CHAPTER 428: CHAPTER 428: FUTURE EMPRESS APOLOGIZES! (PLEASE FOLLOW)

"Tonight you not only have to reward me, but also help me get my body back in shape."

"Regaining your figure was something you promised me a long time ago."

Ziran took the opportunity to tack on another condition.

Xiao Ye smiled and said, "Okay, okay, I’ll do whatever you want, who told you you’re my Beast Girl anyway,"

"Hehe!" Ziran’s innocent little face was all smiles, *feeling absolutely delighted inside*. She scooted over and planted a loud smack on Xiao Ye, saying, "Thank you, hubby."

Hmm?

Ziran suddenly felt a resentful gaze staring at her.

She turned her head and saw that at some point, the Hang City Empress, Gu Qingcheng, had come up beside her, giving her a look filled with gritted-teeth envy and bitter resentment.

"What kinda look is that?" Ziran’s mouth twitched.

"Gu Qingcheng, how’d you get here?"

*Did she come to apologize to Xiao Ye?*

*Doesn’t seem likely.*

*Given Gu Qingcheng’s current pride and personality, there’s no way she’d apologize to Xiao Ye.*

"What’s wrong, I’m not allowed over here? Only you get to come?" At this moment, the one in control of the body was Future Gu Qingcheng. Facing Ziran’s question, Future Qingcheng shot back, full of competitive fire.

Ziran shrugged, thinking maybe her own attitude pissed the other girl off, which was why things were so prickly.

Future Gu Qingcheng gave Ziran a careful once-over—the purple skirt showed off a tall, slender figure, that drop-dead gorgeous face looked like every guy’s first love come true, the picture of pure innocence.

*Hmph, this little hussy really knows how to hook guys. In the future, just like the other Beast Girls, she’ll seduce Xiao Ye away dozens of times, leaving me stuck alone in my empty bed.*

Xiao Ye’s gaze drifted elsewhere, whistling nonchalantly.

Future Gu Qingcheng finally looked over at Xiao Ye, and in that moment, it felt like he was the only person left in the whole world. Her beautiful, commanding eyes softened a little.

She blurted out, "Husband, I..."

She didn’t even finish before Present Gu Qingcheng hurried to stop her, communicating mentally, "Watch how you address him! We’re not even officially together, don’t call him ’husband.’ Just use his name."

The controlling Future Gu Qingcheng snapped out of it and replied in her head, "Okay."

Xiao Ye, who had been whistling, stiffened. *Did she just call me husband?*

*Must’ve misheard. This chick’s always giving me attitude—she’d probably want me dead if she could. No way she’d call me ’husband.’ ’Husband’ means ’hubby’ for crying out loud, why would she call me that?*

*Definitely misheard it.*

Future Gu Qingcheng’s expression got complicated, and the look she gave Xiao Ye was packed with longing, along with a hint of aggrieved resentment.

*Having been through over a hundred years with Xiao Ye, witnessing his rise to greatness, surpassing all races, and going through all that stuff together—I’ve come to both deeply love and hate him.*

This man—*he drove me crazy with both love and hate.*

Seeing things starting to go south, Ziran stepped in front of Xiao Ye, her pretty eyes glaring at Qingcheng as she snapped, "Qingcheng, what do you want? With me here, you can forget about hurting Xiao Ye—unless you wanna step over my dead body first."

Future Gu Qingcheng snorted delicately and said, "I have no intention of hurting him, Ziran, you’re overthinking it."

Ziran instantly felt relieved, her gaze softening. Gu Qingcheng always kept her word—if she said this, there was no way she’d hurt Xiao Ye.

"So you’re here to apologize to Xiao Ye then?" Ziran asked, surprised.

Future Gu Qingcheng nodded, reeling in all her aura—the strong, domineering pressure vanished completely, and her proud, regal face broke into a smile.

*Wait, seriously here to apologize?*

Ziran found it unbelievable, so she stepped aside and stopped standing between them.

*If Qingcheng could really set aside her pride, accept Xiao Ye, and get along, I’d be happy to see it.*

Qingcheng’s a great girlfriend, and *I’d hate to lose her.*

Ziran twitched her mouth, smiling, "Go ahead."

Future Gu Qingcheng nodded and said gently, "Thanks."

She walked up to Xiao Ye, looked at his tall, handsome figure, took a deep breath, and practically begged humbly,

"Xiao Ye, I, Gu Qingcheng, was wrong before. I’m here to apologize. I hope you’ll be the bigger person and forgive this little lady once."

"From now on, I’ll treat you as my girlfriend’s husband and get along in harmony."

"Xiao Ye, can you forgive me?" In an instant, all the bossy pride vanished from her pretty face, replaced by anxious nervousness and a gaze full of pleading.

Xiao Ye, ???

*She could actually say stuff like this? Out of the Hang City Empress’s mouth, no less.*

*Has the sun started rising in the west or something?*

He focused on Qingcheng’s stunning face, and when he saw that look of longing, he froze.

He was seeing nervousness—pleading, even—on the face of the strong, overbearing Hang City Empress!

Nervousness and pleading, actually showing on her face.

*He was totally blown away.*

When Xiao Ye didn’t say anything, Future Gu Qingcheng got even more anxious, worry written all over her pretty face as her hands nervously twisted her skirt.

*What if Xiao Ye doesn’t forgive me—am I going to be stuck alone for the next century, too?*

*Ugh, the me from this time period really sucks.*

*First impressions are huge, but the me at this point made the worst impression possible on hubby—just awful, the absolute worst!*

"Ahem, since Sister Qingcheng’s being so sincere with her apology, I’m not the kind of guy to hold grudges. Besides, she’s Sister Ziran’s bestie, so we’re bound to run into each other all the time—getting along is definitely better."

After snapping out of it, Xiao Ye’s sharply handsome face cracked into a smile, and he said gently.

Right after saying that, he scooted over to Ziran and muttered quietly,

"Sister Ziran, your bestie’s mood changes crazy fast, huh? You two really are tight."

Ziran giggled, "Of course! We’re so close we could wear the same pair of pants."

But then she frowned, "Still, I feel like something’s up with Qingcheng. She’s acting like some love-struck girl, way too emotional around you."

Next to them, Future Gu Qingcheng beamed, the anxiety finally fading away, and she felt more relieved and happy than ever before.

*Awesome, awesome!*

*As long as I change Xiao Ye’s first impression of me, and get him to stop being so annoyed by me after, everything’ll be way easier!*

*Then I won’t have to be a resentful, lonely old maid every damn day.*

*Thinking about maybe getting Xiao Ye’s love every few days, or even daily—Future Gu Qingcheng’s gorgeous face basically bloomed into a grin, and with a little slurp, drool trickled down her chin.*

"Old Gu, what the hell did you just say?"

"Do you even know how to talk?"

"I’m the Hang City Empress, and you call me a little lady?"

In her mind, Present Gu Qingcheng flipped out, all her hackles up.

"Your tone was way too weak, like some criminal begging that guy."

"Old Gu, maybe you’re his Beast Girl, but me—Gu Qingcheng—I’ve got nothing to do with him right now. Could you watch your tone, your expressions!"

"Right now, what you say and do represents me, the Hang City Empress!"

"And wipe that simping look off my face, too—I’m drooling over one guy? Old Gu, you suck."

She said imperiously, not up for debate.

Future Gu Qingcheng slurped, her little tongue licking her lips as she replied in her mind,

"Xiaogu, seriously, why are you nagging me? What I just did is for our lifetime of happiness! What’s so bad about being a little humble?"

"Look, if you hadn’t put your foot down, I’d have gotten on my knees and begged him, or even offered to be his maid!"

"He’s my hubby, and I’m Gu Qingcheng—he’s the only man for me. I’d do anything for him!"

Present Gu Qingcheng’s face darkened, and she nearly coughed up blood.

*Me, the Hang City Empress, get on my knees for him, be his maid?*