Transmigration:The Villain Wants A Happy End Without His BeastHusbands-Chapter 28: A Persuasive Fox

Ningyan slept sprawled in the middle of the bed like a fallen starfish, completely unguarded.

His robe had slipped loose on his body, exposing a sliver of pale collarbone, and his hair was ruffled in soft disarray across the pillow.

He snored quietly, heart-shaped lips parted in a way that made Yan Wuhen’s gaze linger longer than it should have.

Every so often, Wuhen glanced at him before forcing his attention back to the scroll in his hands.

He hated work like this. Tedious. Boring. But avoiding his father’s wrath required sacrifices, and unfortunately, this was one of them.

Once he finished, he rolled up the scroll and left the chamber.

Moments later, he strode straight into his sister’s room, where Yan Qinghe was sound asleep, curled around Tu Lanyin.

Lanyin’s fluffy bunny tail was tucked neatly against Qinghe’s chest, the two of them breathing in perfect sync.

Yan Wuhen frowned. "Qinghe!"

Yan Qinghe’s eyes snapped open instantly, her fox ears twitching as she shot him a murderous glare.

Yan Wuhen smiled, clearly pleased with himself.

Tu Lanyin startled awake as well, her bunny ears standing straight up in alarm until she recognized him.

Her panic melted into resignation as Yan Wuhen tilted his head and gave her an infuriatingly silly smile.

"Perfect," he said cheerfully. "You’re both awake."

He flung the scroll toward Qinghe.

Before it could smack her in the face, red-gold light bloomed around it, suspending it harmlessly in the air. Qinghe snatched it with a scowl.

"You woke me up just to give me a scroll?" she snarled.

"Well," Yan Wuhen replied lazily, stretching, "since you finally agreed to take charge of the ’death by unknown forces’ case, you can help me deliver this to Yu XuanLi, the clan heir. The Snow Foxes need it. It’s instructions for a protective talisman."

He spoke as though he hadn’t just disturbed two lovers in the middle of the night.

Qinghe glared daggers at him.

Lanyin, on the other hand, merely sighed clearly long accustomed to Yan Wuhen’s antics.

"Since you’re so efficient," Qinghe said dryly, "you can go to Sunland City yourself. Though I still don’t understand why it’s called Sunland when it’s buried in snow."

"Unfortunately," Yan Wuhen replied with mock regret, "Since you agreed to go there, Father specifically instructed me to attend the Dance of Dragons Festival instead."

Yan Qinghe rolled her eyes. "You just want to watch the dragons bicker. You always find that entertaining."

Yan Wuhen grinned and winked at her. "Oh, you know me so well, Qinghe."

Then he turned to Lanyin. "You’re going with her?"

Lanyin nodded. "Yes."

Yan Wuhen pursed his lips. "Too bad."

With that, he turned away, his robes and tails swishing behind him as he waved lazily over his shoulder.

"Have a pleasant night."

"I heard Rong Yue has arrived at the academy... and your pet got into trouble," Qinghe said, mischief dancing in her voice.

Wuhen froze, then turned to her. "I’ve handled everything."

Qinghe’s eyes narrowed. "He broke academy rules. He stabbed his clan heir. What makes you think he wouldn’t betray you? Wuhen, you need to think."

Wuhen sighed, irritation flashing across his handsome face. "Go already." His expression softened into pained exasperation. "I’m tired of your advice. I didn’t ask for it."

Qinghe’s face darkened. "You impudent—"

"Go. Away." Wuhen waved his hand dismissively, smiling faintly as he left the chamber.

In the hall, the lanterns flickered. His eyes immediately narrowed, his expression sharpening.

Returning to the chamber, he found the bed empty.

Following the pull of the spirit mate chain, he slipped out a window and effortlessly leapt to the roof. There, Ningyan stood, gazing up at the star-strewn night sky. The wind ruffled his hair and brushed his robes.

Wuhen didn’t approach immediately. He watched. Ningyan seemed lost in thought, distant and untouchable. He was fascinating with walls so high Wuhen wanted nothing more than to tear them down.

Ningyan suddenly turned, and their eyes met. Ningyan’s widened in surprise, then narrowed into a frown, clearly displeased by Wuhen’s presence.

Wuhen only found him more adorable.

He stepped forward, wrapping his arms around Ningyan’s waist, pulling him close.

"Mmmh." He inhaled deeply, the scent of pear blossom wrapping around him. It was so soft, so addictive, and enough to make him ache with hunger.

He wanted to lock Ningyan away, never let him go.

Ningyan stiffened in his embrace. He never melted into Wuhen’s hold... except when Wuhen’s lips brushed his, and then the phoenix could not resist.

Wuhen held back, content to press close, feeling Ningyan’s skin, the cold night wind brushing around them, the rhythm of his heart.

"What are you doing out here, Ningyan?"

"Don’t I have a right to move around?" Ningyan replied defensively. His words, full of resistance, only made Wuhen smile darkly.

He tightened his grip on the back of Ningyan’s robe, pressing him even closer as if he couldn’t get enough.

"You do..." he drawled, leisurely licking the side of Ningyan’s neck. Ningyan gasped, stiffening even more.

Wuhen smiled to himself. He wanted him to relax. "I’m just curious."

"I woke up and you were gone," Ningyan said, his voice smaller now. "So I thought... why not get some fresh air?"

That alone was enough to make Wuhen smile. "Is something bothering you?"

"No," Ningyan answered immediately.

It was an obvious lie.

Wuhen slowly released him and leaned back, finally getting a good look at his face. Ningyan’s cheeks were faintly pink, though he still wore a scowl, staring straight into Wuhen’s eyes as if he was daring him to push further.

"You can talk to me," Wuhen said softly. "I want to help you. Always."

"But if you help me," Ningyan shot back, "you’ll want something in return."

Wuhen laughed. "Why do you look so displeased? You will always enjoy what I want." His tone dipped, lazy and teasing. "I like making you produce those sweet, throaty, pleasure-filled sounds."

Ningyan swallowed visibly and turned his gaze toward the sky, but Wuhen caught the way his ears burned red.

"I don’t need your help."

"But I want to help."

"I don’t need your—" Ningyan clenched his fists, gritting his teeth as he glared at him.

Wuhen only tilted his head, studying him. Yan’er looked more frustrated than angry.

He lifted a hand and gently caressed Ningyan’s cheek.

"My mother once said that sometimes crying helps release frustration."

Those violet eyes widened. "Your... your mother said that?"

Wuhen nodded, smiling. "She did."

Ningyan stared at him suspiciously. "You don’t seem like the crying type."

Wuhen chuckled. "Oh, that advice wasn’t meant for me."

Ningyan frowned, squinting as he searched Wuhen’s face. "Then who—"

Suddenly, realization hit. He jumped back, face flushing bright red, pointing at Wuhen the way he always did whenever he was startled or flustered.

"What are you talking about right now?!"

Wuhen spread his arms innocently. "I just mean that if I make you cry in the best way possible, all your frustration will disappear."

Ningyan scoffed. "So you think burying yourself in me will magically fix everything?"

Wuhen nodded, entirely serious. "Yes."

Ningyan gave him a flat look. "I don’t think that will work."

"I’m very persuasive," Wuhen said, clearly proud of himself.

"No!" Ningyan snapped. "I still have your handprints on my backside!"

"Too bad." Wuhen pursed his lips in disappointment. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Ningyan scoffed. "I thought you’d say we should talk or something."

"You aren’t going to tell me anything, Yan’er." Wuhen shrugged, then shot him a knowing look. "Or are you?"

Ningyan pressed his lips together, fingers clutching the edge of his robe. "I... um..." He hesitated, then blurted out, "I want to start cultivating."

Yan Wuhen raised a brow. "I don’t think that’s—"

"I want to try!" Ningyan snapped immediately.

The sharpness in his voice caught Wuhen off guard. His eyes widened slightly.

Ningyan exhaled heavily, frustration spilling out now that the dam had cracked.

"You don’t know how it feels. I’m in an academy where everyone has goals and they’re achieving them. They want power. All they have to do is train, cultivate, follow a clear path." His voice wavered. "And me? I don’t have any structure. What am I even doing in lectures that aren’t useful to me?"

He laughed bitterly.

"I don’t even have a beast core capable of doing anything. Being called a coreless phoenix isn’t a compliment. And don’t say I can just rely on your name as the lover of the Vermillion Fox Clan’s divine beast prince." He looked away. "I know I can. I just don’t want to."

Wuhen saw it clearly now. The pain, the resentment, the quiet humiliation.

Ningyan was weak. Of course he felt out of place.

And for the first time, Wuhen felt guilty for not noticing sooner.

He stepped forward, closing the distance between them. Ningyan looked up at him, startled but curious, and, importantly, didn’t step back.

"I can train you," Wuhen said calmly. "I can help you build a foundation for your core, no matter how damaged it is. And I can teach you a few tricks." A small smile curved his lips. "You’ll be my first disciple. I’ll give you everything I know."

Ningyan’s eyes widened. "Really?"

"Yes." Wuhen smiled.

Ningyan frowned immediately. "What do you want in return?"

Wuhen chuckled. He leaned in, fingers lifting Ningyan’s chin, tilting his head back just enough. His nose brushed the side of Ningyan’s neck, breath warm.

"What I want," he murmured lazily, "is to be buried in you, Yan’er."