A Delicate Beauty Holding a Villain’s Script - Chapter 36

Autumn departed and winter arrived, and the temperature in the capital dropped lower and lower. Before dawn, the morning light was faint, and tall buildings were hidden in the morning mist, looming like lurking beasts.

The traffic lights at the intersections were difficult to see clearly in these conditions; the foggy weather made travel arduous. The man dared not take it lightly, slowing his speed as the luxury car crawled along the highway.

Inside the car, the air conditioning was turned up high, keeping the temperature warm and comfortable. The heat caused a flush to rise on the beauty’s cheeks. He wore a light-colored beret, and his long hair, meticulously woven into a side braid, draped over his chest. A knitted scarf was wrapped around his neck in layers, making his small face appear exceptionally dainty.

The coat he had selected after much deliberation was both form-fitting and warm. Its pale blue color accentuated his fair skin; the entire person looked fluffy and was simply too adorable.

“Huff…” He opened his small mouth and exhaled against the car window. His pale pink fingertips poked at the glass, where tiny water droplets adhered, slowly tracing the outline of a kitten.

His bright eyes stared unblinkingly at the window, his eyelashes upturned slightly, revealing a touch of worldly innocence.

Han Xiangbai concentrated on driving, his eyes occasionally glancing at the rearview mirror. When his gaze touched the little cat, the other had drawn, he quickly softened.

He said softly, “Baby, are your fingers cold?”

“…” Li Rangnian quickly withdrew his hand, looked up at him, pursed his lips, and slowly shook his head.

Han Xiangbai’s heart melted, and his voice became even gentler as he pitched it higher. “Baby is so amazing. Did you draw a kitten? It’s so beautiful; I recognized it instantly!”

Being praised by the man-made Li Rangnian very happy. His cheeks turned red, his eyes brightened, and his small mouth curled into a slight arc, with his little dimples appearing faintly.

Just as Han Xiangbai thought he wouldn’t respond, the beauty opened his mouth, his voice as soft as a mosquito’s hum: “Thank you.”

“…!” Hearing this, Han Xiangbai’s heart skipped a beat. The hand gripping the steering wheel tensed up. A massive wave of pleasant surprise descended from the heavens, making him dizzy; he was so excited he wanted to throw away his decorum, run out of the car, and shout at the top of his lungs. “Baby! Baby, you spoke? You just spoke!”

Perhaps because his tone was too excited and his voice too loud, it frightened Li Rangnian. He quickly closed his mouth again and buried his chin in his scarf. Strands of hair fell over his cheeks, covering most of his face and leaving only those bright, beautiful eyes staring at him unblinkingly.

He looked like a small animal wary of humans, despite actually wanting to open its belly for a rub.

Han Xiangbai’s heart was practically melting from the cuteness; he was utterly infatuated and praised him repeatedly. “Baby, no need to thank me. I’m just stating the truth—you draw the most beautiful, best things! Can you say just one more sentence, baby?”

But this time, no matter how much he coaxed, Li Rangnian refused to speak. He silently turned his head and stared at the scenery flashing past the window, seemingly in a daze.

Han Xiangbai was not discouraged; instead, he was sweet and happy. This was the first time the other had spoken to him; how could he not be excited? He only regretted that he hadn’t recorded it just now.

Since that night, Han Xiangbai had discovered that the beauty had closed himself off. He refused to speak and sat on the bed in a daze every day, as if he had lost his soul.

The man was distressed beyond measure. He quickly contacted the top psychiatrist in the country, only to be told that the patient had suffered severe psychological trauma and might have fallen into a vicious cycle of self-loathing and self-abandonment. If he did not break out in time, he might never be able to live a normal life.

Ordinary medication was merely superficial; the real issue was psychological. After several counseling sessions and Han Xiangbai’s round-the-clock care, Li Rangnian’s condition improved. He finally began to eat voluntarily and communicate his emotions to them.

Over the course of more than two months, Han Xiangbai racked his brains to cure Li Rangnian. Facing exorbitant medical fees, he didn’t even blink, taking the beauty for treatment time and again. He also invited chefs from all over the world to rotate through the kitchen, just to coax the beauty into eating a few more bites.

On Halloween, he even spent a fortune to have Li Rangnian’s favorite animation broadcast on loop throughout the streets and alleys of the capital. Fireworks worth a hundred thousand dollars were launched by the river for a day and a night; every blooming firework was literally burning money.

Cases like this were too numerous to count. Everyone mocked him, saying he had gone mad with obsession and become a fatuous monarch just to win a smile from a beauty.

But as Han Xiangbai gazed into the beauty’s eyes, he thought to himself that if he really were a monarch, he wouldn’t hesitate to burn down the entire capital just to cure him.

The hospital in the morning was as busy as ever. In the flower beds below, pure white camellias bloomed on the branches. As the cold wind blew, the petals trembled like white butterflies dancing.

The air was filled with a faint scent of flowers mixed with disinfectant, A strange blend that didn’t smell conflicting.

Li Rangnian was quite familiar with this hospital. As soon as he got out of the car, he jogged toward the entrance. The man, having just parked, feared he might trip. He grabbed his car keys and ran after him, his arm raised protectively in front of him as he said softly, “Baby, slow down. Slow down, slow down the ground is slippery.”

The doctor hadn’t waited long in the office. Seeing them arrive, he grabbed a large handful of colorful candies from a drawer and handed them over: “Rangnian is here. Have some candy.”

“…Thank you.” Li Rangnian spread his hands to receive the sweets. His eyes were bright as he stuffed them all into his pockets. One side of his coat bulged out; he raised a hand to pat it, fearing they might fall.

“No need for thanks.” The doctor was a middle-aged man in his fifties. He looked at the person before him with a smile, his gaze like that of a father looking at his child. He beckoned, “Come, sit down. Things are much better now, aren’t they? You’re already willing to speak.”

Those last two sentences were directed at the man standing to the side. Han Xiangbai nodded, his gaze uncontrollably falling on the beauty’s back, a smile appearing on his lips: “Yes, Doctor. This is the second time he has spoken.”

The doctor routinely asked about Li Rangnian’s diet during these past few days. The beauty, sitting on a small stool, peeled a candy and ate it. He then folded the bright candy wrapper into a little bow and handed it to the doctor.

The doctor’s eyes crinkled with joy until they were mere slits: “Thank you, Rangnian.” A transparent jar sat on the desk, filled with little bows folded from candy wrappers; it was already more than half full.

The two had visited many times, and each time he would give Li Rangnian candy. This method was indeed effective, and Li Rangnian didn’t reject him at all.

While Han Xiangbai answered, he felt a secret pang of jealousy. In the next second, he felt his fingers being grabbed and gently shaken.

“…” He looked down. Li Rangnian was stuffing a candy into his palm. Seeing that he had noticed, he even gave him a little smile.

Han Xiangbai’s heart softened instantly. How could he remember any jealousy? He only wished he could turn that candy into a specimen and preserve it for a lifetime.

“You young couple are truly sweet. You must keep it up—smile at him more, and his mood will recover faster.” The doctor was happy to see the harmonious couple. He took out a form and wrote a prescription: “Go to the pharmacy downstairs and get some medicine according to this. Taking it for a while will be enough, about a month. After that, there won’t be any need for medication.”

“He’ll be well in another month?” Seeing the doctor nod, Han Xiangbai was incredibly excited. He said softly to Li Rangnian, “I’ll go get the medicine. Baby, wait for me here, just like before, okay?”

Li Rangnian nodded, watching him hurry out of the office. The doctor told him to sit wherever he liked and to take any snacks he wanted from the side table, which were prepared specifically for him, while the doctor himself busy with other patients.

Seeing other people enter, Li Rangnian slipped out noiselessly. Alone in the hallway, he saw the elevator open with a “ding,” so he walked over and soon reached the ground floor.

Large clusters of camellias bloomed, the flowers large and fragrant, their pure white petals accentuated by the lush green leaves. Li Rangnian’s finger gently brushed over a bloom. His fingertips were so pale that for a moment, one couldn’t distinguish between snow-white skin and flower petals.

In the breeze, his beautiful long hair blew, rising in graceful arcs. Seen from a distance, the tall camellia trees were decorated with falling petals, one happened to bloom right above his head. Like a veiled bride, he stood smiling and poised, as if he had much to say but remained silent.

The man who had just stepped into the hospital entrance stood rooted to the spot, staring blankly at that figure, unable to move for a long time.

[Host, how much longer are we staying?] 051 perched on a camellia flower, burrowing into it like a little bee, causing the branch to sway under its weight.

“Soon. Once the Supporting Lead finds me, everything can end.” Li Rangnian raised a finger to tap the flower. His movement was light, yet it looked like flirting, leaving the system in a daze.

“Wait, don’t go!”

Just as he was about to leave, his arm was grabbed from behind and pulled back. He crashed into a slightly cold, broad chest.

Song Hansheng’s arm was like iron, tightly encircling the person in his arms, as if trying to hold onto a beautiful dream. His breath was slightly rapid. When he spoke, the heat turned into white mist and dissipated in the air: “It’s you… what are you doing at the hospital? Are you sick?”

During this time, scandalous rumors about Li Rangnian had been circulating constantly. Countless people viewed him as a “femme fatale,” saying he had caused Yu An and Yin Xianzhi to fight to the death, and then turned around to throw himself into Han Xiangbai’s arms, bewitching the man until he couldn’t tell left from right.

If this were ancient times, he would surely be labeled a “demon concubine” who ruined the nation, and ministers would have written a thousand petitions to curse him.

Song Hansheng was lost in thought and didn’t notice the panicked expression of the person in his arms. Like a cat, he pawed at the man’s hand, flailing in an attempt to escape.

“I heard about your situation. You… actually, you don’t need to wrong yourself by staying with that old man Han Xiangbai. You can come to me.”

That bit of strength was nothing to him. The man thought the beauty was just being shy. He lowered his head to kiss the top of the beauty’s head and continued seriously, “How about you follow me? Look at me, I’m younger and more handsome than him, with more energy and stamina. I’m also willing to spend money on you. How about it? Interested?”

In his pocket, he still kept that handkerchief. The scent belonging uniquely to Li Rangnian was already very faint, but he couldn’t bear to throw it away.

Ever since he fell out with Yu An, Song Hansheng had tried every possible way but couldn’t get near the beauty, only to hear news that Yu An had fallen into trouble.

God knows how excited he was then. He thought he could finally approach the beauty openly, only to be beaten to it by Han Xiangbai. That day, Song Hansheng, like many other men with ill intentions, gritted his teeth in fury.

The person in his arms still didn’t speak. Song Hansheng finally realized something was wrong. He turned Li Rangnian’s body around to see his expression clearly, only to be struck in the face by a handful of hard, small objects.

Patter!

“…”

Colorful candies tumbled to the ground, scattering everywhere. The edges of the candy wrappers were slightly sharp; when thrown with force against his face, they successfully left a thin scratch.

Even so, the man did not let go. Having thrown all the candies, Li Rangnian had no other options; he could only glare at him huffily, his face full of resistance.

“Making such a scene… Have you hit me enough? Have you vented your anger?” Song Hansheng grabbed his fingers and pressed them against the corner of his lips, kissing them softly. Beneath his thin eyelids, his dark eyes stared unblinkingly at the person before him, looking exceptionally deep in love. “That time was my fault. I apologize, baby.”

While there is life, there is hope. Song Hansheng, who had been arrogant for over twenty years, had never apologized to anyone; his words were dry and hollow. But he truly wanted the beauty to forgive him, so he ignored his pride, using all his skills to express his sincerity.

Being held too tightly made Li Rangnian irritable. Throwing a tantrum like a child, he raised a foot and stomped on the man.

“Sss… You want to cripple your ‘hubby’?” The force was not small. Song Hansheng frowned in pain but refused to let go. “Give me a straight answer, Do you forgive me or not?”

But as it happened, the word “hubby” stimulated the beauty’s sensitive nerves. His body froze instantly. In the next second, crystal tears fell onto the man’s arm.

“Baby, what’s wrong? Did I make you unhappy?” Song Hansheng lost his composure. Feeling both distressed and self-reproachful, he let go and leaned down to look at him, only to see two lines of tears flowing silently, while the small face remained wooden and the eyes vacant.

“Bastard! Let him go!” Han Xiangbai, who had been unable to find him for a long time, was worried to death. From afar, he saw a tall man looming over the beauty with obvious intent.

He rushed over, hugged Li Rangnian, and retreated several steps. His trembling fingers touched the beauty’s cheek; he was so chilled by the cold tears that his heart ached. “Baby!”

Calculating the time, it’s about time to return to normal. Li Rangnian thought to himself. He blinked, and large tears rolled down like pearls. He opened his red lips, letting out a pitiful, delicate airy sound, like a cat acting spoiled: “Han Xiangbai, he… he bullied me…”

“Baby, you… you finally…” Han Xiangbai’s heart was sour. He gently wiped away the cold liquid and planted a feather-light kiss on the beauty’s lips, devoid of any other intent. “Don’t cry. You’re breaking my heart with your crying. Good boy, I’ll take revenge for you.”

After saying this, he looked up at Song Hansheng with a sinister gaze, looking as if he were staring at a dead man.

“…I didn’t want to hurt him; I never thought he would cry.” Song Hansheng never got the chance to finish. A punch came flying at him. Even though he dodged with agile movements, the wind from the punch still grazed his cheek, bringing a hint of pain.

No one can afford to be cowardly in front of their sweetheart. Song Hansheng dodged a few times and also grew angry, immediately clenching his fists to strike back. The two grappled and wrestled together, occasionally bumping into the flower bed. The camellia tree shook heavily, and snowy petals fell in a flurry a sight of breath-taking beauty.

It was at this moment that a weak, refined voice rang in his ear. The sense of familiarity made Li Rangnian’s eyes widen. Before he could turn around, he was met with a warm embrace, as silent as the wind:

“Wifey, long time no see.”

Not to mention how furious those two were when they stopped fighting and realized the fragrant and soft beauty was gone, Li Rangnian hadn’t even reacted when the man took his hand and led him away.

The tree-lined path was sparsely populated. The leaves of the roadside trees had all fallen, shivering in the cold wind. For some reason, red threads had been hung on the branches long ones, with wooden plaques tied to the ends. They flipped in the wind, and one could vaguely see the words “Peace year after year.”

After walking a few steps, Li Rangnian suddenly stopped, refusing to go further. He snatched his hand from the man’s palm and stuffed it into his own pocket.

“What’s wrong?” Perhaps because he had come immediately after resolving some troublesome matters, Yu An’s clothing was very casual, giving off a fresh feel. Having not seen him for several months, he appeared a bit haggard. The flesh on his cheeks had diminished, making his nose appear even more high and straight, His bone structure was superior.

During that time, he had been confined in an interrogation room, pursued and pestered by the media, and had faced bright lights and microphones countless times. His nerves had been tensed and ready to snap at any moment.

Company business had crashed down on him like a flood, a massive weight of social public opinion pressed on his shoulders, the Yin family had attacked relentlessly, others had kicked him while he was down, and his family had questioned and scolded him… The high intensity of the workload was enough to drive any normal person crazy, yet his head was full of his wife, and he had endured it all without a word.

Having hacked through thorns and brambles to get here, he now stood before the beauty, his arms loosely encircling the beauty’s shoulders. He asked patiently in a gentle voice, “Wifey, are you still angry with me?”

The person before him hung his head in silence. There was a small swirl at the top of his head, with a few stray hairs poking up, It looked quite amusing.

Yu An suppressed the urge to press them down. Seeing the other remain silent, he knew he was in the wrong and secretly reached into the other’s pocket, trying to catch his hand.

“Wifey.” Predictably, he was avoided. The man let out a sigh, knowing the other was throwing a tantrum, and decided to soften the beauty first. “You’ve lost so much weight.”

“Did Han Xiangbai not raise you well? You look even thinner than before.” Yu An’s eyes were full of distress. The bit of meat he had finally managed to foster before was gone. Li Rangnian’s face looked even more gaunt; a single palm could cover it.

The body wrapped in the coat was undoubtedly long and slender. The buttons at the waist were tightened, showing that section of the waist could be held in one hand.

Yu An raised his hands again, and regardless of the struggle, pulled the person into his arms. He rested his chin on the fluffy top of the head and closed his eyes with satisfaction. “Wifey, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have treated you like that. I never intended to hurt you. Believe me, wifey—that matter from start to finish was not authorized by me. I…”

“I hate you! I hate you…”

A force tightened at his waist. The person in his arms gave a muffled voice from below, which carried a nasal tone. Small fists struck his waist one by one. “I want to divorce you! I don’t want you to be my husband.”

“Wifey, I was wrong. Don’t leave me.” Yu An’s expression changed instantly. He lifted the beauty’s chin, and gentle kisses fell continuously on the beautiful small face. It was itchy, yet it made one feel comfortable. “I’m not divorcing. You’re mine, wifey or a lifetime. Don’t think of leaving me.”

Lips and teeth clung together as they swallowed each other’s fluids. The “negative distance” contact brought an electric-like stimulus. The temperature continued to rise, enough to withstand the bone-chillingly cold wind.

This kiss lasted too long, leaving them wanting more. Even as they separated, an ambiguous silver thread of saliva lingered.

He loved this feeling so much: the cold weather, the deserted path, the lover acting spoiled in his arms while they kissed as if no one else were around, their two hearts pressing so close together…

After crying, Li Rangnian felt a bit tired and gave a yawn. Physiological tears instantly spilled out.

“Wifey, get on.” Yu An turned his back and crouched down. His shoulders and back were firm and powerful, with smooth lines full of a sense of security.

Li Rangnian climbed on quite obediently. He was then easily lifted onto the man’s back, two large hands passing through his knee crooks to steady him firmly. The walking speed was slow and not shaky.

All along the way, Yu An hummed a tuneless little melody, soft and warm, like a lullaby. The already tired beauty soon relaxed and fell asleep.

The black luxury car was parked discreetly by the roadside. Passersby couldn’t help but look back several times. It was a long time before its two masters arrived.

The back seat was flattened, and Li Rangnian lay upon it obediently. The man’s coat was gently draped over his body, and his long hair was lazily scattered over his chest. His sleeping face was serene and beautiful. Yu An’s finger pressed against his full lips, which indented to reveal an even deeper crimson. His fingertip felt a touch of moisture.

Enduring it again and again, the man ultimately only leaned in for a brief taste of the lips, not disturbing the beauty’s sleep.

The car slowly drove away. Through the Bluetooth headset, a designer was asking for Yu An’s opinion on the wedding rings. He withdrew his gaze from the beauty, paused, and answered in a low voice: “I have no opinion on the appearance; you can handle it. If you need any raw materials, inform my assistant; he will handle it. Just make sure our initials are engraved on the inside mine and my lover’s.”

Just after hanging up, another call immediately dialed in: “Mr. Yu, the customized wedding attire requires the measurements for you and your lover, as well as your design requirements. These things need to be clarified as soon as possible so as not to delay the process.”

Yu An involuntarily thought of their past intimate moments in bed, of that delicate and smooth skin… His ear turned a bit red. He cleared his throat and replied: “My assistant will send the measurements to you. As for the requirements for the wedding attire… mine can be anything, but for the ‘bride’s,’ it must be the most radiant and beautiful. He likes roses, so design a rose pattern on the skirt hem.”

“Encrusted with crystals? Won’t that be too heavy? I’m worried my lover will get tired… Agate stones? Of course, decorate them on the strapless bodice. Lace? That’s good too, but the fabric must be smooth and soft. My lover’s skin is delicate and cannot handle the friction of poor-quality fabric…”

“Crystal shoes are fine, of course, but the soles should be thicker and the heels shouldn’t be high otherwise, they’ll easily rub the feet…”

The mobile phone messages scrolled up one by one. He took a quick glance; they were all from the wedding agency, asking him about various details for holding the wedding.

Clearly these were tedious matters, but the corners of Yu An’s mouth turned up in an arc, his smile sweet. “Wifey, we’ll be together very soon.”

The wedding he had dreamed of would finally be fulfilled on a certain day in the near future.