Liu Rongruo ignored his words, his expression indifferent. "How long has it been?"
Li Qiongyu smiled wickedly, sitting lazily on the chair, leaning back.
"Half a year."
As soon as the words fell, a sharp gust of wind suddenly attacked.
Li Qiongyu's eyes narrowed, and he reached out to grasp the incoming fist, licking his lips.
"Alright, brother, I live by my looks."
Liu Rongruo grabbed him in return and forcefully threw him away. His face, as clear and detached as an immortal, held an imperceptible trace of anger.
"Her temper. If she knew you were the one who played her for half a year behind her back, she would break ties with you."
Li Qiongyu raised an eyebrow. "She won't know."
"So, you dared to drug her?!"
Hearing his barely concealed anger, Li Qiongyu glanced sideways. "How did you know."
Liu Rongruo flicked his robe and walked to the window, his tall figure exuding a terrifying coldness.
"You've always been wary of my people. You think I wouldn't know anything."
Li Qiongyu sneered, "Then tell me, what should I do to have her."
To watch her fall for his brother, while he could only drug her behind her back to possess her.
He had endured enough.
"Whatever you do, I don't care, but Li Qiongyu--"
He turned his head back, his eyes holding a hint of murderous intent.
"You actually dared to stoop to such unscrupulous means as to order her kidnapping, impersonate me in the underground imperial city of Jingyu, and then feign misery in front of her. This step-by-step manipulation, what do you take her for?!"
"I'm telling you, Qingge has been simple-minded since childhood, but she has a very stubborn temper. If she finds out about what you've done, there will be no good end for you."
Hearing his words, Li Qiongyu squinted and smiled.
"So, are you warning me in the capacity of an elder brother? Do I need to kneel and admit my mistake, calling you brother?"
Liu Rongruo, "---"
He was too lazy to look at his demeanor and turned his head away.
"You can use despicable means against anyone, but not her!"
Li Qiongyu laughed out loud. "Did it anyway. As you can see, she has already agreed to marry me."
That's right, he did it on purpose.
He knew Liu Rongruo had found out what he had done, and deliberately let him overhear Qingge's words, precisely to quell his anger upon knowing the truth.
After all, he was his brother, and the person was his. It wasn't as if he would undermine him.
Liu Rongruo's expression turned a bit grim upon hearing his words.
"So, you threatened and bullied her behind her back, making her believe she couldn't get married, and then took advantage of her despair to trick her into marrying you!"
"Li Qiongyu, those who are obtained through schemes will eventually face retribution!"
Li Qiongyu crossed his legs, resting them lazily on the chair, and touched his lips with his fingertips.
"Once she's in my hands, how could I let her go."
He had deliberately schemed and tricked her into his embrace, but so what? What was his was his.
Liu Rongruo kicked him from behind.
"Stop here. Don't drug her or scheme against her anymore."
Li Qiongyu picked up the wine jar on the table, turned back, and grinned cheekily.
"A drink?!"
Liu Rongruo was filled with rage. His usually cold face was tinged with ferocity. He said nothing, simply turned and left.
Li Qiongyu smiled. After drinking, he glanced at the sky outside and called out, "Jingyu."
"Young Master."
"Return to the mansion and tell the old man to propose to General Wei as soon as possible."
Jingyu bowed respectfully. "Yes."
Wei Residence.
At night, after bathing, Wei Qingge got into bed wearing her inner garment to sleep.
However, shortly after lying down, she heard a disturbance by the window.
Startled, she quickly peered out and saw Li Qiongyu, clad in a crimson brocade robe, leaping in through the window. In the dark night, he was enchantingly alluring.
Wei Qingge immediately pulled the covers around herself, frowning. "You're disturbing my sleep in the middle of the night."
Li Qiongyu didn't speak. He closed the window and strode towards her.
Wei Qingge was unguarded against him, completely unaware of the danger. Smelling the alcohol on him, she immediately pinched her nose, complaining in disgust.
"It's suffocating. Go back to your mansion."
Li Qiongyu lifted the bed curtains and pulled her into his arms.
The sudden chill that hit her couldn't conceal Wei Qingge's instantly flushed cheeks.
She flusteredly pushed him away. "Are you crazy? What are you doing?"
"I missed you."
His voice was low, his head buried in the crook of her neck, carrying a hint of languor.
Wei Qingge's face turned even redder, her mind about to explode.
"Li Qiongyu, there's a difference between men and women. What drunken tantrum are you throwing in the middle of the night? Go back to your mansion."
She struggled and pushed him away, her expression showing an unnatural awkwardness.
The sudden closeness made her feel very uncomfortable.
She was still accustomed to arguing and bickering with him, and not to him being like this.
"You're mine now, why should we be so formal."
He glanced at her provocatively, his thin lips curving slightly, with a hint of teasing.
Wei Qingge punched him in the chest with a fist.
"Ah, it hurts~"
Suddenly, he clutched his chest, leaning all his weight onto her, and collapsed onto the bed.
Wei Qingge quickly withdrew her hand, saying anxiously, "Did I hit your wound?"
"Mmm."
There were no candles in the room, only the faint moonlight illuminating the surroundings.
Wei Qingge awkwardly withdrew her hand, stubbornly saying, "Can you just be normal? Like before. You acting like this suddenly makes me feel like I'm dreaming."
She lowered her eyebrows and pouted.
Li Qiongyu squinted at her and deliberately said, "How am I acting?"
"You're always kissing me, and saying all sorts of strange things. Can we be like we were before?"
"What was it like before?"
Wei Qingge replied, "Interacting like friends."
"----"
Li Qiongyu suddenly reached out and pulled her into his embrace, biting her lip. "Qingge, we are going to get married."
Wei Qingge was startled by his sudden action and tried to break free.
He held her down, his hands moving all over her.
"Not just here, but here too. It's all mine."
"Ah—you pervert—"
Wei Qingge quickly tried to dodge, but he held her tightly.
"If you perform the rites of a husband and wife with me, you will be my wife."
He reminded her word by word that their relationship was no longer the same as before.
Wei Qingge was flustered, her fingers twisting incessantly.
She had thought that since she couldn't get married anyway, and Li Qiongyu was willing to marry her, it was a perfect match. Marrying him would be more comfortable, and they could still playfully bicker like before.
But why did he seem to have changed?!
"Then I won't marry you. We'll be like we were before."
Li Qiongyu, "---"
He concealed the sudden surge of violence in his heart, hugged her waist, and asked with lowered eyes.
"Qingge, don't you like my closeness?"
Wei Qingge pushed him away. "You were always so fierce to me before, always bullying me. Now you suddenly say you like me and treat me like this. I feel like you're playing a trick on me."
Upon hearing this, Li Qiongyu shamelessly lied, his face unblinking. "I only realized I liked you after you were kidnapped by Li Jingren that day."
"Before, I treated you like a sister and bickered with you. From now on, you will be my wife, so of course, we cannot be like we were before."