Chapter 468: Choose One Out of Three

At first, Yi Nuo’s hand hovered over the back of Jiang Qingli’s.

He stared at Jiang Qingli’s profile, pausing for a few seconds. When he saw no sign of resistance from her, he grew a little bolder and slowly wrapped his hand around her fingers.

It was the first time Yi Nuo had ever done something like this.

His usually steady heartbeat was now accelerating wildly.

Yi Nuo had been halfway through military academy when his parents had their accident. After arriving at the Jiang Family’s home, private tutors taught him physical arts and academics. However, no one had yet taught him about the "masculine virtues" that many aristocratic families educated their sons in.

Thus, his heart wasn’t racing from shame, but simply because he was touching Jiang Qingli.

The young woman’s fingers were slender yet strong, her skin delicate. The pads of her index finger and thumb had thin calluses from shooting practice, which, contrary to what one might expect, only made one want to trace them, to feel all the marks left on her by time and effort.

And that was exactly what he did.

But he was overly cautious, his fingertips brushing lightly against her skin and creating a ticklish sensation.

Jiang Qingli couldn’t quite take it anymore. She decisively grabbed his hand in return, forcing him to hold still.

Yi Nuo flinched, his back instinctively straightening.

His movement made the two men across from them look up in unison. Just as their probing gazes landed, the sound of wheels rolling over carpet came from behind them.

A server approached with a cart, laying out the heated dishes one by one.

Jiang Qingli pulled her hand back and began to eat.

It was just time for the changing of the guard. The officer who had been on duty earlier switched posts with his colleagues and came over to dine.

The group was chatting and laughing, but they fell silent the moment they entered the dining car and saw Xie Youchen. They hurriedly greeted them.

They sat at the farthest table, discussing recent topics and what they would do during their few days in the First District.

Jiang Qingli gazed out the window, her thoughts drifting along with the conversation.

...

「At 4:30 PM, the train arrived on time at the Eleventh District’s dedicated military station.」

Qin Shu was already waiting there with her people. Once the train came to a complete stop, she led a team aboard to conduct an inspection.

She made a point to personally inspect the detention room where Qin Yu was being held.

When facing Jiang Qingli, Qin Yu could still barely maintain her composure.

But the moment she saw Qin Shu, she lost all control. She shot to her feet, pointed a finger at her nose, and began spewing curses. "Lackey!" "Bitch!" "Scum!" A torrent of words completely at odds with her self-proclaimed noble status erupted from her like gushing sludge.

Qin Shu leaned against the wall with her arms crossed, a lazy, unbothered smile on her face. "Go on, keep cursing. No one’s coming to save you, even if you scream your throat raw."

With a cold expression, Qin Yu hurled the nutrient solution from the table at Qin Shu, but the latter dodged it with a nimble sidestep, letting the liquid splash all over the floor.

Qin Shu raised an eyebrow. "Such irritability could be a sign of a Spiritual illness. Didn’t you have Lü Xin run a check-up for you? Perhaps you’re the one who needs gene modification the most."

Qin Yu spat, her face frigid, "Get out!"

Qin Shu walked out of the detention room, laughing loudly.

Once the door was closed, the smile vanished from Qin Shu’s face.

She beckoned to Jiang Qingli, led her aside, and said in a low voice, "I suspect there’s a spy among your people. Stay sharp and vigilant at all times."

"Did Qin Yu let something slip?" Jiang Qingli asked.

"I don’t know who the spy is, but Qin Yu doesn’t seem worried about herself. The spy has probably already reassured her." Qin Shu had known Qin Yu for years, and they had bickered for just as long; she knew her state of mind better than anyone. "I’ll assign you another small team in a bit."

Jiang Qingli nodded. "Okay. Thank you, Sister Shu."

"Nothing to thank me for. It’s what I should do." Qin Shu’s lips curved into a smile as she ruffled Jiang Qingli’s hair. "You’re my successor, after all, Chairman Jiang."

Someone knocked on the door. Qin Shu’s secretary said in a low voice, "Marshal, the inspection is complete. We should be on our way."

"Alright, I’ll be right there."

Qin Shu patted Jiang Qingli’s shoulder. "Go and take stock of the ten people who were just brought in. I’m taking Xie Youchen to meet his men now."

Qin Shu had picked out ten trustworthy individuals and had Xie Youchen go identify them.

These ten people, disguised as maintenance workers and servers, slipped down to the next level, avoiding everyone’s line of sight.

Watching their backs as they left, Xie Youchen said to Qin Shu, "Thanks."

"It was nothing," Qin Shu said. "But you, Marshal Xie... you’ve made a do-or-die pledge. Your sacrifice is much greater than mine."

Jiang Qingli only knew that if the mission succeeded, Xie Youchen would fade into obscurity, his merits hidden.

What she didn’t know was that if the mission failed, Xie Youchen, as the one in overall command, would take all the blame.

Xie Youchen had no intention of telling Jiang Qingli any of this. It was his duty, and there was no need to make a fuss about it.

’He wasn’t like some sly fox who would scream and shout for a reward just for doing their job.’

So he just said coolly, "You should be heading back."

"Right." Qin Shu gave him a military salute, but after taking two steps, she turned back. "By the way, when are you two getting married? I’d like to reserve a spot at the main table, too. It’s not fair to let Old Yuan have a seat there all by himself."

Xie Youchen was speechless.

’That mouth on Old Yuan...’

’And when did I ever promise Yuan Liang a seat at the main table?’

...

Jiang Qingli’s and Xie Youchen’s private rooms were across from each other.

That night, after Xie Youchen finished washing up and pushed open his bedroom door, the first thing he saw was two men standing opposite each other at the entrance to Jiang Qingli’s room.

Yi Nuo’s brows were tightly furrowed. "Mr. Baili, the young miss specifically instructed that she is working and no one is to enter."

"I believe the term ’no one’ doesn’t include me," Baili Jing said with a gentle smile. "Xiao Li knows I’m coming to bring her a late-night snack."

Yi Nuo said earnestly, "It includes you."

As the two stood in a stalemate, Xie Youchen lifted his chin and said in an icy voice, "Move."

Facing Xie Youchen, Yi Nuo hesitated for a moment but still didn’t step aside.

Just as the atmosphere froze, the door was suddenly pulled open from the inside. When Jiang Qingli saw Xie Youchen, her eyes lit up. "Brother! I was just about to look for you!"

She grabbed Xie Youchen, pulled him into the room, and the door slammed shut with a BANG.

Leaving only Yi Nuo and Baili Jing to glare at each other, ready to begin a new round in their war of taunts.

Inside the private room.

As the only man to be invited in, Xie Youchen walked in slowly. A smile touched his thin lips, and an air of pride, like that of a victorious general, settled in his eyes.

His gaze fell to his wrist, where she was still holding him, and his heart melted.

’We’re about to return to the First District.’

’Once we’re back in the place where they grew up, it’ll be time for me to formally propose to the girl I’ve loved my entire life.’

Xie Youchen touched the ring he wore on his index finger.

It contained numerous designs for a wedding ring that he had drawn himself. He had always wanted Jiang Qingli to choose the best one, which he would then have set with the world’s most expensive gemstone.

’The night is deep, and the mood is just right. Perfect for some heartfelt conversation.’

’She must have been thinking along the same lines, which is why she chose only me to come into her room.’

Xie Youchen cleared his throat.

"Ah Li..."

At the same time, Jiang Qingli also began to speak:

"I think this person is extremely suspicious—definitely the spy! Look!"