Chapter 458: A Wall Apart

Only the wall lamps were on in the room.

Yuan Shimo stood where the light met the shadows. His knuckles tightened on the shirt he was hooking as he looked at the girl standing by the door and asked nonchalantly, "Female master, what are you thinking about?"

The dim, shifting light wove a suggestive veil around them. The young man lifted his lashes, and his jade-green eyes shimmered with a subtle, alluring light.

For a moment, Jiang Qingli was struck by his blatant beauty.

She locked the door and sat down on the sofa.

Deliberately avoiding the sight of his exposed waist, she asked, "How did you get in? And why are you wet?"

Yuan Shimo seemed surprised that she would ask about something else after seeing him like this.

He was well-versed in theory, but he would only press his advantage if Jiang Qingli showed interest first.

Yuan Shimo pressed his lips together slightly.

Just as he was trying to come up with what to say, cat ears suddenly popped out on his head, their soft fur trembling.

Jiang Qingli reached out and gave his cat tail a little tug. His body swayed, and he leaned over her, planting his hands on either side of her body. The distance between them shrank in an instant, and she could feel his breath beside her cheek.

Before Jiang Qingli could pull back, her knee pressed lightly against his side through the translucent shirt. She heard a distinct, muffled groan.

"My shirt got wet, so I borrowed one of the event T-shirts to change into. I used my Superpower, so no one saw me."

Yuan Shimo’s voice was soft and breathy.

As for how a feline Beastman could get splashed with water so easily, he didn’t say.

Of course, he didn’t need to. Yuan Shimo’s attempt at seduction was so obvious and deliberate that anyone could see right through it.

Such behavior certainly wasn’t befitting of a proper male.

But as the little cat’s master, Jiang Qingli quite enjoyed it.

Jiang Qingli leaned back against the sofa’s soft cushions, tilted her face up, and pecked the corner of his lips. Mimicking his breathy tone, she said, "A reward for taking the initiative."

Her lips had barely parted when the young man tilted his head and captured them in another kiss.

He guided her hand to his damp shirt, and she didn’t hold back, letting her fingers explore for a moment.

When their lips parted for a moment, she asked, "Won’t you catch a cold like this?"

She was asking the obvious.

"I will." Yuan Shimo had forgotten every lesson on male propriety. He took her hand, guiding her fingers across his skin to land on a button. The corners of his eyes were tinged with red. "So, please, female master, help me unbutton it..."

...

A soft sensation traveled down her side as the tip of the young man’s snow-white cat ear brushed against her skin, sliding gently past.

It tickled, and Jiang Qingli couldn’t help but laugh.

She had barely started laughing when a pair of slender fingers reached out from behind and gently covered her mouth and nose.

Jiang Qingli started, turning her head to see another "Yuan Shimo."

A translucent, shadow-like figure appeared behind her, tilting its head.

Being surrounded by two identical people should have been frightening, but Jiang Qingli was already used to the shadow’s habit of appearing out of nowhere. Treating it like a mischievous child, she casually patted its head.

The shadow’s pupils contracted into sharp, thin slits.

Its translucent cat tail shot straight up, the very tip curving like a hook as it swayed happily.

Yet it also wrapped protectively around Jiang Qingli, like a wild beast guarding its most precious treasure.

Just as she began to wonder, a knock suddenly sounded at the door.

The orphanage was an old building without modern soundproofing, so Yuan Shiyao’s voice carried clearly through the door. "Qingli, are you in there?"

Jiang Qingli froze.

Not because Yuan Shiyao had arrived, but because—

’Yuan Shiyao was right outside, and Yuan Shimo just kept on kissing her!’

Outside, Yuan Shiyao stood by the door, feeling apprehensive.

He hadn’t found a chance to talk to Jiang Qingli all afternoon.

He’d finally found an excuse.

He didn’t dare approach her in public, afraid Yuan Shimo would spot him, so he had to come in secret.

The ever-upright Secretary Yuan had never imagined he’d have a day where he felt so much like a thief.

Fortunately, his excuse was a legitimate one.

Yuan Shiyao’s tone was serious. "It’s about the legal awareness event tomorrow morning. We’ve made a few small changes, and I came to let you know."

Nearly a minute passed with no response.

Yuan Shiyao frowned slightly.

He had just run into Jiang Qingli’s secretary downstairs, and she had clearly said Advisor Jiang was in the changing room. He’d sent a text that went unanswered, which was why he’d come upstairs.

’Did something happen...?’

Just as Yuan Shiyao was about to knock again, his brother’s slightly hoarse voice came from inside. "She’s not here."

Yuan Shiyao: ?

He couldn’t help himself, blurting out, "Brother, what are you doing in her changing room?"

Yuan Shimo replied coolly, "I’m in my female master’s room. Do I need your permission?"

Yuan Shiyao: "..."

As if sensing his silence, Yuan Shimo said slowly, "If you have something to say to my female master, I can pass on the message for you."

Yuan Shiyao couldn’t stand hearing "my female master" over and over again. But unlike with his other rivals, he didn’t dare start mocking his brother.

After a moment of silence, he said sullenly, "It’s nothing. I’ll find Qingli at dinner to discuss it."

He turned and left.

Passing the building’s only exit, Yuan Shiyao paused and asked the security guard in the booth, "Hello, excuse me, did Advisor Jiang just leave?"

The security guard looked up from the monitor and tutted at him. "Weren’t you just knocking on her door? Listen, kid, if the lady doesn’t want to see you, just wait downstairs obediently. What’s with all the fuss?"

Yuan Shiyao: "..."

...

Meanwhile, Advisor Jiang herself was completely unaware that Yuan Shimo’s lie had already been exposed.

She was currently facing a problem for the ages—

Through the strands of her hair, the young man’s jade-green eyes narrowed as he asked, word by word:

"Between him and me, who is more to the female master’s liking?"

Jiang Qingli was speechless. Biting her lip, she grabbed his hair to push him away, but he caught hold of her thigh.

His slender knuckles tightened, his fingers pressing into her skin.

...

When she came back to her senses, Jiang Qingli lifted her arms, letting Yuan Shimo dress her in a fresh set of clothes.

The young man’s movements were gentle, his profile so focused and earnest he looked as if he were conducting research.

A complete departure from how he had been just moments before.

Jiang Qingli suddenly spoke. "Cat Teacher."

"Hm?" Yuan Shimo paused and looked at her intently.

Jiang Qingli said, "If I remember correctly, you know an expert in the field of prosthetic arms, right?"

"I do. Professor Lin Hai from the medical college. He’s specialized in advanced prosthetic arms for over twenty years." Yuan Shimo nodded slightly. "Is this for the girl we saw today?"

It wasn’t hard to get prosthetic arms these days, but good ones were expensive. This was especially true for children, who required frequent adjustments as they grew, making the follow-up costs quite high as well.

Jiang Qingli smiled, rubbing the tip of his ear with her finger. "Not just for her. There are two other girls with leg disabilities. And if other orphanages have similar cases, I hope we can help them, too... Of course, he can name his price. I’ll pay for everything. I just hope Professor Lin agrees."

Yuan Shimo kissed her fingers. "Don’t worry. I’ll handle the negotiations."

Jiang Qingli threw herself into his arms and nuzzled his cheek. "Thank you, Cat Teacher. You’re the best!"

"Is that so?"

Yuan Shimo smiled.

"Then please answer my earlier question, female master... Who’s better, me or Yuan Shiyao?"