Engagement Annulled? Now The Husbands Kneel and Beg for Her Favor

Chapter 234: Chapter 234: Why Is He Here?

The interview ended, and the crowd departed in a flurry.

Jiang Qingli held up two gowns to the mirror, comparing them. She tilted her head and asked the young man beside her, "Which one is better?"

Gu Nian had finished his part and rushed over from the stage, still dressed in his black robe.

But he had deliberately washed the fake blood off his face before coming. His features were exquisite and beautiful; you would never imagine that just half an hour ago, he had been playing the role of a terrifying tyrant on stage.

Hearing her words, Gu Nian gazed at her reflection in the mirror for a moment, his Adam’s apple bobbing slightly.

After a pause, he pointed to the one on the left and gave his reason, "The other one is strapless. It would be inconvenient for raising your arms, and there are floating cameras in the air."

Jiang Qingli picked up the gown, and Gu Nian headed for the door.

He was always very well-behaved in this regard. Since Jiang Qingli hadn’t asked him to stay and help her change, he didn’t spare a single extra glance.

Before the door closed, Gu Nian asked, "Qingli, would you like a new hairstyle? I’ve learned a lot of new braiding techniques recently."

"Yes, please," Jiang Qingli agreed with a smile.

There was a long line of famous stylists in the makeup room next door, waiting to serve the young masters and ladies of the nobility. But Gu Nian’s hands were more skillful than any of theirs.

Gu Nian smiled radiantly and said, "Thank you, Qingli," then closed the door and stood guard dutifully outside.

’She had to admit, her little rabbit was always so obedient and considerate around her.’

’He could cook, do housework, and even style hair—so perfect it was as if he’d graduated from one of those legendary schools for ideal husbands.’

’Sometimes, she was genuinely curious. In all the years they hadn’t seen each other, where had Gu Nian been? What had he been doing before he took over the auction house...?’

Suddenly, a hostile voice came from outside the door. The sharp tone was full of aggression, as if someone was arguing with Gu Nian.

Jiang Qingli finished adjusting her clothes and pushed the door open.

The two males turned their heads to look at her at the same time.

The male opposite Gu Nian was tall and imposing, clad from head to toe in a black military uniform. His sharp, hawk-like eyes stared straight at Jiang Qingli. When their gazes met, he made a soft clicking sound of disgust.

Gu Nian turned his head, his voice low and sullen. "Qingli, who is this?"

Jiang Qingli froze.

But their last meeting had been to annul the engagement, and she couldn’t recall his name for a moment. ’Was it Jin, or something?’

provided a timely reminder: [The one with the surname Jin is someone else. This is Helian Ying, a sniper. The previous mission-taker, while in your body, injured his wrist. His favorability score toward you is very low right now.]

Now she remembered. Jiang Qingli asked in a cool tone, "Helian Ying, is there something you need?"

"Stop pretending, Jiang Qingli," Helian Ying said bluntly, his voice aggressive. "You know damn well what you did!"

Jiang Qingli understood immediately. ’It’s about Bai Yiyi again.’

She said coldly, "Have Bai Yiyi come find me herself."

She’d been unable to find Bai Yiyi for a while now, and it was starting to annoy her.

But Helian Ying took that as an admission of guilt. He sneered, "A thief crying ’stop thief!’ Did you lock her up?!"

After their engagement was called off, Helian Ying went to the Lower District for a mission, so his impression of Jiang Qingli was still stuck in the past.

When he learned that Jiang Qingli had become the acting president of the Melt Star Association, he assumed she had used her family’s connections to force Qin Shu’s hand, just like she always did.

He immediately concocted a whole drama in his head where Jiang Qingli locked up Bai Yiyi just to steal the spotlight at the festival.

After all, in his memory, all Jiang Qingli ever did was bully Bai Yiyi.

He had wanted to break down the door and demand an explanation just now, but this Gu Nian fellow had appeared out of nowhere and stopped him. Now that Jiang Qingli couldn’t even be bothered to talk to him, he was suddenly convinced he was right.

Seeing Jiang Qingli about to pull Gu Nian into the dressing room, he reached out to grab her.

However, before his hand could touch her shoulder, a sharp pain shot through his fingers.

Startled, Helian Ying snatched his hand back, just in time to meet the fleeting, cold killing intent in Gu Nian’s eyes.

"Getting handsy with a female in public... Sir, you have no class at all." Gu Nian frowned, his pink eyes filled with distress, and muttered just loud enough for all of them to hear, "No wonder Qingli didn’t want you."

"What did you say?!"

Helian Ying hated it most when people brought up his past engagement to Jiang Qingli. Rage shot straight to his head, and he roared, "Who the hell do you think you are, yapping like a dog in front of me?!"

With that, he grabbed Gu Nian’s arm, intending to throw him to the floor.

However, the seemingly fragile pretty boy didn’t budge an inch under the full force of an S-class top military sniper. With a slight twist of his arm, he broke free.

Before Helian Ying could react, Gu Nian gently wrapped an arm around Jiang Qingli’s shoulder and leaned against her as if terrified. "Qingli, this old guy is so mean. Does he have some kind of mental illness? Don’t be afraid, Qingli. I’ll protect you..."

He sounded pitiful, but there wasn’t a trace of fear on his face. He even nuzzled his cheek against her hair and, in that spare moment, shot a provocative and mocking glance at the man opposite him.

One moment, Helian Ying was still confused as to how Gu Nian had evaded him; the next, his face twisted with rage when he met that provocative gaze.

’This despicable, scheming bastard is doing it on purpose!’

And yet, Jiang Qingli, acting as if she hadn’t noticed a thing, gently stroked Gu Nian’s hair and soothed him in a soft voice, "There, there. Don’t be scared."

A spasm seized Helian Ying’s chest.

He told himself it was from the anger.

Back when they were engaged, Jiang Qingli had always been cold and dismissive toward him, chasing after Ling Qing and Chi Yun instead. She’d even broken his hand and then pretended she had nothing to do with it!

’It was like she didn’t even see me as a person!’

’That heartless, evil female! I’m going to teach her a lesson today!’

Brutal rage surged in Helian Ying’s eyes. He had just lifted his boot when a sudden commotion broke out behind him.

A few gasps came from the hallway:

"Ling Qing? What’s he doing here?!"

"Didn’t he cancel all his activities a few days ago, saying he had something more important to do? Didn’t he go to be with Bai Yiyi?"

"It looks like he’s heading toward Jiang Qingli!"

Helian Ying turned to look and saw Ling Qing dressed in a well-tailored, light-colored suit, holding a bouquet of pure white lilies. He was parting the crowd and walking gracefully in their direction.

’What’s he doing here?’

Helian Ying clicked his tongue, but then he remembered that Ling Qing was usually the one who hated Jiang Qingli the most. Thinking he’d found an ally, he greeted him.

However, Ling Qing merely shot him an impatient glance before walking straight to Jiang Qingli and offering her the bouquet.

Amid the surrounding gasps, Ling Qing lowered his head, his voice filled with tenderness. "Qingli, you were wonderful today. Congratulations."

Helian Ying’s pupils trembled. He had no idea what Ling Qing was playing at.

The crowd of onlookers behind them was also stunned.

’Doesn’t Ling Qing hate Jiang Qingli the most?! Why would he suddenly give her flowers?! And he’s blushing! What’s going on?! Are they getting back together?!’

The few people at the center of attention all wore different expressions.

Ling Qing kept his eyes downcast, his cheeks flushing. He took a deep breath and said, "I misunderstood you before. I’ve already broken things off with Bai Yiyi. Can we go back to how things were...?"

Before he could finish, a loud SLAM echoed through the hall.

Ling Qing’s head snapped up, only to see the closed door.

Jiang Qingli had already gone into the dressing room. Gu Nian stood before the door, looking down on him, and repeated his words with a sarcastic tone, "’Go back’?"

The young man curled his lips into a sweet smile, but his voice was ice-cold.

"Old man, where does a piece of second-hand trash like you get off being so confident?"