I Just Wanted To Live but I Somehow Became Better Than the Protagonist

13 Sleep

Returning to the place where he had first resided, the furnishings within remained unchanged since his departure. Gazing at the familiar yet strangely distant environment, Ye Yong was suddenly overwhelmed with emotion.

In the early days of his arrival, he had understood nothing, inexplicably becoming the young master of the Ye family, without any memory to guide him.

If not for his understanding of the various settings of the new emperor, and his clear grasp of what he should and should not do, he would have long since met his end. Those who had not read the original novel or who had only skimmed through it would likely have already perished.

In the beginning, to avoid the path of death, he had devised numerous plans and made considerable efforts. Although he had not yet reached the mid-stage of his journey, and the possibility of entering the route of the Ye family’s downfall still loomed, Ye Yong undoubtedly possessed greater confidence now than at the start.

He could alter the future of death; around him were examples of successful change—like Ye Gou, who was destined to die in the century-old secret realm, and the many branch family members, as well as Hua Liangchen, who was cruelly slain by the human race, and the subsequent slaughter of the Spirit Fox clan…

As long as he maintained this course, keeping his distance from the protagonist, and waited until the mid-point of the novel’s timeline, when the protagonist shifted his grandstanding to the Central Continent, the Ye family would be free from trouble.

He had found two blankets for Xia Shiqi and Xia Shijia, allowing them to rest in the living room, while Ye Yong returned to his own chamber.

Since embarking on his cultivation journey, he had not slept in a long time. Today, for some reason, he yearned for that long-lost slumber.

Wu Xue had not returned; she had gone with Qin Shimeng and Xiao Huan to Lin Wei’s residence. After all, as guests, they needed to be entertained, but the faction’s servants feared they might feel uncomfortable, so the elders of the Ye family had specifically assigned Wu Xue to accompany them.

“Master, are you planning to sleep?” Hua Ningyan was essentially Ye Yong’s little shadow, following him wherever he went.

Seeing Ye Yong lying on the bed, she found it quite novel. After more than ten days of meeting him, it was the first time she had seen him sleep.

The novelty stemmed from the fact that sleep was when a being was most relaxed and least vigilant. In a place where one felt unsafe, sleep was impossible.

“Yeah, want to join?” Ye Yong patted the space beside him, and Hua Ningyan quickly leaped up.

Hua Ningyan was still just a little fox, lacking much life experience, and was unaware of many things. Moreover, being her master, Ye Yong treated her exceptionally well, and she instinctively felt close to him, harboring no awkwardness or rejection.

Hua Ningyan lay down beside Ye Yong, who gently stroked her fur, playfully teasing her cheeks, filling the room with the sounds of youthful laughter.

Before long, Xia Shiqi pushed the door open, drawn by the noise. She looked at Ye Yong and Hua Ningyan on the bed, tilted her head, and quickly left, only to return with her own blanket, trotting to the bedside.

“No,” Ye Yong shook his finger.

Xia Shiqi dropped the blanket from her mouth, shook her head vigorously, and stomped her front paws, as if questioning why Hua Ningyan was allowed.

Responses to affection varied among beings, but they could generally be categorized into three types.

The first type would always remember and seek to repay kindness. The second type, no matter how much love was given, would not hold it in their heart, and at a critical moment, would turn against you—these were the so-called “white-eyed wolves.” The third type, while not turning against you or betraying you, would become unruly after being pampered, believing the world belonged to them, showcasing their knack for trouble—like the self-destructive villains.

Without a doubt, Hua Ningyan belonged to the first type, while Xia Shiqi was of the third.

Ye Yong was too lazy to explain to the silly creature, knowing that even if he did, she wouldn’t understand. Instead, he pointed to the floor and then to outside the room: “Either sleep down there or go out.”

This is a simple exchange. Xia Shiqi cannot understand the words, but she comprehends the gestures. She immediately casts a sidelong glance at Ye Yong, as if to express her disdain for the unfair treatment. Ye Yong pretends not to notice and continues to pet the little fox.

Xia Shiqi’s eyes blaze with fury; she spins and leaps in place, then collapses onto the blanket. After all, staying here is better than going outside, so our iron-willed leader, Lady Xia Shiqi, chooses to temporarily submit to Ye Yong’s whims.

If she doesn’t sleep soon, dawn will break. Ye Yong extinguishes the spirit lamp, resting his hand on the little fox’s fluffy back, gently stroking it.

Hua Ningyan leans her head against Ye Yong’s chest, her eyes squinting into crescent moons, utterly content.

For Xia Shiqi, seeing in the dark is not a challenge. She looks up, snorting softly, a sound that conveys disdain, displeasure, and a hint of unwillingness.

——

Having gone too long without sleep, Ye Yong has forgotten what it feels like to dream. Yet, he does not dream of anything particularly special; he merely recalls his life back on Earth—gaming with his dorm mates, returning home for the holidays to savor his mother’s cooking, and his father asking about life at school.

How nostalgic it all is, but as Ye Yong opens his eyes, all those familiar scenes dissipate like mist.

From the intensity of the sunlight streaming through the window, it is clear that it is already late.

Hua Ningyan curls up in Ye Yong’s arms like a fluffy ball. Xia Shiqi sprawls on the ground in a position that could only be described as chaotic; it is hard to imagine such a pose coming from a wolf.

Since Hua Ningyan is still asleep, Ye Yong does not want to wake her. He closes his eyes again, but at that moment, footsteps echo in the corridor. From the rhythm of the steps and the weight of the sound, it is easy to deduce that it is Wu Xue.

Wu Xue’s prejudice against Hua Ningyan has not yet been fully dispelled, and seeing her sleeping with Ye Yong only confirms her suspicions of the little fox’s charm.

Thus, Ye Yong pays no mind to whether he wakes them or not; he scoops up Hua Ningyan and places her onto Xia Shiqi, then hurriedly sits cross-legged at the edge of the bed, as if he has been meditating all night.

“Young Master, Sister Shiming asks if you would like to visit the Qin family.” Wu Xue notices nothing unusual; the little fox and the clumsy wolf, both startled awake, are left bewildered, unsure of what has transpired.

With a roll, Xia Shiqi sends Hua Ningyan tumbling onto the blanket. She stands, stretching lazily, deliberately pressing her body down on Hua Ningyan, making her intentions clear: this wolf will not be at a disadvantage; you push me, I push back.

“I’m not going. I plan to visit my mother today.” Today is New Year’s Eve, the last day of the year. Ye Yong wants not only to check on Lin Wei’s progress in her cultivation but also to share a reunion dinner with her. As for the old bean who is in seclusion, he can be forgotten; according to the timeline of the novel, it will be several years before he breaks through to the Transformation stage.

“Help me ask Shiming and the others if they will stay tonight.” Ye Yong nudges Xia Shiqi aside, freeing the pinned Hua Ningyan. She shakes her fur and stretches, but does not question how she ended up on Xia Shiqi.

“They’re in the living room. It would be better if the Young Master spoke to them directly.”

After stepping out, Ye Yong expresses his intentions to Qin Shiming and Xiao Huan. After a moment of thought, Qin Shiming decides to return home. It is not that she does not want to stay; she simply feels that her presence would disturb the reunion between mother and son.

Moreover, she finds herself missing her own mother, Bu Yue, despite the fact that Bu Yue rarely pays her any mind. Yet, she is still family. In the Qin household, only Bu Yue can evoke a sense of closeness in Qin Shiming; the rest feel no different from strangers.

“Since that is the case, I shall have the elders send you back.”

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