Transmigrating into the Genius Cannon Fodder’s Aunt

Chapter 105 – Xia Mian, I Give Up

Although Ning Shaobai had said he would sleep soundly until morning, having finally reunited with the beloved he missed so much, how could he actually sleep peacefully? As soon as dusk fell, he woke up, and even before opening his eyes, the sound of laughter and lively chatter outside tugged a smile to his lips.

“Yup, Dr. Ning said he wanted to experience the natural countryside at night for a change. City folks always like the rural scenery,” a girl’s voice rang out brightly, speaking as if it were the absolute truth. “Their hospital work is actually really exhausting, so being here is like a vacation. I’ll keep him company tonight while he enjoys the stars!”

Xia Chuan chimed in right away, “If we’re talking scenery, nothing beats our hometown. The big city is all about high buildings and busy roads—not nearly as cozy as this.”

His mother was already lending a hand. “Mianmian, lay the quilt down first, then the straw mat, or else it’ll get chilly come midnight.”

“Got it!”

Amused by what he heard, Ning Shaobai got up and opened the door. He saw Xia Mian standing on the roof, lowering a rope with a basket tied to its end.

Xia Chuan was loading the basket with quilts and braids of mugwort. Once it was full, Xia Mian hoisted it up to the roof. Spotting Ning Shaobai coming out, she beamed. “Good evening, Dr. Ning! Had a good nap?”

“All set! I’m keeping you company on the rooftop tonight. The moon looks incredible from up here, I promise it won’t disappoint!”

Ning Shaobai couldn’t help but laugh at the playful gleam in her eyes.

Once the mat was laid out, the boys quickly clambered up to run wild.

Yes, after tagging along with Qiangqiang for over ten days, even Xiao Feng had also learned how to scale walls and climb onto rooftops. Of course, the first time he appeared up there, Qiangqiang got a solid scolding.

But since the kid climbed the ladder steadily, Xia Mian didn’t stop him. She and Xia Hai had instead rigged up a plastic sheet like a canopy under the ladder and stacked thick straw beneath it for double protection. So far, the safety setup hadn’t been needed, but Xiao Feng had gotten better and better at climbing.

The adults lit the mugwort braids and dabbed mosquito repellent on the kids. Qiangqiang rolled around on the mat, squealing with joy, while Xiao Feng quietly gazed at the red glow on the horizon, his big eyes filled with delight.

Xia Mian glanced down at the courtyard, where Ning Shaobai was chatting with her uncle and cousins. She lay down next to Xiao Feng on the mat, watching the view until the last streak of crimson vanished from the sky and full darkness fell.

They rolled over onto their backs, limbs spread wide, staring at the sky. The night’s view was different from the one at Ning Shaobai’s home. Last time, it had been a sky full of stars; this time, it was a huge moon, hanging so close above their heads.

Silver light blanketed the rooftop, bright as day. Xiao Feng, in a rare mischievous impulse, rolled onto Xia Mian, lips pursed and eyes wide in wonder.

Qiangqiang stopped moving after rolling around for a while. That kid was a whirlwind during the day, but come nightfall, he would drop off to sleep in seconds.

With him quiet, the surroundings instantly turned peaceful. Only the sound of insects chirping and the faint voices of the Xia family chatting with Ning Shaobai in the courtyard remained.

The eldest uncle, mostly concerned about how Xia Mian and Xia Wenyue’s family were faring in Yan City, kept asking questions. Ning Shaobai answered patiently. Seeing how down-to-earth he was, Xia Chuan couldn’t resist bringing up Hao Xufeng. Upon learning that Ning Shaobai had indeed made arrangements in advance—and that the Hao and Mao families wouldn’t dare trouble their family anymore—he got even more excited, chatting nonstop with Ning Shaobai, which made Xia Mian want to yell at him.

As the night deepened, Xiao Feng fell asleep, and sleepiness gradually crept up on Xia Mian as well. Just as she was drifting off, she heard movement near the ladder.

Dr. Ning’s finally here!

Xia Mian snapped awake in an instant. Her eyes shifted slightly, and she stifled a giggle as she decided to play dead asleep. She wanted to see what Ning Shaobai would do when he thought she wasn’t watching, and was already plotting how to give him a big scare when he lay down beside her.

Yes, she had very deliberately left an open spot only on her left side. Qiangqiang and Xiao Feng were on her right, taking up all the space. If Ning Shaobai wanted to sleep, he had no choice but to lie next to her!

Hmph! Want me to stay away from you? No way! Let’s see what you can do!

She was all ready to laugh at him later. Soon, she sensed Ning Shaobai standing right in front of her, seemingly staring at her, not moving for a long while. Imagining the helpless look on his face, she could hardly contain her glee and pretended to sleep even more deeply.

At last, the mat beside her dipped slightly. Xia Mian waited a while but didn’t hear the sound of him lying down. Instead, she felt his breathing gradually draw closer.

Huh? Huh?! No way… is Dr. Ning about to steal a kiss?!

Xia Mian felt the hairs on her neck tingle. She hesitated—should she open her eyes?

If she didn’t, wasn’t that a bit too dishonest? But if she did, she had no good excuse to give him for pretending, and wouldn’t things be super awkward in the future?

Before she could make up her mind, two large hands suddenly gripped her shoulder and waist. With a firm pull, she was rolled halfway to the left…

…then came another swift push in the same fashion, and Xia Mian tumbled once more, landing squarely at the very edge of the mat.

Xia Mian: “…”

She opened her eyes sullenly. Under the bright illumination of moonlight, she saw that Ning Shaobai had already gotten up and walked to the other side. There, he carefully picked up Xiao Feng, placed him in the spot she had just left, and then lay down in the boy’s original place—thoroughly and dutifully committing to the whole “please keep your distance” thing.

Xia Mian turned on her side to face him, staring him down. Ning Shaobai had one hand behind his head, gazing at the night sky in comfort. “It really is beautiful,” he sighed.

After a moment, he chuckled lightly. “My benefactor, for the sake of our lifelong happiness, could you stop staring at me like that?”

He didn’t even turn his head—his eyes remained fixed on the sky.

“What now? After telling me to stay away, I’m not even allowed to look at you?” Xia Mian’s tone was flat, and not even that handsome side profile could earn her forgiveness. “This is how you treat your benefactor?”

Ning Shaobai dodged the point and smiled helplessly. “Can’t help it. That gaze of yours is too lethal. I’m afraid I’ll lose control.”

“I think Dr. Ning has been doing a great job holding it together,” Xia Mian sneered. “With someone as dependable as you guarding my lifelong happiness, I feel like I can do whatever I want. What do you think?”

She lunged toward him as she spoke. Ning Shaobai finally turned on his side, stretched out his long arm, and stopped her by the shoulder, amusement in his eyes. “I think that’s not allowed.”

“It’s already hard enough for me as it is, so please cooperate a little and show some restraint, Miss Benefactor.”

Xia Mian’s arms weren’t as long, and she wasn’t as strong, so she couldn’t get close at all. She was so mad that she wanted to bite him.

She suddenly squinted. “Since you’re begging me so nicely…”

“I think I can restrain myself completely. Dating sounds kind of pointless, anyway.”

“How about I make a new oath—no dating until I graduate from college? No, wait, until I start working. Otherwise I’ll spend the rest of my life—mmph—”

Ning Shaobai’s hand, which had been holding her shoulder, suddenly covered her mouth. He looked at her, exasperated but amused. “Benefactor, think carefully.”

“Are you sure this is a test for me and not one for yourself?”

His gaze swept over the spot where Xia Mian had been lying, then at her current posture, as if to say—it’s clearly you who can’t wait to get close.

“Benefactor, don’t make things so hard on yourself. I’ll feel bad.”

Xia Mian let out a furious laugh, slapped his hand away, and sat back up with a huff. “Who’s making things hard for whom? How about we make a bet—whoever dates before I graduate from college is a puppy!”

“No bet.” Ning Shaobai sat up too, narrowing his eyes at her. “I never make bad deals. Your bet is high risk, low reward, and it’s clearly a lose-lose situation. Why would I take it?”

Xia Mian glared at him. “If you won’t bet, how can I bet?”

Ning Shaobai couldn’t help laughing. He sighed and coaxed her softly, “If you really want to know who has it harder, there’s a much simpler, more effective way—no need for such a high price.”

“What wa—” Before she could finish her sentence, she saw Ning Shaobai lean over Xiao Feng, his left arm braced on the mat, suddenly leaning in toward her like he was going to kiss her.

Xia Mian was startled and instinctively leaned back. Ning Shaobai’s other hand shot out, wrapped around her waist, and in the next moment, both of them had rolled over Xiao Feng and fallen together onto the mat.

Xia Mian’s first reaction was to check on Xiao Feng. Ning Shaobai, holding her, chuckled softly. “Relax, I didn’t squash him.”

Only then did she realize their current position—Ning Shaobai was propped above her, his right arm still wrapped around her waist. The heat of his palm seeped through the thin fabric, spreading across her whole body, making her feel like she was about to combust.

And yet, Ning Shaobai’s body was still pressing over hers. Xia Mian instinctively held her breath, not daring to make a sound.

He chuckled. “See? Now we’ll know.”

Then he leaned in close to her ear and whispered with a teasing smile, “Benefactor, don’t push yourself. Don’t touch me, okay?”

Xia Mian: “…”

Dare challenging me now, huh?! She clenched her fists tightly. What’s so hard about this?! I absolutely wouldn’t back down!

Fueled by the humiliation of being toyed with earlier, she stared fiercely into Ning Shaobai’s eyes, resuming her death stare!

And yet—

I’m giving you the death stare! What the hell are you smiling at?!

Also, seriously—way too close!!

Ning Shaobai’s shirt was nearly brushing against hers, so close that she could feel the temperature radiating off his body.

But his expression was completely the opposite of the pressure his presence imposed. He looked at her as if she were a stubborn, unreasonable girl, his smile indulgent and gentle.

In those beautiful, peach blossom eyes, it was as if countless galaxies flowed with intoxicating affection, threatening to drown her…

…at the very least, it had done an excellent job of extinguishing her burning spirit entirely.

This cunning man!

Xia Mian held her breath with all her might, terrified that he might hear her thunderous heartbeat. Every second stretched unbearably long.

Ning Shaobai looked at the girl beneath him—her cheeks gradually flushing red, her lashes trembling uncontrollably—and his own breathing began to falter…

As if sensing danger, Xia Mian stared up at the young man above her, full of vigilance, finally breaking her long-held breath.

She couldn’t help but take a deep inhale. Her chest rose sharply, almost as if it touched something…

Her face felt like it was on fire. She instinctively turned her head and swallowed hard.

“Mianmian…” The smile on Ning Shaobai’s face slowly faded. His voice hoarse; breath unsteady.

That one word seemed laced with a spell, slipping into her ear and spreading through her entire body. Xia Mian felt completely out of control.

She turned her head back and looked into his eyes. Those eyes drew her in, made her want to touch him, to reach out and pull him into an embrace, to…

Her gaze dropped to those delicate, enticing lips. She unconsciously licked her own.

Just as her hand rose and was about to touch his shirt, Ning Shaobai suddenly pressed her arm down, lowering his head beside hers onto the pillow, and gave a soft, bitter laugh. “I give up.”

“Xia Mian, I give up…”

His warm breath brushed her ear. Xia Mian felt like her heart might explode. Then Ning Shaobai abruptly got up and lay down again, this time on the far side of Xiao Feng.

Xia Mian stared blankly up at the moon overhead, finally beginning to breathe in deep gasps. After a long moment, she said, “Dr. Ning, stay far away from me. Please and thank you!”

Seriously, who could take this?! I give up too, alright?!

Ning Shaobai turned to look at her and couldn’t help but laugh—a smile that spilled like a galaxy, stars falling from the sky.

Xia Mian snapped, “And stop looking at me, too!”

Author’s Note:

Ning Shaobai: “Stay far away from me! Stop looking at me!”

Xia Mian: “You stay away from me, too! And don’t look at me either!”

So here’s the real question: Are you two actually gonna date or not?