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

Yuan Shimo had been very quiet during his time living at the house.

He wasn’t one for conversation and rarely ate with the others. When Jiang Qingli wasn’t around, he wouldn’t appear at all.

At times, he felt like a silent shadow.

No one had expected him to suddenly declare his position.

Qin Muye, who had previously treated him as if he were invisible, belatedly realized that this Yuan Shimo, who seemed so detached from their group, had, without anyone noticing, joined the battle for their female master.

’So it was all an act before? He’s just like his homewrecker brother—all for show, but secretly a schemer!’

’I never should have given him a chance to get close to Jiang Qingli last weekend!’

The Prince let out a cold sneer, grinding his teeth in frustration.

Diagonally across from him, Yi Nuo gave a soft murmur of assent before retreating into the shadows. He lowered his long lashes and said no more.

Baili Jing, who was known for his good nature, slowly let his smile fade. His knuckles, which had been resting on the table, curled inward. He tapped the tabletop and said flatly, "Mr. Yuan, there’s no need to report your plans to us."

"Merely responding to a pointless probe." Yuan Shimo glanced at Yi Nuo, then picked up his glass and took a sip of water.

SCHLICK—

The tines of a silver fork sank precisely into a cherry tomato. A crimson, blood-like juice oozed out, spreading across the center of the white porcelain plate.

Gu Nian lifted the skewered tomato, examining it. In a rare, lighthearted tone, he chimed in with the other Beast Husbands, "That’s right, Senior Yuan. You really only need to tell the *other* Senior Yuan about this sort of thing."

At the mention of Yuan Shiyao, the previously expressionless Yuan Shimo frowned in annoyance.

"What’s wrong? Did I say something I shouldn’t have?" The boy, looking like an innocent rabbit, blinked. "I thought you two were super close—inseparable, able to talk about anything..." He feigned surprise. "You don’t normally chat about this stuff?"

"It’s none of your business."

Having completely lost his appetite, Yuan Shimo rose and walked out.

He had only taken a few steps when the dining room door was pushed open, and he nearly collided with the girl in the pleated skirt.

Yuan Shimo stopped short in front of her.

"What’s wrong?" Jiang Qingli tilted her head up to look at him. "In such a hurry. Do you have a meeting to get to?"

His brow, which had been tightly furrowed, relaxed. The young man’s voice softened. "No meeting today. I’m heading back to the Yuan Family."

"When will you be back?" Jiang Qingli asked.

A flutter went through Yuan Shimo’s chest.

’He’d thought Jiang Qingli wouldn’t want to see him, especially since she was always so resistant on the nights that were his turn.’

"I don’t know. Maybe this afternoon," Yuan Shimo said.

"Okay, got it." Jiang Qingli patted his shoulder, then walked around him to take a seat at the dining table.

Before he left, Yuan Shimo glanced back. She was sitting in the very seat he had just vacated.

The closest person to her was Baili Jing, seated on her right, followed by Gu Nian, two seats away. The farthest was Qin Muye.

Her gaze deliberately skipped over Qin Muye, who visibly flinched. A look of anxious discomfort immediately clouded his face.

The normally arrogant, silver-haired young man opened his mouth, but still said nothing. He just lowered his head and ate sullenly, all of his earlier bravado gone.

The moment the girl entered, the atmosphere in the dining room underwent a subtle shift.

Gu Nian slid into the seat on her other side. Blinking his big, dewy eyes, he asked in a cloyingly sweet voice, "Big Sis, I made some sweet rice ball soup. Want to try some?"

"Xiao Li, I recall you have your spiritual power practical class today. It will be draining, so you’d better eat the nutritious meal I prepared." Baili Jing stood up, a gentle smile touching the corners of his eyes. "I’ll go get it."

As the man headed toward the kitchen, Gu Nian pursed his lips. "I’m sorry, Big Sis. I didn’t even think about that. I was only thinking about how much you like sweets... I’m so dumb. I’m not thoughtful at all, like Uncle Baili."

Under the table, the youth’s slender, well-defined fingers hooked her hand and gave it a little shake. "Big Sis... Don’t be mad at me, okay?"

"I’m not going to get angry over something like this." Jiang Qingli patted his head. "Go get it. I’ll have a little."

"You’ll get an upset stomach if you eat too much, sweetheart," Baili Jing said warmly, placing the nutritious meal in front of her.

"Well, if Mr. Baili says so, then never mind. I wouldn’t want you to force yourself, Big Sis." Gu Nian’s stunningly handsome face drew closer, his thick lashes fluttering. "I also made some snowflake crisps. Would you like some, Big Sis?"

"Of course." Jiang Qingli pinched his cheek. "You’re still so young. How do you know how to do everything?"

"This is far from all I can do." Gu Nian lowered his head, feigning shyness. "Besides, I can learn to do anything you like. I’m still young and a very fast learner!"

"Is that so?" Baili Jing’s terminal buzzed. He glanced at it and typed a reply with one hand, his soft voice carrying a sharp barb. "A jack of all trades is a master of none. It’s easy to lose your way."

He finished and looked over with a smile. "Just a bit of advice from an elder, Xiao Gu. You’re not mad, are you?"

Gu Nian: "..."

Gu Nian stared at the man’s handsome, refined face and ground his teeth in anger.

’That old fossil, always pulling rank. The moment he sees Big Sis, he starts trying to charm her with that smile. How has he not developed crow’s feet yet?’

But with Jiang Qingli right there, even the most exasperated rabbit could only plaster on an innocent smile and reply, "Of course not! After all, Mr. Baili has... *so* many more years of experience than the rest of us. I’ll be sure to take your advice to heart."

Not to be outdone, he immediately turned and headed upstairs to get his snowflake crisps.

Baili Jing’s terminal kept buzzing, but he showed no intention of answering it.

"Who’s trying to reach you?" Jiang Qingli asked, her words muffled by the food he’d cooked for her.

Her cheeks were puffed out, like a small animal having a meal.

’What kind of small animal, though?’

’Definitely not a snake or a dragon. Scaly things are so clammy and foul. Utterly disgusting.’

"It’s probably a little fox," Baili Jing said with a smile, playfully scratching the girl’s chin with his knuckle.

Jiang Qingli looked up, puzzled. ?

"It’s nothing." He raised a hand to tuck a stray strand of her hair behind her ear and said softly, "I have a variety show to film on Thursday and Friday in the Second District. You have to eat well while I’m gone."

"Promise I will!" Jiang Qingli nodded eagerly.

"Good girl." Baili Jing leaned in and whispered by her ear. "See you this weekend. I’ll remember to get my baby a gift."

Jiang Qingli huffed indignantly. "Well, now that you’ve said that, I’m going to start getting my hopes up."

Baili Jing’s eyes crinkled into crescents, and the sly glint within them made him look, for a moment, exactly like a fox. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

She was certain he was doing it on purpose—making sure she’d be thinking about his gift the entire time he was away.

She bared her teeth in a mock snarl, which only made the amusement in Baili Jing’s eyes deepen, rendering the beauty mark at the corner of his eye all the more captivating.

"I’ll make sure the gift is worthy of Xiao Li’s anticipation."

-

After Baili Jing left, the only ones remaining in the dining room were Qin Muye, Jiang Qingli, and Yi Nuo, who stood in the corner.

Qin Muye set down his utensils and stared at Jiang Qingli.

The Prince frowned, the tips of his ears flushing red. He looked both embarrassed and apologetic.

Across from him, Jiang Qingli kept her head down, eating as if she hadn’t felt his gaze at all.

Anyone could see there was some conflict or misunderstanding between them.

Qin Muye started to speak several times, but he would catch sight of Yi Nuo out of the corner of his eye and swallow his words, seeing that the other man had no intention of giving them any privacy.

When Jiang Qingli finished her breakfast and headed to the garage with Gu Nian’s snowflake crisps, Qin Muye followed beside her, head bowed. Just before she could get into the car, he finally couldn’t hold it in any longer.

Qin Muye grabbed her hand and said in a low voice,

"...I’m sorry."