Chapter 400 - 399: Clumsy Wheedling

’Qin Muye knew the person who attacked him?’

’And from the look on his face, Sheng Langhuai didn’t seem like the type to attack people so easily...’

Jiang Qingli was about to ask for more details when Qin Muye took her terminal and turned off the screen.

A few seconds later, Jiang Qingli suddenly felt a tap on her shoulder.

"Qingli, what are you and Muye whispering about?" Qin Yu smiled at her, then turned to Qin Muye with a helpful reminder. "Muye, you shouldn’t cling to your female master so tightly in public. I don’t recall teaching you to be so uncouth. People might think you’re some kind of possessive brute."

Her voice was just loud enough for the few people nearby to hear.

Yuan Liang, who was picking a song, paused and took a couple of steps in their direction. But given the presence of Imperial Family members, he could only try to smooth things over with a laugh. "Ah, to be young and in love."

"Even if their bond is strong, they should still be mindful of their surroundings," Qin Yu said with a faint smile. "Marshal Yuan, since Muye’s father isn’t here, you ought to teach him a thing or two. Otherwise, if word of this gets out, it won’t reflect well on anyone."

At the mention of Qin Muye’s father, Yuan Liang fell silent.

Qin Muye said coldly, "Are you done?"

A faint smirk flickered at the corner of Qin Yu’s lips before she suppressed it, adopting a hurt tone. "Look at you, getting so worked up over a few words. I’m only trying to help."

Qin Muye felt a surge of irritation at Qin Yu’s hypocritical act.

This was what he hated most about Qin Yu. She always chose to lecture and nitpick in front of a crowd.

She did it under the guise of "doing what’s best for him," deliberately picking a fight to make him lose his temper. Over time, it made everyone else think he was the one with the terrible attitude.

But Qin Muye didn’t feel he had any obligation to justify himself to others.

So, he prepared to snap right back at her.

Just as he was about to speak, Jiang Qingli took a sip of her drink and said with a sweet smile, "Is that really how you think of your little brother? So strict. The discipline in your own household must be impeccable. I’ll have to learn from you."

As her words landed, an awkward silence descended for several seconds.

Qin Yu’s expression instantly soured.

She let out a hollow laugh, her smile fading. "It’s all for Muye’s sake. Feel free to come to me if you ever need anything."

Qin Yu went to sit on the other side of the room. The others quickly tried to smooth things over, asking her to pick a song and choose someone to sing it.

Qin Yu casually pointed at Lü Xin. "Researcher Lü, you seemed to be enjoying the show just now. Why don’t you sing?"

The amused, spectator’s smile on Lü Xin’s face vanished. She nearly stammered, "Ah, o-okay!"

She took the microphone and braced herself, then began to sing.

She was completely tone-deaf, her voice hoarse and grating. After just a few lines, Lü Xin’s head drooped lower and lower...

Just then, a clear female voice joined in, picking up the melody.

Lü Xin turned to see the side of Jiang Qingli’s face as she held another microphone.

The colorful lights of the private room fell on her face like a spotlight, making her so strikingly beautiful that it took one’s breath away.

In reality, Jiang Qingli couldn’t carry a tune either, but two people singing off-key together was far more entertaining than one person doing it in awkward silence.

The others soon joined in the caterwauling, and before long, Lü Xin’s embarrassment was completely gone.

Amid the lively and friendly atmosphere, Qin Yu, in contrast, seemed completely out of place.

She didn’t stay for much longer, leaving after making an excuse.

After she left, the person sitting next to Lü Xin nudged her. "She got put in her place but didn’t dare pick a fight with Advisor Jiang, so she took it out on you. So petty."

Lü Xin nodded. "I know."

Qin Yu had a total of seven Beast Husbands, all of them pure-blooded A Level or S Level Beastmen, but her household was hardly a harmonious one.

Last year, she’d gotten into an argument with a Beast Husband of the Minister of Administration backstage at an event, and someone had secretly recorded it and posted it online.

In the recording, every accusation they hurled at each other was explosive enough to be a major news story. It even captured Qin Yu talking about her desire to use genetic modification to create the perfect offspring.

Although it circulated for only a few minutes and the Palace Internal Affairs Department quickly issued a clarification stating it was a rumor, the contents of the recording inevitably spread throughout their social circles.

People had noticed that ever since the "audiogate" scandal, the number of times Qin Yu was summoned for an audience with Qin Shiyi had dropped sharply, and she had barely appeared at any major functions.

Therefore, she was now desperate to do something to prove her worth.

Qin Muye listened to the two women nearby chattering about Qin Yu’s gossip, then slowly glanced at the girl beside him.

"What’s wrong?" Jiang Qingli sipped her fruit juice. "With a face that long... that doesn’t look much like a Prince."

"She’s treacherous and vile. I’m worried she’ll hold a grudge against you," Qin Muye said sullenly. "You don’t have to do that next time."

He was used to trading insults with Qin Yu, so this time was no different. He didn’t mind being disliked by others, but Jiang Qingli was another matter.

The mood at that moment wasn’t right for him to say something that would deflate her triumphant spirit, so he’d held it in until now.

Jiang Qingli reached out and stroked his hair. "There, there. There won’t be a next time."

When Qin Yu had belittled Qin Muye in front of Jiang Qingli, she wasn’t trying to provoke her, but rather to establish a sense of camaraderie.

As everyone knew, the Empire was a society where females were held in the highest regard.

In the minds of some of the old aristocracy, including Qin Yu’s paternal family, males were considered lower than pet dogs, and casually beating, scolding, and insulting them was a common occurrence.

For this segment of aristocratic females, demeaning and mocking males was a way to feel each other out and establish common ground. If the other person responded in kind, their bond would rapidly strengthen.

Qin Yu had heard all sorts of rumors, and coupling them with the status of Jiang Qingli’s parents, she had mistaken her for a kindred spirit. That was why she had sent out that signal.

Jiang Qingli had long since sensed that Qin Yu wanted to get closer to her, but she had no desire for them to become too familiar.

Her actions just now had been her way of stating her position.

Qin Yu probably wouldn’t come looking for her again after this.

...

The party didn’t end until eleven o’clock.

On the way home, everyone was practically dead drunk. The only exceptions were Jiang Qingli and Qin Muye, who hadn’t drunk much as they were still preoccupied with Sheng Langhuai. They had to call Yi Nuo to come pick them all up.

Yuan Liang went to the restroom to throw up.

The Gray Wolf Butler dutifully loaded everyone into the back seats one by one, then sat in the driver’s seat. He cautiously observed the two in the very back through the rearview mirror.

The moment Qin Muye saw Yi Nuo, he had instantly entered a state of masculine vigilance.

Once in the car, the Prince—who could normally drink a thousand cups without getting drunk—pretended to be dizzy from the alcohol. He leaned his entire body into Jiang Qingli’s arms, whimpering softly.

His dedication to vying for favor was certainly commendable.

However, Qin Muye’s attempts at being affectionate were laughably clumsy.

He could only nuzzle his head against the girl’s shoulder and fingers, squirming in her arms with extreme awkwardness.

He was like a clumsy student fumbling through his first practical lesson.

Seeing him act like this, Jiang Qingli couldn’t help but stifle a giggle.

That quiet laugh was a severe blow to Qin Muye’s confidence.

He couldn’t help but feel a surge of resentment and self-doubt...

’She wasn’t like this in that damned snake’s arms earlier!’

Unwilling to give up, Qin Muye tried to nuzzle into her again, but Jiang Qingli held his head still.

"Hey." Jiang Qingli flicked his forehead. "You silly dog, if you keep squirming, you’re going to push me right out of my seat. What will you do if you wake everyone else up?"

Qin Muye glanced at the people in front of them, who were sprawled out drunk and muttering nonsense in their sleep, and reluctantly stopped moving.

At that moment, Yi Nuo, who had been silent the entire time, spoke up considerately. "Miss, the smell of alcohol in the back is quite strong. The front passenger seat is still empty."