After Transmigrating into a Sadistic Novel, the Socially Anxious Sickly Beauty Just Wants to Sleep - Chapter 8

Emerging from the nursing home, Yan Zhimuo drove toward the Yan family residence.

“Yan Zhimuo! I see your wings have grown strong; you even dare to scold your own father!” Yan Zuyi slammed the table and stood up, glaring with eyes as wide as copper bells, pointing a trembling finger at Yan Zhimuo’s nose as he cursed.

Jian Anmian’s heart jolted with fright. He looked at Yan Zhimuo with wide, innocent eyes.

Yan Zhimuo gave Jian Anmian’s head a reassuring pat, lowered his head to take a sip of tea, and said unhurriedly, “You’re overthinking it. I’m simply showing concern for you.”

Yan Zuyi sneered, “Concern for me? Heh, I think you’re wishing I’d die sooner! You unfilial son!”

Bai Murong quickly stepped forward to support Yan Zuyi, helping him sit back down while stroking his chest. She said in a soft, gentle voice, “Zuyi, please calm down. Be careful not to hurt your health. Zhimuo is your biological son; how could he think of you that way? Wouldn’t that make him a heartless, ungrateful wolf? You must have misunderstood him. Zhimuo is just clumsy with words and doesn’t know how to speak properly, but in his heart, he still cares for you.”

Yan Zhimuo looked coldly at this stepmother—who was only a few years older than himself—and suppressed his disgust to bark out, “Auntie, if you don’t know how to speak, you don’t have to. Stop beating around the bush to stir up trouble.”

Bai Murong froze for a moment, and her eyes instantly turned red. She leaned weakly against Yan Zuyi, appearing as if she were about to burst into tears. “Zhimuo, Auntie didn’t mean it that way. You’ve misunderstood. Auntie just wanted to speak up for you. How could you say that to me?”

Yan Zuyi became even more enraged. “Yan Zhimuo! Is that how you talk to your mother? Apologize to her right now!”

Yan Zhihai held his chopsticks, looking at them helplessly. He opened his mouth clumsily, wanting to say something but unable to find the words.

Yan Zhixing and Yan Zhiyue held their bowls and buried their heads in their food, eating as if they hadn’t seen a meal in their entire lives—as if they were ready to eat the table itself.

Yan Chengyu, however, held his bowl and watched the excitement with great interest. He maintained a “none of my business” attitude, looking as if the farce before him were happening in a neighbor’s house.

After stirring up trouble on Yan Zuyi’s side, Bai Murong moved toward Jian Anmian with tearful eyes. She knelt down and weakly took his hand. Noticing that his hand was actually more slender and fragile than her own, she quietly covered it with hers. Her long lashes trembled as a tear slowly rolled down. “Xiao Jian, I’m so sorry. On your first visit, you’ve had to see our family’s disgrace. Please don’t blame them. All the faults are Auntie’s fault. It’s because I haven’t taken good care of this family. I hope this doesn’t affect your mood.”

Jian Anmian looked utterly confused: “…”

You guys do the fighting; what does it have to do with me?

“If you want to cry, then cry. What’s with the touching? It’s filthy.” Yan Zhimuo coldly pulled Jian Anmian’s hand out of Bai Murong’s grasp and used a wet wipe to carefully clean it, finger by finger.

“Zhimuo… how can you say that to Auntie? You’re making me so sad.” Bai Murong was furious, but she had to maintain her “pear blossom in the rain” crying act. She was practically grinding her teeth to dust.

Luo Manxiang scanned the scene. Seeing that it was about time, she stepped in to play peacemaker. “Alright, alright. Zhimuo, you’re being too much. How can you talk to your father like that? Quickly apologize! And Dad, please calm down. Auntie just said Zhimuo is clumsy with words. We’re all family. Once Zhimuo apologizes, let’s consider this matter over, okay?”

Yan Zhimuo scoffed inwardly. It must have been difficult for Luo Manxiang to call a woman several years younger than herself “Mom.”

He ignored her and turned to Jian Anmian, asking gently, “Mianmian, what do you think?”

“Huh?” Jian Anmian was stunned. “Think about what?”

“Mianmian, you tell me what I should do,” Yan Zhimuo looked at him tenderly, as if Jian Anmian were his entire world. “Whatever you tell me to do, I’ll do.”

Jian Anmian: “…”

I just wanted to eat my ‘melon’ (gossip) in peace; why do you keep calling on me!

Jian Anmian hesitated and said, “Then… Mr. Yan, why don’t you just… apologize?”

Otherwise, I’m afraid we won’t be able to finish this meal.

Yan Zhimuo immediately said without a hint of hesitation, “I’m sorry, Dad, Auntie. I’ve made you angry.”

Bai Murong’s face turned bright red, purely out of frustration.

She cried for ages and he wouldn’t budge, but as soon as this little fox says the word, he apologizes without a second thought. What kind of person is this!

Yan Zuyi clearly shared her thoughts. With an expression like he’d swallowed a fly, he grumbled, “What kind of attitude is that…”

Luo Manxiang pressed her lips together to hide a smile. Once everyone had finished speaking, she made a show of ushering everyone: “Alright, alright. Everyone eat! Eat! The food is getting cold.”

Yan Zhimuo called over the chef and carefully inquired about the ingredients of every dish. Once he confirmed which ones Jian Anmian could eat, he stood up and placed portions of those dishes directly in front of him.

“Thank you, Mr. Yan…” Embarrassed by the attention, Jian Anmian quickly placed a morsel of food into Yan Zhimuo’s bowl in return.

Yan Zhimuo patted Jian Anmian’s head. Though he was clearly enjoying the gesture, he kept his expression neutral. “You eat. Don’t worry about me.”

Jian Anmian was indeed hungry, so he didn’t stand on ceremony further and focused on his meal.

Seeing their interaction, Yan Zuyi found it hard to swallow. He slammed his chopsticks down with a clack, leaned back in his chair, gave a light cough, and said slowly, “The reason I called you back today is mainly to discuss this marriage of yours.”

Yan Zhimuo ignored him. Noticing Jian Anmian was eating dry food, he stood up to pour him a glass of juice he could drink.

Yan Zuyi banged on the table: “Yan Zhimuo! Are you even listening to me?!”

Yan Zhimuo clicked his tongue. “Unlike you, I’m not deaf. I can hear you. Just say what you have to say.”

“Yan Zhimuo, you—” Yan Zuyi took a deep breath, realizing that if they kept arguing, nothing would get said. He forced his anger down, and with a sour old face, he said sternly, “Marriage is such a major event; why didn’t you consult us? Marrying a man is one thing, but finding this kind of thing… You divorce him immediately. A man and a woman are the proper way—continuing the family line is the natural order! These are the rules left by our ancestors. If you’re with a man, who will bear children for the Yan family? Are you worthy of your ancestors? Are you worthy of this country and society? Get a divorce now. The daughter of the Rong family just turned 22 and graduated from university; she’s always been interested in you. The Rong family is developing very well now, much stronger than the Qin family. Miss Rong is a top graduate from a famous university, elegant and well-educated—she’s thousands of times better than what you have now!”

Yan Zhimuo said expressionlessly, “I’m not having children, and I don’t need them.”

Yan Zuyi was nearly purple with rage. “Listen to yourself! What kind of talk is that? What man doesn’t have children? Why else did I father you? Look at your brother—how obedient. Your sister-in-law being with your brother was my introduction. Now, their child is already this big! That’s the only thing your brother has ever done to make me happy. Look at you—30 years old and not even a child. When you’re old, who will take care of you and see you off? If you’d listened to me earlier, your child would be ten years old by now! You must divorce today!”

Yan Zhihai’s back was stiff and hunched. His head was lowered so his expression was hidden, but the hand holding his chopsticks was trembling, veins bulging with force.

Jian Anmian thought to himself: This is perfect. The male lead wanted a divorce earlier, and now the scumbag father doesn’t approve either. It looks like this divorce is inevitable.

However, the next second, Yan Zhimuo slammed his chopsticks down, pushed back his chair, and stood up. He grabbed Jian Anmian—who was secretly enjoying the show—and pulled him up. He swept a cold, indifferent gaze over everyone’s varied expressions, scoffed, and tapped his fingers on the table. Slowly and icily, he said word by word:

“I’m putting it plainly today. This marriage—I’m staying in it for good!”

Jian Anmian: “…???”

Yan Zuyi stood up, hair practically standing on end. He pointed a shaking finger at Yan Zhimuo, his face turning a deep purple-red, eyes nearly bulging out of their sockets. “What do you mean? You won’t divorce?”

Under Jian Anmian’s bewildered gaze, Yan Zhimuo forcibly interlaced his fingers with his. He raised their joined hands, curled his lips into a provocative smile at Yan Zuyi, and said, “That’s right, I won’t! Not only will I not divorce, he’s the one I’ve chosen for the rest of my life! Anyone else who dares to say another word, just try me!”

Jian Anmian: “…”

Mr. Emotional Male Lead, I suggest you don’t speak so definitively. In the novel, it’s precisely because you ‘chose the protagonist for the rest of your life’ that your life turned out to be so short.

Also… was he not being “abused” again?

Jian Anmian was utterly stunned.

Could this plot go any further off the rails?