A Delicate Beauty Holding a Villain’s Script - Chapter 12

Sensing Qin Yuan’s steady gaze, Li Rangnian looked up. His face was illuminated by the fire, his cheeks flushed with a rosy hue. “What is it, Brother Qin Yuan?”

“Nothing… I was just wondering if you were afraid.” Qin Yuan added a piece of wood to the fire. The flickering light cast deep shadows across his handsome, chiseled face, but his voice held a trace of rare tenderness.

“With Brother Qin Yuan here, I won’t be afraid.” Li Rangnian narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze focused and devoted. Anyone looked at in such a way would surely feel a surge of heartfelt happiness.

Behind them, in the corners unreachable by the firelight, thick darkness loomed, clawing at the edges of their camp as if trying to swallow everything whole.

The night was deep and the dew was heavy; in such an environment, it was easy for one’s body heat to dissipate. However, Qin Yuan’s body was like a furnace, radiating the intense heat and aura of an S-Rank Alpha.

Fearing the cold, Li Rangnian dizzily clung to the man, instinctively nuzzling into him. His small head rested in the crook of the Alpha’s neck, and the sweet scent of his pheromones began to spill out uncontrollably.

Lured by the pheromones, the Alpha’s eyes reddened. He lowered his head and took a deep, lingering breath at the youth’s nape. The beast in his heart raged to escape its cage, but it was suppressed by his last shred of patience.

His arms wrapped around the youth’s waist like a python encircling its prey, closing in bit by bit, airtight, allowing no one else to catch a glimpse. A damp tongue trailed over soft lips, and coarse hair brushed against delicate skin. In the darkness of the night, the faint sounds of heavy breathing and wet muzzles echoed.

The sleeping beauty remained oblivious until his lips were glistening, vivid, and swollen. Only then did the beast, satisfied, pull him closer and drift into a slow sleep.

As a white mist rose on the horizon, 051 woke from its hibernation, circling the beauty with high spirits: (Good morning, Host!)

Draped in a coat heavy with the scent of an Alpha, Li Rangnian sat up with bleary eyes and let out a small yawn. “Good morning, System.”

(The Protagonist Gong went out to scout the path. If all goes according to plan, he’ll run into the Protagonist Shou’s group and they’ll cooperate. Host just needs to wait here.)

“Okay.” Li Rangnian nodded obediently. Looking at the extinguished fire, his eyes suddenly sharpened. “There seems to be something inside.”

He found a stick and poked through the ashes, revealing several charred, golden tubers. Just as 051 was about to excitedly jump in and explain, it was pressed back down. It looked at its Host, feeling a bit hurt: (Waaaaah, why don’t you want me.)

“Be good. I want to test my own learning progress.” Li Rangnian poked one with his stick and confirmed after a careful look, “It’s a Jade Potato.”

Jade Potatoes were similar to sweet potatoes on Earth, rich in starch, crunchy when raw, and sweet and soft when cooked. His milk-white fingertips pressed into the middle of the potato, leaving a pale mark before he gently broke it open to reveal the golden interior.

(Sss-ha, sss-ha!) 051’s mouth watered. It made a sharp leap and pounced on one half, its virtual body rubbing against it. (It looks so delicious! Host, try it quickly!)

Li Rangnian laughed at the “little glutton” and took a bite. His vivid red tongue nimbly licked away the crumbs at the corner of his mouth in a flash. However, his mouth felt strangely numb, as if it had been “sucked” too hard. Was the Jade Potato not ripe?

This scene was caught by the returning Qin Yuan. Recalling the wonderful “experience” from the night before, his expression instantly became playful.

Li Rangnian had a small appetite; after eating a little, he was left with a large piece in his hand. He was just feeling conflicted about what to do with it when a massive shadow fell over him. Smelling the morning dew and the scent of greenery, he looked up in a daze, meeting the Alpha’s overwhelming gaze a gaze that scanned him like an X-ray.

“Qin…”

Before he could finish, Qin Yuan firmly pressed down the hand holding the potato. He lowered his head, glanced at the remains of the Jade Potato, and without hesitation, took a large bite exactly where Li Rangnian had bitten.

As he chewed, the Alpha’s eyes remained fixed on the youth, unmoving. He parted his thin lips slightly, licking away the crumbs bit by bit. His features were sharp, his gaze star-like, and the invitation in his eyes was blatant, as if he were fishing for a silly little fish.

Unsurprisingly, Li Rangnian’s face turned bright red.

Then, he was startled by 051’s frantic shouting: (Ahhhh, what happened?? Where are the Protagonist Shou and the others?!)

What?

With eyes full of “autumn ripples,” Li Rangnian looked confusedly behind the man. The area was empty. He shrunk his neck and quickly pulled his hand back. “What are you doing!”

The poor potato fell through the air, rolling on the ground and getting covered in dust, ignored by everyone.

“I’m eating.” Qin Yuan acted as if he didn’t understand the youth’s panic. He took a step forward, his tall frame looming over. Up close, the darkness in those eyes was even more captivating. “What is Li-mei looking for?”

With nowhere to retreat, Li Rangnian curled up on the rock, completely overshadowed by the man. He instinctively shook his head. “Nothing…”

His shoulder was gripped, making him feel as though he had been gathered into a palm an illusion that there was no escape. The man’s hand slid down slowly, caressing the thin back and the protruding butterfly bones, following the curve of his waist before squeezing tightly.

“Are you really not looking for anything? For example… a person?”

Li Rangnian trembled. He looked up suddenly into the man’s eyes, his soul seemingly sucked into that deep, dark gaze. “You…”

“I’m joking, Li-mei.” The man’s fingers rubbed heavily against him, savoring the warm sensation and the slight shudder of the youth. Then he let go, revealing a clean smile. “You didn’t actually believe me, did you?”

A moment later, Li Rangnian was carried down. He and 051 huddled together, shivering like fluffy little animals with their ears pricked up in caution: “Waaaaah, System, I think the Protagonist Gong is so scary! He actually pinched me!”

He had just peeked under his shirt; the spot where he was pinched was bright red with a visible fingerprint. How excessive!

The little ball was equally terrified: (Waaaaah, I think he’s scary too! How did he know we were waiting for someone?)

According to the plot, the Protagonist Gong should have met the Protagonist Shou and cooperated to exit the forest. But now, the Protagonist Gong had returned alone and seemingly guessed the Host’s thoughts. The person and the system were completely baffled.

“Come up, Li-mei.” Qin Yuan crouched down and looked back with a smile.

Li Rangnian thought for only half a second. Looking at the dense bushes and thorns, he immediately chose to climb onto the man’s back obediently. The man’s back was solid and steady, full of explosive power. He lifted the youth with ease.

Large hands hooked under Li Rangnian’s slender legs to keep him steady. Qin Yuan strode through the waist-high thorns without losing his breath, even using one hand to clear away the weeds in their path. Li Rangnian wrapped his arms around the man’s neck and rested his head on his back. The steadiness of the walk made him nod off.

Warm breath puffed against his back. Though the Alpha was light, carrying him gave Qin Yuan a solemn feeling, as if he were carrying the entire world on his shoulders.

Earlier that morning, the disciplined Qin Yuan had gently let go of the sleeping beauty, making sure he was tucked in before heading out. He followed animal tracks to the river, and when he looked up, he locked eyes with someone on the opposite bank.

Shen Yiqing hadn’t expected to meet him there either. After the initial shock, he became wary. “Qin Yuan? Why are you here? Where is Li-mei?”

“I should be the one asking that,” Qin Yuan sneered, pointing to the signal device on his chest. “No one has sent a signal yet. You’re an Omega, why are you running around without orders?”

“None of your business.” Shen Yiqing’s gaze went cold. “I’m looking for Li-mei. You’d better not stop me.”

Qin Yuan raised an eyebrow. “Then let’s see who finds him first.”

Shen Yiqing didn’t want to argue and turned to leave. Seeing the Omega disappear into the jungle, Qin Yuan also hurried to scout a shortcut.

But on the way back, his thoughts began to wander. Why was Shen Yiqing here? Did Li-mei know he was coming? The sourness in his heart, fermented by jealousy, twisted into resentment. He was the one who got close to Li-mei first, why should Shen Yiqing get to swoop in? Was an Alpha not more resilient than an Omega?

Anything an Omega could do; he could do better.

His thoughts were a mess until he saw the adorable sight of the Alpha carefully eating the Jade Potato. Then, all his irritation vanished.

It doesn’t matter; he told himself. As long as Li-mei is by my side, I’ll pay any price.