Chapter 464: Parting

The snake tail supported Jiang Qingli’s lower back, lifting her up.

Ye Linyuan leaned down, following the path of the trickling water to kiss her.

They hadn’t seen each other in days, so Ye Linyuan was inevitably eager.

Jiang Qingli let out a soft, complaining hum. Ye Linyuan paused, suppressed his restless passion, and slowed his movements.

As if soaking in warm water, Jiang Qingli closed her eyes in comfort.

...

Afterward, they were both in the bathtub.

The tip of his snake tail curled around the mouthwash on the vanity and brought it to Ye Linyuan’s hand. He twisted the cap off and poured some into his mouth.

It was orange-flavored.

Ye Linyuan never used to like scented mouthwash. His senses were too acute, and he found the cloyingly sweet taste harsh.

But having used it so often at Jiang Qingli’s place, Ye Linyuan had grown accustomed to it. He didn’t find it so unpleasant anymore.

Because after rinsing his mouth, he could kiss Jiang Qingli.

The sweet orange flavor mingled between their lips, dissolving their frayed nerves.

After days of waking up early and returning to high-intensity meetings, the physical exhaustion had built up, but this kiss brought a welcome sense of relief.

Jiang Qingli’s hand found his fingers. When the kiss ended, she slid down and snuggled into his embrace, murmuring languidly, "So sleepy..."

"If you’re sleepy, then sleep."

Ye Linyuan said in a husky voice, nuzzling her cheek with the tip of his nose. He had learned this trick from Jiang Qingli and had grown very fond of it.

Jiang Qingli, her eyes half-closed, glanced at his waist and abdomen, and mumbled drowsily, "I’ll reward you again next time."

With that, she found a comfortable spot in his arms and fell asleep.

Ye Linyuan waited until she was sound asleep, then gently dried her off, picked her up, and wrapped her in the thin quilt.

He still had unfinished business to attend to. He sat beside Jiang Qingli to handle it, his snake tail coiled by her side. Occasionally, when she turned over and kicked off the covers, the tail would gently pull them back over her.

The warm light filled the room with a cozy glow.

To Ye Linyuan, it was a truly pleasant evening.

-

For the next half a month, Jiang Qingli was once again swamped with work.

The day before she was due to leave, Jiang Qingli had just finished her last meeting when she received a call from the hospital.

It was the nurse looking after Fang Chi, who said he had fully recovered and could receive visitors.

After saying this, the nurse lowered his voice and added quietly, "Advisor Jiang, I didn’t mean to bother you. Colonel Jin was just holding a gun to my head... Of course, the Colonel doesn’t mean any harm. He probably just figured you won’t be back for a while after you leave, so he wanted to make sure Fang Chi got to see you again..."

Jiang Qingli chuckled. "I understand. I just finished a meeting, so I’ll be there shortly."

After she left this time, she wouldn’t be back in the Twelve Cities until next year at the earliest.

’We’re friends, after all. I should say a proper goodbye to Fang Chi.’

She instructed her secretary to double-check the cells holding the prisoners, then got up and left for the hospital.

As it happened, a colleague was heading to the hospital to pick up medicine, so Jiang Qingli caught a ride with her.

When she arrived, Jin Li was in a nearby smoking area. Seeing Jiang Qingli, he stubbed out his cigarette and gave her a military salute from a distance.

Jiang Qingli nodded and went straight inside.

In the hospital room, Fang Chi was standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, looking down as if waiting for someone.

A young man with blond hair stood next to Fang Chi, sipping a sweet drink and mumbling indistinctly in censure, "Bro, Researcher Chen has turned down countless guys. Don’t you get what it means when she asks you to dinner? And you refused? You think you’re too good for her or something?"

"No time." Fang Chi’s eyes were glued to the hospital entrance, his voice lazy. "Busy."

"Come on, it’s just a date, it’s not like you have to do anything..." the blond said. "Just a few laps around the park, drinking nutrient fluid bottle-to-bottle? She wants to start something with you, get it? You should get it, big bro. With how cool and aloof you used to be..."

As he spoke, the blond suddenly rubbed his chin. "Wait a minute... the way you’re standing there, you look like one of those ’waiting-for-my-love’ statues. Don’t tell me you’re still pining for that J—"

Before he could finish, Fang Chi impatiently kicked him in the shin.

As he turned his head, he caught a glimpse of a figure pushing the door open.

Fang Chi’s eyes widened, and he quickly stood up straight. "Sis—Miss Jiang—Advisor!"

He was flustered. The blond beside him froze for a second, then hurriedly greeted Jiang Qingli as well, bowing and scraping in a way that looked rather comical.

Jiang Qingli hadn’t quite heard what they were talking about. Just as she was about to greet them, a clatter of footsteps sounded from behind her, and a group of people burst in.

They were Fang Chi’s colleagues, and they had brought him discharge gifts, crowding around him.

Fang Chi was in no mood to talk to them. He made an excuse about needing to take his medicine and shooed them away, pushing the blond out along with them.

As the door closed, the blond glanced at Jiang Qingli sitting on the sofa, patted his buddy’s shoulder, tutted twice, and left.

Fang Chi firmly shut the door, poured Jiang Qingli a glass of warm water, and said apologetically, "I hope they weren’t too loud for you."

"Not at all. You all seemed to be having a lively chat." Jiang Qingli took a sip. "I’m sorry, I came on short notice and didn’t have time to prepare a gift. Is there anything you’d like?"

Fang Chi stared at her fingers for a moment, then suddenly spoke up. "Take... a picture with me."

He finished, then quickly and anxiously added, "If you can’t, just pretend I didn’t say anything. I’m just happy you could come. We’re friends, who needs gifts? Hahaha."

His laughter at the end sounded a bit forced.

The tall young man was slightly hunched over, afraid she might misunderstand. The tips of his ears were tinged with a faint red.

He had now recovered all his memories. In front of others, he was still the dashing, suave, and reliable captain, but in front of Jiang Qingli, he always had this childish side to him.

This childishness reminded Jiang Qingli of how he used to follow her around, calling her "sister" again and again.

Jiang Qingli couldn’t help but smile, her eyes curving as she nodded. "Of course. We can take as many as you want."

Fang Chi visibly relaxed. He hooked his lips into a small smile. "Thanks, then."

Just then, Fang Chi was struck by a pang of regret.

’Why did I make the blond guy leave? Who’s going to take the picture now?!’

Just as he was wondering whether he should find a nurse, the door was suddenly pushed open, and Jin Li walked in, asking if his things were packed.

Facing Jin Li, Fang Chi felt inexplicably guilty, but he still braced himself and asked him to take the photo.

Jin Li glanced at his younger brother, said nothing, and took out a device.

Fang Chi was slightly surprised. "This... Bro, don’t you only have one shot left?"

Jin Li retorted, "Don’t you want a memento?"

The antique instant camera in his hand had long been discontinued. Only a few dozen existed in the entire Empire, and its photos sold for exorbitant prices.

Jin Li only had one last piece of film.

He had originally planned to use it to take a picture at his wedding.

But his engagement to Jiang Qingli had long been broken, and Bai Yiyi was dead.

’There probably won’t be a wedding for me in the future.’

He raised the instant camera, had the two of them stand a little closer, and pressed the shutter button.

The instant the shutter clicked, Jiang Qingli felt a cool touch on her cheek. She turned her head and saw that Fang Chi’s little green leaf had appeared at some point and was trying to get closer to her.

As if sensing something, she looked up, just in time to meet Fang Chi’s gaze as he looked down at her.

A white flash flared, freezing the moment forever.