Chapter 502: Extra: Baili Jing - Cyclic First Love (2)

At the sound of her voice, Baili Jing’s knuckles whitened on the armrest, and his long, lowered lashes trembled.

The young man’s body had already gone rigid, but he didn’t look up.

It was as if he were sulking.

Jiang Qingli, however, walked over to him.

Liu Wu was a bit dazed. ‘What’s happening? Looks like Miss Jiang is the one who made our boss unhappy?’

‘They act like an old married couple. Do they actually have disagreements?’

The atmosphere was a bit strange now. ‘Should I stay or should I go?’

Just as Liu Wu was agonizing over what to do, an urgent voice came from outside.

“Brother Wu, the paparazzi are right behind us! They’re about to come up—”

The assistant ran in, panting. He flicked on the light, and his eyes widened in shock as he took in the scene. “Miss… Miss Jiang…”

“Hello.” Jiang Qingli smiled at him, then turned to Liu Wu. “I’ll handle things here. You two go take care of that.”

Liu Wu glanced at Baili Jing.

The latter still had his head down, his back slightly hunched. But the fingers of the hand closer to Jiang Qingli twitched, and his lips were pursed, caught between wanting to resist and wanting to get closer.

‘It’s rare to see such an awkward expression on the boss’s face.’

Without another word, Liu Wu grabbed his assistant and went to deal with the pack of paparazzi.

‘For the boss’s happiness, I have to stop them no matter what!’

…

The door closed, leaving the two of them alone in the room.

“Are you still upset?” Jiang Qingli asked, pulling Baili’s arm aside and sitting on his lap.

With her sweet scent filling his arms, the young man’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He took an involuntary deep breath before exhaling softly. “I’m not upset.”

He kept his head down, his expression hidden.

But his voice was deep and husky.

Jiang Qingli cupped his face in her hands.

Perhaps because he was in heat, the corners of his narrow, fox-like eyes were tinged with red, and his gaze was watery.

His eyes swirled with desire and grievance, stirring a sense of pity and affection in anyone who saw them.

But after only a single glance, he lowered his gaze.

“Don’t look,” he said, his breathing unsteady and his voice growing even hoarser. “It’s ugly.”

When he was in heat, Baili Jing was always clingier and more childish than usual, lacking his normal composure and elegance.

“It’s not ugly.” Jiang Qingli leaned down to kiss his cheek and snuggled into his embrace. “Alright, don’t be angry anymore. I promise I won’t be like that again!”

“Like what?” Baili Jing held her, his fingers gently combing through her hair, smoothing out the tangled strands.

Although he was already aroused, he hadn’t lost control.

It was just that when Jiang Qingli hugged him, his fox ears and tail popped out, twitching fluffily.

Jiang Qingli resisted the urge to touch his tail and began a serious self-criticism. “Next time, even if I’m working, I definitely won’t snap at you!” She quickly added, “But I have to clarify, I didn’t mean to snap at you last night!”

Last night, after returning from a dinner party, Jiang Qingli had buried herself in the study, activating her frantic work mode.

She worked for so long that the alcohol started to kick in again, leaving her groggy and muddled. The wall of text she was looking at was frustrating, so when Baili Jing brought her a late-night snack and urged her to rest, she had unintentionally spoken harshly.

Uncharacteristically, Baili Jing hadn’t given in to her. After staring at her for a few seconds, he had forcefully picked her up and tucked her into bed.

Jiang Qingli hadn’t expected the ever-doting Baili Jing to be so domineering, and she’d kicked him twice in anger.

Later, when Jiang Qingli tried to sneak out of bed in the middle of the night to continue working, she was caught after just two steps and forced to “shut down” again.

Jiang Qingli was very unhappy and slept with her back to him.

When she woke up in the morning, Baili Jing had already left for the Third District to do promotional work.

Jiang Qingli had wanted to message him but was too embarrassed. To her surprise, Baili Jing didn’t offer her an olive branch like he usually did, so she had to come find him herself.

In truth, Jiang Qingli rarely engaged in self-reflection, especially in front of Baili Jing.

After she finished speaking, she peeked at his expression.

He stroked the top of her head with the same gentle pressure as always.

“Baby, I’m not mad because you snapped at me.” Baili Jing’s temperature was rising, strands of his hair clinging to the side of his face. His breathing was heavy and hot against her skin, but he tried to keep his tone gentle. “It’s because this isn’t the first time you’ve focused only on work and neglected your health.”

“Before, there were reasons, and you knew your limits. But last night’s work wasn’t that urgent. You could have easily spread it out and finished it today…”

“I finally get why Third Uncle likes you,” Jiang Qingli said, covering his mouth with her hand, her tone a little resentful. “Why do you sound exactly like him when you talk?”

A flash of anxiety crossed Baili Jing’s eyes. “…Is it annoying?”

“No, not really.” Jiang Qingli didn’t actually mind. She considered it for a moment before telling the truth. “Actually, my original plan was to start work right after the dinner party and finish before midnight so that I could be with you the next morning.”

“Be with me?” Baili Jing realized what she meant.

“Mhm,” Jiang Qingli said. “To come to the press conference with you.”

But plans never go as expected. Those people could really drink, and they kept plying her with alcohol.

After she spoke, Baili Jing froze for a moment.

Jiang Qingli watched his fox ears flatten into “airplane ears,” and his fluffy tail brushed against the back of her hand, as if trying to curry favor.

The young man buried his face in the crook of her neck and whispered an apology.

But… the feeling of something hard pressing against her became even more obvious.

Jiang Qingli feigned ignorance. “Why are you in heat during the winter?”

“Maybe…” Baili Jing tentatively nipped her collarbone, his breathing ragged and lost in the sensation. It took him a long moment to continue. “Something I ate.”

“With a fox’s sense of smell, you probably would have noticed if there was something in it.” Jiang Qingli pulled off his jacket. Her slender fingers unbuttoned his shirt with slow deliberation, as if unwrapping a meticulously prepared gift. She smiled and asked, “Jing, you waited for me on purpose, didn’t you?”

As her fingers slid across his flushed, burning skin, Baili Jing shuddered all over. A strange sound escaped his throat, and he grabbed her wrist as if in embarrassment and agitation.

It seemed like an attempt to stop her.

But the movement was too light; it felt more like an invitation.

“This is serious,” Jiang Qingli said. “Now, patient, don’t resist. Let this doctor give you a thorough examination.”

She twisted Baili Jing’s wrists, easily pinning them behind his back and tying them with his own necktie.

The young man was forced to arch his back, facing her directly.

Jiang Qingli’s hands roamed all over his body, pinching here, prodding there.

It wasn’t the first time he’d felt so out of control.

But during this special time, all of his senses were incredibly acute.

A few minutes felt as long as centuries.

Several times, Baili Jing felt like he was about to die.

However, every time he was about to collapse, she would hold him in place and say sternly, “No. We’re in the middle of an examination. How can you not listen to the doctor?”

Since she put it that way, he had no choice but to let her do as she pleased.

Jiang Qingli reached up to touch his forehead, her expression serious as she said, “I know what it is.”

Baili Jing looked up, his eyes barely able to focus. His voice sounded like it was coming from the mouth of a dehydrated fish. “What…”

Jiang Qingli: “You have a fever.”

Baili Jing: “…”

Seeing a flash of helpless indulgence on the young man’s face, Jiang Qingli collapsed into his arms, laughing.

She couldn’t bear to torment him like this any longer. Laughing, Jiang Qingli untied the necktie binding his wrists.

The moment he was free, he pounced on her.

Baili Jing raised a hand and gave her bottom a light slap. “You just love to bully your husband,” he said in a husky voice.

“Then you can bully me back,” Jiang Qingli said, tilting her head up to kiss his lips.

The lights brightened, then dimmed.

…

Jiang Qingli had thought this time would be about the same as usual.

But the effects of the drug seemed especially potent; it went on for a very long time.

When things finally showed signs of winding down, Jiang Qingli slowly started to crawl to the other side of the bed to rest. Normally, Baili Jing would stop and coax her.

This time, however, Baili Jing held her by the waist and leaned over her. “Don’t move.”

Jiang Qingli froze, suddenly sensing that something was different.

Baili Jing gently bit the nape of her neck, explaining kindly, word by word:

“We’re knotted, baby.”