Transmigration:The Villain Wants A Happy End Without His BeastHusbands-Chapter 71: Just Say It

"Do you like... Yue’er?" Ningyan found himself asking.

He was genuinely curious and the way Wuhen looked at him in response only deepened that curiosity. There was something oddly earnest in his gaze, something unguarded in that drunken haze.

"I do."

The answer landed heavier than Ningyan expected. He frowned before he could stop himself then quickly smoothed his expression, clearing his throat as he pulled his fingers from Wuhen’s hair.

"Then why trap me with a spirit mate chain and not him?"

"Because I want both," Wuhen replied without hesitation, pride and satisfaction dripping from his voice. "And I can have both."

Ningyan stared at him, genuinely stunned.

"I am not in agreement with you having both," he said firmly. "You have to choose."

Wuhen gaped at him like a lost puppy.

Well... a fox. A very drunk fox.

"I don’t want to choose."

"Why?"

"Why would I?" Wuhen tilted his head, confusion clear on his face. "You can have both of us too, if you want."

Ningyan immediately regretted asking in the first place.

"I don’t—" He faltered, flustered now, and judging by the grin that instantly spread across Wuhen’s face, he was deeply amusing.

"What did you two do during dinner?" Ningyan asked, trying to regain control.

Wuhen leaned back slightly, still holding onto him, his expression turning thoughtful. "We talked."

"About what?"

Those red-gold eyes slid back to him, gleaming as Wuhen cocked his head. "Are you jealous, Yan’er?"

Ningyan blinked rapidly. "Why would I be jealous? I just want you to realize that he is your one and only love so you’ll break the spirit mate chain."

Wuhen let out a soft chuckle only for it to be abruptly cut off by a hiccup.

Ningyan scoffed. "I’m not jealous."

"I like you more than I like Yue’er."

Ningyan grimaced. "Is that supposed to make me feel better?"

Wuhen scrunched his nose, playful as ever, then pressed his face against Ningyan’s stomach. "No."

Ningyan sighed and, after a moment of hesitation, lifted his hand again. His fingers slipping back into Wuhen’s hair, slow and absentminded.

Was he jealous?

No.

He couldn’t be.

He needed to push someone else into Wuhen’s line of sight. Someone who could redirect this mess. Unfortunately, it seemed Wuhen was very clearly... polygamous by nature.

Rong Yue had to be against this, right?

And if that didn’t work...

Then Ningyan would just have to pray he could raise his cultivation fast enough before the end of the year.

"Wu—"

Wuhen’s head snapped up instantly, his expression sharpening, his eyes going alert. He raised a hand, and a massive red-gold force field flared to life in front of him and Ningyan just as nearly twenty arrows slammed into it, dissolving on impact like sparks against flame.

Ningyan’s heart skipped violently.

Wuhen rose to his feet in one smooth motion, and grabbed Ningyan’s arm, yanking him behind his back without hesitation.

"Who is the fool?" he growled, his voice low and dangerous, eyes narrowed as he scanned the darkness.

Ningyan clutched his arm from behind, breath coming fast and shallow.

"They’re good at hiding." Wuhen said coldly, "I can’t sense them anymore."

Ningyan’s mind raced.

If Mei Ren was bold enough to attack him while Yan Wuhen was present, then she wasn’t reckless, she was confident. Strong. No assassin would do something like this unless they believed they could survive the aftermath.

A chill crawled up his spine.

This was worse than book-Ningyan’s ending.

"C–can we go inside?" Ningyan hated how his voice shook.

Wuhen didn’t answer. Instead, he scooped Ningyan up into his arms.

Ningyan knew he was supposed to be angry with him. He knew he shouldn’t cling, shouldn’t get close, but his heart was still hammering, his body still trembling. So he didn’t resist. He buried his face into Wuhen’s chest, breathing in his scent as Wuhen carried him swiftly into the chamber.

The fox prince laid him gently on the bed.

Ningyan immediately pulled his knees up to his chest, sitting there quietly as Wuhen knelt to remove his boots. Once he was finished, he leaned back and shrugged off his outer robe.

"You shouldn’t be afraid," he said softly. "I’m here."

Ningyan frowned slightly. "I know." His voice was softer than he intended.

Wuhen’s lips curved faintly. "You.."

Without warning, Ningyan pulled out the arrow Jun Haoxuan had given him and flung it at him.

Wuhen tilted his head just enough for it to miss, effortlessly. The arrow embedded itself deep into the wall behind him.

"Ah..." he glanced at it, then back at Ningyan. "So you know who’s doing this?"

"I do."

Wuhen’s eyes lit up with that familiar, dangerous amusement. He turned fully toward Ningyan, a cunning grin spreading across his face as he climbed onto the bed, bracing himself over him. One hand pressed gently but firmly against Ningyan’s shoulder, easing him back until he was lying flat beneath him.

"So you say..." Wuhen settled there comfortably, hovering close.

Very close.

Ningyan grimaced.

Wuhen smiled at him with all fangs and for a fleeting moment, Ningyan felt like prey. But strangely enough, he wasn’t afraid anymore.

"What do you want me to do, Yan’er?" Wuhen asked softly.

Ningyan let out a heavy breath. His lips parted but no words came. He turned his head aside instead.

Wuhen’s hand caught his chin immediately, forcing him to look back. His breath was heavy with the sweetness of wine, their mouths barely inches apart.

"Nothing," Ningyan said hoarsely. "You’re drunk. Go to sleep. She won’t come in here to kill me."

"But she tried to hurt you while you were in my arms," Wuhen murmured, his thumb brushing slowly along Ningyan’s chin. "Do you want me to bring you her heart?"

The question came out in a deep whisper, excitement lacing his voice, an unhinged gleam lighting his eyes.

A raw shiver ran down Ningyan’s spine.

"I—"

Wuhen watched him closely, waiting.

Ningyan shook his head instead and shoved both hands against Wuhen’s shoulders. "Get off."

"You’re suppressing your desires, Yan’er," Wuhen said calmly. "Suppressing them won’t make them disappear."

"I’m not suppressing anything."

"You are," Wuhen whispered, brushing his nose against Ningyan’s.

Ningyan’s grip tightened on his shoulders as heat flooded his body.

"You always are," Wuhen continued softly. "Like right now. You want me to kill for you but you don’t want to say it."

Ningyan clenched his teeth, eyes squeezing shut as a shaky breath escaped him. "I don’t want you to kill for me. I can—"

"You can’t do this yourself," Wuhen interrupted gently. "You know you can’t. You need me, Yan’er."

His lips pressed against Ningyan’s jaw, then trailed slowly down to his neck. Ningyan’s fingers curled tighter in his robes, not pushing him away, just holding on, as his lips parted.

"N—"

"Just say it."

Ningyan exhaled heavily. "Her name is Mei Ren. And I need you to kill her for me."

Wuhen froze.

Then he lifted his head, hovering over Ningyan, a pleased smile spreading across his lips. "See?" he murmured. "That wasn’t so hard, was it, Yan’er?"

Ningyan shoved him away immediately.

Wuhen laughed as he rolled aside, while Ningyan scrambled off the bed, face burning. Without a word, he rushed into the bathing chamber, breathing hard with a racing heart.