Quick Transmigration: The Sweetheart Everyone Loves Is Stuck in Romantic Chaos Every Day - Chapter 68

Tuoba Hong gave a low cough, ignoring him.

Ruan Tang looked at him, her long curled lashes trembling as though she’d suddenly recalled something.

A faint blush rose across her delicate face. She bit her lower lip and glanced at him, cheeks reddened.

Her voice came soft and sweet as spring rain.

“General-gege, was it you last night… who helped me bathe? Did that make you catch a cold?”

Clatter.

Helian Zijun’s folding fan slipped from his hand, crashing to the floor. The priceless jade pendant at its end split cleanly in two.

He didn’t even glance at it. Instead, he seized Ruan Tang’s shoulders, his face dark, his voice urgent.

“TangTang? He bathed you yesterday?!”

Ruan Tang tilted her head slightly, as if puzzled by his agitation.

“I think so…? I was asleep, I don’t really remember…”

Jealousy burned in Helian Zijun’s eyes as he turned to glare daggers at Tuoba Hong.

“Well done, Great General. TangTang doesn’t understand matters between men and women—she’s innocent, guileless. And you, a grown man, don’t even know the basic propriety between genders? Shameless!”

Tuoba Hong coughed twice, guilt flickering across his features. His voice was rougher as he recalled last night’s torment, the images still seared into him.

“I… blindfolded myself.”

Helian Zijun’s brows knit tight, clearly unconvinced.

He turned back to Ruan Tang, pressing anxiously.

“TangTang, aside from bathing you, did this wretched man do anything else? Did he… did he stay… overnight?”

Ruan Tang furrowed her brows, thinking hard, then shook her head softly.

“I don’t think so… I woke up once in the middle of the night, and there wasn’t anyone beside me.”

Only then did Helian Zijun exhale in relief, though unease lingered in his heart.

Just one slip in vigilance last night, and this man had seized the chance to take advantage.

From now on, he would have to keep a far closer watch over TangTang.

Otherwise, this little fool might one day be completely devoured without even realizing it.

“Right—what about Gucheng-gege? Is he here?”

Ruan Tang tugged lightly at Helian Zijun’s sleeve, asking expectantly.

Tuoba Hong’s gaze darkened further at that.

This Gucheng—who exactly was he, that she would think of him so much?

Helian Zijun, too, bristled with jealousy, replying sourly.

“He’s not here. For all we know, his corpse is already rotting in the wilderness.”

Ruan Tang took his words at face value. Her peach-blossom eyes immediately brimmed with tears, her small face stricken.

“Gucheng-gege… died?”

Seeing her on the verge of tears, Helian Zijun’s heart clenched painfully.

“Idiot, don’t cry. I was joking—he’s not that easy to kill! He probably just doesn’t know you’re here. With his skills, he’ll find us soon enough. So don’t cry, hm? Be good, don’t cry. It hurts me to death when you cry…”

The proud little prince, who had never once comforted anyone, now stumbled over his words, clumsy and flustered in his attempts to soothe her.

Even his hated rival had to be praised if it would keep her from crying.

It left him sulky, resentful, and jealous all at once.

But nothing mattered more than keeping his TangTang from tears.

“Really?”

Her eyes glistened with tears as she looked at him, hesitant.

“Really! I swear!” Helian Zijun raised his hand in solemn oath.

At last, Ruan Tang relaxed a little, clutching at his robe as a hiccup slipped out from her earlier sobs.

Heart aching, Helian Zijun patted her back gently.

Tuoba Hong stood to the side, his hands clenched so tightly that his nails dug deep into his palms.

…

To cheer her up, Helian Zijun took Ruan Tang out to the streets.

To avoid recognition, they all wore veils.

Tuoba Hong, sword in arms, followed silently behind them, the picture of a dutiful bodyguard.

Only when the crowds thickened would he extend an arm, shielding the girl from being jostled by strangers.

The streets bustled with life, packed with merchants, travelers, hawkers, and performers.

For Ruan Tang, this was her first time seeing the ancient world’s markets. Everything was fresh and fascinating—her peach-blossom eyes sparkled like stars, her whole being glowing with excitement.

She was so radiant that passersby turned their heads again and again, yet she remained blissfully unaware.

Both Tuoba Hong and Helian Zijun were nearly sick with jealousy.

They had been careless. A mere veil couldn’t hide those luminous eyes. They should have insisted on a bamboo hat as well.

“Ooh, what’s that place? So many pretty sisters there!”

Ruan Tang pointed toward a building called Yanliu Pavilion.

Tuoba Hong’s expression froze. He quickly pressed down her small hand.

“That place… is improper.”

She tilted her head, puzzled by his meaning.

Helian Zijun seized the chance to mock his rival.

“Oh? And how does the great general know it’s ‘improper’ after just one glance? Unless he’s a regular patron?”

Tuoba Hong’s glare could have cut stone. His voice was sharp as steel.

“I have never set foot inside! Look at the women soliciting at the door—it’s obvious enough. Don’t tell me you can’t see it!”

Helian Zijun shook his head, feigning innocence.

“I don’t understand what you’re talking about. After all, this prince keeps himself pure and has never once stepped into such indecent places.”

Tuoba Hong’s eyes blazed. “You—!”

The two were still quarreling when they suddenly noticed—Ruan Tang was gone.

They spun around, only to see the soft little girl already darting into Yanliu Pavilion.

The courtesans at the door looked on in bemusement.

Such a pretty little miss—what was she doing running into a place like this?

The nearby men were even worse, their gazes glued to her.

Her peach-blossom eyes shimmered with water-light, her pert nose delicate, her lips rosy and soft, and at the corner of her eye lay a small red beauty mark like a drop of rouge.

They swallowed hard.

“TangTang, you fool!!”

Tuoba Hong and Helian Zijun rushed after her.

But as soon as they neared the pavilion, a group of women with gleaming eyes surrounded them.

“Such a handsome young master!”

“And what a bold, dashing man—”

Choked by the heavy scent of rouge and powder, Helian Zijun sneezed repeatedly, pinching his nose with disgust.

“I already have someone! Find him instead!” He jabbed a hand toward Tuoba Hong.

Tuoba Hong had no patience for the crowd. Lifting his sword horizontally, he released a killing aura so fierce it made the air turn cold.

His voice was like ice. “Out of my way.”

The women scattered instantly, none daring to block them again.

But when the path cleared, Ruan Tang was nowhere to be found.

Tuoba Hong’s face darkened. He grabbed a passing servant by the collar, his voice sharp.

“Did you see a small, beautiful girl run inside just now?”

The servant shrank back from his fierce aura, stammering.

“Y-yes… but I think one of the girls dragged her off somewhere.”

Helian Zijun’s face paled.

“Could it be they mistook her and pulled her in… to entertain guests?!”

Murderous intent flashed in Tuoba Hong’s eyes as his teeth clenched.

“Search!”