Chapter 166: Chapter 166: The Price of Teasing Him

’It’s only been a few days, but Ye Linyuan’s tone has gotten more and more arrogant.’

’And... how does he know I’m in Yuan Shimo’s room?’

Jiang Qingli stood up and looked around before typing: [How do you know? Don’t tell me you put a camera in Yuan Shimo’s room.]

’That’s what all the big villains in novels do. They install cameras to spy on people.’

Ye Linyuan: [...]

Ye Linyuan: [The hallway camera.]

Jiang Qingli was bewildered: [Why are you hacking the house’s cameras?]

’How strange. Ye Linyuan didn’t seem like the type to pry into people’s privacy. Besides, if he wanted to know where I was, he could have just asked. He didn’t need to use a camera at all.’

Ye Linyuan’s reply came with perfect self-assurance: [Checking the network firewall’s integrity.]

Jiang Qingli sent a speechless emoji back: [Compared to you, what’s the difference between the house’s advanced firewall and a piece of tissue paper?]

「On the other side of the screen.」

Ye Linyuan looked at the message, raising an eyebrow and letting the corner of his lip curve into a slight smile.

’He’d just take that as a compliment.’

After typing a few words in reply, the young man lifted his eyes to the screen in front of him.

The digital screen was split in two.

The left side showed the camera feed from the third floor of Jiang Qingli’s villa. The hallway was empty and peaceful.

The right side showed the camera’s visitor log.

Because of Prince Qin Muye’s status, all the security measures in the villa were up to royal standards. The camera’s firewall was even layered with a military-grade one.

However, besides Ye Linyuan, another IP address currently viewing the feed also originated from the military district.

’The phrase "an inside job" has never been more fitting for these hypocritical, disgusting nobles.’

Suddenly, the Gray Wolf Butler, dressed in a tailcoat, appeared on the left side of the screen.

Yi Nuo stood before the door, the tips of his ears twitching as if he were trying to discern what was happening inside.

He lowered his eyes in silence for a moment before raising a hand to knock. "Miss," he said in a low voice, "dinner is almost ready. Would you like me to bring it up for you?"

"No need. I’ll go down to the dining room to eat in a bit."

"Very well, Miss."

Yi Nuo replied respectfully.

Just as he was about to turn and leave, the door in front of him opened.

Jiang Qingli popped her head out. "Yi Nuo, are you busy right now?"

The girl’s delicate, beautiful face drew suddenly close. Her dark eyes were bright, and her rosy lips curled into a slight arc, a sign of impending mischief.

Yi Nuo’s breath hitched. He stared intently into her eyes, his voice very soft. "I’m not busy... Miss."

Jiang Qingli lowered her voice. "Then turn off all the hallway cameras right now."

Strangely, the Gray Wolf Butler, who usually acted on her words immediately, hesitated for a moment. "Right now, Miss?"

"That’s right," Jiang Qingli said, lifting her chin. "Turn them back on next Tuesday."

After speaking, she ducked back into the room.

Yi Nuo glanced at the door that had closed in his face, then turned to look at the camera in the corner, his brow furrowed with a hint of worry.

’Why does she suddenly want the cameras off?’

’Did she sense something?’

’But given her current attitude toward Jiang Youchen, if she knew he was watching her through the cameras, she probably wouldn’t have had that expression just now.’

’Then... was it Yuan Shimo who put her up to this?’

’Does he want to do something to her in the hallway?’

Yi Nuo’s lips tightened, and he ground his canines impatiently.

But dissatisfaction was one thing; as a butler, he had to carry out all the tasks his miss assigned him.

Yi Nuo went to the main surveillance room and turned off all the hallway cameras.

More than half the screens in the main surveillance room instantly went dark.

Not even a minute later, Yi Nuo’s terminal vibrated.

Jiang Youchen had sent a message: [Turn them on.]

The same commanding tone as always.

To ensure privacy, the cameras didn’t record audio. Jiang Youchen must not have heard their exchange and assumed it was Yi Nuo’s own doing.

Yi Nuo lowered his gaze and scrolled up through their messages.

The previous one, from yesterday, had a similar tone: [Stay away from her.]

Further up, there were more similar messages.

Jiang Youchen was like a miser who had reluctantly entrusted his property to a subordinate for safekeeping. The moment the subordinate got a little too close, he would immediately issue a warning, terrified someone might get improper ideas.

For some reason, Gu Nian’s words from that night echoed in Yi Nuo’s mind—

"You find Jiang Youchen annoying too, don’t you?"

The moment the thought surfaced, Yi Nuo forcibly suppressed it.

The young man’s reflection on the screen showed him with pursed lips, typing with his eyes lowered. His words were as respectful as ever:

[My apologies, Young Master Youchen.]

[It was the Miss who instructed me to turn them off.]

The message was instantly marked as "read," but Jiang Youchen didn’t reply.

-

Her terminal received a new message.

Yi Nuo: [Miss, the hallway cameras have been turned off. The ones still in use are for the front door, elevator, garage, kitchen, and garden.]

Jiang Qingli: [Okay, thanks for your help.]

Yi Nuo: [It is my duty.]

Exiting the chat, Jiang Qingli tapped into her conversation with Ye Linyuan and sent a hands-on-hips emoji.

’Hmph, I turned off all the cameras. Let’s see how he knows whose room I’m in now.’

In response to the girl’s smugness, Ye Linyuan didn’t send a text message. Instead, he sent a large money transfer and a nodding chibi snake emoji he had saved from her.

Jiang Qingli suddenly had a strange feeling.

’It was as if... Ye Linyuan had guided her into turning off the cameras...’

Just then, the sound of water from the bathroom stopped.

Through the steam, the young man’s cool yet gentle voice called out, "Female master?"

"What is it?"

Jiang Qingli put away her terminal and took two steps toward the bathroom.

Yuan Shimo seemed to chuckle. "I heard the door open just now and thought you had left."

Jiang Qingli said, "I didn’t leave. I’m waiting for you so we can go down to dinner together."

Hearing this, his smile deepened. "Okay. Thank you, female master."

Jiang Qingli frowned. "Why are you calling me ’female master’ again? You’re asking for a tail-pulling."

Yuan Shimo paused. When he spoke again, his voice was a few degrees lower. "Then... Qingli. Just a moment."

By now, it was already getting late.

The bathroom door was made of frosted glass.

The light was on in the bathroom, but not in the bedroom.

As Jiang Qingli drew closer, she could vaguely make out the young man’s slender silhouette.

He seemed to be standing sideways, facing a mirror.

She couldn’t really see clearly, but Jiang Qingli couldn’t shake the feeling that she was peeping.

A bit of heat rose to her cheeks. She put away her terminal and walked a lap around the room.

Arriving at the bookshelf, her gaze swept over it and landed on a very familiar-looking book. It seemed to be the same one she kept on her bedside table to help her sleep.

She took the book down and flipped through a few pages.

Footsteps approached from behind. Yuan Shimo stood behind her and asked in a low voice, "What are you looking at?"

"I have this book, *Ancient Method of Raising Pigs, Cows, and Sheep*, too." Jiang Qingli waved the book in her hand. "A friend gave it to me. She said it’s great for helping you sleep. I didn’t expect you to be interested in animal husbandry."

Yuan Shimo just smiled.

’In truth, he wasn’t interested at all. He had only bought it because he saw her reading it.’

Jiang Qingli actually quite liked the book, so she opened it and read a few lines.

Just then, Yuan Shimo’s arms reached out from behind, loosely encircling her. His warm breath fell softly by her ear. "Can I ask you a question?"

"What is it?"

"That night... do you still... remember what happened?"

The girl turned to face him and blinked. "Which night was that, Cat Teacher?"

As she spoke, her eyes held an undisguised smile, and her earlobes were a lovely shade of pink.

Even though she was a little shy herself, she loved to tease him.

His well-defined fingers traced the side of her face, stroking it carefully with a tender affection.

She didn’t resist.

The pad of his thumb moved down, caressing her slightly parted, rosy lips, gently kneading the full curve of her Cupid’s bow.

Yuan Shimo lowered his gaze, his turquoise pupils reflecting her eyes.

He chuckled softly and asked:

"Do I have to repeat what we did for you to remember?"

"What— Mmph..."

She had wanted to tease him more, but she had barely uttered a few syllables before a searing kiss descended upon her.