Transmigrating into the Genius Cannon Fodder’s Aunt

Chapter 136 Part 2 – Dr. Ning’s Earth-Shattering Shock (II)

Just when Xia Mian thought the Lu couple had done a thorough job, an earth-shattering bomb dropped: at the end of April, Lu Nana and Qi Kai were reported for their marriage and were expelled from the university!

That meant neither of them would ever get a diploma.

Lu Nana, glowing with happiness and overflowing with maternal instincts, didn’t care at all—the degree meant little to her. But Qi Kai must have been devastated; just two months away from graduation, and now officially a dropout. And that was in an era where a college diploma was still very prestigious.

Of course, that was only their speculation. Xia Mian and the others soon had no time to speculate about how Qi Kai was feeling—because someone in their own family was on the verge of shutting down over the same issue.

When Mao Huimei called to share the news, Ning Shaobai had been busily helping them pick a hotel for their wedding venue.

Since both Mao Huimei and Fang Yongpeng were already old bachelors by today’s standards, things had moved quickly once their relationship was confirmed. Right after the new year, his parents came to formally propose.

His family background was ordinary, but it was clear they were warm, harmonious, and open-minded. They got along easily with Xia Wenyue and Mao Zhishan. Xia Wenyue, in particular, finally let out a sigh of relief. Her daughter had found the right in-laws!

Next came the matter of choosing a wedding date. Both families pushed for it to be as early as possible, but Mao Huimei was in her final semester and busy with her thesis. As for Fang Yongpeng, the beverage factory wasn’t as overwhelming as the previous year, yet running it on his own was still draining.

Still, under Ning Shaobai’s subtle steering, they set the date for May. Mao Huimei’s thesis defense would be in June, while in July, the factory would start gearing up for the busy fruit harvest season. May was clearly the best window.

So the two families immediately began bustling with preparations. Ning Shaobai often offered to help and frequently asked about their progress, taking note of every little custom and logistical detail.

For someone who had never married, all that complexity was overwhelming—even hearing about it once made Xia Mian’s head spin. But Ning Shaobai listened intently to every word, which made Xia Wenyue look at Xia Mian with growing envy every time she saw her. “What kind of good deeds did you do in your last life to deserve this luck in this one?”

It was obvious Ning Shaobai was practicing for his own wedding. The way things were going, Xia Wenyue figured that when the time came, Xia Mian wouldn’t have to lift a finger. She’d just have to show up at the altar.

Xia Mian grinned, “Maybe it’s because I once saved an angel!”

And then, this bomb was dropped while they were booking the hotel.

That was when everyone learned that colleges didn’t allow students to get married! If you did, you’d be expelled!

What made it even funnier was that Xia Wenyue, Mao Zhishan, and even Mao Huilan—their first reaction wasn’t to worry about postponing the wedding. Instead, they all turned toward Ning Shaobai at once, eyes full of sympathy.

Ning Shaobai: “…”

He looked up at Xia Mian, seeking confirmation. “Is that true?” he asked hopefully. “Maybe it’s just their university? Not all of them?”

Xia Mian paused, “If they were actually expelled, it must be real. And given how things work in our country, it’s probably not just one institution’s rule.”

Xia Wenyue frowned. “Back then, even girls who had babies could still go to college. How come now marriage isn’t allowed at all?”

“The law says women can marry at twenty. If universities don’t allow it, by the time they graduate, they’re twenty-five or twenty-six. Won’t that make them old maids?”

Influenced by tradition, Xia Wenyue still believed it was better for girls to marry and have children early.

But she only said it in passing—after all, her daughter was about to graduate. Delaying the wedding by two months wouldn’t be a big deal.

It was different for Ning Shaobai, however. His dream wedding that summer had just been postponed by three years!

In short, the mighty Dr. Ning was on the brink of despair.

When Xia Mian followed him home, she watched him open his laptop and pull up the Regulations on the Administration of Students in Regular Higher Education Institutions, where he found the clause stating: “Students who marry during their period of study without completing withdrawal procedures shall be dismissed from their institution.”

He slumped back in his chair, looking completely defeated.

Xia Mian was disappointed too, but seeing his dejected face made her laugh. She reached out, patted his head gently, and said sympathetically, “Come on, Dr. Ning! It’s only three years.”

Ning Shaobai, fuming, pulled her into his arms, tousled her hair, and muttered angrily against her neck, “I studied abroad, how was I supposed to know there’s a rule like this? And how did you not know either?”

Well, back when I was in college, anyone could get married as long as they reached the legal age. How could I know there would be such a rule in this era? Xia Mian muttered inside.

“I had no idea either,” she said. “The campus never mentioned it, and there’s even a grad student who got married, but everyone laughed at her. I then found out that secret marriages are quite prevalent.”

“Secret marriages?” Ning Shaobai immediately sat up straight.

“Yeah. They’re married, but they pretend to be single. They don’t wear rings, and nobody knows they’re married. I thought that’s just how people did it in school.”

Ning Shaobai said disappointedly, “That won’t do.”

“Right,” Xia Mian said, reaching up to touch his face and coax him, “we can’t let our Dr. Ning suffer that kind of indignity.”

He sighed heavily, slumped back into the chair, and covered his face, unwilling to face reality.

Seeing him like that, Xia Mian couldn’t help but laugh. The always composed, methodical Dr. Ning had just watched his grand life roadmap veer completely off track.

She slipped her arms around his neck, meaning to kiss him in comfort, but he pushed her away with a deadpan face. “Stay away. Since we can’t get married, please control yourself.”

Xia Mian burst out laughing—it reminded her of when she was in her second year of high school. He’d been just as restrained back then.

Thinking about those days, she suddenly felt a little sorry for him. He’d waited through her last year of high school to start dating her—a whole year of restraint—and now he had to wait another four years until she graduated to marry her.

And this was a man who, in every other matter, would brush aside society’s judgment without a second thought, yet he was scrupulously proper when it came to her.

Sometimes, Xia Mian could feel his impulses, his barely contained desire. But not only did he hold himself back, he wouldn’t let her go too far either. Only recently, thinking their wedding was near, had he eased up a little, letting her occasionally sneak her hand under his shirt to feel his abs.

As for Ning Shaobai himself, he still stopped at kisses and embraces. A few times, when Xia Mian could tell he was about to lose control, he’d suddenly pull back, pressing her waist and back tightly just to calm himself down.

Last week, they hadn’t seen each other for a whole week, and when they were finally alone, they got a little too carried away. Xia Mian was nearly overwhelmed by his kisses and wanted to rip his shirt off, but even though Ning Shaobai clearly looked more worked up than she was, he still slammed on the brakes.

Xia Mian couldn’t help blurting, “Dr. Ning, your self-control is seriously the best in the world.”

He held her close, his chin resting on her shoulder, one hand gripping hers to stop her mischief. His voice was hoarse, “It’s because I don’t trust my self-control that I have to restrain myself.”

“Human desire is endless. Once you get a taste, you always want more. You understand that?”

“I do,” Xia Mian said, leaning back slightly and cupping his face. “It’s like before we started dating—just seeing you made me happy. But now? Not enough. When I see you, I want to kiss you. And the more I kiss you, the more I want to kiss you.”

Ning Shaobai was amused by her analogy. Seeing the misty, eager look in her eyes, he himself leaned in unconsciously. But in the end, he still firmly covered her mouth with his hand and said hoarsely, “Stop testing me. Have a little mercy on me, okay?”

“Okay!” Xia Mian said through gritted teeth. Then, when he least expected it, she slipped her hand under his shirt and gave his abs a quick squeeze or two. “See? I’m being merciful, helping you train your self-control! Come on, you can do it, darling! Hahaha!”

Naturally, the result was that Ning Shaobai taught her a lesson afterwards. The two of them were soon locked in a cycle of getting back at each other.

Still, after that, Xia Mian’s “territory” had expanded to include his abs, which was a slight victory over Ning Shaobai. But today, the ever-generous man who thought he’d soon reclaim the upper hand had undergone an earth-shattering shock after realizing that he wouldn’t be turning the tables for at least three years.

Xia Mian really did feel sorry for him—even as she laughed herself breathless.

She snuggled back into his arms, pulled his arm around herself, and said with a smile, “Let’s talk about something happy, hmm? How about looking forward to the birthday gift I’m giving you?”

Ning Shaobai’s birthday was in early May. But since his parents had left early and he’d gone abroad alone at a young age, he’d never celebrated it.

After Xia Mian and Xia Wenyue’s families moved here, they would jointly celebrate birthdays, but only for the kids. The grown-ups didn’t care much, so Xia Mian had never paid attention before. It wasn’t until they officially started dating that she learned his birthday. Since this would be their first one together, she was naturally determined to make it special.

Holding her close, his fingers weaving through her long hair, Ning Shaobai said dully, “You’re not going to tell me anyway.”

“It’s not that I can’t tell you,” Xia Mian said, sitting up and tossing him a playful glance. “I know I’m your favorite thing in the world.”

“So originally, I was planning to give myself to you as a gift,” she sighed dramatically, “but sadly… You can’t have me anymore.”

She really knows how to push where it hurts! Ning Shaobai clenched his teeth in frustration and finally couldn’t help but grab her hand and give it a bite.

Xia Mian collapsed against him, laughing wildly. That was the last straw—Ning Shaobai scooped her up, pinned her against the desk, and “taught her a lesson.”

“Hahaha! I surrender! Dr. Ning, have mercy!”

“Too late,” he said darkly. “You’re not getting off that easily today.”

She was laughing so hard she could barely breathe, then suddenly lunged forward, threw her arms around him, and took his ear between her lips.

Ning Shaobai froze instantly. Taking advantage, Xia Mian jumped up to cling to him, wrapping her arms around his neck and pouting, “Dr. Ning, I know I was wrong, okay? Please forgive me?”

He bumped their foreheads lightly in exasperation. “You little rascal.”

Xia Mian giggled and planted a kiss on him. “Dr. Ning is the best! I love you.”

He sighed helplessly and pressed her head to his shoulder. “Be good. Don’t provoke me.”

Resting against his shoulder, she whispered softly, “Dr. Ning… thank you for waiting for me.”

He stroked her hair and chuckled. “Having someone worth waiting for… actually feels pretty good.”

Thank you for showing up—for making my life vivid and full of color again.

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