Chapter 140: Chapter 140: She’s Bad, but Addictive

Bai Yiyi shrieked, unable to bear the vomit splattered on her dress.

Hearing her shriek, Ling Qing tried to speak, to either explain or soothe her, but before any sound could escape, his heart seized in a piercing spasm.

Overwhelmed by the pain, Ling Qing’s eyes rolled back in his head as he collapsed forward.

As the male—a full head taller than her—toppled onto her, Bai Yiyi nearly lost her footing. It was only thanks to Yu Chenglan, who steadied her from the side.

Fighting back her disgust, Bai Yiyi helped Yu Chenglan move Ling Qing onto the bed.

After unhurriedly bathing and changing her clothes, Bai Yiyi returned to Ling Qing’s bedroom.

Yu Chenglan was sitting on the edge of the bed, head bowed as he checked on Ling Qing. Hearing her enter, he asked, "You ran into Jiang Qingli at the amusement park, didn’t you?"

Bai Yiyi followed his lead, her voice soft and weak. "We... we did see Sister Qingli and her group. Ling Qing’s expression soured right then, but I never thought... What on earth is wrong with him?"

’Jiang Qingli again.’

Yu Chenglan’s eyes narrowed.

The last time, when Chi Yun suddenly started vomiting, it was also after an encounter with Jiang Qingli.

’What tricks did that woman use to torment two S-rank males into this state?’

’Could it be poison?’

’But everyone in the interstellar community knew she used to adore the five of them. Why would she try to harm them now?’

’Did love curdle into hate? Is she just bitter? Or... does she know that the five of us were behind what happened in the Underground City, and now she wants revenge?’

’If it’s the last one, then we can’t let her live...’ 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

A dark look flashed in Yu Chenglan’s eyes, but when Bai Yiyi took his hand, his expression instantly smoothed. He offered a reassuring smile. "Don’t be afraid, Yiyi. Ling Qing’s pollution value is just elevated."

Bai Yiyi breathed a sigh of relief. She guessed that seeing Jiang Qingli had agitated Ling Qing by reminding him of how she used to pester him.

Yu Chenglan stood up and leaned close to her ear. "With your Superpower, you can take care of this in less than half an hour. I’ll go draw a bath for you. I’ll help you properly relax later..."

"Leave it to me! I’m your female master. I’ll be sure to do my duty," Bai Yiyi replied with a confident smile.

After Yu Chenglan left, Bai Yiyi moved closer to Ling Qing, preparing to enter his Spiritual Domain.

However, the moment her spiritual power touched the edge of Ling Qing’s Spiritual Domain, it was violently thrown back by a powerful force!

The Spiritual Domain of an offensive-type male is extremely dangerous, especially when he’s unconscious. No matter how high the Match Value, rejection can cause spiritual damage.

Bai Yiyi clutched her forehead, dizzy and seeing spots.

Thinking it was an accident, she tried again, only to be repelled once more.

It was as if Ling Qing’s Spiritual Domain was instinctively rejecting her.

’How is this possible? My Match Value with Ling Qing is very high, and this has never happened before!’

Refusing to accept it, Bai Yiyi tried several more times, but every attempt ended in failure.

Her spiritual power was severely damaged. The persistent ringing in her ears and the unending headache grated on her fragile nerves.

Before she could figure out what was going on, the system’s broadcast suddenly blared in her mind—

[WARNING! WARNING!]

[Target ’Ling Qing’ Favorability: -20. Penalty: Host Beauty Value -10! Host Charm Value -10!]

[Item ’Angel Healing Smile’ has been frozen for one week!]

[Item ’Slender Jade Finger’ has been frozen for one week!]

[Item ’Devil’s Waist’ has been frozen for one week!]

[Superpower has been downgraded for one month!]

As the string of electronic, mechanical announcements echoed in her mind, Bai Yiyi clutched her head and let out a pained scream.

「Outside the window, the starry sky was brilliant.」

The moon hung high, casting down its serene, bright light, utterly unaffected.

Qin Muye took his hands away from the girl’s eyes and whispered in her ear, "We’re here."

Jiang Qingli opened her eyes to find herself in an unfamiliar place.

It was an apartment. Aside from a pile of weapons in one corner, the room held only basic furniture, but it was very neat. Moonlight spilled through the floor-to-ceiling windows, pooling at their feet.

"Where are we?" Jiang Qingli guessed. "Your secret base?"

Qin Muye’s lips curled into a smile. "I like the sound of that."

This was the place he came to whenever he was troubled.

No one knew about it but him.

Jiang Qingli was the first person besides him to ever set foot in here.

Flicking on the lights, Qin Muye grabbed two cans of sparkling water from the fridge, popped one open, and handed it to Jiang Qingli.

They sat side-by-side on the unconventional sofa and clinked their cans together.

Jiang Qingli took a sip of her sparkling water. Remembering the touching moment from earlier, she smiled and asked, "What made you decide to write that message?"

At the mention of it, Qin Muye stiffened.

The truth was, when the Imperial Family’s firework supplier asked him what he wanted to write, he’d thought for a long time before finally managing to squeeze out, "Jiang Qingli, I hope you’re happy every day."

He had no idea who polished it afterward, turning his simple words into something so sappy...

But seeing how happy she was, Qin Muye decided it was better not to tell her the truth.

’Best not let her think I’m the kind of guy who can’t even say a few sweet words.’

There was no need to continue this conversation. Qin Muye wanted to do something else entirely.

The young man braced one hand beside her, leaning in close.

The distance between them shrank in an instant. Their breaths ghosted across each other’s faces, tickling the skin.

He stared at the girl, and with a burst of courage from god-knows-where, he said bluntly, "I want to kiss you again."

Jiang Qingli finished the last of her sparkling water and tossed the empty can into the trash bin.

THUD.

As the can hit the bottom, her voice rang out—

"Just a kiss?"

"Don’t you want to do more with me?"

The corners of the girl’s smiling eyes seemed to hold tiny hooks. Qin Muye’s breath hitched. Realizing he’d been granted more privileges for the night, he cradled the back of her head and pulled her into a kiss.

He kissed her lips forcefully, as if trying to devour her whole.

His fingers slid beneath the hem of her shirt.

The moment his fingertips brushed against the delicate skin of her waist, Qin Muye was struck by a wave of bashfulness, the kind of nervous trepidation one feels when finally approaching a long-awaited destination. He paused for a few seconds, and Jiang Qingli seized the opportunity to reach up and stroke his face.

As the girl’s soft fingertips caressed his cheek, Qin Muye’s face grew hot. He fought back the urge to nip at them and asked, "What are you feeling for?"

Jiang Qingli replied with a perfectly straight face, "To see if you’re having a nosebleed."

Qin Muye: "..."

’She’s never going to let that go, is she?’

The quick-tempered snow leopard truly couldn’t hold back this time. He opened his mouth and nipped her fingers, but his bite was gentle. After a couple of soft nibbles, he let go.

Pulling back slightly, he didn’t immediately resume the kiss. Instead, he said:

"You still haven’t answered me."

"Hm?"

She squinted at him, her eyes curving into crescents.

Qin Muye met her gaze for a few seconds before lowering his head and burying his face in the crook of her neck, his hot breath washing over her skin.

His fingers curled nervously, his palms growing clammy.

Jiang Qingli seemed to chuckle. "Why’d you stop?"

It would have been fine if she’d stayed quiet, but the moment she spoke, Qin Muye knew. That little "hm?" just now—she was playing dumb.

’Jiang Qingli understood everything perfectly, but she just wanted to make him say it out loud.’

’So wicked.’

Qin Muye frowned, but he couldn’t bring himself to resent her in the slightest.

’She was always like this.’

After frowning for a long moment, the young man, knowing full well he held none of the cards, finally spoke in a low, tight voice, "Do you like...?"

"I do."

Jiang Qingli tilted her head to kiss the puppy’s bright red ear, then continued in a light, cheerful tone right next to it.

Qin Muye’s heart leaped.

But before the rich wave of joy could crest, he heard her tone shift as she continued—

"I like the fireworks, the surprises, and the roses."

The corners of Qin Muye’s mouth, which had just begun to lift, drooped further and further down the more he listened. His brow furrowed so deeply it looked like a knot. He asked stiffly, "And?"

"And what else?"

She blinked, her eyelashes like a pair of tiny fans.

Qin Muye’s thin lips pressed into a firm line.

’Playing dumb again.’

’She knows exactly which words he wants to hear most.’

’Wicked.’

The young man opened his mouth, on the verge of lodging a complaint, but she cupped his face in her hands once again.

Her eyes seemed to be filled with stars as she smiled and said, word by word—

"Out of all the gifts I received today, my favorite is Qin Muye."