Chapter 479: Will You Marry Me?

Jiang Qingli hadn’t expected Xie Youchen to have set her iris as one of the passwords.

’When did that guy get my iris information?’

But the next second, her gaze fell upon the gift box, and she instantly forgot her silent complaints—

The lights in the room were off. The only illumination came from the faint light peeking through the gap in the curtains and the flashing characters on the instrument panel.

In that dim light, Jiang Qingli could clearly see a pair of matching rings resting on the red velvet lining.

The rings had a simple yet elegant design, with their names engraved on the inside of the bands.

Jiang Qingli’s heart skipped a beat. She turned her head to look at the figure lying on the bed.

The young man’s face was pale, his eyes shut tight. His long eyelashes cast faint shadows on his face, and his brow was furrowed as if he were still worried for her safety.

In the dim room, so quiet she could hear their breathing, Jiang Qingli suddenly remembered something. Before they had left, it seemed Xie Youchen had something to give her, but he never took it out.

’It was probably this ring.’

At that moment, more and more details started coming back to Jiang Qingli.

For instance, after they got together, she had gone to see Xie Youchen several times and found him sketching something, only for him to put it away the moment he saw her.

She had assumed they were classified military documents at the time, so she hadn’t asked any questions.

’Thinking back now, he was probably designing the rings.’

Also, the few times they had spent the night together, Xie Youchen always liked to gently pinch and knead the base of her ring finger, as if he were measuring something, though his movements were so natural and practiced.

She hadn’t been suspicious then, but looking back, he was undoubtedly measuring her ring size...

Nowadays, very few people in the Empire wore wedding rings, especially females.

After all, the Empire had always practiced a system of one female with multiple males. A female master could legally have up to ten Beast Husbands, and even more unofficial partners.

If they had to wear a wedding ring for every male they married, all ten of their fingers would be full.

Like many other females, Jiang Qingli wasn’t used to wearing rings. But seeing this wedding ring now, her heart was stirred.

She remembered that Xie Youchen’s mother had only one Beast Husband—his father—and she had always worn her wedding ring.

Jiang Qingli walked to the bedside and sat down. She took Xie Youchen’s hand, pressed her cheek against it, and nuzzled it gently.

-

「The morning light grew heavy.」

Sunlight filtered through the thin curtains and fell upon the bed, where the young man’s eyelashes fluttered.

Xie Youchen opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was the snow-white ceiling.

He stared at it for a few seconds as his thoughts returned, realizing he had just come back from death’s door.

Perhaps because the wound was so deep, his chest felt a little heavy.

Xie Youchen remembered that the vine had pierced his heart and expanded to the thickness of a finger.

’I can’t believe I didn’t die...’

As the thought surfaced, he remembered to glance at his chest, hoping there wasn’t a hole left in his body that would frighten her.

When he looked down, Xie Youchen froze.

He finally understood why his chest felt heavy. A girl was lying there.

Jiang Qingli was resting her forehead on his chest, her hands placed beside her, like a small, fluffy animal.

’Did she watch over me all night...?’

Xie Youchen felt himself melting. He blamed himself for being so careless and making her worry.

But at the same time, he felt the injury was worth it, just to have her be concerned for him.

The girl’s brow was slightly furrowed. Xie Youchen lifted his weak fingers and gently smoothed the space between her eyebrows.

Just then, he noticed that Jiang Qingli’s left hand was clenched into a tight fist, as if she were holding something.

Xie Youchen paused, a thought flashing through his mind.

Before he could grasp it, Jiang Qingli’s eyes suddenly fluttered open.

Their eyes met, and a flash of joy appeared in Jiang Qingli’s. "You’re awake!"

Xie Youchen nodded.

Jiang Qingli leaned closer and asked, "Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere? How’s your heart? Can you talk? Are you numb anywhere?"

Xie Youchen opened his mouth, only to find that he couldn’t make a sound.

’Have I lost my voice?’

"Don’t panic." Seeing the shock in his eyes, Jiang Qingli quickly explained, "The doctor said there’s still some residual poison in your system affecting your vocal cords. It’ll get better in a few days."

Xie Youchen nodded, his gaze gentle.

Jiang Qingli pressed the bell by the bed.

A few minutes later, a group of medical staff filed in and surrounded Xie Youchen to run various tests.

All sorts of complex instruments were wheeled over, performing checks on Xie Youchen as red and green lights crisscrossed over his body.

Xie Youchen lifted his eyes, his gaze passing through the thick crowd of medical personnel to land on Jiang Qingli.

She was standing on the periphery, craning her neck to look at a report in front of a nearby nurse. Her expression was focused and serious, but the corners of her lips were curved into a smile, relieved by his recovery.

Xie Youchen’s gaze shifted downward, and his brow furrowed slightly.

Her left hand was still clenched tight.

’What is she hiding?’

’Is it from another Beast Husband?’

Ten minutes later, the attending physician finished his examination and said to Xie Youchen, "Marshal Xie, congratulations. Your body’s vital functions have stabilized. You should make a full recovery after another week of rest."

Xie Youchen nodded and pointed to his throat.

The attending physician said, "I’ll prescribe you some soothing medicine. You should be able to speak in three or four days."

He added with a smile, "Marshal Xie, you’re incredibly lucky. The vine was slightly off-center and didn’t hit your heart directly. And somehow, the poison from the wound was miraculously contained."

The other assassins who were struck by the vines had the poison spread throughout their bodies in less than half an hour, and they died despite attempts to save them.

Only Xie Youchen had been lucky enough to survive.

After finishing, the doctor remarked with emotion, "Time Stop truly is a top-tier Superpower."

Unable to speak, Xie Youchen just smiled.

But his gaze traveled past the crowd and landed on Jiang Qingli’s face.

Jiang Qingli blinked and made a gesture, indicating that she would explain after everyone left.

Xie Youchen nodded.

After giving some final instructions, the doctors left the room. As he was leaving, the attending physician was heard telling the others that he hoped his own son would one day awaken a life-saving Superpower.

Jiang Qingli closed the door, sat down next to Xie Youchen, and reached out to tuck him in. "Listen, I’ll explain everything slowly."

Xie Youchen’s gaze fell on her hand.

She had tucked the blanket in with one hand.

Her right hand.

Xie Youchen pressed his lips together, activated a screen, and typed: [Have you awakened a second Superpower?]

Jiang Qingli’s eyes widened. "How did you know!"

Xie Youchen raised his hand, his fingers touching her cheek and giving it a gentle pinch.

He had lost consciousness too quickly, but he vaguely sensed that Jiang Qingli’s fingers had been pressed against his wound the entire time.

The poison hadn’t spread not only because of Time Stop, but more importantly, because of Jiang Qingli.

Xie Youchen typed: [What is it?]

Jiang Qingli didn’t hide anything. She told him everything that had happened after he lost consciousness, including the details of her new Superpower.

When she finished, she met Xie Youchen’s approving gaze and raised her eyebrows smugly. "So? Pretty amazing, right?"

In front of those she was close to, Jiang Qingli couldn’t help but enjoy being praised.

Xie Youchen smiled and nodded, typing: [Very amazing. Ah Li has always been my pride.]

The young man’s long, slender fingers wrapped around her hand, his eyes asking what was inside.

Jiang Qingli didn’t open her hand. Instead, she asked, "You have to answer a question for me first."

[Ask away.]

Jiang Qingli took a deep breath, looked into his eyes, and asked seriously:

"Youchen, will you marry me?"