Transmigration:The Villain Wants A Happy End Without His BeastHusbands-Chapter 65: Is She… Shipping Me?

Ningyan had no intention of going to dinner.

It was a tempting offer, very tempting, but he still hadn’t spoken to Wuhen since the attempt to hurt Lan Meishan, to drag out his wild side.

He didn’t return to the fox manor either.

As the sun dipped toward the horizon, painting the mountains in hues of amber and violet, Ningyan made his way up the long stone stairs leading to the Azure Dragon Manor. The golden sigil Haoxuan had given him rested cool and heavy in his palm, his flute tucked securely into his belt, notes hidden within his robe.

By the time he reached the gates, dusk had fully settled.

Two dragon guards stood watch, tall and unmoving. Their reptilian eyes tracked his every step. Ningyan cleared his throat softly and raised the sigil.

The guards exchanged a glance.

Slowly, the gates opened.

Ningyan stepped into the manor grounds and made his way toward the entrance only to nearly collide with someone rushing past.

"Wait up! You’re going to fall, Shenzhen!" one of the servants called urgently.

Ningyan instinctively moved aside, but the girl halted abruptly.

The servants froze as well.

She turned to look at him.

"You?" Her silver reptilian eyes widened slightly in surprise.

Ningyan pointed at himself. "Me?"

"Shenzhen," one servant hissed nervously. Then she looked at Ningyan, suspicion flickering across her face. "How did you get in here?"

"Oh... Jun Haoxuan gave me this." Ningyan lifted the golden sigil at once.

The servants stiffened.

Shenzhen narrowed her eyes at him. "You don’t recognize me?"

Ningyan paused. He didn’t.

But the deepening frown on her face made it very clear that saying so would be a mistake.

"You... you’re that—"

"Oh, stop." She cut him off with a scoff. "We’re classmates. Or did you forget?" She crossed her arms. "Though I suppose that’s expected. You are the one everyone looks at. You don’t look at us."

Then she added flatly, "And that annoying, mouth-breathing brother of yours? You should beat him into the ground since your core has been repaired."

Ningyan blinked.

"Ah... yeah." He hesitated. "Thank you?"

She stared at him like he’d just insulted her ancestors. "Why are you thanking me?" Then she frowned again. "And why are you here?"

"Ah..." Ningyan’s brows knit together. Does she dislike me? Or...? He decided not to overthink it. "Jun Haoxuan gave me this."

He raised the sigil once more.

"Well, I can see it," Shenzhen said, eyeing the sigil. "But why would big brother give you permission to enter?"

Big brother?

Ningyan paused.

So she was Jun Haoxuan’s sister.

He smiled faintly. There was no way he was going to explain that he had accidentally slept in Jun Haoxuan’s bed for an entire night. Instead, he chose the safest truth available.

"I came to see the phoenix—"

"Never mind." Shenzhen cut him off immediately.

She grabbed his arm and pulled him along without warning, dragging him past the servants, who exchanged exhausted glances before trailing after them.

Once inside the corridor, she finally released him.

"Big brother isn’t here," she said briskly. "He has important lectures today."

She glanced at Ningyan from the corner of her eye. "I saw you in class earlier. Everyone’s talking."

Ningyan stiffened slightly.

"They can feel your spiritual presence now," she continued. "Your beast aura too. A phoenix’s presence isn’t subtle, you know. The rumors are spreading fast."

He cleared his throat. "Is... that a bad thing?"

"Well," Shenzhen said thoughtfully, "according to gossip, you’re the rightful heir to the Phoenix Clan simply because you’re a phoenix." She tilted her head. "And there’s no record of a damaged beast core ever being repaired."

She stopped walking and looked straight at him.

"That alone is enough to draw the attention of beast princes. Especially my big brother." Her eyes narrowed slightly. "Is that why he gave you the sigil? Because he finds you interesting?"

Ningyan blinked. "Can... he give me the sigil for that reason?"

She studied him for a long moment.

"Well," she said at last, shrugging lightly, "you are really beautiful. There are plenty of people in the lotus hall who are jealous of you." Then, almost casually, she added, "And big brother has always appreciated beauty."

Ningyan blinked again. Is she... shipping me with Haoxuan?

He genuinely couldn’t tell.

Shenzhen suddenly beamed and continued walking, passing guard after guard without slowing.

"I’m here to see the phoenix," Ningyan blurted out.

Shenzhen stopped so abruptly that he nearly walked into her. Her silver reptilian eyes widened then slowly narrowed.

She glanced over her shoulder at the servants behind them. "You two are dismissed. I won’t be going to Wind City anymore. Elder sister can wait."

The servants bowed quickly and retreated.

Shenzhen turned back to Ningyan, suspicion sharp in her gaze. "Why would big brother allow you to see her?"

Ningyan opened his mouth. Closed it.

He honestly had no idea what to say.

She watched him for another moment then her expression softened. A small smile curved her lips as she turned away.

"Come along."

Ningyan let out a slow breath he hadn’t realized he was holding and followed her up the stairs.

They walked through corridor after corridor, the atmosphere growing heavier with each step, until they finally stopped before a sealed chamber.

Shenzhen’s entire demeanor shifted.

She rushed forward, excitement lighting her features as she pushed the doors open.

"Yunyi-jie!" she called brightly, skipping inside, the lace of her robes flowing behind her.

"Ah, Shenzhen, be careful." The mature female voice was calm, warm... and for some reason, it made Ningyan’s heart skip a beat.

He lifted his gaze as he stepped fully into the room.

A woman stood there, tall and composed. Her eyes were a fiery orange, sharp yet gentle, and her pure white hair fell neatly down her back. She was dressed in clean, dark robes, simple yet dignified.

A wide smile rested on her lips as Shenzhen held her hands but the smile vanished the moment her eyes landed on Ningyan.

"Yunyi-jie," Shenzhen said, tearing herself away and gesturing toward him. "This is Su Ningyan."

Ningyan blinked.

...Why did something about her feel too familiar?

Was he the only one feeling it?

Shenzhen seemed to notice too. Her gaze flicked between Ningyan and Yunyi repeatedly, her brows knitting together.

Ningyan cleared his throat and stepped forward. "I’m Su Ningyan." He winced internally. "But.. you already know that. I just.. I came to talk to you."

Why are you like this, he screamed silently at himself.

"Su?" Yunyi asked suddenly. "As in Su Zhaoyan?"

Ningyan’s eyes widened. He nodded quickly. "Yes. That’s—um. My father." His voice softened. "He died."

For a moment, Yunyi just looked at him. Then she smiled but it trembled, her eyes glossing over in a way that made his chest tighten.

"I heard," she said quietly.

Did she know him that well? Ningyan wondered.

"Yes. Tragic," he said awkwardly, then hurried on, clearing his throat. "But I’m not here for that. I came to ask for help."

Yunyi studied him for another heartbeat.

Then she smiled again, gentler this time. "I am Han Yunyi."

"Yes, nice to—" Ningyan stopped short.

The name slammed into him.

"Han... Yunyi?" he repeated slowly. "Han as in... Han Ruyin?"

Tears finally welled in her eyes as she nodded.

"Yes, Ningyan." She took a step closer. "I am your family."