The Villains All Fell in Love with Me After Rebirth : Chapter 86 - Hometown
Chapter 86: Hometown
Ji Ling took a deep breath and stared intently into Ning Yu's eyes. “What is your secret?”
Ning Yu was momentarily stunned, then a soft smile appeared in his dark eyes as he curved his lips. “You already know, don't you?”
Ji Ling bit his lip, his eyelashes trembling slightly. He stubbornly looked at him and said, word by word, “That is not an answer.”
Ning Yu let out a gentle sigh, his expression indulgent and tender. He grasped Ji Ling's hand firmly, his voice lowering. “Then listen carefully…”
Ji Ling watched him.
Ning Yu spoke slowly and solemnly, “In another world, I have another name—Ning Yu. And I am very happy to have reunited with you in this world.”
“Hello, we meet again.”
Ji Ling's hand trembled slightly as he stared fixedly at the man before him. This time, his words were crystal clear, with no noisy background to interfere. He had said his name was Ning Yu.
He had personally told him that he came from that world.
All of Ji Ling's doubts vanished in an instant.
In truth, he should have recognized him the first time they met… That encounter, rather than a mere test, had been a deliberate hint about his identity. Ning Yu had recognized him at first glance, yet he had foolishly dismissed it as a misunderstanding…
Refusing to face the obvious truth.
Deceiving himself until now…
At that moment, the sound of hurried footsteps came from ahead.
Wen Yan quickly descended the slope, walking anxiously toward them. Not far behind him, Wang Yixin was clumsily scrambling down as well.
Ji Ling snapped out of his daze, hastily withdrawing his hand from Ning Yu’s grasp, his face tinged with redness.
Wen Yan approached in long strides, his chest heaving from the rush. Seeing that Ji Ling was injured, he didn’t even spare Ning Yu a glance, speaking urgently, “Are you okay?”
Ji Ling looked at his worried expression, paused for a moment, then said, “I’m fine, you don’t have to worry.”
Wang Yixin followed closely, his face full of remorse and self-blame. It was all his fault for asking Ji Ling to take photos, which led to this accident. Thankfully, Brother Ning was nearby and acted in time; otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable. He hung his head guiltily. “I’m sorry…”
Ji Ling said, “It was my own carelessness, and nothing serious happened. Don't overthink it.”
Wang Yixin knew Ji Ling was just trying to comfort him. Although Ji Ling had been lucky this time, what if something really had happened? He would never forgive himself. Even now, just thinking about the possible consequences terrified him.
Ning Yu glanced at Ji Ling’s ankle. It had already started swelling rapidly from the sprain. His expression turned serious, and without hesitation, he reached out and lifted Ji Ling into his arms. Caught off guard, Ji Ling crashed into his chest, his nose brushing against Ning Yu’s neck. The cold, sharp scent of the man filled his senses, making his face instantly burn with embarrassment. His first instinct was to struggle and get away…
But before he could even move, he suddenly froze. He remembered that his ankle was injured, and with Wang Yixin present, it would only draw more attention if he made a fuss. If he acted overly sensitive about this, who knew what this guy might start imagining…So Ji Ling stopped moving and obediently let Ning Yu carry him.
Wang Yixin, still lost in guilt, didn’t overthink it either. He simply saw Brother Ning as a reliable man. His only concern was Ji Ling’s injury. “I’ll go with you to take him back.”
Ning Yu smiled slightly. “No need, I’ll take him back myself.”
Wang Yixin wanted to insist—how could he just leave Ji Ling like this? He said resolutely, “That won’t do, I should go with you guys.”
Lying in Ning Yu’s arms, Ji Ling was both embarrassed and uncomfortable. He absolutely did not want Wang Yixin to come along, fearing he might pick up on something and spread it everywhere—this guy had zero filter when it came to gossip. Ji Ling’s eyes flickered with an idea, and he suddenly said warmly, “Isn’t your little girlfriend still waiting for you…?”
Wang Yixin froze on the spot.
Ji Ling continued, “It’s just a minor injury, really nothing serious. You go ahead, Brother Ning can take me back.”
Wang Yixin hesitated. His budding romance flashed through his mind, and he found himself torn between love and friendship, struggling intensely with the decision. He asked hesitantly, “Are you really okay…?”
Ji Ling nodded seriously. “How bad could it be?”
Wang Yixin hesitated for a long while before finally gritting his teeth and saying to Ning Yu, “Brother Ning, you have to take good care of him.”
Ning Yu chuckled lightly. “Don’t worry.”
Not wanting to delay any longer, he carried Ji Ling forward. As he passed Wen Yan, their gazes met briefly before Ning Yu calmly looked away.
Wen Yan stood rooted in place, watching as Ning Yu carried Ji Ling away from him. His right hand clenched tightly, a flash of darkness flickering in his eyes before pain and sorrow swallowed it.
He wanted to rush forward and take the boy back… but in the end, he didn’t move.
Because he knew that the boy despised being fought over, despised being forced, despised being made uncomfortable. If he acted impulsively now, ignoring Ji Ling’s feelings and causing a scene, he would only make himself even more detestable.
But it was hard to accept. He had only been a step too late…
Just like in the last life, just like in that world.
Because of a mistake he made in his first life, he had lost his chance. No matter how much effort he put in afterward, no matter how hard he tried to make amends, it was impossible to restore the trust he had lost. Even if he was eventually forgiven… so what?
Feelings could not be measured by rules and formulas. They were not numbers that could be calculated and redeemed.
Even though he was the one who fell in love first.
He still couldn't win the heart of the one he loved.
Wen Yan slowly opened his palm, staring at his empty hand.
Every time he thought he was close to grasping it, the opportunity would slip away again and again… and in the end, he caught nothing.
Wang Yixin, seeing that Ji Ling and Ning Yu had left, was about to leave as well. Just as he was about to go, he noticed Senior Yu still standing there, his expression cold and his eyes dark and deep. Feeling uneasy, he asked, “Senior Yu, what’s wrong? Aren’t you leaving?”
Wen Yan’s dark eyes were like an unfathomable abyss. When he raised his gaze, Wang Yixin felt a sudden chill in his heart, his scalp tingling.
What’s going on? Why does this guy suddenly look so scary?
Just as Wang Yixin was getting flustered, he saw the handsome and gentle young man smile faintly, dispelling all the darkness. It was as if the chilling obsession from a moment ago had been nothing but an illusion.
Wen Yan said, “It’s nothing.”
With that, he turned and walked away.
Wang Yixin scratched his head, completely baffled. Could it be that Senior Yu was just too concerned about Ji Ling?
Forget it, not my problem!
His little girlfriend was still waiting for him!
That was the most important thing.
………………
Ning Yu carried Ji Ling away directly. Since he had driven here alone, his car came in handy now. The backseat of the SUV was spacious. Ning Yu gently placed Ji Ling onto it, then opened the door and sat in the driver’s seat.
Ji Ling watched as Ning Yu prepared to start the car when he suddenly noticed faint traces of blood seeping through the fabric on Ning Yu’s shoulder and back. Surprised, he said, “Wait, you’re injured.”
Earlier, Ning Yu had been facing him the whole time, so he hadn't noticed it at all until now.
Ji Ling frowned. “You’re hurt. Why didn’t you say anything?”
Ning Yu let out a casual chuckle. “It’s just a minor scrape, nothing serious. No need to mention it.”
Ji Ling: “But…”
Ning Yu suddenly turned his head, locking eyes with Ji Ling, his gaze tinged with amusement as he teased, “Are you worried about me?”
Ji Ling’s face turned red. He opened his mouth but couldn’t bring himself to say the words stuck in his throat…
Ning Yu said, “Actually, this is a good thing.”
Ji Ling: “???”
Ning Yu’s expression remained calm as he explained, “It means that I’m just like you now. I can get hurt too… And so can they.”
Ji Ling was momentarily stunned.
Then, he suddenly understood. Ning Yu was telling him that now he was just an ordinary person like them. They were all ordinary people. They were no longer those SSS-ranked powerhouses from the interstellar world. Even if there were some minor physical differences, in essence, they were the same.
Now is now. The past is the past.
Right now, we are just like you. So, there’s no need to be afraid.
Ji Ling was silent for a long time.
Then he abruptly turned his head away, gritting his teeth as he snapped, “If you can get hurt, why don’t you take better care of yourself? And you have the nerve to call me an idiot!”
You already know that you’re just an ordinary person now, yet you still rushed out without hesitation to shield me with your body. Do you not realize that you could get hurt?
Irritating!
Who told you to do that? If something really happened to you, do you think I’d be happy?
Ji Ling turned to look out the window, his chest tight with frustration. He didn’t want to acknowledge this guy right now.
A low chuckle came from the front.
Then, the car engine roared to life.
Before long, the vehicle stopped at the foot of the mountain. Ning Yu got out and went to a roadside pharmacy to buy some medicine. When he returned, he opened the backseat door and said to Ji Ling, “Your injury needs treatment.”
Ji Ling kept his eyes shut, pretending to be asleep.
Ning Yu smiled but didn’t say anything else. He knelt at the car door, gently grasping Ji Ling’s ankle. Carefully, he disinfected the wound, applied medicine, massaged it slightly, then put Ji Ling’s sock back on and set his foot down again. His expression was completely focused.
Ji Ling was actually awake the whole time. He could feel the man’s touch—gentle, his fingers cool against his burning wound, bringing a trace of relief from the pain.
Suddenly, Ji Ling opened his eyes and said, “Wait.”
Ning Yu was just about to leave when he turned back, smiling. “Awake?”
Ji Ling’s face heated up. You clearly knew I wasn’t asleep! He lifted his chin, feigning fierceness as he said, “Your wound needs treatment too, doesn’t it?”
Ning Yu gazed at him steadily. Then, suddenly, a smile appeared in his eyes again.
In a low voice, he said, “Alright.”
With that, he spread his arms, turning his back to Ji Ling as he took off his outer coat. Then, he unbuttoned his shirt and slid it down to his waist, exposing one shoulder. The skin on his shoulder had been scraped, with faint traces of blood seeping through. His tall, well-built figure was lean and muscular—perfectly proportioned. But compared to his past body, there were far fewer scars, making even this relatively minor injury seem more severe than it was.
This is a body that has lived a life of comfort and privilege.
It really is different from before…
Ji Ling was momentarily dazed—he had unexpectedly thought of that world again, of their encounter in Luanshui City.
Back then, this guy clearly wasn’t that badly injured, yet he pretended to be immobile just to trick him into personally applying medicine and feeding him… Damn it! Liar!
Thinking of this, Ji Ling fumed and couldn't help but press a little harder. He felt the man's body tense up slightly, but Ning Yu didn't make a sound or move an inch. Ji Ling suddenly froze, instantly filled with regret… He was really too much. Ning Yu was hurt because of him, yet he had taken out his resentment over the past on him, making himself seem petty and narrow-minded…
Ji Ling softened his movements, carefully applying the medicine, and said guiltily, “It’s done…”
Ning Yu slowly put his shirt back on, a slight curve on his lips. Even without turning around, he could almost imagine the boy’s struggle, hesitation, anger, and soft-heartedness…
What an utterly incapable liar.
It must have been hard for you to keep up that act in that world.
But I’m very happy that now, you no longer have to pretend—you can express yourself freely. Even the little moods and sulks… I like them all.
Deep in Ning Yu’s eyes, there was a trace of laughter.
He knew Ji Ling was feeling conflicted, so he didn’t say much, avoiding embarrassing the boy further. Instead, he turned back to the driver’s seat and started the car.
Ning Yu had been to Ji Ling’s home twice before, so he remembered the way well. He skillfully parked the car downstairs, then reached out to carry Ji Ling again.
Ji Ling, however, pushed against him and lowered his voice. “Put me down, just let me lean on you.”
This was his home, filled with familiar people and neighbors—it was just too embarrassing to be carried in the arms of another man like this.
It was just a sprained ankle! Being carried like this… where was his manly dignity?
He could walk on his own!
Ning Yu chuckled softly and let go, allowing Ji Ling to grab his wrist for support as he leaned on him. Then, they entered the elevator together.
Ji Ling hopped his way to his front door and was just about to take out his keys when, suddenly, the door opened from the inside. Yang Wei peeked her head out and said, “I heard familiar footsteps just now, so I came to check… I can’t believe you’re actually back! What made you suddenly want to come home?” She glanced down and immediately noticed Ji Ling’s limp. “What happened to your foot?”
Ji Ling replied, “It’s nothing, just a little sprain.”
Yang Wei saw that it wasn’t serious and let out a breath of relief. Then, she looked toward Ning Yue and recognized him as Ji Ling’s little girlfriend’s older brother. She wondered—was Ji Ling on a date with his girlfriend and got injured? And since the girl was too shy to come in, she had sent her brother to escort him home?
Regardless of the details, Yang Wei was grateful to Ning Yu for bringing Ji Ling back. She warmly said, “Xiao Ning, right? Come in and sit for a while.”
She stepped aside and bent down to get slippers for the two of them.
Ning Yu helped Ji Ling inside, changed into the slippers, and let him settle on the sofa. Yang Wei then brought him a cup of tea. Ning Yu accepted it with both hands and politely said, “Auntie, there’s no need to go to so much trouble.”
Yang Wei liked this polite and well-mannered young man and smiled. “Oh, I was just about to start cooking. Why don’t you stay for dinner?”
Ning Yu hesitated. “That would be too much trouble for you.”
Yang Wei chuckled. “I should be the one thanking you for bringing Ji Ling home. It’s settled then—if you refuse, you’ll be disrespecting me.”
Ning Yu put on a slightly flustered expression and said, “Then… alright.”
Yang Wei, satisfied, turned and went back to the kitchen.
Ji Ling sat on the sofa, watching the scene unfold, and shot Ning Yu a disdainful look. Ha, acting—so you’re good at acting! No wonder you’re the king of deception. Back on the Emperor Star, I was fooled so badly by you… No, wait, the whole world was fooled by you! Who would have thought that the righteous, courageous, and kind national idol, the noble and shining model soldier, was actually the leader of the Rebel—Gabriel?
Every inch of you is deception!
Your acting skills are off the charts. And now that I think about it… who knows how much of what you’ve said to me was even real?
When Ning Yu turned back, he met the boy’s dark eyes, filled with tiny flickers of doubt. He walked over, lowered his head, and looked at Ji Ling, his lips curving slightly as he asked in a clear, pleasant voice, “What are you thinking about?”
Ji Ling sneered. “I’m thinking… your acting just now was pretty good.”
Ning Yu didn’t show the slightest bit of offense or sadness. His eyes remained calm and gentle as he sighed softly and asked, “Do you really think that was just acting?”
Ji Ling hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
Ning Yu continued, “Then tell me—what do you think my true self is like?”
Ji Ling was taken aback, realizing he didn’t quite know the answer. Because in his memory, aside from when Ning Yu wore his mask as Gabriel, every other time, he was always gentle, polite, and flawless. He had always been this way…
That’s why he became the person everyone thought was the best.
If that was all an act, then it had seeped into his bones.
Ning Yu leaned in slightly, his voice calm and low. “In this world, I don’t need to put on a facade for anyone. No one can force me to do anything. I only do what I want to do, love who I want to love, and respect the people I choose to respect… This has nothing to do with deception or pretense. It’s only about whether I want to do it or not. Do you understand?”
Ji Ling’s face turned red again. He was so flustered that he had no comeback.
A moment later, he scooted backward, trying to put some distance between them, and stammered, “Don’t… don’t get so close. My mom could come out at any moment…”
Ning Yu's lips curled into a faintly amused expression, but he didn't step forward. Instead, he turned around and sat in the living room watching TV, just like an ordinary friend.
After sitting for a while, he took the initiative to enter the kitchen and helped Yang Wei serve the dishes and set the table.
Yang Wei didn’t refuse Ning Yu’s help. She found this young man to be sensible and friendly, and since she was an elder, she didn’t feel embarrassed accepting his assistance. Ning Yu was clearly well-mannered. Judging by that, his sister must also be an obedient and well-behaved girl. If their families were to become in-laws in the future, it wouldn’t be a bad thing. After all, one could tell a lot about a family’s upbringing by looking at their children…
Besides, her son was dating the young man's sister. As his mother, how could she hold him back? The daughter-in-law hadn't even entered the family yet—she couldn’t go around setting up the image of an evil mother-in-law already! That was absolutely out of the question!
Because of this, Yang Wei became even warmer toward Ning Yu.
Ji Ling watched his mother chatting and laughing with Ning Yu as if they were old friends who had just reunited. He could hardly bear to look and wanted to cover his eyes. But what could he do? He couldn’t just tell his mother that he wasn’t actually dating any girl—that the one pursuing him was, in fact, this man sitting right in front of her…
The dishes on the table were simple home-cooked meals. Yang Wei wasn’t an exceptional cook, and her food could only be considered average at best, but Ji Ling loved it. No matter how much gourmet food he ate outside, nothing compared to the nostalgic taste of home.
He wasn’t sure if Ning Yu would like it.
But Ning Yu was someone who had endured hardship, fought battles, and even sparked revolutions—surely he wouldn’t be picky about food, right? Ji Ling wasn’t too worried about Ning Yu. However, if it were someone like Carlos or Jing Sui, they probably wouldn’t be able to handle such a simple meal. His mind wandered as he lowered his head, lost in thought…
Yang Wei occasionally chatted with Ning Yu.
Yang Wei: “Are you a local?”
Ning Yu: “Yes.”
Yang Wei: “How old are you? Do you have any siblings?”
Ning Yu: “I’m 24. I have two older brothers, an older sister, and… a younger sister.” He added the sister part at the last moment.
Yang Wei: “That’s nice. I originally wanted to have another child so Xiao Ling wouldn’t be alone, but I was too busy with work back then and never got around to it. In the end, he was pampered and spoiled at home. If you ask me, having siblings is still better—kids grow up to be more sensible that way.”
Ji Ling, who had been eating quietly: …How did the conversation suddenly turn into a critique of me???
Ning Yu pressed down the corners of his lips, suppressing a smile, and said warmly, “Auntie, you’re too kind. Xiao Ling is very good and very well-behaved.”
Yang Wei: “Oh, stop defending him. He was such a troublemaker as a kid.”
Ji Ling: “???” When was I ever a troublemaker? Haven’t I been obedient enough?
Ning Yu: “Really? I didn’t see that side of him.”
Yang Wei sighed, “You don’t know how mischievous he was when he was little. But everyone in the family doted on him. Every time I wanted to discipline him, he would cry, and then some relative would come over and stop me, saying that he was still young and shouldn’t be hit. And just like that, he grew up spoiled.”
Ji Ling: …
Ning Yu finally turned to look at him and said meaningfully, “I suppose he doesn’t cry much anymore. I’ve never seen him cry.”
Ji Ling almost slammed his hand on the table. Could you be any more obvious with your teasing?
Enough already!
Yang Wei chuckled. “Yeah, he’s much better now. He’s grown up, become more sensible, and is much less of a worry. That part is true.” Especially after the car accident—sometimes, Ji Ling was so well-behaved that it made her heart ache. She still wasn’t quite used to it.
Ji Ling's face burned, and he wished he could bury it in his bowl.
By the time dinner was over, he had nothing left to say. He felt like his mother had almost exposed all his childhood embarrassments, including wetting his pants…
After Yang Wei went into the kitchen to clean up the dishes, Ning Yu turned slightly and, with a smile in his eyes, said, “I really shouldn’t always bully you. I promise I won’t make you cry again in the future.”
Ji Ling looked utterly defeated. He had lost all dignity. “Get lost.”
Ning Yu let out a low chuckle.
Then, as he laughed, his smile faded. He closed his eyes and let out a slow breath… This kid really does cry a lot. But if he wasn’t truly hurt, if he wasn’t truly upset, why would he cry? That incident… he had been too much, hadn’t he? He must have scared him.
Even though he never meant any harm, in the end, what he did was no different from Carlos and Jing Sui—allowing himself to be controlled by his desires.
He wasn’t disciplined enough.
If he had truly been in control, he wouldn’t have gotten close to him when Ji Ling didn’t want it…
Ning Yu opened his eyes and said softly, “I’m sorry.”
Ji Ling had been feeling frustrated just moments ago, mostly because his mother had embarrassed him. But hearing Ning Yu suddenly apologize, he quickly realized what he was apologizing for and froze.
After a moment, Ji Ling murmured, “You’ve already said this to me before.”
If I could let go of Jing Sui’s coldness, Carlos’ cruelty, Wen Yan’s betrayal, and Brandon’s misunderstanding… of course, I can forgive you too.
If I had to hold onto every single grievance, life would be exhausting. And if we really had to scrutinize every detail—who deceived who, who hurt who, who was truly in the wrong—could we ever really sort it all out?
When I chose to leave that world in such a decisive way, I had already let go.
And honestly… even though your identity reversal was the hardest for me to accept emotionally, from a rational perspective, you’re actually the last person I have any right to blame.
Ning Yu gazed at Ji Ling for a long time. This boy really had let it go. He sighed and said, “I kind of regret trying to reason with you.”
Ji Ling: “?”
Ning Yu leaned down, looking into his eyes, and said slowly, “Because I wish you could be a little more willful in front of me instead of calculating everything so clearly. But that’s not your fault…”
It was mine.
It was my fault for calculating too much from the beginning. I’ve always wanted control over everything—even in love, even in relationships—I never allowed myself to hand over my fate to another, never let myself lose before the game had even begun…
I was used to strategizing everything, even love.
Just like in my first life, when I decided to marry Jing Sui to achieve my goals. There was no passion, only a union of interests.
Until I met Ji Ling.
Until the boy walked away from me, determined and unwavering.
That was when I realized… there are some feelings that can’t be calculated.
Ji Ling met Ning Yu’s deep, dark eyes, filled with warmth, and listened to his low voice. He felt momentarily lost, as if he might drown in those depths…
He seemed to understand something,
but at the same time, not quite.
Ning Yu watched the boy’s confused eyes, stayed silent for a while, then smiled helplessly and indulgently. Suddenly, he said, “Your mom’s cooking is delicious. She’s a good person. I think I understand why you insisted on coming back… If it were me, I would want to come back too.”
Ji Ling snapped out of his daze at Ning Yu’s sudden shift in topic. He was grateful for the distraction, sparing him from the awkward and strange emotions just now. He opened his mouth and muttered, “Oh…”
“You and your world are both wonderful,” Ning Yu said.
Ji Ling's face turned red. Heart pounding, he pushed Ning Yu away and glared at him. “You should go now.”
Mom is still in the kitchen! What if she comes out and sees this?!
Ning Yu nodded, straightened up as if he was about to leave, but suddenly grabbed Ji Ling’s wrist, pulling him closer. He let out a soft chuckle near his ear and said, “Oh, right. There’s something I’ve always wanted to tell you…”
Ji Ling thought, Enough already! Do you ever stop?! Can't you pick a better time to confess?! I get it—you love me, okay?! But then he heard what Ning Yu whispered in his ear. A moment later, his eyes stung slightly.
Ning Yu said, “I’ve always wanted to tell you… that world is doing well now, just like you wished.”
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