Transmigrated into the world of an NTR novel as the NTR Bastard (Patreon)

Chapter 18: Let Me Sleep for a While

At a small table tucked away in the corner of Qinggang Bar, Lu Qingchuan ordered a bottle of low-alcohol fruit wine and settled down with Chen Yanyu. The fruity elixir was delicately poured into two separate glasses, a discreet choice to avoid any unwanted attention from the observant waitstaff.

"Miss Chen, here you go," Lu Qingchuan extended the glass towards her.

Chen Yanyu, her curiosity piqued, questioned, "What is this?"

"A straw," Lu Qingchuan responded with a playful grin.

Recognition flickered across her face as she delicately placed the straw into her glass, taking a tentative sip. Her eyes then met Lu Qingchuan, as if trying to decipher his intentions.

"Actually, I do know what it is," she confessed, "but the dim lighting makes it challenging to discern."

Lu Qingchuan, with a gentle smile on his face, gave her some advice, "Then stash away those sunglasses."

Relenting, Chen Yanyu carefully tucked her sunglasses into a compact case within her shoulder bag, revealing a breathtaking countenance adorned with a hint of bashfulness. Lu Qingchuan's heart skipped a beat, and he averted his gaze, momentarily overwhelmed by her radiant allure.

The alternating play of light and darkness cast an intriguing ambience as Lu Qingchuan's eyes darted across the bar, refusing to let anything escape his notice. He was on a mission, scouring the room for any sign of 'Mudan's' presence. And so, one by one, the people location unfolded before his gaze:

In the east corner, a confident big brother with a beaming smile radiated an air of self-assuredness.

Towards the back, a couple intoxicated by their love and liquor embraced passionately, their kisses a fiery testament to their connection.

On the left, a bespectacled young man engaged in animated conversation with his acquaintances.

And near the entrance, a young man stood silently, engrossed in their phone, seemingly detached from the bar's vibrant energy.

This place couldn't merely be defined as a microcosm of society, but Lu Qingchuan sensed something deeper—a profound individuality resonating within each person. They were not mere statistics from the news; they were living, breathing souls.

23:19:12… This number is like a curse.

Regardless of gender, young or old, they would all fall into the wheel of reincarnation under the hand of Mudan in the blink of an eye, regardless of any attachments that they may have with other people.

Lu Qingchuan had the appearance information of 'Mudan' and the future descriptions from the book. After 'Mudan' practiced the "Blood Demon Training Method," he absorbed the flesh and blood of the same kind and became muscular and tall.

Chen Yanyu discreetly stole a glance at Lu Qingchuan's face. His expression remained serene, neither gloomy nor overly joyful. His intense gaze remained fixed on the entrance, meticulously observing every guest entering and exiting the bar, determined not to let anyone slip by unnoticed.

"Hey, you two!" A stunningly dressed girl suddenly approached them, accompanied by her group of friends. A mischievous smile played on her lips as she spoke. "You both look absolutely gorgeous, are you guys in the middle of a date?"

Chen Yanyu felt her cheeks flush, ready to shake her head in denial, but before she could respond, she saw Lu Qingchuan nod politely, a warm smile gracing his lips. "Yes, we are."

A sharp pain shot through Lu Qingchuan's thigh as the dragon girl next to him pinched his thigh, hard, but he suppressed the urge to react. He silently endured the pain.

Engaging in meaningless conversation would distract his attention, so he wanted to get through this encounter swiftly.

"Can we take a photo together?" the girl asked eagerly, assuming that their stunning looks indicated some level of fame or celebrity status.

"Sure," Lu Qingchuan immediately agreed, his patience unwavering. The girl approached, positioning herself between Lu Qingchuan and Chen Yanyu, and snapped a photo of the trio.

Lu Qingchuan adjusted his hat and removed his mask, making a conscious effort to soften his naturally stern expression, ensuring that no imperfections would mar the photograph. Chen Yanyu's cheeks turned a subtle shade of pink as she delicately held her glass with her fair and tender fingers, playfully biting the straw and revealing a restrained smile that was undeniably adorable.

"Thank you! I hope you both have an amazing time," the young girl exclaimed before darting back to her friends at the adjacent table, seemingly eager to show off her encounter.

Despite the passage of time, 'Mudan' had yet to make an appearance. Lu Qingchuan wondered if this was the butterfly effect in action.

Even without having a direct encounter with Mudan, could the future have subtly changed? His brows furrowed as he pondered the possibilities. Perhaps 'Mudan' simply hadn't arrived yet.

Glancing at his watch, Lu Qingchuan noted that it was only 8 o'clock in the evening. They still had three hours remaining.

His gaze shifted to Chen Yanyu, who had been watching him intently. As their eyes met, she swiftly averted her gaze, pretending to admire the scenery while taking a generous sip of the fruit wine. Her face, reminiscent of a stunning peach, exuded unparalleled beauty.

Having lived alone in the Dragon Palace beneath the sea for over a decade, had Chen Yanyu never experienced the taste of alcohol before?

Lu Qingchuan hesitated and asked with concern, "Are you still good to keep going?"

"I'm good. . . .," Chen Yanyu replied, her voice slightly slurred, her cheeks flushed. The alternating lights in the bar added a dreamy touch to her already adorable face.

Lu Qingchuan fell silent for a moment, growing anxious. "Miss Chen, are you sure you won't get drunk after drinking this much?"

Chen Yanyu chuckled. "I'm positive! No worries. I'll totally help you take down the big bad villain when the time comes!" She playfully raised her small, pink fist towards Lu Qingchuan, showing off her strength.

If she hadn't brought it up, Lu Qingchuan wouldn't have been concerned. But now that she mentioned it, his heart tightened with worry.

"Don't make empty promises..."

"What do you mean by empty promises?"

"It means making claims that are unlikely to come true."

"I won't get drunk, I'm a dragon!"

A touch of pride appeared on Chen Yanyu's face, finally matching her identity.

Only then did Lu Qingchuan notice that Chen Yanyu had already finished her glass of low-alcohol fruit wine while he had only consumed half of his own.

Chen Yanyu made a dry sound as she placed the empty glass decisively on the table, showing her displeasure. "I want more."

"Don't push yourself, moderation is key when it comes to drinking," Lu Qingchuan advised.

After a moment of silence, Chen Yanyu spoke in a slightly embarrassed tone, "It's so delicious... I want to drink more."

She hadn't had many drinks in the mortal world, and her mouth watered at the thought of having more drink.

"Lu Qingchuan, can you buy me another bottle?" Chen Yanyu's eyes were like clear springs in the forest, with a hint of mist, giving off a somewhat ambiguous vibe. "I want it."

Lu Qingchuan let out a sigh and slid his partially-filled glass of wine toward Chen Yanyu.

"If you don't mind, drink this. I won't buy you another one. Next time, I'll accompany you for a good drink."

Chen Yanyu stared at the glass that Lu Qingchuan pushed towards her, hesitatingly saying, "But it will... indirectly result in a kiss."

Lu Qingchuan chuckled and playfully remarked, "You've already given me your first kiss, so why are you still feeling shy?"

"But, but that was just a brush, my first kiss is definitely still intact! It's still untouched!" Chen Yanyu's eyes welled up with tears as she pouted, her delicate face displaying a mix of grievances and innocence.

"Alright, alright, it's still there, it's still there. Just take a few sips to calm down." Lu Qingchuan nudged the partially-filled glass of fruit wine closer to Chen Yanyu.

For some inexplicable reason, whenever he was around Chen Yanyu, Lu Qingchuan couldn't help but feel mischievous, always wanting to tease her.

Chen Yanyu let out a dismissive snort and casually picked up the straw, placing it between her rosy, cherry-like lips. With a playful touch of her soft, tender tongue, she took a sip.

"That’s an indirect kiss, Miss Chen, your first kiss is gone again."

Caught off guard, Chen Yanyu's cheeks instantly puffed up. Her once delicately almond-shaped face seemed to deflate into a round shape, and tears welled up in her large, sparkling eyes, shimmering like translucent gems. She shot Lu Qingchuan a fierce glare, accompanied by a whimpering sound coming out of her lips.

"Lu Qingchuan! You big bully, how could you... you're always picking on me!" She cried, her tears flowing like pear blossoms in the rain.

Lu Qingchuan's heart melted as he witnessed her expression.

‘Goodness, and you say you're not into anime?! Your face is practically turning into a cute chibi character whenever you cry!’

"I'm sorry... your reaction was just too cute, I couldn't resist," Lu Qingchuan confessed, leaning closer and gently wiping away Chen Yanyu's tears with his hand. The girl trembled slightly but didn't pull away, her small mouth pursed as she felt the warmth of his fingers.

"Hmph! I won't forgive you so easily!"

Lu Qingchuan couldn't help but chuckle upon hearing that. "Then what do you want me to do?"

Chen Yanyu sniffled, pondering slowly.

She seemed to be facing a great dilemma in making a decision.

"I want you... I want you, um..."

As she thought about it, Chen Yanyu's voice, amidst the noisy bar, sounded like a gentle breeze passing by a train.

"Lu Qingchuan, let me sleep for a while."

Lu Qingchuan was slightly taken aback upon hearing the dragon girl, and let out a questioning look at the girl.

Rather than answering his unspoken question, Chen Yanyu tilted her head, feeling dizzy, and fell onto Lu Qingchuan's shoulder. Like a little cat, she opened her mouth wide and yawned, resting her head on his shoulder as she drifted into a deep sleep...