Zi Lingling's expression turned cold. Following the two gazes, she discovered the animosity was coming from an incredibly beautiful woman.
The woman, clad in flowing white, exuded a pure and chilly aura, resembling a celestial maiden. However, the fleeting venom in her eyes instantly shattered that illusion, bringing her back to the mortal realm.
Zi Lingling frowned. She didn't recognize this woman. Why would this woman harbor such hostility towards her?
The woman seemed to have underestimated Zi Lingling's perceptiveness, and was caught off guard when their gazes collided. Seizing the moment, she shot Zi Lingling a fierce glare before her attention fixed upon Ye Lingyuan.
The word "fixed" was used because once her eyes landed on Ye Lingyuan, they never left him.
Only then did Zi Lingling understand that the woman's animosity was entirely directed at Ye Lingyuan, the "source of all trouble." It was likely that the woman had already begun to resent her after Mu Qingyan had conveyed that message through Qingyu.
Zi Lingling felt a surge of annoyance.
Nothing had even begun between her and Ye Lingyuan, yet she was already being forced to deal with his romantic entanglements. What was this all about? Furthermore, with Ye Lingyuan's troublesome charm, he was bound to attract countless more admirers in the future. Would she be forced to make countless enemies?
With this thought, Zi Lingling abruptly pulled her hand away and, in the instant Ye Lingyuan was stunned, stomped hard on his foot.
Ye Lingyuan gasped in pain, looking at Zi Lingling with confusion. Just as he was about to ask why, a booming voice, filled with surprise, rang out.
"Boss!"
As the voice spoke, a round ball rolled towards Ye Lingyuan and Zi Lingling.
Zi Lingling, already feeling annoyed, saw the rolling ball and instinctively raised her foot to kick it away.
"Boss, it's so good to see you!"
Just as her foot was about to connect with the ball, it suddenly spoke.
Zi Lingling froze, retracting her kick with great effort.
What was going on? Could a ball actually be sentient?
She looked closely at the round object and realized it wasn't a ball at all, but a person!
This person was oddly obese, his body so swollen it resembled an inflated ball, perfectly round. Compared to his immense physique, his head looked like a bun placed atop a watermelon. Zi Lingling was certain that if this person were to bend down, he wouldn't be able to see his own toes.
A hint of curiosity flickered in her eyes. Who was this person? Hearing him call Ye Lingyuan "Boss" indicated a close relationship. Zi Lingling couldn't help but wonder how Ye Lingyuan, with his severe洁癖 (jiépǐ - germaphobia) and highly selective nature, had acquired such a subordinate.
She glanced at Ye Lingyuan, noticing his brows were furrowed, but there was no sign of disgust. It seemed Ye Lingyuan genuinely considered this胖子 (pàngzi - fatty) a brother. This was peculiar! Zi Lingling's curiosity was piqued.
Ye Lingyuan's attention was entirely focused on the胖子, so he didn't notice Zi Lingling's expression.
"Boss, what's with that expression? Don't you recognize me?"
The胖子, noticing Ye Lingyuan's silence after staring at him for so long, couldn't help but inject a hint of plaintiveness into his voice. That face, or rather, that mass of flesh where a face should be, suddenly became mournful. How comical, how absurd!
Zi Lingling's earlier irritation vanished, replaced by a smile. She looked at Ye Lingyuan with amusement, wanting to see his reaction.
Ye Lingyuan's frown deepened. After a long moment, he managed to utter, "Qian Shaojie, how did you get fatter?"
Qian Shaojie's plump face immediately fell. "Boss, you really know how to bring a guy down! You know as well as I do that with this ghastly appearance, I gain weight just by drinking water."
As his face drooped, his eyes, nose, and mouth disappeared completely.
Zi Lingling couldn't hold back her laughter, a bright "噗嗤" (pūchī - snicker) escaping her lips.
Startled by the melodious sound, Qian Shaojie's tiny, mung bean-like eyes instinctively darted towards Zi Lingling. Good heavens! Where had such a beauty come from? Her smile was enchanting, her eyes captivating! Qian Shaojie's mung bean eyes widened, completely oblivious to Ye Lingyuan's darkening expression.
"Ahem, ahem!"
Mu Qingyan, who had been a silent observer for some time, feigned a cough.
Qian Shaojie finally came back to his senses and, with a hint of reproach, asked Mu Qingyan, "Qingyan, are you not feeling well?"
Mu Qingyan forced an awkward, wry smile. "It's windy, my throat is a bit uncomfortable." Although he said this, he was simultaneously winking at Qian Shaojie and subtly nodding in Ye Lingyuan's direction.
Qian Shaojie blinked, confused about what Mu Qingyan was trying to convey. He then scratched his little head with his pig-hoof-like hands and said with a chuckle, "Qingyan, you say your throat is uncomfortable, but why are your eyes twitching and your mouth also twitching?"
Mu Qingyan gritted his teeth in annoyance, roaring, "Fatty Qian, it's your eyes and mouth that are twitching! I was trying to be helpful, and you mistake it for ingratitude. Be careful you don't get yourself killed!"
Qian Shaojie's smile froze, and he said coldly, "Mu Qingyan, it was just a joke, is it really that serious?"
A joke, indeed! Didn't he see the Prince's face turn black? I was trying to save your life!
Just as Mu Qingyan was about to retort with a dark expression, Qian Shaojie gave him no chance.
"Alright, alright. If you're not feeling well, go find Situ. Don't disturb me and the beauty's conversation." Qian Shaojie waved his "short pig hooves" dismissively at Mu Qingyan and turned to Zi Lingling, saying, "May I ask the beauty's surname? I'm a bit overweight, and I apologize for overlooking your presence just now!"
Mu Qingyan: "Fatty Qian, are you looking to die?"
Qingyu: "Young Master Qian, didn't I just tell you that the Prince and Princess have arrived?"
The celestial-like woman: "Fatty Qian, are you blind? Can't you see the Prince holding that woman's hand?"
Everyone present watched the self-destructive Qian Shaojie with pained expressions. Of course, Qian Shaojie couldn't be entirely blamed.
When Qingyu had entered to deliver the message, he had said, "Young Master Qian, the Prince has arrived, and he's brought the Princess. Be careful not to offend her!" Qingyu had meant it as a kindness. Since Mu Qingyan had already made a mistake earlier, he had specifically mentioned the Princess, hoping Qian Shaojie wouldn't follow Mu Qingyan's footsteps. It was simply that Zi Lingling was so stunningly beautiful that any man would be mesmerized by her. However, at that moment, Qian Shaojie had been preoccupied with examining some items left behind by the White Tiger, and had thus completely ignored the latter part of Qingyu's warning. Therefore, what he heard was only, "Young Master Qian, the Prince has arrived..."