Transmigrated as the Villain and Driven Crazy by the Vengeful Male Lead - Chapter 53

Chapter 53: Falling Asleep and Waking Up — Don’t Breathe Too Hard.

Lv Shuyao pretended not to know and listened as He Zixu continued.

“It’s common not to know, because such a poison doesn’t exist in the world; even the name was given later by Zhouzhou.”

He Zixu drank an entire cup of tea, yet his lips remained as dry as cracked silk, though the corners stayed upturned in a permanent smile. “Once this poison flares up, a person ceases to be a person—they become lower than pigs and dogs.”

Lv Shuyao felt a pang in his heart. The original book hadn’t detailed the conditions of this poison’s onset, but now with the victim right before him, speaking from experience, it felt agonizing.

But he couldn’t walk away.

“There was once a summer night when I greedily drank a few cups of cooling dew,” he said. “Later, unfortunately, amidst the constant chirping of cicadas, the poison flared up.”

The Heart-Reversing Poison was aggressive and unreasonable; the timing, conditions, and consequences of every flare-up were unpredictable. It was like a ghostly shadow, impossible to grasp or understand, leaving one to be toyed with at its whim.

“That particular onset was unprecedented. It felt as if a demon had just sharpened two blades and thrust them into my body—one into my heart and lungs, and the other into my rectum.”

Lv Shuyao couldn’t bear to listen further, but He Zixu was in the middle of his story: “I kept vomiting blood, on and on. The blood stained my clothes red first, then black. Zhouzhou doesn’t want me to wear plain white, but I prefer it. Master Lv, have you ever seen the process of fresh blood constantly blooming on white cloth? It is a beauty comparable to ink-wash painting.”

“…”

“I was quite happy to appreciate such beauty. I told Zhouzhou, ‘Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid.’ She crouched beside me, her face expressionless, wiping it away for me over and over. Suddenly, I felt she was too cold; I was vomiting like that, yet she remained unpanicked, without shedding a single tear.”

Lv Shuyao couldn’t imagine Tao Xuanxuan crying.

“Seeing that I was too arrogant and didn’t know what was good for me, the Heart-Reversing Poison exerted the power of the second blade.” He Zixu’s smile turned bitter. “It stabbed into my rectum, as if severing my nerves. Do you know what happened after that?”

The summer night he spoke of wasn’t in the book, so Lv Shuyao didn’t know.

“The stench of filth flowed out of my body.”

He Zixu suddenly trembled and closed his eyes.

“That was the first time I saw her look stunned.” When he opened his eyes again, ripples of water shook within his dull pupils. “I had never seen her look so terrified and helpless. At that moment, only one thought came to me: either I die, or she leaves.”

“Childhood sweethearts playing together; the days are long as the gauze kites fly. Hair loosened to enjoy the moonlight’s cool; bamboo dew drops with a clear sound. I remember the summer nights of our youth; her favorite thing was playing Huarong Path under the tree, while I lay on the rattan chair nearby with a book waiting for her, waiting until I fell asleep.”

The summers then were brilliant, the evening breeze long and gentle. Tao Xuanxuan pulled He Zixu, and He Zixu watched over Tao Xuanxuan; the bond between them was clean, pure, and deep.

“But after that time, summer nights no longer belonged to He Zixu and Tao Xuanxuan.”

Summer nights were so beautiful and unforgettable, yet for them, they could no longer be as they were in their youth.

All that remained was filth, shame, and wretchedness.

He Zixu couldn’t endure it; he couldn’t accept it.

“I want her to leave me,” he said. “If that really won’t work, then I can leave her.”

Lv Shuyao remained silent for a long time. He wanted to say something, but if he couldn’t truly empathize, anything he said would sound like mockery.

He Zixu was understanding and didn’t press him for an answer, changing the subject: “The Second Young Master is compassionate; he took those injuries for the sake of this bustling world. Zhouzhou said he can be cured, so he surely will be. Master Lv, you needn’t worry.”

“Mm.”

“Well, since you came looking for me, I should be the one listening to you.” He gave a regretful smile. “It’s just that aside from A-Tong, it’s been too long since anyone talked to me. I’m so bored waiting for death.”

Lv Shuyao said, “The long night is hard to pass; I shall also tell Young Master He a story.”

“I am all ears.”

“When I was ten, my parents’ relationship fell apart. I was stuck in the middle, torn between them. Every day and night, my mother would complain and accuse him to me, tears streaming down her face. To make my father change his mind and look at us more, I tried everything, by any means necessary.”

He Zixu asked, “For example?”

“At eleven, many of my peers caught a disease called chickenpox. In essence, it’s also a kind of poison. When it flares up, the whole body burns with high fever and is covered in pustules; it’s itchy and painful, and you can’t scratch it. If you do, it leads to larger infections and can even be life-threatening.”

“My constitution was decent, so I wasn’t infected. But I heard that children who got this disease had their parents staying by their side all night. I felt hopeful—if I caught it, maybe my father would come back and reconcile with my mother?”

He Zixu frowned.

“Deliberately getting infected wasn’t hard. I easily got my wish, ran a high fever, and lay in bed feeling like I was being eaten alive by the virus. I still remembered to have my mother call my father. Oh, I mean, a voice transmission.”

He Zixu watched him with bated breath and asked softly, “And then?”

“He said he was away on business and really couldn’t make it back. Over the phone, he told me: ‘Yaoyao, you are a man. A man doesn’t cry out in pain easily, nor does he rely on others for comfort to stop the pain.'”

“My consciousness was fading; I must have asked him with my dying breath: ‘Father, if Uncle A-Zhou told you he was in pain, would you also not rush to him, not comfort him, not love him?'”

There was silence on the other end.

After a moment, Lv Yizhou finally spoke: “Yaoyao, I’m sorry. Father will return as soon as possible.”

The call ended. It was insignificant.

Shen Yun heard the whole thing and broke into a loud curse. Lv Shuyao’s fever was nearly forty degrees; his ears were already mostly deaf, but the shrill tone still pierced his eardrums with pain.

He listened in agony for a long time until he could no longer stand it: “Mom…”

He reached out to scratch himself, but was pinned down by Shen Yun: “Don’t scratch!”

“Mom, it itches so much…”

Shen Yun held him down with one hand and used the other to keep making calls. They made dozens of calls that night, arguing in every single one. Shen Yun’s voice went hoarse, her head throbbed, and she wanted to leave Lv Shuyao’s room.

Lv Shuyao forced his eyes open: “Mom…”

Shen Yun glanced at him, fumbled his red scarf out of his schoolbag, and tied his two hands to the headboard.

Lv Shuyao was completely stunned.

“My head hurts,” Shen Yun said. “Mom is going to sleep for a bit and will be back soon. Listen to the doctor, don’t scratch.”

After she left, a long, long time passed. The blood flow in Lv Shuyao’s arms was blocked, and combined with not having eaten all night and the side effects of the medication, he suddenly felt nauseous.

“Mom, I want to throw up…”

He endured it for a long time, but no one came. Finally unable to suppress it, he turned his head but couldn’t move toward the edge of the bed, eventually vomiting a mouthful of sour liquid onto the pillow.

Lv Shuyao lay in a bed of bitter sorrow, never able to forget that ridiculous, pathetic, and shameful night.

“So, I have done many things to try and keep someone I care about through self-harm and self-abandonment. Later I realized that if someone truly doesn’t love you, no matter how unrecognizable you become, they won’t look back. Conversely, if there is affection and loyalty, they won’t abandon you whether you’re in the clouds or the dust. For the latter kind of person, your self-abandonment will only leave them more guilt-ridden and worried, unable to move on for a lifetime.”

He Zixu was quiet for a while, then smiled: “Sect Leader Lv of Xifeng Ferry remains unmarried to this day, and Master Lv grew up by his side since childhood. This story was made up to amuse me.”

Lv Shuyao laughed along: “True, I made it up.”

Lv Shuyao crossed his long legs, propped his elbow on his knee, and squinted his upturned puppy-eyes, saying in a slightly dangerous yet teasing way: “However, if there was someone who wouldn’t hesitate to fall into ruin just to keep me, then I would definitely fall for them, without a second’s hesitation.”

He Zixu asked, “Do you use such stories to comfort the Second Young Master too?”

Lv Shuyao was taken aback, then burst out laughing: “…No. I haven’t told him these things.”

He Zixu stroked the rim of the cup, his long, fragile eyelashes lowered, and said, “I am weary.”

“Thank you for the warm water and the story, Master Lv. I enjoyed talking with you tonight.” He smiled with pale lips. “No need to call her. Please go back, Master.”

Lv Shuyao said, “You go to sleep; I’m not leaving tonight.”

“?”

“I said earlier,” Lv Shuyao looked at him seriously, “your self-abandonment will only cause her more pain and regret.”

“He Zixu, which method of suicide are you planning to try today?”

He Zixu’s pupils dilated slightly as he looked at him in surprise.

The malice in Pingluan Town that Su Cheyue heard was actually He Zixu’s desire to die. Every moment he suffered from the dual torment of physical pain and shattered pride, and every single day he tried different ways to seek death.

“The Night-Sleep Pill was meticulously developed by her to let you sleep through the night without harming your body. Tonight there is no Night-Sleep Pill, and I think I’m better suited than Miss Cong to watch over you.” Lv Shuyao joked, “Modern people are much better at staying up late than you lot.”

He Zixu was half-confused, his pale lips trembling as his desperate and dark thoughts were torn open and exposed by this stranger he had just met. He suddenly grew angry, smashed the cup, and said, “Lv Shuyao, you are being far too rude.”

Lv Shuyao said, “I paid Shopkeeper Cong; consider the money as a substitute for manners.”

He Zixu’s breathing was erratic; it seemed any emotion caused pain in his chest. Lv Shuyao said, “No matter how the Young Master dies, it shouldn’t be from being angered to death by me. That would be too absurd.”

He Zixu frowned deeply, and after a long while, he yanked the bedding over and turned over to lie down.

“You’re wrong. She will only hate me; she won’t be sad,” he said muffledly from under the covers.

Lv Shuyao stopped smiling and watched the flickering shadows of the lamp in the room, his thoughts drifting.

The night wind blew without a trace.

Tao Xuanxuan opened her eyes to find that it was already light. She had been truly exhausted last night; while waiting in her room, she had actually fallen asleep leaning on the table. When the sunlight hit her eyes, her blood ran cold, and she kicked over the stool as she stood up abruptly.

She ran next door almost mindlessly, raised her hand to push the door, but stopped.

She closed her eyes, wanting to take a deep breath, but her heart ached so much she didn’t even have the strength to exert effort.

Nothing will happen, nothing will happen.

She seemed to push open the door, or perhaps she just watched it open on its own. A yellow candle was still lit in the room, looking out of place in the broad daylight. She walked in on trembling toes.

A tall purple shadow was leaning against the wall with crossed arms. His vision was dazzled by the bright light, and he wearily raised his eyelids.

He hadn’t closed his eyes all night; his face was slightly pale, and the areas around his eyes were somewhat bluish and red, yet he still had a lazy, fragmented beauty. He slowly realized who it was, gave a tired smile, and said, “Returned in perfect condition.”

Tao Xuanxuan hurried to the bedside. The person on the pillow had his hair loose, his eyelids closed peacefully, the corners of his mouth relaxed, and his breathing steady and even.

It looked as if he was having a good dream.

He Zixu probably hadn’t had such a good, natural sleep without external help in a very long time.

Tao Xuanxuan’s expression was complex as she looked at Lv Shuyao. Lv Shuyao tilted his head: “No need to thank me. Can you cut some of the room and board fees?”

“Mind your own business,” Tao Xuanxuan said.

“Alright, then I’m off.” Lv Shuyao stretched. “The Second Young Master is still waiting for me to make breakfast. Shopkeeper Cong, is it convenient to borrow the kitchen?”

“The northernmost room outside.” Tao Xuanxuan spoke coldly from behind him. “After eating, bring him to the medicine hut in the west wing to find me.”

That was great. Lv Shuyao suddenly didn’t feel sleepy anymore. He briskly delivered breakfast to the Second Young Master, and before the hour of Chen had passed, he pushed Su Cheyue over.

Tao Xuanxuan’s medicine hut wasn’t large, but it was fully equipped. Dressed in black, she stood there like a beautiful and powerful witch, telling Lv Shuyao, “Wait outside.”

“…Oh.”

He let go of the wheelchair handles, but was immediately pulled back. He was startled and looked down.

“…Second Young Master?”

Su Cheyue’s deep eyes rippled slightly as he looked at him and said, “Stay here.”

In a strange twist of fate, Lv Shuyao felt he saw helplessness, tension, and reliance in his eyes.

For someone like Lv Shuyao, who was used to chasing others for warmth, the feeling of being relied upon was like rain after a long drought.

He was needed by him.

His heart felt a sharp squeeze.

Looking at Tao Xuanxuan, she gave another cold snort, which counted as tacit permission.

She spread out her old needle pouch again, holding several in one hand. Lv Shuyao watched in alarm: “That’s… too many, isn’t it?”

“If you talk any more nonsense, I’ll kick you out.”

As if playing darts, Tao Xuanxuan used her spiritual power to sweep the medical needles into Su Cheyue’s body through the air, one needle for each acupuncture point. Lv Shuyao didn’t understand it; he only saw Su Cheyue with his eyes closed, even the fine hair on his pale face trembling.

Sweat broke out on his forehead. Lv Shuyao was very nervous and knelt directly beside the wheelchair, observing his reaction without blinking.

“Does it hurt?”

“Don’t talk to him.” Tao Xuanxuan reinforced the silver needles with spiritual power, seemingly probing the turbid air inside him. After a moment, she said, “It’s exactly as I thought.”

Lv Shuyao really wanted to give her a thumbs-up; as expected of the world’s foremost family of medical hands!

Having identified the pathology, she began using the needles as a medium to clear the blockages with spiritual power. The medical needles trembled on Su Cheyue’s body, caught between the resistance of internal and external forces. Ghost energy surged out from various acupuncture points, and the hut was instantly filled with thick black mist.

Tao Xuanxuan’s ruddy face paled a bit, and she looked away to ask, “Can you handle these?”

“Of course I can.”

Lv Shuyao summoned Zhanquan. Before he even started fighting, those blood shadows saw the deep blue and purple light around him and scattered instantly, fleeing out the window like they were running for their lives and dissipating in the bright daylight.

…Did his cultivation rise again?

He sat by Su Cheyue’s side, maintaining a state of radiating spiritual power, waiting patiently.

…

As the light faded, Su Cheyue opened his eyes, drenched in sweat. He felt his meridians; they were a bit weak, and he felt a slight stinging pain as spiritual power flowed through his vessels.

“Don’t breathe too hard.” Tao Xuanxuan was with her back to him, checking He Zixu’s body. “This is only the first clearing. Your spiritual veins aren’t used to such intense cleansing yet; we’ll gradually increase the degree of intervention later. You need to come every day for the next three months.”

Su Cheyue said, “Thank you.”

He wanted to raise his hand in a salute, but He Zixu called out softly, “Don’t move, Second Young Master. He hasn’t woken up yet.”

Su Cheyue froze.

He looked down to see someone resting their head against his legs, eyes closed. One hand was holding his, while the other palm was turned upward, faintly radiating spiritual light.

Even in sleep, he hadn’t let go; even in sleep, he hadn’t forgotten to drive away the gloom for him.

“He didn’t close his eyes all night and still had the energy to focus on guarding you for several hours. Shall I have someone take you back?”

Su Cheyue whispered, “No need. I’ll wait for him to wake up.”

Tao Xuanxuan nodded and left the medicine hut first. He Zixu turned his face, his expression carrying a soft envy.

“I truly envy you, Second Young Master. How lucky you are to have met him.”

After they left, the bitter scent of medicine permeated the hut, drifting into Su Cheyue’s nose and mixing with his breath, making his throat tighten slightly.

His fingers were locked with the other person’s, and even his heart felt as if it were being held, beating in a raw, irregular rhythm. He couldn’t move, couldn’t do anything; he could only lower his eyes to look at the sleeping Lv Shuyao.

The profile was sharply defined, the jawline tight and extending to the neck and collarbone; every vein beneath the skin flowed with his surging tenderness.

He slept deeply, his sideburns pressed closely against Su Cheyue’s leg. His Adam’s apple rose and fell with his breath, moving with restraint and temptation.

How lucky you are to have met him.

Su Cheyue watched blankly for a long time, then reached out his other hand to slowly stroke his brow and eyes.

Lv Shuyao’s brow twitched slightly; the coarse hairs prickled Su Cheyue’s fingertip, then crashed through his blood and bone to grow all the way to his heart, finally taking root wildly and wantonly.

Caught off guard, it was both painful and itchy, making him feel so flustered in the crimson twilight that he wanted to cry.

Don’t breathe too hard.

That way, it wouldn’t hurt when his heart skipped a beat.

“Congratulations visitor, Male Lead Su Cheyue’s Hatred Value is dropping… The drop value is abnormal, pending statistics. Please wait patiently.”

Lv Shuyao frowned in his sleep but didn’t wake up.

Su Cheyue watched him until night fell and he could no longer see his face clearly. He sighed softly and, in the darkness, tightened his grip on that long, slender, cold white hand.