Chapter 158: Up to No Good

Qiao Mian was practicing Tai Chi in the courtyard.

Two strange-looking drakes served as his sparring partners, completely at his mercy as he kneaded and tossed them around, leaving them howling on the ground.

When the Dragon Girl walked over carrying a food box, she happened to witness this scene.

The corners of her lips curved into a pretty arc, and she couldn't help but smile in amusement.

With a single push, Qiao Mian knocked one of the strange drakes over. Watching it wag its tail on the ground just like a dog, he was about to say something imposing like the villains in the movies when he suddenly noticed a figure appearing by the doorway.

Catching sight of the Dragon Girl, the embarrassment on his face vanished in a flash. He immediately stood up straight, assuming a cool and collected posture.

Seeing that he was no longer teasing it, the strange drake on the ground got up, trotted over, and gently rubbed its head against his waist.

"Go play somewhere else," Qiao Mian said, pressing down on the drake's head and pushing it away.

"I made some mushroom soup, want to try some?" the Dragon Girl said with a radiant smile.

Countless stars dotted the night sky.

The moon hung above the treetops, casting a silvery glow over the courtyard.

At this moment, the Dragon Girl looked as though she had stepped right out of a painting.

"It's so late, I'm sorry to trouble you," Qiao Mian said politely.

"It's not like I have anything to do at night," the Dragon Girl replied. She placed the food box on the stone table, opened the lid, and smiled, "Have a taste. There are some new ingredients in it, you know."

Qiao Mian took the spoon she handed him.

"It smells wonderful," he praised.

"Some of the ingredients were actually foraged from the Hollow Earth," the Dragon Girl said, her burning gaze fixed intently on Qiao Mian.

Qiao Mian lowered his head, picked up the spoon, scooped up a small mouthful, blew on it gently, and slipped it into his mouth.

The mushroom soup was extraordinarily delicious.

The small pieces of white meat were tender and flavorful.

He scooped up another large spoonful and ate it.

"This meat is so tender. Is it fish?" Qiao Mian asked.

The Dragon Girl smiled. "It's snake meat."

Snake meat?

Qiao Mian instantly felt a wave of nausea churning in his stomach.

He had always found it difficult to accept such things.

"It's a flying snake from the Hollow Earth," the Dragon Girl added. "King Kong killed it. It was over a hundred meters long."

Over a hundred meters long?

Qiao Mian waved his hand, and the light screen materialized before him, instantly displaying the footage of King Kong killing the flying snake.

Looking at the colossal beast on the screen, the discomfort in his heart faded slightly.

That kind of flying snake was probably thicker than ten Liang Xiaoyus put together, so thinking of it that way, it wasn't quite so repulsive.

The Dragon Girl watched with a smile.

Every time Qiao Mian displayed such magical abilities, she felt a strange sensation in her heart.

Since he was so omnipotent, would he secretly watch girls taking baths?

It was so embarrassing.

Qiao Mian finished the rest of the mushroom and snake stew in one go.

Putting aside the initial momentary aversion, the taste was actually quite exceptional.

Satisfied, Qiao Mian picked up the bottle of soda beside the table, took a small sip, and began chatting casually with the Dragon Girl.

Within a few minutes, he felt a surge of heat rising from his lower abdomen.

He frowned, his expression turning somewhat peculiar.

"Wolverine's behavior was indeed wrong. Casually meddling in other people's relationships is definitely not a good habit," he echoed the Dragon Girl, playing along with the conversation.

The burning sensation in his abdomen grew more and more intense, and he could feel a physiological reaction stirring within him.

Averting his gaze slightly, Qiao Mian slipped his hands into his pockets, crossed his legs, and listened absentmindedly as the Dragon Girl spoke.

He felt a hint of suspicion.

Ever since he had taken the precious snake blood serum, while he couldn't claim to be entirely immune to all toxins, he could certainly shrug off ordinary poisons.

However, when the dosage exceeded a certain threshold, it was bound to affect him.

He glanced sidelong at the Dragon Girl.

Under the moonlight, her beauty was breathtaking.

Although her figure was a bit slender, Qiao Mian was never the type to obsess over grand proportions.

"Come to think of it, she just celebrated her eighteenth birthday a few days ago," Qiao Mian thought to himself.

Could someone have instigated her to do this?

Which scoundrel came up with such a terrible idea!

"Are you even listening?" the Dragon Girl asked, looking at Qiao Mian with a puzzled expression.

He was staring blankly elsewhere—could something be weighing on his mind?

Coming back to his senses, Qiao Mian raised his head and locked his gaze directly on the Dragon Girl.

Her eyes were clear, her red lips slightly parted, and her fair, delicate neck was dangerously alluring.

At this moment, she was utterly captivating.

Qiao Mian's gaze was fiery, and his very breath carried a scorching heat.

Meeting his gaze, the Dragon Girl began to panic a little.

She averted her eyes, looking down at the stone table, her fingers twisting the edge of her clothes as she struggled with her inner turmoil.

Even though she was a million times willing, seeing that aggressive look in his eyes still left her at a loss.

What should she do?

Should she put up a symbolic resistance?

A girl ought to maintain her modesty, after all.

Her face flushed crimson, and she slowly lifted her head and closed her eyes.

Forget it, I'll just surrender.

Looking at the stunning face and rosy lips right before him, Qiao Mian's heart raced wildly.

His Adam's apple bobbed, and just as he was about to make a move, he suddenly felt a tremendous force slam into his waist. With a loud "bang," he was knocked flat onto the ground.

Qiao Mian let out a miserable shriek of "Ouch!"

Hearing the sound, the Dragon Girl opened her eyes to see Qiao Mian sprawled flat on his back, both hands clutching his waist and abdomen.

And right at a certain spot on his body...

Startled, the Dragon Girl reached out to help him up, casting a curious glance downward.

What on earth was he hiding?

Seeing her sweeping glances, Qiao Mian was so embarrassed he wished he could just bash his head against the ground.

Covering his head, he shook it and said, "You should go back first. I'm not feeling well and need to rest."

"Are you alright?" the Dragon Girl asked with concern, casting a resentful look at the strange drake standing innocently nearby.

"I'm fine, just need to rest," Qiao Mian waved his hand, signaling that he didn't need her support.

He quickly scrambled onto a stone stool, crossed his legs, and said, "It's so late, you should head back."

The Dragon Girl curiously cast one last glance at the still-noticeable bulge, suddenly recalling some of the "deep dark secrets" Liang Xiaoyus had secretly whispered to her previously, as well as pictures she had accidentally stumbled upon on her phone.

Things concerning the symbol of a man.

Her face turned blazing red in an instant.

So he was planning to do something bad!

"I'm leaving," she stammered, waving her hand in a rush and scurrying away as if fleeing for her life.

Even after walking a long distance away, she still felt a lingering irritation, muttering under her breath, "How could Mr. Qiao be like that!"

"He used to be such an upright person, how could he harbor such vulgar thoughts!"

All this time, Qiao Mian had been secretly monitoring her through Zero, trying to see if she was up to any mischief.

Upon hearing those words, he was so angry he almost jumped to his feet.

"This is frame-up and slander! It was obviously her..."

At this point, he cut himself off, waved his hand to dismiss the light screen, and asked Zero, "Was she doing that on purpose?"

"Snake meat invigorates yang!" Zero replied flatly.

Qiao Mian's expression shifted uncertainly.

He more or less understood now.

This stuff probably wasn't poison; it simply supercharged the blood and energy in a certain area.

King Kong could eat it without issue because of its colossal size.

No matter how formidable he was, his current physique simply couldn't compare to King Kong's.

He felt like crying without tears.

"And here I thought the mushrooms were poisonous," he smiled bitterly and shook his head, feeling the burning heat within his body gradually subside.

"I've made such a fool of myself this time!" Qiao Mian tugged fiercely at his hair, feeling as though he would never have the face to see the Dragon Girl again.