Ye Qiu’s mind was screaming.

Imagine, any man in the world, as long as he’s normal, who wouldn’t want to take a bath with a stunning beauty like Lin Jingzhi?

But Ye Qiu was a bit shy. Just as he was hesitating, Lin Jingzhi had already closed the bathroom door.

Soon, the sound of running water came from the bathroom. Lin Jingzhi had started her bath.

Although she had invited him earlier, Ye Qiu, being inexperienced in matters between men and women, felt too embarrassed to go in. He could only wait in the room.

One side of the bathroom had a large glass pane. You couldn’t see directly inside from the outside, but you could vaguely make out a curvaceous silhouette reflected on the glass.

She started undressing, tying up her hair, washing her face, scrubbing…

Whether Lin Jingzhi did it intentionally or not, every movement was slow, like a slow-motion scene in a movie, making it impossible to look away.

Gulp.

Ye Qiu swallowed, his breathing gradually becoming heavier, and a strange image began to form in his mind.

Even though Ye Qiu was trying hard to suppress his wicked thoughts, those ideas surged like waves, one after another. His face grew redder, and his heartbeat quickened.

At the same time, he grew more and more nervous.

Am I really going to do it with Sister Lin tonight?

They say a man’s first time doesn’t last more than three seconds. Will I be the same?

Will Sister Lin despise me?

While Ye Qiu was lost in his wild thoughts, the sound of water in the bathroom stopped. After a full two minutes, Lin Jingzhi came out, supporting herself against the wall.

In an instant, Ye Qiu’s eyes widened.

Lin Jingzhi was wrapped in a white bath towel, her exposed skin as smooth as white porcelain, emitting a radiant glow.

Her cheeks were flushed, her wet hair draped over her delicate shoulders, making her look like a freshly bloomed lotus, tender and captivating.

The most alluring part was her fiery figure. A single bath towel couldn’t cover her. Her waist was slender, her legs long and toned, and every curve was in the right place, exuding charm from head to toe.

Ye Qiu almost drooled.

Seeing him like this, Lin Jingzhi rolled her eyes and said, “Stunned? Never seen this before?”

“Never,” Ye Qiu admitted honestly.

Pfft—

Lin Jingzhi laughed, instantly lighting up the room like a blooming peony.

“Sister Lin, you’re so beautiful,” Ye Qiu said earnestly.

“Do you like it?” Lin Jingzhi asked playfully, dimples appearing on her cheeks.

“I do.”

“Then how about I be your girlfriend?”

“I…”

Knock, knock!

Just as Ye Qiu was about to agree, a sudden knock on the door startled him.

“Is it Little Jie?” Lin Jingzhi asked.

“President Lin, it’s me,” Sun Mengjie’s voice came from outside. “I’ve prepared the guest room. I’ll take Ye Qiu there.”

“Alright, I know,” Lin Jingzhi said to Ye Qiu. “It’s getting late. You should rest early too.”

Ye Qiu was stunned. Didn’t she say I could stay? So, she meant staying in the villa, not sleeping with her?

Feeling a bit inferior, Ye Qiu thought, after all, I’m just a small-time doctor with no power or influence, while Sister Lin is a high and mighty goddess. How could she ever fancy me?

“Sister Lin, you rest early too,” Ye Qiu said and left.

As he was about to leave, Lin Jingzhi called him back. “Ye Qiu, I was serious about my question earlier. Don’t rush to answer. Think it over and then tell me.”

Ye Qiu’s previously disappointed mood instantly brightened. He turned and smiled, “Goodnight, Sister Lin.”

“Goodnight,” Lin Jingzhi replied with a gentle smile.

Ye Qiu stepped out and saw Sun Mengjie with a triumphant smile on her face, instantly feeling a surge of anger.

I’m not sleeping with Sister Lin, what’s there to be smug about?

“Hmph!”

Ye Qiu snorted coldly.

Sun Mengjie’s smile grew even wider.

The guest room was on the second floor of the villa. Lying on the bed, Ye Qiu couldn’t sleep, his mind constantly replaying the image of Lin Jingzhi stepping out of the bath.

He had to admit, this woman was truly a tormenting little enchantress.

Since he couldn’t sleep, he decided to cultivate.

Today at the Crystal Palace, the Dragon King had stood up for him several times, which deeply moved Ye Qiu. He didn’t know when he would be able to open the heavenly eyes, but he decided to give it a try. If successful, he could help the Dragon King treat the poison and save his life.

Ye Qiu sat cross-legged on the bed, began to circulate his energy, following the method to open the heavenly eyes, guiding his innate energy through his meridians, slowly gathering it at his brow.

…

Northern Territory.

The cold wind howled.

Looking out, the endless mountains in the night resembled crouching beasts. At the foot of the mountains were densely packed military camps.

In one of the camps.

A man sat by a fire. He looked to be in his thirties, with a lean build and handsome features. He wore a military coat and had a chessboard in front of him.

He held a chess piece in his hand, deep in thought.

This man was the renowned Champion Marquis—Xiao Jiu!

An adjutant reported beside him, “Yesterday, during training, the assault battalion accidentally encountered a small enemy squad, about a hundred men, and wiped them out.”

“Today, the reconnaissance battalion discovered two enemy drones and shot them down.”

“Additionally…”

“Talk about something else,” Xiao Jiu said, tapping the chess piece on the table.

Something else?

The adjutant glanced at Xiao Jiu, hesitated, and said, “Marquis, we just received news that the second young master had an incident in Jiangzhou.”

“What happened to him?”

“He got into a conflict with someone and had his legs crippled.”

Smack!

Xiao Jiu dropped the chess piece, a sharp aura emanating from him, making him seem like an invincible sword.

The adjutant turned pale with fear. “Marquis, I’ll immediately send someone to catch the culprit.”

“Fool!” Xiao Jiu roared.

Thud.

The adjutant quickly knelt.

“Who did it?” Xiao Jiu asked.

“Marquis, it was Lin Jingzhi.”

“The woman from the Lin family in Jiangzhe?” Xiao Jiu asked again.

“Yes.”

“He can’t even handle a woman and dares to call himself my brother?” Xiao Jiu’s sharp aura receded like a tide. “Does he want me to avenge him?”

“Yes,” the adjutant nodded.

Xiao Jiu sighed deeply. “Over the years, under my protection, Qingdi has become lawless. Now that his legs are crippled, it’s his own fault.”

“I hope he takes this as a lesson and mends his ways.”

“From now on, I won’t take his calls. Tell Qingdi, I’d rather die for my country than act out of personal vendetta for him.”

“By the way, any news on Bai Yujing? What’s he been up to lately?”