After Transmigrating, I Became The Heroine’s First Love! - Chapter 16

The azure sky was dotted with fluffy white clouds, drifting like fish scales and following the pedestrians on the asphalt road, as well as cyclists carrying passengers. The wind carried the scent of youth.

Pei Xiangwan suddenly remembered Ning Moxue and asked Qiao Yanxin, “How did you know Ning Moxue had plastic surgery?”

Qiao Yanxin loosened her tie and tilted her head, looking genuinely puzzled. “Huh? What do you mean ‘I knew’? I didn’t know! I just thought she looked a bit different. Her reaction seemed to confirm my guess, though. It looked pretty natural.” She patted her cheeks. “Should I get some work done too? I’m actually not completely satisfied with…”

Pei Xiangwan interrupted, “You don’t need it. You’re beautiful as you are. There’s no need to chase perfection. Surgery is too painful anyway.”

“Yeah, you’re right,” Qiao Yanxin grumbled. “Nüwa was so unfair! She sculpted you and Jiang Shiyuan so perfectly, even making you neighbors. And then she made me look like a monkey!” She resented the heavens’ favoritism.

“Humans evolved from apes, you know.”

“Young lady, buy a bouquet of flowers! It’s a special reunion—you can’t celebrate without flowers!” An elderly woman suddenly blocked Pei Xiangwan’s path, her wrinkled face radiating warmth as she gazed at her with loving eyes.

Pei Xiangwan didn’t understand the old woman’s words. Perhaps it was some newfangled sales pitch from flower vendors. “How much for a bunch?”

The old woman smiled, her wrinkles deepening. “Not expensive. I only have two bunches left, ten stems each. I’ll sell them to you for ten yuan.”

Pei Xiangwan thought she might as well buy them all so the old woman could go home early. “I’ll take both bunches,” she said, scanning the QR code to pay. “That way you can finish work early.”

The old woman handed her the two bunches. “Thank you, child. You’re as kind as ever.”

“Huh?”

“Young people these days are so kind. Do you know the name of these flowers?” the old woman asked.

Pei Xiangwan looked at the flowers in her hand. The delicate, wavy petals were a soft pink, streaked with creamy white, and glowed beautifully in the sunlight.

“Gladiolus,” she said.

She didn’t know how she’d blurted out the name so quickly, considering she knew nothing about flowers.

The old woman nodded. “That’s right. May you find health, happiness, and peace in this world that truly belongs to you. Farewell, child.” She turned and shuffled into the crowd, her hunched back disappearing into the sea of people.

Qiao Yanxin, who had been standing silently beside Pei Xiangwan, finally spoke up. “Old ladies these days talk the strangest nonsense. Who knows what she was even saying? Let’s go, let’s go.” Pei Xiangwan simply nodded, saying nothing.

“Give me one of those flowers you bought! You have two anyway,” Qiao Yanxin said, rubbing her hands together excitedly.

“No.”

Qiao Yanxin, stung by the immediate rejection, grumbled, “Hmph! I can buy my own flowers. You’re not just competitive with your studies, you’re even competitive with flowers! What’s this new way to pick up girls? Are you complaining that fewer people are confessing to you lately?”

Pei Xiangwan rolled her eyes so hard they nearly flipped into the stratosphere. “You should really see a neurologist. I don’t even know why I know about these flowers.”

As they approached their usual spot where they waited for Jiang Shiyuan, they found she wasn’t alone.

Qiao Yanxin’s jaw dropped at the sight before her.

“Holy crap! Chen Zui and Ning Xuemo… I can’t believe it! Ning Xuemo is like a persistent pest, showering Jiang Shiyuan with gifts for weeks, even though she keeps rejecting them. Does she think Jiang Shiyuan will finally give in if she keeps pushing? What a joke! What an idiot!”

“Mm-hmm.”

Pei Xiangwan quickened her pace, and Qiao Yanxin, thinking she was about to confront Ning Xuemo, hurried after her, eager to be in the front row for the show. This was going to be epic!

Jiang Shiyuan, thoroughly annoyed by the person standing before her, who only cared about herself, said, “I’m sorry, I’m not interested in dating. I thought I made that clear.”

Ning Xuemo maintained a gentle smile. “You just haven’t met the right person yet. I’m the perfect match for you, Shiyuan. My family background, looks, and academic achievements—I’m your only choice, aren’t I?”

Her intimate tone made Chen Zui want to vomit. “Stop flattering yourself!” he snapped. “This person is even more annoying than Pei Xiangwan!”

Ning Xuemo ignored Chen Zui. To her, poor people could be easily manipulated with a little money to do her bidding, and she didn’t need him yet.

She stepped forward, reaching for Jiang Shiyuan’s hand, or even a hug would do. But before she could touch her, she was shoved to the ground with tremendous force.

Jiang Shiyuan is that strong?!

Glaring up, Ning Xuemo snapped impatiently, “Classmate Pei, what’s the meaning of this? Bullying?”

Her words stunned the three people standing there.

Pei Xiangwan sneered coldly. “Then Classmate Ning is guilty of sexual harassment.”

Ning Xuemo scrambled to her feet, glaring at Pei Xiangwan. “You can’t say that! Girls harassing girls doesn’t count as harassment!”

Pei Xiangwan laughed at this shameless scumbag. How could anyone be so utterly shameless?

“Just because it’s same-s3x doesn’t make it okay! Here, men and women, women and women, men and men—all can marry. You’re pursuing Jiang Jiang, and you were just about to touch her when I pushed you away. Sorry, I’m just too strong and didn’t control myself. I’ll try to be more careful next time.”

“Jiang Jiang doesn’t like being touched, Classmate Ning. Please be more mindful.”

Ning Xuemo forced a smile. “Classmate Pei was just trying to help me. I should thank you. If Shiyuan hated me, I wouldn’t know what to do.”

He gazed at Jiang Shiyuan with feigned affection. “I’m sorry, Shiyuan. I just like you too much. I won’t do it again. It’s getting late. Let’s meet tomorrow, okay?”

Qiao Yanxin was utterly disgusted. If she hadn’t had a strong stomach, she might have vomited bile. Chen Zui, standing beside her, fared no better.

“Wanwan, where’s your jacket?” Jiang Shiyuan nudged Pei Xiangwan.

“Oh, I lent it to a friend.” Pei Xiangwan handed the flowers in her arms to Jiang Shiyuan. “Here, Jiang Jiang. I thought you’d like them.” She always felt Jiang Shiyuan had a fondness for gladioli.

Jiang Shiyuan paused before accepting the flowers. “I really like gladioli. Are these all for me?”

“Of course! They’re all yours.”

Sunlight streamed across Pei Xiangwan’s back, making her shoulder shimmer like a star had landed there. Her sleeves were rolled up, revealing half of her pale, muscular arms. As Jiang Shiyuan took the flowers, the defined lines of muscle in her hands were clearly visible.

It was the recurring, unspeakable dream that had been haunting her lately.

Her heart pounded faster as she sank into the azure sea. The captivating, low-pitched voice was no longer distant but close to her ear, yet extraordinary. Within it, Pei Xiangwan yearned for her ear, for all of her.

Jiang Shiyuan craved the scalding warmth, melting the icy chill. She had never been so close… so close.

Her warm breath brushed against Pei Xiangwan’s curled lashes, like rice stalks swaying in the wind across a field. But instead of the rustling sound of rice stalks brushing together, there came a low chuckle and words that made her blush and her heart race. The black gemstone beneath Pei Xiangwan’s eye seemed so close it might fall off at any moment, and in a moment of desperation, Jiang Shiyuan kissed it.

“Jiang Jiang, what’s wrong? Why did you suddenly stop talking? And your face is so red—are you having heatstroke?”

Pei Xiangwan fanned herself, trying to cool Jiang Shiyuan down, and moved a few steps to shield her from the harsh sunlight.

The European-style wrapping paper around the bouquet crinkled softly as Jiang Shiyuan smiled and shook her head.

“Could you take one of these bouquets? It’s a bit difficult to carry both at once,” she said. It seemed she craved more than just companionship now. If this were just an act, Pei Xiangwan wouldn’t go to such lengths. What was truly behind this?

“Sure, I’ll take both if they’re too heavy. We’re heading home together anyway,” Pei Xiangwan said, reaching for both bouquets.

But the Little Fox, as if guarding her food, hugged one bouquet to her other side, refusing to let Pei Xiangwan take them all. Her rosy cheeks now bloomed even more vividly than the trembling flowers.

“No, you can only take one. You can’t have them all.”

Pei Xiangwan nodded and accepted the offered bouquet. “Alright, one it is.”

Qiao Yanxin: ………

Chen Zui: …………

Qiao Yanxin and Chen Zui stood beneath the towering tree, becoming mere background figures to the two lovebirds ahead, who were practically radiating pink bubbles. Their presence faded into nothingness, even their breathing seemed to soften. Both were completely absorbed in observing how the relationship between the two had blossomed.

“Oh, right! Chen Zui wanted to treat you to dinner as a thank you, but she’s a bit shy.”

Jiang Shiyuan, knowing Chen Zui’s personality, pulled Pei Xiangwan closer and whispered, “Let’s go to her family’s shop. What do you think? That way Chen Zui won’t have to run around so much. She’s already exhausted, helping her mother until dawn every day after class.”

“I know,” Chen Zui replied, utterly unfazed. This Little Fox is really something, she thought.

After Jiang Shiyuan finished speaking, Pei Xiangwan straightened up and looked at Chen Zui, who was standing a short distance away.

“I haven’t seen your aunt in a while. Can we go to your shop tonight, Chen Zui?”

Chen Zui had expected Pei Xiangwan to suggest some extravagant place and then belittle her for being poor. She never imagined the other girl would want to go to her small, unremarkable shop—especially since Pei Xiangwan always acted so superior, even looking down on Jiang Shiyuan, who was revered like a goddess.

Has this person been possessed? Chen Zui wondered.

“Chen Zui.”

Hearing Jiang Shiyuan’s call, Chen Zui snapped out of her daze. “Uh… yeah, we can go to the shop.”