Transmigration Into A Novel: Save The Second Male Lead-Chapter 183: I’m Fine

The drive back to the Villa was silent. Yue Ning stared out the window, her mind still reeling from the warning from the system.

Threat? Unknown? Everything was so confusing to her, and she hated that she was confused.

"What’s wrong?" Hu Feng’s voice brought her back from her thoughts. "You’ve been spacing out ever since the drive started. Do you have something bothering you? You know I’d always protect you."

Yue Ning turned to look at him, and she forced a smile to her lips.

"I’m fine... I’m just a bit shaken. Song Kai would not give up. That much I know about him." She answered, her words half-truth and half a lie.

Huo Feng smiled. Using his free hands, he held hers. "You don’t have to worry. I know Song Kai wouldn’t give up. But I wouldn’t give him the chance to strike back."

Yue Ning’s lips curved faintly. Maybe... just maybe this was what she needed. Someone’s assurance.

Soon, they arrived at the villa, and Huo Yan was quick to meet them at the entrance.

"I thought you’d be in school." Yue Ning’s eyes brightened seeing her.

Seeing that they were discussing, Huo Feng excused them and gave them space.

Huo Yan chuckled. "I don’t have classes today and I didn’t want to stay in the dormitory." She answered.

"Sister-in-law, you and brother were so cool today." Huo Yan praised genuinely.

Yue Ning’s eyes flashed with something knowing. "What about Song Yun? How did he react to the news?"

Huo Yan’s eyes dimmed, and Yue Ning suddenly had a bad feeling. But the younger girl’s next words dispelled all fears.

"He wasn’t bothered. He told me that he didn’t care if his brother’s stocks dipped. He said he didn’t need them to survive." Huo Yan recounted everything Song Yun said.

*Flashback*

Shenghua University, Library>

Huo Yan and Song Yun had sat together as they watched the press conference. After it was done, Huo Yan bit her lips as she turned her attention to him.

"Your brother... what do you want to say?" She hesitated for a while before she asked him.

"It doesn’t matter." Song Yun shook his head. "My brother was the one who asked for this."

"But your family’s company’s stocks are dipping. I’m worried about you. I could ask my brother to give him a way out." Huo Yan suggested, panic settling in her chest.

Song Yun burst out laughing seeing her panicked expression.

"You are laughing. This is a serious issue... and I’m worried about you." Huo Yan exhaled.

Song Yun’s expression softened.

"I’ve already told you. You really don’t have to worry about me. Alright, let me tell you a secret." He gestured for her to lean closer.

Curious, Huo Yan did as he instructed.

"I actually have a game startup. I don’t have to depend on my family’s company to get by." He whispered into her ears.

Huo Yan’s eyes widened as she looked at him, stupefied. He nodded, as though confirming her questions.

*Flashback Ends*

Yue Ning’s lips parted slightly. "Song Yun is very different from his brother." She remarked with a low voice.

’I agree.’ The system chirped in.

"You sound normal now." Yue Ning commented mentally.

’For now.’ It answered.

Yue Ning’s brows furrowed. When she was about to respond, Huo Yan held her by the arm.

"Sister-in-law, you spaced out. Are you okay?" She asked worriedly.

Yue Ning smiled tiredly. "Maybe I’m just tired."

"Oh..." Huo Yan said, dejection written all over her face.

Yue Ning noticed, and asked. "What’s wrong?"

"Sister-in-law, those ladies have been asking when you’d be hosting the next book gathering. And besides, they told people in their circle. Those ladies want to see if it is as they say." Huo Yan explained in one breath.

"But you are tired. And I think you need rest. I’ll just let them know that you’ve been busy so recently." Huo Yan’s shoulders slumped dejectedly and picked her phone, about to type a message.

"Don’t!" Yue Ning stopped her instantly. "Don’t send out any text messages." She instructed.

Huo Yan stared at her confusedly. "Why? Shouldn’t you be resting?"

Yue Ning shook her head. "Don’t cancel it. We will have a book gathering tomorrow. Inform them about it."

Huo Yan fixed her gaze on her. "Are you sure about it? Nobody will criticise if you decide not to host you. Your health comes first."

"I’m sure. Why should I turn away when they were the ones who reached out first?"

Huo Yan sighed for a while before nodding. She left the room, phone already in hand. The moment her footsteps faded, the villa sank into stillness again.

Yue Ning exhaled slowly and turned toward the stairs. She didn’t make it far before Huo Feng’s voice came from behind her.

"You’re pushing yourself again."

She stopped, glancing back. He stood by the living-room doorway, jacket off, shirt sleeves rolled to his forearms. The soft lamplight traced the sharp lines of his face.

"I’m fine," she said automatically.

He gave a low chuckle and crossed the distance between them. "That’s what you always say."

When his hand brushed her arm, she didn’t pull away. For a long moment they simply stood there, the silence between them thick with everything neither could say.

"Today could’ve ended differently," he said at last. "If you hadn’t acted when you did—"

"But I did," she interrupted quietly. "And you did too."

His lips curved, faint but genuine. "Still, I should thank you."

"You already did," she replied, smiling up at him. "Back at the office."

"That was for saving the company." His voice dropped. "This is for staying beside me."

Something inside her twisted. She looked away before he could see the warmth rising on her cheeks. "You make it sound like I’m some kind of hero."

"Maybe you are," he murmured.

The words hung between them, gentle and dangerous all at once.

Yue Ning wanted to believe him. She wanted to believe in this small pocket of peace, the steady beat of his heart so close to hers.

But deep down, she could still feel the system’s faint hum at the back of her mind, like static under her skin.

The fear of the unknown made her chest tighten. She swallowed hard, forcing her breathing to steady.

Huo Feng noticed. "Yue Ning?" He called out worriedly.

"I’m fine," she said again, softer this time. "Really."

He studied her for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. But rest early tonight."

"I will."

When he turned away, she watched him leave. He was tall, composed and unaware of the invisible cracks beginning to form around their perfect world. Her fingers curled at her side.

Tomorrow, she would host the gathering. Tomorrow, everything would look normal again. This was what she hoped for.

But for the first time, Yue Ning wasn’t sure what normal meant anymore.