Chapter 12

After dealing with Feng Zhuangzhuang and his gang, they finally welcomed peaceful days, but Yuan Ying’s old ailment flared up again.

Though the nights in Jinlin Town were quite cool, she woke up drenched in sweat, feeling even more exhausted than before bed, as if her body had been completely drained.

If this continues, I’ll have to go to the hospital for another check-up.

Yuan Ying sat on the bed for a long time before finally scratching her sweat-dampened hair and heading straight to the bathroom for a shower.

After showering, changing clothes, and drawing the curtains to let in the fresh morning air, Yuan Ying stretched by the window, finally feeling a bit more energetic.

Last night during their instant noodle gathering, she had already asked Xiao Yu to reopen the room booking system, offering a steep discount as compensation for the recent closure and to test whether Feng Zhuangzhuang would keep his word.

The low prices indeed attracted many customers. By 8:30 in the morning, two rooms had already been booked. When Yuan Ying went downstairs, she happened to see Xiao Yu checking in guests.

Good morning, boss, Xiao Yu greeted warmly.

Yuan Ying smiled in response while walking toward the courtyard.

Is that your boss? the two guests checking in marveled. She’s so beautiful.

Xiao Yu nodded proudly. Not just beautiful, but clever too.

Yuan Ying happened to overhear this as she left, feeling somewhat embarrassed, so she quickly slipped away.

With the bullies gone from the doorstep, she had Everything You Need resume breakfast deliveries for Jin Yuanbao. Da Wu had already arrived and was standing in the courtyard watching A Ye eat steamed buns.

Noticing Yuan Ying, Da Wu quickly greeted her: Good morning, Yingying-jie.

Good morning, Yuan Ying nodded at him.

Da Wu pulled a box of soup dumplings from his foam container: Yingying-jie, these were specially made for you. Eat them while they’re hot.

Thank you, Yuan Ying accepted them, and A Ye immediately came closer.

The two-meter-tall muscular man was like a wall, impossible to ignore, so Yuan Ying had to share half with him.

I’ll just have this, A Ye said while holding a large steamed bun, but his eyes remained fixed on the soup dumplings.

It was his first time seeing such small buns.

Yuan Ying chuckled. It’s fine, I can’t finish them all by myself. Help me out.

A Ye happily accepted six soup dumplings and swallowed them whole like shelled peanuts.

Da Wu’s mouth twitched at the sight, and he couldn’t help pulling Yuan Ying aside. Yingying-jie, your tenant really eats a lot.

A good appetite is a blessing, Yuan Ying replied. Although the hostel’s operating costs had skyrocketed, she still liked A Ye very much.

Since even the boss had no complaints, Da Wu couldn’t say much more. He shrewdly scanned their surroundings and, after confirming it was safe, lowered his voice: Did you know? Something happened to Feng Zhuangzhuang and his gang.

Feng Zhuangzhuang? Yuan Ying exclaimed in surprise.

Da Wu nodded mysteriously. Yeah, for some reason, the whole group went up the mountain yesterday. When they came back, they were all acting crazy. Feng Zhuangzhuang developed a high fever and starts trembling whenever someone talks to him. That cousin of his—such a tough guy before—has been hiding in his room refusing to come out since returning from the mountain, saying someone wants to harm him so he can’t go outside.

The more Yuan Ying listened, the more something felt wrong. Why did they end up like this?

they’re locals. Now they’re getting their comeuppance.I don’t know, they wouldn’t say either. Everyone around here suspects they might be possessed by evil spirits, Da Wu clicked his tongue twice. These people spend all their time stealing, swearing, and bullying us outsiders just because

Yuan Ying’s lips twitched. She didn’t think they seemed possessed, but rather like…

Xiaolongbao?

A clear voice sounded behind her, followed by a warm chest pressing against her back.

Before Yuan Ying could react, someone had already grasped her arms from behind while their other hand stole a xiaolongbao from her container.

When she turned her head, she could clearly see his Adam’s apple moving and his sharp jawline.

Who said you could eat that! she suddenly bristled.

Zhu Feng looked completely unbothered: Wasn’t breakfast prepared for all of us?

Da Wu made these specially for me! Yours are the big steamed buns! Yuan Ying said angrily.

Zhu Feng was still chewing when he suddenly stopped and stared directly at her.

Yuan Ying felt a sense of foreboding.

Sure enough, the next second, he suddenly lowered his head, making as if to feed her the half-eaten bun.

Yuan Ying expressionlessly slapped him.

Smack.

It was crisp, forceful, and satisfying.

Zhu Feng couldn’t help but laugh. The vibration of his chest faintly rubbed against Yuan Ying’s back, creating an tingling sensation. Only then did Yuan Ying realize his curreundeniablent position was no different from hugging her from behind, so she immediately jumped away.

Get away from me, go on, get lost, Yuan Ying said impatiently.

So fierce. Zhu Feng glanced at her sideways, stole another xiaolongbao, then turned and left.

Watching his retreating figure, Yuan Ying suddenly remembered something and quickly chased after him.

A Ye finished his last bun and burped contentedly. Looking at Da Wu, he was still standing there foolishly.

I want rice wraps tomorrow, A Ye said.

Oh… right, Da Wu snapped out of it and curiously leaned closer to A Ye. That guy from earlier, do you know him?

A Ye: I know him.

Da Wu: Who is he? What’s his relationship with Sister Yingying? Why do I feel like Sister Yingying treats him so differently?

If this were before, A Ye would have directly told him that Zhu Feng was the King of the Dragon Realm, Yuan Ying was the Queen of the Dragon Realm, and they were married.

But having lived in the human world for nearly half a month now, he was no longer a wild dragon without social experience. So after a few seconds of silence, he answered Da Wu: Add more mashed potatoes to the rice wraps.

Da Wu: …

While these two were wasting time with nonsense, Yuan Ying had already followed Zhu Feng up to the second floor. Seeing he was about to enter his room, she quickly grabbed him.

Did you have something to do with Feng Zhuangzhuang’s situation? she asked directly.

Zhu Feng: What situation?

Stop playing dumb. How could he suddenly become possessed for no reason? Did you do something? Yuan Ying looked at him suspiciously.

Zhu Feng maintained his composure: What could I have done?

…You’re capable of plenty. Yuan Ying sneered. I wonder who it was that, not long after we met and before we were even properly acquainted, dared to shove my supervisor’s head into a beer barrel, making me clean up the mess too.

You’re still holding onto that garbage supervisor incident? Zhu Feng reached up to touch her face.

Enough nonsense, Yuan Ying swatted his hand away. Answer my question.

Faced with her questioning, Zhu Feng stared at her for a long moment before suddenly wrapping an arm around her waist, lifting her up, and carrying her back to his room.

He closed the door, locked it, and carried her to the bed.

His movements were so swift that by the time Yuan Ying realized what was happening, she was already pinned beneath him.

Her eyes widened in disbelief as she grabbed a pillow and swung it at his head. What nonsense are you pulling now?

Not nonsense, just holding you, Zhu Feng said, unfazed by the hit, burying his face in the crook of her neck and taking a deep breath. You smell so sweet. I want you so badly—you’re driving me insane.

Yuan Ying shuddered. Get off me!

Zhu Feng lifted his head and met her gaze. Don’t you want this?

Of course, she did. In fact, she had felt the desire the moment he pressed against her downstairs, but there was no way she would admit it.

She let out a cold laugh and was about to retort when Zhu Feng covered her mouth. Do you know what I’ve been doing these past three years?

Yuan Ying swore she no longer had feelings for her ex-boyfriend, but curiosity was a universal trait. The mention of those three blank years made her ears perk up involuntarily.

Want to know? Zhu Feng lowered his voice, lacing it with an intimate secrecy.

Yuan Ying deliberately turned her face away, feigning indifference.

Don’t want to know? Zhu Feng pretended to get up. Then I’ll leave.

Yuan Ying immediately grabbed his hand, the one covering her lips.

Zhu Feng chuckled and settled back over her.

Yuan Ying stared intently at his face, waiting for him to speak.

After a long silence, Zhu Feng slowly began, I was in a secluded place, devoting myself to the study of medicine.

Yuan Ying: ?

Zhu Feng: That’s right. I’m now a highly skilled doctor. Just by looking at someone, I can tell what illness they have.

Yuan Ying: …

After a moment of silence, she poked the back of his hand. Zhu Feng released her lips and habitually rubbed his thumb over the spot where it had touched her mouth.

Zhu Feng, Yuan Ying said calmly.

Zhu Feng humored her. What is it?

I’ll kill you! Yuan Ying erupted, flipping over to pin him beneath her and pressing the pillow over his face to suffocate him.

Zhu Feng laughed heartily, gripping her wrists. Spare me, warrior! I won’t dare again.

Spare you? Yuan Ying sneered. Fine. Didn’t you say you can diagnose someone just by looking at them? Then diagnose me. If you’re accurate, I’ll spare your life.

Zhu Feng held her wrist against his chest, pausing for a moment before saying, You’re very healthy. No illnesses.

Yuan Ying rolled her eyes and was about to speak when he added softly, But your Restlessness Period has arrived.

Yuan Ying froze. Restlessness Period?

Mm.

Yuan Ying raised an eyebrow. What’s the Restlessness Period?

Zhu Feng fell silent, as if considering how to explain.

To Yuan Ying, his hesitation was proof that he was scrambling to fabricate an answer on the spot.

Can’t come up with anything, can you? And you still expect me to spare your life? What wishful thinking—

Simply put, it’s a type of mating season, Zhu Feng said.

At death’s door, and he still had the nerve to crack a dirty joke? Yuan Ying’s grip on the pillow tightened, ready to strike.

Zhu Feng looked up at her. Didn’t you used to love watching videos of cats and dogs? You should know that unsterilized cats and dogs go into heat periodically. It’s a normal physiological response.

Yuan Ying let out a cold laugh, urging him to keep spinning his tale.

However, the Restlessness Period is somewhat different from the ordinary mating season of common animals. It is a persistent and increasingly intense physical reaction triggered by a partner’s maturation phase, requiring continuous soothing from the partner to pass through smoothly. Otherwise, it will grow more severe until the body collapses.

Zhu Feng released her wrist and gently touched her flat abdomen. After the Restlessness Period begins, if no child is conceived, it will recur every three years, lasting for at least over a decade before ending. The duration of each episode depends on the intimacy between partners. If a child is conceived, the Restlessness Period will completely cease once new life develops within the body and never reappear.

Yuan Ying initially maintained a condescending attitude, curious to see how far he would fabricate this story, but gradually began to sense something amiss.

Zhu Feng comfortingly held her hand and said, If you’ve been experiencing symptoms like feverishness, frequent dreams, or excessive romantic thoughts lately, don’t be too anxious. Drink more water and spend more time with me – it will get better.

Yuan Ying couldn’t help but pull her hand back, clumsily scrambling off him only to accidentally tumble onto the floor.

Zhu Feng quickly rose to help her up, but she stopped him with an outstretched hand: Don’t come near me!

Zhu Feng’s extended hand froze mid-air.

Yuan Ying stared at him for several seconds before hesitantly asking, …Did you actually study medicine?

Zhu Feng: …

You’re quite impressive – you could tell I’ve been having insomnia lately… Wait, no, with these dark circles anyone could see it even without medical knowledge. I can’t believe you went through the trouble of making up this whole story, Yuan Ying said as she stood up, having regained her composure. Wang Zhu Feng, just how much debt have you accumulated out there? To live off me, you’d even invent a ‘Restlessness Period’ for me.

Zhu Feng got sidetracked by her wording: What did you call me?

Wang Zhu Feng, Yuan Ying said, her heart growing cold at the mention. We’ve been dating for a year, and if I hadn’t heard Shu Lin call you that, I probably still wouldn’t know your surname.

Zhu Feng, who had been unfairly accused many times but found this particular instance especially unjust: …

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