Quick Transmigration: The Sweetheart Everyone Loves Is Stuck in Romantic Chaos Every Day - Chapter 41

Ruan Tang huffed, cheeks puffed in indignation, as she skirted around the dazed Leng brothers and marched straight back toward the banquet hall.

She didn’t even glance at Lu Chengzhou.

Hmph! If he won’t apologize, I’m not talking to him!

What’s with always bullying mermaids? Absolutely shameless!

At that moment, a tall figure in the crowd adjusted the sunglasses on the bridge of his nose and let out a quiet, amused “Ha.”

—This little soft candy was… surprisingly entertaining.

He found himself more and more curious about this mission.

It was, in fact, the first time he had ever taken such personal interest in a target.

“Tangtang, slow down. Careful, you’ll fall.”

Leng Li saw Ruan Tang hurrying along in high heels and felt his heart jump into his throat.

Leng Hao was the same — he rushed to catch up to her, but his face flushed red. He didn’t dare grab her hand, though his heartbeat was pounding wildly.

The warning had barely left Leng Li’s lips before Tangtang twisted her ankle.

One on her left, one on her right, both men reached out at the same time to catch her.

“Did you sprain it? Let me see—”

“Brother, over there — there’s a seat!”

They guided her to a sofa off to the side. Then, both half-knelt beside her, lowering themselves to inspect her ankle with visible worry.

“You’re lucky — no bone injury. But just in case, you shouldn’t walk any more. I’ll take you home first.”

“I’ll carry her. Didn’t you injure yourself yesterday?”

Leng Li frowned. “Just a scrape — it’s nothing. Your stamina isn’t great, I should do it.”

Leng Hao’s face instantly darkened.

What man just flat-out says another man “isn’t capable”? Truly, what a considerate elder brother.

Then—plop. A tear hit the floor with a soft, distinct sound.

Both froze.

They turned to Ruan Tang.

Crystal-clear tears spilled one after another from her beautiful peach blossom eyes. Her lashes trembled, and the corners of her reddened eyes shimmered like petals after the rain — delicate enough to wrench anyone’s heart.

Even the steady Leng Li panicked.

“Tangtang? Does it hurt? Don’t cry, be good, I’ll get the medicine—”

Ruan Tang bit her lower lip, looking utterly heartbroken, her voice trembling between sniffles.

“It’s not that I’m in pain… I just… feel bad for you.”

Both men froze.

She… was sad for them?

The words were like a sudden stream of warmth pouring straight into their chests.

“They’re awful. Humans are awful. And so is this world…”

Ruan Tang herself was only a passerby. Once her mission ended, she could leave. But for them, this world was all they had.

The more she thought about it, the more it hurt. Her tears wouldn’t stop.

In the end, Leng Li couldn’t hold back. He rose and drew her into his arms, his voice hoarse, thick with suppressed emotion.

“Tangtang, don’t be sad. This world let me meet you — that’s the happiest thing that’s ever happened to me.”

Leng Hao’s eyes reddened too. He quickly turned to wipe them dry before leaning in to embrace her from the other side, across Leng Li.

He wasn’t letting go.

Even if his rival was his own respected, intimidating older brother. Even if humans and merfolk could never truly share the same path. He wasn’t giving up.

Though there had been that little incident, the banquet soon began in earnest.

As the evening’s central figure, Lu Chengzhou was the first to take the stage.

What he said, however, shocked the entire room.

“I hereby announce that the Lu family will be founding a social organization dedicated to protecting and aiding merfolk. As a member of parliament, I will personally work to elevate their standing in society.”

Gasps spread through the guests. Many were visibly displeased — especially those whose fortunes had been built on exploiting merfolk.

“Since you’re all here to celebrate my birthday, I trust none of you will embarrass me?”

Lu Chengzhou’s eyes swept the hall, calm yet carrying a quiet pressure, his tone still laced with a smile — a true smiling tiger.

No one dared raise an objection.

The merfolk present showed unguarded excitement.

After so many years, at last, they might break free from their role as mere commodities!

And it was all thanks to… that girl.

Almost as one, the merfolk turned to look toward the back of the hall — at Ruan Tang.

She was just as surprised. Having just cried, her eyes were still rimmed red, making her delicate face all the more striking as astonishment and joy mingled there.

Lu Chengzhou’s gaze softened as it found her.

“I used to think merfolk were nothing more than playthings, pets — always beneath humans. But one girl taught me what it means to be gentle.”

“For her… I want to make this world better. A world worthy of her.”

He strode toward her, ignoring the icy glares from the two men flanking her, and extended his hand.

“Tangtang… will you forgive me?”

Her tears turned into a laugh, and she threw herself into his arms.

They embraced tightly to the sound of applause and cheers.

Leng Li’s brows drew tight as he watched, his chest aching like it was being crushed in an unseen grip.

Leng Hao’s expression darkened, his glare at Lu Chengzhou practically spitting sparks.

So… their rival count had just gone up by one.

That Lu pretty-boy would likely carve out his own place in Tangtang’s heart.

Damn it.

Meanwhile, in the corner of the hall, a woman glared at the couple, her nails biting deep into her palms.

Then she remembered something, and a cruel smile tugged at her lips.

—Slut. Today is the day you die.

The banquet drew toward its close.

Suddenly, Ruan Tang remembered — she hadn’t completed the most important part of her mission!

【Tongtong! Where’s the male lead? I haven’t seen him at all!】

The system was puzzled too.

【Strange… he should’ve appeared by now.】

Since it didn’t know the exact plot either, it had no answers.

【We can’t just wait around! I’ll go look! He’s the male lead — he must be super handsome, right? I’ll recognize him at a glance!】

Ruan Tang made an excuse to slip away from the three men and began quietly scanning the crowd.

Then, an idea struck her.

If he wasn’t inside… maybe he was outside?

She lifted her skirt and slipped out the back door, entering the hotel’s rear garden.

The air here was cool and still, with only a few tipsy young heirs standing around for fresh air.

Ruan Tang studied each man she passed, utterly focused.

She never noticed—

In the shadows just behind her, a tall, striking man stood watching.

Dressed in a black tank top, a silver cross at his throat, his bronzed skin stretched over a frame of lean muscle.

When he saw her eyes light up at the sight of another handsome man — ready to run toward him — something in his chest gave a sharp, inexplicable twist.

His eyes narrowed dangerously.

One arm snaked around her slender waist, yanking her hard against him.

At the same time, his other hand pressed a drug-soaked cloth over her mouth and nose.

She didn’t even have time to cry out before she went limp in his arms.

The first thought in his mind was—

Soft.

So soft.

And so fragrant.

Her porcelain-white skin contrasted starkly with his bronzed, muscular arm.

Her waist was so delicate, it seemed he could snap it with one hand.

Her neck, pale and vulnerable, practically begged to be bitten.

This soft body in his embrace felt like it could only ever belong to him, to be toyed with and claimed forever.

The thought sent a shiver of exhilaration through him.

It was more intoxicating than killing a mortal enemy — an untamed hunger clawed at him, almost too fierce to contain.

He froze, glancing down at himself in surprise and a flicker of discomfort.

How could this be…