If you want to survive after transmigrating, become the male protagonist's new mother.

As night fell, Pei Yuening had already changed into her pajamas.

He sat in the living room, hugging his knees and staring blankly, but he couldn't fall asleep no matter what.

The butler sighed, quietly approached, and draped a coat over him.

Pei Yuening suddenly snapped out of her reverie: "...Butler."

"Yes, young master." The butler took a step back and bowed slightly. "It's late. You have school tomorrow, so why don't you go and rest?"

Pei Yuening lowered her eyes and shook her head, saying, "No, I can't sleep if my brother doesn't come back."

The butler opened his mouth, about to try to persuade him again, when a sound suddenly came from outside the window.

Pei Yuening suddenly looked up.

The next second, a silver-white figure passed through the half-open window and landed lightly on the living room carpet.

It's Aurora!

Pei Yuening didn't even bother to put on her coat before jumping off the sofa, her bare feet on the carpet as she went to greet Aurora: "Aurora! What brings you back?"

Aurora lowered her head slightly, her eyelashes trembling slightly: "Greetings, young master."

"Your master has a letter for you."

As it spoke, it lowered its head and took a letter from its mane, gently placing it in Pei Yuening's palm.

Pei Yuening paused for a moment, then quickly scanned the contents after opening the package.

The letter was short, saying that he was away on business for the next few days and wouldn't be coming back, and that he shouldn't worry.

Pei Yuening read it over and over again three times.

Ye Jiyun didn't say what it was about, nor did she mention the ancient temple ruins or any words related to it.

Pei Yuening folded the letter, looked up, and asked, "Is my brother... alright?"

Aurora said, "Master is well, young master, you need not worry."

"It's just that it's chilly at night, so my master asked me to remind you to put on an extra layer of clothing before you go to sleep."

Pei Yuening felt a lump in her throat.

He blinked twice quickly, then turned and ran towards the kitchen: "Okay, wait a minute."

Aurora stood quietly in place.

Not long after, Pei Yuening returned, but with a food box in her hand.

"This," he handed the food box to Aurora, catching his breath, "is for my brother. It's a mousse cake I made this afternoon; he can have it if he gets hungry tonight."

"I don't interfere in what happens outside, but brother, you should take care of your health while you're out there. Don't forget to eat when you're busy."

Aurora lowered her head and gently rubbed against the edge of the food box.

"Don't worry, young master," it said, picking up the food box by the handle and gently touching Pei Yuening's hand with its head. "I will personally deliver it to my master."

Pei Yuening nodded.

Aurora paused for a moment, then continued, "Also... during this time, I'd appreciate it if you could help take care of my child."

Pei Yuening nodded and gently stroked its head: "Okay, don't worry."

"Thank you, young master."

Aurora bowed.

Then it turned around, its lithe and agile figure leaping up, passing through the window, and disappearing into the night.

Pei Yuening stood by the window, watching it fly further and further away, merging into the dark clouds on the horizon.

A night breeze blew in, and he shivered.

Pei Yuening silently walked back, wrapped her coat tighter around herself, and shrank into the corner of the sofa.

If my brother is alright, then Luo Ren should be alright too.

That's good.

The butler stood to the side, looked at him for a long time, and finally spoke softly, "Young Master."

"Would you like to... go and rest first?"

Pei Yuening sighed, then stood up and said, "Okay, I understand."

"Mr. Butler, you should go to bed early too."

The butler smiled and nodded: "Okay."

In the bedroom.

Egg has already fallen asleep nestled next to the pillow.

Gao Gao was rummaging through the snowballs with her hands and feet, snoring loudly.

Pei Yuening climbed into bed, pulled the blanket up to her chin, and hugged Xueqiu and Gaogao together.

As if sensing something, the snowball rubbed its rounded little corner against Pei Yuening's chin.

Pei Yuening unconsciously stroked its back, staring blankly at the night.

After a while, he called out softly, "Egg."

The slime beside the pillow opened its eyes: "Gah."

"Is Luo Ren asleep?"

"Wait a minute." Egg closed its eyes and used dream magic to sense it.

"I'm not asleep," it said.

"Why aren't you resting so late?" Pei Yuening asked, even more worried. "What happened...? Are your brothers alright?"

Egg rolled her eyes: "Your brother isn't stupid, and neither is Duke Luo. With two such high-level swordsmen standing there, if something really happens, can't they just run away if they can't win?"

"...That's true."

"So," Egg rolled over, "it's time to sleep."

"Mmm," Pei Yuening responded, closed her eyes, and buried her face in the pillow.

……

Temporary encampment outside the ancient temple ruins.

It was late at night, but Ye Jiyun did not return to his tent.

He leaned against an old tree, the tea in his hand long since cold.

He was completely unaware, still looking up towards the capital.

Footsteps sounded behind me.

Ye Jiyun turned around and glanced back, then bowed and greeted the emperor: "Your Majesty."

Qin Shuxing waved her hand: "Oh, no need for formalities."

"Aren't you going to rest?"

"I couldn't sleep, so I came out for some fresh air."

As Qin Shuxing spoke, she sat down next to Ye Jiyun.

The two of them were quiet for a while.

Qin Shuxing spoke up: "What were you looking at for so long?"

Ye Jiyun's gaze remained fixed on her brother, and her lips twitched slightly: "It's nothing, I just missed my little brother."

"I see." Qin Shuxing smiled and shook her head. "Don't worry, you'll be able to go back."

"I just don't know when it will happen, or what the outcome will be."

Ye Jiyun asked seriously, "So, Your Highness, do you have any leads?"

"Yes, she said that dragon has extremely high intelligence."

"It knows it was born at the wrong time, that it will be attacked by the masses and become an enemy of the world once it is born. No matter how strong it is, there will eventually come a day when it tires of killing."

"Therefore, it wants to choose its own master, and its previous actions were a sign of hesitation."

Qin Shuxing shrugged: "But I don't understand."

"Tell me, there's no one stronger than Luo Ren on the entire continent, and even he ignores him. So who can be his master?"

Ye Jiyun fell silent.

The night wind blew from the ruins, and the sound of sentries changing guard could be heard in the distance.

They were both silent for a while.

"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore." Qin Shuxing nudged him with her elbow. "You just said you missed your younger brother?"

"Um."

"What was Pei Yuening like when he was a child?"

Ye Jiyun was slightly taken aback.

He lowered his eyes, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously curved upwards.

"When I was little..." he recalled, "I was very clingy."

"He follows me everywhere, like a little tail. He doesn't cry when he falls down, he just squats on the ground and waits for me to turn around and find him."

"Not even a sound of pain?"

"I won't shout." Ye Jiyun smiled. "I always scoop him out, pat him clean, and carry him back."

"He stopped fussing when he lay on my back and fell asleep quickly."

Qin Shuxing: "...It really is quite different."

Ye Jiyun chuckled: "Perhaps."

"I was referring to last year." Qin Shuxing was silent for a moment. "I've heard quite a few rumors about him."

Ye Jiyun's smile slowly faded.

"Um."

"But I've met him twice, and he's nothing like what's being said outside."

"You like the Luo family's Ollie, so you're targeting a commoner? Isn't that ridiculous?" Qin Shuxing nudged him again: "Honestly, why didn't you stop them?"

"..." Ye Jiyun frowned: "I also find it strange."

"what?"

"I knew perfectly well that Ningning was wrong to bully others, and the noble dignity of Winster did not allow him to bully the weak, but at the time I just didn't think of stopping him."

"Similarly, when Ollie humiliated him in front of others, I never thought of holding Ollie accountable."

"Only recently, when I looked back, did I realize that something was wrong."

Ye Jiyun chuckled: "Because of this, I even had a fight with Duke Luo at the Privy Council a few days ago."

Although Ye Jiyun was the one doing most of the scolding, Luo Ren listened with a straight face.

"Hahaha, really? This is the first time I've ever seen Luo Ren get his comeuppance." Qin Shuxing laughed too. "So, does he still like Ollie now?"

Ye Jiyun shook her head: "I don't know, but I guess she won't like it."

"Alright, I'll go find Luo Ren to gossip about later."

Ye Jiyun said helplessly, "Fine."

Qin Shuxing didn't ask any more questions.

The distant outlines of the ruins remain silent, under a sparse moon and stars in the night.

Qin Shuxing tilted her head back and suddenly laughed out loud: "...That's strange."

Ye Jiyun didn't hear clearly: "Huh? What did you say?"

"I said, I don't know why, but right now I really want to eat Pei Yuening's cooking."

Ye Jiyun smiled and was about to reply.

However, at that moment, the moonlight overhead was suddenly blocked by a figure.

Qin Shuxing and Ye Jiyun looked up at the same time.

Aurora swooped down from the night sky and landed steadily in front of them.

What he was holding in his mouth was the food box that Pei Yuening had asked him to bring.

Qin Shuxing: "..."

Look at the mess this has made.