Chapter 42

Chapter 42

By September's nights, most of the summer heat had dissipated. A cool breeze rustled, and the moon hung high in the inky sky.

Ning Yuyi munched on fruits sliced by his aunt, leaning on the balcony and enjoying the night air.

This life was beyond the wildest dreams of his pre-transmigration self.

Half a year later, Ning Yuyi felt as though he couldn't even recall his former self.

Those memories seemed blurred, like they had been softened by a glow filter. Instead, the memories of the original body's childhood grew more vivid.

It was as though the past few months had melded those memories with his own.

Ning Yuyi took a sip of fresh watermelon juice and sighed.

A car's headlights appeared in the distance. Squinting, Ning Yuyi noticed the vehicle parked in front of Fan Zhongchuan's villa.

Leaning out for a closer look, he realized he hadn't seen this car in Fan Zhongchuan's garage before.

A friend, perhaps?

The rear door opened. First, Fan Zhongchuan stepped out, followed by an elegant woman with curly hair, her back to Ning Yuyi.

As she exited the car, Fan Zhongchuan courteously held the door for her.

Ning Yuyi's eyes widened in disbelief at the scene.

The woman followed Fan Zhongchuan into the house. Instantly, the previously dark home was awash with light.

Ning Yuyi would swear on his life that as the woman stepped into the house, she turned her head slightly, casting a glance in his direction.

"!!!" Ning Yuyi took a deep breath, striving to calm herself down.

Ten seconds later, her efforts failed.

With an exasperated huff, Ning Yuyi shoved a piece of cantaloupe into her mouth, chewing angrily as if she was taking out her frustration on the fruit, imagining it to be Fan Zhongchuan.

"Claiming to like me, yet you bring another woman home in the dead of night." Ning Yuyi pouted, deciding she would ignore Fan Zhongchuan from now on.

Jerk!

Sweet-talking me, professing your feelings, but still flirting around with others behind my back!!!

Seeing the light in the next room, Ning Yuyi's anger grew. She picked up the unfinished fruit, turned, and headed back to her room.

Once inside, she drew all the curtains shut and flopped onto the bed, wrapping herself entirely with the duvet in frustration.

As her anger mounted, Ning Yuyi uncovered herself, letting loose a flurry of punches on her pillow, finally huffily hugging the corner of the duvet as she lay on the bed.

Her mind was filled with the scenes she had just witnessed.

Ahhhhh!!!

……

After lying on the bed for over an hour, Ning Yuyi still couldn't fall asleep.

Just as Ning Yuyi was rolling around in her blanket for the umpteenth time, the doorbell rang downstairs.

"Who could it be at this hour?" Annoyed, Ning Yuyi tossed the blanket aside and descended the stairs in her slippers.

As her hand touched the cold doorknob, she suddenly remembered that fleeting glance of the woman.

Could it be her?

With a slight hesitation, Ning Yuyi proceeded to open the door.

But standing outside wasn't a woman – it was Fan Zhongchuan.

"Why are you still awake?" A crease formed between Fan Zhongchuan's brows as he reached out to hold the door.

Ning Yuyi, not in the mood for conversation, attempted to shut the door, but Fan Zhongchuan stopped it.

"What's wrong?" Fan Zhongchuan stepped forward, squeezing through the partially open door.

"Nothing." Ning Yuyi replied tersely, intending to head back upstairs.

Big meanie, lousy jerk.

Ning Yuyi had barely taken two steps when her arm was caught in a firm grip.

In the next moment, a warm embrace enveloped her, and she was surrounded by that familiar scent again.

"Feeling unwell?" Fan Zhongchuan felt Ning Yuyi's forehead to gauge her temperature.

"Why are you here?" Ning Yuyi tried to push him away but failed. "Shouldn't you be with that woman?"

"Which woman?" Fan Zhongchuan furrowed his brows, pondering briefly before breaking into a smile. "You mean the one who just came to my house?"

"Ning Ning, that's my mother." Fan Zhongchuan whispered into Ning Yuyi's neck. "Were you... jealous?"

&%#@*&……

Right now, Ning Yuyi wished she could just dig a hole and bury herself in it.

If there were a social media group for embarrassing moments, she would undoubtedly be the top story for the day.

Darn, darn, darn, darn, darn!!!

A sudden blush surged from Ning Yuyi's neck to her ears. She tucked her chin in, closing her eyes, trying to escape the embarrassing reality.

Knowing Ning Yuyi's easily flustered nature, Fan Zhongchuan suppressed his laughter, caressing the nape of her neck. "My mother came over to discuss marriage."

"I told her I've found someone I like. She asked when I'd bring that person home."

"So," Fan Zhongchuan gently kissed the tip of Ning Yuyi's burning ear, "when can I introduce you to my home, Ning Ning?"

At the sensation of his kiss, Ning Yuyi shivered and clutched Fan Zhongchuan's clothing, her legs almost giving out from underneath her.

"Perhaps in..." Ning Yuyi stammered, her face as red as a beet, her voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz, "a few more months of consideration?"

Fan Zhongchuan, with his sharp hearing, froze momentarily upon hearing her words.

"So, are you saying you're agreeing to be with me?" He lifted Ning Yuyi, seating her on the shoe cabinet's shelf, looking up to catch a glimpse of her expression.

"We're still in the evaluation phase," Ning Yuyi mumbled, wishing she could hide within herself. Gathering courage, she continued, "During this phase, I won't agree to visit your home."

As she spoke, Ning Yuyi playfully poked Fan Zhongchuan's chest. "I'll evaluate thoroughly."

Holding onto Ning Yuyi's hand, Fan Zhongchuan said, "Alright, evaluate any way you wish. Would you like to meet my mother now?"

"She's eager to meet you." Saying this, Fan Zhongchuan picked up Ning Yuyi, intending to head out the door.

"No, no!" Ning Yuyi clung to the shoe cabinet, but was still carried out by Fan Zhongchuan.

Still in her short-sleeved pajamas from bed, the cool night air brushed against Ning Yuyi's skin. Fan Zhongchuan wrapped her completely, shielding her from the wind.

As they neared the front door of Fan Zhongchuan's house, Ning Yuyi tensely closed her eyes.

As the door opened, Ning Yuyi had mentally rehearsed several greetings, but was met with a dimly lit living room.

With a suppressed chuckle, Fan Zhongchuan playfully pushed Ning Yuyi onto the couch. "Just teasing you. My mother only stayed for a few minutes before leaving."

The reason was simple: initially distrustful of Fan Zhongchuan, she had come to his residence to see if he really had a "daughter-in-law" around. Finding none, she didn’t even stay for a cup of tea and left promptly.

But not before playfully mocking her son on her way out.

Fan Zhongchuan wrapped Ning Yuyi with a blanket from the sofa. The two adult men squeezed together on the couch, and the atmosphere in the darkness was somewhat intimate.

Ning Yuyi felt her heart pounding, and the palms gripping the blanket began to sweat slightly.

"Sleep here tonight?" Fan Zhongchuan held Ning Yuyi through the blanket without making any further moves. "Or you'll wake up with dark circles under your eyes again."

"I can sleep at my own place!" Ning Yuyi nudged him gently with her foot. "First, let me go."

"I won’t," Fan Zhongchuan murmured. "It took me so long to ‘kidnap’ a wife. What if you run away once I let you go?"

Ning Yuyi’s face, which she had barely managed to cool down, turned beet red at his words, and she buried her face in the blanket.

"Careful not to suffocate. Leave a little space for your nose," Fan Zhongchuan said, holding the edge of the blanket. Being careful not to use too much force and hurt Ning Yuyi, he eventually lifted her, blanket and all, and headed upstairs.

The sudden sensation of being lifted made Ning Yuyi tightly wrap her arms around Fan Zhongchuan's waist.

She remained cocooned in the blanket, peering out through a small opening to observe the changing surroundings.

Eventually, they entered a familiar room.

The same guest room in Fan Zhongchuan’s house where she had slept before.

Fan Zhongchuan gently placed her on the bed. He watched as Ning Yuyi emerged from the blanket and tucked herself into the duvet.

The duvet was pulled up high, covering most of her face and revealing only her eyes.

They darted around, seemingly lost in thought.

"Am I sleeping here?" Ning Yuyi asked.

"I'd love for you to sleep in the master bedroom," Fan Zhongchuan teased as he tapped Ning Yuyi’s nose, "but I'm afraid someone might be too shy and end up staying awake all night."

Imagining that scenario, Ning Yuyi silently agreed with Fan Zhongchuan's words.

"Sleep here tonight, so you don’t stay up overthinking things when you get home," Fan Zhongchuan adjusted the duvet for her. "Goodnight, Ning Ning."

Only when Fan Zhongchuan turned and reached the door did Ning Yuyi softly respond, "Goodnight, my ‘trial period’ boyfriend."

Author's Note: An additional chapter.

It's less than three thousand words because… this scene is too sweet to continue, QAQ.

I'm writing another chapter, and if all goes well, there should be another one before midnight.