A Writer's Transmigration into the world of fantasy-Chapter 93

"I brought Xiulan here myself," Jin Di replied evenly. "We were together when she fainted."

Zhang Tengfei's mind struggled to catch up. Cao Guang looked just as stunned.

"Xiulan and I are in a relationship," Jin Di continued. "She is my girlfriend."

A brief silence passed at his declaration before he added, "I am dating your daughter with the intention of marriage."

Zhang Tengfei's head went blank.

Cao Guang stared at him as though his soul had temporarily left his body.

No one noticed that Simon Lau had stopped snoring.

It took a full ten minutes before the two older men regained their composure. Jin Di gestured toward the couches.

"Please, sit."

After they did, Jin Di spoke again, his voice calm but firm.

"If you wish to speak with Xiulan, I suggest waiting until she wakes up naturally. She had a very rough night. I want her to rest as much as possible. Besides, she's a deep sleeper. It's difficult to wake her once she's asleep."

"Of course," Zhang Tengfei said hastily. "Let her sleep. I just wanted to see her… to know she's alright."

Then his mind caught up with Jin Di's words.

Deep sleeper? How does he know that?

His gaze slid back to the bed.

He said he brought her here. Cao Guang said she was admitted around three or four in the morning. And when we entered… he was on the bed beside her.

A sharp breath escaped him.

Are they sleeping together?

As if reading his thoughts, Jin Di nodded calmly. "Yes. I've just moved in with her. We're living together now."

Zhang Tengfei inhaled sharply.

Cao Guang nearly dropped the flower vase.

"Y–you… CEO Jin—"

"Please call me Jin Di," Jin Di said. "If Xiulan agrees to marry me, then you will be my father-in-law. There's no need for formality between family."

Zhang Tengfei had always believed that his wife's obsession with health was excessive.

But at this moment, he felt nothing but gratitude.

If Yang Jiahui had not forced him to exercise, to eat properly, to undergo regular checkups, he suspected that his heart might have already given out.

Him?

The future father-in-law of Jin Di?

And through his estranged daughter, Xiulan?

Reality felt unreal.

"Father-in-law," Jin Di said calmly, his voice steady and sincere, "please rest assured that I am serious about marrying Xiulan. We still have many things to face and resolve together; there is also a considerable age gap, but when the time comes, I hope you will support our marriage."

Zhang Tengfei took a slow breath, forcing himself to regain composure.

He had met Jin Di many times in the past, but only in formal settings where their exchanges never went beyond polite greetings. They existed in entirely different spheres of influence. If Zhang Corporation were a towering mountain, Jin Corporation was an entire mountain range that dominated the horizon.

He had never imagined that such a man would one day call him father-in-law.

Fortunately, years of navigating the business world had trained him to adapt quickly.

"Have you and Xiulan discussed marriage?" Zhang Tengfei asked carefully. "Are you engaged?"

"Not yet," Jin Di replied without hesitation. "I want to marry her as soon as possible, but I know her priorities. She wants to build her career first. I don't want her to feel forced to choose between her dreams and me."

He paused briefly, then continued more quietly. "She deserves both."

Zhang Tengfei nodded slowly.

Jin Di's words were calm, rational, and respectful. They carried no arrogance, no empty promises. It was the kind of sincerity that couldn't be faked.

"And," Jin Di added, "after what happened recently, I don't want to add pressure to her. Her health is more important than anything else. I want a healthy, happy wife. Not someone who is constantly forced to sacrifice herself."

Zhang Tengfei's gaze drifted to the sleeping girl on the bed.

"She's my daughter," he said softly. "Our relationship hasn't been good… and she probably thinks I have no right to act like a father. But no matter what, she is still my daughter. I only want her to be safe and happy. If she believes that marrying you is the right choice for her, then I will support her."

"Thank you," Jin Di said quietly.

Zhang Tengfei cleared his throat, feeling strangely uncomfortable with the title Jin Di kept using.

After a moment, Jin Di spoke again, his tone shifting slightly.

"You already know that Xiulan was attacked recently. She handled it well this time. But what if the next attackers are stronger? Or more dangerous? I'm worried about her safety. I think she should have bodyguards."

Zhang Tengfei didn't hesitate. "I agree."

The two men began discussing arrangements.

Right then...

"You two have no right to decide that for me."

The voice was hoarse, cold, and sharp.

Both men froze.

Elena was awake.

She had pushed herself upright on the bed, her pale face devoid of warmth. Her eyes were fixed on them, expression unreadable.

Jin Di moved instantly. "Baby..."

She slapped his hand away.

"Tell me what you were talking about."

Her voice was steady, but there was something brittle beneath it.

Jin Di hesitated. He didn't want to provoke her, but he knew lying would only make things worse.

"We're worried about your safety," he said gently. "You were attacked. You protected yourself this time, but there might be more dangerous situations in the future. Bodyguards are normal for celebrities. This is for your own good."

Zhang Tengfei stood a few steps away, watching silently.

Elena stared at them.

Slowly, her hands curled into fists.

To Jin Di and Zhang Tengfei, they were simply discussing safety.

To her, it felt like something else entirely.

Their silhouettes overlapped with memories she had buried deep inside.

Her father in her previous life.

Her brother.

The people who had always said the same words.

It's for your own good.

We're protecting you.

You're safer this way.

Protection.

Control.

The line between them blurred until it disappeared.

If bodyguards followed her everywhere today, what would happen tomorrow?

Curfews?

Restrictions?

Locked doors?

A life where every step was watched?

Her chest tightened.

Her breath became shallow.

No.

Not again.

She could not live like that again.

She looked at Jin Di, her gaze trembling with something close to betrayal. "You said you wouldn't cage me."

Her voice shook as she shouted, "You said you wouldn't restrict me. You said you wouldn't imprison me."

Jin Di's pupils contracted.

Her voice rose, trembling with suppressed fear.

"You're the same as them."

Her lips trembled as she threw the pillow at him.

"Fuc*ing Liar."

*

Jin Di didn't dodge the pillows.

He let them hit his chest, his shoulders, even his face, absorbing her anger without complaint. Seeing her so distressed made his heart ache, but this wasn't the moment to demand explanations or insist on logic. Whatever this fear was, it ran far deeper than bodyguards.

When her strength finally faltered, he climbed onto the bed and pulled her firmly into his arms.

She resisted at first, pushing against him, her breathing uneven. He didn't tighten his hold. He didn't argue. He simply stayed, one hand stroking her back in slow, grounding motions, the other resting between her shoulder blades, anchoring her.

He said nothing.

Gradually, her body stopped shaking.

"I don't want bodyguards," she muttered, her voice muffled against his chest.

"Alright," he replied gently.

He would revisit the topic later, when she wasn't drowning in fear. Her safety still mattered to him, but forcing the issue now would only reopen the wound.

"Really?" she asked quietly.

"Yes."

She lifted her head slightly. "Promise?"

He paused. "I promise… for now."

She pressed her lips together, understanding exactly what he meant. Now that her emotions had settled, she could see how sharply she'd reacted. She knew they were worried about her. She wasn't blind to that.

But fear wasn't logical.

The thought of being watched, followed, and protected without consent dragged memories from a life she had sworn never to relive.

In her previous life, her father and brother had loved her fiercely. Too fiercely. Their protection had been constant, inescapable, and absolute. She had been cherished—and smothered.

She loved them.

And she had hated that kind of love, too.

She had been given a second chance to live again.

As Elena Zhang, she refused to live like Veronika ever again.

She didn't love Jin Di or Zhang Tengfei deeply enough yet to surrender her autonomy to them. Especially not Zhang Tengfei, who was still little more than a stranger wearing the title of "father."

She wanted these relationships to grow.

But on her terms.

She met Jin Di's eyes. "I'll decide if I want bodyguards. And if I do, I'll choose them myself."

He nodded. "Fine. Just… think about it. I don't want to see you hurt again."

"I will."

He exhaled softly, relieved. "G—"

He stopped himself, cleared his throat. "I'm glad."

She noticed.

And appreciated it.

Feeling steadier, she leaned back into him and wrapped her arms around his waist. His familiar warmth calmed her, grounding her in the present. He kissed the top of her head, then she tilted her face up, silently asking.