CREAK—

The door was opened slowly and closed just as cautiously.

Bai Yiyi walked into the lavish, exquisite lounge and immediately saw the young man sitting on the sofa.

Jiang Youchen was leaning against the back of the sofa, his chin propped on one hand. His posture was casual, but his jet-black eyes were cold and somber, like snow that never melted.

He didn’t even raise an eyebrow as he watched her enter, seemingly unsurprised.

It was as if... he knew she would show up.

Bai Yiyi’s heart skipped a beat, a guilty feeling of being seen through flashing through her, but it was quickly replaced by delight.

’Has Jiang Youchen been waiting for me this whole time?’

’He really can’t resist the allure of the protagonist’s halo!’

At this thought, Bai Yiyi’s heart pounded. Her fingers tightened around the glass in excitement, and the clear liquid sloshed, refracting a sinister light under the lamp.

The system prompted her speechlessly: [Stop daydreaming and get him to drink the water. After he drinks it, wait for him to enter his estrus period, bind him as a conquest target, make the situation irreversible, and then, while he’s lost in a haze of passion, make him eat the Charming Fruit!]

[Recently, the affection level of your conquest target, Ling Qing, has been continuously dropping. You must conquer Jiang Youchen!]

Ling Qing had become much quieter lately, and his affection level kept dropping. Fortunately, she had made up for it by interacting with Helian Sheng over the past few days.

Now that the system brought it up, Bai Yiyi thought disdainfully, ’So what if Ling Qing’s affection level dropped? I have the Charming Fruit. What level of affection can’t I grind for?’

Straightening her hair, Bai Yiyi put on a smile and walked over with the glass and a dessert, crouching down beside Jiang Youchen.

She tilted her face up, her expression full of concern. "Brother Youchen, I was looking for you downstairs for a long time. I heard you were resting, so I came over. You don’t look well. Are you not feeling okay? I made you some lemonade and brought a dessert..."

Bai Yiyi’s voice was soft and delicate, and after using the "Doe Eyes" prop, her eyes shimmered with moisture.

Jiang Youchen took the glass, his eyes utterly black as he stared at the water inside.

The knuckles of his other hand, resting on the armrest, tapped intermittently as if he were waiting for something.

His silence made Bai Yiyi’s heart pound nervously; she had a nagging feeling that he had seen through her.

Just as she was about to urge him, she saw Jiang Youchen sit up slightly.

’Is he going to drink it?’

The corners of Bai Yiyi’s lips curled up, but then she heard a loud BANG from behind her.

—The door had suddenly been thrown open from the outside!

They both looked up at the same time, their eyes meeting the girl standing in the doorway.

Bai Yiyi barely managed to stop herself from cursing out loud.

’Why is it this Jiang Qingli again?!’

’Why does she have to show up everywhere and ruin my plans?!’

"Sister Qingli, what are you doing here?"

Bai Yiyi forced herself to remain calm as she stood up. She took a few steps forward, blocking most of the young man’s figure behind her, and looked at Jiang Qingli with a hint of repulsion. "Are you here to see me?"

Jiang Qingli ignored her, walked into the room, and stared intently at the young man. "What is in your hand?"

Jiang Youchen avoided her gaze, his voice slightly hoarse. "Water."

Afraid this cannon fodder would ruin her plans again, Bai Yiyi quickly interjected, "Sister Qingli, I saw Brother Youchen was in the lounge, so I made him some lemonade and brought over a small cake."

She continued, "It’s alright, Sister Qingli. You can go back to having fun with the Prince. I’ll take care of Brother Youchen here..."

Jiang Qingli’s gaze grew even colder. Too lazy to even bicker, she said flatly, "Do you really think I won’t do anything to you?"

Meeting the girl’s sharp gaze, Bai Yiyi’s heart trembled.

But the thought that she would one day be Jiang Qingli’s sister-in-law gave her a renewed sense of confidence.

’She can act all high and mighty now.’

’After tonight, let’s see what right she has to be so arrogant!’

Bai Yiyi forced a wronged expression onto her face. When she turned back, she was delighted to see that Jiang Youchen had actually lifted the glass.

The young man’s Adam’s apple bobbed as the water in the glass quickly diminished.

Seeing this, the corners of Bai Yiyi’s lips curled up. But the next second, she felt a cold splash on her face.

It took her two seconds to realize—

Jiang Qingli had snatched the glass and thrown the remaining water in her face!

As if that wasn’t enough, before Bai Yiyi could even retaliate, Jiang Qingli grabbed the cake, pried her mouth open, and shoved it inside!

Her mouth was stuffed with cake, and the cream smeared her exquisite makeup, leaving her an utter mess.

Bai Yiyi hadn’t expected Jiang Qingli’s sudden outburst. Afraid of ruining her image in Jiang Youchen’s eyes, she covered her face, pushed Jiang Qingli away, and ran screaming into the lounge’s restroom.

The door slammed shut, leaving only the two of them in the room.

After her impulsive actions, Jiang Qingli rushed over to Jiang Youchen. Grabbing his shoulders, she shook him, her voice frantic. "Spit it out! Quickly!"

Jiang Youchen grabbed her wrists, his dark eyes somber. "Are you worried about me?"

His voice was very soft, so low it was almost inaudible.

The skin of his wrist felt hotter than normal, like a brand, and Jiang Qingli yanked her hands back.

She looked at his impassive expression; he didn’t seem concerned at all about whether there was something wrong with the water.

The thought of him so casually drinking something someone else gave him made a nameless anger flare up inside her.

Her voice tightened. "I was just looking for my mother. Since she’s not here, I’ll be going."

"She’s waiting for you in Lounge 001."

Jiang Youchen stood up, raised his hand, and gently touched the side of her face, wiping away the cream Bai Yiyi had gotten on her.

As he leaned in, his breath close, Jiang Qingli felt a strange sensation. She covered her face, turned, and left.

Her steps were even faster than when she had arrived.

The sound of the door closing was hurried.

「Inside the restroom.」

While fixing her makeup, Bai Yiyi opened the door a crack to peek outside.

At some point, Jiang Youchen had gotten up from the sofa.

He was standing in place, looking down at his own hand, completely still.

But what surprised Bai Yiyi the most was—

He was actually smiling.

Jiang Youchen had naturally severe features and always projected a low-pressure, unapproachable aura.

But when he smiled, it was like a melting iceberg, a sign of spring’s return.

Bai Yiyi was mesmerized.

In her line of sight, Jiang Youchen strode out on his long legs.

The system grew anxious: [Hurry and chase him! He’s already showing signs of going into estrus!]

Bai Yiyi looked at herself in the mirror: [What’s the rush? He didn’t drink much. The drug will take half an hour to kick in.]

[Don’t you have control of the surveillance? Wait until he’s about to lose control, then give me his location so I can go.]

[For now, I should prepare a big surprise for Jiang Qingli.]

System: [Never mind that cannon... KSSSHH—If you delay... things will... you must...]

The electronic voice suddenly became glitchy and fragmented, unable to form complete sentences.

Bai Yiyi paid it no mind. She took out her terminal and sent a message to Su Jue: [Honey, Jiang Qingli is over by the lounges.]

Bai Yiyi: [She’s going to find Jiang Yi now, so it’s not a good time to make a move. But when the banquet is over, I’ll find a way to get her to you.]

Su Jue replied instantly: [My baby is the one who really cares about me.]

[Don’t worry, baby. I’m just playing around with her. You’re the one I’m serious about.]

Bai Yiyi couldn’t help but sneer.

’Before yesterday, Su Jue’s affection level was already at 92%. Even so, that playboy was still constantly fooling around on the side.’

’She had accidentally discovered that Su Jue was very interested in Jiang Qingli.’

’Yesterday, when she told Su Jue she could help him get a room with Jiang Qingli, his affection level had immediately jumped by 3%.’

Looking at her own ruined makeup in the mirror, Bai Yiyi’s eyes turned sinister.

’Since that bitch Jiang Qingli loves snatching men from her so much...’

’...then she might as well let her screw all the men she wants!’

Even before arriving, Bai Yiyi had arranged for paparazzi disguised as waiters to infiltrate the banquet.

She was just waiting for Su Jue and Jiang Qingli to be halfway through before they would burst in and take pictures.

Those old-timers from the main branch of the Jiang Family cared about nothing more than their reputation.

She’d like to see how Jiang Qingli could possibly return to the Jiang Family smoothly after an affair scandal spread throughout the entire interstellar network!