Quick Transmigration: The Sweetheart Everyone Loves Is Stuck in Romantic Chaos Every Day - Chapter 142

He Bai carried Ruan Tang back to his small bamboo retreat—the place where they had first met.

He even set up a barrier around it, to prevent those two restless men from barging in to bother her again.

He Bai gently smoothed Ruan Tang’s hair, his tone softer than usual, though his expression remained calm and cool as ever.

“You should rest today. Holding a half-beast form drains a lot of energy. Once you wake up, I’ll teach you how to retract your ears and tail.”

Ruan Tang obediently curled up under the blankets, her small pale hand clutching the edge as she peeked out with only half of her delicate face showing.

A faint blush tinged her cheeks out of shyness.

“Thank you, Teacher He Bai.”

Hearing the girl thank him in that sweet, soft voice, polite and well-mannered, He Bai felt as though his heart might melt entirely.

The corners of his lips lifted in a rare, doting smile. He reached out to stroke her little cat ears.

“Good girl. Sleep now. Goodnight.”

Ruan Tang flashed him a sweet smile before shifting into a comfortable position and drifting off.

He Bai allowed himself the indulgence of watching her sleeping face for a long while.

Only when he sensed a familiar aura appearing outside the barrier did his expression tighten.

He rose to deal with the two troublesome men.

Outside the bamboo house.

On the left stood a tall, powerfully built man in black, skin slightly bronzed, his handsome features carved with depth. Leaning against the door, arms crossed, he stood silent and immovable like a towering tree.

On the right, a young man in a light-colored luxury suit with an expensive watch played idly with his cufflinks. His skin was pale, his beauty striking, fox-like eyes arched with a faint, mocking smile.

He Bai stepped outside to find the two of them stationed there like a pair of stone guardians.

His expression instantly soured, the temperature of the air dropping several degrees around him.

“Do you two truly have nothing better to do than cling to Ruan Tang?”

Hu Li Yan was still smiling, though his amusement never reached his eyes.

“Unlike some idle people, I actually have a board meeting later.”

Lang Jin shot him a murderous glare at the jab.

“Then I suggest you leave immediately.”

Hu Li Yan tilted his head, smiling even wider.

“Any meeting can be postponed. I’ll wait until Tang Tang has rested so I can at least say goodbye properly.”

“Tch.”

A vein bulged at Lang Jin’s temple.

“I don’t think that’s necessary.”

“It’s called manners. Perhaps a mutt like you wouldn’t understand, but we humans place great importance on etiquette.”

Hu Li Yan’s words were sharp as blades. Lang Jin, never skilled with rhetoric, went pale with fury. He ground out between clenched teeth:

“And the bastard who forced himself on Miss by pinning her down and kissing her—do you really dare talk about etiquette?!”

He Bai, who had been silently watching until now, froze at those words.

His face darkened several shades, his eyes narrowing as they turned toward Hu Li Yan, now brimming with killing intent.

“Lang Jin was at least granted admission into the academy after review. But you, Hu Li Yan—you’re an outsider. To trespass here as if this academy were some tourist attraction you can visit at whim… what exactly are you playing at?”

Hu Li Yan spread his hands innocently.

“Senior He Bai, that’s unfair. I’m hardly an outsider.”

The beautiful young man pulled a letter of appointment from his suit pocket, shaking it proudly before He Bai.

“See this? I’ve officially been hired as a professor in the academy’s Finance Department.”

He Bai’s face darkened at once.

Hu Li Yan’s smile deepened.

“Oh dear, don’t tell me Senior He Bai didn’t know? Not surprising. You’re so absorbed in your research, shutting yourself away from worldly matters, and with the real power handed off to others… things like this are bound to slip past you.”

His fox-like eyes narrowed, malicious amusement glittering in their depths.

“Your council of elders? Every last one of them can be bought. In this world, there’s nothing money can’t solve. And if there is—well, give more money.”

He drew a refined business card from his pocket and handed it toward He Bai with a mock-polite smile.

“From now on, we’re colleagues. Please take care of me, Senior He Bai~”

He Bai very nearly lost control of his temper. It took all of his restraint not to smash his fist into that smirking face.

He had to admit, though—there was a reason the fox clan had managed to outpace other powerful beast clans and thrive in human society. Hu Li Yan’s cunning business mind was no small part of it.

Still, He Bai, cool and disciplined as always, forced himself to endure.

Lang Jin, however, had no such patience.

Without a word, he seized Hu Li Yan by the collar, fist ready to strike.

He Bai snapped, frowning:

“If you want to fight, do it far away. Ruan Tang just fell asleep. She stayed too long in her half-beast form—she’s exhausted.”

Both men stiffened, expressions shifting instantly to concern.

Lang Jin finally shoved Hu Li Yan away with a cold voice.

“Next time, I’ll beat you properly.”

Hu Li Yan smoothed the wrinkles from his suit with unhurried grace.

“Then I’ll take my leave. Wouldn’t want to disturb Miss Tang Tang’s rest.”

After all, he’d already secured his position at the academy. He could see her every day from now on.

With the two nuisances gone, He Bai immediately returned to check on Ruan Tang.

She was still asleep.

Soft dark hair framed her delicate face, her cheeks flushed faintly pink, looking unbearably sweet and tempting.

He Bai’s gaze drifted unconsciously to her lips.

They were slightly more swollen than usual.

That bastard Hu Li Yan had kissed her, hadn’t he?

For a man as restrained and principled as He Bai, the surge of jealousy was nearly unbearable.

Finally, he bent closer. His thin, well-shaped lips brushed gently against hers, biting softly at the tender curve.

He had only meant to steal the briefest taste. But the flavor was too intoxicating.

In all his long, austere life, he had lived in abstinence, untouched by desire.

Yet the simple touch of her lips ignited a dark fire within him.

His once-clear eyes grew heavy and storm-dark.

No longer content with a fleeting kiss, he deepened it, clumsily prying her lips apart to taste her sweetness.

Even in her sleep, Ruan Tang seemed to sense something.

Her brows knit in faint displeasure, small hands clenching the blankets, a soft kitten-like whimper escaping her lips.

But her resistance only made his desire stronger, his kiss hungrier.

Ruan Tang felt something strange—

In her dream, she had been happily eating takoyaki, when suddenly a giant octopus appeared, wrapping her tightly, even sealing her mouth with its tentacles.

Something slick and slippery kept trying to slip inside.

Whimpering, she startled awake in fright.

She gasped for air, eyes flying open—only to see Teacher He Bai sitting calmly by her bedside.

A book lay open in his hand, as though he had been quietly reading all along.

When he noticed her stir, he lifted his gaze, his tone low and gentle with concern.

“What’s wrong? Did you have a nightmare?”

(t/n: The “giant octopus” in Ruan Tang’s dream is a humorous metaphor used in Chinese fiction to soften or obscure a more risqué scene—it conveys the sensation of being kissed too deeply, without stating it outright.)