Chapter 13: Trash Matches Trash

As soon as she entered the building, someone hooked their arm around hers from the side.

"Qingli, you walk so fast, I couldn't keep up." Du Qianqian clung to her and asked, "Where did you go just now?"

"Nowhere." Jiang Qingli pulled her arm away. "What do you want?"

Du Qianqian froze.

Jiang Qingli had never spoken to her in such a tone before; for a moment, she found it difficult to process.

However, Bai Yiyi was a thorn in Du Qianqian's side. Since she couldn't get rid of Bai Yiyi herself, she was naturally unwilling to give up Jiang Qingli, who was a useful tool.

Du Qianqian sighed, putting on an indignant expression. "Qingli, Bai Yiyi has stolen all your people. How can you just swallow this insult? Listen, I remember that... Senior Qin is having a banquet tomorrow night. We can use that banquet to..."

She rattled off the entire plan in one breath, but when she looked up, she saw Jiang Qingli watching her with a half-smile.

For some reason, that look made Du Qianqian feel a bit afraid.

It was as if... she had become a different person.

Du Qianqian swallowed hard. "What's wrong, Qingli? Are you in a bad mood? I get it, anyone would feel this way if their people were stolen. I'm just trying to stand up for you..."

Jiang Qingli curled her lips. "Are you standing up for me, or do you want me and her to fight like a snipe and a clam so you can reap the benefits as the fisherman?"

Du Qianqian's heart skipped a beat.

However, Jiang Qingli gave her no chance to explain and walked straight into the shooting range.

Shooting classes were usually conducted in pairs.

Chi Yun felt somewhat irritable after entering the classroom with his friends, his gaze frequently drifting toward Jiang Qingli.

In the past, every time there was a shooting class, Jiang Qingli would forcibly drag him to be her partner.

This time, she should also...

Chi Yun frowned deeply, contemplating how to refuse her.

He was already with Sister Yiyi now, and they would be married in a year. How could he possibly agree to be with Jiang Qingli?

With that thought, Chi Yun lifted his chin.

A few seconds later, a pale yellow figure appeared in his line of sight.

Jiang Qingli was wearing a pale yellow off-the-shoulder puff-sleeve top and denim long pants today. It was a casual outfit, yet she stood out in the crowd like a delicate yellow tulip, making it impossible to look away.

Upon entering the classroom, Jiang Qingli looked around for a moment before her gaze suddenly locked onto his side.

The beastman beside him began to jeer, "Chi Yun, the eldest Miss Jiang is clinging to you again. Miss Bai is coming later too; how are you going to choose?"

Chi Yun frowned, his fingers suddenly tightening at his side.

In his vision, Jiang Qingli walked over quickly and flashed a smile toward them. "Found you—"

"I don't—"

Chi Yun spoke up in a panic, but just as he uttered the first two syllables, Jiang Qingli bypassed him and walked toward the person behind him.

His pupils constricted instantly.

Chi Yun whipped his head around in disbelief.

He saw Jiang Qingli grab the hood of Qin Muye's sweatshirt and speak unhappily, "Don't think I didn't see you just because you turned your head away. You're going to be my partner!"

Qin Muye, who had been averting his eyes and pretending not to know her the moment their gazes met: "..."

Jiang Qingli leaned in close. "Your Highness, you are my beast-husband now. Isn't it your duty to be your female master's partner?"

Qin Muye didn't take the bait; he merely pointed his chin toward Chi Yun. "Your partner is over there."

"That was my *former* partner." Jiang Qingli grabbed his sleeve. "Now, my partner is you."

She blinked her eyes and whispered in a submissive tone, "No one else is with me. It's only you, Senior Qin—"

She didn't use his full name, nor did she address him as "Your Highness" like others did; she called him "Senior."

It was the first time anyone had addressed him that way.

Qin Muye froze for a few seconds.

"It's decided then." During those few seconds of silence, Jiang Qingli pulled him toward the changing rooms.

The guy next to Chi Yun snorted. "One is a repeater and the other only knows how to cling to powerful thighs. They're definitely going to be at the bottom!"

He laughed loudly, but when he realized Chi Yun was silent, he turned to see that the other man was staring in the direction the two had left.

His expression was dark, as if something precious had been stolen from him.

***

In the changing room.

Qin Muye took off his shirt and glanced at the mirror.

The young man in the mirror had well-defined, powerful muscles, with dense, old scars scattered across his back.

He stared for a few seconds, withdrew his gaze, and changed into his combat suit.

The inner layer of the combat suit was designed according to the human body, fitting snugly and smoothly. After putting it on, he layered a loose jacket and athletic pants over it.

As he tightened the wrist straps, Qin Muye suddenly remembered a very faint fragrance he had smelled when Jiang Qingli held his wrist just now.

Driven by a strange impulse, he lowered his head and sniffed his own wrist.

A few seconds later, his head felt like it was exploding.

Realizing what he was doing, Qin Muye snapped upright.

The mirror faithfully recorded the young man's flustered expression.

Feeling an inexplicable sense of irritability and guilt, Qin Muye punched the wall.

*Bang—*

A large dent was left in the solid wall.

Qin Muye's hand remained unharmed. Without a second glance, he walked out.

Outside the changing room, Jiang Qingli was already waiting, playing with the training gun she had received.

Like a child with a new toy, she looked at it from every angle.

Qin Muye walked over and snapped his fingers in front of her.

"Are you done?" Jiang Qingli smiled. "Then let's go."

Jiang Qingli had no other choice but to look for Qin Muye.

The so-called "sisterhood" of the original host was extremely superficial, and most of the males present were already engaged. Those who weren't had a poor impression of the original host...

Qin Muye was her beast-husband and wasn't close to the original host either, so he could serve as a partner.

Even though Qin Muye, being a repeater, might actually be worse than her, she would just have to manage for now.

As the two walked toward the training field, they attracted many eyes.

Several people around were already looking their way.

While a person's marital status is usually not public knowledge, Qin Muye was a member of the Imperial Family. Since he had just been matched with Jiang Qingli, the entire interstellar community knew.

As Jiang Qingli approached, people whispered to one another.

"A useless prince paired with a useless female—isn't that just perfect?"

"To be honest, I thought it was a waste when Yuan Shimo was paired with Jiang Qingli, but Qin Muye... they are a match made in heaven."

"Have you heard? There might be something wrong with Qin Muye's lineage. They say his father might not be a pure-blooded noble."

"Why even ask? News broke last year. His father is actually just an abandoned beast adopted by the Shen family in the Twelve Cities!"

"So he's just a low-born. No wonder His Majesty doesn't care about his marriage at all, pairing him with someone like Jiang Qingli. The Jiang family must be blind to not be more selective..."

They didn't bother to lower their voices, and Qin Muye heard every single word.

His fingers curled into fists, and a heavy sense of disgust and irritation surged in his grayish-blue eyes.

Qin Muye ground his teeth, about to charge forward, when he suddenly saw a dark gun barrel pointed directly at the two people.

"What were you saying? Why don't you tell me?"

The muzzle was aimed right at one person's eye. The latter let out a short scream, only to fall silent once they saw who it was.

Jiang Qingli tilted her head. "Why did you stop laughing? Was it not funny?"

(End of Chapter)