Chapter 169: Chapter 169: When Two Males Fight, the Kitten Profits

Meeting the handsome fox’s somewhat aggrieved gaze, Jiang Qingli’s sleepiness finally vanished.

She had been so busy lately that she had almost forgotten about it.

Jiang Qingli lowered her head in embarrassment, hooking her finger around Baili Jing’s and swinging it gently a few times.

It was just like when she was a child, trying to charm an elder after getting into mischief.

’His girl hadn’t changed at all.’

The smile in Baili Jing’s eyes deepened. He couldn’t bear to tease her any longer, so he leaned over to kiss the corner of her eye, pulling her into his arms. His voice was gentle as he asked:

"So... do you still want to go?"

"Mhm, let’s go." Jiang Qingli nodded eagerly, like a little chick pecking at rice.

Baili Jing chuckled by her ear and kissed her forehead.

After breakfast, on the way to the academy, Baili Jing installed the necessary permissions on Jiang Qingli’s terminal.

The production team was very strict with access, so he gave his family pass authorization to Jiang Qingli.

Gu Nian, who was sitting on Jiang Qingli’s other side, blinked upon hearing this. "Mr. Baili, can I go?"

Baili Jing’s eyes curved, but there was no mirth in them. "Xiao Gu, it’s not good to be too clingy to your female master."

The corner of Gu Nian’s eye twitched.

’That vixen had the nerve to call *him* clingy?’

The most intimate thing he had done since arriving at the Jiang Family residence was kiss her hand, and that was while she was fast asleep.

Meanwhile, Baili Jing seized every possible opportunity to squeeze his way in front of her, day in and day out.

’He only picked tomorrow because he knew Qin Muye was busy and wanted to snatch Wednesday, didn’t he?’

’And don’t think I don’t know that vixen recently bought another four or five boxes of clothes just to please her.’

After cursing the vixen several times over in his head, Gu Nian put on a hurt expression. "Mr. Baili, you’ve misunderstood. I’m participating in the performance for the Beast God Festival this time, so I just wanted to learn a bit... If you’re not willing, then never mind."

Baili Jing narrowed his eyes, clearly not expecting this move.

There was indeed a performance for the Beast God Festival.

It was usually a stage play depicting the magnificent and brilliant life of the Beast God.

Casting was very strict, but Gu Nian’s status as a specially admitted student was unique.

The Imperial Royal Academy primarily recruited from the Upper City District but had always been sensitive to public opinion. They likely let specially admitted students participate to avoid accusations of discrimination from the Lower District.

Baili Jing wasn’t interested in the life of his romantic rival. He just smiled. "I’m sorry, Xiao Gu. The production team is very strict, and I only have one family pass."

Jiang Qingli, however, was quite interested to hear that one of her Beast Husbands was in the play. "What role are you playing?"

Gu Nian lowered his head and smiled shyly. "Well... I don’t know yet. They just told me to go to the theater today."

Jiang Qingli thought it was quite a coincidence. "When will you be done? I’m also going to the theater today to look over the script and plans. We can go home together afterward."

"Of course, Qingli."

Gu Nian’s eyes curved into crescents, and he shot a glance at the man across from them through his lashes.

Out of the girl’s sight, the males exchanged cold smiles, secretly vying for dominance.

***

"I can’t believe it, I just can’t believe it! Mr. Baili actually agreed to our invitation! He’s going to be a consultant for the stage play!"

"If I’d known he’d agree so easily, I would’ve asked him sooner! We could have done so much more promotion beforehand..."

That afternoon, downstairs at the Imperial Royal Academy’s Qianyang Theater, Ke An clutched her hands to her heart, overcome with excitement.

The male behind her sighed. "Vice President, you’ve already said that several times. Let’s just hurry inside..."

Ke An clicked her tongue. "Yuan Shiyao isn’t here yet, so how can we go in? If Mr. Baili sees our group isn’t complete, he’ll think we’re not taking this seriously! My appointment with Mr. Baili is at one-thirty. Hurry up and call him!"

Ai Bin said sullenly, "But our meeting with the Melt Star Association is at three. Now that we’ve suddenly moved it up, the Secretary is definitely going to chew us out..."

"Heh, the only thing he doesn’t complain about are matters related to Jiang Qingli."

As she spoke, Ke An sent a message to Yuan Shiyao.

They had approached many big names in the arts and literature world to be consultants for the stage play, but Xie Guanqi had been dissatisfied with all of them.

Ke An had sent an email to Baili Jing without much hope. In previous years, he had always refused. Who would have thought he’d actually agree this time!

Not only did Baili Jing have a huge fanbase, but he was also an outstanding graduate of the Royal Academy and a former student council president. His participation would undoubtedly be great publicity.

After hanging up, Ke An quickly checked the script again, afraid there might be a mistake somewhere.

"Ke An, why do you care so much about a married male?" Ai Bin said, a jealous edge to his voice. "No matter how much you like him, it’s impossible now."

"Can you stop spreading baseless rumors?" Ke An rolled her eyes. "He said he had someone he liked when he debuted and never tried to market himself as available. We fans love his performances on stage. His marriage just means he has someone with him now, which is a good thing, as long as it doesn’t affect his movies."

Ai Bin was in awe. "Holy crap, you’re a true career-first fan!"

Five minutes later, Yuan Shiyao made his belated appearance.

The young man’s face wore a clear look of displeasure, and he was as cold and detached as ever.

Ke An had just received a message that Baili Jing had arrived, so she hastily led them upstairs.

When they reached the third floor, they found that Baili Jing wasn’t in the office. Instead, he was standing by the floor-to-ceiling windows on the west side.

He was looking down, and his expression seemed grim.

This area connected to the backstage, and the window offered a full view of the theater below.

Yuan Shiyao remembered that people were auditioning down there today.

’What is he looking at?’

’Is he watching the junior members perform, or... is he looking at Jiang Qingli?’

’Did she arrive early?’

At the thought of her name, Yuan Shiyao’s heart skipped a beat.

Even some of the displeasure on his face faded away.

Ke An walked up and greeted Baili Jing.

Although the vice president was prone to gushing in private, she maintained her composure in front of Baili Jing and didn’t seem overly excited.

But as she led the way to the office, her steps were so light they could have been flying.

Yuan Shiyao stepped forward, his gaze following to where Baili Jing had just been looking.

Just before Yuan Shiyao could turn his head, Baili Jing suddenly spoke. "Let’s go. We can talk backstage."

His attempt to stop him made it seem like he was hiding something.

Yuan Shiyao’s gaze followed Baili Jing’s down below, and his breath hitched—

Inside the theater.

Jiang Qingli, who had arrived at some point, was sitting in a back row, looking toward the stage.

The girl was wearing an aqua-blue long dress, looking fresh and radiant.

Yuan Shiyao unconsciously curled his lips into a smile, but as his gaze shifted slightly, he frowned.

The young man sitting beside Jiang Qingli was none other than Yuan Shimo.

Yuan Shimo’s eyes were downcast, his expression gentle.

Suddenly, Jiang Qingli said something, then raised a hand to brush the pads of her fingers against his eyelashes.

The young man didn’t flinch, letting her fingertips toy with his long lashes as the tips of his ears turned bright red.

Though this scene was unfolding in the audience, the two of them looked more like the protagonists than anyone on stage.

Yuan Shiyao’s eyes stung. He suppressed his emotions and turned to look at the man across from him.

Baili Jing gave him a helpless smile, one that seemed to say, ’I told you not to look. Now see? You looked, and you’re unhappy.’

But Yuan Shiyao wasn’t an idiot; he knew Baili Jing had done it on purpose.

He had purposely stood here, purposely made him watch this intimate scene between his own brother and Jiang Qingli.

Secretary Yuan’s face was cold as he flashed a mocking smile. "Mr. Baili, you’re truly magnanimous. You don’t even bat an eye seeing your female master with another male."

"Actually, I’m a very petty man," Baili Jing said with a smile. "It’s just that I’m past the age of getting into jealous squabbles with children."

His meaning was clear: in his eyes, the two Yuan Clan brothers were just children who couldn’t possibly cause any real trouble.

Yuan Shiyao raised an eyebrow, his tone sharp. "That’s understandable. A man of your age, Mr. Baili, would naturally have little in common with her."

Faced with the provocation from an outsider trying to usurp his position, Baili Jing merely smiled, his expression tolerant and gentle.

"She’s still young. She doesn’t understand what’s truly right for her. It’s inevitable she’d be dazzled by the flashy, fleeting world outside."

"Fast food from the outside is just a temporary novelty. Once she’s had her fill, she’ll realize that a home-cooked meal is what’s truly comforting."

Yuan Shiyao: "..."

’He really should have kept Ke An here to see this. To see how the famous movie star, the so-called "Noble Young Master," acts like a feudal matriarch behind closed doors, issuing baseless warnings.’

The corridor fell deathly silent.

The CRACKLE of igniting sparks seemed to hang in the air as the two males stared coldly at each other.

And yet, at the exact same moment, both of their gazes fell upon the man and woman below.

As if sensing something, Jiang Qingli stopped teasing her ’kitten’ and tilted her head in their direction.

Anticipating her gaze, the two males, who had just been at loggerheads, softened their expressions, their backs straightening in an instant.

However, a second before Jiang Qingli could raise her eyes—

Yuan Shimo suddenly raised a hand to cup the girl’s face, pulling her into his embrace.