Chapter 24 A God with Mortal Desires

Chapter 24: The God Acquires Human Desires

Ling Jue's gaze swept across the room. "I heard someone was bad-mouthing me?"

He was speaking to the room, but his eyes were fixed on Qin Shuyi.

Qin Shuyi, seated in the armchair, looked up at him. "Someone asked me why the ring you had custom-made wasn't for your girlfriend, but for someone else. I couldn't answer, so I asked Master Jue to come and explain it for us."

Ling Jue looked at her impassive face, his eyes unfathomably dark. "Do you care?"

"I'd like to know," Qin Shuyi replied.

_If he had crossed a line, then he had no grounds to refuse a breakup. If he hadn't, then clarifying things would prevent people from constantly using this as a weapon against her._

"I gave it." Ling Jue's voice carried the chill of a February wind as his eyes searched for any subtle change on Qin Shuyi's face.

Tao Wangxi's tense body relaxed, and she unconsciously let out a sigh of relief.

The onlookers' eyes darted between the individuals involved, clearly savoring the juicy drama.

"In that case... I wish..." Qin Shuyi began, her expression unchanged.

"But I didn't give it." Ling Jue cut in quickly.

"That ring was..."

"It was a gift from my mother, commissioned through Auntie Qi from Elena, to celebrate my return to the country and my improved health. Master Jue was merely passing it along."

It seemed there was a curse today where no one could get a full sentence out.

Interrupting Ling Jue, Tao Wangxi stepped forward first to explain, shooting an apologetic look to both Ling Jue and Qin Shuyi.

"I'm sorry for stirring up all this trouble. I said it was just an ordinary ring, it means nothing to Master Jue. Miss Qin, you could have trusted Master Jue a bit more."

If Ling Jue hadn't appeared, she could have pretended ignorance and let the misunderstanding continue.

But Qin Shuyi had to have things clear, unlike others in their circle who preferred to smooth things over. Tao Wangxi had no choice but to set the record straight herself.

Elena was an internationally renowned jewelry design master who had retired years ago and no longer accepted private commissions.

Qi Manjun was close friends with Elena, so it wasn't strange for Tao Wangxi's mother to seek a masterpiece from the master through her connections.

Tao Wangxi had indeed never explicitly stated that Ling Jue gave her the ring and had even tried to persuade Qin Shuyi not to bother Ling Jue.

Now, it made Qin Shuyi seem overly confrontational.

However, neither of the two people facing her paid any attention to her apology.

Ling Jue walked over to the armchair where Qin Shuyi sat, bent down to look at her, and said with a faint, ambiguous smile, "So, what other charges did you want to pin on me?"

Qin Shuyi swallowed back the words "I wish you happiness" and pushed him away slightly. "The misunderstanding was caused by you. Was it wrong to ask you to explain?"

Ling Jue's mouth pressed into a straight line, grinding his teeth in frustration, but he could only manage a backhanded compliment, "Quite clever, knowing who to ask for support."

He stood up and looked at the group of people with anxious expressions. "Being sent on an errand by Ms. Qi almost cost me my girlfriend. It seems everyone is very concerned about my love life."

His voice was frank. "I haven't given her a ring only because she doesn't like them, not because I'm unwilling. If anyone has an opinion about this, feel free to say it to my face. My Shuyi is shy and doesn't have a way with words, so I'll explain it to you myself."

No matter how much he and Qin Shuyi argued, even if they broke up the next second, she was still his person. There was no reason for outsiders to bully her.

Little did he know these words sent shockwaves through the crowd.

What did he mean by "not because I'm unwilling, but because Qin Shuyi doesn't like it"?

Did Master Jue really have thoughts of making it official with Qin Shuyi?

And Qin Shuyi refused?

Was she crazy?!

But at this moment, even the most fickle-minded person no longer dared to look down on Qin Shuyi.

Even if Mrs. Ling were to be someone else in the future, her place was now assured.

Ji Xiuhang and Xie Muchen, who had come along to watch the spectacle, snorted inwardly.

He said he wasn't someone else's dog, but before the person even spoke, he started biting on his own.

Who was the stubborn one here?

...

The stubborn Master Jue felt a faint scratch in his palm.

His face remained stern and imposing, but the hand hanging by his side suddenly clenched, capturing the familiar, mischievous finger.

Immediately after, their fingers interlocked.

This scene fell into the eyes of many onlookers.

While outsiders found it hard to swallow, Ling Jue's heart felt as if it had been fried in oil and then soothed by warm water.

He was truly at a loss with Qin Shuyi.

She was really good at this—slapping him and then dangling a candy in front of him.

Not long ago, she was cold-faced, wanting to cut ties with him, and now she was secretly acting coquettish.

His mind told him not to indulge her, but his body had already made the choice first.

Qin Shuyi was unaware of Ling Jue's complex inner turmoil. Her thoughts were simple.

Since Ling Jue had publicly taken a stance and a breakup was temporarily off the table, they couldn't stay in a cold war forever.

As a boyfriend, Ling Jue had just defended her quite well, which earned him a reward. So, out of habit, she reached out and scratched his palm.

Who knew he would hold on and not let go?

Their argument, cold war, and rapid reconciliation made those who had been jumping around hoping for drama look like clowns.

Tao Wangxi had managed to stay composed before, but now her face was deathly pale.

Something she feared more than Ling Jue doting on a woman or being angry with a woman had happened.

In this short time, perhaps even Ling Jue himself hadn't realized it, but his emotions were constantly being led by Qin Shuyi.

The lofty god had acquired human desires.

"Why is everyone gathered here?" came a gentle male voice.

Immediately, a hand rested on Tao Wangxi's shoulder, steadying her unsteady frame.

"Brother," Tao Wangxi called out.

Tao Yusheng smiled and nodded, then looked towards Ling Jue, Xie Muchen, and Ji Xiuhang.

"The ball's about to start; you should all go mingle. Wangxi hasn't seen everyone in a long time, and now that she's back in the country, she doesn't know many people. Would Master Jue do us the honor of dancing the opening dance with this 'little sister'?"

He was charming and courteous, which made him easy to like.

Moreover, in front of Qin Shuyi, he used the identity of "little sister," which was difficult to turn down.

If it were before, Ling Jue might not have cared—he would dance with anyone.

But having just experienced the emotional rollercoaster of breaking up and getting back together, he wasn't in the mood to humor anyone right now.

"No. Dancing with someone else in front of my girlfriend might lead to more rumors that are hard to explain."

The great Master Jue—in the past, he'd never cared about the feelings of whatever woman was with him when he danced with others.

Tao Yusheng smiled silently, didn't press the matter, but he did glance at Qin Shuyi a few more times.

He then turned to his sister, said with a helpless sigh, "It seems only your own brother can accompany you for the opening dance."

Tao Wangxi placed her hand in his.

She was finally rescued from the awkward situation.

The siblings walked away step by step under everyone's watchful eyes, but their conversation wasn't as warm as it appeared to outsiders.

"Wangxi, you made a foolish move," Tao Yusheng commented like an onlooker.

That invitation should never have been sent to the Jiang family in the first place.

"You all tacitly agreed, didn't you?" Tao Wangxi replied.

The Tao family all wanted to see Qin Shuyi's true standing in Ling Jue's heart, but the results were disappointing.

Tao Yusheng said, "You came on too strong."

"Have you forgotten? Why did the Ling family take a liking to you? Where does your real advantage lie?"

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