Chapter 62: Sleeping in the Same Bed

After Ji Xueli finished washing up, she looked at the large spread of food on the table—both Chinese and Western dishes. It seemed that Duan Qingyu wasn’t familiar with her preferences, so he prepared everything.

“You’re so nice,” Ji Xueli said, taking a bite of a steamed bun, deeply moved as she expressed her gratitude to Duan Qingyu.

Seeing her eat so hungrily, Duan Qingyu couldn’t help but shake his head with a smile. “Don’t talk while eating, don’t talk before bed.”

“Oh…” Ji Xueli felt like she was starving. Since there had been so many people last night, she didn’t eat much, and after the entire night of activities, she felt like she was about to collapse from hunger.

Duan Qingyu looked at her eating without regard for her image and poured her a glass of milk, placing it beside her. He spoke up, “I’ve already gathered the evidence for the car accident.”

“Nice. Is there anything I can help with?” Ji Xueli took a sip of milk and looked up.

“Actually, there is.” Duan Qingyu said, “Tell Uncle and Aunt that the one responsible for the accident was Duan Youcheng.”

“Sure, I’ll talk to them about it tonight when I get home.” Ji Xueli nodded without hesitation.

Duan Qingyu looked at her and said, “Aren’t you curious why?”

“I know what you’re trying to do. Once my parents find out, they’ll immediately go to Duan Haohong to demand an explanation and apply pressure.” Ji Xueli spoke in a knowing tone.

And she also knew what Duan Qingyu intended to do to Duan Youcheng—he wanted to put him in prison.

Duan Qingyu smiled. “Li Li, you really do think alike with me.”

“I just guessed,” Ji Xueli replied.

“Then why didn’t you plead for Ji Yanzhou this time?”

Ji Xueli looked at his cold, delicate face. This time? What did he mean by that? Did something similar happen before…?

Duan Qingyu saw the slight confusion in her eyes but didn’t speak, waiting for her answer.

“I think it’s your personal matter. As an outsider, it wouldn’t be right for me to intervene. And even if I did plead for him, you wouldn’t change your mind.” Ji Xueli struggled internally but still decided not to ask further questions. After all, she couldn’t let on that she wasn’t the original Ji Xueli.

“No, if Li Li pleads for him, I would change my mind.” Duan Qingyu leaned on the table, his smile faint but cold.

“Then forget it. Ji Yanzhou’s matters are his own to deal with.” Ji Xueli still refused.

She could sense that if she did plead, Duan Qingyu would be very displeased, so it was better not to get involved in this mess.

Duan Qingyu raised an eyebrow and stood up. “You can eat slowly. I’ll head back to the capital now.”

“Okay. What about Chengdu? You’re not going to call him to come along?” Ji Xueli nodded and stood up, wanting to see him off.

“He has his own car. He can go by himself.”

“Then text me when you arrive, and we’ll go out for a meal when I have time.” Ji Xueli casually grabbed his coat from the sofa and walked him to the door.

“Okay…”

“Hey, Duan Qingyu! I was just about to knock and call you! I heard you got drunk last night, and Li Li brought you back…”

Just as the door opened, someone was standing at the doorstep, hand raised to knock. Chengdu’s voice was about to tease them, but when he saw the two of them standing together, his words were swallowed in surprise.

“Li Li?! What are you doing here?” Chengdu’s eyes widened in shock as he looked at them both.

Ji Xueli was still holding Duan Qingyu’s coat, and the two of them stood side by side, looking very much like a newlywed bride about to send her husband off.

“Duan Qingyu got drunk, and I took care of him, so I ended up sleeping here.” Ji Xueli felt no need to hide anything and didn’t understand why he was so surprised.

Her explanation, however, was like adding fuel to the fire in Chengdu’s eyes. He pointed at Duan Qingyu with a trembling hand. “You slept in the same bed?! Duan Qingyu, how could you take advantage of her when you were drunk?!”

Duan Qingyu chuckled softly and looked at Ji Xueli, deliberately saying, “I took advantage of you last night.”

Ji Xueli’s ears turned red, and she immediately retorted, “Chengdu, what nonsense are you spouting? Come inside!”

She grabbed Chengdu by the collar and yanked him inside, slamming the door shut quickly so no one would overhear.

“He was so drunk he passed out. He just lay on the bed. I took advantage of him, huh?” Ji Xueli threw Duan Qingyu’s coat at him in frustration.

Duan Qingyu smiled faintly, putting on his coat.

“So, you two slept in the same bed… A man and a woman alone in the room.” Chengdu spoke with a teasing tone.

Ji Xueli couldn’t take it anymore. She grabbed Chengdu’s ear and shouted, “I slept on the couch, are you looking for trouble?!”

“Hey, hey, I get it, I get it,” Chengdu yelped, quickly covering his ears and retreating to the side.

Seeing this scene, Duan Qingyu couldn’t hold back his laughter. His eyes sparkled like clear water, and his smile was as gentle as a dimpled sun.

“So, the story is, the prince got drunk last night, and you stayed to take care of him, then slept on the couch?” Chengdu started recounting the events.

Ji Xueli nodded in satisfaction. “Yeah, that’s right.”

“Wait, I carried her to bed later, and I slept on the couch.” Duan Qingyu corrected him.

Chengdu gave him a mischievous look.

“Does this even matter?” Ji Xueli was exasperated.

Duan Qingyu lazily responded, “A gentleman.”

“…Alright, a gentleman.”

“So serious, huh? Li Li, didn’t you say you were going to chase the prince? Why don’t you take the opportunity to force him into it?” Chengdu winked at Ji Xueli slyly.

“Force him into it?” Ji Xueli rolled her eyes. “I believe in taking it slow. You know, the frog in boiling water approach. Just wait until the second day, your prince will be the one splitting up with me.”

“Do you think he would?” Chengdu shifted the topic to Duan Qingyu.

“We’ll see when that day comes,” Duan Qingyu answered carelessly.

Chengdu nudged Ji Xueli’s shoulder. “I get it, you’re being given a chance.”

“Chengdu, shut your mouth,” Ji Xueli said, too tired to argue with him.

“Oh.”

Duan Qingyu glanced at the time, then said, “I’m leaving now.”

“Mm, bye.”

As Duan Qingyu left, Ji Xueli looked at Chengdu, who still hadn’t moved. “Why aren’t you leaving?”

“I have no business, so I can leave whenever.” Chengdu walked over to the dining table, picked up a piece of bread, and leisurely spread jam on it.

“What’s going on with you and Guan Ru? What are you going to do about it?” Ji Xueli remembered last night and couldn’t help but ask.

“I’m going to take her from Ji Yanzhou’s company, then let Li Li deal with her.” Chengdu shared his plan.

Ji Xueli thought for a moment. “Right, why did she dislike me before?”

“Apparently, it was because you acted all high and mighty, and she bought a lot of your negative gossip.” Chengdu answered.

“What kind of gossip?” Ji Xueli leaned in, curious.

Chengdu thought for a while and counted on his fingers. “Bad acting, rumors that you were dating some young actor, stealing your roles, and even stealing your endorsements…”

“Stop, let her fade away.” Ji Xueli interrupted, thinking it wasn’t worth the trouble.

“Exactly, Li Li, you shouldn’t have cared about this stuff. She was plotting behind your back, and you just let it slide.” Chengdu nodded in approval.

Ji Xueli frowned. “Is this how the original owner was? Still not bothered by it after all this?”