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

Chapter 238: Chapter 238: I Have Experience

The crystal chandelier overhead cast brilliant points of light, like a dazzling starscape enveloping them.

Jiang Youchen was tense all over, his head lowered to look at the person in his arms.

They were mere inches apart, their breathing clearly audible.

His dark eyes widened slightly. The sudden warmth of her proximity sent a jolt of shock through him.

It was like approaching a soap bubble; he dared not even move, fearing the slightest disturbance would pop it.

Seeing he wasn’t reacting, Jiang Qingli grew annoyed. She butted her head against his chest, her voice fierce yet muffled. "You lied to me."

Jiang Youchen breathed shallowly, his voice hoarse. "Lied to you about what?"

The girl lifted her face, her features crumpled in a pitiful frown. Forgetting the composure she usually cared so much about, she accused him unhappily.

"You—you said just a few hours ago that you weren’t dating anyone behind my back, but then... but then..."

"You do... you do have someone and you didn’t tell me! You... you did it on purpose, afraid I’d run my mouth... and embarrass you..."

"You even... even tried to warn me, afraid I couldn’t... couldn’t accept it..."

That drink was stronger than it looked. It left her mind in a fog, and her words were slurred and rambling.

Still, Jiang Youchen understood exactly what she meant.

’Song Zhizhou must have thought I was in a secret relationship with some female. He’d probably asked Jiang Qingli out of curiosity, and when he saw she was in the dark, his imagination ran wild, assuming the person must have some shady identity that needed to be hidden. That’s why he’d warned her not to tell anyone.’

’And since Jiang Qingli had never heard about any female in my life, she assumed that when I’d brought up the past backstage, I was trying to prep her—a hint that a female would soon be entering my life.’

As Jiang Youchen pieced together the misunderstanding, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of exasperation, yet the corners of his lips faintly curved upward.

His hand, its knuckles well-defined, tilted the girl’s chin up. He looked down at her, his long lashes casting shadows that veiled the emotions in his eyes.

"Does Ah Li want a sister-in-law?"

He only asked.

The moment Jiang Qingli heard that word, she wrenched her chin from his grasp. Mumbling something unintelligible, she resumed butting her head against his chest with surprising ferocity.

It hurt, yet he let out a low chuckle.

Jiang Qingli tired herself out and went limp in his arms, unmoving.

After a long while, the girl’s muffled voice sounded. "...I want my big brother to be happy."

Jiang Youchen froze. The smile vanished from his lips, and a storm of intense, complex emotions swirled in his eyes.

He lowered his gaze, his long fingers combing through the girl’s soft, dark hair, slowly and deliberately smoothing the tangled strands.

Jiang Qingli nuzzled against his fingers and closed her eyes.

She’d been running on fumes all day, physically and mentally exhausted. In this rare moment of peace, she quickly drifted off to sleep.

The young man watched her peaceful, sleeping face and let out a sigh so quiet it was almost inaudible.

’As long as Ah Li is happy, your brother is happy.’

...

The banquet was nearing its end, and most of the guests had already left.

After Xie Guanqi left, Yuan Shiyao finally managed to shake off a crowd of people wanting to toast him and began searching for Jiang Qingli.

While searching, he didn’t forget to send a few people to keep Yuan Shimo occupied.

He wanted to spend a few moments alone with Jiang Qingli and exchange a few words before Yuan Shimo arrived.

After searching the area, Yuan Shiyao learned of Jiang Qingli’s whereabouts from a server. He’d only taken a few steps, however, when he ran into Yuan Shimo.

Yuan Shiyao stopped in his tracks, guiltily glancing down at his own shadow.

But strangely, Yuan Shimo didn’t confront him about it.

The young man stood by the window, gazing at something in the distance. His knuckles, holding a glass of sobering tea, tightened their grip. A cold light flashed in his jade-green eyes, and the shadow at his feet trembled with irritation.

Yuan Shiyao followed his gaze and saw the girl nestled in the arms of a tall, slender young man.

It was a perfectly normal embrace, yet Yuan Shiyao felt an immediate pang of discomfort.

Clearly, Yuan Shimo felt the same way.

Without sparing a glance for the younger brother who had just tried to set him up, Yuan Shimo started walking toward them.

He had only taken a few steps, however, when a hand landed on his shoulder, stopping him in his tracks.

"Hey. Not you today."

The silver-haired young man, radiating a powerful aura, strode confidently past the two Yuan Family brothers and headed toward the couple.

Uncharacteristically, Yuan Shimo didn’t seem to mind.

In fact, he seemed almost relieved.

As long as someone broke up that unpleasant sight, it didn’t matter who.

-

A tall shadow fell over them. Jiang Youchen looked up to see the man was already standing before him.

The Prince, dressed sharply in a suit, had just rushed over from other engagements. Still slightly out of breath, he stood before Jiang Youchen, reined in his imposing presence, and leaned in to check on Jiang Qingli. "Is she asleep?" he asked in a low voice.

"Yes." Jiang Youchen’s arm tightened around the girl, pulling her back to create some distance.

Qin Muye didn’t notice the deliberate gesture. He simply held out his arms, his intention clear—he was here to take Jiang Qingli.

Jiang Youchen didn’t release his hold. Lowering his gaze to the girl, his voice deepened. "She drank too much. She needs to be looked after."

"I know. I’ll take good care of her," Qin Muye replied. As if afraid he wouldn’t be believed, he added, "I’ve looked after her countless times. I’m experienced. Don’t worry."

The corner of Jiang Youchen’s mouth twitched.

’When it came to experience in taking care of her,’ he thought, ’no one had more than he did.’

In the midst of the stalemate, the girl in his arms frowned and opened her eyes.

Oblivious to the awkward scene, she pushed herself up and threw herself at Qin Muye, her voice filled with delight. "Qin Muye!"

Qin Muye caught her, scooping her up with ease. He raised an eyebrow. "How much did you drink?"

Jiang Qingli held up three fingers. "Five glasses," she declared.

Charmed by her cuteness, Qin Muye couldn’t help but laugh.

"Wh-what are you laughing at!" Jiang Qingli grabbed his necklace, her brow furrowed fiercely. "You’re not allowed to laugh at your master! Bad dog!"

The moment those last two words left her lips, both males in the room froze.

Qin Muye glanced awkwardly at Jiang Youchen, whose expression was growing darker by the second.

’Even though she calls me ’puppy’ all the time at home, this is different. We’re out in public, and right in front of her older brother. It would be a huge misunderstanding if he thought I was a bad influence on Jiang Qingli.’

The tips of the silver-haired young man’s ears turned red. He cleared his throat and said in a low voice, "You can scold me more when we get home."

"Oh."

Jiang Qingli wrapped her arms around his neck. Then, remembering someone else was there, she waved at Jiang Youchen.

As if afraid he might be angry, she seemed to shrink a little and said quietly, "I’m a big girl now. You don’t have to worry."

"Mm."

Jiang Youchen’s gaze shifted away from her face. His voice was very low.

Qin Muye nodded to Jiang Youchen. "We’re leaving." He paused, then, as if afraid Jiang Qingli would think him rude, he reluctantly added two words: "Big Brother."

As soon as he said it, he saw Jiang Youchen’s brow furrow tightly.

’Qin Muye really didn’t get it. What was so wrong with what he’d called him? Did the guy have to look so disgusted all the time? He hadn’t even called the other Princes ’Brother’ at the banquet earlier. He was already giving this guy plenty of face.’

’Then, Qin Muye remembered hearing that Jiang Youchen had been single for many years, and he magnanimously decided not to let it bother him.’

’An old, single, virgin male seeing his little sister and brother-in-law so happy together... it’s only natural he’d feel a little bitter. Understandable.’

He turned and walked away, failing to notice Jiang Youchen’s knuckles tightening on the armrest, sinking deep into the leather fabric.

BEEP—

The wristband that recorded his pollution value let out a sharp, clear tone.

The reading fluctuated wildly around the alert threshold, on the verge of spiraling out of control.