Chapter 18: Dressed like this, what can I possibly teach?

Stared at by three men with piercing gazes, Jiang Qingli felt her scalp tingle. She silently cursed Ye Linyuan in her heart.

She had told him not to move, but he hadn't listened; he only knew how to cause trouble.

Rolling her eyes, Jiang Qingli put on a very serious expression. "Oh, it's like this. I haven't been to the academy for two months, so there is too much I don't understand. I wanted Professor Ye to... teach me."

Once she finished speaking, she felt the excuse was perfect, and her chin involuntarily lifted.

However, she heard a cold sneer.

"So, when the honorary professor of the Royal Imperial Academy comes to provide private tutoring, this is how they dress."

Qin Muye stood with his arms crossed, leaning against the wall. His gaze unceremoniously swept over Ye Linyuan's slightly damp hair, the loose bathrobe, and the hand resting on Jiang Qingli's waist. A flash of disdain crossed his grayish-blue eyes.

"What kind of decent things can be taught like this?"

"Anyone who doesn't know better would think Professor Ye is in the service industry."

Ye Linyuan raised an eyebrow, his voice low and cold. "You seem very knowledgeable. Do you visit often?"

Qin Muye was still young at heart and was instantly ignited. "You—! Who are you saying visits often! I—!"

He raised his voice in anger, his eyes subconsciously searching for Jiang Qingli's reaction.

Qin Muye had a terrible reputation outside.

Over the years, no matter what scandals the public fabricated about him, he had never cared.

But at this moment, he was afraid Jiang Qingli would actually believe that provocation and mistake him for being "unclean."

Jiang Qingli, completely oblivious to his situation, tried to play it off. "Since you all seem so familiar, why don't you go discuss it together?"

Ye Linyuan: "..."

Qin Muye: "..."

Qin Muye laughed out of sheer anger.

He felt he was being ridiculous for actually caring about Jiang Qingli's opinion.

They were going to divorce in three years sooner or later; why did he care what she thought?

He had only come to check on the situation because he was worried the shooting class incident might affect her.

He was truly wasting his time.

The atmosphere remained tense for a moment until Baili Jing spoke up.

"Professor Ye is very busy with work. How could we possibly disturb him?"

Baili Jing had been watching the two argue from the sidelines. Once they finished, he hooked his fingers around the girl's hand and leaned down to look at her. "Qingli, I also graduated with straight As last year. I can teach you, alright?"

"It's still early. Whatever you want to learn, I can teach you..."

His eyes were lowered, his slightly moist lips parted slightly, and his long, narrow eyes narrowed as his tone became almost seductive.

However, the strength with which he gripped her fingers was forceful and left no room for resistance.

This sense of contrast made Jiang Qingli instinctively sense danger.

Behind them.

Qin Muye's brow furrowed deeply.

He couldn't see Baili Jing's expression, but just hearing his voice made him feel annoyed.

"Teaching shooting," he thought, "as if he's teaching something else."

And that voice—it was so syrupy it could be used as shoe polish.

What a poser.

"He can teach?" Qin Muye felt inexplicably irritated. "I can too."

"Isn't His Highness the Prince tired? You should go rest," Baili Jing reminded him timely. "I can take care of Qingli here."

"She is mine." Ye Linyuan's voice was freezing, and his choice of words was quite uncivilized. "All of you, get out."

Jiang Qingli: "..."

How had the hard-won balance returned to square one!

"All of you, get out!" Jiang Qingli emphasized. "I can self-study."

She slapped Ye Linyuan's hand away, trying to push him out.

But the man was like a wall of bronze and iron, remaining completely unmoved.

Jiang Qingli was getting annoyed, but just as she was about to speak, her terminal rang.

"I need to take a call first." Acting as if she were very busy, Jiang Qingli pressed the answer button.

"Jiang Qingli!"

An angry male voice was exceptionally piercing in the silent room.

Jiang Qingli was stunned by the shout.

Looking at the caller ID, it was actually Ling Qing.

On the other end of the line, Ling Qing seemed to be having some sort of breakdown. His tone was cold and stern. "Jiang Qingli, listen to me clearly. No matter what methods you use, it is impossible for me to fall for you. Put away those little schemes of yours. If I ever find out you've done anything to Yiyi again, I—"

Before he could finish, a weak voice rang out from the other side: "Ling Qing, stop talking. Sister Qingli didn't do it on purpose. She was just... Chiyun, what do you think?"

"I..." Chiyun's tone actually held a hint of hesitation.

"Yiyi, you are just too kind, which is why she harms you time and time again! If it weren't for her, would you have been hurt today?" another beast husband raised his voice. "You are our treasure; we must protect you."

Bai Yiyi called out their names, sounding moved.

On the terminal side.

Jiang Qingli was utterly bewildered. "..."

Wait, what the hell?

If Bai Yiyi got hurt, it was her own mistake; what did it have to do with anyone else?

Was she just a character in their little roleplay?

They kept bringing her up like she was some sort of prop to spice things up.

Hearing the people on the other end about to start their romantic displays, Jiang Qingli reached her limit.

She took a deep breath and said with a smile, "Yiyi, you're overthinking it. I have a new man by my side now. I lost interest in second-hand goods a long time ago."

With that, Jiang Qingli hung up the phone directly.

In Bai Yiyi's room, the atmosphere turned eerily quiet following that phrase, "second-hand goods."

Bai Yiyi pursed her lips, a flicker of doubt crossing her eyes.

The five beast husbands had always claimed they had never been touched by Jiang Qingli.

But they had all been following Jiang Qingli for a year. Was that really true...?

"She's trying to drive a wedge between us!" the merman beast husband, Yu Chenglan, said indignantly. "She sees that you've found several inferior beast husbands, so she's jealous of you..."

Hearing the words "inferior beast husbands," Bai Yiyi's mood improved significantly.

That's right, Jiang Qingli was jealous.

Bai Yiyi gave a light laugh and looked at Chiyun. "Chiyun, I'm so glad you were here to protect me today. Sister Qingli is too scary..."

She reached out to hug Chiyun, only to find his fingers were somewhat stiff.

【Ding!】

A mechanical sound rang in her mind.

【Warning! Target Chiyun's favorability has dropped by 3! Host, please pay attention!】

Bai Yiyi's eyes widened in shock.

Chiyun was the easiest target among the five beast husbands. Ever since she bound the攻略 (capture/conquest) system, she had obtained him with little effort. How could Chiyun's favorability suddenly drop?

Could it be... because of Jiang Qingli?

Bai Yiyi lowered her eyes, a coldness flashing through them.

***

In the end, Jiang Qingli chose Qin Muye to "attend her bed"... no, to accompany her.

Ye Linyuan was too dangerous, and Baili Jing knew the original host too well.

Meanwhile, Qin Muye rarely interacted with the original host and had a contractual relationship with her, making him relatively safe.

Before closing the door, Baili Jing reluctantly held Jiang Qingli's hand. "Then... goodnight."

Jiang Qingli nodded and curled her lips into a smile. "Goodnight."

Baili Jing did not miss the sense of relief in her eyes.

She rarely smiled at him, and it was only because she wanted to drive him away.

Baili Jing pulled his lips into a helpless curve.

He looked up at Qin Muye, who was sitting inside.

Qin Muye was sitting on the sofa like a grand lord, urging Jiang Qingli: "Hurry up."

Sensing Baili Jing's gaze, Qin Muye raised an eyebrow and flashed a thoroughly provocative, wicked smirk.

Baili Jing's smile remained unchanged, but when he closed the door, he did so with extreme force.

*Bang—*

Thinking about how the other two beast husbands were fighting to the death while he would reap the benefits, Qin Muye smiled triumphantly.

Two useless wastes.

"What are you smiling at?" Jiang Qingli sat down beside him.

The girl suddenly leaned closer, and a fresh, pleasant scent enveloped him.

Qin Muye's entire body stiffened. The previous triumph dissipated, replaced by a nervousness he hadn't even realized he felt.

Jiang Qingli, completely unaware, leaned in even closer.

She placed both hands on his shoulders, her beautiful face slowly approaching.

Those clear black eyes looked over, filled with stars, reflecting his own image.

Qin Muye could almost stop feeling his own heartbeat.

"Qin Muye."

He heard her calling his name, her clear voice carrying a hint of command.

"Your ears. Show them."

On what grounds?

Beast traits were private; she could just tell him to show them?!

Just as Qin Muye was about to refuse, the ears atop his head popped out uncontrollably.

Qin Muye: "..."

These damn beast ears, so disobedient!

He gritted his teeth, about to retract them, but the girl's slender, fair fingers had already pinched the fluffy tips of his ears.

Qin Muye's pupils trembled.

What was she doing?!

Did she even know that touching a beastman's ears meant a courtship ritual?!