Jiang You raised her wrist and looked at her terminal. She saw another incoming call from Shen Lan, and also a message from a little while ago.
It was a message from Xi Cheng, asking how she was doing.
’I should probably call Shen Lan back first.’ She hadn’t answered when he called while she was kissing Xi Cheng. Then Mrs. Qin had taken her to eat with her uncle, and she’d forgotten all about it.
’If I don’t call him back soon, that guy might just come looking for me.’
But Jiang You remembered the person beside her and turned to look at Jiang Qi. "Uncle, is it okay if I take this call?"
Jiang Qi glanced at her and said slowly, "Do I look that scary? You have to ask my permission to answer your phone?"
Jiang You paused, then said softly, "Then I’ll take this call."
Jiang Qi said nothing more.
His amber eyes seemed to be staring aimlessly ahead, but his mind was filled with the image of the young woman’s swollen, red lips—vivid and piercing.
’It’s been so long, yet her lips are still so red and swollen.’
A wave of inexplicable frustration washed over him.
He remembered that night at the main family’s residence when he had mistakenly kissed her.
The sweet scent of peaches and her unique, girlish fragrance had enveloped him.
He remembered how soft and sweet her lips were.
Just a brief taste, yet it was branded into his mind like fire.
’That person is her boyfriend. It’s only natural.’
’And I’m just her uncle, with no real title or standing, someone who’s barely spoken a few words to her.’
’We’re not related by blood, but I still carry the title of ’uncle’.’
The fire inside Jiang Qi seemed to burn with even more frustration. His large, well-defined hand tightened on the steering wheel, his knuckles and the blue veins on his hand standing out.
Beside him, Jiang You answered Shen Lan’s call, quietly lowering the volume.
The moment she picked up, Shen Lan’s voice came through. "Why’d it take you so long to answer?"
"I was just talking with my uncle. He’s driving me back to school now," Jiang You said, blinking slowly.
On the holographic screen, Shen Lan looked at Jiang You. He wanted to ask why she hadn’t answered when he called her that afternoon.
But now was clearly not a good time to ask, not with her uncle right there.
His gaze fell on her slightly swollen lips, and his eyes couldn’t help but redden slightly. He could barely restrain himself from asking her, ’Why are your lips so swollen and red?’
But Shen Lan still held himself back.
"Babe, call me back when you get to school," Shen Lan said finally.
"Okay," Jiang You agreed with a nod.
’After all, now isn’t the time to talk. My uncle is still right here.’
Jiang You hung up.
"Boyfriend?" Jiang Qi asked, as if casually. His voice was inexplicably hoarse.
Jiang You froze for a second, then nodded. "Yeah."
The two of them fell silent again.
Jiang Qi drove her back to school. He stood at the school gate, watching her go inside before driving away.
His terminal rang. The lively voice of one of his subordinates came through. "Boss, want to come hang out? We’re at Wuse Bar."
Jiang Qi didn’t feel like going at first, but it seemed there was nothing for him to do back at the house either.
The mission this time was simple enough: assist the local Star Police in arresting some people who were illegally trafficking Deformed Beasts and Beast Slaves.
He had been assigned official quarters, yet for some reason, he had ended up staying at Jiang You’s home.
’Maybe it’s because it felt like it had been a long time since we’d seen each other.’
’Once this mission is over, it’ll be a long time before I come back from the military district.’
"Boss, Boss, hurry up and come! You’re the only one who’s not here," the person on the terminal said enthusiastically.
Jiang Qi snapped out of his daze and replied, "Okay."
It wasn’t time to alert the targets for the mission yet, so there was nothing pressing to do. Going out with his subordinates was fine. Besides, he was in a genuinely bad mood.
The moment he thought of the image of the young woman kissing another man, a restless agitation spread through his entire body.
He drove to Wuse Bar.
Inside the private room, a group of people were all playing their own games, while some were showing off their singing skills.
"Boss Qi, over here!" A young man shot up from his seat to lead him over.
"Boss, want to play cards?" another young man asked enthusiastically.
"No, you guys go ahead." Jiang Qi sat down in a corner and lit a cigarette.
The others didn’t press him and went back to their own activities.
So Jiang Qi just sat there, smoking and downing one glass of alcohol after another.
The aura around him was tense and agitated.
Everyone else noticed something was off.
"Do you guys also think something’s wrong with Boss Qi?" the black-haired young man whispered, leaning toward another.
"Isn’t it obvious? His face practically screams ’someone owes me millions of Star Coins’," the other young man retorted in a low voice. "He usually only has one drink. How many has he had now?"
"Who’s gonna go test the waters and ask?" another person spoke up.
Everyone looked at each other. No one dared to go.
There was a knock on the private room’s door.
The black-haired young man quickly went to open it. ’Who could be knocking? It’s just us from Zone Three here.’
The door opened.
A man who looked like a minor boss was smiling obsequiously. "I heard Commander Jiang is here? I happen to have a few beauties with me, thought I’d bring them over to liven things up for you all."
As he spoke, he offered up his business card. "This is my card. Hope you’ll remember me."
The black-haired young man, Lin Shuo, instantly understood. This guy wanted to get acquainted with Boss Qi.
’But we’re decent people.’
’Bringing in women, and right in front of Boss Qi? Does he want his legs broken?’
Lin Shuo was just about to refuse righteously.
Just then, Jiang Qi’s voice drawled, "Fine. Bring the card over."
The man’s eyes lit up. He walked straight past the stunned Lin Shuo, happily went inside, and handed the card to Jiang Qi. "Commander Jiang, my surname is Jin. I’m Jin Dahua, from Jinda Ji Trading Company. This is my card."
Jiang Qi didn’t take it. His sharp features were unreadable in the dim light. "Just put it on the table."
"Yes, yes, of course." The man nodded hurriedly, carefully placing the card on the glass table. He perceptively waved the few beauties in. "Enjoy yourselves, Commander Jiang. I’ll take my leave now."
He just wanted to make an acquaintance. As long as he got a word in, he would have an excuse to approach him again in the future.
The man left, and three scantily clad beauties came and sat down beside Jiang Qi. But the man’s imposing aura was so sharp that for a moment, they didn’t dare approach him.
The others from Zone Three looked at each other, watching the scene in disbelief.
Who was their boss? He was completely uninterested in women, didn’t even have a girlfriend. He was either on a mission or on his way to one.
’What’s going on now?’
One of the women, gazing at Jiang Qi’s handsome face, boldly reached out to touch his chest. Her hand landed on his shirt, and she wasn’t rejected. Just as she was about to slip her hand under the fabric to touch his skin, her wrist was suddenly grabbed.
Jiang Qi yanked her away and stood up from the sofa. His face was extremely dark as he said flatly, "Get them out of here."
With that, he left the private room.
’What on earth was I trying to prove just now?’
’To prove that it’s impossible for me to like my own niece, even if we’re not related by blood? That I’m just a man who’s gone without a woman for too long and just happened to want one?’
’But the result is, I have no appetite at all for the long, exposed legs and half-bared chests next to me. In fact, it’s rather nauseating.’