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

Chapter 235: Chapter 235: Taking the Initiative

Ling Qing’s brow furrowed.

He still hadn’t figured out where this boy who had appeared out of nowhere came from. Now, the kid was looking him up and down, unleashing a rapid-fire barrage of snide remarks—

"What an ugly, tired-looking old face."

"You must have caked on the foundation before you came, right? The flowers are covered in your makeup. It’s disgusting. If I were those lilies, I’d regret being alive."

"Of course, you’re even filthier than the flowers."

The boy blinked his long, curled lashes, but his voice was cold and harsh. "How is a filthy, sullied thing like you worthy of appearing before Sister? And you have the nerve to talk about pursuing her. I’d say Bai Yiyi got tired of playing with you and tossed you aside, so now you’re back for more resources, trying to deceive my innocent sister."

Ling Qing’s life had always been one of smooth sailing; the vitriol online never reached him in person.

Furious from Gu Nian’s verbal assault, Ling Qing wanted to curse him out but was wary of the crowd watching. He could only swallow his anger and raise his voice. "That’s not true! My feelings for Jiang Qingli are genuine!"

His forceful words were like a giant stone dropped into a calm lake. The crowd of onlookers gasped, then broke into a frenzy.

But Gu Nian just sneered. "By ’genuine,’ do you mean verbally abusing her, ganging up on her, trying every trick in the book to humiliate her, and even wanting to kill her?"

’How could he know about that?’

The expressions on Ling Qing and Helian Ying’s faces instantly darkened.

Gu Nian hadn’t bothered to lower his voice when he spoke.

Ling Qing had made his appearance in front of so many people precisely to let everyone see his intentions toward Jiang Qingli.

Given Jiang Qingli’s love for the spotlight, he was certain she would have accepted with delight.

Who would have thought that not only would Jiang Qingli ignore him, but some punk who came out of nowhere would dare to humiliate him in public!

"I don’t know what you’re talking about." Ling Qing lifted his chin. "There have been many misunderstandings between Qingli and me, but that’s our business. Who the hell do you think you are, trying to drive a wedge between us?"

Gu Nian suddenly smiled.

The corner of his mouth lifted as he said something in a voice only the two of them could hear.

Almost instantly, Ling Qing’s eyes blazed with fury. He grabbed Gu Nian by the collar and threw a punch!

With Jiang Qingli not around, Gu Nian held nothing back. He shot back a punch of his own, striking Ling Qing square in the eye socket.

The sickening thud of a fist hitting bone was followed by gasps from the crowd.

The onlookers started whispering frantically amongst themselves, not daring to even blink.

The A-list actor and the special admission student from the Lower District, openly brawling over Jiang Qingli!

This would be major news no matter when it happened!

If photography hadn’t been forbidden backstage, everyone would have been dying to snap millions of pictures to post online.

But the fight didn’t last long. Ling Qing was down after just a few moves.

From everyone else’s perspective, it looked as if Ling Qing had lost control of his own momentum and slammed right into the wall.

But Helian Ying, who was closest, saw it clearly: Gu Nian’s dodge had been incredibly skillful, and he’d even landed a kick on Ling Qing.

’Isn’t this guy a special admission student? How is he handling an S-class like Ling Qing so easily...?’

Several large men dressed in black approached. Two of them grabbed Ling Qing without a word and started dragging him away, while the other two restrained Helian Ying and did the same.

Helian Ying struggled but couldn’t break free. Just as he was about to protest, one of the men spoke in a low voice, "Mr. Helian, Mr. Ling, Marshal Jiang requests your presence."

Upon hearing it was Jiang Youchen, Helian Ying stopped struggling.

Ling Qing, on the other hand, craned his neck and sneered, "Perfect. Let your Marshal judge who’s in the right."

One of the large men twisted his arm behind his back. Ling Qing turned his head, saw Gu Nian still standing there, and demanded, "Why aren’t you taking him?"

The man remained impassive. "Apologies, the Marshal only invited the two of you."

Watched by the crowd of onlookers, the two were led away and shoved into a lounge in the farthest corner.

When they were pushed through the door, they saw not Jiang Youchen, but his secretary.

Ling Qing shook off the man holding him and asked, "Where’s Marshal Jiang?"

The secretary offered them a polite smile. "My apologies, the Marshal has been detained. I will be communicating with you both in his stead."

’So high and mighty?’

Ling Qing was displeased.

Helian Ying, whose military rank was lower than Jiang Youchen’s, had none of the arrogance he’d shown in front of Jiang Qingli. He asked meekly, "What did the Marshal wish to say?"

"You are both busy, so I’ll be brief." The secretary looked at them, his voice cold. "The Marshal hopes that you two will stay in your lane and not disturb Miss Jiang’s peace."

Helian Ying cursed the overprotective brother under his breath. His imposing air deflated. "I was just exchanging a few words with her."

Ling Qing sneered and said haughtily, "I had no idea the Marshal was so fond of meddling in other people’s private affairs."

"Even if I go looking for her, it’s our business. It has nothing to do with Marshal Jiang, does it?"

Seeing their reluctance, the secretary understood and continued, "The Marshal said that if either of you has an objection—"

As he spoke, dozens of floating mini-robots suddenly materialized inside the room.

Their chest cavities opened to reveal dark muzzles. Dozens of red dots aimed directly at the space between the two men’s eyebrows, exuding a cold, terrifying menace.

Both men froze, their bodies going rigid.

From outside the door came the sublime music of the stage play.

The secretary watched their reactions with satisfaction, smiling as he relayed Jiang Youchen’s original message: "If you have any objections, you can take them up with the Beast God."

...

"There we go."

Gu Nian pulled his hands back, smiling.

In the mirror, Jiang Qingli opened her eyes. The girl reflected back at her had her hair pinned up, looking exquisite and dazzling.

The boy beside her, however, was bruised, and combined with his tattered costume, he looked down-on-his-luck and pitiful.

Jiang Qingli raised a hand to gently stroke his face, her touch full of tenderness. "If I’d known this would happen, I wouldn’t have listened to you and come in here. I would have just beaten him up in public."

"It would have dirtied Sister’s hands." The boy pressed his cheek into her palm, rubbing against it as his eyes narrowed in fascination. "I would never want that."

Jiang Qingli leaned in closer. "Seeing as you tried so hard... do you want a reward?"

Gu Nian’s eyes lit up. He braced one hand on the vanity and leaned in.

Jiang Qingli hooked a finger in his collar and kissed him.

At first, Gu Nian’s kiss was cautious and probing, but as their breaths began to mingle, he unconsciously took the lead, clinging to her, refusing to let go.

During the brief moments she pulled away, dazed and trying to catch her breath, he would simply grip her chin and turn her face back to his.

"Sister, pay attention..."

Though his words were playful, he bit her lip and refused to let go, nipping and licking as if savoring a piece of candy that would neither melt nor ever be too sweet.

Their last kiss had been too rushed, too fast, and mixed with the taste of blood.

Only now did Jiang Qingli discover the wild streak this rabbit hid beneath his beautiful exterior.

Even the way he kissed was desperate, as if his life depended on it.

As their lips and tongues tangled, the sweet taste of green apple was overwhelming, flooding her with every breath. Jiang Qingli’s scalp tingled, and she could barely register the air around her.

Her legs grew weak, and she could only cling to his arms, melting into his embrace and using him for support.

When they finally broke apart, Jiang Qingli felt dizzy and light-headed.

It took her a moment to find her voice again. "Just how much do you love candy?" she asked, a hint of complaint in her tone. "Your mouth is so sweet."

Gu Nian looked a little embarrassed, pursing his lips and smiling like an innocent young boy. "If Sister doesn’t like it, I won’t eat any next time."

"I didn’t say I don’t like it," Jiang Qingli mumbled, the tips of her ears turning pink.

Gu Nian leaned in, pecked her on the lips again, and whispered, "Then I’ll be sure to try even harder next time."

Jiang Qingli pinched his cheek, her gaze flicking to the clock on the wall. It was almost time for the curtain call.

Gu Nian set aside his other thoughts and touched up her lipstick.

He was even an expert at applying makeup.

Because the situation was a bit unusual, it wasn’t convenient for Gu Nian to leave, so he could only stay in the lounge and wait for Jiang Qingli.

Jiang Qingli pushed open the door, and the first person she saw was Jiang Youchen, standing there waiting for her.

Their eyes met. Feeling a pang of guilt, she pursed her lips—still tender from being kissed for so long—and called out to him softly, "Brother."

"Mm," Jiang Youchen responded, seemingly unaware of anything. He walked over, closed the door behind her, and said calmly, "I’ll walk you there."

Something stirred in Jiang Qingli’s heart.

Ever since she’d come back, she’d felt that their relationship wasn’t as close as it used to be, and that Jiang Youchen was even avoiding her a little. But he was still just like when they were children; every time she had a speech or performance, he would walk her there and watch her from the audience.

She broke into a smile and nodded eagerly.

Jiang Youchen averted his gaze, looking down.

She was wearing the shoes he had sent her.

At this realization, the furrow in Jiang Youchen’s brow eased slightly.

He deliberately took a step back to put some distance between them.

But in the next second, he suddenly felt a warm touch.

—Jiang Qingli had taken his hand.