Transmigration:The Villain Wants A Happy End Without His BeastHusbands-Chapter 154: We Were Going To Lose You

When Ningyan woke, he felt like he had been drowning. Like he had been dragged under for hours, lungs burning, body too heavy to move and then forced back up too quickly.

Air hit his chest sharply.

His head throbbed as if someone had taken a hammer to it and refused to stop.

"...what...?" His voice came out hoarse.

He frowned faintly, trying to piece things together.

The balcony. Rong Yue. Their conversation....Then sharp, sudden pain and everything had gone dark.

His brows furrowed.

Slowly, he forced his eyes open and immediately regretted it.

Light. Too bright.

Even with the lanterns dimmed, it stabbed straight through his vision.

A sharp hiss escaped him as his hand flew up, covering his eyes. "...ah—"

Everything felt wrong. Too loud. Too heavy. Too much.

"You are awake." A low familiar voice came from somewhere nearby.

Ningyan stilled.

Rong Yue?

"...mm." He rubbed his eyes slowly, blinking through the haze. His thoughts felt sluggish, like they were wading through water.

After a moment, he lowered his hand carefully. His vision steadied and landed on Rong Yue.

Rong Yue’s golden hair was loose, his quiet and intent blue feline eyes were watching him like a cat staring at something it hadn’t decided whether to toy with... or keep.

Ningyan stared back and his gaze drifted down.... and paused.

"...why are you half-naked?" His voice was thick, dragging lazily at the edges.

Rong Yue opened his mouth but Ningyan suddenly sucked in a breath. "Wait."

His eyes widened slightly. "You knocked me out, didn’t you?"

Rong Yue froze.

"And then..." Ningyan’s expression shifted, scandalized. "You defiled me?"

"...what?"

"I feel like I got thrown into the ocean," Ningyan continued, frowning as he pressed a hand to his head. "And then dragged back out and slapped around for fun. My entire body hurts. My head is spinning. My soul might have left and come back wrong."

His eyes unfocused briefly. "...there are two of you."

He shut them again with a groan. "Make it one."

Rong Yue stared at him for a long awkward moment.

"I did not defile you. You were poisoned." The word cut through the haze.

Ningyan’s eyes opened again. This time, focused.

"...poisoned?" His voice dropped.

Rong Yue didn’t look away. "Yes."

Ningyan blinked. "...again?"

His brows pulled together slowly. "How—"

He stared at Rong Yue now, suspicion creeping in despite the exhaustion weighing him down.

"How am I getting poisoned for the second time," he said slowly, "and you just happen to be there again?"

His eyes narrowed faintly. "...are you cursed?"

Rong Yue’s expression went completely blank.

Ningyan pushed himself upright and immediately regretted it. His bones felt like they had turned to water.

A hand caught his arm before he could slump back.

Rong Yue.

His other hand settled briefly at Ningyan’s waist, steadying him, guiding him into a more comfortable position.

Ningyan narrowed his eyes at him. He was suspicious. "...why are you still half-naked?"

Rong Yue’s tail swayed once behind him, slow and deliberate. A smirk touched his lips.

"A great deal has happened in the last few hours," he said lightly, "and that is what concerns you?"

Ningyan didn’t even hesitate. "Have you ever been poisoned twice?"

Rong Yue blinked. "...no."

"Exactly." Ningyan exhaled sharply, dragging a hand down his face before pressing it against his cheek. His fingers trembled slightly.

"I almost died. Again." The words came out quieter. Not dramatic this time.

His brows furrowed. His thoughts spun.

How? When?

He hadn’t sensed anything. No warning. Just pain and darkness.

That would have been it.

That easily.

"...fuck." The curse slipped out under his breath as his hand moved to his forehead, pressing hard against his temple as if that could force his thoughts into order.

His eyes flickered, the violet hue deepening. Something darker settling beneath them.

Rong Yue watched him carefully.

Then, with a small flick of his hand, silver light gathered in the air.

Ningyan’s flute appeared, hovering between them, wrapped in that faint glow.

Rong Yue’s gaze shifted to it. "It was this," he said. "The poison was placed on it. It only took hold when you played."

Ningyan’s gaze lifted and locked onto the flute.

"...they poisoned my flute?" His voice was quiet. But his expression darkened.

"It was missing last night," he said, more to himself now. "I checked for it. It wasn’t there."

His jaw tightened. "...and then it was."

Rong Yue nodded once. "She must have returned it."

Ningyan’s eyes snapped to him. "She?"

Rong Yue didn’t look away.

"Lan Shiyu ordered one of the attendants to do it," he said evenly. "Yan Wuhen has already killed her."

Ningyan blinked and tilted his head slightly, thoughts aligning. "...Ting?" it was her he saw the most.

Rong Yue’s brows lifted just slightly. "You knew her name."

Ningyan didn’t answer immediately. His gaze drifted back to the flute which was just floating there, untouched.

His fingers curled slowly against the bedding.

It hurt how something he trusted.. was used against him.

"...I spoke to her this morning." His voice lowered flat and cold. "...she was smiling."

Rong Yue watched him quietly.

"...thank you," Ningyan looked at him. "For being there. Again."

A slow smile curved Rong Yue’s lips, just enough to expose the faint edge of his canines.

"My pleasure, little bird," he replied lightly. "And thank you... for not dying."

Before Ningyan could react, Rong Yue’s hand lifted and touched his forehead. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Ningyan’s eyes widened instantly, heat rushing to his face.

smack.

He slapped the hand away.

"Don’t just touch me—!" He pushed himself up too quickly and the world tilted violently.

His balance disappeared in an instant and he fell.

Rong Yue laughed. The sound was low and amused but his essence moved faster than thought.

Silver light wrapped around Ningyan mid-fall, suspending him before he could hit the ground. Or worse, break something.

Rong Yue rose to his feet, his tail swaying lazily behind him, and with a subtle motion, drew Ningyan closer.

Ningyan stiffened in the air, breath uneven. "That was close!"

His heart was still racing.

Rong Yue looked at him, amusement still lingering but now there was something else beneath it.

"What are you doing?" Ningyan snapped, trying to regain some dignity. "Put me down."

"You need to settle," Rong Yue said calmly. No teasing this time. "Inhale. Exhale."

His gaze held Ningyan’s. "You are all over the place and so are the rest of us."

Ningyan blinked. "What?"

Rong Yue lowered him slowly until his feet touched the bed again, though he remained close.

"Like I said," he said, his voice quieter now, "a great deal happened while you were unconscious."

His tail slowed. "We were going to lose you, Ningyan."