Chapter 434: Can’t Leave You

Ye Linyuan’s report arrived in the afternoon.

After reading the Match Value, Jiang Qingli had been waiting for him to return, eager to see his reaction.

But it wasn’t what she’d imagined. Ye Linyuan merely gave a soft "Mm," and leisurely flipped through the report, not seeming very anxious at all.

Jiang Qingli was speechless.

’He’s putting on an act again.’

Jiang Qingli snatched the report away and leaned in close, looking up at him.

As she drew near, the girl’s warmth spread over his slightly cool skin.

The young man’s lowered eyelashes trembled.

Resting a hand on the small of her back, he asked in a calm voice, "What are you looking at?"

Jiang Qingli bit her lip. "Seeing you so calm puts my mind at ease. I was worried you’d be upset."

Ye Linyuan had actually been watching her from the corner of his eye. Hearing this, he finally looked up, his gaze focusing on her face. "Why?"

"Well..." Jiang Qingli pursed her lips. "It seems the modifications Lü Xin performed on you also affected your genes. Your Match Value with me... it’s not even 30%... I was afraid you’d be sad."

Ye Linyuan’s heart leaped, and his pupils instinctively contracted.

Jiang Qingli reached out and hugged him, patting his back comfortingly. "It’s okay. If we try hard, maybe it’ll go up in the future..."

Ye Linyuan took a deep breath, grasped the nape of her neck, and pulled her back to create some distance between them.

A smile she hadn’t managed to hide still lingered on her face as she was caught off guard by his gaze.

Ye Linyuan raised an eyebrow. "Was that fun?"

"Well, it’s only because you weren’t showing any curiosity, so I wanted to see how you’d react." Busted, Jiang Qingli rubbed the tip of her nose. "Go on, read the report. There’s nothing written on my face."

"Yes, female master."

The young man replied languidly, drawing out the last syllable with a hint of doting affection.

He reached up to pinch her cheek before flipping to the last page.

There, clearly written, was his and Jiang Qingli’s genetic Match Value—

97%.

Jiang Qingli leaned in to observe his expression, but Ye Linyuan caught her wrist and pressed a kiss into her palm.

Seeing his calm demeanor, Jiang Qingli reached out to ruffle his face. "Hey, why are you still reacting like this?"

"It’s what I expected," Ye Linyuan said lightly.

He had marked her the first time they slept together; their genetic Match Value had to be over 95%.

This current number was just barely satisfactory.

In the past, Ye Linyuan might have been annoyed, since someone else had a higher value than him.

To be re-marked, one night wouldn’t be enough.

But now, Ye Linyuan understood that Jiang Qingli’s special feelings for him had nothing to do with the mark.

Even a monster like him could find the confidence to believe he was loved.

Ye Linyuan wasn’t good at expressing his emotions. Even though he was now very clear about his own feelings, when faced with Jiang Qingli, he could only curve his lips into a small smile.

His usually gloomy expression now held a trace of tenderness, like the thin snow on a glacier melting in the spring sun.

Jiang Qingli couldn’t help but stare a little longer.

Understanding Ye Linyuan’s personality, Jiang Qingli worried he might still be bothered by the mark being removed, so she promised him earnestly, "Even without a mark, I’ll still be good to you."

Ye Linyuan looked at her deeply, his eyes shimmering with an incredible light.

After a moment, Ye Linyuan said in a low voice, "Yes. Me too."

He leaned down and, imitating what she had done earlier, gently nuzzled his cheek against hers.

The night was gentle.

Beneath the warm lights, their two hearts melted and merged into one.

...

That night, nestled in Ye Linyuan’s arms, Jiang Qingli asked him about his future plans.

Ye Linyuan took a strand of hair from her cheek and twirled it around his fingertip, not answering directly. "You first."

Jiang Qingli thought for a moment. "After my internship ends next month, I’m going back to the First District. Are you coming with me? Or do you need to stay here a while longer?"

’He’s always running off.’

Although Jiang Qingli worried, she wouldn’t restrict his freedom.

The next second, however, she heard Ye Linyuan’s firm reply, "I’m going with you."

Jiang Qingli was a little surprised. "Didn’t you say last time that remnants of the old City Lord were still in the Twelve Cities? Aren’t you staying to deal with them yourself?"

As if taking her words as a challenge to his capabilities, the snake tail coiled around her tightened slightly. Ye Linyuan said, "I’ll take care of it before we leave."

He had to leave with her, to stay by her side.

In the Twelve Cities alone, you couldn’t count the number of people who coveted her on one hand. Back in the First District, there would only be more.

’The ones at home are one thing, but I can’t let these outsiders run wild.’

As long as he was around, not a single one of them could even think about climbing into the Jiang Family’s circle.

At this thought, Ye Linyuan lowered his head and gave Jiang Qingli a kiss on the lips.

’So soft.’

He kissed her again.

’Still so soft...’

After four or five kisses in a row, Jiang Qingli finally pressed a hand against him, forcing a shutdown.

-

The next morning, Jiang Qingli had a meeting at the military district’s administration building.

She had slept very comfortably last night, wrapped in his warm snake tail.

But Jiang Qingli soon noticed something unusual—

It wasn’t just in bed.

Even after they got up, Ye Linyuan never strayed more than a meter away from her.

When she was washing up, he leaned against the doorway, his snake tail hooked around her calf, rubbing against it...

When she was changing, he stood by the wardrobe, picked out a super-conservative long dress, and handed it to her, his tail conveniently grabbing a pair of socks from the side...

That was one thing, but even when she was eating, Ye Linyuan insisted on coiling his tail around her and watching her eat.

Just a short while ago, this cold, aloof serpent-man had been distant and detached. Now, he’d practically become her human shadow, following her everywhere.

Jiang Qingli didn’t find it annoying; she just found it novel.

She drank the last of her nutrient solution and casually stroked Ye Linyuan’s chin. "Since when did you get so clingy?"

Ye Linyuan wrapped his arms around her waist, his thin lips planting intermittent kisses on the nape of her neck. His voice was husky. "You’re the one who said it."

"What?"

"That I can’t leave you."

Jiang Qingli froze.

A kiss landed on her lips.

Ye Linyuan said, "Come back soon."

...

After saying goodbye to her clingy snake, Jiang Qingli checked the time. It was still early.

She decided to stop by the military hospital first.

When she pushed open the door to the top floor of the inpatient wing, everyone in the room turned to look at her in unison.

Jiang Qingli was a little surprised. "Why are there so many people?"

Inside the hospital room, a dozen doctors in white coats were gathered around Fang Chi, who was sitting on the bed. An electronic screen in front of them displayed all sorts of data.

"Advisor Jiang, good morning." The lead physician pushed up his glasses. "It’s a miracle that Fang Chi recovered his memory in such a short time. My colleagues are all very interested and want to use this as a basis for research, hoping to unlock the secrets of Spiritual Mutant Beasts sooner."

The dozen or so doctors all nodded at once.

The way they looked at Fang Chi was like they were looking at a prize-winning academic paper.

Jiang Qingli looked at Fang Chi, too.

Fang Chi quickly averted his gaze.

From the moment Jiang Qingli had entered the room, Fang Chi had been on edge.

As she drew closer, his eyes darted around, completely unable to meet hers.

Just the thought of how he had acted like a nine-year-old child during his amnesia—being all cute and calling her "Big Sis"—made Fang Chi flush with embarrassment and shame. He felt like he was about to overheat.

But the most awkward part was...

When Jiang Qingli walked up to him and asked if he was feeling any better, Fang Chi blurted out, "I’m fine, Big Sis—"