TPPCGEM Chapter 31.2

Yan Ci’s refined elegance was undeniable, even with bloodstains on his sleeves. He looked at the young man and sighed softly, his tone gentle: “I couldn’t hold back and ended up scratching it.”

Xia Zhinian: “……”

If you couldn’t hold back, then you couldn’t hold back. Why are you looking at me?

He pursed his lips and avoided Yan Ci’s gaze, pretending not to see it.

—
The relationship between protagonist gong and shou was in shambles, leaving Xia Zhinian at a loss for what to do next. Surprisingly, during dinner, he learned some unexpected news.

Jiang Yuan, smiling, said, “Nian Nian, your dad will be back from abroad soon.”

“You had just returned home when he left, so you didn’t get to spend much time together. This time, he won’t be leaving anytime soon. After more than ten years, our family will finally be reunited.”

Xia Zhinian pursed his lips, his soft hair falling over his forehead. He looked up with amber eyes and paused.

He didn’t speak, just nodded slightly.

His father, Xia Hongyu, wasn’t mentioned much in the original text. In the original host’s memory, they hadn’t met many times. All he knew was that Xia Hongyu had built the Xia family empire with extraordinary skills.

When Xia Zhinian first transmigrated, he had seen his father a few times, but then Xia Hongyu went abroad again soon after. They weren’t very familiar with each other.
In his bedroom, Xia Zhinian lay on his bed playing with his phone, trying to find any gossip about the main characters on the school forum.

There was plenty about Chu Qingjian and quite a bit about Yan Ci too. However, Yan Ci was known for his cleanliness obsession, so it was obvious to most people that the rumours were false, and no one believed them.

Chu Qingjian’s scandals, on the other hand, were always hotly discussed.

“Ding—”

A message popped up.

Friend request:

[YC]: Classmate Xia, your money is with me.

Xia Zhinian: “???”

Money?

What money?

Xia Zhinian was confused. Another friend request message popped up.

[YC]: Classmate Xia, you’ve only been back with the Xia family for a few months. I guess Aunt Jiang and Uncle Xia didn’t want to pressure or shock you, so your pocket money shouldn’t exceed a hundred thousand.

[YC]: The police have taken away the small group of thugs. The money has been recovered and sent to me. Hmm… over ninety thousand. It looks like Classmate Xia is quite generous, giving away as much as asked for _.

Xia Zhinian: “……”

He didn’t know how much the original host had given away.

[YC]: So, Classmate Xia, you should prepare your lies better. Careless ones are easily exposed ^_^.

Xia Zhinian: “……??”

Does this mean he didn’t have the money to hire someone to keep him detained?

Xia Zhinian was frustrated and felt like crying. He pulled at his hair, regretting his previous actions. He should have known that the black sesame dumpling wasn’t easy to fool.

And “^_^”? Pretending to be all cute and innocent!

[YC]: Can you approve my friend request? I’ll transfer the money to you.

Xia Zhinian bit his lip and reluctantly clicked reject.

Rejection reason: No, come to the class tomorrow and scan the code directly.

[YC]: …

[YC]: Classmate Xia, you’re so heartless. You gave away almost a hundred thousand without blinking, but you won’t even give me a friend slot T^T.

Xia Zhinian: “……??”

Staring at the “T^T”, Xia Zhinian’s expression mirrored that of an old man on the subway looking at his phone, filled with shock and confusion.

Yan Ci had gone mad?

Pretending to be gentle wasn’t enough; now he was pretending to be cute too?

Xia Zhinian pursed his lips, tapped the screen, and rejected him again—

Just no.

On the other end, Yan Ci saw the “just no” message and smiled, his lips curling slightly.
Immediately, another message came through—

[Brother Yan, Qin Jin was scared stiff when you found him in the afternoon. He confessed everything in a few words. The money was… given by the Yan family twins to frame Xia Zhinian.]

Yan Ci paused, his long lashes drooping slightly as he tapped his phone.

[Got it. Don’t spread this out yet. I’ll give you the activity room key tomorrow.]
The next day in class, Xia Zhinian arrived to find an imposter sitting next to him in his usual spot.

The person looked indifferent yet elegant with refined and delicate features, a workbook on the desk, and long fingers casually twirling a pen.

His sleeve had slid up slightly, revealing a slender wrist with a faintly blood-stained bandage. Hearing some noise, he looked up and smiled gently.

“Good morning, Classmate Xia.”

Xia Zhinian: “……”

What morning?

Why was the protagonist shou sitting here again?

He turned his head, searching for his rightful deskmate, and cast him a reproachful look.

Zou Ziqian grinned sheepishly, glanced around, and handed him a kiwi fruit, laughing, “Here, my mom said this is rich in vitamin C. Deskmate, you should eat more.”

“You and the class president sort it out yourselves. I’m out!”

Zou Ziqian also handed him a disposable spoon, turned away, and quickly buried himself in his book, looking very focused as if everyone else didn’t exist.

Xia Zhinian: “……”

Ha, what a traitor.

With a sullen face, Xia Zhinian took out his phone and pressed it.

“Scan the code?”

Yan Ci chuckled and nodded casually, “Scan.”

Xia Zhinian sat down, and Yan Ci quickly transferred the money after scanning. Then he retrieved his phone and picked up his pen, his expression calm and steady… With no intention of leaving.

Xia Zhinian: “……”

Xia Zhinian’s amber eyes looked at him, then at his actual deskmate, who had run away, and then at Chu Qingjian in front of him, who was immersed in his game.

Feeling helpless, he sighed softly.

The romantic plot was in such disarray. What should he do now?

Xia Zhinian was distressed. He held the kiwi and turned it around. He peeled some of the skin and carefully scooped out a small piece with the disposable spoon, cautiously putting it into his mouth.

… It’s quite sour.

Xia Zhinian’s cheeks puffed up, his pale face wrinkling a bit. After a while, he put another piece into his mouth.

A light chuckle came from beside him.

“So sour and yet you’re eating it.”

Xia Zhinian nodded like a little chick pecking at rice, his eyes brightening, “It’s delicious.”

He had never eaten peach-like fruits before. Although this kiwi was a bit sour at first, it tasted pretty good after getting used to it, sour and sweet!

Yan Ci smiled a little, looking at him.

The little rice cake nibbled at the kiwi with small bites, his lips stained with juice, looking particularly enticing.

Yan Ci looked away, his eyes darkening slightly. He sighed inwardly and returned to his questions, maintaining a calm demeanor without speaking further.

Xia Zhinian treated him as if he were air beside him, smiling as he finished eating the kiwi in small bites.

However, he suddenly froze when he was wrapping the kiwi peel in paper to throw it away.
He sat back down heavily, a burning pain rising in his throat.

His brows furrowed slightly, and his amber eyes quietly lowered. He gently clutched his chest before looking at his wrist.

The exposed part of his wrist was already turning red.

This is…

Xia Zhinian’s eyes widened, and he couldn’t help but scratch it.

The redness on his wrist quickly spread, and the itchiness became more intense. Only the parts he scratched felt numb, and the pain overpowered the itch.

He couldn’t help but scratch again, his throat feeling more swollen, and he took shallow breaths, his chest feeling tight.

… Something’s wrong.

Xia Zhinian’s almond eyes widened a bit. He gritted his teeth, his face turning pale with a hint of green. He propped himself up on the table and stood up to leave.

“…Ugh.”

His arm was suddenly grabbed, causing Xia Zhinian to stagger, groaning softly, his mouth slightly open, breathing shallowly.

“…What is it?” Yan Ci frowned slightly, stood up, and noticed his overly pale face. “Where are you going? Are you feeling unwell?”

Xia Zhinian tightly pressed his lips together, instinctively shaking his head, raising his hand to bite his knuckle. “I’m fine.”

Xia Zhinian tried to walk out but couldn’t escape Yan Ci’s grip. Suddenly, the back door swung open.

“Class, get ready for the lesson,” Teacher Qin announced, walking in with a book. He immediately noticed the two at the back and was startled by what he saw.

“Xia Zhinian, what’s wrong with your neck?”

Yan Ci’s gaze sharpened as he looked down. He saw the red patches spreading across Xia Zhinian’s neck, dotted with small red spots.

The students turned to look upon hearing Teacher Qin’s voice. Zou Ziqian looked at Xia Zhinian’s neck and was stunned.

“Deskmate, are you allergic to kiwis?!”

Yan Ci’s brows furrowed deeply. Xia Zhinian couldn’t break free from his hold. His head hung low, lips pale, chest tight with pain, sweat beading on his forehead. His breathing was rapid but stifled, unable to speak a word.

“This isn’t right…”

Teacher Qin’s eyes widened, “It looks like asthma!”

“Someone go to the infirmary and get the school doctor!” Teacher Qin quickly took out his phone to dial 120. “A tall student who runs fast, take your phone for easy contact, go quickly!”

“I’ll go!”

Zou Ziqian quickly ran out. Yan Ci’s face darkened as he lifted Xia Zhinian into his arms, “I’ll take him downstairs first.”

Teacher Qin nodded. Yan Ci held Xia Zhinian securely and swiftly went downstairs, with Teacher Qin jogging behind them.

Xia Zhinian’s face turned almost gray. His head rested on Yan Ci’s shoulder, his teeth clenched, and his breathing shallow.

Yan Ci’s expression was frighteningly stern. As they moved, he glanced at Xia Zhinian and spoke softly.

“Don’t clench your teeth, open your mouth, breathe.”

Xia Zhinian’s body trembled, his chest heaving violently, biting his finger, enduring the pain.
Yan Ci frowned, his eyes dark, “Be good, don’t bite, don’t panic, breathe.”

The sound of an ambulance approached from a distance, growing closer.

Xia Zhinian clutched his shirt, his voice so faint it was almost inaudible, calling him.

“Yan Ci.”

Yan Ci leaned closer. “What is it? The ambulance will be here soon. Hold on.”

“…Yan Ci.”

Xia Zhinian’s face was ashen, his eyelashes damp with tears, his voice so light it seemed it could dissipate with a breath.

“… Don’t go.”

“What?”

Yan Ci paused, his brows tightly knit. He rubbed Xia Zhinian’s head, trying to comfort him, and spoke softly, “It’s okay. Be good.”

“… Don’t go.”

Xia Zhinian’s breathing was rapid and shallow, his amber eyes half-open, filled with panic and wet with tears, clutching his shirt.

He leaned his cheek closer to Yan Ci’s neck, his voice fragile, almost pleading.

“Yan Ci, I’ll let you touch me… please, don’t go?”