Reborn not to be a simp, the school beauty's whole family goes crazy

Only the rapid breathing and heartbeats of the two remained in the room...

Three hours later, Chen Dong, supporting his aching back, left Guo Miao and Yu Qin's home with unsteady steps.

The lights in the hallway were dim and yellow, with a thin layer of dust on the bulbs, as if time had veiled this place, making it old and oppressive.

The faint light flickered on the mottled wall, just like his chaotic and unsettled state of mind at that moment.

With each step, the subtle sound of his shoes rubbing against the ground was exceptionally clear in the almost deathly silent stairwell, each sound seeming to relentlessly remind him of the absurdity he had just experienced.

His eyes darted away, unable to look directly at anything around him, as if afraid that those unbearable images would suddenly appear on the walls, images that haunted him like ghosts, leaving him nowhere to hide.

As he walked to the street, the night breeze carried a slight chill, gently brushing against Chen Dong's burning cheeks, but the breeze could not cool the heat and panic in his heart.

The old locust trees along the street rustled in the wind, their branches and leaves brushing against each other as if whispering about their mistakes. To him, the sound was like the tolling of a judgment bell.

He hailed a taxi, sat in the back seat, leaned back, closed his eyes, and tried to calm himself down.

The taxi slowly started moving. Outside the window, the city's neon lights flickered, and red, green, and blue lights intertwined, illuminating the streets in a colorful display.

Pedestrians hurried by, some walking in groups, laughing and chatting. But to Chen Dong, that laughter sounded particularly grating, like mockery.

Some were alone, walking hurriedly, their shadows stretched long under the lights, as if telling their own stories. But Chen Dong felt that all of this was like an illusion, out of place with him. He felt as if he were in a world that did not belong to him, lonely and guilty.

He was filled with mixed feelings. He regretted how easily he had succumbed to temptation, and a voice deep inside him was screaming and blaming him for betraying Guo Miao, the man who treated him like a brother, with whom he used to talk and share his secrets, and who trusted him completely.

Guo Miao's honest smile and sincere eyes were like sharp blades, piercing Chen Dong's conscience again and again.

He felt even more sorry for Mengran, that gentle and kind girl who had his heart and soul completely devoted to him.

Meng Ran's every smile and gesture was thoughtful and considerate. Her longing for their future life together struck my heart like a heavy hammer.

Every time he thought of Meng Ran, his heart felt like it was being gripped tightly by an invisible hand, the pain almost suffocating him.

At the same time, he couldn't deny that there was a strange excitement in his heart. The thrill of violating moral taboos was like a double-edged sword. While it stung, it also gave him a different kind of "pleasure." But this "pleasure" was like a shackle, weighing heavily on his heart and making it hard for him to breathe.

My hands clenched unconsciously, my knuckles turning white from the force, and I was tormented by self-blame and inner struggle, as if I were being roasted in the fires of hell.

The taxi stopped on a familiar street. Chen Dong paid the fare and dragged his heavy steps toward his and Meng Ran's home.

The streetlights cast a dim, yellowish glow, stretching the shadows long and making them appear incredibly lonely.

His steps were sluggish, each step feeling like walking on thorns, causing unbearable pain.

Standing at the doorway, he took a deep breath, trying to adjust his expression and make himself look the same as usual.

He took out his key and opened the door. The room was filled with a familiar and warm atmosphere, with soft lighting and a warm yellow glow that spilled into every corner.

The furniture was neatly arranged, and a photo of him and Mengran hung on the wall. In the photo, the two of them smiled brightly and were full of happiness. But the beauty of the past now stung his eyes like needles, making him almost unable to look directly at it.

Hearing the door open, Mengran immediately came out of the bedroom. She was wearing a loose cotton nightgown, her hair was casually tied back, and she had a gentle smile on her face with her eyes full of concern. She said, "Dongzi, you're back. How was your time at the karaoke with Guo Miao and Yu Qin?"

Her voice was soft and full of love, but to Chen Dong, it sounded like a sharp arrow piercing straight into his chest.

When Chen Dong was asked by Meng Ran, his heart skipped a beat, as if a deer was frantically pounding in his chest. His eyes darted away involuntarily, but he quickly regained his composure and tried to make his expression look natural. He forced a smile that looked more like a grimace and said, "It's alright, it's just that Guo Miao got drunk and caused a huge commotion. Yu Qin and I had a lot of trouble getting him home, and it exhausted me."

As he spoke, he secretly observed Meng Ran's reaction, keeping a close eye on her expression out of the corner of his eye, afraid that his lie would be exposed. A fine layer of sweat unconsciously appeared on his forehead, and his back was already soaked with sweat.

Meng Ran frowned slightly and said reproachfully, "Don't drink so much with Guo Miao next time. With his size, it'll be such a hassle to take him back. You too, you need to take care of your health."

As she spoke, she stepped forward to help Chen Dong with his coat, but Chen Dong flinched slightly as if he had been electrocuted. This subtle movement did not escape Meng Ran's notice. She was slightly taken aback, but did not think much of it, assuming that Chen Dong was just too tired.

Chen Dong quickly agreed, not daring to say anything more, and hurriedly said, "I'm going to take a shower and go to bed early. Taking Guo Miao back today was really tiring."

After saying that, he walked quickly toward the bathroom, his steps so hurried that he almost bumped into the chair next to him.

He practically fled into the bathroom, and only when he closed the door did he let out a long sigh of relief, but the guilt in his heart surged like a tidal wave.

Meng Ran looked at Chen Dong's slightly hurried back and felt a little puzzled. She stood there, staring in the direction Chen Dong left, her brows furrowed slightly.

She turned and went back to the bedroom, sat on the edge of the bed, and picked up a book at random. It was a book they had bought together at the bookstore, where they had argued about the plot and had a lot of fun.

But at this moment, she couldn't concentrate at all. Chen Dong's evasive gaze and unnatural movements kept replaying in her mind. An uneasy feeling gradually spread in her heart, like vines entwining her soul.

After Chen Dong finished showering and went back to his bedroom to sleep, Chu Mengran went to the bathroom. The air was still filled with the residual moisture from Chen Dong's shower, along with a faint scent of soap.

When she saw Chen Dong's clothes in the laundry basket, she felt a strange unease welling up inside her.

Her gaze fell on the pile of clothes, and as if driven by an invisible force, she reached out and grabbed the clothes, beginning to search them carefully, her movements slow and cautious.