Chapter 359
Chapter 359: Chapter 359
Ning Xuan sent a holographic video call to Ying Yaoshi from the sofa in the front hall. Two or three minutes later, the call connected, and Ying Yaoshi’s figure materialized before her.
"Lord Contract Master, you’re calling me first? What a pleasant surprise," Ying Yaoshi said, a look of astonishment on his face.
Ying Yaoshi sat ramrod straight within the holographic projection, his tall, slender frame as sharp and imposing as a drawn sword. He wore a finely tailored, midnight-blue, high-collared uniform. Dark patterns, embroidered with silver thread, shimmered faintly under the light. It was clearly a piece he had carefully selected from his spare formal attire, though the haste with which he’d changed was betrayed by a crease at the collar that hadn’t been fully smoothed out.
His hair was meticulously combed back, the ends still slightly damp with moisture, as if he had just groomed it in a hurry. A single, rebellious lock of hair fell across his forehead, casting a delicate shadow over his brow and adding a touch of liveliness to his otherwise severe features.
"Were you in the middle of a shower? Or did you take one just for this call?" Ning Xuan teased.
"I just got back and was about to shower and change. So, why did my Lord Contract Master decide to grace me with a call?" Ying Yaoshi asked again.
"Are you complaining that I don’t call you enough? Do you have a problem with me?" Ning Xuan’s expression turned cold.
Ying Yaoshi didn’t know why, but even though he loved her to death, the words that came out of his mouth always sounded wrong. Even he had to admit that what he’d just said was dripping with resentment.
"I wouldn’t dare. It’s just... it makes me sad that the Contractor would rather sneak off to such a remote Resource Star than stay by my side." Realizing his mistake, Ying Yaoshi quickly softened his tone.
"Ying Yaoshi, I know I have a Legendary Level Companion Spirit. If you hadn’t been maneuvering between the various factions behind the scenes to protect me, I wouldn’t be living this comfortably. I know what you’ve done for me. But I won’t let your efforts be in vain. I’ve already figured out the reason you’ve been unable to advance. I’ve also treated some of the hidden injuries and issues within your body. Once I advance to SSS-level, I can unlock the Chaotic Divine Domain. I’ll send you there and help you complete your transformation." As Ning Xuan spoke, Ying Yaoshi’s expression grew solemn.
"Ning Xuan, did someone tell you something? Was it Yu Mingche? Or Di Youlin?" Ying Yaoshi couldn’t help but ask.
"What was I supposed to have heard? That you’re only helping me because you’re looking for a chance to achieve a breakthrough?" Ning Xuan shot back.
Ying Yaoshi fell silent.
"Alright, don’t look like that. Neither Yu Mingche nor Di Youlin said anything. And even if you are helping me just to find a chance for a breakthrough, you’re the one who gave so much unconditionally, with no guarantee of getting anything in return. I just want you to know that it won’t take me long to reach SSS-level. As soon as I do, I can solve your problem for you immediately," Ning Xuan said, her voice firm.
"If I didn’t need you to solve my problem... would you be nicer to me?" Ying Yaoshi asked, as if possessed. The moment the words left his mouth, he wanted to swallow them back down. ’What on earth am I saying?’
Seeing the utterly mortified look on Ying Yaoshi’s face, Ning Xuan couldn’t help but laugh.
"Are you that bothered by the fact I might make Yu Mingche my main husband? Don’t worry, the contract system doesn’t say I can only have one. A while back, during the time I was missing, I thought you two were cooperating pretty well. Now that I’m back, are you fighting again?" Ning Xuan asked, testing the waters.
"We’re not fighting. It’s just... the thought of Yu Mingche getting to be by your side every day drives me crazy. I don’t care about the main husband title. I’m just jealous he gets to see you all the time," Ying Yaoshi said with a frown.
"Well, whose fault is it that you have such an important job? I’ll make sure to call you more often, and you can call me whenever you have time, too. Anyway, the main reason I called is to tell you that Chairman Wang from the Controller Protection Association just came to see me. He was relaying a message from the Elder Council. They want me to give a new blood sample to re-enter the matching system and get recalculated matches." Ning Xuan finally revealed the primary purpose of her call.
The moment Ying Yaoshi heard this, his expression changed. He snorted coldly. "Those shameless bastards. I’ve warned them multiple times, and they still dared to approach you directly. Xuanyuan, you must not listen to them. The only reason they want you to re-run the matching is so they can foist their own family’s children on you. Don’t fall for it."
"Most of those old, long-established families are obsessed with female-led procreation. Their goal is to have you bear children for their clan. If you get involved with them, they have countless ways to trap you without you even realizing it. You absolutely cannot let them deceive you," Ying Yaoshi urged.
"Oh, really?" Ning Xuan asked, a little nervous.
"Yes. Di Youlin was born to his mother, Wen Yuebai. In fact, Wen Yuebai has already borne four children for Di Jingtian, though Di Youlin is the only one still alive." Ying Yaoshi was surprisingly well-informed about Di Youlin’s family affairs.
"Mm, I understand. I’ll be careful from now on. I just thought you should be the one to know about this," Ning Xuan said to Ying Yaoshi.
"I’m glad you thought to tell me. I would never harm you. It’s true that at first, I was hoping you might be the key to my advancement. But after we met and I got to know you, I started to develop... different feelings. I want to be with you every moment of the day. The thought of someone else being by your side when I can’t drives me mad with jealousy." In the conference room where Ying Yaoshi was, the artificial lights cast a cool-toned glow on his chiseled features, his high-bridged nose throwing a sharp shadow across his profile.
"I’ll come visit you again when I have some free time," Ning Xuan comforted him.
"I really want to retire. If I could retire early, could I stay by your side always?" Ying Yaoshi said.
"Then you’d better work hard," Ning Xuan encouraged him half-heartedly.
"So, Xuanyuan, you do support me, right? In that case, I’ll notify Lan Xin right now. I’ll tell him his vacation is canceled and to report back immediately." As he spoke, Ying Yaoshi moved to send the message to Lan Xin.
"Don’t! Ying Yaoshi, are you doing this on purpose? Lan Xin came all this way, he just got back, and his injuries haven’t even healed yet! You can’t just drag him away. No, you’re not canceling his vacation." Ning Xuan immediately moved to stop him.