The Spoiled Little Beauty is Always Abusing the Protagonist [Quick Transmigration] 21

Chapter 21: The Spoiled Villain in a Period Novel 21

The moment she said it, Xu Nongqing’s figure visibly froze.

He slowly looked up, revealing his handsome, narrow features. His dark eyes were as still as an ancient well, looking at his mother, their depths showing no hint of fluctuation.

Meeting his eyes, Xu’s mother’s heart suddenly skipped a beat. A wave of oppressive palpitation rose in her throat.

There was no resentment in those eyes, no anger, but rather a strange, chilling quality.

It was as if she were being stared at by some hollow monster, causing her to involuntarily take half a step back. The muscles in her face twitched slightly, and her crossed arms stiffly fell to her sides.

“What’s wrong?”

Xu’s mother’s mind went blank for a moment. She didn’t think she had said anything wrong just now; she just wanted to introduce a potential partner to the child, Shu He.

Doing a favor, playing matchmaker—it was all part of the business world.

She had inquired. Xu Nongqing and this child had a good relationship, so he could definitely put in a word.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

She was his biological mother, not his enemy.

Xu Nongqing lowered his eyes.

He looked away, and Xu’s mother could no longer read his emotions. She could only hear her son, whom she hadn’t seen in many years, say in an indescribable tone, “He likes someone.”

Xu’s mother opened her mouth. “So what if he likes someone? Are they already dating?”

“Mm.” Xu Nongqing’s tone was firm. “They’ve been dating for almost four months. Their relationship is very good.”

Xu’s mother: “…”

Four months.

Something wasn’t right.

She had heard that this child arrived in Wang Family Village last autumn and only left last month. That was much longer than four months.

He couldn’t have started dating a local, could he?

Xu’s mother felt a sense of absurdity.

She even suspected that Xu Nongqing was making up a lie to deceive her.

But what reason would Xu Nongqing have to lie to her? It didn’t involve his interests.

However, given Xu Nongqing’s reaction when she brought it up, Xu’s mother considered it. Although she felt there were many loopholes, she ultimately didn’t continue the topic.

She changed the subject. “The company is currently facing a bottleneck in Shuian City and plans to expand. Since you’ve read business books, you’re not completely without experience. We’re short-staffed right now, so don’t go back to the village. Stay here and get some practice.”

Xu Nongqing: “No.”

Xu’s mother: “?”

Xu’s mother: “Are you deliberately going against me? Are you blaming me for leaving you with your grandparents back then?”

Xu Nongqing gave her a calm look. “There’s no need.”

“Then what are you thinking?”

Xu’s mother couldn’t understand. “Traveling back and forth between the city and the village by bus all the time—if you’re not tired of the trouble, I am—”

As she spoke, Xu’s mother suddenly paused and walked towards the door.

Xu Nongqing turned around.

In his line of sight, Xu’s mother was holding the hand of a little boy who had appeared at the door at some point. She turned back and introduced the boy’s origins to Xu Nongqing.

This was the child she had with her second husband. He was ten years old and currently in the fourth grade.

He was, in a sense, Xu Nongqing’s younger brother.

Xu’s mother originally didn’t want Xu Nongqing to disturb her family too much. After all, he was the child of her ex-husband. But since they were going to work together, she naturally hoped that Xu Nongqing could get along with his younger brother.

“Your brother is still young and a bit mischievous. You have to be tolerant.”

Xu’s mother said to her younger son, “Quick, call him ‘brother’.”

The younger brother showed no reaction.

He lowered his head and picked at his fingers, clearly showing his dislike.

For a rare moment, Xu’s mother was a little embarrassed. She looked at Xu Nongqing again and found that he was still expressionless, not even glancing at this suddenly-appeared younger brother.

“During this time, I will still travel back and forth between the city and the village.”

Xu Nongqing’s voice was indifferent. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going.”

Hearing this, Xu’s mother also lost the heart to continue arguing.

She pulled her younger son into the office and lectured him on social etiquette.

*

Before she knew it, summer vacation had arrived.

The weather had become hot. Shu He had changed out of his long sleeves and was now wearing short-sleeved shirts and shorts with very little fabric.

His skin was fair, so fair it was almost dazzling.

His long, beautiful legs were no longer covered by fabric, openly displayed. They were well-proportioned, with a hint of pink at the knees and ankles. As they dangled over the edge of the sofa, they always attracted a great deal of attention.

As Qiao Zelan was explaining music theory to Shu He with his head down, his focus was distracted for the third time by those long legs.

He finally couldn’t take it anymore. He reached out and placed his hand on Shu He’s knee, his thumb sinking into the soft skin. “Stop swinging them.”

Who would have thought that Shu He was extremely ticklish? The moment he was touched, he shot away from his hand like a liquid cat. Before Qiao Zelan could even react, the boy on the sofa was gone.

In his place was a bristling He He who had somehow slipped over to the piano and was now staring at him unhappily with wide eyes.

Even his cowlick was standing on end. He was definitely bristling.

Qiao Zelan put down the music theory book.

He put his hands behind his back, rubbing his fingers where the soft sensation had just slipped away, and looked at Shu He. “What’s wrong?”

“It tickles.” Shu He lifted his leg and rubbed his knee, puffing out his cheeks as he said to Qiao Zelan, “Don’t touch me randomly, Teacher Qiao.”

Qiao Zelan chuckled at his words. “Your knee tickles too? Then stop swinging your legs. It’s making it hard for me to concentrate.”

Shu He thought Qiao Zelan was not a good person.

Was it the little villain’s fault that he couldn’t concentrate? Teacher Qiao should reflect on whether his own mind was filled with too many distracting thoughts.

He turned his head away, smoothed down the cowlick on his head, a faint dimple appearing on his puffed-out cheek. He huffed, “Then Teacher Qiao should get off work. I’m tired after a whole afternoon. I need to rest too.”

Qiao Zelan retorted, “Is that so? Are you resting, or writing a letter?”

Of course it was writing a letter.

But writing a letter could also be considered resting.

It didn’t require much brainpower or physical effort.

He just had to respond to the letter Xu Nongqing sent. It wasn’t difficult at all.

Shu He didn’t answer Qiao Zelan. He curled up on the sofa again.

His long, pale legs were slightly bent, his body leaning forward, his chin resting on his knees.

He took the letter the maid had just collected from the mailbox and started to open it. As he did, he didn’t forget to turn back and look at Qiao Zelan warily.

“No peeking.”

Qiao Zelan chuckled. “I won’t.”

But there was no smile in his eyes.

He was very curious about who was on the other end of the letter.

Qiao Zelan had occasionally caught a glimpse of the letters the other person sent. The writing was quite restrained, not a single mention of “I miss you,” yet every line was filled with longing.

Longing for Shu He.

He had heard that Shu He had previously stayed in some remote mountain village for half a year. Qiao Zelan was thoughtful. If he wasn’t mistaken, it must be someone from that village.

He lowered his head.

His gaze fell on the back of Shu He’s neck, which was covered by the ends of his hair.

“I heard from Uncle Shu that you’re leaving next week?”

Shu He saw that Xu Nongqing had, for a rare moment, written the three words “I miss you” directly in the letter.

They hadn’t seen each other in over two months, and it seemed the long-distance relationship had actually deepened the protagonist’s feelings.

Shu He continued to read. Hearing Qiao Zelan’s question, he mumbled, “That’s right, I’m leaving next Monday. Teacher Qiao, you can have a vacation.”

“I’m afraid I can’t.” Qiao Zelan said slowly, “Student He, have you forgotten? I signed you up for a violin competition last month. It starts the week after next.”

Shu He was stunned.

He looked up at Qiao Zelan, his beautiful almond eyes blinking blankly a couple of times. “A competition?”

“Yes,” Qiao Zelan said. “You’ve been practicing for so long. It’s time to compete to gain some experience.”

“You’re going to perform on the international stage in the future. You can’t let your skills get rusty.”

Shu He didn’t even know he had such lofty ambitions.

Seeing his hesitation, Qiao Zelan immediately said, “You have a talent for it. Do you want to stop at just a hobby?”

Shu He groggily shook his head, then wanted to nod. He hadn’t thought that far ahead… Before he could nod, Qiao Zelan had already made the final decision, setting his entire schedule for the next two months.

After the competition, he had to attend a month of classes at a professional school. If he wanted to go back to Wang Family Village, it would probably be in September.

Shu He’s parents were also very supportive of him developing in this direction. They didn’t force him to take over the business; they could just hire a professional to manage it.

In any case, their child’s happiness was the most important thing.

Shu He thought about it and felt there was no problem. He went about his schedule, and of course, didn’t forget to write to Xu Nongqing to tell him about the delay.

This time, Xu Nongqing only wrote three words in the letter he sent back.

【I miss you.】

*

Wang Wanwan didn’t know that Shu He had already left.

As soon as summer vacation started, she rushed back to the village from school. Remembering that Shu He seemed to have liked the puppies during the winter vacation, she deliberately waited until the puppies had grown a little and were easier to care for before getting one.

She planned to give it to Shu He.

“That kid already took one a while ago. Also, he left back in April. Didn’t you know?”

Learning what Wang Wanwan was planning to do, her aunt held the dog and reminded her. Wang Wanwan had no idea that Shu He already had a dog and had left Wang Family Village long ago.

She had almost forgotten that Shu He was not from Wang Family Village.

He was bound to leave.

She stood there, stunned, a mix of emotions in her heart. “Will he… come back?”

“I don’t know.”

Her aunt said, “Only that Xu kid is familiar with him, but he doesn’t talk to us. And he’s been away from the village a lot recently. How would we know?”

Wang Wanwan gave the dog back.

She said “Oh,” unable to hold back her disappointment, a bitter taste in her mouth.

If he wasn’t coming back…

Shu He returned to Wang Family Village in the latter half of September.

This time, it wasn’t just him and his bodyguards; Qiao Zelan was with them too.

Qiao Zelan’s reason for coming along was simple and sufficient. He said there was another violin competition early next year, and as a teacher, he had to ensure that Shu He didn’t neglect his studies in the countryside.

He was truly a very dedicated teacher.

Shu He mumbled. While this dedicated teacher was still in the back, helping him organize his luggage, he shielded his eyes from the scorching sun and hurried into the village in his clean sneakers.

The summer wind blew, his hair fluttering.

Many villagers saw him.

Instantly, the news that the little young master had returned spread like wildfire to every corner.

And Shu He, at this moment, had already found his way back to the place he was staying, following his memory.

He pushed open the door. The sun cast long shadows, dust motes dancing in the air. Before the now much larger Little Fu could excitedly pounce on him, Shu He was pulled into someone’s arms and kissed.

Little Fu excitedly lay on the ground, wagging its tail and sniffing, its doggy eyes filled with its master.

“…Xu Nongqing.”

Shu He was kissed until he let out a soft, muffled sound. He tilted his head up, his cheeks gently held by Xu Nongqing’s rough thumbs.

The man would kiss him once, then stop to look at him, and then kiss him deeply again.

Shu He breathed in short gasps, his small tongue being kissed again and again. Xu Nongqing didn’t say a word, but it was clear he had missed him very much, so much that he had even lost his sense of security and needed to use this clingy behavior to confirm his existence.

The door was not closed.

Shu He kept this in mind. He was terrified that someone would pass by and see. So he called Xu Nongqing’s name in a soft voice and reached up to tug at his prickly hair.

Only then did Xu Nongqing stop.

He bent down slightly to be at eye level with Shu He, kissed his philtrum again, and finally managed to suppress the chaotic, uncontrollable thoughts in his heart.

“…Little He.” Xu Nongqing gazed at him, calling his name in a low, hoarse voice.

Shu He frantically raised his hands to smooth his dark hair, then pursed his lips and stood on his tiptoes to ask him if he had been kissed raw here.

His almond eyes were moist and sparkling.

The moment he got close, a soft, alluring fragrance filled the air.

Xu Nongqing lowered his eyes, his Adam’s apple bobbing, and looked at his soft, reddened lips.

Qiao Zelan’s voice came at that moment.

“Is this the place?”