her ear, his breath so light it gently stirred the soft strands of her hair.
Even through the silk gloves, she could feel the Gray Wolf Beastman’s body temperature, warmer than a normal person’s, against her skin that had been chilled by the air conditioning.
Jiang Qingli froze for a moment, not quite registering just how close they were.
A drunk female passerby whistled at them. With a suggestive look in her eyes and slurring her words, she chuckled. "Hey, sis! Into some role-playing, are we? Getting the good stuff, I see!"
The woman’s friend quickly clamped a hand over her mouth and gave them an apologetic smile. "She’s drunk, she’s drunk! You two carry on, carry on!"
Then she gave a suggestive wink. "Hey sis, there are no cameras back there. It’s convenient and safe... if you go over there."
With the two drunkards bantering back and forth, Jiang Qingli could feel the butler holding her tense up, his breath catching in his chest.
"Thanks, but we’re fine," Jiang Qingli said, feeling a bit awkward herself. After speaking to the two drunks, she turned to reassure Yi Nuo. "They’ve had too much to drink. Don’t take it to heart."
Yi Nuo kept his head down, his expression hidden. "Yes."
He slowly released his grip on the girl’s arm and took a step back into the shadows, creating a safe distance between them.
He paused, then added, "Miss, I brought you a pair of flat shoes. Would you like to change into them?"
The heels Jiang Qingli was wearing were indeed a bit high. She nodded and followed Yi Nuo back to their booth, settling onto the sofa.
Ai Li was on the dance floor with a handsome guy, and Lin Xiyue had disappeared somewhere, leaving just the two of them in the booth.
Yi Nuo knelt beside Jiang Qingli, took out the flats, and gently helped her change her shoes.
He barely touched Jiang Qingli’s skin, strictly maintaining the professional distance required of a butler.
Jiang Qingli asked, "By the way, what were you apologizing for earlier?"
The fingers that had touched her tightened unconsciously. When they brushed against her ankle again, Yi Nuo flinched and lowered his head apologetically. "For not reminding you about the step, Miss."
"It’s not your fault. You caught me," Jiang Qingli said with a smile.
Yi Nuo nodded, the tips of his ears burning.
After changing her shoes, Yi Nuo felt the girl across from him staring. He held his breath and asked, "Is something wrong, Miss?"
"No wonder a crowd of people were asking for your contact info when you came over. Yi Nuo, you’re really handsome."
Jiang Qingli crossed her legs, propped her right elbow on her knee, and rested her chin in her hand as she studied him.
She said it without any intention of flirting; it was pure appreciation for his good looks.
Yi Nuo wasn’t the flamboyant or boy-next-door type; his features were more dashing and sharp. But he was so accustomed to silence, always hiding in her shadow, that it was usually hard to notice.
But now, under the bar’s dazzling lights, the young man’s superior bone structure was on full display. His usual suit and vest, in a bar where everyone else wore strange and outlandish outfits, actually made him stand out.
When he had come looking for her earlier, a group of females had asked for his contact information, but his stony-faced silence had successfully driven them away.
Caught off guard by the compliment about his looks, Yi Nuo’s fingers curled at his sides, unsure how to respond.
After a moment, he finally spoke. "...As long as it pleases you, Miss."
The ear-splitting music from the dance floor masked the almost imperceptible tremble in the Gray Wolf Butler’s voice.
Jiang Qingli stared at him for a while.
Yi Nuo’s heart leaped into his throat, its pounding so loud he felt it might burst from his chest.
’Was what I said too forward? Did it displease the Miss?’
His sharp canines bit down on his lower lip. Just as Yi Nuo was about to apologize, he heard Jiang Qingli speak, her voice hesitant. "Um... Yi Nuo, can I ask you something?"
Of course, Yi Nuo wouldn’t refuse. "Please, Miss, go ahead."
The girl’s free left hand fiddled with a strand of her long hair, twisting it around her fingertip.
It was rare to see such a conflicted and awkward expression on Jiang Qingli’s face.
In all his time with the Jiang Family, Yi Nuo had only seen it a few times.
His wildly beating heart slowed, a sense of unease creeping in.
After twisting her hair until it nearly resembled a spring roll, Jiang Qingli finally asked, "What exactly did the Xie Family promise him? Is he going back?" Seeing the look of surprise on his face, Jiang Qingli raised her voice. "I’m just asking! Don’t you tell him!"
She didn’t say who "he" was, but Yi Nuo understood her meaning perfectly.
Just as he knew how much sugar she liked in her milk at breakfast, that she loved the soft center of toast but not the crusts, and that she adored strawberries but hated strawberry jam.
The heart that had just been pounding wildly sank back into his chest.
Yi Nuo said in a low voice, "I’m sorry, Miss. I don’t know."
"Oh, okay..." Jiang Qingli said. "It’s fine if you don’t know. I was just asking, that’s all. Just asking."
She probably didn’t realize that the more she insisted it was nothing, the more she revealed her true feelings.
Yi Nuo kept his head lowered, playing the part of a proper butler.
"I have another question," Jiang Qingli said. "If he goes back to the Xie Family, will you go with him?"
Yi Nuo’s head snapped up, his eyes meeting the girl’s dark pupils, which held a trace of reluctance.
It was like being on a roller coaster. The heart that had just fallen silent began to pound once more.
Seeing the stunned expression on her butler’s face, Jiang Qingli explained, "It’s mainly that I’ve gotten used to having you around, so I wanted to know what your future plans are."
"I’m not trying to force you to choose. I know you’re his man—"
"I’m not!"
Yi Nuo cut in suddenly, his voice sharper than usual.
The butler’s code explicitly required a butler to maintain his composure at all times.
Yi Nuo took a breath to calm himself, his tone becoming steady as he spoke, word by word. "My master is you, Miss. Only you. No one else."
It was true that the Marshal had sent him.
But from the moment he had come to her side, he had pledged his loyalty to her alone.
The Gray Wolf Butler’s voice was sincere and humble, yet his gray eyes were audaciously fixed directly on his master.
BANG—
At that moment, the clock struck twelve.
Someone set off a party popper, and countless glittering streamers exploded overhead, showering down on them.
Yi Nuo’s breathing grew heavy. He repeated in a low voice, "Miss."
Jiang Qingli blinked, coming back to her senses. She smiled and reached a hand toward him.
"You’ve got a streamer in your hair. Let me get it for you." Jiang Qingli leaned in, raising her fingers. "Lower your head."
Yi Nuo hurriedly bowed his head. He clenched his jaw as he felt her fingers brush against his hair.
But even as he tried his utmost to restrain himself, his gray wolf ears popped out uncontrollably, nestling between the girl’s warm fingers.
As if a jolt of electricity had shot through him, Yi Nuo tilted his head back slightly, a muffled groan escaping his throat.
Realizing what sound he’d just made, Yi Nuo froze and looked at her nervously.
But Jiang Qingli didn’t notice. Her gaze was fixed on something behind him, her expression surprised.
Yi Nuo turned around and saw Chi Yun slam down the flowers in his hand and charge toward them, furious.
