Chapter 485

The next morning, Gu Nian knocked on the door right on time.

Qin Muye was the one who opened it.

The Prince frowned at the young man before him, his voice laced with morning grumpiness. "Spit it out."

Gu Nian held up the breakfast in his hands and said with a straight face, "The female master has a meeting at nine. It’s already eight-thirty, so I made breakfast."

"It looks okay," Qin Muye said, glancing at the breakfast before taking it.

’He didn’t knock it out of my hands? And he even complimented it?’

Gu Nian immediately felt that something was off.

But on closer inspection, the feeling became even more pronounced.

Although Qin Muye was incredibly grumpy in the morning, the corners of his eyes held an unconcealable sweetness.

It was as if... he had just experienced some tremendous joy.

’Did something happen between him and Qingli last night?’

But there were no tell-tale marks on Qin Muye’s neck or collarbone.

Before Gu Nian could figure it out, Qin Muye leaned against the wall and lazily raised an eyebrow. "Looks like we won’t need a butler in the future. You’re trying to take all the jobs for yourself."

The moment he finished speaking, Qin Muye slammed the door shut.

Gu Nian keenly sensed a murderous intent welling up behind him.

He turned around to meet the displeased gaze of the Gray Wolf Butler.

Yi Nuo stood a short distance away, holding two lavish, nutritious breakfasts and staring coldly at Gu Nian, the job-stealer.

Gu Nian showed no guilt at being caught. Instead, his lips curled into a slight smile. "You’ve been making breakfast for her for months. I was worried she might be getting bored."

"Then you’re the one who should be worried," Yi Nuo said, showing a rare flash of aggression as his thin lips twisted into a sneer. "After all, *I’m* the new thing around here."

The smile on Gu Nian’s face froze.

Those beautiful pink eyes narrowed, the expression on his face vanishing as he cracked his knuckles. CRACK. CRACK.

...

"What’s on your schedule today?"

Inside the room, Qin Muye poured Jiang Qingli a glass of milk, asking the question as he set it down beside her.

Jiang Qingli was reading the political news. She picked up the glass of milk. "A meeting in the morning, a meeting in the afternoon, and dinner with a few senior figures tonight."

"Which ones?" Qin Muye asked.

Jiang Qingli was currently the Empire’s hottest rising star, and one could already foresee her brilliant future.

Therefore, even though she hadn’t been formally decorated, many nobles and influential figures had already extended olive branches during her stay in the Ninth District.

Zhong Tongyun fended off most of the overtures for her, but some invitations were impossible to refuse and required her attendance.

Worried about potential assassins, Qin Muye always asked. If necessary, he could even accompany her. His etiquette was impeccable now; he would never embarrass her.

Jiang Qingli smiled. "Everyone attending today is female, so it wouldn’t be appropriate to bring you along."

She listed off a few names, but paused mid-sentence and frowned slightly. "Did you hear that? It sounds like something’s going on outside."

’That wolf and rabbit are really going at it, huh?’

’But that rabbit won’t cause too much trouble. He has to be in her bed tonight, after all.’

Qin Muye snorted to himself but said aloud, "It’s probably just the staff cleaning. Go on."

The noise outside quickly subsided, so Jiang Qingli continued where she had left off.

...

After breakfast, Qin Muye walked Jiang Qingli to the door.

Jiang Qingli stepped outside and was about to close the door when she heard Qin Muye give a loud cough.

Confused, Jiang Qingli looked back at him. "What is it?"

Her question seemed to fluster him. He suddenly grew embarrassed and said awkwardly, "Never mind. You should get going."

Seeing him act like that, Jiang Qingli knew exactly what he wanted.

She chuckled, grabbing Qin Muye by the collar and pulling him toward her, her lips drawing near.

The door was still open. Anyone passing by would surely see them.

The tips of Qin Muye’s ears burned, and he instinctively tilted his head to meet her kiss.

"Not yet," Jiang Qingli said, pulling away. "Say what you said last night again. Then I’ll kiss you."

Qin Muye’s eyes widened.

Now, it wasn’t just his ears; the young man’s entire face flushed bright red.

Jiang Qingli’s lips curved. "Not going to say it?"

Qin Muye gritted his teeth. "I’ll say it!"

He cupped Jiang Qingli’s face and quickly repeated his confession in her ear. The moment he finished, he seemed to forget he was asking for a kiss, slammed the door shut, and retreated in a fit of shyness.

Having finished teasing her little puppy, Jiang Qingli was in an excellent mood.

But when she turned around, she saw Baili Jing standing a short distance away, watching her with a smile.

Only then did Jiang Qingli remember that Baili Jing’s room was right next to hers.

She suddenly felt like a schoolgirl caught misbehaving by a teacher.

She rubbed the tip of her nose and shuffled over to him.

"I’ll be at the meeting today, too," Baili Jing said, his gaze gentle. He stated the obvious, a clear signal that he was choosing to ignore what he had just witnessed.

The two of them walked downstairs side by side.

As they rounded a corner, Jiang Qingli glanced up at Baili Jing.

The shadows of the trees outside fell across him, obscuring his profile and giving him a somewhat desolate look.

She recalled a call from half an hour ago. The person guarding Baili Qing in the First District had reported that Baili Qing was desperately trying to prove Baili Jing was a co-conspirator, madly attempting to drag him down with her.

Baili Qing had even twisted the facts about Baili Jing’s dark past as a living blood bag, claiming he had done it all willingly in a quest for power.

Although there was no way the military would believe such lies, Jiang Qingli knew Baili Jing had his own network of informants.

By the time she received the news, Baili Jing must have already heard it as well...

Jiang Qingli instinctively took his hand, pulling him slightly to the side so they could walk together in the sunlight.

Baili Jing lifted his long lashes, his gaze meeting the concern in the young woman’s eyes.

"Jing, don’t take anything Baili Qing says to heart. She’s at the end of her rope. No one will believe her, and there’s no chance she’ll ever recover. I’ll help you get what’s left of the Baili family..."

Jiang Qingli said a few more words, but feeling they were inadequate, she simply opened her arms and hugged him tightly.

She said earnestly, "I’m not just your family, I’m your lover. You won’t have to suffer ever again."

The arm around her waist tightened. Baili Jing held her as if trying to fuse her into his very bones.

After a long moment, his long, warm fingers tilted her face up. Baili Jing lowered his head until his forehead rested against hers and whispered, "Xiao Li, thank you."

"Don’t thank me," Jiang Qingli said, patting his back, a smile playing on her lips. "It’s your own fault for sticking with me since you were a child."

Still worried, she added, "Those people don’t deserve to be called your family. You’re not allowed to be upset because of them anymore, you hear me?"

Her tone carried a hint of a command.

Unexpectedly, Baili Jing’s eyes crinkled, his long, narrow gaze filling with amusement.

"What are you laughing at?" Jiang Qingli felt there was something mischievous in the fox’s smile.

"Baby."

The smile on Baili Jing’s lips widened, impossible to suppress.

"Actually, I was just thinking that last night’s outfit wasn’t very flattering. I’ll have to prepare more surprises to please you the day after tomorrow."

Jiang Qingli’s face flushed. She playfully punched him. "...Then why didn’t you say so earlier!"

She didn’t hold back, and the punch made Baili Jing stumble slightly.

"Because you’re too cute, Baby."

Baili Jing said, catching her fist and lowering his head to kiss her.

But before their lips could meet, a cold voice cut in from the side.

"The meeting is about to start."