The Villains All Fell in Love with Me After Rebirth : Chapter 90 - Love
Chapter 90: Love
Ji Ling was deep in thought with his eyes closed when he suddenly felt a cool pair of lips press against his. He was so shocked that his eyes flew open, staring blankly at the face right in front of him. His gaze was dazed, and he completely forgot to move.
Ning Yu looked into the boy’s confused eyes, lifted his head with a faint smile, and his voice was low and hoarse. “Close your eyes, hmm?”
Then he leaned in again and kissed him harder.
Ji Ling’s whole body tensed up, unsure how to react. He could only close his eyes in a daze, like a puppet, completely lost… The man’s strong and firm hand cradled the back of his head, his powerful body pressing in, trapping him tightly in his embrace. The heat of his breath seeped in through his lips, gently yet mercilessly stealing the air from his lungs.
For some reason, Ji Ling’s thoughts drifted far away—to that world back then…
To the time when Gabriel had blindfolded him and kissed him.
Logically, he should have been terrified, but… why wasn’t he? Was it simply because that person had saved him before?
Or was it because his kisses had always been gentle and restrained, never going too far—dominant yet filled with tenderness?
Some things couldn’t be seen or touched, but deep down, the heart could always sense them.
He knew that this person wouldn’t hurt him.
He had always known.
His heart understood it even before his rational mind did.
No matter how much he had provoked and challenged Ning Yu, Ning Yu had always indulged him, pampered him, and let him have his way. Long ago, he had already seen through him completely.
Ning Yu slowly let go and chuckled softly by Ji Ling’s ear. “See? Making a choice isn’t as hard as you thought...”
Ji Ling slowly opened his eyes and looked at the man in front of him.
He could no longer deceive himself into thinking he had no feelings for this person. If he truly felt disgusted, if he truly wanted to reject him, he could have pushed him away just now—just like he had with others. But he didn’t.
There were no constraints of character settings, no life-threatening dangers, no threats, no lies.
And yet, he still didn’t push him away. He had missed his last chance to do so.
This was his true feeling.
And it was exactly what Ning Yu wanted him to realize.
But still… something felt off. Why was that?
Because Ning Yu never intended to ‘share’ in the first place! That whole speech was just to test him, to force him into making a decision sooner. He knew that Ji Ling would never accept such an outrageous proposal!
Pretending to let him consider things, only to steal a kiss halfway through…
He got played again. :)
Ji Ling glared at him, refusing to admit he had fallen into another trap. Proudly tilting his chin up, he shot Ning Yu a sidelong glance and huffed, “I’ve thought it over, and I think your first suggestion was great. You can take Thursdays!”
Then he stomped on Ning Yu’s foot, turned red-faced, and ran away.
Run. If he didn’t leave now, he’d die of embarrassment!
Ning Yu was momentarily stunned, then watched the boy’s retreating figure. After a while, a trace of indulgence flickered in his eyes, and he let out a soft chuckle.
…………………
Ji Ling ran all the way back to his dorm. Fortunately, no one was inside at the moment. If Wang Yixin and the others saw him in this state, who knew what nonsense they’d come up with…
Ji Ling touched his lips, recalling what had just happened, and then flopped face-first onto his bed.
H-he… Does this mean he agreed to be with Ning Yu?!
Starting today, he officially had a boyfriend. Wait… wasn’t he supposed to date a girl in college?!
Life was unpredictable after all!
In short, Ji Xiaoling was extremely nervous about his first-ever relationship!
But to his surprise, even after they got together, Ning Yu’s presence in his life didn’t seem much different from before. He didn’t demand any special boyfriend privileges, nor did he act overly affectionate in public. If anything had changed, it was just that he texted a little more often, carrying an unspoken sense of closeness.
It felt as if they had already been together for a long time, like an old married couple.
At first, Ji Ling was a little uneasy, feeling like there wasn’t much of a difference between agreeing to date Ning Yu and not. But later, he realized—this was actually really nice!
Honestly, if Ning Yu had rushed to make their relationship public, if he had loudly announced it to the world and clung to him like other couples did, Ji Ling would have hesitated and struggled. After all, their situation wasn’t like Wang Yixin’s—it was much more unconventional.
For Ji Ling, being straight for eighteen years and then suddenly deciding to date a guy was already a huge leap. To then expect him to come out and face the world’s scrutiny all at once… he wasn’t ready for that.
So Ning Yu’s approach was perfect—it gave him no pressure.
He wanted to take things slow, and Ning Yu understood his concerns.
Ning Yu had always been considerate of others' feelings. If Ji Ling wasn’t comfortable with something, he wouldn’t force it upon him.
Ji Ling wasn’t clueless—he could see that much.
That day, they were gaming in the dorm again. Wang Yixin and the others loved playing with Ji Ling because whenever he was online, that legendary player ‘Xiao Jia’ would usually be there too.
Wang Yixin: “Lingling, Lingling, is God Jia online today? Please, let God Jia carry me to victory!”
Zheng Lin: “Lingling, you must know God Jia, right? How did you meet him?”
Chen Ming: “I want to be his disciple…”
Ji Ling: “Ahem. Uh… he might come online.”
After saying this, he quickly took out his phone and secretly messaged Ning Yu: [Are you free to log in now? Chen Ming says he wants to be your disciple.]
Ning Yu replied instantly: [I'm free. I can.]
Ji Ling: [Why do you always reply so fast…]
Ning Yu: [Because I set you as a special contact. What about you?]
Someone who hadn't set a special contact silently added a star to someone's avatar and shamelessly said: [I set it too.]
Ning Yu: smile.jpg
Uh-oh, he felt like he had been seen through again. Feeling guilty, Ji Ling put down his phone.
But even if he figured it out, he wouldn't admit it. Hmph!
………………
Time passed quickly. During this period, neither Jing Sui nor Carlos appeared again, and Ji Ling rarely left the school. Occasionally, he met up with Wen Yan to discuss the game, handed over the character designs, and spent his free time attending classes, sleeping, and playing games.
Every now and then, Ji Ling would check his email, but the system still hadn't replied. However, he no longer minded.
Once he put down his burdens, he realized that those people weren't actually that scary. Now, he could freely do what he wanted, refuse what he didn't want, and—more importantly—he no longer needed to fear them.
Wang Yixin had fallen into passionate love, spreading the stench of romance in the dorm every day, while Zheng Lin and Chen Ming remained single.
Whenever they felt down about their love lives, they would look at Ji Ling and say: “Look, even someone as handsome as Xiao Ling hasn't found a girlfriend yet. Why should we be in a rush? At least we have Xiao Ling with us. You're our leader in the Singles Alliance! You'll be the one to help us find love!”
Whenever this happened, Ji Ling never said much. He just held his phone and laughed dryly.
Sorry, I've betrayed the organization.
That evening, Ji Ling left the library’s reading room, strolling leisurely down the path. His phone chimed with a message from Ning Yu: [I'm waiting for you at the usual spot.]
Ji Ling paused for a moment before heading toward the eastern corner of the campus. There was a maple forest there, a quiet and secluded place at night—well-known as a lover's retreat. They often met there, and as long as they were careful, they wouldn’t be discovered…
The moon was bright tonight, casting a cool glow on the ground, its light fragmented by the tree branches into a dappled pattern.
The air was crisp, carrying the fresh scent of rain.
Just as Ji Ling arrived, a hand suddenly pulled him forward, pressing him against a large tree. Ning Yu brushed his nose against Ji Ling’s neck and chuckled in a low voice, “I missed you.”
Ji Ling's neck felt ticklish. Thankfully, the night concealed his flushed face. He mumbled, “Why are you here again…”
Ning Yu's voice was husky: “Today's Thursday. Did you forget?”
Ji Ling: “...”
He lifted his head, his dark eyes deep and hazy under the night sky, reflecting a gentle, affectionate glow. “I can only see you once a week.”
Ji Ling's face burned. Was this joke never going to die?! I was just messing around!
Ning Yu gazed at him, his eyes filled with deep emotion and restrained longing. He sighed and said hoarsely, “I'm just a secret lover who can't see the light of day, and I can only meet you once a week. If I don’t show up… I'm afraid you’ll forget me.”
Ji Ling: “...”
Why did it feel like he wasn't just a flirt but also a heartless scumbag...?
Although his ‘Thursday schedule’ remark was made in a fit of anger, the ‘secret lover’ part did seem to be true. He still wasn’t ready to make their relationship public. For Ning Yu... was this unfair?
Ji Ling looked up, noticing the fleeting vulnerability in Ning Yu’s gaze. Guilt welled up in him. He cleared his throat and said, “I-I never said you could only come once... You can come whenever you want…”
“Thank you.” Ning Yu suddenly smiled, his gaze softening. “Then, can I kiss you?”
Ji Ling hesitated for a moment before giving a small nod.
Ning Yu immediately leaned in and kissed him. He propped one hand against the tree behind Ji Ling’s neck, pressing deep and forceful. Ji Ling found it hard to breathe but felt too embarrassed to resist. Soon, he was kissed until his eyes turned misty.
“This weekend, let's go on a date, okay?” Ning Yu murmured, kissing the corner of Ji Ling’s eye.
Ji Ling was still a little upset about how aggressive Ning Yu had been just now. But seeing him speak so softly and remembering how he rarely got to meet him, Ji Ling couldn't bear to refuse. “...Mm.”
Just then, the rustling sound of wind passing through the trees made Ji Ling tense up. “I-I should head back first!”
Ning Yu gazed at him tenderly and nodded.
Ji Ling glanced around before slipping away as fast as he could. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of other couples nestled in the nearby trees, making him feel like he was also doing something shady.
Whew, at least no one saw!
Ning Yu stood in place, watching Ji Ling’s figure disappear. His smile slowly faded, and he turned his gaze toward the shadows.
Wen Yan stepped out from the darkness. He had been following Ji Ling ever since he left the library. Although Ji Ling had never mentioned it to anyone, Wen Yan had long sensed that something was different.
Even though he had already suspected it, seeing it with his own eyes still made jealousy surge in his heart. Ning Yu had clearly noticed him and had deliberately put on a show—just to stake his claim.
Wen Yan spoke coldly, “You're just taking advantage of his soft heart.”
Ning Yu raised an eyebrow slightly, his gaze sharp with a hint of provocation. “Aren't you doing the same? Using his kindness to stay by his side?”
“At least… he likes me.”
Wen Yan let out a cold laugh and said, “You're right. But are you sure you can take good care of him? If you make him sad, I won't step aside.”
Ning Yu said indifferently, “I won't give you that chance.”
He stepped forward, and as he passed Wen Yan, he glanced sideways and chuckled. “Why bring trouble upon yourself? Just be his ‘Senior Yu’ properly, isn't that good enough?”
Wen Yan's fingers clenched tightly.
It was only after Ning Yu had left for a long time that he finally loosened his grip, his lips curling into a self-mocking smile.
Yeah… in the end, he could only be ‘Senior Yu.’
But giving up just like that—it really was a bit frustrating.
………………
Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, two days had gone by, bringing them to the agreed-upon day.
Ji Ling stretched lazily on his bed before getting up to wash up. He hadn’t gone on a date with Ning Yu recently because he’d been busy, and now that they were about to meet, he felt a little nervous. So this was what love felt like...
Ji Ling checked his phone and headed to the North Gate, where he immediately spotted Ning Yu's car parked by the roadside. He opened the car door and got in, asking, “Where are we going today?”
Ning Yu was dressed in a light gray casual suit, his shirt collar slightly open, revealing his sexy Adam’s apple. He looked both relaxed and elegantly lazy, his black, soft short hair falling slightly over his forehead. His handsome face carried a gentle smile as he replied, “I'm taking you to eat something delicious.”
Ji Ling never refused good food, so he happily agreed.
This time, the trip was a bit longer. Instead of choosing a place near the school, Ning Yu drove out to a mountain lodge on the outskirts of the city. The scenery there was beautiful, and besides dining, there were also leisure and entertainment activities. After parking the car, Ning Yu smiled and said, “The specialty dishes here are pretty good, so I brought you to try them.”
Ji Ling: “Oh.”
He followed Ning Yu into a bamboo house, where a girl dressed in traditional Chinese clothing set the table and took their order.
As Ji Ling looked at the table full of delicious food, his appetite was immediately whetted. Mmm, it really was good—especially the braised fish…
As he was eating happily, he suddenly heard a teasing chuckle from across the table.
Ji Ling looked up in confusion and met Ning Yu's amused eyes. Ning Yu said slowly, “Your tastes really haven't changed at all…”
Ji Ling: “…”
Thanks for the reminder. He suddenly recalled how, back at the base, this shameless guy had tricked him into giving up his dried fish. How could such a brazen scoundrel even exist in this world? :)
He obviously knew Ji Ling liked eating fish. Couldn't he have prepared a few extra for him?!
Ji Ling gave a fake smile. “Oh, really?”
Ning Yu looked at him sincerely. “Yes, and I didn’t even ask for it back then. You insisted on giving it to me.”
Huh? Huh?! HUH???
Wait a minute, that was actually true! Back then, he had imagined how miserable and pitiful Ning Yu was, thinking he hadn’t eaten, and had forced the fish on him…
Now he was even more annoyed.
Ning Yu continued slowly, “But what I never expected was that one day, a young boy would buy me over with just a single dried fish. And to think, I am an SSS-rank evolutionary, a rising star, an empire idol, adored by countless fans… I never thought that one day, I’d be worth so little.”
He gazed deeply into Ji Ling’s eyes, his thin lips parting slightly as he said each word clearly, “If you wanted me to devote myself to you, just one dried fish would have been enough.”
Ji Ling, who had been fuming, suddenly found his anger snuffed out. His face turned bright red from being teased. You, you, you… what is wrong with you…?
Such nonsense!
Always spouting nonsense!
Ji Ling immediately lowered his head and focused on eating, refusing to engage further. He couldn't out-talk this guy!
By the time he finished the meal and finally looked up, he realized that Ning Yu had barely eaten. Most of the time, he had just been watching him.
Ji Ling asked in confusion, “Aren't you hungry?”
Ning Yu smiled. “Not too much.”
Ji Ling: “......”
Ning Yu gazed at the boy, a deep and tender emotion flickering in his eyes. He always acted like he was calm and in control, but in reality, he had felt despair and uncertainty, too… There had been a time when he thought he would never see this person again.
He couldn’t be sure he would win Ji Ling’s heart. He only had a slight advantage in their relationship.
But every word he had spoken earlier was true.
He had fallen for Ji Ling long ago.
But when did it become impossible for him to let go? When had Ji Ling completely captured him, making him willingly surrender his heart?
It must have been back then…
Back when Ji Ling, a clueless outsider, had unknowingly barged into his world, drawn his attention, and had no idea what kind of existence he had truly provoked.
I will never let go of you again—because you were the one who first lured me in.
Ning Yu stood up, picked up his jacket, and smiled gently. “Are you full? Let's go for a walk.”
Ji Ling patted his stomach. Mmm, he was definitely full.
He stood up and walked over. As soon as he reached Ning Yu’s side, Ning Yu grabbed his hand. The warmth and strength of the man’s palm enveloped his, and the warmth spread through their clasped hands. Ji Ling froze for a moment.
Ning Yu naturally held his hand and smiled. “No one knows us here.”
Ji Ling blushed but didn't pull away, allowing Ning Yu to hold his hand.
As they walked, perhaps due to the intimate atmosphere, neither of them spoke first.
They walked for quite a while in silence, and then Ning Yu suddenly turned to him and said, “I admit I was wrong.”
Ji Ling: “???”
Ning Yu sighed, his eyes filled with a mix of helplessness and sincerity. “I shouldn't have made the first suggestion. Actually, I’m petty, jealous, and not so magnanimous. I really don’t want you looking at anyone else. I want your eyes to only see me…”
Ji Ling was momentarily lost in thought before he proudly said, “Since you’re so sincere in admitting your mistake, I’ll agree not to look at them anymore.”
Ning Yu looked at him, his voice low and hoarse. “Thank you…”
Suddenly, he turned and leaned closer to Ji Ling, reaching out to gently cup the young man’s face. His dark eyes seemed to shimmer with starlight, beautiful and tender.
Ji Ling’s heart raced. Oh no, it seemed like he was being seduced again...
Just as Ning Yu was about to kiss him, a cough suddenly came from beside them.
Both of them quickly turned their heads and saw a middle-aged man dressed in a suit, with a dignified appearance, standing nearby. He lightly coughed into his fist.
Ji Ling quickly took a step back. It was so awkward to be interrupted at such a moment.
He should have found a more secluded spot earlier—he’d been careless!
But Ning Yu's expression was a little different. He seemed somewhat surprised, then shrugged and smiled, saying, “Big brother.”
Ji Ling was stunned. “Huh?”
Big brother? What big brother?
The middle-aged man walked over with a calm, confident stride. He had the demeanor of someone who held a high position, yet his gaze toward Ji Ling was not harsh. He smiled gently as he introduced himself in a low voice, “Hello, I’m Ning Yue’s older brother, Ning Zhen.”
Ji Ling: “…”
His mind almost short-circuited. After a long pause, he stammered, “B-b-big brother, hello…”
Wait, why was he calling him big brother too?
Ning Zhen glanced at Ji Ling, smiled nonchalantly, then looked at Ning Yu and said, his expression turning serious, “Do you have time? Let’s find a place to talk.”
Ning Yu stared at him for a moment, then nodded slightly.
Ji Ling thought to himself that this ‘big brother’ clearly wasn’t an ordinary person. He must have something important to discuss. He decided to act like an irrelevant bystander and tried to sneak away quietly.
But just then, Ning Zhen turned around and slowly said to him, “You should come too.”
Ji Ling: “…?”
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