Fake Cannon Fodder A Becomes a Sensation in Romance Variety Shows - Chapter 40

Her limbs were gently guided by Ye Zhuoyan as Wen Huiyun began to move in rhythm with the dance steps.

Ye Zhuoyan’s hand rested on her waist, sometimes pulling her into a swift spin, sometimes tracing slow circles, coaxing her hips to sway in time with the music.

Wen Huiyun felt as though she were floating on clouds, carried away by the melody.

Ye Zhuoyan’s voice, smooth as syrup, whispered into her ear, “One, two, three, four, step. Two, two, three, four turn.”

“Lift your head, eyes to the right, past my chest good.”

“No rush, follow my lead. Three, two, three, four back, then forward, step.”

“Huiyun, your right hand here, remember the move I showed you?” Ye Zhuoyan guided Wen Huiyun’s hand to her waist, took a step back, spun lightly, then folded her arm, nestling herself into Wen Huiyun’s embrace.

Wen Huiyun’s mind was a jumbled mess, leaving no room to recall the steps before Ye Zhuoyan led her onward.

Nearby, a few students who had been rehearsing had stopped at some point, leaning against the ballet barre, silently watching their duet.

It was clear the alpha knew nothing about dancing her steps were clumsy and erratic. But the omega beside her moved with effortless grace, every gesture like a stroke of art.

A doll and a bear dancing together, hopping and twirling one, two, one! (∩u∩)

Wen Huiyun panted lightly, and Ye Zhuoyan asked, “Tired?” She shook her head, she wasn’t tired, just flustered, especially under the gaze of the students nearby.

Ye Zhuoyan pressed her soft pink lips together, brushing away the fine beads of sweat behind Wen Huiyun’s ear and along her neck. A fragrant breeze followed her touch, the sweet scent drifting into Wen Huiyun’s nose.

Her eyes stayed fixed on Ye Zhuoyan. For the first time, she realized dancing was difficult.

And also something beautiful.

“It’s getting late. Let’s go! I booked a guesthouse near the school.”

Ye Zhuoyan walked along the edge of the roadside flowerbed, reminding Wen Huiyun of when her father used to hold her hand as a child, arms outstretched, balancing on the train tracks. Back then, they lived near the station, and the sound of train whistles was a constant companion. In spring, golden rapeseed flowers bloomed along the rails.

Suddenly, she wanted to take Ye Zhuoyan to see that sea of spring blossoms.

Seeing Ye Zhuoyan about to lose her balance, Wen Huiyun reached out to steady her, but Ye Zhuoyan laughed and pushed her away. “No, I’ve got this.”

Alright, alright.

Two steps later, as she teetered again, Wen Huiyun caught her from behind. Ye Zhuoyan hopped twice to regain her footing, then turned and let out a playful “Meowr!” at her. Like a tiny, feral cat in human form?

Huh? ∑( Mouth ||

Who knew Ye Zhuoyan had such a mischievous side?

Aww, so cute! （≥w≤）

Smiling, Wen Huiyun stepped back. “Okay, I know you’ve got it.”

“Hehe.” Ye Zhuoyan tugged Wen Huiyun down from the flowerbed edge, clinging to her arm as they walked slowly.

“Turn up ahead. Twenty minutes on foot, or ten by taxi. What do you think?”

Wen Huiyun thought for a moment. “Let’s walk.”

“You sure?”

“Mhm. Ten more minutes with you.”

“But if we get to the hotel sooner, we’ll still be together.”

Wen Huiyun blinked. “Oh. Right.”

Ye Zhuoyan poked her arm. “You’ve always been bad at math.”

Her math skills? Not bad, otherwise she wouldn’t have gotten into a top university.

Wen Huiyun said, “I want to keep walking this path with you.”

Ye Zhuoyan blinked twice, her eyes glistening.

In the brief silence, they gazed at each other, and Wen Huiyun saw her own reflection in Ye Zhuoyan’s pupils.

“Mm, okay.” Ye Zhuoyan smiled, linking arms with Wen Huiyun. “Then let’s walk it well.” Treat this marriage with care and live a good life from now on.

Ye Zhuoyan whispered very softly to Wen Huiyun, “We can’t be like before anymore.”

Wen Huiyun wrapped an arm around Ye Zhuoyan’s shoulders, fingers tightening protectively around her.

“I understand.” I will cherish you.

“You don’t understand.”

Ye Zhuoyan looked up at the starry sky.

The show’s cameraman had clocked out for the day.

Gazing at the dreamy violet-blue above, Ye Zhuoyan said, “You don’t remember.” You don’t remember how awful you used to be.

“That day, you left before the wedding was even over. You just abandoned me in the middle of the banquet, standing there like a fool while everyone laughed at me mocked me for climbing the social ladder, mocked me for scheming to ‘steal’ an alpha who then dumped me at the altar.”

Wen Huiyun clenched her fists. “I’m sorry. I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you.”

Wen Huiyun frowned. Somehow, she had a vague feeling that ever since meeting that Professor Ke, Ye Zhuoyan’s mood had undergone subtle changes.

She kept bringing up the past more often, reproaching Wen Huiyun a little, seeming somewhat sad yet also appearing to be in decent spirits.

Unsure of Ye Zhuoyan’s current state of mind, Wen Huiyun could only be extra careful in looking after her.

Leaning close to the top of Ye Zhuoyan’s head, Wen Huiyun pretended to be casual as her lips brushed against the dark strands of her hair. “That old wedding doesn’t count. When you’re ready, we’ll throw a gorgeous, extravagant one, okay?”

Ye Zhuoyan neither refused nor agreed. Instead, she asked, “Will you personally bake a sixteen-tier wedding cake?”

Wen Huiyun nodded. “Whatever you want, I’ll make it happen. If I don’t know how, I’ll learn.”

The topic didn’t continue further.

They found the homestay hotel and checked in.

Ye Zhuoyan’s mood returned to its usual calm light and understated, like cool water poured into a transparent vase holding white flowers.

Delicate, slender, elegant and pure.

The homestay was decorated in a minimalist wabi-sabi style, tastefully understated yet sophisticated. But Wen Huiyun felt it lacked a bit of liveliness.

“Tonight is Christmas Eve,” Ye Zhuoyan said, sitting at the vanity as she removed her simple earrings.

Wen Huiyun walked up behind her, resting her hands on Ye Zhuoyan’s shoulders as she admired her beautiful wife in the mirror. “Mm.”

Ye Zhuoyan asked, “Shouldn’t we eat apples?”

Wen Huiyun checked the time. It wasn’t too late, and many fruit shops on delivery platforms were running Christmas Eve promotions with beautifully arranged fruit platters.

“Should I order takeout?”

“Ta-da!” Ye Zhuoyan pulled out two small red paper boxes from the drawer, each containing a big, bright red apple.

Her expression was triumphant, See? Who else but me?

Wen Huiyun played along enthusiastically: “Wow! Baby, you’re amazing!”

Ye Zhuoyan’s eyes shimmered. “What did you call me?”

“Uh! I’m sorry QAQ”

Today, Zhuoyan had been so good to her that Wen Huiyun got a little carried away, blurting out “baby” without thinking.

But Ye Zhuoyan didn’t seem angry. Her eyes were bright, her cheeks slightly pink, and the corners of her lips curled up just a little.

“Well then, what should you call me?”

“Zhuoyan?”

Ye Zhuoyan still shook her head.

Wen Huiyun was at a loss, what should she call her? Ms. Ye? Ye Zhuoyan? Goddess Ye?

Suddenly, inspiration struck.

Wen Huiyun wasn’t entirely sure if it was appropriate, but she felt that maybe, perhaps, it just might be.

She leaned in slightly, lazily draping an arm over Ye Zhuoyan’s shoulder and lowering her head.

“Wife.”

Her voice was like a gentle breeze sweeping through a flower field at sunset soft, warm, and unhurried brushing against Ye Zhuoyan’s reddening ears and lingering there.

Ye Zhuoyan smiled faintly. “Mm.” She picked up a red apple, kissed it lightly, and held it out to Wen Huiyun. “Huiyun, may you be safe, healthy, and happy.”

Wen Huiyun took it and kissed the same spot, the crisp sweetness of the apple filling her senses. “You too.”

She carved the two apples into trendy little rabbit shapes and, once Ye Zhuoyan had finished bathing, fed them to her piece by piece.

The TV played in the background, though neither paid much attention to what was on.

All her focus was on the idle chatter with Ye Zhuoyan.

“Huiyun, what do you think it feels like to love someone?”

The question was so abstract. Wen Huiyun had never really thought about it before. Initially, pursuing Ye Zhuoyan had been under pressure from the transmigration bureau, coupled with the fondness she’d developed for the protagonist while reading the original novel.

But now…

Wen Huiyun said, “It’s like eating a lemon tart.”

Ye Zhuoyan lowered her head, fiddling with the rabbit-shaped apple in her hand.

Lemon?

“It’s hard to describe the taste, you’d have to try it yourself. I’ll make one for you next time.” Wen Huiyun turned the question back to her. “What about you? How do you see love?”

A faint mist seemed to veil Ye Zhuoyan’s eyes. “I haven’t quite figured it out yet.”

She laughed self-deprecatingly. “Don’t laugh at me when I say this.”

“I won’t.”

“Since childhood, I’ve been taught how to be an exemplary omega, a virtuous wife. But I never learned how to be deeply loved, or how to express the bitterness and sweetness in my heart.”

Before she could finish, Wen Huiyun pulled her into an embrace, her arm gently cradling the curve of Ye Zhuoyan’s voluminous hair.

Wen Huiyun wanted to hold her tightly but feared she might hurt her.

She wanted to be tender but worried it wouldn’t be enough to give her a sense of security.

What was the best way?

How could she make Ye Zhuoyan feel the collision of impulse and restraint in her heart?

Wen Huiyun tightened the embrace slightly, stroking Ye Zhuoyan’s hair with infinite gentleness. “Don’t worry. You’ve already conveyed it.”

“Ye Zhuoyan, listen well. From now on, as your wife, I demand that you think more about yourself, learn how to love yourself!”

Ye Zhuoyan was beautiful, but the shackles of family and society had bound her for too long. Coupled with the original host’s cruelty and abuse, she had become hesitant, distrustful, even somewhat insecure.

She was like a little hedgehog, forced by life’s harshness to raise her spines for protection. But over time, she forgot how to lower her guard, how to be soft. She longed to snuggle into warmth but feared the warmth might hurt her just as she feared her own spines might prick others.

But it was okay. They had time. Wen Huiyun had promised her they would walk this path together, step by step.

Ye Zhuoyan slowly raised her arms and returned the embrace, pressing her cheek against Wen Huiyun’s chest as she closed her eyes, her long lashes fluttering.

This time, she didn’t call Wen Huiyun by name, only murmuring, “Thank you for coming into my life.”

The omega in her arms was soft and fragrant, making Wen Huiyun feel lightheaded.

She wrapped Ye Zhuoyan in a small blanket and fed her slices of apple.

But something still felt off.

Wen Huiyun could sense a deep unhappiness within Ye Zhuoyan.

Her intuition told her it was related to Professor Ke, whom they had encountered at A University.

“Zhuoyan, I want to ask you something. You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to.”

“Mmm.” Ye Zhuoyan leaned her head against Wen Huiyun’s shoulder, nibbling slowly on the apple.

Wen Huiyun softened her tone as much as possible. “That Professor Ke we ran into today aside from me damaging the collection, is there some other history between us? Did he do something terrible to you?”

Ye Zhuoyan stiffened slightly, pausing mid-chew before resuming with a calm, indifferent tone. “No, what else could there be? Professor Ke just likes to scowl all the time his students are all afraid of him. We took his elective on cultural relics back then, and he gave me an unfairly low grade for no reason. I just don’t like him, that’s all.”

“Oh, I see.”

Wen Huiyun felt there was more to it than what Ye Zhuoyan was saying, but since she didn’t want to elaborate, she didn’t press further.

Suddenly, Ye Zhuoyan lifted her face and asked, “Do you still like antiques now?”

“If you don’t like them, then I don’t either.”

“Then I don’t like them.”

“Alright, antiques are the worst.”

Ye Zhuoyan then asked another odd question. “Do you still like the violin now?”

“You don’t like it either?”

“Right, I hate it especially.”

“Then I definitely hate it even more!”

Ye Zhuoyan laughed.

She knew it was childish.

But Wen Huiyun was actually indulging her in this silliness.

Her eyes grew slightly moist.

That shadow from the past, the one who had trampled over her so ruthlessly, was finally being completely erased from her marriage and her life.

She woke in the middle of the night.

Ye Zhuoyan drowsily reached out, pressing her palm to her forehead, it was cold.

The room felt unusually chilly. She remembered setting the air conditioner to 26°C before bed, so why was it so cold? Had it broken?

Suddenly, she bolted upright, her hand groping the empty space beside her.

The sheets were ice-cold, meaning the other person had been gone for a long time.

Wen Huiyun was gone.

The guesthouse had a double room, but before bed, Ye Zhuoyan had asked Wen Huiyun to watch an art film with her. Wen Huiyun had dozed off during the movie, so Ye Zhuoyan hadn’t woken her, letting her sleep in a separate blanket.

They were still filming for the dating show, where could Wen Huiyun have gone? And why hadn’t she returned after so long?

Dark memories and the frigid air gripped Ye Zhuoyan’s heart tightly.

She turned on the bedside lamp, slipped on her coat, and quietly opened the bedroom door.

A strong wave of alpha pheromones instantly enveloped her.

“Ah!”

Her eyes widened in shock as she spotted a faint glow behind the frosted glass of the bathroom was that?

Perhaps the door hadn’t been properly latched, rebounding slightly to leave a narrow gap.

Clutching the base of her neck where her scent gland was, Ye Zhuoyan held her breath. Fortunately, the cold room temperature helped her resist the pheromones’ influence.

Peering through the gap, she saw puddles of water on the floor. Wen Huiyun sat bare-skinned against the tiles, her back pressed to the wall.

She held a glass syringe in her hand. Ye Zhuoyan keenly discerned that the scent of pheromones came from the syringe, not Wen Huiyun!

Ye Zhuoyan’s pupils trembled, what was going on?!

What Wen Huiyun had injected wasn’t a stabilizer at all, but caramel macchiato-flavored alpha pheromones!

Ye Zhuoyan was utterly shocked, as if a massive bell had tolled right above her head.

Her quivering eyes reflected Wen Huiyun’s cold hand, the sharp needle aimed at her neck, slowly pressing down as the liquid in the glass vial rolled into her skin.

Huff.

Wen Huiyun wiped the cold water from her face and dried her hair.

That was close. She had timed it perfectly, but the pheromones wore off earlier than expected. Luckily, she had brought a vial otherwise, she’d be “running naked” tomorrow.

The scent of pheromones in the living room had mostly dissipated. Beep. She turned up the air conditioning.

Silently, she returned to the bedroom.

Ye Zhuoyan lay on the other side, breathing evenly, peaceful and serene.

Wen Huiyun’s heart softened. She leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead.

With her eyes still closed, Ye Zhuoyan suddenly cupped her face and kissed her lips without warning.

“Mmm…”

A slick, honey-coated tongue darted like a nimble little snake, exploring deep into Wen Huiyun’s mouth.

The kiss was deep.

And so, so wet.

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