Chapter 165 - [Bonus ] The Original World

Ren woke up and rubbed his eyes sleepily without opening them.

"Fang…?" he called softly. "What time is it?"

There was no response. Ren stretched out his hand to the side of the bed, still half asleep, and found it to be cold and empty.

Alarmed, Ren's eyes snapped open. Then he sat up abruptly and rubbed his eyes again. Then he looked around again.

Then he closed his eyes, rubbed them again, and looked again.

He repeated the action several times.

Then he pinched himself hard – hard enough to leave a bruise.

But the scene around him didn't change.

He was back in his room, back in his previous world. The world where he had come across the book 'The Trials of Ren' at an airport shop and bought it on a whim – and he had read it on the flight, and then his flight had crashed in all probability because the next thing he remembered was that he had transmigrated into the book as Ren the villain…

But then he had met Fang and he had fallen head over heels in love with him…

And they had their babies…

Babies!

Sylvia!

His magical familiar Sylvia had followed him into the other world, hadn't she? Maybe Sylvia could let him know what was happening here…?

"Sylvia…?" Ren called softly. "Sylvia, are you here?"

There was a knock on the door and Butler Kane appeared with a tea trolley.

"Young Master Ren, here is your morning tea. Earl Grey with three demerara sugar cubes," Butler Kane said softly.

Butler Kane was a middle aged man who had practically raised Ren and his two older siblings since they were born. He was also a member of the magical guild which Ren headed.

Ren's eyes filled with tears at the familiar sight and the familiar aroma of the tea. How long had it been since someone had brought him his morning tea like this…?

Not even Fang knew that Ren had started his day with Earl Grey and three demerara sugar cubes every morning in his previous world – in the other world, Ren did drink Earl Grey fairly often, but because Fang preferred matcha, Ren ended up drinking that more often than not.

Also, because Fang had especially learnt all about the tea ceremony and loved performing it for Ren – and naturally, Ren loved watching Fang perform, too.

Butler Kane frowned at Ren. "What is wrong, Young Master Ren? Are you feeling ill again?" he asked gently.

Ren shook his head. "What date is it?" he asked instead.

Butler Kane blinked. "January 1, 2022," he replied. "Are you certain that you are feeling all right, Young Master Ren?"

Ren frowned. When he had transmigrated – it was mid 2021…

What had happened in these few months? Was the time three times faster in the other world? He had spent over one and a half years there, but here, it had only been about six months…?

"Butler Kane," Ren said seriously. "Would you mind answering a few questions for me? Even if they sound a little odd?"

Butler Kane looked a little concerned, but he nodded nonetheless. "Of course, Young Master Ren," he said politely. "Please let me know what you would like to ask, and I shall try my best to answer."

"Where is Sylvia?" Ren asked.

Butler Kane blinked. "Young Master Ren, have you forgotten…?" he asked in a sad whisper. "Sylvia sacrificed herself to save you in the plane crash six months ago…"

Ren nearly fainted in shock. "She did…what?!" he shouted.

Butler Kane looked really worried now. "Young Master Ren, are you feeling ill again? Is it because your parents have arranged for your betrothal with a man of their choice and you are supposed to meet him today? Is it creating too much stress for you?" he asked anxiously.

"Betrothal?!" Ren cried out, alarmed. "What betrothal?!"

"Young Master Ren, please calm down," Butler Kane said in a cajoling voice. "Master and Madam informed you last week about this young doctor who had been taking care of all your children, do you remember? Do you remember how one of your children got exchanged with his by mistake, and when we found out about it, he came down to meet Master and Madam, while you were still in a coma? He helped take care of all four children, and he helped Master and Madam and Young Master Ray and Young Lady Rhea take care of you as well…"

Ren's only thought was that Fang would be very, very angry (and heart broken as well) if he found out that Ren's family had arranged for his betrothal with someone else!

"He is a very nice young man, Young Master Ren," Butler Kane tried to coax him. "Perhaps you could meet him once and then see? You agreed to meet him today…"

Ren clutched his head in despair.

Butler Kane was too worried to care about etiquette any more, and he ran out of the room to fetch Ren's parents and his older siblings. There was clearly something wrong with Young Master Ren!

A few minutes later, Ren's parents and his two older siblings, all of whom looking terribly anxious and almost panicked, burst into the room.

"Ren! What's wrong, son? Are you feeling ill again?" his mother cried and rushed forward to hug Ren in her soft and warm arms.

Ren looked at his beloved family and realised how much he had missed them, even when he had accepted his life in the other world.

"Mom – Dad – Big Sister – Big Brother…" Ren cried out and burst into tears, sobbing his heart out.

The four members of his family gathered around Ren and pulled him into a group hug, trying to calm him down.

But how could Ren be so easily calmed? He had missed them for over one and a half years! He had thought that he would never, ever be able to see them again! He could only cling to his parents and his siblings and cry his heart out.

It was a long time before Ren calmed down.

"What's wrong, child?" his father asked quietly. "If you absolutely don't want to meet the guy, we won't force you…"

Ren shook his head. He couldn't figure out how to tell them that the primary reason he was crying was because he missed them…

And then he continued to cry because he missed Fang now…!

Ren's parents and his older siblings looked at each other.

"It's all right, Ren," Big Sister Rhea said to him, ruffling his hair affectionately. "As Daddy said, we will never force you to do anything, all right? Don't worry. Do you want to go and see your children instead? They are still at the hospital. We were going to bring them home later."

Big Brother Ray nodded as well. "Yes, yes, I will call Dr. Fang and tell him that the engagement is off the table, and I'll apologise to him for the confusion. We won't force Ren into anything," he said. "We can go and look at the babies instead – they are very cute and Dr. Fang said that we could bring them home now."

Ren blinked. "Dr. Fang…?" he asked in a whisper. There couldn't be such a coincidence in this world, could there? Could it be that Fang was here, too? His Fang…? Ren had to see for himself, that was for sure!

His parents and siblings exchanged another look over his head.

"Don't worry, Ren, you won't have to meet him," Ren's father said gently.

Ren shook his head. "I want to meet him and speak to him once," he murmured. "Can I?"

If he didn't meet him, how would Ren be able to figure out if this Dr. Fang was his little darling Fang or not?

It was clear from the bewildered expressions on their faces that Ren's family members were totally confused by his random mood swings, but they were used to indulging Ren, so, after breakfast, the family set off to meet Dr. Fang and the babies – two of Ren's and two of Dr. Fang's – at the hospital.

Ren found out that one of his babies – the girl, had been mistakenly exchanged with one of Dr. Fang's, who had signed up for the same thing as Ren. Dr. Fang had gotten two girls, and Ren had gotten two boys; it was just that one had accidentally gotten with the other.

Ren's family led him to where Dr. Fang was waiting with the four babies, who had just been wrapped up and were ready to go now.

All Ren could see was a tall back and a head full of dark hair – but the lines of that regal back were as familiar to Ren as his own self.

"Fang…" Ren whispered, his voice plaintive.

The man turned around, and Ren realised that he wasn't mistaken. That beautiful face, those purple eyes – those could belong to but one man in the entire universe.

It was his Fang.

And behind him, were their four children…