Chapter 449: I Am the Husband Prepared For You

Fireflies flickered.

The world fell quiet in that moment. Only the faint, occasional chirp of a bird could be heard from the distant woods.

Perhaps because he had rehearsed them in his mind so many times, the words came out more smoothly than Yuan Shiyao had imagined, despite his unease.

Yuan Shiyao was like a condemned official confessing his crimes, tearing open his own chest to reveal everything inside.

Even if it was a bloody, gory mess.

There was no turning back now.

Yuan Shiyao confessed earnestly:

"Qingli, I never expected you to get together with me right away, or even like me... I know that’s not realistic."

"It’s just... I’m probably not very good at hiding things. Qin Xiangning saw it and told you today, and others will, too."

"I don’t want you to hear the truth from outsiders."

"And... I really do want to say it every time I see you. Sometimes I’m afraid I’ll lose control."

He lowered his head, his choppy black hair falling over his eyes. His voice was laced with a hoarse rasp. "If... you find it disgusting, then I’ll never appear before you again."

The feelings that had steadily accumulated during their time together were like a tender green shoot, trembling as it reached out.

But the thought that she would never like him back was a heavy boulder, formed from pessimism and turmoil, that would crush the young shoot again and again, leaving not a single crack for light to pass through.

The fireflies still circled them, but their light had dimmed considerably. They hovered low by her feet, waiting together for the verdict.

Jiang Qingli pressed her lips together, silent for a long time.

Just as Yuan Shiyao thought she was about to turn and leave, Jiang Qingli spoke. "Does your brother know about this?"

Yuan Shiyao paused for a few seconds, his expression a little stiff. "The fact that I like you... I don’t think that has much to do with my brother."

"It has everything to do with him," Jiang Qingli said.

Her tone was cool as she drew her conclusion. "Seeing you like this, he must have known for a while, didn’t he? Were you two hiding it from me together?"

"No—"

Yuan Shiyao denied it instinctively, but he couldn’t actually refute her. She wasn’t wrong.

Yuan Shimo had kept quiet, playing the part of a wingman because he was afraid Jiang Qingli would find out.

And he himself had been afraid of rejection, so he hadn’t dared to say anything.

So, yes... it was suspicious enough to be considered intentional.

Yuan Shiyao apologized in a small voice. "I’m sorry. I was the one who asked my brother not to say anything."

As he lowered his head, his gaze met hers.

In that instant, sparks flew.

A daring thought suddenly popped into his head.

"My brother doesn’t know I confessed to you. When we get back to the First District, I’ll distance myself on my own so he won’t find out."

"But when it comes to us, your first reaction is to worry that my brother will be upset."

At this point, Yuan Shiyao had nothing left to lose. He felt bold enough to say anything, and asked tentatively,

"Does that mean... you have some feelings for me, too?"

Jiang Qingli’s eyes widened. "Hey—"

Yuan Shiyao wasn’t finished. He asked again, "Do you hate me, then? What I mean is, are you repulsed by me getting close? Does the thought of us being together make you feel sick?"

As he spoke, he took a step forward.

Now, only two fists’ worth of space separated them.

Far beyond the social boundaries of "friends."

Jiang Qingli didn’t retreat, didn’t dodge, and didn’t slap him.

She looked at the person right in front of her, her brow slightly furrowed, as if she were genuinely considering his words.

Yuan Shiyao suddenly felt the stone that had been weighing on his heart for so long shift slightly.

The little green shoot that his pessimism had smothered earlier seemed to have poked its way out of a crack again.

"You don’t, right?"

Yuan Shiyao stared into her eyes. The reflection of the fireflies in her jade-green pupils was like a scorching flame, burning and leaping, threatening to consume him entirely.

Feline beastmen have adorable appearances, which often makes people forget that they are excellent hunters.

They use their keen senses to precisely track their prey’s movements, employing every strategy to complete a highly efficient hunt.

Before Jiang Qingli could answer, Yuan Shiyao cut in:

"I’m sorry, Qingli. I’m not a man of high morals."

"But as long as you don’t explicitly tell me you’re disgusted with me, I won’t give up."

"If you’re worried about public opinion, you can rest assured. I’ve observed Marshal Xie’s behavior, and I’m confident I would be a more qualified secret lover than he is."

"I can promise you, for my entire life, I won’t dream of taking the position of your Beast Husband. I can remain nameless and unacknowledged. After I enter the judicial system, I can be a great asset to you, and you won’t have to bear any risks."

"You can use me, and you can cast me aside at any time."

"I swear to the Beast God that the promises I’ve just made will be valid forever."

After he finished, without waiting for Jiang Qingli’s reply, he took several steps back, creating distance between them.

"I think what I said tonight might have been a bit of a shock for you."

"I’m sorry."

"I’ll leave now. I won’t contact you unless you reach out to me first, or if you need me."

"The ball is always in your court."

Having said this, Yuan Shiyao looked up toward the upper floor.

Someone was standing inside Jiang Qingli’s room, by the window, looking down at them.

The room was dark, so their face was obscured, but the tall, slender silhouette was clearly that of a male.

Xie Youchen was still in a meeting and couldn’t be in two places at once.

’Is it Baili Jing?’

But from the side profile, it looked like a man with long hair... Baili Jing had always kept his hair short.

’Is it someone new in her life?’

Yuan Shiyao stared at the figure, a shadow of gloom passing through his eyes.

’Who on earth could seduce her right under Xie Youchen’s and Baili Jing’s noses? Not only did they succeed, but they could even enter and leave her residence without a single rumor getting out.’

’A formidable character indeed.’

’He was still too late.’

’But... doesn’t this also mean she was open to accepting someone new?’

Yuan Shiyao’s gaze was so obvious that Jiang Qingli looked up in the same direction. Her already dazed mind was now blaring with alarm bells—

’Dammit! How could I have forgotten about Ye Linyuan!’

On the way back, she had sent Ye Linyuan a message briefly explaining the situation. He had replied with a simple, "Got it."

At the time, Yuan Liang had been in a hurry to get back to the military district, so Jiang Qingli hadn’t checked her terminal.

Thinking about it now, Ye Linyuan must have finished dealing with the waiter who had snitched and come to report his results to her.

But he ended up walking in on her and Yuan Shiyao...

"You should head back inside," Yuan Shiyao said gently. "It’s getting a little cold out here."

Jiang Qingli hesitated. "You..."

"I know you’re probably feeling a bit confused right now. You can take your time to think it over. I can wait, no matter how long it takes."

After saying this, Yuan Shiyao took a few steps back.

Jiang Qingli truly didn’t know how to respond to him, so she just nodded. "You should get some rest too, then."

"Okay. Good night."

The young man stood in place, watching her back as she left, and let out a long sigh.

He didn’t know if he had done the right thing or the wrong thing by saying all that.

In truth, Yuan Shiyao knew that retreating to the position of a friend was the safest course of action.

But he couldn’t accept it.

’I’m willing to do anything for you, too.’

’I *want* to do anything for you, too.’

’Why can’t I stay by your side like they do?’

’I was meant to be your husband.’

’I deserve a place by your side, too.’

-

The elevator doors opened, and Jiang Qingli started walking toward her room.

As she passed a window in the hallway, she inexplicably stopped, walked over to it, and glanced downstairs.

Yuan Shiyao was still standing under the streetlight, a butterfly made of condensed light perched on his fingertip.

Jiang Qingli frowned, but just then, he suddenly looked up.

The young man raised his hand toward her, and the butterfly fluttered in her direction, its wingtips trailing specks of light.

Just as the butterfly was about to reach her side, it suddenly dissipated.

"What, can’t bear to see him go?"

A young man’s gloomy voice came from behind her.

A chill ran down Jiang Qingli’s spine. She turned around.

Her eyes met a pair of narrowed, golden, serpentine pupils.