Rat, Rabbit, And Rabbit Transformed Into Humans And Married Their Natural Enemies. Chapter 32

Chapter 32

Bai Zhi was firmly held in place by Xie Yuzhan’s gaze. After a long silence, he blinked and asked blankly, “Are you saying—

“We should have a little snuggle? Like how I just rubbed against the little grasses?”

Xie Yuzhan pinched Bai Zhi’s cheek, a slight curve to his lips. “Yes, Zhizhi is absolutely right.”

If those grasses could do it, why couldn’t he? He was the one who chose and gifted those grasses. They were just a small pot of grass, yet they were getting so close to Bai Zhi. Those grasses were overstepping their bounds.

Bai Zhi sometimes truly couldn’t figure out what Xie Yuzhan was thinking.

This was supposed to be thanks? After investing so much time and energy into building this sunroom, a simple snuggle was enough? The effort and the reward seemed far too unequal.

He asked doubtfully, “Are you sure that’s enough?”

Xie Yuzhan withdrew his hand and replied with certainty, “It’s enough.”

For now, it was enough.

Although Bai Zhi still couldn’t understand, since Xie Yuzhan had spoken, he naturally deferred to the other party’s wishes. He nodded and said, “Then no problem.”

He would treat it as a step toward closer contact.

He stepped forward, gently cupped Xie Yuzhan’s face, leaned in to press his cheek against the other’s, and rubbed slightly. At the same time, he raised his hands and wrapped them around Xie Yuzhan’s waist—

Adding a light, encompassing hug.

After doing all this, when he tried to pull away, he was suddenly embraced tightly.

Half his face was pressed against Xie Yuzhan’s neck, his voice sounding muffled. “CEO Xie? Yuzhan? What’s wrong?”

Xie Yuzhan held Bai Zhi tighter, his eyes slightly lowered, concealing the silent surge of possessiveness within. It wasn’t the right time. He desperately wanted to reveal the other party’s affection and ask if he would stay after a year.

And not divorce.

But that would likely scare the little rabbit, whose courage was barely larger than a grain of rice.

Wait a little longer.

After holding him for a while, he finally released the embrace, appearing composed and calm. He looked at the person whose eyes were filled with confusion, his smile still relaxed, and said, “Nothing. Zhizhi is very comfortable to hold.”

Bai Zhi suddenly realized—he was being treated as a hug pillow!

He waved his hand and laughed, “My Pikachu is even more comfortable to hold!”

Xie Yuzhan was noncommittal, only saying, “Comfort is relative, it varies from person to person.”

“That’s true.”

The two chatted for a while longer, and Bai Zhi didn’t notice anything amiss with Xie Yuzhan.

After the other man left, he spent the entire morning familiarizing himself with the plants in the sunroom. If Lin Haiyan hadn’t told him that Xie Yuzhan instructed her not to let him stay in there too long, he truly wouldn’t have wanted to leave.

However, the humidity was high in there, and staying too long did make him feel damp.

Stepping out of the large sunroom, he turned to look back, feeling a little emotional.

He was finding it hard to distinguish whether Xie Yuzhan’s kindness towards him was genuine tenderness or an act. He decided not to worry about it for now; he would just enjoy the present. He should be safe within the one-year term.

As for what he needed to cooperate with, he would certainly do his best.

Beyond that, there was nothing else.

For the next few days, he streamed from the sunroom. He also spent time researching information related to the little grasses and continued his studies. He was starting to understand what the ancient human texts meant by “the sea of learning is boundless.” The vast world was something one could never fully explore in a lifetime.

Every time he learned about a new little grass, he felt very happy.

He didn’t aim to exhaust the knowledge, just to do his best.

When Lu Qinghe invited him out, he was originally thinking about doing some homework that evening, but the place the other man mentioned made him extremely interested. He had never been there!

The pika was very willing to experience new things. He had been quite happy overall during the cultural festival and the zoo visits.

He hoped tonight would be fun too.

He told Lin Haiyan that he wouldn’t be home for dinner and also informed Xie Yuzhan that he was going out to eat with Lu Qinghe. They had been eating dinner together recently, and as cohabitants, basic courtesy was necessary.

The other party was silent for a while before replying, instructing him to come back early.

He obediently agreed. He was just going to a bar for a bit; he should be back before ten.

Yes, that’s right, a bar.

Although he was a one-cup lightweight, no one stipulated that going to a bar meant drinking a lot. He just wanted to immerse himself in the music, play a small game, chat, and experience nightlife.

For the pika, this experience was quite novel.

With one glass of fruit wine, plus soft drinks, various snacks, and fruit, the two chatted away until 9:30 PM.

Lu Qinghe swirled his glass and asked, “Should we wrap up now, or chat a bit longer? If it gets late, you can sleep at my place. I have a spare room, but—

“Is it okay if you don’t go back tonight?”

Bai Zhi thought for a moment and said, “It’s fine. CEO Xie and I don’t actually interfere with each other. I just need to tell him.”

Lu Qinghe wanted to say more, but seeing Bai Zhi already reaching for his phone to send a message, he fell silent.

He took a sip of his drink, recalling the look in Xie Yuzhan’s eyes when he had met him before. How should he put it? He didn’t believe these two were in a purely transactional marriage.

Bai Zhi sent Xie Yuzhan a message saying he wouldn’t be returning tonight. The other party didn’t reply for a while, and he thought perhaps Xie Yuzhan didn’t have his phone nearby. He considered telling Lin Haiyan to pass on the message.

But the next second, CEO Xie called him.

He answered the phone curiously. Xie Yuzhan on the other end told him to come home as soon as possible, as they had agreed.

He frowned, raising his voice over the noisy environment. “We agreed not to interfere with each other! I’m not doing anything reckless, so why can’t I stay out overnight?”

“Since you’re married, you should look after the family.”

“But don’t forget what we agreed upon!”

Bai Zhi didn’t understand. They were just a contractual couple, a relationship of mutual benefit. Staying out overnight was a very small matter. Why was Xie Yuzhan so insistent?

“Where are you? Send me your location. I’ll come pick you up. If people in the circle see you at a bar, it will inevitably lead to gossip.”

Bai Zhi retorted, “I didn’t go to any improper place. The bar isn’t chaotic. What would people gossip about?”

“Zhizhi, be good. Send me the address.”

Bai Zhi was choked by Xie Yuzhan’s insistence. He wouldn’t listen to explanations, couldn’t be persuaded, right? He abruptly hung up the phone. It was pointless to talk!

He grumbled to Lu Qinghe, “He’s usually quite reasonable. I don’t know what’s gotten into him today, acting like this.”

Lu Qinghe sighed, then chuckled softly. “Send the address to CEO Xie. We can meet up another day. He’s probably just worried about you. Bars are often mixed environments, so it’s normal for him to have concerns.

“Besides, he said he’s coming to pick you up personally. That’s a rare privilege.”

Bai Zhi wanted to argue more, but since Lu Qinghe put it that way, he didn’t want to strain things too much with Xie Yuzhan. Reluctantly, he sent the address.

When they met, he needed to clarify this matter. Once was enough; there couldn’t be a second time. He was an adult, not a minor who needed his cohabitant to manage every little thing.

Looking at the fuming Bai Zhi, Lu Qinghe considered his words carefully. “CEO Xie seems to care about you a lot.”

Bai Zhi shook his head. “He probably cares more about the Xie family’s reputation. He even said himself he didn’t want others to see me at a bar.”

“Zhizhi, there’s a way of speaking called saying one thing but meaning another.”

Bai Zhi frowned in confusion. Saying one thing but meaning another? Xie Yuzhan? Those two things didn’t seem related. He thought CEO Xie communicated quite well, clearly and plainly.

Lu Qinghe smiled and said no more.

He had made his point. Ultimately, Bai Zhi had to figure things out for himself. Judging by the current situation, the other man hadn’t realized anything yet. CEO Xie had a long road ahead.

As for why he wouldn’t allow him to stay out overnight, that was obviously possessiveness at work!

As he drove out, Xie Yuzhan’s cold expression was tinged with irritation.

He had been careless not to ask Bai Zhi where he and Lu Qinghe were going for dinner. Taking the obedient little rabbit to a bar? Lu Shao was quite something. Was a place like a bar suitable for Bai Zhi, a one-cup lightweight?

Drinking and then staying out overnight? No, absolutely not. How could anyone be at ease? What if something happened?

No one could bear the consequences.

He knew all too well how captivating Bai Zhi’s appearance was.

It was exactly ten o’clock when he arrived at the bar. Before the car even fully stopped, he saw the two figures standing outside the door. He got out and walked straight over. When he saw the clothes Bai Zhi was wearing, the gloom in his eyes intensified.

Lu Qinghe watched Xie Yuzhan approach. For a moment, he thought that someone as elegant and composed as CEO Xie might be about to pull out a knife and fight him. The aura was that chilling.

Fortunately, Bai Zhi was still there.

He spoke first, “Good evening, CEO Xie. This is a quiet bar under my name. It’s not loud or chaotic, and there are no messy activities or performances. We were just chatting, nothing else.”

Xie Yuzhan merely glanced at Lu Qinghe before his gaze returned to Bai Zhi.

His voice was steeped in the coolness of an autumn night, and he said slowly, “Just chatting? Young Master Lu, does chatting have to happen at a bar?”

And Bai Zhi’s outfit!

It was too eye-catching.

Bai Zhi was wearing a trendy little leather jacket, his cheeks were slightly flushed, and his eyes were clean, pure, and more crystalline than gemstones. Putting such a devastatingly handsome yet simple-minded rabbit in the mixed environment of a bar was practically inviting people to covet him.

Bai Zhi stepped forward and said, “I haven’t been to a bar before, and I wanted to see one.”

Xie Yuzhan looked at Bai Zhi, who smelled faintly of alcohol, and his lips tightened slightly.

Very well. He had no self-awareness whatsoever.

He liked him, didn’t he? If he liked him, why was he dressed like that, fooling around in a bar? Was he afraid he wouldn’t attract enough attention? Even if it was a marriage of convenience, he should still bear some responsibility for the marriage.

He took a slight breath, took Bai Zhi’s hand, and looked at Lu Qinghe. “Thank you, Second Young Master, for your care tonight.”

Then he turned to Bai Zhi and said, “Home.”

Hearing those two somewhat stiff words from Xie Yuzhan, the anger already simmering in Bai Zhi’s heart flared up instantly.

He held back, managing not to shake off Xie Yuzhan’s hand in front of others. He just turned his head away, letting out a half-perfunctory, half-angry huff.

Lu Qinghe watched the pair leave, his mood a little complicated.

Xie Yuzhan was clearly jealous.

A narrow-minded man. Could this truly be called a purely transactional marriage? He thought CEO Xie cared deeply about Bai Zhi, but Bai Zhi seemed to misunderstand that concern.

Moreover, the little rabbit was definitely holding in his anger right now, about to explode.

But, how should he put it? Arguments that weren’t aimed at divorce were just showing affection. It might even be a form of—

Flirting—that others didn’t understand, but the participants were immersed in.

So, arguing wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. Although he really wanted to know what the usually gentle, elegant, composed, and unfathomable CEO Xie looked like when arguing with the person he liked, he probably wouldn’t live to see that spectacle.

As long as they didn’t come to blows.

Once in the car, Bai Zhi buckled his seatbelt, then rummaged through the glove compartment for a box of candy. He popped three or four pieces into his mouth, then stared out at the night scenery, saying nothing.

Xie Yuzhan knew Bai Zhi was angry and tried to keep his tone measured as he reminded him, “Don’t eat so many at once.”

Bai Zhi didn’t spare the person beside him a glance. He said curtly, “Mind your own business?”

Xie Yuzhan frowned slightly. Forget it. It was understandable if he acted this way occasionally when he was in a bad mood.

He steered the conversation back to the main topic. “A place like a bar is too chaotic after all. Try to go less often in the future, or preferably not at all.”

At this, Bai Zhi’s pent-up anger finally burst out.

He turned to face Xie Yuzhan, his voice rising. He couldn’t hold back. “We are only in a marriage of convenience! Yes, I agreed to play the role of a harmonious couple when needed, but that doesn’t mean you can interfere with my daily life arbitrarily!

“Why can’t I go to a bar with a friend? Why can’t I stay out overnight?

“I know what I can and cannot do. CEO Xie—I am an adult, not a child who needs constant supervision! You don’t need to manage my every move!”

After his long outburst, he was both confused and angry. He couldn’t understand what was wrong with Xie Yuzhan tonight. Hadn’t he always been rational and reasonable?

What was this behavior?

His going to the bar seemed to have hit a nerve.

He didn’t even know what CEO Xie was bothered about! What was this sudden fit of madness?!

Xie Yuzhan’s tone deepened. “I am considering your safety. You must understand that you are not a person without a marriage and family. If nothing happens, fine, but what if something does?”

Bai Zhi emphasized, “We are a superficial couple! It’s fake!

“Besides, even if we were truly married, a real couple, does that mean we lose our own lives? And—

“What could possibly happen? We were just having a small drink and chatting. Tell me, what could happen?”

After asking, he turned to look forward, gripping the small candy box. He added, “I am myself first, and only second your contractual marriage partner. As long as it doesn’t affect you, I have the right to choose the life I want. To be blunt, you have no right to control me.

“And I don’t like being controlled.”

The pika was a free breeze on the prairie. Unless safety was involved, no one could force him to do anything. Even as a food source for carnivores, the prairie rice had its own pika life aspirations!

Give me liberty, or give me death.

Even if his pika life was short, he loved the moments when he could run freely on the grass under the sun.

Xie Yuzhan silently gripped the steering wheel, consciously slowing his breathing rate, trying his best to suppress the restless emotions. Arguing was not his intention, but he rarely felt this close to the edge of losing control.

This was wrong.

He shouldn’t be like this.

Bai Zhi was right; he shouldn’t interfere. But the little rabbit lacked self-awareness.

Xie Yuzhan remained silent, and Bai Zhi didn’t speak again. When the car pulled into the garage, Bai Zhi didn’t want to stay in the car for another second. He swiftly got out and started to walk away, but was stopped when he reached the rear of the car.

He pursed his lips, refusing to look at the person in front of him. “I’ve said everything I need to say. Whether you listen is your business.”

“But I haven’t finished speaking.”

In the car just now, Xie Yuzhan didn’t want to argue with Bai Zhi; driving wasn’t suitable for too much distraction.

He took a half-step closer, reducing the distance between them to mere inches. He gently cupped the back of Bai Zhi’s neck, forcing the person before him to meet his gaze. Then he continued, “Zhizhi—

“Do you have some misunderstanding about your own appearance?”

Huh?

Bai Zhi shivered at Xie Yuzhan’s action. The feeling of having his fate grasped by the back of his neck was extremely unpleasant.

Meeting those deep, dark eyes, his voice was strained. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Isn’t it just that my looks are decent? What misunderstanding could there be?”

He knew he was just a pretty vase, a little grass bag, perfect as a decoration, nothing more.

Xie Yuzhan’s gaze lowered, but his lips curved up. “Appearing in a bar with your looks and that outfit is no different from a child carrying rare treasures, yet too weak to fight back, walking down a busy street. Do I need to remind you how dangerous that is?

“This time it was at Lu Qinghe’s bar. What about next time?

“So beautiful, so conspicuous, and so lacking in vigilance. Not getting into trouble is just good luck. How can you be sure your luck will hold out every time?”

Bai Zhi frowned tightly. He was finally starting to understand what Xie Yuzhan was saying.

He immediately retorted, “I can be responsible for my own actions. Even if someone tried something improper, how do you know I wouldn’t fight back? How can you be so sure I would suffer a loss?

“You pretend to care about me, but you’re actually using it as an excuse to control me! You’re overbearing, you’re autocratic! You don’t keep your word!”

Hearing Bai Zhi’s words, Xie Yuzhan couldn’t help but chuckle.

Good. Very good.

When the little rabbit got angry, he forgot to be afraid of him. He was quite articulate, puffed up and spirited, showing a bit of temper. This was much better than being endlessly obedient and sensible.

He shifted his stance, pressing Bai Zhi against the nearby wall. One hand still held the back of the other’s neck, and the other was placed on the wall beside his ear.

The distance was so close that their breaths mingled.

He removed his glasses and leaned in toward the person who was breathing rapidly after his long outburst. “Zhizhi, being overly confident is how you fall down.”

Without the barrier of the glasses, when Bai Zhi met those dark phoenix eyes directly, he was enveloped by the churning dark tide within, rooted firmly to the spot.

Hiss—

He suddenly realized what he had just said. The rabbit was sweating profusely…