Bullying the Little Beauty [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Ning Ruan, whose eyes were still flushed with moisture, was dazed. He didn’t even react as Chu Yuan leaned over him. By the time he regained his senses, the mist in his eyes had grown even thicker.

How, how could he do this?

Jiang Qingfeng snatched Ning Ruan from Chu Yuan’s arms and pulled him into his own. He stared at Chu Yuan with a mocking, triumphant look. We’re so far from the safe zone and you’re still in heat. Are you trying to get Ning Ruan killed?

Ning Ruan huddled in Jiang Qingfeng’s embrace, gripping his clothes tightly, staring at him with red-rimmed eyes.

Chu Yuan’s cold, sharp gaze bore into Jiang Qingfeng. Great, played by Jiang Qingfeng again. Jiang Qingfeng hadn’t stopped him earlier. He clearly knew that if Ning Ruan scolded him, Chu Yuan wouldn’t be able to help himself, yet Jiang Qingfeng stood by just to watch him “bully” Ning Ruan only stepping in at the last second to play the hero.

It was a brilliant calculation.

Unfortunately for Chu Yuan, this tactic worked perfectly on Ning Ruan. The boy couldn’t see through the scheme; he simply felt that Jiang Qingfeng was a tiny bit better than Chu Yuan.

Afterward, a reluctant compromise was reached: Jiang Qingfeng and Gu Hui would take turns carrying Ning Ruan. As for Chu Yuan, because he bullied Ning Ruan, he lost his privilege to carry him.

In the dark of night,

Tree shadows fell upon the lake, the surface rippling outward from the center. On the sandy ground, a trail of wet footprints appeared one after another. The dark shadows moved further away, eager and excited like dogs chasing a bone.

Chu Yuan had whispered countless apologies and sweet words on the road before Ning Ruan finally allowed him to carry him just as they were about to enter the safe zone.

It was a mountain haunted by chilling winds. Even before entering the safe zone, Ning Ruan already felt extremely uncomfortable. Though it was daytime when they arrived, it was as gloomy as night but not quite the same; it was a heavy, sunless twilight.

A terrifying atmosphere permeated the air. Ning Ruan felt a chill down his spine. He tightened his grip around Chu Yuan’s neck, pressing himself completely against him.

Chu Yuan felt the softness of Ning Ruan’s chest against his back. The two small points rubbed lightly against him. Chu Yuan’s eyes darkened, and his Adam’s apple bobbed. He adjusted his hold on Ning Ruan and comforted him, Don’t be afraid.

Ning Ruan was truly scared, especially when he saw flickering white shapes shifting amidst the trees. His round, almond eyes brimmed with tears. The air smelled of decay and fading life, with the scent of coffins and incense lingering at the tip of his nose.

Strange images flashed incessantly in Ning Ruan’s mind: funeral caskets resting on ceiling beams. During summer and winter breaks, Ning Ruan was always sent to his rural hometown. In those traditional mortise-and-tenon houses, his grandfather’s casket was placed on the horizontal beams beneath the roof.

In rural customs, the elderly prepare their own caskets when they reach a certain age, keeping them at home for when the time comes. The patterned ebony coffin sat in the side dining hall; every time Ning Ruan looked up, he could see it.

It was fine when his grandfather was home, but most days his grandfather would go out and lock the door from the outside to prevent Ning Ruan from wandering off. Whenever Ning Ruan went to the kitchen to find food, he would pass the side hall and his gaze would uncontrollably drift upward. The sight of the coffin made his body turn cold.

That side hall was well-insulated and always chilly in the summer. That bone-deep coldness made the feeling that he had been dead for a long time feel even more real. Ning Ruan always felt as though a withered hand would push open the coffin from the inside…

The feeling this place gave him was exactly like being a child alone with that coffin cold all over, an uncontrollable misery.

Ning Ruan’s voice was tiny, his eyelashes trembling and the corners of his eyes red. I feel bad.

Before the men could comfort him, tombstones and burial mounds suddenly appeared mounds scattered here and there, adorned with white or multicolored funeral paper streamers. Rather than softening the horror, the intense colors of the streamers made the atmosphere even more grotesque.

Ning Ruan’s face turned pale, his long lashes fluttering piteously. Before he closed his eyes, the last thing he saw was a tombstone covered in mottled moss, the name mostly obscured. He vaguely made out the words Zhou… and his wife.

The terror in his heart intensified. Zhou… Zhou what?

Zhou Chen’an?

Ning Ruan didn’t dare open his eyes again.

Comment: “Wei Dog” (the developer) is truly excessive. He loves this kind of Chinese horror so much he recreated it in the game. He’s scared my wife half to death.

Comment: It’s hard work for Wei Dog, too—shipping dead people here one by one, burying them, and giving them headstones. I don’t know if he’s a devil or a saint.

Comment: Ningning is crying from fear. The baby is so cute when he cries. Why is he so good at crying?

Comment: Is the baby made of water? So much water. One scare and he leaks. Is it… Censored

Comment: Stop scaring Ningning! Scare me instead! You bastards, you’re just staring? Why aren’t you holding the baby to comfort him?

Comment: I feel like this safe zone isn’t very safe.

Comment: Calling it a “safe zone” is just nice phrasing. It’s a final circle the life-taking kind. How could it be safe?

Ning Ruan pinched his own hand, leaving red marks on his fair skin. Chu Yuan frowned and tried to pry his fingers away. Don’t pinch yourself. If you’re scared, pinch me.

Ning Ruan’s tears rubbed off onto Chu Yuan’s clothes. Chu Yuan called his name several times, but Ning Ruan kept pinching himself.

Jiang Qingfeng’s expression was terrible. Can’t you see? Carrying him on your back like this gives him no sense of security.

Jiang Qingfeng was right. The feeling of the empty space behind him made Ning Ruan feel extremely vulnerable. He didn’t dare let go to pinch Chu Yuan because he was afraid of falling off his back.

Aren’t you going to let go? Jiang Qingfeng demanded. I’ll carry Ningning.

Chu Yuan looked down at the red marks on the back of Ning Ruan’s hand and let go. Ning Ruan was caught by Jiang Qingfeng and held in his arms. The chill on his back was eased by Jiang Qingfeng’s embrace, and he finally began to feel better.

Ning Ruan curled up in Jiang Qingfeng’s arms, his nose tipped with pink, his long eyelashes clumped together by tears and trembling slightly.

Don’t be afraid. I’ll hold you tight, Jiang Qingfeng said softly and carefully. I won’t let you be alone.

Only then did Ning Ruan’s nerves begin to settle, but the image of that tombstone still flashed in his mind. Gu Hui touched the back of Ning Ruan’s hand with heartache it must hurt.

Once they reached the safe zone, they had a brief moment to breathe. They bypassed the burial mounds and found a slightly level spot. Chu Yuan went to gather firewood, Jiang Qingfeng was planting rice (preparing the area), and Gu Hui stayed with Ning Ruan.

The three men had reached a somewhat discordant consensus. Though they despised each other, they endured one another’s presence to ensure Ning Ruan’s survival.

Gu Hui carefully touched the back of Ning Ruan’s hand. He bit his own finger and pressed a drop of blood against Ning Ruan’s lips. Ning Ruan finally snapped out of his daze, his round eyes looking at Gu Hui innocently.

Seeing that Ning Ruan was finally looking at him, Gu Hui smiled. “I can’t find any berries here. Lick some of this. Eating something sweet will make you feel better.”

Ever since they went up the mountain, Ning Ruan’s spirits had been low. Gu Hui didn’t want to see him unhappy.

Ning Ruan pursed his lips. How can blood be a substitute? Even if Gu Hui’s blood was sweet, it couldn’t be eaten like candy.

Gu Hui continued to coax him, Have some. Even if you don’t eat it, it will just leak out from somewhere else.

Ning Ruan looked at him blankly.

Gu Hui wasn’t injured. Where else could the blood leak from?

Jiang Qingfeng gave a cold laugh and chimed in, Where else? A nosebleed, of course.

Ning Ruan was even more confused. He leaned closer to Gu Hui, tilting his small face up curiously. “Is your ‘internal heat’ high? Why would you have a nosebleed?

It was a purely innocent question, but Gu Hui stared straight at Ning Ruan, his ears turning hot. If Ning Ruan got any closer, he really would have a nosebleed. He didn’t know why he was like this likely because he had seen Ning Ruan’s pink little underwear. Whenever he rested, his mind was filled with the image of Ning Ruan’s pink bottom. Just like now, he couldn’t stop imagining that Ning Ruan’s [bottom] must be pink too.

Blood dripped from his nose. Ning Ruan hadn’t expected Gu Hui to actually start bleeding just as they mentioned it. He instinctively backed away. Did I stare at him so much that he got a nosebleed?

Ning Ruan looked to Jiang Qingfeng for help. Jiang Qingfeng just smiled at him. It’s not your fault. You didn’t do it.

Gu Hui tilted his head back, frantically trying to comfort Ning Ruan. Right, it’s not your fault. I just wanted to have a nosebleed.

Ning Ruan tilted his head slightly, the corners of his round eyes looking like little hooks. He asked in confusion, Is it really not my fault? Is it because I didn’t help you lick it that you’re bleeding?

Ning Ruan thought that if he had helped lick some of the blood, Gu Hui wouldn’t have so much of it that it would come out of his nose.

Gu Hui swallowed hard. Staring at Ning Ruan’s pure, innocent face, he knew the boy meant nothing else by it. But Gu Hui couldn’t stop himself from imagining what Ning Ruan was helping him lick. Ning Ruan was so delicate; he couldn’t bear to trouble him.

Gu Hui’s voice was hoarse. You don’t need to lick mine. I can lick yours.

Ning Ruan was bewildered. His amber eyes were full of confusion. Didn’t we say that if I licked Gu Hui’s blood, he wouldn’t have too much blood in his nose? Why does Gu Hui want to lick me? I’m not having a nosebleed.

Comment: Some people look honest but actually only want to bully the younger sister.

Comment: Silly Ningning, he’s talking about licking your Censored.

Comment: But who wouldn’t want to lick Princess Ningning’s little—Censored?

Comment: How can we warn the baby that these bad men are talking dirty to him? I’m dying of anxiety.

Ning Ruan’s innocent look was too adorable. Jiang Qingfeng stood up and scooped him into his arms. Let’s go. We’ll go find Chu Yuan for a bit and let Gu Hui deal with the food alone.

Jiang Qingfeng was nearly 1.9 meters tall. He supported the soft flesh of Ning Ruan’s bottom with one hand, carrying him like a small child. Because of the massive height difference and Ning Ruan’s fair skin and large eyes, it really did look a bit like a father carrying his daughter.

Comment: Isn’t this my long-lost daughter?

Comment: Daddy and his baby daughter. Jiang Qingfeng, why don’t you stop trying to be the baby’s husband and just be his father?

Comment: Don’t say that. If Jiang Dog sees it, he’ll be thrilled to death.

Ning Ruan kicked Jiang Qingfeng’s arm and complained in a small voice, I’m not even wearing shoes. Why are you walking so fast?

Jiang Qingfeng covered Ning Ruan’s feet with his hand. Why do you need shoes? You’re not walking.

He said it as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Ning Ruan’s cheeks turned slightly red at the implication that he was so lazy he didn’t even walk. He protested weakly,  I can walk by myself too.

He wasn’t some little trash.

When have you ever walked? I haven’t seen your feet touch the ground for days. Jiang Qingfeng’s words shut down Ning Ruan’s argument instantly. Ning Ruan pursed his lips, looking at Jiang Qingfeng unhappily. He muttered, I’m ignoring you.

Jiang Qingfeng: My big mouth made him angry again. What a temperamental little sister.

Jiang Qingfeng said he was going to find Chu Yuan, but in reality, he just carried Ning Ruan around aimlessly. He felt like he could never hold Ning Ruan enough. The three of them rotated, and he always had to hand him over to the other “dogs” before he was satisfied.

It’s because I want to hold you.

Ning Ruan tilted his head against the man’s broad shoulder, refusing to respond to show he wasn’t interested in talking to him. Jiang Qingfeng coaxed him for a long time, but Ning Ruan remained silent. Just as Jiang Qingfeng thought Ning Ruan had fallen asleep, the boy spoke in a tiny, trembling voice.

Carry me back.

If one listened closely, his voice was shaking.

Jiang Qingfeng: What’s wrong? Scared again? Did you see something ‘unclean’?

Ning Ruan squeezed his fair legs together. Through the thin fabric of his shorts, Jiang Qingfeng felt the flesh of his arm being squeezed by the sudden clamping of Ning Ruan’s legs. The soft flesh pressed against his hand.

Jiang Qingfeng’s eyes darkened.