Villainous Junior Chapter 60
Translated by Sylver (ko-fi)
Chapter 60: Like
Meng Chen calmed himself and pushed him away firmly, reaching out to pat his head. "Did Master Mei mess up your brain with the needles? That shouldn't be the case, he seemed quite reliable..."
The man caught his hand and wiped off the medicine that had smeared on his left cheek. "I'm being serious. I recalled a scene from three thousand years ago, and I saw you in it."
Meng Chen froze, his expression clearly becoming tense. "You remembered so quickly?"
"Just one memory fragment," the man said, "but it feels very real, very familiar... it's not from imagination, it's something I truly experienced. Master Mei said the effect would be more pronounced with more acupuncture sessions. I should be able to remember everything before long."
Meng Chen looked even more nervous, his lips parted as he asked in a dry voice. "Then just now you said you remembered your name..."
The man smiled, looking into his eyes and said, "Xue Lang. I heard you calling me 'Xue Lang.'"
Meng Chen's nose stung as tears suddenly welled up in his eyes uncontrollably.
Xue Lang didn't speak, just silently pulled the young man back into his embrace. He understood Meng Chen's feelings - during this time, Meng Chen hadn't actually been as calm and certain as he appeared on the surface. He too had been worried and afraid, anxious and uneasy, fearing their hopes would be dashed and they wouldn't get the answer they wanted.
But fortunately, their gamble had paid off.
"You got medicine on my face again."
"Hmm. It's already covered anyway, a bit more won't matter."
Meng Chen sniffled and finally let out a soft laugh. Xue Lang wiped the moisture from the corner of his eye and said quietly. "From now on, I'll never make you cry again."
Meng Chen lifted his face, his slightly reddened eyes staring unblinkingly at him, his voice muffled and still slightly nasal. "And you're not allowed to leave me again."
"Alright." Xue Lang lowered his head and placed a cherishing kiss on his brow, "Even if you hit me, scold me, or drive me away, I absolutely won't leave you again - I'm a dog if I'm lying, pinky promise."
"...Childish," Meng Chen said softly, then extended his little finger and hooked it tightly with Xue Lang's.
---
When Mei Xiaohan learned that Xue Lang had remembered something so quickly, he was very pleased and gave him three more acupuncture sessions according to the treatment plan.
The deeply buried memories finally found their way out, flowing like a gentle stream bit by bit. Fragments gradually became whole, from staying up late every night on Earth following updates and banging his head against the wall for Meng Chen, to first transmigrating into the book and resolutely playing the villain, then to being reborn and experiencing everything together with Meng Chen...
After a month, he had basically remembered everything.
"But of the events from three thousand years ago, I can only remember that one fragment," Xue Lang asked in confusion after his final acupuncture session, "Why?"
He was eager to know what had actually happened back then, and why Meng Chen had been by his side at that time, but he just couldn't recall any more useful information.
"It's probably difficult to recover memories from so long ago," Mei Xiaohan put away the silver needles, "I don't have any better methods either, we can only wait a while longer and see."
Xue Lang looked dejected, and Mei Xiaohan patted his shoulder in comfort. "Think positively. While the past is important, what matters most is always the present." He winked and said with a smile, "Meng Chen is waiting for you outside."
Hearing this, Xue Lang immediately perked up. He quickly put on his clothes and walked out, indeed finding Meng Chen waiting under a pear tree in the courtyard. He held a white paper in his hands, folded it deftly a few times, then tossed it in his direction.
A snow-white paper crane fluttered its wings and flew over leisurely, landing on Xue Lang's shoulder. Then a clear, pleasant voice sounded by his ear. "Want to eat qingtuan?"
(TL: 青團 (qīng tuán) refers to green rice balls, a traditional Chinese snack made primarily from glutinous rice flour mixed with mugwort (a type of herb) or other plant juices that give it a distinct green color.)
Xue Lang looked at the person under the tree in the distance and smiled. "Yes."
"I made some, they're still warm. Let's go back and you can try them."
"Alright."
Mei Xiaohan walked out and seeing this scene, couldn't help but roll his eyes dramatically, his face twisting as if in pain. "Is this really necessary?"
Using paper cranes to send messages across just these few steps - were they trying to kill people with sweetness?
"Just say you're jealous," Xue Lang happily tucked the little paper crane into his sleeve and walked toward Meng Chen with a face full of smiles.
Mei Xiaohan watched as the two walked away shoulder to shoulder. Thinking about their series of outrageous romantic gestures - sending flowers, stars, and paper cranes - he ground his teeth fiercely and made a decision in his heart.
If that wooden block doesn't do something romantic for him tonight, he won't be allowed in his bed!!
---
Meng Chen and Xue Lang had been staying at Luochun Pavilion all this time. While Xue Lang went for acupuncture, Meng Chen had nothing to do by himself, so he simply started learning how to cook.
He remembered when they were at Taixuan Sect, Xue Lang had expressed interest in drinking chicken soup made by him. He had never stepped into a kitchen in this life, so he took advantage of this free time to secretly learn from the chef of Meihua Valley for a few days, learning how to make soup, and also made qingtuan and stir-fried some dishes himself.
When Xue Lang saw the table full of dishes, he was also stunned, taking a moment before asking. "You made these?"
"Mm." Meng Chen said, "I tasted them myself and thought they were passable, but I don't know if you'll like them."
A long time ago, junior sisters at Taixuan Sect would often bring him pastries they made themselves and take the opportunity to confess their feelings. Back then, he couldn't quite understand - cultivators had already transcended the need for food, so what was the point of sending food? Moreover, the pastries in the town below the mountain were both delicious and cheap, so why waste cultivation time making these pastries by hand?
Now he understood - when you like someone, you can't help wanting to do something for them. Even if it takes time and effort, your heart is still joyful and satisfied.
Without another word, Xue Lang quickly washed his hands and came back to stuff a qingtuan in his mouth, praising it profusely though his words were muffled. He devoured all the other dishes like a whirlwind, leaving nothing behind, and even drank three large bowls of chicken soup.
Meng Chen couldn't stop him and watched nervously from the side. "Be careful not to get too full."
Xue Lang put down his bowl and said to him earnestly. "As long as it's made by you, I can eat any amount."
Though knowing it was just sweet talk, Meng Chen couldn't help but curl his lips slightly upward as he got up to clear the bowls and chopsticks. Xue Lang quickly stopped him, swiftly stacking the dishes and carrying them away first. "You already did the cooking, I must do the dishes! And also, once in a while is enough - don't secretly cook anymore in the future, you hear? What if you get burned or cut yourself!?"
Besides, the kitchen with all its smoke and grime was no place for Meng Chen - in the future, he would handle the cooking!
Meng Chen watched him roll up his sleeves and clatter about washing dishes, then walked over quietly and hugged him from behind.
With a "crash", Xue Lang's fingers trembled and he dropped a bowl. While thinking chaotically about having to compensate Mei Xiaohan, he lowered his voice, as if afraid of disturbing something. "What's wrong?"
In his memory, Meng Chen rarely showed such tender gestures toward him - the only time he had shown weakness and dependence was when he was seriously injured and had a high fever.
Meng Chen closed his eyes and pressed his cheek against his back. "I'm sorry."
Xue Lang paused, washed and dried his hands with clean water, turned around to embrace Meng Chen, and joked. "What for? Did you put poison in the food just now?"
Meng Chen hugged his waist and stayed silent.
"Even if I knew you poisoned me, I'd still eat it," Xue Lang nuzzled the top of his head with his chin. "If I'm poisoned to death by you, I'd die willingly."
Meng Chen wanted to laugh but felt sad instead, because he knew Xue Lang meant every word.
If he gave him sugar, he would accept it with a smile; if he gave him arsenic, he would swallow it without hesitation.
Just like before in the Demon Realm, when he had approached with murderous intent and done so many heartbreaking things, yet Xue Lang had repeatedly accommodated and compromised without limits.
Even though he didn't know the truth at that time, the hurt he caused Xue Lang was real and undeniable.
During this time, as Xue Lang's memories returned, with each bit of joy and excitement in his heart, his guilt and self-blame grew proportionally.
Whether it was Xue Lang as a youth or as the Demon Venerable, he had done far too much for him.
In contrast, he himself had always just caused the other pain.
It was true in his previous life, and in this life too...
"Hey, stop overthinking," Xue Lang seemed to sense what he was thinking, cupped his face in his palms, and looked at him seriously. "Let me tell you, you don't even know how important you are to me, and like I just said, doing foolish things for you - I'm willing, I cherish it - so you're not allowed to have those messy thoughts, understand?"
Meng Chen pressed his lips together, quietly averting his gaze to avoid eye contact. Seeing this expression, Xue Lang knew he was overthinking again. Feeling somewhat anxious, he blurted out without thinking. "If you really feel sorry for me, what's the point of just apologizing with words? Show me with actions!"
After saying it, he nearly bit his tongue - look at your stupid mouth, if you can't speak properly then keep it shut!
Unexpectedly, not only did Meng Chen not get angry upon hearing this, he turned his gaze back, his black eyelashes fluttering quickly, looking somewhat nervous.
Before Xue Lang could react, Meng Chen had already wrapped his arms around his neck, lightly rose on his tiptoes, closed his eyes, and tilted his head to kiss him.