My Little Pink Crocodile - Chapter 18

Chapter 18: Pink Hair is Off-Limits

After the brief interlude, Qi Yan and her companions managed to enter the banquet hall smoothly.

Qi Yan’s parents had originally intended to send only Qi Ming, but considering Qi Yan was such an uncontrollable factor, they decided at the last minute to attend in person.

When they saw Qi Yan walk in leading Jiang Yu, they were nearly consumed by rage. They pulled Qi Yan into a corner, their brows furrowed in a stern reprimand.

“What is wrong with you? Are you going to continue being this willful even here?”

Qi Yan listened to his words with an unchanging expression, her voice calm. “I have come here as you requested. As for whom I bring with me, that is none of your concern.”

Hearing this, Father Qi’s face turned green with anger, yet in such a setting, he had to maintain his dignity. Seeing that others had begun to notice them, he could only force a polite smile and nod back at the guests.

“Old Master Tao is currently looking forward to having you as his granddaughter-in-law. You’d better perform well today, do you hear me?”

“Who exactly does that little girl belong to? Send her home immediately! You cannot continue this nonsense with her!”

Father Qi warned her repeatedly; he simply could not accept Qi Yan escaping his control time and time again.

No matter how high and mighty the Tao family claimed to be, they couldn’t withstand the losses caused by their two spendthrift sons. Although the Qi family was a newcomer, Qi Ming was a born businessman—a literal genius in the field. However, since the family had no other daughters to offer for a marriage alliance, they remembered the blind date between Qi Yan and Tao Yan and moved forward with the idea of a union.

By now, Qi Yan was somewhat distracted. When she had been pulled away just now, she had been forced to separate from Jiang Yu, and she didn’t know where the girl had gone. She didn’t register a word of what her father said next; her only thought was to find Jiang Yu as quickly as possible.

While most people here were high-society types, there was no guarantee they weren’t low-life’s at heart—especially since Jiang Yu’s appearance was so striking. Her heart tightened with anxiety, and she felt a desperate urge to find her. Only when the girl was back in her sight could she feel at ease.

Just then, she heard Jiang Yu’s voice from not far away. Through the crowd, she spotted that specific flash of color that always drew her eye.

“Huh? Are you asking which family I’m from?”

The man asking her had clearly mustered his courage for a long time. Being stared at by Jiang Yu’s beautiful eyes made him increasingly shy, but remembering his “mission,” he nodded sincerely. “Yes, could you tell me?”

Jiang Yu’s features were exquisite and her frame slender. Her simple white dress made her look like a little white rabbit that had accidentally wandered into a den of wolves—innocent and harmless, inspiring an immediate protective instinct. She held a piece of dessert with a bite taken out of it, letting out a soft “Mhm” as she pondered how to answer.

Jiang Yu naturally knew where she was from, but if she said she was from the “Crocodile Family,” she’d likely be dismissed as crazy or taken away for research. The thought of being skinned by humans made her skin crawl. Her gaze grew wary as she bit her lip, trying to think.

Before she could come up with a perfect answer, her eyes met Qi Yan’s across the layers of people.

Instantly, a visible wave of joy washed over her face. Under the glittering lights, she looked like a princess stepping out of a fairy tale, leaving those watching her dazed. No one knew that in her eyes, the numerous figures around them were merely background noise to the woman walking toward her.

“Qi Yan!” Jiang Yu called out happily.

“Huh?” the man muttered, confused, unable to understand what her answer meant.

Jiang Yu was about to run to Qi Yan, but seeing the blushing man waiting for her response, she thought for a moment. She curled her lips into a mischievous smile, her slender, pretty finger pointing accurately in one direction.

“I’m from Qi Yan’s house,” she said, her voice so cheerful it was infectious. Everyone instinctively followed her gaze.

The man stood frozen for a long while until a woman with a gentle aura walked over, shielding Jiang Yu behind her. She offered an apologetic look. “I’m sorry, she’s a bit naughty. But she already has someone she likes.”

Her tone was level, but toward the end, a faint, warm smile touched her lips.

Qi Yan tucked a stray strand of hair behind Jiang Yu’s ear. The ambiguous atmosphere between the two left the man flustered; he apologized and hurried away.

Jiang Yu’s appearance and hair were far too eye-catching, and standing together, the two of them looked so well-matched it inspired envy. The guests chatting nearby all stole glances in their direction.

Qi Yan was doing this intentionally. From across the room, Father Qi’s face turned green again. He wanted to go over and drag Qi Yan back, but he was held up by other guests and could only glare at her fiercely.

Being stared at by so many people with probing looks made Jiang Yu worry they had discovered her true identity and wanted to send her to a research institute. She shuddered, grabbing Qi Yan’s arm and frowning. “Qi Yan, they don’t look like good people.”

As she spoke, she wondered if she should just kill them all to keep the secret. Then, she took another bite of her dessert and shook her head, dismissing the terrifying thought. No, no, Qi Yan would hate that.

Seeing her looking a bit dazed, Qi Yan assumed she was nervous and led her to a less crowded area to comfort her.

After the man left, he returned to Jiang Yao’s side and said guiltily, “President Jiang, I only found out that her name is Jiang Yu.”

Jiang Yu…

Hearing the name, Jiang Yao lowered her gaze, staring at the champagne in her flute. Now she was completely certain: this was the runaway Young Master of the tribe. She looked toward the two women acting intimately, her eyes narrowing as she thought. Ultimately, she didn’t scold the man and simply waved him away.

“Miss Grace.”

Jiang Yao called out to Grace as she walked by, her aggressive features softening into a smile. “If you don’t mind, would you care to chat with me?”

Grace didn’t really know Jiang Yao, but since the request seemed sincere, she found it hard to refuse.

Old Master Tao, though in his late fifties or sixties, was still robust and carried a natural air of authority. His reputation was such that everyone treated him with utmost respect. When he emerged, he was flanked by his two grandsons and a tall, elegant man.

Amidst the crowd’s gaze, he specifically called Qi Yan over. Since he was an elder and her own brother was standing beside him, Qi Yan didn’t want to give people a reason to gossip, so she walked over with a polite smile. Her off-the-shoulder royal blue dress made every movement look elegant, drawing many eyes.

“Old Master, you are as healthy as ever,” Qi Yan said politely.

She kept her hand firmly clasped with Jiang Yu’s. When the Old Master saw the person beside Qi Yan, a flash of amazement crossed his eyes. But as a self-made businessman, he observed the two of them, his gaze lingering on their interlaced fingers. He hid his thoughts behind a kind smile. “I’m getting old. The future belongs to you young people.”

“You are too modest,” Qi Yan replied.

Old Master Tao’s previous grievances with Qi Yan’s attitude softened into a sense of satisfaction. “Xiao Yan, you and my grandson met recently. Perhaps it’s time to discuss an engagement?”

Hearing this, Tao Yan frowned. “Grandpa, she doesn’t even—”

He was sternly interrupted. “What could you possibly be dissatisfied with in someone like Xiao Yan? It’s because you boys are so incompetent that I have to worry my old bones over this!”

Tao Yan shut his mouth, but his eyes still glared defiantly at Qi Yan and Jiang Yu.

However, hearing them suggest Qi Yan get engaged made Jiang Yu explode. She pouted and spoke up dissatisfied, “What is this old man talking about? How could Qi Yan get engaged to someone else?!”

Qi Yan’s partner was her. No one was allowed to steal her. With that thought, she tilted her chin up and looked at them triumphantly.

The guests, who had been clinking glasses and chatting, all frowned and began whispering about this foul-mouthed girl. No matter how much the Tao family had declined, the Old Master’s reputation remained, and no one had ever dared speak to him like that. His brow furrowed deeply, but seeing Jiang Yu was just a seemingly ignorant child, he merely chuckled.

“This little girl is a new face.”

Qi Yan frowned, but there was no blame in her eyes when she looked at Jiang Yu. She whispered, “Don’t cause trouble.”

“Oh.”

Jiang Yu agreed, but she still felt she was right. Afraid the old man would try to engage Qi Yan to someone else again, she squeezed Qi Yan’s hand tighter, her beautiful silver-grey eyes staring at them with what she thought was a fierce glare.

Old Master Tao: …Why do I feel a sudden chill?

Qi Yan maintained her polite smile and apologized for Jiang Yu. “I am so sorry. I apologize for her rudeness just now; she was likely just too excited.”

Since Qi Yan had apologized, the Old Master couldn’t hold a grudge against a junior. He laughed it off. “Young people, eh? And since she is your friend, I must give her some face. It seems she was quite excited to hear about your upcoming engagement.”

“…”

Jiang Yu wanted to say more, but Qi Yan squeezed her palm, telling her to stop. Helplessly, Jiang Yu closed her mouth and dejectedly began playing with Qi Yan’s fingers. Every movement between them oozed intimacy, especially Qi Yan’s gaze, which was incredibly doting.

Qi Ming, standing nearby, observed Jiang Yu for a moment. Meeting Qi Yan’s eyes, he understood immediately. He smiled politely at the Old Master. “My sister has no plans to marry yet. Let’s bring this up another time.”

Though he wanted to help Qi Yan refuse, this wasn’t the right time to be blunt, so he spoke tactfully.

Old Master Tao saw right through it. His recent business ventures had hit a funding gap, and he desperately needed an investor. If he couldn’t secure these two from the Qi family, his business would suffer a major blow. The thought made him tremble slightly with rage, but he kept his “kind” mask on. “I understand, but they aren’t getting any younger…”

Qi Yan interrupted him. Her polite smile didn’t waver, but her words, though sounding gentle, were utterly ruthless. “I’m sorry, Old Master. It’s not that Master Tao is dissatisfied with me; it’s that I am actually already married. I’m afraid I have no fate with your grandson.”

“She already has a partner! I tried to tell you just now, but you…” Tao Yan grumbled. Having been made a laughingstock twice, he was furious but didn’t dare vent at the Old Master.

“Master Tao knew about this earlier, and he was kind enough to want to support us,” Qi Yan continued, spinning her excuses. She smiled politely, her gaze toward the person beside her so tender it could drown a person. Anyone with eyes could see their relationship.

“That’s right, Qi Yan is married to me. She’s mine,” Jiang Yu stepped forward to declare her sovereignty. She immediately pulled the red booklet from her bag. Her proud, showing-off manner was somehow impossible to hate.

Now, not only was the Tao family stunned, but even Qi Ming froze for a moment. He frowned. “How did you…”

Qi Yan didn’t offer an explanation. She simply stroked Jiang Yu’s head in silence. Fearing someone sharp-eyed might spot something wrong, she tucked the red book away, but many had already seen it.

Coming out in public—even in a circle of “wild” rich kids, no one was usually this bold, let alone getting a certificate secretly. But to Jiang Yu, the meaning was different. Since Qi Yan had admitted their relationship in public, according to tribal rules, they were truly together. At the thought, Jiang Yu leaned against Qi Yan’s shoulder, grinning like a fool.

Tao Yan’s face went through a kaleidoscope of colors, but eventually, he forced a smile. “Then of course, we must congratulate you.”

Qi Yan saw that Qi Ming was still in shock. She nodded to him and spoke calmly and frankly, as if making a point. “I don’t like men.”

“She likes me,” Jiang Yu added from behind Qi Yan, looking extremely smug.

Qi Ming recovered quickly from the explosive news. He didn’t seem inclined to scold Qi Yan for being willful; he simply nodded calmly and turned to Old Master Tao. “It seems my sister and Master Tao have no fate together. Please do not try to force a match between them anymore.”

The Old Master couldn’t explode now. He could only say with a forced smile, “Of course, of course.”

In the crowd, Jiang Yao’s gaze sharpened when she heard the commotion. She took a sip of champagne, her eyes dark and unreadable. Seeing Grace looking at her with confusion, her expression returned to normal.

“Miss Grace, you are friends with Miss Qi. Would you mind calling her over so we can catch up?” She paused, then added, “That Jiang… the one with the pink hair. I’m quite interested in her too.”

Grace’s brow furrowed. “I thought you only knew Qi Yan? That Jiang Yu has social anxiety; maybe you shouldn’t ask her to come over.”

She was starting to seriously suspect that Jiang Yao had a crush on Jiang Yu. After all, the woman had rejected every person who tried to talk business with her all evening. To protect her friend’s “play,” Grace looked at Jiang Yao warily.

“The pink-haired one is off-limits.”