After Transmigrating, I Became The Heroine’s First Love! - Chapter 11

Row after row of blue chairs stood back-to-back, yet the hall felt eerily empty, with only two people seated among the countless seats.

Two empty seats separated them, like the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, each existing in its own silent sphere.

Pei Xiangwan shifted uncomfortably in her seat, her bottom aching. Creak… creak…

Every movement produced a sound, no matter how careful she tried to be. Pei Xiangwan felt increasingly awkward.

This place is so quiet, she thought, the chair’s creaking must be amplified tenfold. Especially since Chen Zui hasn’t moved an inch, making me look like I have hemorrhoids.

“Um…” Chen Zui’s voice echoed through the stillness.

Pei Xiangwan looked up at Chen Zui. “Hm? What is it?”

Chen Zui took a deep breath and stood up. The few steps to Pei Xiangwan felt like an eternity. “Thank you, Pei Xiangwan.” She hadn’t forgotten Chen You’s teachings: even someone she despised was still her benefactor.

Chen You meant everything to her. Losing her mother would drive her mad.

Only she knew the hardships her mother had endured, raising her alone.

To Pei Xiangwan, Chen You was like Superwoman, her frail body holding up the collapsing sky. She had never cried or abandoned her, always shielding her beneath her own body with every ounce of strength.

They clung to each other for survival in this dog-eat-dog world, eking out a precarious existence in a black-and-white, indiscriminate reality.

Pei Xiangwan was stunned when Chen Zui spoke to her. After a moment of surprise, she replied, “You’re welcome.”

After all, she had plenty of people cursing her these days, mostly Jiang Shiyuan’s devoted fans. If those fans were mere followers, Chen Zui was their ringleader.

As for why the ringleader had betrayed Jiang Shiyuan…

“But, Chen Zui,” Pei Xiangwan said.

“Hmm?” Chen Zui looked at her, a hint of confusion in his eyes.

“If you don’t feel like smiling, don’t force yourself. It looks really weird.”

The corners of Pei Xiangwan’s lips twitched slightly, fighting back the urge to laugh. She lowered her head, loose strands of hair brushing her cheeks as her body trembled. If you hadn’t heard her laughter, you might have thought she was crying.

Chen Zui was furious. No one had ever laughed at her before, and now it was this detestable Pei Xiangwan. Her hand shot out, grabbing Pei Xiangwan by the collar.

“What do you mean?! What’s so funny?”

Tears welled up in Pei Xiangwan’s eyes. She wiped them away with the back of her hand, forcing herself to calm down.

“Do you even realize how ridiculous you looked just now? You reminded me of the Squash from Plants vs. Zombies, the game I used to play as a kid.”

As soon as she said that, the image of the Squash and Chen Zui’s face flashed through her mind. Pfft.

Chen Zui’s face flushed crimson, as red as the monkeys that scamper wildly through Tuan Mountain, their bright red behinds the only thing visible as they leap and tumble—exactly the same color as Chen Zui’s face right now.

I want to strangle Pei Xiangwan! Chen Zui was about to unleash a torrent of curses when…

“Pei Xiangwan.”

The voice was soft and slightly husky, like a cat’s paw scratching at Pei Xiangwan’s heart. She knew instantly who it was. Blocked by Chen Zui, she could only peek out furtively.

Chen Zui turned around and froze. Shiyuan? What’s she doing here? Is she here to pick up Pei Xiangwan?

“Jiang Jiang.”

Jiang Shiyuan didn’t respond immediately. Instead, she lowered her gaze to Chen Zui’s hand, still gripping Pei Xiangwan’s arm. Recalling the laughter and Chen Zui’s embarrassment, she felt a surge of discomfort. I don’t like this. It makes me uneasy.

Sparks erupted from a volcanic eruption, showering her entire body. Gradually, her skin began to fester, and a pain worse than death spread through her, leaving her trapped in a sea of fire, awaiting the arrival of death.

During their time together, Pei Xiangwan had come to understand that Jiang Shiyuan was a tsundere little fox, her personality completely at odds with her appearance. While undeniably alluring, with eyes that were both hooks and genuine, she was also remarkably naive—so naive, in fact, that she seemed less like a fox and more like a gentle little lamb.

Now, her every thought was written plainly on her face. Pei Xiangwan immediately shook off Chen Zui’s hand, sprang up from her chair, and darted to Jiang Shiyuan’s side.

“Jiang Jiang, you came to pick me up! I knew you were the best~”

Pei Xiangwan shook Jiang Shiyuan’s arm, her grip tightening on the icy-cold hand. She realized Jiang Shiyuan had come in just her nightgown—long-sleeved, but far too thin for the damp, chilly weather.

“Your hands are freezing! Let’s hurry home. Your voice sounds hoarse from the cold.” Pei Xiangwan’s eyes filled with concern as she clearly felt Jiang Shiyuan trembling.

Pei Xiangwan reached for Jiang Shiyuan’s other hand, but it was brushed away. Jiang Shiyuan’s hand then roamed over Pei Xiangwan’s body as she murmured in a husky voice, “Turn around. Let me check if you’re hurt.”

Pei Xiangwan’s face flushed crimson. The sound was strangely embarrassing, and those kinds of images flashed through her mind.

The blush spread across her face as she froze like a dazed goose, standing motionless. She frantically tried to dispel the images from her mind—this can’t be happening! Motherly love has become perverted!

I’m a monster! How could I even think about my own daughter like that? I’m worse than an animal!

Jiang Shiyuan glanced at Pei Xiangwan’s reddening face, shaking her head, unsure what the other woman was imagining. She patted Pei Xiangwan’s stomach. “Hurry up.”

Pei Xiangwan snapped out of her daze. “Aww.” She obediently turned around. “I’m not hurt, Jiang Jiang.”

Chen Zui rolled his eyes inwardly. Am I invisible here?!

“Shiyuan, she’s fine. Perfectly fine,” Chen Zui finally spoke up after a long silence. If he didn’t say something soon, he’d become part of the furniture.

Jiang Shiyuan’s anxiety finally eased. Seeing the woman before her grinning like an idiot, she withdrew her hand, convinced Pei Xiangwan wasn’t injured.

“Mm.”

Chen Zui: Shiyuan, who’s as stingy with words as if they were gold! She’s even quieter than she is at school—a sure sign she’s about to blow up. But I didn’t even do anything to provoke her!

Chen Zui felt like crying but couldn’t shed a tear, inwardly screaming for her mother, who had gone out to buy water: Mom, hurry back and save your precious daughter!

Pei Xiangwan patted her pockets, realizing neither her pants nor her hoodie had any. There was a back pocket, but it didn’t seem quite right.

She reached out and circled Jiang Shiyuan’s wrist with her palm, marveling at how thin it was. She could easily grasp both wrists together. A pang of sympathy struck her. People always said hard work pays off, but did reality ever truly work that way?

With her other hand, she lifted Jiang Shiyuan’s shirt and pressed her hands against her abdomen, hoping the warmth would help. By the time they greeted Aunt Chen, Jiang Shiyuan might feel a little warmer.

“W-what are you doing?!” Jiang Shiyuan stammered, her voice trembling from the cold. Her strength had waned considerably, yet she couldn’t resist the warmth.

Her hands felt like they were being warmed by a stove, radiating a comforting heat—except this time, she could actually touch it.

“Your hands are colder than usual. I don’t have any pockets, and rubbing them together takes too long. This is faster,” Pei Xiangwan explained, her smile widening as Jiang Shiyuan’s cheeks flushed pink, turning her into a strawberry mochi.

So adorable! Pei Xiangwan instantly forgot the coldness of those hands.

“Wait a bit longer. We need to say goodbye to Aunt Chen. Be a good girl and wait here. We’ll be back right away. Come closer.” Pei Xiangwan waited for Jiang Shiyuan to move, but the Little Fox didn’t budge, not even bothering to lift her head. She only showed Pei Xiangwan her fluffy crown, proving that even when shy, she had to be contrary.

Oh well, who can resist such cuteness?

Pei Xiangwan reached out and pulled Jiang Shiyuan into her arms, gently placing her palm flat against Jiang Shiyuan’s lower back. The thin nightgown felt almost nonexistent; her palm seemed to be pressed directly against smooth skin.

Jiang Shiyuan could only turn sideways, finding the position uncomfortable. She felt like a prisoner, utterly helpless.

Because this was Pei Xiangwan.

The fabric rustled softly as they shifted.

A ticklish sensation, like a kitten’s claw, grazed Pei Xiangwan’s abdomen. She lowered her head, whispering close to Jiang Shiyuan’s ear, but the Little Fox tilted her head away, creating a sliver of distance.

“Jiang Jiang, you can’t scratch people! That’s not being a good girl.” It didn’t hurt much—more like a tickle—but Pei Xiangwan couldn’t resist teasing the Little Fox.