Chapter 47: I’ll Help You Build a Harem
Gasps of surprise and disbelieving shouts erupted around me.
The rich young masters stared at me, their eyes wide, having seen the goddess of their hearts so easily agree to a man who wasn’t even wearing a suit. Some even pinched the person next to them, just to prove they weren’t dreaming.
Of course, this had nothing to do with me. I took Ruansui’s outstretched hand and led her away from the center of the dance floor, leaving the crowd behind.
“Although I invited you, I can’t dance, Ruanruan.”
Ruansui wiped a tear from the corner of her eye, a sweet smile blooming on her face. Her tone was incredibly gentle as she spoke.
“I know. I’ll teach you.”
While I had never truly danced before, I had learned some basic dance moves from a certain anime that shared its name with a broadcast gymnastics routine.
So, led by Ruansui, I carefully took steps, making sure not to step on her feet.
But I danced terribly. I could feel how awkward my movements were, and I couldn’t even imagine how awful they looked to others.
“Juncheng,” she called out my name, and a sense of incongruity washed over me.
Ruansui should have called me ‘Jun Jun’…. No, I didn’t really care about the name, and calling me that would be a bit mushy, and also… embarrassing.
But Ruansui shouldn’t care about what others thought. She preferred to use intimate names for me. During our dates, she always engaged in displays of affection that blinded those around us. That’s why I went along with calling her ‘Ruanruan’. Of course, I felt shy at first, but after a while, I got used to it.
It was like how I changed from calling my teacher “Teacher” to “Lili.” I could get used to anything.
But now she suddenly called me Juncheng… Was it because she was being considerate of something?
The title had changed slightly, from lover to beloved, but the name below was still Ji Lianbing. The status bar wasn’t visible, meaning Ruansui didn’t have any special status at the moment.
I dismissed the slight doubt in my heart. Perhaps I was just overthinking things.
“Don’t think too much, Juncheng. Just keep stepping forward. I’ll lead you, heh heh heh.”
Ruansui moved closer, her abdomen pressing firmly against my lower body. Suppressing the turmoil in my heart, I listened to her words and stopped thinking about other things. I activated the Thought Acceleration 2.0 that I had comprehended while jumping off the building, slowing down the surroundings to give myself more reaction time to keep up with Ruansui.
What was originally a clumsy dance for two people became somewhat presentable after some adjustments and planning.
As the song ended, following Ruansui’s instructions and completing the final pose, the surrounding crowd began to clap.
The dancing wasn’t particularly flashy, but seeing Ruansui, this vibrant and beautiful flower, dancing made it feel like a work of art spinning. And as a vase, as long as I didn’t impede the flower’s movement, I had completed my mission.
After Ruansui bowed to the crowd, she didn’t give anyone else a chance to approach. She immediately returned to my side and pulled me away from the dance floor.
Beside me, she was lightly panting, fine beads of sweat on her forehead. A scent distinct from perfume wafted from Ruansui’s body, making it impossible for me to see anyone else.
Impeccably beautiful. The word “perfect” could only describe her.
“What should I say at a time like this? Long time no see, I’m back, it’s finally good to see you again… I feel like no sentence can fully express my current feelings.”
I felt the same way.
“Shall… shall we hug first?”
Before she could agree, I had already embraced Ruansui, and a warmth I hadn’t felt in a long time filled my heart.
Wherever you are is my home. With you, I can feel my heart being… I feel a sense of peace.
“Heh, so clingy, eh…”
“I want to hold you right now.”
“Aren’t you holding me right now?”
“I mean that kind of holding. When I say I want to hold you, I mean I want to possess you.”
I couldn’t help but say it, out loud, in front of everyone.
Even though I was holding Ruansui and whispering this to her, it was the first time I had directly expressed my possessiveness towards her.
Perhaps it was because I had just been freed from my captivity, and the influence from Lan hadn’t subsided yet.
“Mmh? That kind of…?”
“You mean…? Now? I’m not mentally prepared… B-but, if Juncheng wants to… I-I’m okay with it too… Oh no, it makes me love her even more… I can’t distinguish if this is affection or desire, or perhaps both, mixed together, inseparable.
This is a light novel. So, I should restrain myself a little. Restrain what! I’m taking her with me right now.
In the end, I came to this dance for one reason: to see Lianbing. This world’s Lianbing wouldn’t know me. If not for that twist of fate, I wouldn’t have had any contact with her. So, I had originally just wanted to see her from afar and be satisfied. But I never expected to see Ruanruan, whom I hadn’t seen in a long time. There was no need to hold back any longer. Ruanruan, undoubtedly, was the person I loved most.
“Then let’s go now.”
“Ah, wait, Juncheng.”
“What is it?”
“I didn’t come alone. I have to say goodbye to her before we go.”
“Hmm? You came with someone… Ah, she’s coming over now.” She walked up to me, crossed her arms, and narrowed her eyes, looking somewhat resigned.
“You really are something… to openly hug someone in public like this.” It was Li Nai, the elegant lady of this world.
But the atmosphere she exuded was hostile. After all, she had seen me embrace Lianbing just moments ago.
This would be the third time, right? The first was when I came out of the hotel with Lan. The second was on the way to school with Ke Ling and Xinran when Li Nai appeared during an explosion. And now this. Most importantly, three times with three different women. I really couldn’t clear my name anymore…
No matter who saw it, they would only think of me as a super scum who was dating three, or even four, people at once.
I scratched my head, offering no explanation. I had stopped trying to explain. After all, it was all the truth. Lan had become the Lan I knew, and this world’s Lianbing was also Ruansui. Both of them were the most important people to me. Even in another world, I had taken a step I couldn’t take back. The choice to turn back no longer existed. I wouldn’t look back until the ship sank.
“…Why does it have to be you…”
Li Nai sighed helplessly and looked at me with a complicated gaze. The entire novel… Huh? Is it over already?
I thought she would lose it and teach me a lesson this time. After all, they say there are limits, and even Buddha’s smiling face only lasts so long. Logically speaking, the serious Li Nai of this world, who had lost two of her three precious books, should have started scolding me. But she didn’t. She didn’t even seem angry; she looked more deflated.
“Juncheng, I can understand your actions, but understanding does not mean accepting…”
As she spoke, Li Nai’s gaze shifted to Ruansui, and she said to her,
“No matter what happened in the past, I will not accept this just like this.”
After saying this, Li Nai turned and left the ballroom, as if her sole purpose for coming was to see me and tell Ruansui something. The surrounding people were in an uproar, as they had no idea what had happened. Not to mention them, even I didn’t quite understand what had happened.
However, from an outsider’s perspective, it looked like two beauty queens vying for me, creating a Shura Field. What kind of romantic comedy is this…
I looked at Ruansui beside me blankly. Ruanruan tilted her head and gave a slight smile. She said demurely,
“Heh heh, I’ve already told Nana about everything.”
…Huh? “Everything?”
Could it be… Ruansui nodded, confirming my guess.
“That’s right, everything about this world, and about the real world, about you, Juncheng, and your relationships with others. I told her everything.”
“Eh? You told Li Nai everything?! Is that really okay? Although I only learned most of the truth not too long ago, I had no intention of telling anyone. For one thing, no one would believe me. Even if I did tell everyone, it would only have negative consequences. And if Ruansui even told Li Nai that this world was just a spiritual world, it would be even more devastating. It would be equivalent to telling Li Nai directly, ‘You’re just a fake, this world is also fake, and there’s another you in the real world, and that you is a fool.’ Something that could drive someone insane in an instant.”
“Why would you do that?” Ruansui just smiled and linked her arm with mine, saying,
“We can talk about it outside.” As a result, Ruansui pulled me out of the ballroom. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Ah Nong, also known as ‘Yu Hui,’ follow us out of the ballroom.
Outside, the weather was still quite cool. I took off my jacket and draped it over Ruansui. We then walked along the path behind the technological library.
“I told Nana everything so that she could return to your harem. I didn’t call you Jun Jun to prevent you from feeling distant from Nana, heh heh.”
“So that’s how… Huh?! Wait, wait, wait! What do you mean, ‘return to the harem’? Li Nai and I are not like that!” Whether it’s the real world or this spiritual world, we are not like that!
“Really not?”
“Of course!”
“But you have considered taking her into your harem, haven’t you? Don’t lie to me.”
…
Doesn’t any man want that when they see a beautiful girl… This is just a man’s instinct…
“If you don’t answer, I’ll take it as a default, okay? Heh heh heh.”
…
What is she trying to say… I’m completely lost. What does whether I had that thought or not have to do with you telling Li Nai all the facts? They’re completely unrelated things, aren’t they?
Then, Ruansui stated her purpose. She spoke words that were perhaps the most unbelievable I had ever heard since my birth.
“I’ll help you build a harem.”
