The Villain in the Quick Travel is My Wife

Chapter 52

Chapter 52.3.02

　
An Shuting jumped down from the beam with practiced ease, knocking on the wooden beams of the house to steady himself.

Sun Yuebai lowered his gaze, observing the figure below him. He pursed his lips, loosening his grip on the beam slightly. His expression was devoid of emotion, and he stepped down onto An Shuting's shoulders with a sense of stiffness, as if the height presented a significant challenge.

Feeling the added weight, An Shuting squatted down carefully to support him. Once Sun Yuebai was safely on the ground, An Shuting wiped the invisible sweat from his forehead, glancing at Sun Yuebai, who was busy sorting through the clothes inside the bed curtains.

"Mr. Sun, I..." An Shuting hesitated, searching for the right words to ease the tension hanging in the air. However, as the words formed in his mind, he realized that no matter how he phrased it, it would come across as inappropriate.

"I didn't mean for what happened yesterday to occur," he finally managed. "I came to see my mother after having a conflict with Bai Qiantong. The door was half-open at that time." He attempted a smile, trying to appear as innocent as possible. "I was just about to leave, but then I heard some noise inside, so I walked in without thinking."

Sun Yuebai regarded An Shuting with a steady gaze, and for a moment, he seemed unsure of the implications behind his words. Was he trying to excuse his actions from the previous night?

As Sun Yuebai recalled the other's greedy expression from last night, he felt a flicker of annoyance surge within him. The effort An Shuting was making to appear sincere only deepened his frustration.

"What is it that you want to say?" Sun Yuebai shifted his legs, which had grown numb from kneeling for so long. His eyes inadvertently fell on the tattered clothes strewn around him.

An Shuting's focus remained solely on Sun Yuebai, and following his gaze, the fragmented memories of the previous night flooded back to him. He recalled how, in a moment of vulnerability, Sun Yuebai had warned him to leave. But the original owner of this body, driven by lust, had disregarded that warning and pounced without hesitation.

An Shuting's merging with the original owner had occurred after a wine jug had knocked him unconscious. He had awoken, believing it all to be a dream, and in that confusion, he had made a grave mistake.

At that moment, Sun Yuebai must have been wishing he could disappear entirely.

He pinched his waist hard with his hands hidden behind his back, finally confessing what he had been holding back: "Actually, I have admired you for a long time."

Sun Yuebai's face went pale at the admission.

An Shuting wasn't intimidated. Sun Yuebai might not present himself as a gentleman, appearing aloof, but An Shuting sensed that beneath that exterior lay someone who yearned for love, someone who preferred men.

In the original story, Sun Yuebai had been manipulated by a scholar in the academy throughout his years of navigating the treacherous waters of officialdom. His relationships were marred by blind compromises, and if that was the case, why couldn't he find solace in a genuine connection? Perhaps he would be willing to forgive some of An Shuting's past mistakes in light of his honesty.

"I didn't intend to break in that day; I just happened to stumble into someone else's scheme. I knew I should have left immediately to avoid trouble," he continued, carefully analyzing his words for any contradictions.

Sun Yuebai stared at him, his thoughts unreadable for the moment.

An Shuting took a deep breath, pressing on. "What worried me the most was leaving to call for help. What if someone else had broken in? I couldn't shake that thought."

"So I should thank you?" Sun Yuebai replied, his face shifting through shades of pallor and anger, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

He gripped the torn edge of his clothes tightly, eager to see how far the man before him would go with this ridiculous charade.

"Actually, I was also drugged at that time, which is why I lost control. I was genuinely worried, but who would have thought it would end up like this?" An Shuting picked up a piece of clothing that didn't belong to him from the floor and took a cautious step forward.

This movement signaled a desire to bridge the distance between them, while still respecting the boundaries of personal space.

An Shuting laid the groundwork, hoping to make his words seem more credible.

"That's quite the coincidence," Sun Yuebai said, glancing at An Shuting. He recalled how he had shifted from resistance and disgust to a sort of intoxication the previous night, and he closed his eyes briefly, grappling with the complexity of his feelings.

Given Sun Yuebai's cunning nature, he could easily investigate matters related to herbal medicine. He understood that An Shuting had no reason to lie about such things, yet reason urged him to reject the notion that this was merely coincidence.

"I find it hard to believe such a coincidence exists. Even now, I still don't know who would dare to harm me in such a way." The original owner had genuinely been clueless, having only vague suspicions.

"And I know you don't like people getting too close, and I've never wanted to impose on you. I just don't want you to grow weary of my presence."

"What is your purpose?" Sun Yuebai asked sharply, his gaze suddenly piercing.

He had never allowed anyone to encroach on his personal space. While outsiders perceived him as upholding proper etiquette, those closest to him knew it stemmed from deep-seated disgust rather than mere preference. Sun Yuebai had established this boundary clearly from the outset, ensuring that only those who understood the gravity of the situation would dare not to cross it.

In response to his cautious inquiry, An Shuting remained composed. "My name is An Shuting."

"The third son of the An family?" Sun Yuebai reacted immediately, scrutinizing An Shuting with newfound intensity.

In An Shuting's memories, Bai Wanqiu's youngest son was notorious for being a mischievous, uneducated playboy. However, after a brief interaction, it was impossible for Sun Yuebai to reconcile the person before him with the rumors surrounding the An family's third son.

"Yes, my parents are good friends with yours, so it's inconceivable that I would intentionally harm you." An Shuting smiled awkwardly, attempting to ease the tension.

In the original narrative, the previous owner had unwittingly walked into a trap, enchanted by a beautiful woman in distress, only to be knocked unconscious by Sun Yuebai before he could act on his dark intentions.

But An Shuting was different from that original owner. He was uncertain when he had become adept at defending himself, which had led to the current predicament. However, he wasn't one to shirk responsibility for his actions.