Qin Xiao agreed to his mother’s request, preparing to visit the Su family the next day to apologize. The Su family, a reclusive clan, did not live in the bustling heart of the imperial capital. Instead, they had chosen a scenic valley with lush mountains and clear waters, where they built an expansive Chinese-style estate.
The next morning, Qin Xiao drove to the estate.
As the car slowly entered through the main gate, the bluestone-paved road was spotlessly clean. On either side, the meticulously pruned gardens exuded the fresh fragrance of plants, with the occasional clear chirping of birds, adding to the tranquil atmosphere. Unlike the heavily guarded Gu family, the Su family radiated a low-key luxury and deep heritage.
As soon as the car stopped, an energetic elderly butler in a modified Tang suit approached, his face beaming with unusual enthusiasm. “You must be Young Master Qin Xiao?”
Qin Xiao nodded.
The butler clapped his hands in excitement. “Ah! You’re finally here! Quick, go inform the young lady! Her precious treasure has come to her of his own accord!”
Precious treasure? Come to her of his own accord?
Qin Xiao’s brow arched slightly, a faint sense of strangeness flashing in his mind. This script… didn’t seem right.
Before he could think further, a blur of fiery red rushed at him, carrying a sharp gust of wind, and in the blink of an eye, it collided into him.
“Mm…” Qin Xiao felt his body slammed by great force, then enveloped in an astonishing softness and warmth. His breathing suddenly became difficult as a rich yet non-cloying fragrance filled his nose, its seductive charm swaying his mind.
He muttered instinctively, “Who turned off the lights…” and tried to struggle. “I can’t breathe…”
A charming voice, dripping with playful reproach, sounded by his ear. “Little darling, you’re finally here! I’ve been waiting for you forever—why did you take so long to come get me?”
Qin Xiao finally realized it wasn’t darkness blocking his sight—it was something far too… well-endowed. Tilting his head with effort, he finally saw the culprit.
A breathtaking beauty in a fiery red, form-fitting dress clung to him in an extremely intimate posture. Her figure was the very definition of alluring, her curves exquisite, and her long, slender legs coiled around his waist like a snake. Her arms looped tightly around his neck, and her full chest pressed unreservedly against his face, completing that earlier, shockingly forceful “facial cleanser.”
It was none other than Su Wanying, the Su family’s eldest daughter—renowned in the original novel for her sultry charm, and supposedly one of Ye Chen’s important harem members. But right now, there was no trace of the aloofness or calculation from the novel in her gaze toward Qin Xiao—only unabashed passion and obsession, as if she wanted to devour him whole.
Taking a deep breath, Qin Xiao forced himself to remain composed as the light of the [Negotiation Expert System] quietly stirred in his mind. First, he needed to free himself from this suffocating embrace. You are reading on NovelPing, the official source.
“Ahem… Miss Su, we—”
“Call me Wanying!” Su Wanying cut him off unhappily, tightening her arms further, her red lips almost brushing his ear. “You promised to come get me yesterday, but you stood me up—you deserve to be punished!”
Qin Xiao felt a headache coming on, especially with her strong, supple legs squeezing his waist even tighter. Forcing himself to calm down, he used the guiding ability granted by the [Negotiation Expert System], his tone warm yet carrying undeniable persuasion.
“Wanying, it’s true I was wrong not to come for you yesterday. But there was a reason—it wasn’t intentional.”
He briefly recounted what had happened at the Gu family, skillfully shifting the main blame onto the “rude, meddlesome” security guard Ye Chen, cleanly removing himself from fault.
Su Wanying’s brows arched sharply, her almond eyes widening. “What? A security guard actually dared block your way? And even lay hands on you?”
She released her legs from around his waist, though she still held his arm affectionately. “I’ll have someone check right away to see which blind fool it was!”
Lifting her stunning face, her eyes shimmered as she looked at Qin Xiao, her lips pursing in a coy pout. “But… since you’ve explained yourself so sincerely, I’ll forgive you!”
Before her words even faded, she rose on tiptoe, her warm, soft lips brushing his cheek like lightning—fleeting as a dragonfly touching water, yet searingly hot.
Qin Xiao’s body stiffened slightly, a faint electric current spreading from his cheek. Instinctively, he stepped back half a pace, putting a little distance between them, a faint frown creasing his brow. “Su… Wanying, men and women should maintain proper distance.”
Instead of being offended, Su Wanying burst into a silvery laugh, her body shaking and her chest surging with each movement, enough to make one’s head spin. “Little darling, are you shy?” She stepped forward again, looping her arm around his, pressing his firm arm tightly against the softness at her side, her fragrant breath teasing his senses. “We’re an engaged couple—what’s wrong with a kiss?”
Her eyes glinted with playful mischief. “Besides, is there any part of you I haven’t seen?”
Qin Xiao’s heart jolted. An engagement? Since when? And what did she mean by “any part I haven’t seen”? His mind flipped rapidly through his memories—nothing. This was a lot to take in.
Just then, in the midst of this ambiguous scene, a bone-chilling murderous intent shot toward them like a tangible force.
Qin Xiao’s gaze sharpened. The air seemed to freeze for a moment, then the killing intent surged like an erupting iceberg. Following its source, he saw a man in a security guard’s uniform not far from the estate gates, staring at them with eyes full of twisted rage. Veins bulged on his tightly clenched fists, and the murderous aura in his gaze was almost solid.
It was indeed him—Ye Chen! The young master of the Dragon King Hall, the king of mercenaries, now wearing the Su family’s security uniform, staring furiously at “his” woman being intimate with another man.
Su Wanying noticed the movement too. Following Qin Xiao’s gaze, she frowned slightly. She didn’t even look at Ye Chen seriously, merely giving him a casual glance filled with the natural arrogance of a pampered young lady and a trace of impatience.
“Hm? Who’s that? Sneaking around, and he even damaged our estate’s tiles—how rude.”
She looked at the butler beside her. “Butler, take note—have him pay for the damages.”
Then, as if the murderous aura meant nothing to her, she happily clung to Qin Xiao’s arm again. “Come on, little darling, I’ve had the kitchen prepare so many delicious things for you—let’s eat!”
Half dragged and half led, Qin Xiao walked deeper into the estate, waves surging in his heart. This plot… was completely off! Wasn’t Su Wanying supposed to become interested in Ye Chen, the “soldier king security guard,” and go through a bickering-lovers arc before falling for him? Why was she so proactive toward him instead, and even already engaged to the Qin family?
“System, what the hell is going on?” Qin Xiao called to Yun Yiyi in his mind.
[Uh… bzz… According to my database analysis… the current situation… might… might be due to a small… no, a very small, uncontrollable… data error?] Yun Yiyi’s voice was laced with static and uncertainty.
“A bug?” Qin Xiao’s mouth twitched. “I think you’re the biggest bug here.”
[Host! How can you say that to me! Bzz… I’m working hard on analyzing this! Hmph! I’ve decided—I’m going to… fix these corrupted data… and ignore you for half a day!]
And with that, Yun Yiyi went completely silent.
Qin Xiao sighed helplessly. It seemed the “plot” of this world had already begun to spiral wildly into the unknown because of his arrival and the system’s influence.
Still… feeling the astonishing softness and springiness pressing against his arm, and the alluring fragrance lingering at his nose, Qin Xiao thought maybe this “bug”… wasn’t so bad. At least, it was better than having the Dragon King stomp his face.
As for Ye Chen, still glaring furiously in place and cracking tiles like walnuts…
“Let him pay for the damages,” Qin Xiao echoed Su Wanying’s words in his mind, the corner of his lips curling faintly.