To Nangong Qianyu's surprise, her expression remained remarkably calm upon witnessing the scene before her, even displaying a hint of a smile.
However, this smile, in Ye Ming's eyes, painted a different picture.
It seemed to convey: "Having a thrilling time, aren't we?"
Indeed, Ye Ming was currently surrounded by eight women, each of whom could be described as breathtakingly beautiful.
Just imagining the scene was enough to make one's face flush.
Nangong Qianyu took a step forward and, without uttering a word, walked directly towards Ye Ming.
Sheryl and the others, being perceptive, immediately cleared a path, leaving Nangong Qianyu's way unobstructed.
Finally, she arrived in front of Ye Ming.
Yet, he lowered his gaze, not daring to even look at her.
"You've gotten quite capable! After such a short time apart, you've found me eight sisters?" Nangong Qianyu said with a playful smile. "It seems I'll have to report this to Jun Xue-jie."
Hearing this, Ye Ming's legs nearly buckled, and he almost knelt down.
"Qianyu! Listen to my explanation! It's not what you think..."
"Stop! I understand everything!"
Nangong Qianyu gave Ye Ming no chance to argue, interrupting him with a raise of her hand. "You're going to say it's not what I saw, that there must be a misunderstanding, right?"
This rhetorical question left Ye Ming speechless.
The truth was precisely that, yet in Nangong Qianyu's words, a strong killing intent was hidden.
"I..."
Ye Ming opened his mouth, but not a single word could be uttered.
Or, one could say, he had nothing to say.
"Miss Qianyu! I think you've misunderstood. We have no real relationship with Teacher Ye."
At this moment, Sheryl, showing her gratitude, finally stepped forward to speak for Ye Ming.
Ye Ming was so touched he almost wept.
"Oh? Is that so?"
Nangong Qianyu's gaze shifted to Sheryl, lingering on her right hand. "If I'm not mistaken, the movement of this hand just now was like this."
With that, Nangong Qianyu deliberately looped her arm around Ye Ming's, leaning her body slightly to press most of her weight onto him.
If Ye Ming had paid close attention, he would have clearly felt a soft, yielding pressure.
Of course!
Ye Ming had no such thoughts at the moment.
Nangong Qianyu's words, coupled with her current action, made it difficult for Sheryl to offer any further explanation.
Because the scene Nangong Qianyu presented was factual.
However, perhaps it was a woman's intuition, but Sheryl felt that the goddess, renowned throughout the world, seemed to be declaring some form of ownership with her actions.
An unspoken declaration: This man linked to me, is mine.
"Miss Qianyu! I know this matter..."
As Sheryl was about to explain further, she suddenly heard the sound of hurried footsteps approaching.
Glancing sideways, down the corridor, a middle-aged man with a panicked expression was leading a group running towards them.
This leader was none other than Li Hongzhi.
Seeing them appear, Ye Ming felt as if he had found a life-saving straw, and his entire demeanor suddenly brightened.
"Perfect timing!"
Ye Ming rejoiced internally.
"Hmm?"
Nangong Qianyu looked at Li Hongzhi and his group, her eyebrows furrowing slightly, lost in thought.
"Mr. Ye! I... I don't know why you're angered. Please tell me, and I will surely handle it properly!"
Li Hongzhi, after a fearful glance at Lait and the others, had no time for anything else and bowed to Ye Ming.
If he had seen the man Ye Ming had knocked unconscious, he might not have feigned ignorance.
"Li Hongzhi, I'll give you one more chance to rephrase your words."
Ye Ming, shedding the submissiveness he displayed towards Nangong Qianyu, his eyes instantly turning sharp and cold, spoke sternly. "Remember, this is your last chance!"
Upon hearing this, Li Hongzhi's body stiffened abruptly, cold sweat streaming down his forehead, his back thoroughly drenched.
Finally, amidst his overwhelming panic, he saw the unconscious man.
"Could it be..."
At this moment, a spark of realization flashed through Li Hongzhi's mind, as if he understood what was happening.
*Thump!*
Li Hongzhi did not hesitate, immediately kneeling before Ye Ming, his forehead touching the ground, begging for mercy. "Mr. Ye! Please forgive me! I... I didn't intend to spy on you. I just had him stand guard outside because I was worried someone might disturb your enjoyment."
"I truly had no other intentions!"
Li Hongzhi repeatedly kowtowed, his words filled with desperate earnestness, as if, just as he claimed, he was only thinking of Ye Ming's well-being.
But unbeknownst to him, his words had nearly frightened Ye Ming to death.
What did he mean by worrying about someone disturbing his enjoyment?
What did he mean by sending someone to stand guard outside?
And what was this "enjoyment" he spoke of?
As expected, upon hearing Li Hongzhi's explanation, Nangong Qianyu's face completely turned cold. For the first time, her gaze towards Ye Ming held a look of disappointment.
Previously, she hadn't truly believed Ye Ming would be so reckless.
She had assumed there must be some misunderstanding.
Most of what she had said earlier was mere teasing.
But now, after hearing Li Hongzhi's account, Nangong Qianyu truly couldn't tolerate it any longer.
"I... I'm leaving now!"
Nangong Qianyu bit her lip, her eyes slightly reddened, her fists clenching and unclenching.
Ultimately, she let go.
With a sigh, she turned and left.
"Qianyu! No... it's not like that! Really!"
At this moment, Ye Ming couldn't focus on anything else. Nangong Qianyu's disappointed gaze was too piercing.
His heart ached with a dull pain.
He knew this matter had to be explained. Otherwise, their relationship might truly develop a rift.
"Li Hongzhi! You kneel here! If you dare to move an inch, you will die!"
Ye Ming left a chillingly cold threat and then rushed after Nangong Qianyu.
He had initially hoped Li Hongzhi could help explain the misunderstanding, but unexpectedly, he had been backstabbed by Li Hongzhi instead.
Sheryl watched the two receding figures, her heart filled with complex emotions.
Simultaneously, her gaze fell upon Li Hongzhi, filled with disgust.
If this man hadn't interfered maliciously, the current situation would never have occurred.
Li Hongzhi was the prime culprit.
"You truly deserve to die!"
Sheryl uttered a cold sentence and then pursued in the direction Ye Ming and Nangong Qianyu had gone.
Regardless of anything else, she did not want this misunderstanding to continue. Otherwise, she would never find peace.