After Saving The Disabled Villain, I Was Attacked In Return! - Chapter 60

Qi An hesitated for a moment, but she continued walking, albeit at a slower pace, seemingly adjusting to Jiang Yu’s speed.

Jiang Yu followed Qi An to the lakeside, tears welling in her eyes. “Qi An, do you even care if I live or die?” she sobbed.

Even now, the person ahead seemed to pretend not to hear. Jiang Yu steeled herself and took a step forward. Qi An had been listening intently for any movement from Jiang Yu.

In that instant, Qi An whirled around, leaped forward, and scooped Jiang Yu up from the lakeside, enveloping her in a faint, fragrant aura.

Jiang Yu hadn’t expected Qi An to possess such lightness. She clung tightly to Qi An, pressing her small ears against Qi An’s chest.

She could hear Qi An’s heartbeat.

“Qi An, your heart is racing,” Jiang Yu murmured, each word seeming to caress Qi An’s heartstrings.

Qi An lightly tapped her foot against a lakeside rock, her robes billowing as she carried Jiang Yu to the shelter of the corridor, far from the water’s edge.

“Jiang Yu, are you really threatening me with your life?” Qi An’s voice carried a hint of anger, but she was no longer completely shutting down communication.

This slight shift was a tremendous opportunity for Jiang Yu. She quickly jogged to catch up and stood beside Qi An.

“What’s wrong?” Jiang Yu’s voice was as soft and sweet as ever, making it hard for Qi An to resist. She felt her carefully maintained coolness crumbling.

But the sight she had just witnessed—Jiang Yu pulling Liu Xueyun into her embrace—had stirred unpleasant memories, leaving a sour ache in her chest.

“Miss, if you have something important to say, you’d be better off spending this time checking on Miss Liu,” Qi An said coldly, though she regretted the harsh words.

But… when she had seen Jiang Yu pull Liu Xueyun into her arms, Qi An’s attention had been drawn to the hands around Liu Xueyun’s waist.

Jiang Yu tilted her head, trying to understand. Finally, she latched onto the most crucial word in Qi An’s words: “Miss Liu.” It was a name Qi An rarely mentioned.

This time, Jiang Yu’s words carried a hint of jealousy as she mentioned Liu Xueyun. Her eyes darted about before she smiled and sidled up to Qi An, tugging at his clothes.

Qi An ignored her.

Jiang Yu pulled Qi An into her arms. It took some effort, since he was a full head taller than her. Though his mind was blank, Qi An instinctively bent down slightly to make her embrace more comfortable.

Jiang Yu rested her small head against Qi An’s chest and giggled. “See… isn’t this even closer than when I was holding Liu Xueyun?”

Qi An’s body stiffened instantly, his cheeks burning. When he lowered his head, his gaze met Jiang Yu’s. Why did those eyes look so… infatuated with him?

Jiang Yu tilted her face upward toward the light, her porcelain skin framed by a crimson lip that curved alluringly.

Jiang Yu felt her blood run cold, and her mind filled with only one thought: to tiptoe closer to those red lips.

And that’s exactly what she did. Those crimson lips, just a hint of red, were like the most deadly poison, drawing her in.

Qi An was stunned. She knew what Jiang Yu wanted to do, but despite her body’s usual wariness, she felt no instinct to reject her.

In fact, her lips seemed to anticipate that soft touch.

Closer… even closer…

Jiang Yu’s mind was consumed by measuring the distance between them with her gaze. When the distance seemed to vanish entirely, Qi An could almost feel the warmth radiating from Jiang Yu.

A maid suddenly burst into the side hall, throwing the door open. Jiang Yu snapped out of her trance, hastily pulling back. An unnatural flush spread across her cheeks as she quickly turned away, too afraid to meet Qi An’s eyes.

The maid, flustered from rushing out earlier, hadn’t noticed the awkward positions and expressions of the two. Now, seeing Jiang Yu’s flushed face, she assumed it was from the cold wind and urgently said, “Miss, please go persuade our young mistress. She was just talking with Miss Liu in there, and now she’s so angry she’s smashing all the medicine bowls…”

Jiang Yu’s mind had been consumed by Qi An, so much so that she hadn’t even registered the sound of crashing bowls. Qi An had heard the noise, but he didn’t want to disturb her over such a trivial matter.

Jiang Yu quickly composed herself, lifted her skirt, and walked into the Side Hall. Qi An hurried after her, worried she might get hit by something thrown in her direction.

Just as he entered, he saw Gu Meng hurl a scalding teacup toward the doorway, its trajectory aimed squarely at Jiang Yu.

Without hesitation, Qi An mimicked Jiang Yu’s earlier gesture, pulling her into his arms with fluid, practiced movements. The sudden action startled the maid who was about to enter.

The teacup crashed to the floor with a sharp clatter. Though Qi An had pulled Jiang Yu into her arms, the younger girl remained frozen in shock, unable to shake off the lingering tension from the harrowing situation. She stood motionless in Qi An’s embrace until a maid hurried over and crouched down to clear the shattered pieces. Only then did Jiang Yu realize she was still being held.

Flushing crimson, Jiang Yu straightened up from Qi An’s embrace. To cover her fluster, she instructed the maid, “Fetch a broom first before sweeping it up. You might cut your hands.”

No sooner had she spoken than Jiang Yu glanced back to gauge Qi An’s reaction, fearing another outburst. Qi An found the cautious scrutiny rather amusing. She wanted to reach out and tousle Jiang Yu’s hair but restrained herself, remembering the propriety due to her position.

Though Qi An said nothing, Jiang Yu saw the calm, unruffled expression on her face and knew she hadn’t been misunderstood. Relieved, she stepped into the Side Hall.

“Sister Gu Meng, what’s wrong now? Are you upset about what our maternal grandparents just advised?” In this dynasty, filial piety was paramount, and martial prowess was revered. Jiang Yu’s words were a veiled accusation, adding another heavy burden to Gu Meng’s shoulders. Gu Meng was already furious that the little bitch Liu Xueyun dared to collude with others to target her.

Now Jiang Yu had walked in and slapped another massive accusation on her. Gu Meng’s eyes burned with resentment. “Jiang Yu! There’s no one else here. You don’t need to heap accusations on me! You’re so obedient to Qi An… I bet she has some dirt on you. Jiang Yu, don’t let me catch you…”

Gu Meng spoke as if nursing a deep grudge, but Jiang Yu wasn’t intimidated by this empty-headed girl. She was more worried that someone smarter might manipulate her.

“Of course, one with nothing to hide fears no shadows. If you think I have something to hide, go ahead and search. I hope you find something and stand before me with it.” Jiang Yu stood protectively in front of Qi An, her small frame radiating an unspoken authority that amplified her words.

Gu Meng tried to say more, but Qi An cut her off.

“You only get your way because you’ve got leverage over them,” Qi An said with contempt, as if Gu Meng’s current rage made her nothing more than a jumping clown. Gu Meng hated that feeling, but she didn’t know how to change it.

She could only vent her anger by hurling teacups. One after another, priceless porcelain crashed to the floor. Jiang Yu, unwilling to stay and listen to any more nonsense, turned and walked out, hearing a final teacup shatter against the doorway as she left.

Gu Meng didn’t dare throw anything at Jiang Yu, only daring to hurl the teacups after she was gone. Qi An pursed her lips, shot Gu Meng a cold glance, then turned and followed Jiang Yu.

Lying on the bed, Gu Meng naturally noticed Qi An’s gaze. Her eyes naturally held a deathly stillness. A beautiful woman’s eyes should be lively and alluring, but Qi An’s only seemed that way when she looked at Jiang Yu.

Whenever her gaze turned to anyone else, it was as cold as if she were looking at a corpse. Gu Meng was intimidated by this, and only after snapping out of her daze did she throw another teacup at the doorway.

“Miss Jiang, your spirit is truly magnificent. You certainly have the bearing of a general’s daughter,” Qi An said with a teasing smile.

The moment Jiang Yu heard Qi An’s voice, she was reminded of how she had almost kissed her on the lips. That haunting feeling lingered in her mind, impossible to shake.

“Don’t… tease me…” Jiang Yu murmured, her voice soft and sweet. She lowered her head, her small ears turning pink.

Qi An stepped forward and gently pinched Jiang Yu’s ear, then feigned innocence. “Miss… what were you about to do just now?”

Qi An’s anger had dissipated, replaced by a desire to see Jiang Yu blush.

Jiang Yu felt utterly mortified. Her worst fear had come true—she had dreaded Qi An bringing up what happened earlier, and now Qi An had actually done it.

Standing under the colonnade, Qi An watched Jiang Yu stammer, unable to find the words. With a chuckle, she decided to let her off the hook. The two had originally planned to leave this contentious place and go to the Main Hall to discuss with Shen Yun and the others how to handle the banquet the next day.

Unexpectedly, Liu Xueyun burst into tears. “Just now, in the room, Gu Meng kept hurling insults at me. And the doctor who took my pulse earlier heard it all… I… I don’t know how I can go on living.”

As she spoke, she even began to edge toward a pillar as if she might throw herself against it in despair. Qi An crossed her arms, feeling no sympathy for Liu Xueyun and no intention of helping her.

But Jiang Yu, aware that suicide attempts were all too common in this era, patiently reasoned with her. “If she was so brazen as to curse you in front of outsiders, the one who should be ashamed is Gu Meng. Why would you want to end your life?”

Liu Xueyun sobbingly approached Jiang Yu, subtly pushing Qi An aside. Qi An, unwilling to argue, moved to Jiang Yu’s other side and tugged at her sleeve.

The three of them walked forward in this awkward formation. Jiang Yu felt something pulling at her clothes, and when she looked down, she saw either her sleeve being tugged or her skirt being held.

How could these two unfortunate young ladies be clashing over me?

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