Chapter 167: The Snake Beastman’s Jealousy

The man before her was undeniably handsome—a high-bridged nose, rosy lips, and even a look in his eyes that screamed ’unattainable dreamboat’... But she had made a promise to Chi Heng, and she couldn’t go back on her word.

"This is your home."

Seeing her expression soften and her demeanor become a little more docile, Gu Mian felt his own taut nerves relax slightly. He immediately reached out, gently straightening her messy hair with a gesture full of affection.

Wen Qian instinctively tried to pull away, but when her gaze met the man’s eyes—as deep and green as a tranquil pool—her body froze as if rooted to the spot, unable to move.

In a daze, a blurry image flashed through her mind: her own cell phone, and in it, a contact name that was his...

"Side Piece #2!"

Wen Qian’s eyes were wide with shock. ’Is this one of the guys I cheated with?’

"Hm?"

The man didn’t understand what she meant at first. His deep, abyss-like eyes stared at her quietly, his gaze filled with inquiry and confusion.

His stare made Wen Qian’s skin crawl. She coughed twice out of guilt, then mumbled, "I don’t remember anything about the Beast World. I only remember Blue Star..."

Her voice was as quiet as a buzzing mosquito, as if she were afraid of angering the inscrutable man before her.

Gu Mian said nothing. ’Of course, he knew Wen Qian didn’t remember the Beast World. After all, she had never set foot in this mysterious land before.’

"What do you remember about the Beastman?" he asked, suppressing the turmoil in his heart. His tone was level, his voice echoing in the quiet room with an authority that brooked no refusal.

Wen Qian pursed her lips, hesitating for a moment as if weighing the pros and cons. Finally, she answered honestly, "When I first woke up, I didn’t remember anything."

Her eyes darted about, not daring to meet Gu Mian’s gaze. She unconsciously fiddled with the hem of her clothes, her entire being radiating unease.

Gu Mian instantly understood. ’It seemed she had forgotten everything about the Beastman completely.’

His expression softened somewhat. He sighed lightly, as if lamenting the twists of fate. Then, he reached out and rubbed the wound on her neck, his touch neither too light nor too heavy.

Overlapping marks covered the wound, the clear imprint of a Wolf Clan Beastman’s teeth, which was especially jarring to the eye.

Gu Mian’s eyes darkened instantly. Even so, he forced down his inner rage and said in a low voice, "Your relationship with Chi Heng isn’t as intimate as you think."

"I know." Wen Qian nodded, her expression calm. Then, before Gu Mian could speak, she seemed to recall something and quickly added, "He was pretty clumsy when he... did those things..."

"..."

The moment the words left her mouth, she realized her mistake. ’Oh no,’ she thought, but it was too late to take them back.

The air seemed to freeze in an instant. Gu Mian’s face turned so dark it looked like storm clouds were about to burst.

The next second, he abruptly flipped Wen Qian over, pinning her heavily onto the bed and holding her hands firmly above her head.

He leaned down and gently grazed the back of her neck with his teeth. The action seemed soft, but it was filled with threat. "Do you have any idea what you’re saying?"

Wen Qian trembled at his sudden move, her heart pounding wildly in her chest. She could feel the intense jealousy and anger radiating from Gu Mian.

’Isn’t he just the side piece? How can he be more jealous than Chi Heng, the main squeeze!’

Wen Qian wanted to cry but had no tears. She struggled a few times, only to be met with a thick, long snake tail. Her mind went completely blank...

"Let me help you remember properly."

The man’s tone was calm, but it dripped with menace.

...

Wen Qian had no memory of Gu Mian whatsoever, yet a strange feeling in her heart kept nagging at her, a faint sense that he wasn’t supposed to be this aggressive.

’But what was he supposed to be like...?’

She stole a glance at the man sitting at the desk. Gu Mian sat ramrod straight, focused on the scroll in his hands. The lines of his profile were severe, and his every move exuded a noble air.

A flicker of confusion crossed Wen Qian’s eyes as she involuntarily recalled the records she’d seen on her phone. The man from back then had been gentle with her to the point of doting; even his texts were full of deep affection.

But the man before her now, while still showing hints of affection, had an added layer of terrifying dominance and a possessiveness so intense it was almost suffocating.

’Perhaps he had always been this complex and multifaceted, and had simply suppressed his truest, most aggressive impulses during their past interactions?’

"What are you looking at?"

The man’s voice suddenly rang out, as gentle as a spring breeze, as if he had completely forgotten the tense standoff from just moments before.

Wen Qian flinched, shaking her head so fast it was like a rattle.

She frantically lowered her head and said nothing. It was as if she were terrified the man would perceive her innermost thoughts, so she curled into a ball, completely on guard.

"Change into this."

The man didn’t press her further. He rose, walked to the wardrobe, and skillfully opened the doors. From the dazzling array of clothes within, he picked out a snow-white dress and offered it to Wen Qian.

The dress was made of a soft, light fabric that shimmered in the sunlight, with delicate, barely-visible embroidery at the hem.

Wen Qian followed his movement with her eyes and only then discovered that the wardrobe was filled exclusively with women’s dresses, all in different styles, but each one exquisitely made.

A suspicious look appeared on her face as she looked at Gu Mian, her eyes filled with confusion.

The man noticed her gaze, and a trace of softness unconsciously appeared on his brow. He explained quietly, "I’ve had these prepared for you for a long time."

Since the day he first returned to the Beast World, during every long day spent searching for Wen Qian.

Hearing his words, Wen Qian was overcome with mixed feelings.

She didn’t know just how long "a long time" was, but she silently cursed herself. How had she ended up in such a complicated mess, entangled with so many men?

She should have felt like a complete stranger around Gu Mian, yet being with him sparked an inexplicable sense of familiarity.

It was as if... they were meant to be this close.

This made Wen Qian even more confused and uneasy.

She hesitated for a moment before taking the dress, her fingers gently stroking the soft fabric, her eyes filled with conflict...

Her original gown had been torn to shreds. She had no other choice.

"Turn around..."

She bit her lip, her voice sounding a little awkward.

The man raised an eyebrow slightly but didn’t move. After a long moment of her standing frozen, he suddenly spoke. "Are you going to do it yourself, or shall I?"

Her body froze. Wen Qian quickly dove under the covers and, after a flurry of movement, finally managed to put the dress on.

By now, beads of sweat had formed on Wen Qian’s forehead. She shot a resentful look at the man standing nearby and thought to herself.

’It seems social apps really do hide a person’s true personality...’