Jiang Ying did not immediately accept Jin Chuyun’s kindness. She was still worried about her dog.
Had being stopped by the security guard just now hurt his feelings?
She should have confirmed beforehand whether the venue allowed Beastmen inside, and she should have comforted him in time.
“A Heng…” Anxious, she instinctively tugged at the arm of the man beside her for help. “Doctor Jin, is that dog you saw earlier still here?”
Jin Chuyun was her psychologist. No one was more familiar with her cognitive disorder than he was.
He raised his eyes to meet Su Heng’s hostile gaze, showing no displeasure whatsoever. He turned his head to Jiang Ying. “He is. Do you want to talk to him?”
“Mm-hmm.” She nodded.
“I’ll take you over to him.” The sleeve of his arm was still gently clutched in her grasp, so Jin Chuyun used the momentum to guide her forward toward Su Heng.
The sight made Su Heng frown again.
The one standing beside her should have been him. The one holding her hand should have been him. He had let go of her himself, giving another man the chance to seize the nest, to assume the role of protector and bring her before him in turn.
This feeling was deeply unpleasant. And even more so, although the man before him had an outstanding bearing, Su Heng could not shake the sense of a grating dissonance about him.
They were not far apart. Jin Chuyun led her only a few steps before stopping.
Jiang Ying could not discern direction. She raised her head tentatively, the focus of her empty “gaze” landing on Su Heng’s shoulder. In a coaxing, sweet, and cloying tone, she pitched her voice and called out to him, “A Heng?”
Jin Chuyun had never heard her speak in such a manner.
A flicker passed through his eyes, yet his expression remained gentle, betraying no further anomaly.
“Mm.” A low rumble rolled from Su Heng’s throat. “I’m here.”
Jiang Ying had almost thought she had lost her dog.
This fear rapidly overrode the helplessness of losing her support, seizing hold of her emotions entirely.
Hearing his voice now finally let her breathe a sigh of relief.
Even so, her mind was still filled with one thought: her dog had been wronged, and she needed to hug him immediately.
So, she released the hand she had used to briefly clutch Jin Chuyun’s sleeve for help and stumbled forward, throwing herself ahead.
Watching her movement, a trace of surprise flashed through Su Heng’s eyes.
He had originally thought that, to her, he was just a disposable pet, a tool to make her daily life easier.
Yet at this very moment, he was suddenly struck with the illusion that he was being firmly chosen.
Su Heng opened his arms and caught her.
Curious, indifferent, and even malicious gazes from the passing crowd all focused on them at this moment.
He leaned forward slightly, gathering her into his shadow, shielding her from those stares he personally disregarded but did not want her exposed to.
“What’s wrong?”
The moment he spoke, he realized his tone could not turn cold at all.
“Sorry.” She mumbled, muffled against his chest.
What kind of owner apologizes to her puppy?
Su Heng laughed despite himself. “Sorry for what?”
“For letting my dog feel wronged.” Jiang Ying tilted her head up from his embrace, stood on tiptoes, and pecked his chin. “Here’s a kiss for you. No more being angry, okay?”
“…Mm.”
Noting the man beside them, whose smile remained but whose body had clearly stiffened for a moment, Su Heng suddenly felt that the mood which had sunk to the very bottom had lifted considerably.
Jiang Ying thought for a moment, then took a card from her pocket. “How about you find a place to eat or have a drink, and just wait for me there, okay?”
She bit her lip, looking somewhat troubled. “This banquet is pretty important. I’ll end it as quickly as I can and come find you.”
The moment she had rushed into his arms, he had already been coaxed back to good humor.
Those fated contradictions wrestled within his chest for a round before being ruthlessly suppressed back down by him.
He thought, he would deal with it when the time came.
She was just an ordinary human. She wouldn’t become a tie he couldn’t let go of.
Su Heng held her arm to help her steady herself, then, with feigned restraint, tore his gaze from her lips. “Alright.”
Yet…
He could not help but shift his gaze back, sweeping it over the light makeup on her face.
Her usual bare face had a slightly cooler and more aloof look. With makeup on, the faint blush on her cheeks and the slight pinkness at the tip of her nose made her appear somewhat innocent and extraordinarily endearing. The lips she had just bitten looked fuller and glossier under the lights.
That man did not seem surprised at all by her makeup. Was it because she always saw him like this?
Su Heng’s mood rose and fell, returning right back to where it started.
He looked up at the suited Jin Chuyun and, acting like the host despite being the guest, said, “I’ll be leaving her in your care.”
A gesture akin to asserting sovereignty.
Jin Chuyun immediately detected Su Heng’s intent.
And relying on his familiarity with Jiang Ying’s cognitive disorder, he had seen through the interaction model between her and this Beastman in just this short while.
He smiled without exposing anything. “Of course. Please rest assured.”
Indeed, their relationship was not that deeply familiar. The stiffness in Jiang Ying as she took Jin Chuyun’s arm was visibly apparent.
Coupled with the polite “Thank you, Doctor Jin” she uttered, Su Heng’s heart felt slightly more balanced.
He stood in place, watching the two enter the venue.
Looking down at the card she had hastily stuffed into his hand before leaving, he raised the corner of his mouth in exasperation.
…She forgot the PIN.
Lifting his head again, he keenly sensed someone spying on him from a distance.
Su Heng grew vigilant. He inconspicuously surveyed his surroundings. When he spotted the middle-aged man in a corridor not far away hurriedly concealing his shock, his expression did not change in the slightest.
The other party recognized him.
He cautiously searched his mind for information and quickly locked onto a target.
Qu Sheng, a spy sent by the Empire to the Bayer Empire many years ago.
This man was a Sub-Beastman. Since his Beastman gene percentage was not high, he used gene suppression drugs year-round to suppress his Beastman traits, disguising himself as a Human to lurk here.
Now holding a high position, he possibly understood the matter of the Federation’s emergence of numerous high-matching Mental Power combatants. He was the primary contact Su Heng needed to reach on this trip.
However, the Bayer Empire’s regime had been overthrown three years ago.
After the Federation was established, many of their planted spies had their contact lines severed during the Federation’s founding and reforms.
He had been wondering how to contact the man, never expecting to run into him here.
They had met once before. That was how Su Heng could recognize Qu Sheng despite his suppressed Beastman features. And the other man had clearly recognized him too, visibly shaken by the interaction he had just witnessed between Su Heng and Jiang Ying.
Su Heng shot him a warning look.
Qu Sheng shuddered, then immediately turned and ducked into the venue.
This place had too many eyes and ears; it wasn’t suitable for a meeting.
They’d have to find another time.
He looked toward the direction Jiang Ying had left, closed his eyes, and reined in his complicated gaze.
Her appearing at the same banquet as Qu Sheng might suggest some connection—one that could be exploited.
Su Heng reminded himself once more—
Everything he was doing was just to use her. Nothing more.
Just using her.
Just. Using. Her.
For this, he would continue to stay by her side.
Jiang Ying had attended various gaming expos and seminars, big and small.
But this kind of banquet, inviting people from all walks of life, she had never been to before.
Compared to the other lavishly dressed female guests, her attire was a bit plain.
Yet this did not stop others from glancing her way—or rather, glancing toward the man beside her.
Jiang Ying rested one hand on Jin Chuyun’s wrist, listening curiously to the sounds around her.
She was truly insensitive to stares.
Just moments ago outside, while interacting with Su Heng, she had been utterly indifferent to the onlookers. Now, following Jin Chuyun into the banquet hall, she was likewise completely oblivious to the other guests sizing her up.
She only noticed that when they walked past certain spots, the murmur of quiet conversation in that area would fade away.
Jiang Ying suddenly remembered something. “Doctor Jin, what brings you here? Does the psychology field also require this kind of—”
She paused, choosing her words, “—socializing?”
“No.”
Jin Chuyun politely nodded to the people who looked their way, while answering her question, “I’m here representing my father.”
His smile was clearly gentle and warm, yet most people held back, and few dared approach.
Jiang Ying gave an “Oh” and did not press further.
It sounded like his father was some important figure, but she was not curious.
Even Jin Chuyu, whom she was closest to, had never mentioned that person’s identity.
She knew Jin Chuyu had “run away from home” many years ago and rarely spoke of family in daily life. The few times she ever mentioned her older brother and father, her tone was one of annoyance.
After learning that Jiang Ying’s psychologist was Jin Chuyun, Jin Chuyu’s expression had immediately turned unpleasant, and she had warned her on the spot to “stay away from him.”
Except, before today, she and Jin Chuyun had never had any contact outside of their consultation sessions.
Until now, both were still just a patient and doctor who were not very familiar with each other, so Jin Chuyu had turned a blind eye to it.
With two or three years passing peacefully, Jiang Ying did not dwell on it anymore.
She hesitantly asked the man beside her, “Am I disturbing you? I can manage on my own. Doctor Jin, thank you for bringing me in.”
During consultations, Jin Chuyun always stopped precisely at the right point, never asking about matters unrelated to her condition.
But right now, he actually asked an extra question.
“I don’t have much to do here, just showing my face. Let me help you find the person you’re looking for before you go.”
He raised his other hand, deterring a bold businessman from approaching. “Who exactly are you looking for here?”
Jiang Ying thought for a moment.
She couldn’t see. Without Su Heng around, she had no way to find the person she wanted and could not exactly shout across the hall.
Without hesitation, she graciously thanked Jin Chuyun for his offer.
“I’d like to meet the Beastman Association’s chairman. I heard he’s here today too.”
According to the Federal Publication Administration’s new regulations, any film, television, literary, game, or other works involving Beastman themes must first be certified by the Beastman Association before being eligible to apply for a publishing license.
If already published, they needed to obtain the Beastman Association’s certification document within three months, or face mandatory delisting.
And whether it was the certification document or the license application, connections were required. Otherwise, one might wait a year in vain with no results.
She wanted to come here and try her luck.
Their game featured a Beastman male lead, and its main storyline actively advocated for the harmonious coexistence of Humans and Beastmen. With the purpose of promoting Beastman-friendly content, the Beastman Association might be willing to help them with the certification.
“Qu Sheng?”
Jin Chuyun guessed her objective. He scanned the hall and spotted the middle-aged man dozing off in a corner. “I see him. I’ll take you to him.”
“Eh? Doctor Jin knows Chairman Qu?” Jiang Ying asked, pleasantly surprised.
“Mm, we’ve met a few times.” Jin Chuyun did not elaborate.
He led her toward the drowsy Qu Sheng. The latter froze for a long moment, looking left then right, a startled expression on his face. “Oh my, isn’t this Chuyun? Long time no see—uh, and this is?”
On the surface, Qu Sheng appeared curious, but inside, he was literally dying of curiosity.
Holy crap! Wasn’t this their Lord Commander’s little human girlfriend? But why… was the Federal President’s son bringing her over?
“A friend.”
Jin Chuyun smiled gently, his reply brief.
He had no other particular expression, yet the more Qu Sheng looked, the more he felt it was meaningful, suggestive, and deeply loaded with hidden implications.
A love rival—
Definitely a love rival!