Chapter 92: Stepping on a Minefield

Seeing such a dangerous expression on Shen Mqing’s face, Wen Qian should have been scared.

But seeing him in that fluffy green dinosaur onesie, it was just...

"Hey! What are you laughing at?" The man frowned and took two quick steps forward, looking like he was ready to settle a score.

Suddenly realizing what she was doing, Wen Qian snapped out of it and wiped the smile from her face.

’This guy really has a bad temper.’

Just then, Li Jiu popped his head out from Wen Qian’s arms. He flapped his wings and flew to the top of her head. Spotting Shen Mqing’s stern face, he started pecking again... PECK, PECK, PECK...

"Young Master Shen, she is with the Young Master," Ling Xuan said, stepping in front of Wen Qian. His tone was polite enough.

’If Yin Zhi were here, Shen Mqing wouldn’t dare be so arrogant. But with Yin Zhi gone, all bets were off.’

The man in the dinosaur onesie looked baffled for a moment. The next second, as if something had clicked, he raised a hand to his chin. "So it’s her..."

Uncle Feng had mentioned that Yin Zhi had a falling out with the Shen Family over a human female. It looked like this was her.

’But this girl looks... she’s not even an adult, is she?’

Shen Mqing sized Wen Qian up, his gaze finally landing on her delicate face. ’Full lips, big eyes... but why are her pupils black?’

’It’d be nice if they were amber, like mine.’

Wen Qian had no idea what he was thinking and shot a questioning glance at Ling Xuan.

"Ahem." Ling Xuan immediately cleared his throat.

After a brief daze, Shen Mqing finally snapped out of it. ’No wonder Yin Zhi doesn’t like my sister. So this is his type...’

"Come on in." Shoving his hands in his pockets, Shen Mqing lifted his chin arrogantly and was the first to enter the villa.

The three of them entered the villa.

Wen Qian then noticed that besides Shen Mqing, there were several men in black suits standing inside the villa. They looked like they must be his bodyguards.

After Ling Xuan went inside, he casually raised a hand, and the bodyguards retreated with the utmost speed.

They were indeed bodyguards, but their boss wasn’t Shen Mqing—it was Yin Zhi. They had been left here to keep an eye on the kid, to make sure he didn’t cause any trouble or try to run off.

It was a good thing it was Ling Xuan who had arrived; otherwise, those men in black would have restrained Shen Mqing long ago.

But Shen Mqing knew how to read the room. Aware that his power base had been absorbed by Yin Zhi, he’d stopped making waves. He spent his days holed up in the villa, reading novels and binge-watching shows... He had started his enviable retirement early.

After a week of letting himself go, he’d even given up on the idea of escaping. Even if the bodyguards weren’t here, he was too lazy to leave the house.

In the Beast World, he was the pampered young master. His older siblings handled all family matters, big and small. After arriving on Blue Star, aside from that one time... he hadn’t really suffered any hardships. Even his food, clothing, and accommodations were all arranged by Uncle Feng.

He was a natural when it came to slacking off.

"Sit wherever, sit wherever." He plopped down on the sofa with a swagger, casually kicking his feet up.

Ling Xuan turned his head, unable to watch. His half-lidded eyes betrayed his exasperation.

Wen Qian found a spot and sat down. Li Jiu fluttered his wings along with her movement, then settled securely back on top of her head.

Shen Mqing obviously noticed Li Jiu. He sat up straight, his eyes wide with surprise. "You brought a bird with you?"

As Wen Qian hesitated, unsure how to respond, Shen Mqing had already shot to his feet. He leaned in, looking like a curious child. "I haven’t seen anyone from the Hundred Bird Clan in forever."

’Even though the Hundred Bird Clan has the largest population of Beastmen in the Beast World.’

’But it makes sense, I guess. The Hundred Bird Clan is weaker than the Wolf Clan and Tiger Clan in both size and strength. Plus, they’re naturally timid. Their first instinct in a new environment is to hide.’

Li Jiu grew uncomfortable under Shen Mqing’s stare. Its tiny wings fluttered frantically before it buried its head in Wen Qian’s hair.

"Such a coward," Shen Mqing tutted, his gaze tinged with disdain. A moment later, he seemed to remember something, and his eyes shifted back to Wen Qian. "Right, what were you laughing at before?"

Looking up, Wen Qian denied it. "Nothing. I just think your outfit is kind of cute."

The word "cute" actually suited Shen Mqing. He had a baby face and round eyes, but he absolutely hated being called cute. He shot Wen Qian a vicious glare. "Hmph!"

Wen Qian froze for a second. ’Does he practice opera-style face-changing? One second he was all smiles, and the next he looks like he’s about to eat me alive.’

"He doesn’t like people calling him cute," Ling Xuan whispered to Wen Qian.

Shen Mqing clearly heard him and shot Ling Xuan another fierce glare.

’He was from the mighty Tiger Clan, a king among Beastmen! How could such a dominant figure be described as *cute*? It was bad enough when his own clan members said it back in the Beast World, but now he had to hear it from a weak little human female on Blue Star?’

"*You’re* the one who’s cute! Your whole family is cute!" Shen Mqing couldn’t stomach the insult and roared at Wen Qian.

Wen Qian jumped, startled by his shouting. When she recovered, she pointed at herself.

"Yes, you!" he finished, lifting his chin arrogantly, as if to say, ’What are you going to do about it?’

Wen Qian was silent for a moment. "Thanks."

’On Blue Star, "cute" is a compliment anyway. Who cares what he meant by it? It’s not like she minded the label.’

Shen Mqing sputtered, "You..."

"Qianqian, if you’re tired, I can show you to your room," Ling Xuan interjected, clearly fed up with Shen Mqing’s antics.

"Let’s wait a little longer," Wen Qian replied.

Yin Zhi and the others weren’t back yet, and she was too worried to rest. ’Are those people after the Critical Stone? Or the Beastmen? Or something else entirely...’ There was no way she could sleep right now.

Ling Xuan nodded, then glanced at his watch. "I’ll go prepare a late-night snack."

’The Young Master, Chi Ye, and the others must have used up a lot of energy fighting those men in black. He needed to have some food ready for them.’

Hearing this, Shen Mqing pouted. "I don’t want any."

Ling Xuan shot him a look, but didn’t deign to reply, simply turning and walking away.

With Ling Xuan gone, Wen Qian played with Li Jiu on the sofa, quietly waiting for Yin Zhi’s group to return. Shen Mqing sat across from her. Though he wasn’t moving, his gaze kept drifting toward her as if by accident.

At first, Wen Qian would meet his gaze, but eventually, she couldn’t be bothered with him.

’Wen Qian felt that Shen Mqing not only looked like a child but acted like one too. But after that last exchange, she didn’t dare risk complimenting him again...’

’Who knew what other landmines she might step on?’

But apparently, Shen Mqing wasn’t going to let her off that easily. After waiting a while and seeing that Wen Qian truly had no intention of engaging with him, he leaned forward. "Why aren’t you talking?"