They All Want to Be My Female Lead v2 c74

Chapter 74: Can I Live With You?

The moment Yan Zhen touched her, Xiao Xinyan reacted, her legs clamping together as she instinctively thrust her hips upwards, seeking more contact.

Ignoring her unintentional seduction, Yan Zhen focused on circulating his Mystic Power, guiding the detoxification process while simultaneously stimulating a pressure point on her lower back.

Her moans intensified, and her body began to tremble once more. Seizing the opportunity, Yan Zhen pressed down on another pressure point, this one near her navel.

“Ahhh!”

A shrill cry escaped her lips, echoing through the room. Anyone within earshot would have heard her.

Yan Zhen wanted nothing more than to remove his hand, but he needed to ensure the drug was completely purged from her system. He maintained his hold on the pressure point until her stiff muscles relaxed and her body slumped back into the water.

Releasing his hold, he glanced down. The hem of his tunic was soaked, a faint, musky scent clinging to the damp fabric.

Damn it!

This outfit was ruined.

He really didn’t understand the purpose of this scene in the original story. Even if it was meant to showcase the protagonist’s kind heart, did it have to be written this way?

Glancing at Xiao Xinyan, who was still lost in the afterglow, Yan Zhen felt his own control slipping. He quickly untied the makeshift restraints and re-hung her clothes on the screen. Without another word, he turned to leave.

“W-wait.”

A weak voice called out from behind him.

“No need for thanks. I’ll just add this to my diary,” he quipped over his shoulder before beating a hasty retreat.

Back on the rooftops, Yan Zhen stripped off his damp clothes and tossed them aside, changing into a clean uniform.

A notification chimed in his mind, signaling the completion of his mission. He brought up the system interface to claim his reward.

[Special Trump Card – Katō Eagle Finger: Upon activation, grants the Host’s finger a special ability. Touching a female target’s skin directly will induce full-body spasms and uncontrollable… moisture. Effectiveness decreases with higher target cultivation levels.]

“…”

I should have just ignored this mission. Not only had he wasted time and ended up soaked, but the reward was utterly ridiculous!

With nothing pressing to do, Yan Zhen considered returning to his room to meditate. Instead, he decided to go shopping for groceries.

…

By the time the four girls returned from the academy, Yan Zhen had already gathered the ingredients and set up a barbecue grill in the courtyard. The table overflowed with meat, seafood, vegetables, and mushrooms.

He lit the charcoal, the flames crackling merrily as they took hold. Everything was ready.

The girls stared at him in bewilderment.

Yan Zhen gestured at the grill with a flourish. “Barbecue tonight! I cook, you eat. Consider it a small token of my gratitude for your care these past few days. Got it?”

The girls’ eyes lit up, especially Mi Xue’er and Instructor Yu Xuan, who had never tasted his cooking before. Yan Meng’er and Yan Ruyu, on the other hand, were reminded of their childhood, when Yan Zhen would roast bird eggs and wild chickens he had caught for them.

“I’ll help you, Cousin!” Yan Meng’er chirped.

“Good girl, that’s my cousin.” Yan Zhen patted her head affectionately.

Ah, sibling harmony.

Seeing this, Yan Ruyu gathered her courage and stepped forward. “I’ll help too,” she mumbled. “I want to make sure it’s edible. I don’t want to go to bed hungry.”

“Don’t you worry, I guarantee it’ll be delicious.” Yan Zhen puffed out his chest confidently. As the protagonist, attracting mythical beasts with his barbecue skills was practically a given!

Yan Ruyu snorted, unconvinced.

Not to be left out, Mi Xue’er chimed in. “Little Brother Yan Zhen, I want to try grilling too! Can I?”

Yan Zhen adopted a serious expression. “Senior Sister Xue’er, food is not a toy. Wasting it is a sin!”

“I won’t waste any! You can just eat whatever I grill, Little Brother Yan Zhen.”

“Why me? Is that your way of subtly implying you’re a terrible cook?” Yan Zhen deadpanned.

Mi Xue’er stuck her tongue out at him playfully.

Instructor Yu Xuan clapped her hands. “How about this? Yan Zhen, you grill for us, and we’ll grill for you. After all, you’re our resident big eater.”

“I second Instructor Yu Xuan’s proposal!” Yan Meng’er exclaimed.

“I… agree as well,” Yan Ruyu added reluctantly.

“Yes, yes! Let’s do that, Cousin!”

With all three girls voicing their agreement, what else could he say?

“I suppose that works,” he grumbled. “Though this isn’t quite what I had in mind.”

Instructor Yu Xuan smiled gently. “Don’t worry about formalities, Yan Zhen. As long as everyone’s having fun. Overthinking things will just spoil the mood.”

“You’re right.” Yan Zhen rubbed his cheek sheepishly.

Their earlier awkwardness forgotten, the girls set to work with enthusiasm, brushing oil onto the grill grates and skewering ingredients with practiced ease.

Yan Meng’er was a natural. Yan Ruyu, however, seemed a bit out of her element. As for Mi Xue’er, she was clearly more interested in playing with the food than cooking it, much to Instructor Yu Xuan’s amusement.

“Instructor, teach me!” she whined.

“Alright, alright.” Instructor Yu Xuan chuckled. “I haven’t barbecued in ages. Let’s see if I still remember how it’s done.”

And so, the head chef of their little group joined the other girls, their laughter filling the courtyard.

The four beauties, each with their unique charm, created a captivating sight as they bustled about, their heads bent in concentration.

Yan Zhen was suddenly struck by a wave of contentment. He was a lucky man.

Sure, his cousin often disrupted his acting, his other cousin seemed determined to be his nemesis, Senior Sister Xue’er enjoyed teasing him mercilessly, and Instructor Yu Xuan’s affections were rather taxing on his youthful vigor. But at the end of the day, they all cared about him.

In life, one encountered countless people, but only a precious few truly held your best interests at heart.

— Cherish those who love you.

A profound realization dawned on Yan Zhen, and his Spiritual Flame flickered momentarily above his brow before disappearing.

If he were to extend his Spiritual Perception now, he would discover that its range had increased once more.

Taking a deep breath, Yan Zhen turned his attention to the task at hand.

“Cousin, I’m done grilling the chicken wings! Try one!”

Yan Meng’er presented a skewer of chicken wings like a prized offering. Yan Zhen sprinkled on some seasoning and took a bite, the crispy skin giving way to tender, juicy meat.

“Well? How is it?” she asked expectantly.

“Not bad, but the skin could be crispier.”

Yan Meng’er’s eyes widened. “Then… then I’ll grill it a little longer. I’ll just eat this one since it’s not good enough for you.”

She took a deliberate bite from the exact spot he had just bitten, humming happily as she savored the flavor.

Yan Zhen, preoccupied with his grilling, didn’t notice, but the other three girls did. They shot Yan Meng’er scandalized looks. How could she be so shameless?

Instructor Yu Xuan, having experienced a less “innocent” version of this scenario, couldn’t help but recall the view from her previous position at Yan Zhen’s feet. Her mouth began to water, and she discreetly wiped her lips.

“Meng’er!” Yan Zhen exclaimed, quickly pulling the skewer away. “Do you want to eat it or not?”

“I do, I do!” She grabbed his hand and brought the chicken wing back to her mouth, taking a small bite. “Mmm~ As expected of Cousin! You’re the best cook!” Her tone was exaggerated, her expression deliberately cute, giving her a rather manipulative air.

Yan Zhen resisted the urge to flick her forehead.

After handing the skewer back to Yan Meng’er, he addressed the other three girls. “If you’re hungry, just grab whatever you like. I’ve grilled quite a bit already.”

The three girls approached him, skewers in hand, their expressions a mixture of anticipation and annoyance.

Yan Zhen shrank back slightly, raising his hands in surrender as he accepted their offerings. “Thank you. Just tell me what else you want, and I’ll grill it for you.”

The three girls didn’t respond. Instead, they each reached for a sausage skewer, as if by prior agreement.

Yan Zhen flushed, feeling oddly judged. It’s all my cousin’s fault!

Yan Meng’er, feigning ignorance, nibbled on her sausage, her cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk.

Knock, knock!

The sound of the courtyard gate knocker startled them. They exchanged confused glances before Mi Xue’er hurried over to answer it.

The moment she saw who it was, she instinctively tried to shut the door.

Standing on their doorstep was none other than Xiao Xinyan.

“Can I help you?” Mi Xue’er asked coolly.

“I’m… I’m looking for Instructor Yu Xuan,” Xiao Xinyan mumbled, her head bowed. “May I… may I come in?”

Mi Xue’er stared at her, taken aback. This polite, subdued version of Xiao Xinyan was completely unfamiliar. Where was the arrogant, condescending girl who always looked down on them? Even at the Sacred Land Academy, she had remained unchanged.

Mi Xue’er studied her carefully. Even against the light, she could see the pallor of Xiao Xinyan’s face.

Then, she remembered. Today was the day Xiao Shi had drugged Xiao Xinyan and almost… It seemed the incident had shaken her more than she had anticipated.

But she didn’t recall Xiao Xinyan seeking out Instructor Yu Xuan in her previous life.

Uncertainty gnawed at her. Instead of answering, she stepped aside.

Xiao Xinyan entered, pausing briefly as she passed Mi Xue’er. As if just remembering her manners, she murmured a quiet “thank you.”

The others stared at her in surprise. Yan Zhen, in particular, felt a pang of guilt.

What is she doing here? Don’t tell me she’s here for revenge?

This wasn’t in the script… A sense of foreboding washed over him.

Xiao Xinyan walked straight towards Instructor Yu Xuan, her gaze flickering towards Yan Zhen briefly.

“Instructor Yu Xuan.”

“Xinyan, what brings you here?” Instructor Yu Xuan frowned, concerned by the girl’s pale complexion. After all, she was still her student. “Did something happen?”

“Instructor, I…”

Xiao Xinyan’s eyes welled up, her voice choked with emotion.

She recounted the events of that afternoon, her voice trembling as she fought back tears. By the end of her story, she was openly sobbing.

“Brother Xiao Mie took Xiao Shi back to the family estate for punishment, but… but Instructor Mo from the academy has taken an interest in his Mystic Refining talent. I’m afraid the family won’t punish him severely. They’ll just think I’m making a big deal out of nothing.”

Instructor Mo was one of the three Mystic Refiners at the academy, and the only one who had reached Tier 3. The other two were only at Tier 2.

If Instructor Mo were to take Xiao Shi on as a disciple, Xiao Shi’s status would skyrocket. He would outrank even Xiao Xinyan, who, as a girl, was expected to marry into another family eventually. Besides, she hadn’t technically been… violated.

The others listened with a mixture of pity and annoyance. As irritating as Xiao Xinyan could be, they couldn’t help but feel sorry for her predicament.

However, they all knew the situation wasn’t as dire as she feared. Instructor Mo wouldn’t take Xiao Shi as his disciple. He wasn’t at the age where he needed to find an heir to his legacy.

“Don’t worry, Xinyan. I will help you.” Instructor Yu Xuan patted her head reassuringly. “Even if your family doesn’t punish him, the academy will not tolerate such behavior. Someone with such flawed morals has no place in our institution.”

“Thank you, Instructor.” Xiao Xinyan sniffled. “But I’m still scared. I… I don’t want to stay at that house anymore. Instructor, can I… can I move in with you?”