Transmigration:The Villain Wants A Happy End Without His BeastHusbands

Ningyan slowly pulled his face away from that finger, his eyes flashing with a dangerous light. "Are you threatening me?"

Yan Wuhen gasped dramatically, pressing a hand against his chest. "Threatening you? I would never. The children would skin me alive." He lowered his voice confidentially. "And Su Ruo would probably beat me unconscious before anyone else had the chance."

Despite himself, Ningyan’s eyes brightened ever so slightly at the mention of the children.

Yan Wuhen noticed immediately, his smile softening. "You want to meet them."

It wasn’t a question.

Ningyan looked away in silence.

"We will meet them," Yan Wuhen sighed quietly. "And you don’t have to like Jun Haoxuan... but you cannot reject the only beast who may be able to save you simply because he’s a dragon beast."

Ningyan folded his arms tightly across his chest, his expression hardening once more. "Did Rong Yue ask you to persuade me?"

"No."

"Then my answer remains the same. I will not see Jun Haoxuan, not under any circumstances."

Yan Wuhen studied him for a long moment. Then, he gave a simple nod. "Very well."

Ningyan blinked. "That’s it?"

"My Yan’er has spoken." A grin slowly spread across the nine tailed fox’s face, revealing the subtle flash of sharp fangs. "Your wishes are my command."

The sudden surrender left Ningyan feeling instantly suspicious. "You’re giving up that easily?"

"I didn’t say I was giving up." Yan Wuhen bent gracefully, retrieving the flute from the snow before holding it out.

Ningyan accepted it, letting the instrument dissolve into crimson-black light.

Yan Wuhen strolled past him, his nine magnificent tails swaying behind him like flowing flames. "So... what shall we do now?" He glanced back over one shoulder. "We could have lunch. Or..." His smile became downright wicked. "...we could go bother Yue’er."

Ningyan’s lips curved despite himself. "I suppose that’s acceptable."

Yan Wuhen snapped his fingers. "I have an even better idea." He suddenly leaned sideways, resting his head against Ningyan’s shoulder. "What if we skip all that... and simply go to bed together? We are husbands, after all."

Ningyan stopped walking mid-step. He looked down at the nine-tailed fox leaning comfortably against his arm. "No"

Yan Wuhen’s fox ears twitched innocently. "But I am giving you options to choose from."

Ningyan answered without a second’s hesitation. "Neither."

Yan Wuhen straightened with exaggerated disbelief, sounding genuinely heartbroken. "Not even the bed? I was certain that one had the better chance."

Ningyan rolled his eyes at Yan Wuhen’s theatrics.

The fox merely grinned, lifting his head as they continued through the snow-covered corridors. His crimson tails swayed lazily behind him, every bit the carefree rogue he had always been.

Only... he deliberately avoided looking at Ningyan.

If those violet eyes met his now, they would immediately spot the deep worry he could no longer hide.

Lost in thought, Wuhen almost walked straight past the entrance hall before stopping abruptly. Ningyan slowed a few steps ahead and turned back.

"What is it?"

Wuhen smiled smoothly, as though nothing had happened. "Nothing." His fox ears twitched. "I’ll come find you later."

Before Ningyan could respond, Wuhen stepped forward and pressed a feather-light kiss softly on the corner of Ningyan’s lips.

Then, he turned away.

Ningyan’s eyes widened slightly as his fingers slowly rose to brush against the corner of his lips.

...That fox...

Heat spread across his cheeks. It hadn’t even been a real kiss.... barely a ghost of a brush.

But his heart was beating so fast...

"Ningyan?" A familiar voice interrupted his thoughts.

Rong Chao rounded the corner carrying several jade scrolls stacked carefully in his arms. The moment he saw Ningyan’s flushed face, he blinked in surprise. "What happened to you?"

Ningyan nearly jumped. "N-Nothing." He cleared his throat, quickly looking away. "Nothing happened."

Rong Chao narrowed his silver eyes suspiciously before glancing toward the corridor Wuhen had just disappeared down.

Understanding flashed across his face. "...Ah."

Ningyan immediately frowned. "It isn’t what you’re thinking."

"I didn’t say anything." Rong Chao laughed softly.

Ningyan rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly before deciding it was far wiser to change the subject. "What are those?"

Rong Chao looked down at the scrolls in his arms. "Oh. The palace library needed help organizing some ancient records." He smiled sheepishly. "Would you like to come with me?"

Ningyan welcomed the distraction. After everything that had happened, the failed memories, the crystal, Wuhen’s words, and... that stupid kiss, his mind desperately needed something else to focus on.

"Sure."

Rong Chao’s face brightened.

Without another word, Ningyan reached over and took half the heavy scrolls from his arms.

"You don’t have to..."

"They’re heavy."

Rong Chao smiled gently. "Thank you."

The two walked side by side through the quiet palace corridors. Outside, snow drifted lazily from the heavens, coating the grand rooftops and pine branches beneath a pristine blanket of white.

After a while, Rong Chao spoke again. "Ruifeng and I will be traveling to Earth City soon."

Ningyan glanced over. "For what?"

"To retrieve several ancient artifacts." Rong Chao chuckled. "They’ve finally finished cataloguing one of the old vaults. Ruifeng is still sorting through the remaining records." He sighed dramatically. "Artifact inventories are exhausting... though I admit I enjoy them."

"Earth City..." Ningyan murmured thoughtfully. Then he looked up. "Can I come with you?"

Rong Chao stopped walking mid-step, his smile freezing. "...You?"

"Yes."

"I..." He hesitated, shifting the scrolls in his arms. "...Brother probably wouldn’t approve."

Ningyan frowned, his tone calm but firm. "He doesn’t own me. He already said I could go wherever I wished." Then his expression softened ever so slightly. "I simply want to come with you."

Rong Chao looked at him for a long moment.

This was Ningyan.... his closest friend. Yet... the dark veins creeping beneath Ningyan’s pale skin, the faint wisps of demonic qi drifting around him, and those violet eyes that could turn blood-red in an instant... They all served as constant reminders that the person before him wasn’t entirely the Ningyan he remembered.

He was familiar. And frightening.

Still, Rong Chao forced himself to smile. "...Alright. We’ll go together."

Ningyan’s face immediately brightened. "Really?"

"Mm."

"Thank you."

Rong Chao nodded, though the quiet unease hidden beneath his smile never completely vanished. He turned and continued walking toward the library.

Beside him, Ningyan followed in silence and the soft smile gradually faded from his face.