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

Chapter 237: Chapter 237: Am I Going to Have a Sister-in-law?

The evening sky was awash in color as the Imperial Royal Academy’s annual Moon Festival drew to a close amid thunderous applause and cheers.

Jiang Qingli stood on stage, her performance flawless under the gaze of tens of thousands and the lenses of countless cameras.

Previously, the Star Network had been flooded with negative comments about her, but after this event, quite a few positive reviews had sprung up.

In addition to comments on her good looks, there were now people who acknowledged her considerable talent.

Of course, there was no shortage of nitpicking posts, but the majority felt that Jiang Qingli had just been young and immature before. Now that she had changed, she deserved a second chance.

After all, she was a female.

It was common for young females to be a bit foolish; as long as they changed for the better, all was well!

How public opinion would evolve wasn’t Jiang Qingli’s current concern. She was in a hurry to get to the evening banquet.

It was called a banquet, but "celebratory feast" was a more fitting description, attended by everyone who had participated in the festival and their families.

She’d been wearing a formal gown all day and was absolutely exhausted.

With no one around, Jiang Qingli lifted a foot, tempted to kick her high heels off. But then she remembered they were a gift from Jiang Youchen and stopped herself short, taking them off and placing them neatly on a shoe rack instead.

She pulled open her wardrobe, changed into some casual clothes and flat shoes, and instantly felt much more comfortable. The only problem was, she was starving.

When Jiang Qingli pushed the door open, she saw two figures, one in black and one in white, standing on either side of the entrance like a pair of door guardians.

They stood far apart, clearly wary of one another.

But upon seeing the girl, they both straightened their backs in unison, their gazes fixed intently on her.

Jiang Qingli was confused. "What are you two doing hanging around here? Aren’t you going to eat?"

Yuan Shimo’s lips curved into a slight smile. "We were waiting for you," he said gently.

Yuan Shiyao, standing to the side, added naturally, "It’s a celebration feast, after all."

The moment he spoke, Yuan Shimo turned to him, his eyes narrowing with a clear warning.

Yuan Shiyao averted his gaze, looking a little guilty, but he had no intention of backing down.

Neither made the first move, but both remained vigilant of the other’s actions.

While the twins were locked in a stalemate, a figure darted past them and wrapped his arms around Jiang Qingli, calling out sweetly, "Sister!"

"You haven’t eaten?" Jiang Qingli gently pinched Gu Nian’s nose. "Didn’t you just message me saying you were hungry?"

"I wanted to go with you, Sister." Gu Nian’s arms tightened around Jiang Qingli as he unabashedly rested his chin on the top of her head and mumbled, "I don’t know anyone there. I only know you, Sister."

Jiang Qingli remembered the bullying he had endured.

Even though she knew Gu Nian’s true strength was nothing to scoff at, she couldn’t help but see him as a little rabbit and felt a habitual urge to protect him.

Especially now, with two band-aids on his face to cover the cuts from his fight with Ling Qing and the others earlier that day, he looked all the more pitiful.

She patted Gu Nian’s hair and took his hand. "Then you can stick with us."

Us?

Gu Nian shot an impatient glance at the two brothers who were closing in, his brow furrowed in clear opposition.

Ignoring his disdainful expression, Yuan Shimo stepped forward and took Jiang Qingli’s right hand. His green eyes were gentle behind his glasses. "Let’s go. You must be hungry."

Yuan Shiyao trailed behind them, his gaze fixed on Jiang Qingli’s free left hand, a hint of resentment in his eyes.

’His brother took her right hand, so it was only right that he take her left.’

-

By the time they reached the banquet hall, nearly everyone had arrived.

Jiang Qingli was famished. Ignoring the people trying to strike up conversations, she grabbed a plate of desserts and started eating.

Yuan Shiyao and Yuan Shimo were quickly surrounded by people looking to socialize. Not far off, Baili Jing was chatting with a Prince. Meanwhile, the ignored Gu Nian sat blissfully beside Jiang Qingli, fetching her plates and water.

After she had been eating for a little while, Jiang Qingli felt someone sit down beside her.

"Qingli."

Jiang Qingli looked up to see Song Zhizhou.

She wasn’t sure when he had sidled up to her. He had probably had too much to drink; his face was flushed, and he called her name in a hushed, conspiratorial whisper, like a thief.

Jiang Qingli snapped back to the present. "What’s up, Brother Zhou?"

Song Zhizhou was just about to speak when he noticed Gu Nian staring at him with vigilant eyes.

He didn’t know their relationship and assumed the boy was one of Jiang Qingli’s suitors. With an overly familiar air, he clapped Gu Nian on the shoulder. "Hey, little buddy, why don’t you go hang out with your friends for a bit? Qingli and I need to catch up."

Gu Nian ignored him and looked at Jiang Qingli. "Sister."

Jiang Qingli patted his hand. "You should go get something to eat. I’m just going to talk with my brother’s friend for a minute."

Hearing that he was a friend of Jiang Youchen’s made Gu Nian even more unhappy.

But since Jiang Qingli had asked, he could only grit his teeth and leave, though he kept staring back in their direction even from a distance.

"That little suitor of yours is kind of terrifying," Song Zhizhou said, rubbing his arms. "He’s even on guard against a married man like me? He doesn’t hate your brother too, does he?"

Jiang Qingli thought for a moment. "No, they’re very friendly when they see each other."

Song Zhizhou looked completely unconvinced.

Jiang Qingli took a sip of her drink and steered the conversation back on topic. "So, Brother Zhou, what did you want to tell me?"

At her question, Song Zhizhou perked up. He glanced around before leaning in and asking in a low voice, "Qingli, do you know who ’that person’ is?"

Jiang Qingli was confused. "Which one?"

"You know, that one!" Song Zhizhou waggled his eyebrows suggestively. "Your secret sister-in-law."

He was dying to know, and after thinking it over, he’d decided Jiang Qingli was the person most likely to have the answer, which was why he’d come to ask her.

"Sister-in-..." Jiang Qingli froze.

The term felt foreign to her.

Her hand tightened unconsciously around her glass. Jiang Qingli felt the food she’d just eaten turn heavy in her stomach, pressing down uncomfortably.

Soft piano music echoed through the banquet hall.

Jiang Qingli’s gaze swept the room, but she didn’t see Jiang Youchen. She lowered her eyes and asked, "My brother... is he in a relationship?"

"You don’t know?" Song Zhizhou was shocked. ’This Jiang Youchen is really something else,’ he thought. ’He’s dating someone and hasn’t even told his own sister.’

’Who in the world could this person be? Is it someone he can’t have?’

’For example... someone whose Beast Husband slots are already full, or a high-ranking, powerful elder?’

The more Song Zhizhou thought about it, the more plausible it seemed.

Song Zhizhou, who had spent his entire childhood being overshadowed by that "perfect child from next door," Jiang Youchen, suddenly felt a pang of sympathy for him.

’It must be because the female’s status is so special that Jiang Youchen has to keep his feelings bottled up and carry on a secret affair!’

’He can’t even tell his closest family. When I guessed it, he could only play dumb, secretly suffering in bitterness...’

’Poor Jiang Youchen!’

The more he thought about it, the more he pitied his friend. He patted Jiang Qingli’s shoulder and said mournfully, "Qingli, your brother’s partner is probably someone he can’t talk about openly, that’s why he didn’t tell you. We should keep his secret for him. It’s for his own good."

Jiang Qingli seemed stunned by the news, her dark eyes blinking in a daze.

It took her several seconds to process what he was saying before she slowly nodded.

Song Zhizhou was about to say more, but his stomach suddenly churned. He clapped a hand over his mouth and dashed to the restroom.

On his way out, he ran right into Jiang Youchen.

The young man’s face was dark, his tone hostile. "What did you say to her?"

"Nothing, really nothing!" Song Zhizhou heaved a long sigh and clapped Jiang Youchen hard on the shoulder. "Brother, life’s not easy for any of us. You... you have a long, hard road ahead of you!"

Hearing those last words, Jiang Youchen’s brow furrowed. "What nonsense are you spouting?"

"It’s all for love!" Song Zhizhou raised his hand as if making a toast. "To you—BLECH..."

Jiang Youchen was speechless.

The young man strode back into the banquet hall, his gaze sweeping the room before easily locking onto the girl’s figure.

Jiang Qingli was surrounded by a crowd.

Two other females were encouraging her to try a specially mixed cocktail.

Jiang Qingli raised the brilliantly colored drink. As she tilted her head back, she saw Jiang Youchen parting the crowd and walking toward her.

Startled, she swallowed the entire drink in one go.

The harsh liquor made her choke and cough violently.

A warm, dry hand landed on her back, patting it gently.

Jiang Youchen said a few words to the people around them and then guided her toward a terrace in the corner where they kept a sobering drink.

As the crowd thinned, Jiang Youchen, his brow furrowed, had her sit down on a sofa.

He had just picked up the sobering drink when a weight suddenly fell into his arms.

Jiang Youchen instinctively reached out to catch her, and when he looked down, he was met with the girl’s red-rimmed eyes.

She asked in a very quiet voice:

"Do I have a sister-in-law now?"