Chapter 199: Chapter 199: What Should I Do If You Go on a Date?
「The next morning.」
Jiang Qingli was woken by her alarm.
When she reached out to turn it off, her hand met empty air.
Blinking her eyes open, a little disoriented, Jiang Qingli realized she was alone in bed. There was no sign of Gu Nian.
He was usually the clingy one.
Almost every Saturday, she woke up to find him propped on his pillow, watching her. The moment their eyes met, he would flash a sweet smile and gently nuzzle her cheek with the tip of his nose.
Jiang Qingli sat up and scanned the room, finally spotting a figure on the balcony.
The young man stood in the wind, his white shirt billowing. His slender figure looked unusually lost.
Jiang Qingli slipped out of bed and tiptoed to the bathroom to freshen up.
The moment she took a step, the young man on the balcony froze and turned to the side.
But he forced himself to stop and turned back around.
Jiang Qingli vaguely saw him with a long, thin object sticking out of his mouth.
’Gu Nian said he hates the smell of smoke, so he must be eating a lollipop again.’
His sweet tooth was honestly ridiculous.
Halfway through brushing her teeth, a knock came from the door.
Jiang Qingli padded to the door in her slippers. Just as she opened a crack, a hand with long, elegant knuckles pushed the door open.
The silver-haired young man with haughty features raised an eyebrow. "When are we leaving?"
As he spoke, his eyes swept over the snow-white skin visible beyond her slip.
’Clean and delicate, with no marks left by any other male.’
’So nothing happened again.’
Qin Muye raised an eyebrow. He was actually a little surprised.
With her mouth full of toothpaste foam, Jiang Qingli couldn’t speak. She patted Qin Muye on the chest, gesturing for him to stop staring and get on with it.
Qin Muye leaned a hand against the doorframe, his back slightly arched as he looked down at her. "I’m free today. I’ll take you to the detention center."
A hint of refusal flickered in her eyes, so Qin Muye quickly added, "I got my hands on a vintage car from the last century yesterday. Want to take it for a spin?"
Jiang Qingli’s eyes lit up. She nodded twice, then, afraid the foam would spill out, pointed to the bathroom to tell him to wait, and pattered back in her slippers to continue brushing her teeth.
Leaning against the doorframe, Qin Muye glanced around the room.
The girl’s room was just as he remembered from his last visit, with cute touches everywhere.
This time, however, the light fragrance was mixed with a hint of sweetness.
Qin Muye didn’t like sweets, and the smell made him frown.
’How old is he and still eating candy? A little brat like that who hasn’t even been weaned should be in kindergarten, not here trying to play adult and be a Beast Husband.’
Footsteps sounded on the staircase.
Qin Muye looked up to see Yi Nuo walking over, carrying a tray of dishes—breakfast for two, most likely.
"Prince."
Seeing Qin Muye, Yi Nuo offered a lukewarm greeting.
Qin Muye grunted in acknowledgment, then stopped him. "Did you guys add a dozen new bodyguards? What’s the deal?"
Yi Nuo paused. "With the banquet approaching, we’re naturally concerned about security. We appreciate your understanding, Prince."
"Got it."
Yi Nuo walked into the room and set down the breakfast.
As he left, Qin Muye was still leaning against the door, waiting.
A few servants passing by the stairs peeked their heads in and whispered to each other.
Yi Nuo pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed in frustration.
Ever since Wednesday night, when the Prince had declared, "I’m her husband. If I don’t sleep with her, who will?" right in front of Jiang Youchen, the latter had ordered security to be tightened.
Logically, those robots shouldn’t have let Qin Muye in.
But who would have thought that when the guards stopped him, Qin Muye would arrogantly shout, "I’m your young miss’s husband! If I can’t get in, who the hell can?"
His aggressive attitude was just that convincing.
The bodyguards saw he was a Prince, and fearing they’d be reprimanded by Jiang Youchen more than anything, they had no choice but to call Yi Nuo.
Yi Nuo, in turn, requested instructions from Jiang Youchen, only to be met with a cold sneer from the other end. "Suck-up."
Still, to save face for the Imperial Family, they let Qin Muye in.
’This probably won’t be the last time,’ Yi Nuo thought.
’In a few days, Qin Muye might just start treating this place like his second home.’
’And when that happens, Jiang Youchen’s expression will be even fouler.’
-
At the bedroom door.
Qin Muye was searching for date spots when his terminal vibrated twice.
That damn bird with the red profile picture had messaged him again: [Bro, what’s up?]
Qin Muye tsked, then poked his head into the bedroom and called out, "I’m coming in."
Jiang Qingli’s voice came from the bathroom: "Wait for me on the sofa for a bit. I’m putting on my makeup."
"It’s just a mission. You need makeup for that?"
Qin Muye grumbled.
He got the go-ahead, pushed the door open, and sat on the sofa, his fingers flying across the keypad: [Who are you calling ’bro’?]
’How weird.’
Ever since he’d given that damn bird some advice, the guy had been getting all chummy with him.
’Qin Shu is still in the Lower District, and nothing’s even started between those two. Where the hell does Que Feiling get his confidence?’
Que Feiling persistently sent another message: [Bro, what have you and your female master been up to lately?]
’Here we go again.’
’He’s here for more advice.’
As annoyed as Qin Muye was with his rival, he couldn’t help but feel a certain smugness, like a seasoned veteran dealing with a rookie.
After the other guy pressed him again, Qin Muye lazily replied: [Going on a date in a bit.]
’It’s a long drive to the detention center. How is that not a date?’
The other side was silent for a moment, then slowly typed out a question mark: [?]
Que Feiling: [Where are you going on a date?]
Que Feiling: [Wait, what about me?]
Qin Muye was baffled.
’I’m going on a date with Jiang Qingli. Why would I need to worry about this damn bird?’
He casually replied [None of my damn business.] and shoved the terminal back into his pocket.
Footsteps sounded behind him, and Jiang Qingli emerged from the walk-in closet.
She was wearing a pale yellow, puff-sleeve short dress that made her look sweet and lovely.
Qin Muye’s eyes were glued to her.
Jiang Qingli reached out and covered his eyes, asking playfully, "What are you looking at?"
"You’re beautiful," Qin Muye replied, direct as always.
Jiang Qingli pinched his cheek, then sat on the sofa and started eating her breakfast.
She glanced out of the corner of her eye.
Gu Nian was still standing on the balcony in the wind, his back a lonely silhouette.
After breakfast, Qin Muye got up to leave.
Jiang Qingli suddenly produced a hair clip. "Qin Muye, help me with my hair."
’When had Qin Muye ever done something like this?’
Afraid he might use too much force and hurt her, the Prince agonized for a moment before placing the clip... right on the top of her head.
Looking at her messy hair in the mirror, Jiang Qingli struggled to hold back her laughter and shook her head.
’Qin Muye had no idea why this little thing was so difficult to use.’
He took out his terminal. "Wait a minute, I’ll call a stylist over."
"We’ll be late then..." Jiang Qingli sighed. "Forget it, I won’t bother."
As soon as the words left her mouth, the balcony door slid open.
"Let me."
Gu Nian’s footsteps were light, as if afraid any heavier a step would earn him her disdain.
He stopped behind Jiang Qingli and asked in a low voice, "May I?"
Only after receiving an affirmative reply did he take the hair clip from Qin Muye’s hand and skillfully begin to braid her hair.
Qin Muye was annoyed, but there was nothing he could do. He just stood there, staring daggers at Gu Nian’s hands, trying to learn the trick to it.
Jiang Qingli watched Gu Nian in the mirror.
The young man’s eyes were downcast, his lashes lowered. There were faint, dark circles under his eyes.
Jiang Qingli said softly, "Didn’t you sleep well last night? Go get some more rest."
Gu Nian’s dull eyes instantly lit up. "I’m not sleepy."
A moment ago, he was like a wilted plant; now, after one concerned word from her, he seemed to have sprung back to life.
Jiang Qingli was about to speak when she suddenly heard Qin Muye’s terminal ring.
In her peripheral vision, she saw Qin Muye answer a video call, his tone laced with impatience. "So because I don’t reply to your messages, you video call me? Are you insane?!"
There was a flash of red on the screen across from him that looked vaguely familiar.
Before Jiang Qingli had time to think, she suddenly felt a light breath by her ear.
"Qingli."
"Hm?"
Jiang Qingli instinctively turned her head toward the sound.
The next second, with his eyes closed, right in front of Qin Muye and the person on the video call—
Gu Nian, his eyelashes fluttering, planted a kiss on her cheek.
