The Villains All Fell in Love with Me After Rebirth : Chapter 44 - Misunderstand
Chapter 44: Misunderstand
Ji Ling was startled. He had no idea which of his words had triggered the man, but he was kissed so intensely that his eyes filled with tears. He felt utterly wronged but could only endure it. After a long time, the man finally let him go, and Ji Ling gasped for air.
Just as Ji Ling was anxious and uneasy, the man’s husky voice whispered. “Alright, this is your reward for being obedient.”
Hearing that, Ji Ling finally breathed a sigh of relief. The man carefully helped him put his clothes back on, buttoned them up, and then picked him up again.
After about ten minutes, the man set him down, untied the ribbon binding his hands, and then Ji Ling heard footsteps fading away.
Although Ji Ling had regained his freedom, he stood still, afraid to move, waiting for the man to take him to see Ning Yu. However, what puzzled him was that the man had been gone for a long time and hadn't returned.
Where did he go? What was he doing?
Ji Ling stood there blankly. At first, he was okay, but slowly, he started to panic. Did he just get left here?
After a few more minutes, his curiosity got the better of him. He carefully peeled the ribbon off his eyes, leaving just a small gap, and peeked outside.
It was a metal corridor, with doors at both ends, and there wasn’t a sound to be heard.
He had no idea where Gabriel had gone. Frowning, Ji Ling thought about it for a moment. After hesitating, he finally summoned the courage to walk forward. After all, it was the man who had left him here and hadn’t come back for a while, so he couldn't blame him for wandering around.
As Ji Ling walked to the end of the corridor, he paused and then reached out to push open the metal door in front of him.
Inside was a narrow, white room, empty except for a bed, a table, and a chair.
A young man with black hair and green eyes was sitting in the chair. He wasn’t wearing his previous military uniform, but a simple gray outfit. He looked slightly thinner, but his complexion wasn’t bad. When he looked up and saw Ji Ling at the door, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes, and he stood up from the chair.
Ji Ling stood there, staring blankly at Ning Yu, at his familiar, handsome face, and at his gentle green eyes. Suddenly, he felt a lump in his throat.
He had been confined here for days, seeing no one but that terrifying masked man. Although the man didn’t seem intent on hurting him, Ji Ling still felt anxious, fearful, and lonely. After being held by the rebels for so long, he had finally seen someone familiar again. It felt like encountering the only friend in a strange, foreign land.
Even though, technically, they weren’t exactly ‘friends.’
Ji Ling held back his tears. He didn’t want to cry in front of Ning Yu. He sniffed hard and then instinctively let his gaze drift toward Ning Yu’s shoulder. It had been over ten days—who knew if his injury had healed? It was really worrying.
He wanted to ask about Ning Yu’s injury, whether these people had treated him well, and if they had hurt him. But thinking about the nature of their relationship, Ji Ling felt awkward and didn’t know how to start.
Ning Yu gazed at Ji Ling, his brow slowly furrowing. He stepped closer, his eyes filled with concern, and spoke in a deep voice, “Are you alright? Did they hurt you?”
Hearing that, Ji Ling was deeply moved and felt even more guilty. Oh, how I’ve dragged you into this. Not only were you captured because of me, but you’re still worried about me, even though I’ve always bullied you. How can someone be this kind?
Ji Ling lowered his eyes, biting his lip. “I’m fine... and, thank you.”
Ning Yu paused, seeming to realize what Ji Ling was thanking him for. His voice was gentle and calm as he said, “No need to thank me. Even if it wasn’t you, I wouldn’t have ignored something like that.”
This answer did not surprise Ji Ling at all, because that’s just who Ning Yu was. He would always stand up against injustice in the face of danger, regardless of the person involved. Even so, Ji Ling was still grateful to him…
Given the tension between them, Ning Yu could have easily left him to die.
While Ji Ling was lost in his feelings of gratitude, Ning Yu suddenly looked at him and spoke again. “If it were you, you would’ve done the same, wouldn’t you?”
Ji Ling was startled, still trying to process why Ning Yu would say that…
Ning Yu looked into his eyes and continued slowly. “Jonah told me everything.”
Ji Ling: ???
Who is Jonah?
Why don't I understand this conversation?
Ning Yu looked at Ji Ling’s bewildered expression for a moment, then let out a soft sigh. His eyes revealed a hint of helplessness as he said in a low voice, “Count Gerard’s daughter’s lover.”
Ji Ling’s eyes gradually widened as it all clicked. That’s the poor guy who almost got beaten to death when his relationship was exposed! He knew Ning Yu?! And he just happened to tell him about this situation?!
Could the world get any smaller?
Ji Ling nearly lost his composure, but he quickly recovered, putting on a disdainful expression and lifting his chin. “Oh, him. I didn’t save him because of him. I did it for His Majesty, and it was no big deal.”
Ning Yu looked at Ji Ling with his gentle green eyes, though there was a sharp, probing glint in them. “Is that so?”
Ji Ling felt a sudden wave of anxiety. Damn it, I never thought such an insignificant event would have anything to do with Ning Yu. But concealing his true thoughts had become second nature to him. Even though he trusted Ning Yu, he still didn’t want to expose himself in front of him. Now that he’d confirmed Ning Yu’s safety, Ji Ling just wanted to leave.
He turned coldly, curled his lip, and started to walk away.
But just as he turned, his wrist was caught. The warmth of Ning Yu’s hand, firm and dry, was undeniable yet not forceful.
Ji Ling looked back in confusion, only to see Ning Yu’s sharp gaze fixed on his neck. The man’s chiseled face was tense, and his green eyes seemed to hold a hint of suppressed anger.
Then, Ning Yu’s deep voice asked, “What did they do to you?”
Ji Ling froze for a moment, then realized what Ning Yu had seen. He yanked his hand away, clutching his collar tightly with his other hand, his face turning crimson with shame. He wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear!
He’d been seen. Ning Yu had seen it!
It was humiliating!
Ning Yu, noticing Ji Ling’s sudden flush and the embarrassed, evasive look in his eyes, furrowed his brow even more tightly. His voice was filled with restrained anger and pity. “You…”
Before he could finish, Ji Ling, eyes red with rage, snapped back like a cat with its fur bristling, “I already told you I’m fine!”
Ning Yu pursed his lips and stared at him, his eyes filled with sadness.
Being looked at like that only made Ji Ling feel even more ashamed. I don’t need your pity! My situation is bad enough already, being kissed every day by a pervert. I don’t want anyone to know about this shameful situation! And the thought that some disgusting creep might actually turn me gay just makes me want to cry. The tears I’d held back all this time finally overflowed as I broke down in frustration.
He turned his back to Ning Yu and wiped his eyes.
After a long moment, Ji Ling turned around, glaring at Ning Yu with a defiant look, and roared, “They wouldn’t dare do anything to me. I’m a noble with high status, and unless they actually want to offend His Majesty and Carlos, they wouldn’t touch me. You should worry more about yourself. A commoner like you—they’d probably kill without a second thought!”
He didn’t need anyone’s pity!
Ning Yu looked at the boy’s stubborn eyes, those beautiful blue eyes glistening with tears, seeming so fragile… yet possessing an unexpected resilience.
This was a timid child, one who liked to hide behind masks, a clever yet compliant child.
But one thing never changed: he always acted high and mighty in front of him, confident and unguarded…
Are you so sure I wouldn’t hurt you?
Ning Yu’s gaze softened. He averted his eyes from Ji Ling and said, “I understand.”
Ji Ling didn’t want to stay even a moment longer; he turned and left in a huff.
Returning to find Gabriel still absent, Ji Ling felt uncertain and lost again as he stood in the empty hallway, despite his relief at leaving the awkward situation behind.
He would rather spend more time with Ning Yu than return to Gabriel, but it would be too embarrassing to go back… How would he even explain what had happened to him?
Ji Ling sighed, disheartened.
Left waiting, he stood there until about ten minutes later when the man in the silver mask appeared again before him.
The man’s gaze seemed darker than usual, which Ji Ling found unsettling, but he didn’t dwell on it too much. After all, trying to understand this strange man’s thoughts was pointless.
Ji Ling obediently allowed the man to cover his eyes and lead him back.
………………
The next evening, as usual, Gabriel brought dinner and sat silently, watching Ji Ling eat.
Ji Ling, still affected by yesterday’s events, ate absentmindedly, not daring to look at Gabriel, eating slower than usual because he knew that once he finished, he’d have to face that ordeal again. Inside, he was nervous and uneasy.
He… he was someone who hadn’t even used his hands to, to… and yet yesterday, that man had… with his mouth… For a naive young man from Earth, the experience had been overwhelmingly intense!
But no matter how slowly he ate, the meal would eventually be finished. Ji Ling reluctantly set down his bowl, looking visibly conflicted.
The man raised a hand, gently holding the boy’s chin, and with his other hand took out a handkerchief, softly wiping Ji Ling’s faintly pink, beautifully shaped lips. Ji Ling trembled slightly under his touch, closing his eyes in fear.
After a moment, the man let go of him without covering his eyes as usual.
Hesitantly, Ji Ling opened his eyes, seeing the man stand up. Was… was he not going to do anything to him today?
Instead, the man merely glanced at him, then turned and walked away.
Ji Ling was stunned, then overjoyed. It seemed like he really wasn’t planning to do anything! Could he have finally grown bored?!
That had to be it! Maybe he tried it and decided it wasn’t worth it!
After all, this man had gone over every inch of his body countless times. It was all so ridiculous to Ji Ling, who just couldn’t understand it. Maybe the man had had his fill of amusement and finally decided to let him go!
Ji Ling was ecstatic, watching the man’s back as he left, his heart racing.
Just as he was about to walk away, the man suddenly paused and turned back toward him.
Ji Ling’s eyes met those dark, abyssal eyes under the silver mask, freezing his breath. No way… was he going to change his mind…?
Gabriel spoke slowly, “If you wish to see Ning Yu, you may go anytime.”
With that, he turned and left without a backward glance.
Ji Ling sat there in a daze. After a long time, he finally realized what had just happened and felt as if he had narrowly escaped disaster. So… this strange man wasn’t going to touch him anymore, and he was even allowed to visit Ning Yu whenever he wanted?
Was… was this real?
It was like a blessing out of nowhere, and Ji Ling found it all too good to be true.
He couldn’t understand it at all.
………………
Soon, Ji Ling discovered that Gabriel was telling the truth.
The man really didn’t touch him again, only dropping off food each day before leaving. His visits were shorter than before, and he even provided a path for Ji Ling to meet Ning Yu, allowing them a few hours together each day.
No more forced kisses, and he could see his dear old friend. The sky seemed brighter.
Although he and Ning Yu were nominally love rivals, he felt isolated here, lacking any sense of security, and Ning Yu, as the only person he could speak with, became someone he found himself drawn to daily.
Initially, it was awkward to sit together, but Ning Yu’s calm and warm personality, along with his silence on topics Ji Ling didn’t want to discuss, put him at ease. Gradually, Ji Ling relaxed, and they grew comfortable together, more like friends than adversaries.
Ji Ling believed that Ning Yu’s patience and kindness toward him were due to the incident with Jonah, which had shown Ning Yu he wasn’t beyond redemption. In the past, he might’ve mocked himself for Ning Yu’s benefit, but now he had no energy to keep up appearances. Let Ning Yu believe what he wanted.
Even if Ning Yu’s view of him had changed slightly because of that incident, Ji Ling doubted it could uproot his fundamental opinion of him. They’d part ways as strangers once they left this place, he thought.
Not having to put up a front with Ning Yu and being in the same predicament gave them a sense of shared hardship.
Seeing Ning Yu confined to such a small, basic space compared to his own, Ji Ling felt a wave of sympathy. Ning Yu was probably eating poorly too, so Ji Ling decided to share his food to improve Ning Yu’s meals.
Gabriel never held back when it came to Ji Ling’s meals, always bringing a variety of delicious food that Ji Ling couldn’t finish alone. So, every day, after Gabriel dropped off the food, Ji Ling would bring it over to Ning Yu’s place so they could eat together.
They were now companions in adversity, and Ji Ling wanted to share his food with a comrade.
Ning Yu accepted his offer with quiet grace.
One day, as usual, Ji Ling carried the meal to Ning Yu after Gabriel’s delivery.
Ning Yu, now accustomed to his visits, greeted him with a gentle smile.
Ji Ling placed the food box on the table and opened it, delighted to find his favorite purple-tailed fish again today. He eagerly scooped all of it into his own bowl before dividing the rest of the food in half.
Ning Yu accepted the plate Ji Ling handed over and thanked him with a soft, appreciative voice.
Looking at Ning Yu’s warm green eyes and hearing his genuinely gentle tone, Ji Ling felt his cheeks heat up.
He looked down at his bowl filled with purple-tailed fish… he really was being a bit selfish, wasn’t he? How could he keep all the best food to himself?
Good things should be shared with friends, right? Ning Yu probably hadn’t tasted such a delicious fish before…
Feeling guilty, Ji Ling glanced at Ning Yu’s face, hesitating before he finally stretched out a pair of pale, slender fingers, clutching his chopsticks as he reluctantly nudged one of the fish over to Ning Yu’s bowl…
After Ning Yu thanked him, he quietly lowered his head to eat, saying nothing more. Suddenly, he saw a pair of pale, slender hands holding chopsticks in front of him, reluctantly pushing a small dried fish from the other person’s bowl into his own.
Ning Yu: “…”
Ji Ling turned his head, coughing lightly with a look of painful sacrifice. “This is pretty good. You should try it.”
Ning Yu: “…”
He looked into the boy’s sparkling eyes, and it was as if something deep in his gaze stirred, an emotion hidden beneath the surface. He swallowed, his lips involuntarily curving slightly upward, as if he couldn’t hold back a hint of laughter.
Ji Ling looked at Ning Yu’s gentle smile and felt his heartbeat quicken. He suddenly grabbed his own bowl, thinking, Does he want more? Why else would he smile at me like that? But he’d already sacrificed one fish; that was a big deal…
The friendship we’ve just built is only worth one fish—any more and it would be too much!
As Ji Ling wrestled with this painful dilemma, wondering how not to offend his new friend while protecting his little dried fish, Ning Yu suddenly looked down, no longer watching him. Instead, he calmly ate from his own bowl, picking up the fish Ji Ling had given him and carefully placing it in his mouth.
Seeing Ning Yu lose interest in his fish, Ji Ling let out a sigh of relief and turned to his food, deciding to eat the fish quickly. The best way to keep it safe was to get it into his stomach.
After the meal, Ji Ling gathered his dishes, preparing to head back.
Just then, Ning Yu looked at him, a complicated expression surfacing in his green eyes. In a soft voice, he asked, “If you return to the Emperor Star, would you go back to His Majesty?”
Ji Ling was startled. Why was Ning Yu asking this? He wasn’t even sure he’d make it back. But if, by chance, he did…
Ji Ling shook his head. “I already told you—I don’t love His Majesty anymore.”
Ning Yu didn’t seem surprised. “What about His Excellency Carlos? Are you going back to him?”
Ji Ling froze. He didn’t really want to return to Carlos either. After a pause, he shook his head with determination.
Ning Yu was silent for a moment, looking steadily at Ji Ling. He said slowly and clearly, “One day, you’ll have to go back and face this choice.”
Ji Ling felt reminded by his words. With Jing Sui and Carlos’s power, they’d track him down sooner or later if Gabriel didn’t kill him. In fact, Ji Ling was already surprised they hadn’t found him yet.
Ji Ling bit his lip. It was a tough choice.
In truth, he didn’t want to choose either of them; he just wanted to go home. But the system still hadn’t returned, leaving him wondering when it would bring back good news…
At that moment, he heard Ning Yu sigh, a sound filled with an unfamiliar hoarseness. “If you really don’t want to choose, don’t force yourself.”
Ji Ling’s eyes stung at the comforting words. He didn’t want to be forced either, yet those people kept pressuring him, demanding love he had no desire to give.
Remembering the people and things on the Emperor Star, Ji Ling felt his spirits drop as he left in low spirits.
Ning Yu watched his retreating figure, his gaze deepening, lips pressed in a solemn line.
A hidden door opened on the metallic wall, and a man dressed in black appeared, approaching Ning Yu respectfully. “Sir, this location is about to be compromised.”
Ning Yu replied calmly, “They’ve come sooner than I expected. Is everything I arranged in place?”
The man in black said, “Everything has been prepared.”
Ning Yu nodded. “Good.”
After a moment’s hesitation, the man in black asked, “Will this really work? His Majesty likely won’t believe it.”
Ning Yu suddenly smiled, a hint of coldness in his eyes. “He may not believe it, but he won’t reject the ‘gift’ I’m giving him. Go now, while there’s still time.”
The man in black obeyed, then asked, “What about you? Won’t you be coming with us?”
Ning Yu said, “I’m staying.”
Hearing this, the man in black became anxious. “It’s too dangerous! Last time on Xianyun Star, His Majesty already had his suspicions about you.”
Ning Yu paused, as if recalling something amusing. His lips curved slightly, and he smiled calmly. “Don’t worry. I have my plans.”
………………
Ji Ling returned to his room, feeling down.
He had been trying to avoid thinking about what he’d do if he went back, but Ning Yu was right. One day, he’d have to return, and then…
How would he face it?
Thoughts of the future kept him awake. In the dead of night, he suddenly heard the sound of his door opening.
Startled, Ji Ling sat up, staring at the man who appeared in the doorway, his silver mask casting a cold gleam in the dim light, his black eyes filled with unreadable emotions. Ji Ling’s heart tightened.
Gabriel seemed different tonight. He’d never come at this hour before.
Gabriel approached, step by step, until he stood before Ji Ling, lifting a black silk ribbon to cover his eyes. Ji Ling knew what was coming, silently cursing but refraining from resisting.
Sigh, he thought you’d be tired of it by now.
As Gabriel pressed him down, his kiss was more forceful than usual, rough and intense beneath the tenderness, leaving Ji Ling a bit uncomfortable.
But remembering the time he’d spent with Ning Yu, Ji Ling whispered, “About… our arrangement—could you not tell Ning Yu?”
Gabriel paused, his voice a raspy whisper. “Why?”
Ji Ling replied cautiously, “I don’t want a commoner mocking me. I owe him nothing, and I don’t want him to owe me either.”
Knowing Ning Yu’s personality, he’d be upset if he found out and might do something impulsive. It was better that he didn’t know to save him from unnecessary worry.
As soon as he finished, Ji Ling felt Gabriel grip his hands tighter, and then, after a pause, he murmured a single word: “Fine.”
Then, Gabriel’s heated kiss fell on him again.
Almost as if reluctant to let go.
………………
Ji Ling was nearly breathless from the kiss, so he resorted to his usual tactic, playing pitiful, sniffling softly. He’d long discovered Gabriel’s gentler side; acting pitiful always worked on him. If he cried a bit, things would end sooner—who needed pride at a time like this…
Gabriel looked at the boy’s soft sobs, then released him, gently kissing him over the ribbon. This sly little one… He knew exactly how to use his innocence to show weakness, emboldened by his favor.
But Gabriel, for his part, indulged him willingly.
He leaned close to the boy’s ear, his voice a husky murmur. “Ning Yu should thank you. You saved him…”
Ji Ling sniffled, muttering, “I don’t care…”
Gabriel brushed his fingers over Ji Ling’s hair, adding, “More than once.”
Ji Ling found this puzzling—did he mean every time he’d kissed him? But that didn’t count as life-saving, right? So how many times would that actually make it…
Before he could figure it out, Gabriel let him go.
Then, there was the sound of retreating footsteps.
Ji Ling felt a burst of relief, then an annoyed realization. Hey, didn’t you forget something before leaving? You didn’t untie me!
Now that was truly awkward. Ji Ling felt a chill, curling up miserably, hoping Gabriel would remember to come back and free him.
He definitely didn’t want to spend the whole night like this!
………………
One by one, black warships suddenly appeared over a remote planet, their metallic hulls glinting with an icy, foreboding light. Massive beams of energy unleashed devastating attacks, effortlessly breaking through the planet’s surface, revealing a hidden corner of the base beneath.
Jing Sui stepped down from his warship, his long black hair tied behind him, golden eyes exuding a harsh, cold intensity as soldiers poured into the concealed base.
Inside the empty base, a thermal scanner quickly identified a lone person.
Jing Sui pressed his thin lips tightly together, ordering everyone else to wait outside. His polished black military boots struck the floor with a powerful, echoing sound as he strode toward the room ahead.
Over a month had passed, and every day of it he’d been tirelessly listening to updates from his subordinates, tracking every development in the search and rescue mission. Finally, today, he had found this place before Carlos.
He stared at the metal door in front of him, took a deep breath, and with a click, crushed the lock and forcefully pushed the door open.
In the next moment, fury and anguish burned intensely in his gaze, almost as though they were tangible. He looked at the boy curled up on the bed, his eyes covered by a black satin blindfold, hands bound behind his back, his body bearing the unmistakable marks of abuse…
Even though he had anticipated this—had prepared himself for the possibility that he might be too late, that the boy might have been tortured, or even killed…
Seeing it with his own eyes still sent a chilling wave through him, pain shredding his heart. Slowly and painfully, he took a step forward and tried to reach down to embrace the boy. Yet, those hands, usually strong enough to break stone, now trembled faintly.
But before he could touch him, the boy shrank back, letting out a small, trembling whimper, “No… please, no more…”
The author has something to say:
Ning Yu: I have a little dried fish.
Jing Sui: Hehe.
Brandon: Despicable.
Wen Yan: Cold smirk.
Carlos: Dear author, please arrange for a grand revelation and some poetic justice. Thanks.
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