Inside the levitating car.
Jiang Qi was at the wheel while Jiang You sat in the passenger seat, her gaze lowered to the terminal in her hands. A single pearl barrette held back the long, pink hair above her ear, though a few strands still escaped, partially obscuring the side of her face.
The dazzling lights of the city at night streaked across her face, lending her a breathtaking beauty.
Jiang You felt incredibly awkward. ’After what happened last time, I thought we’d be avoiding each other, that our paths wouldn’t cross again. I can’t believe we just ran into each other.’
"What are you doing?" Jiang Qi asked, his tone unreadable.
Jiang You stiffened at his words. She pushed down her surging embarrassment and acted as if she’d forgotten what had happened between them, replying in a detached tone, "I’m messaging the butler to come pick me up."
The Star Police had told them earlier that after they gave their statements, they would have to call family to post bail before they could be released.
"That won’t be necessary," Jiang Qi said casually. "After you give your statement, I’ll take you home."
Jiang You’s fingers paused over her terminal. "Okay," she murmured.
Silence fell over them again.
Aside from a brief interaction at the last main family gathering, the two of them had never really spoken.
’After that last incident, I took the money he transferred to me and we both just pretended it never happened.’
’With a seven or eight-year age gap between us, it seems we have even less to talk about.’
On the drive to the police station, Jiang Qi didn’t ask her why she was at that kind of auction.
He took her to the station, where he handled the surprisingly brief and simple process. After signing some papers for her, he led her back outside.
The man was tall and well-built. He wore a black, close-fitting combat uniform that cinched at his lean, powerful waist. His gait was steady and strong.
Jiang You followed behind him silently, not having to do a thing.
Seeing Jiang You get to leave so soon after arriving, another man cried out indignantly, "Star Police! Hey, Star Police! How come she gets to leave right away? No statement, no paperwork! I’ve already paid my damn bail, but I’m still stuck here waiting for hours!"
"What’s all the shouting for!" a Star Police officer retorted, slamming his hand on the table. "If you had a high-ranking military officer as a guarantor, I’d let you go right now too! Now hurry up and finish your paperwork! Keep yelling, and I’ll make you wait a few more hours!"
The man finally shut up at the threat.
Jiang You, who had of course heard the commotion, glanced over at the man before her eyes returned to Jiang Qi walking ahead of her.
Her feelings were complicated.
They got back into the levitating car.
"Where do you live?" Jiang Qi asked.
Jiang You simply told him her address.
"Okay. We’ll get some dinner first, then I’ll take you home," Jiang Qi said, his expression unchanging. "Don’t come to these kinds of auctions again. The Empire is cracking down on them."
Jiang You’s brow furrowed. ’The Empire might be cracking down, but plenty of high-ranking nobles are secretly keeping Beast Slaves.’
"Okay," Jiang You replied noncommittally.
’I just agreed when my entourage asked me to come to an auction today. I didn’t ask for details, so I had no idea it was this kind of auction.’
Still, Jiang You didn’t bother to explain.
’This guy, Jiang Qi, was never even mentioned in the novel.’
’Or perhaps, since the novel’s perspective always followed the heroine, the family of a villainess like me naturally wouldn’t get a mention.’
At this thought, Jiang You couldn’t resist another glance at Jiang Qi’s sharply defined profile and his deep-set eyes.
’He’s so handsome, it’s a shame he wasn’t a male lead.’
’Then again, there are plenty of handsome people in the world. They can’t all be male leads, can they?’
With that thought, Jiang You averted her gaze and stopped overthinking it.
’Still, I want to go straight home. I don’t want to have dinner with Jiang Qi.’
’The longer I stay with him, the more awkward I feel.’
"Uncle, could you just take me straight home?" Jiang You said, looking out the window before turning to the man driving beside her. "I’d like to get back soon."
Hearing this, Jiang Qi’s amber eyes shifted. He seemed to understand why she wanted to go home so quickly. ’She must still be hung up on what happened last time and doesn’t want to be around me.’
His stern brow furrowed slightly, and his lips tightened into a thin line.
’What happened last time was an accident, but it was still my fault.’
’If I had controlled myself, if my head had been clearer, I would have understood the situation before I made that mistake. Then it never would have happened.’
"Alright," Jiang Qi agreed.
However, halfway home, he stopped to get a takeout dinner and handed it to her. "Eat this when you get back."
Jiang You hesitated for a moment before taking it.
On the drive back, Jiang Qi made small talk like a proper elder. "What year of high school are you in?"
Jiang You was left speechless.
"Uncle, I’m a freshman in college," Jiang You replied quietly.
Jiang Qi only paused for a moment, not seeming embarrassed. He casually continued, "Ah. Which school?"
"Rose Liss School," Jiang You answered.
"How are your grades?" Jiang Qi carried on like a concerned elder. Beyond these standard questions, he didn’t know what else to say. After all, with a seven or eight-year age gap, he had no idea what to talk about with young women these days.
Moreover, they had barely interacted before, so he knew even less about his niece.
"They’re fine," Jiang You replied.
"Good. Study hard." Jiang Qi was deliberately keeping a polite, formal distance from her.
He truly just wanted a simple uncle-niece relationship with her and was trying his best to repair that bond.
He didn’t want to cross that line.
Jiang You didn’t mind. ’It was just an accidental kiss, anyway. It’s best to just pretend it never happened.’
Besides, Jiang Qi was being so earnest about it; there was no need for her to keep dwelling on it.
Jiang Qi dropped her off at her luxury villa. With his long lashes half-lowered, he gave her some simple, avuncular advice. "Go home, eat well, and get some sleep. And stay away from seedy places in the future."
"Okay," Jiang You agreed, though she had no intention of actually staying away.
’To maintain my character’s persona, I have to go to nightclubs with my entourage at least a few times.’
Jiang Qi’s amber eyes softened slightly. He thought his niece seemed quite well-behaved; she had probably just been led astray by a bad crowd. "Your parents won’t find out about this, and neither will the main family. Go on home and get some rest."
’If my family found out, I’d probably be forced to kneel in the ancestral hall.’
"Thank you, Uncle," Jiang You said softly.
Jiang Qi recalled the fawning boy he had seen with Jiang You, and his brow furrowed. A flash of irritation went through him for some reason, and he added, "And try to avoid making friends with shady characters in the future."
"Okay," Jiang You replied.
’I’ll just agree for now and worry about the future later.’
Finally, Jiang Qi drove away in his levitating car.
Jiang You watched him leave and breathed a sigh of relief.
Her terminal buzzed. She saw it was a message from Jiang Qi, sent just after he had left.
Jiang Qi: If you need anything in the future, you can come to me.
Jiang You: Thank you, Uncle.