Chapter 202: Chapter 202: He’s No Buddy, Just Trying to Steal My Girl
Qin Muye felt like he’d been hit over the head with a club, his ears ringing.
He snatched the feather pendant and raised his voice. "Who gave this to you?"
Jiang Qingli was relieved he hadn’t asked about her progress with Gu Nian. She answered honestly, "A friend gave it to me. He’s my mission target."
His grip tightened, crumpling the feather pendant.
Jiang Qingli actually quite liked the pendant—it was pretty and seemed immune to dirt. Seeing it being mangled, she quickly snatched it back.
But to Qin Muye, her action meant something else entirely.
"Friend? What friend?" Qin Muye stared at her intently. "Don’t tell me it was that ugly, red-headed stupid bird named Que Feiling."
The silver-haired young man gritted his teeth, his chest heaving. He looked like he wanted nothing more than to grab Que Feiling, break his wings, and eat him raw.
Jiang Qingli was about to ask, ’How did you know?’ but seeing his expression, she suddenly remembered what she had heard back in Qin Shu’s hospital room—that Qin Muye and Que Feiling had fought before. A fight that had nearly been fatal...
’I don’t know when they fought, but with an F Level Thunder Ability, there’s no way Qin Muye could have beaten Que Feiling.’
’I’d better try to bluff my way through this.’
Steeling herself, Jiang Qingli blinked and asked with feigned confusion, "That... Que-something... is he a friend of yours?"
The girl had no idea just how guilty she looked.
Qin Muye was so furious he actually let out a cold laugh.
’Fine.’
’That bastard bird, Que Feiling.’
’Not only did he become Jiang Qingli’s mission target behind my back, but he’s also secretly courting her, trying to steal my girl and be the other man!’
’These past few days, he’s been calling me "buddy" left and right, asking what his "female master" likes. It was all just a ploy to get information from me so he could suck up to Jiang Qingli!’
’That animal!’
’What kind of shady shit did he pull to make Jiang Qingli cover for him?’
’He’s courting death!’
The more Qin Muye thought about it, the angrier he became. His expression darkened, and he wished he could charge out right now, tie Que Feiling up, and blast him with lightning until he was a roasted chicken ready to be served on Jiang Qingli’s dinner table.
Suddenly, thunder boomed outside the car. Dark clouds gathered overhead, and a flash of lightning split the darkness, illuminating the young man’s tense face. It was like a scene from a horror movie.
A pair of slender arms suddenly wrapped around his waist, and the girl’s soft warmth pressed against him.
Qin Muye looked down to see Jiang Qingli burying her face in his chest. "The thunder is so loud," she whispered. "I’m a little scared."
Although Jiang Qingli tried her best to look frightened, her acting was terrible, and there wasn’t a single tremor in her voice.
’Does she really think I’m an idiot?’
’Still... it’s not every day she puts this much effort into a performance. I should probably play along, just so she doesn’t lose face and get mad again.’
Qin Muye raised a hand to stroke Jiang Qingli’s hair. His hand then slid down to wrap around her waist. His tone was anything but friendly. "If you’re scared, then hold on tighter."
Jiang Qingli tightened her arms, beaming. "I knew it. My little dog is so, so, so good to me~"
She rested her face against his chest, nuzzling him gently before praising him with a sincere tone, "So comfortable. I want to sleep on this pillow tonight, too! Can I?"
Qin Muye remained silent.
Jiang Qingli called out to him in a soft voice, "Qin Muye? Prince? Jiang Qingli’s little dog? Can I?"
She tilted her head up, her thick, curled lashes fluttering like a butterfly’s wings.
Any intention Qin Muye had of confronting her instantly vanished.
’Jiang Qingli is innocent.’
’She’s just a simple female. How could she possibly understand all the schemes and ploys of males?’
’Que Feiling must have tricked her into accepting his tail feather!’
’Maybe nothing is going on between them!’
’And even if—just in the absolute worst case—there *was* something between them, it must be because Que Feiling used some dirty trick to seduce her!’
’The fact that she’s willing to put in the effort to placate me proves she has feelings for me.’
’How could a low-class, homewrecking creep like Que Feiling ever compete with the bond we share?’
’He could never sow discord between us!’
After this internal monologue, Qin Muye managed to talk himself into a better mood.
The thunder overhead gradually subsided, and the dark clouds scattered.
He turned his head, planting a kiss on the side of Jiang Qingli’s neck and just behind her ear.
He left his scent on her.
’If Que Feiling ever tries to get close, he’ll definitely sense it.’
’Hope it pisses him off so much he drops dead.’
...
After entering the institute, Jiang Qingli headed to her mission location with practiced ease.
This time, however, Qin Muye didn’t wait in the garage as he usually did.
After watching Jiang Qingli leave, Qin Muye took the elevator straight to the director’s office.
Director Qian and Mo Sinan were huddled together, gossiping, when the door was suddenly kicked open from the outside.
The two looked up in horror to see the Prince striding in, his face grim. He plopped down onto the sofa with an air of authority and glared at them coldly.
The two directors nearly dropped to their knees.
’What brought this living terror here now?’
Director Qian approached, trembling, and asked in a hushed voice, "Prince, we weren’t aware you were coming. Please forgive our poor reception... May I ask what brings you here...?"
"Who is assigned to Que Feiling’s therapy?" Qin Muye asked, getting straight to the point.
Director Qian was stunned. "It’s Miss Jiang. You didn’t know?"
’Aren’t they husband and wife? She didn’t tell him?’
With the information confirmed, Qin Muye took a deep breath. "Bring me Que Feiling’s file."
The other two exchanged a nervous glance. They had no idea what he was planning, but they were terrified he was about to do *something*.
Qin Muye had inspected their facility before, so he technically had the right to view the files.
Director Qian quickly presented Que Feiling’s file with both hands. She then stood aside, watching him flip through it with a sour expression.
After finishing the file, Qin Muye sat there, motionless. He would occasionally pull out his terminal to send a message, but his thoughts were unreadable.
Three hours later, the therapy session was over.
Qin Muye stood up to leave.
Just then, a researcher came jogging into the room.
The researcher saw Qin Muye and hesitated.
Fearing Qin Muye would get annoyed, Director Qian urged, "Spit it out. What is it?"
The researcher braced himself and said, "Um... Director Qian, Mr. Que would like to request a temporary leave from the institute for next week."
Director Qian checked Que Feiling’s file and saw his contamination value had stabilized at 35%.
She thought for a moment. "His condition has been quite stable recently. If we have someone accompany him, and he wears the proper ankle and neck restraints, it should be..."
Before she could finish, Qin Muye cut in, "What’s he leaving for?"
The researcher answered honestly, "He said he wants to attend the Jiang Family’s banquet."
The moment he heard that, Qin Muye exploded. "A banquet? A banquet my ass!"
’That fucking homewrecker wants to show up at her family’s home?! Don’t tell me he wants to be Jiang Qingli’s date and dance with her?! Does he have any shame at all?!’
He lifted his leg, so furious he wanted to kick over the coffee table in front of him.
Then he remembered Jiang Qingli was still in the building. Worried she would be upset if she found out, he forced himself to lower his leg.
He couldn’t control the strength in his hand, however, and crushed the teacup.
Shards of glass covered his hand, but they didn’t harm Qin Muye in the slightest.
He tossed the shards into the trash can and shot a look at Director Qian. "Director Qian, you just let anyone leave this place now?"
Director Qian flinched and immediately changed her tune. "He shouldn’t be allowed! That’s right. Han, go tell Mr. Que right now that he needs to focus on his recovery. He’ll be cleared for leave when he’s fully recovered!"
Only then did Qin Muye’s expression soften slightly.
As he walked out of the director’s office, he received a text from Jiang Qingli.
The Best Master in the Universe: [Huh? My little dog isn’t in the car. Do you know where he went? [Confused]]
Jiang Qingli had changed his contact name for her herself one day.
Qin Muye had been speechless at first.
But looking at it now, he couldn’t help but smile.
He raised his hand and typed back: [Be there in three.]
Remembering the recent incident, the Prince’s brow furrowed. He typed, deleted, and retyped before finally sending a question: [Hey, about that banquet... who are you saving the first dance for?]
