Transmigrating into the Genius Cannon Fodder’s Aunt

Chapter 82 – Alas, We Are Not Fated Together

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The first part of this mass release can be found here

The blissful days of sleeping in passed quickly, and before long, it was Xia Mian’s birthday. The whole family got up early; as soon as Xiao Feng and Mao Huizhu woke, they went with Mao Huilan straight to Ning Shaoyun’s house to make Xia Mian’s birthday cake.

Ever since Xiao Feng’s birthday, when they had cake, the three kids had always looked forward to birthdays for the chance to have one. Eventually, making a cake for whoever’s birthday it was became a shared tradition of the three families.

Once Xia Mian started school and didn’t have the time, she shared the recipe with the others. Xia Wenyue, Mao Huimei, and Mao Huilan were all quite skilled, and aside from the occasional uneven frosting, the cakes always tasted good.

Later, when Chenchen’s birthday came, Huo Xuewen heard that Ning Shaoyun was going to make the cake herself and somehow gathered an entire set of baking tools: egg beater, cake turntable, scraper, spatula, piping bags, and more, almost everything except an electric mixer. Since electric mixers were rare in this era and bakeries used large industrial machines, there was nowhere to store one. Instead, the electric fan in Ning Shaobai’s home was taken apart and never put back together.

Speaking of which, Chenchen’s birthday last year was unforgettable. No one had expected that someone who could create such beautiful paintings like Ning Shaoyun would be utterly hopeless with her hands. After a flustered mess of a process that left only chaos behind, she still had nothing to show for it. Finally, unwilling to let mother and son be disappointed, Huo Xuewen—who had never cooked before—bravely stepped in.

With Ning Shaoyun giving instructions and Huo Xuewen doing the labor, the ex-couple managed to make a cake that was ugly inside but looked beautiful on the outside—thanks to Ning Shaoyun, who had decorated the ugly cake into something lovely with the piping bag.

But when the birthday boy made his wish and cut into it, revealing a slightly burnt cake base, everyone burst into laughter.

Chenchen, sitting on his father’s lap, was laughing the hardest. Hugging Huo Xuewen’s neck, he said happily, “Dad, this is the best birthday cake I’ve ever had. Will you make one for me next year too?”

Xia Mian noticed Huo Xuewen pause, tears glimmering faintly in his eyes. He held the boy tightly and smiled at Ning Shaoyun. “From now on, for his birthday, as long as I’m available, I’ll make the cake.”

Looking at Chenchen’s brilliant smile, Ning Shaoyun nodded gently.

Often, what people need is not a perfect result, but a process filled with sincerity.

Since then, Ning Shaoyun had gradually learned to open up, and Huo Xuewen had become better at expressing himself.

Xia Mian didn’t know exactly how things had developed between them, but from that point on, whenever a cake was made, the family would simply go to Ning Shaoyun’s place.

Today, as the birthday girl, Xia Mian had Mao Huilan take on the task of making the cake, with Xiao Feng and Huizhu helping, so they all went there.

As for Xia Mian, she naturally went straight to Ning Shaobai’s house, eager to receive her first gift as an eighteen-year-old.

It seemed Ning Shaobai had been expecting her. He was lounging lazily on the sofa, looking slightly drowsy, his forearm propping up his head, eyes closed in rest. From Xia Mian’s angle, the sharp jawline, high nose bridge, and even those long lashes all looked exceptionally handsome.

He was wearing a fitted white shirt today, the sleeves casually rolled up to his elbows. Because of the hot weather, the top two buttons were undone, revealing his elegant collarbones and the enticing lines of muscle disappearing beneath the fabric.

‘Why does this guy have to look so sexy today…?’ Xia Mian unconsciously swallowed her saliva. She suddenly understood why, in her past life, her female friends would drool over her abs and be eager to touch them. She was feeling the same urge now!

Ning Shaobai, hearing the sound of her entering, opened his eyes and saw a certain girl staring fixedly at his chest. He looked down at his shirt, buttoning it as he spoke with disdain, “Are you still a girl? Can’t you be a little more reserved?”

Xia Mian immediately pounced, batting his arm away and pretending to drool. “Hey, hey, hey, what’s that supposed to mean? You make me sound like a pervert.”

“It’s so hot—don’t button it,” she grinned. “Come on, Dr. Ning. No need to be so polite with me. You could even cool off a bit more.”

As she spoke, her naughty hands reached out, intending to undo another button.

Ning Shaobai swiftly caught her wrist. “Behave yourself, little girl, or I’ll make you take responsibility.”

Xia Mian licked her lips and leered. “Couldn’t ask for more.”

“Baby, just give in to me. I promise you won’t regret it.”

“Oh, really?” Ning Shaobai suddenly smiled, his eyes warm as he looked her up and down.

She was wearing a soft white floral dress today. The sash, cinched at the waist, accentuated her delicate figure and made her look both charming and cute.

Xia Mian felt as if an X-ray had just scanned her, a sudden sense of danger bubbling up. She quickly sat down and behaved herself. “Dr. Ning, let’s start the piercing.”

Ning Shaobai reached out to tug at the little tuft of hair on her head. “Alright.”

“Where are we doing it?” She asked.

“Right here, good lighting.” After speaking, Ning Shaobai got up and went to the next room, returning shortly with a medical kit and a small box.

Xia Mian first caught sight of the earrings in the box. “Wow, so pretty! These are custom-made ones, aren’t they? Can I wear them right away today?”

Ning Shaobai glanced at her. “Don’t touch, they’ve just been sterilized.”

Xia Mian drew her hand back. “I want the snowflake one.”

Ning Shaobai patted the spot beside him. “Got it. Sit here.”

Xia Mian sat down and proactively offered her ear.

Ning Shaobai pressed an ice pack to her earlobe, making her shiver.

“Ice?”

“Bear it for a bit. It’s still summer, anyway—an ice pack feels great,” he said. “Better than pain.”

Still, he first used the cold from holding the ice pack to chill her earlobe with his fingers for a while before placing the ice pack directly, so Xia Mian hardly felt anything. But Ning Shaobai kept adjusting his position for some reason, and her neck soon was getting stiff from stretching.

Her eyes landed on the small pillow by his leg. “Dr. Ning, how long do we need to ice this? Isn’t your arm getting sore?”

Ning Shaobai didn’t seem to catch her intention and simply shifted a bit, warning, “Don’t move.”

Xia Mian’s eyes darted. Quick as a flash, she put the small pillow on his lap and lay her head down on it.

Looking up at Ning Shaobai’s speechless expression, she grinned. “See? Much more convenient.”

“This position feels familiar… oh, right!” Xia Mian’s eyes lit up. “Last time you took out my earring, you did it like this.”

She behaved like a scoundrel, with no intention of getting up, “Since I’ve already lain down once, what’s the difference if it’s twice or three times?”

Ning Shaobai, helpless against her antics, scoffed with disdain, “Whatever—it’s your birthday today, so I’ll let it slide once.”

Mission accomplished, Xia Mian chuckled gleefully. Then she suddenly remembered, “Oh, it should be the other side.”

She started to get up.

Ning Shaobai pressed her head down. “Don’t move. Starting on this side is fine.”

“That means the icing on the other side was for nothing,” she complained.

“Only takes a few minutes,” he said coolly.

Reassured, Xia Mian stayed put, oblivious to the trace of amusement in his eyes.

The ice quickly numbed her earlobe. When she saw Ning Shaobai pick up a soybean, she asked nervously, “You’re going to roll my earlobe too?”

Pushing her hand aside, Ning Shaobai lowered his head to look at her. “What, don’t trust me?”

Xia Mian immediately lay still. “I trust you.”

No one’s more trustworthy than the Big Boss!

Ning Shaobai let out a small chuckle. Probably because he thought she was nervous, he gently stroked her head, causing her to gradually relax.

And soon Xia Mian found that the omnipotent Dr. Ning really was worthy of trust. Though she could feel the warmth of his fingers on her ear, there was no pain at all.

The steady motion of his large hand on her head made her eyelids grow heavy. She’d gotten up early for her birthday, and lying so comfortably now, she couldn’t help drifting toward sleep.

…

When Huo Xuewen came into the courtyard, he paused for a moment.

The main room’s doors and windows were wide open, and through the window, he could clearly see the young man and girl on the sofa.

In the still-gentle morning sunlight, the girl slept soundly with her head on the young man’s lap.

And that man—usually so aloof and emotionless—was gently rolling her earlobe with one hand, while the other hovered lightly before her face, shielding her from the sunlight streaming in.

In his eyes was a tenderness and indulgence no one else had ever seen.

The young man quickly sensed something and looked up.

Meeting his gaze without any attempt to hide, Huo Xuewen hesitated briefly, then silently turned and left.

…

“Get up, switch sides.”

Xia Mian was sleeping deeply when she vaguely felt someone supporting her head. She opened her eyes and found herself looking into Ning Shaobai’s beautiful eyes, momentarily dazed. “Already done?” She asked, reaching up to touch.

Ning Shaobai caught her wrist. “I applied iodine. Don’t touch—you don’t want to risk infection.”

“Let’s do the other side.”

“This is amazing. It really doesn’t hurt at all,” Xia Mian said, eyes wide in surprise. She truly hadn’t felt a thing. Since Ning Shaobai said to switch sides, she didn’t get up, but simply rolled over to face inward.

“Hey!” Ning Shaobai quickly braced her head.

Only then did Xia Mian realize she’d nearly brushed against her ear. She stuck out her tongue sheepishly and started to sit up.

But Ning Shaobai sighed, as if helpless against her. “Forget it, stay like this.”

As he spoke, he adjusted the pillow on his lap, settled her head back in place, and made sure her ear wouldn’t rub against his leg.

Xia Mian suddenly had a feeling of being pampered.

Hearing her long sigh, Ning Shaobai tugged at the little tuft on her head. “What’s with the sigh?”

Xia Mian said wistfully, “Dr. Ning, your future lover is going to be so lucky…”

Ning Shaobai paused. “How so?”

Instead of replying, her eyes drifted to the shirt in front of her. Just a small reach, and her fingers could brush against those tempting abs.

Seeming to sense her intention, Ning Shaobai warned, “Behave yourself.”

That, of course, made Xia Mian unable to behave. She quickly reached out and gave him a squeeze, grinning mischievously. “Let me enjoy some benefit before you find them a rightful owner.”

The sound of clenched teeth came from above.

“Handsome, has a great body, and capable of anything,” Xia Mian praised, then put on a regretful face and shed a crocodile tear. “Alas, it’s such a shame I’m the wrong gender—we’re not fated in this life!”

Ning Shaobai: “…”

He pinched her soft cheek with some resentment. His eyes narrowed, and his voice became dangerously gentle. “What is it? You want to be fated with me?”

Channeling her inner drama-queen to the fullest, Xia Mian put on a pained expression. “That’s my dream, oh~”

“Perfect. I’ve been thinking the same,” Ning Shaobai said with a smile. “I know a doctor who’s excellent at gender reassignment surgery.”

Xia Mian: “…”

Danger alert!

Author’s Note:

Xia Mian: “Dr. Ning, I know my wrong. I shouldn’t have coveted your beauty!”