After Transmigrating, I Became The Heroine’s First Love! - Chapter 19

“Is that so?” Jiang Shiyuan scoffed coldly, then began fiddling with a bottle on the table. After a moment, she lifted the bottle by its base with her thumb, using her other fingers to steady the body.

The water inside the clear bottle sloshed back and forth in rhythm with her movements, like a pirate ship swinging endlessly at an amusement park or waves crashing against the shore. The sound was barely audible, drowned out by louder voices.

“Did you hear? Two women died at Lu Shui Residential Complex. They say they were lovers who committed suicide by burning charcoal.”

Another middle-aged man took a sip of his drink and smacked his lips.

“I heard. Suicide? Who believes that? I live upstairs. I saw the bodies when they were discovered—they were tied together. If it was a suicide pact, how could they have bound their hands so tightly themselves?”

“You’re drunk, Old Yang, spouting nonsense again. The police ruled it suicide. Are you a detective now?”

The man bristled at this. “Drunk? I’m not drunk! Believe what you want. I still think it was murder.”

The remark drew hearty laughter from the old friends gathered around the table. One middle-aged man slapped the table with a booming laugh, a cigarette slowly emitting white wisps of smoke between his fingers. He took a drag and exhaled a cloud of smoke.

“Old Yang, you really need to stop watching those crime analysis videos. You’re starting to think you’re a cop now! Hahahaha!” The cigarette trembled slightly between his fingers, and a small silver-white ash fell to the ground.

“Fine, don’t believe me. Whatever,” the man waved his hand dismissively and took another swig of his drink, falling silent.

The others paid no attention to his sudden silence, continuing their lively conversation and laughter.

“This is so creepy,” Qiao Yanxin whispered, leaning close to Pei Xiangwan.

“Indeed.”

“Do you think it was suicide or murder?”

Pei Xiangwan’s face twisted in exasperation. “Do I look like a cop to you?”

Qiao Yanxin shook her head, pursing her lips. “If you were a cop, this city would be doomed. You’d probably bring about the apocalypse early! I can’t even imagine the chaos.”

Pei Xiangwan smiled, her eyes glinting with a dangerous edge as she gazed at Qiao Yanxin with mock affection—an affection so intense it made her want to stab her right then and there. “You’ve gotten much bolder lately, Qiao Yanxin.”

Qiao Yanxin waved her hands frantically. “No, no, no! My mom always said I was a scaredy-cat. How could I possibly be bold?” Desperate to survive, Qiao Yanxin hatched a plan.

“Hey… Jiang Shiyuan, what’s wrong?”

“Huh?”

The other two spoke simultaneously. Pei Xiangwan sat up straight and looked at Jiang Shiyuan, who resembled a startled fawn, her eyes glistening as she shook her head.

“I’m fine.”

Qiao Yanxin scratched her head thoughtfully. “Oh, okay.”

Pei Xiangwan couldn’t help but applaud Qiao Yanxin’s acting skills. “They should give you an Oscar! It’s a shame you’re not an actress, Qiao Yanxin.”

“I think I could give it a try too, but…”

She trailed off, glancing at Jiang Shiyuan, who sat gracefully ahead, even when drinking. Qiao Yanxin, on the other hand, drank like a hippopotamus, just opening her mouth wide and shoving things in. Her heart ached; she felt like she wanted to smash a boulder on her chest.

“These are ready. You guys can start with these. The rest will be done soon.” Chen Zui placed the plates in the center of the table and turned to leave, but Jiang Shiyuan stopped him.

“Aren’t you going to eat, Chen Zui?”

Chen Zui smiled, glancing outside. “You guys go ahead. I’ll join you in a bit.”

Qiao Yanxin bit into a piece of meat from a skewer, chewing as she said, “Who knew… he was a master chef too?” A tiny speck of barbecue seasoning clung to the corner of her mouth.

Pei Xiangwan glanced at Qiao Yanxin, her mouth still running even with food in it.

Chen Zui replied coldly, “Of course. Eat more garlic; it suits your taste.” With that, he turned and walked away.

Qiao Yanxin swallowed her food and asked Pei Xiangwan, “Why does garlic suit my taste?”

“How would I know? Just eat properly and stop talking so much.”

And indeed, the chatter dwindled. After Chen Zui arrived, Qiao Yanxin seemed to have been put on mute. Aside from the sounds of eating, no other words were heard. When she finally spoke after a long silence, everyone was stunned.

“Holy sh1t! She drank all my beer!” Qiao Yanxin pointed at Jiang Shiyuan, who had been silently sitting nearby. What a feat of silent consumption! Qiao Yanxin hadn’t even had a sip.

She still couldn’t quite believe it. Seven whole cans, gone just like that? Jiang Shiyuan must be a water buffalo in disguise. Qiao Yanxin hadn’t even noticed when she finished them all; she only realized it when she reached for a can herself.

Good heavens, is this really the forum goddess? Shouldn’t she be the forum cow?

Chen Zui was deeply concerned about Jiang Shiyuan’s condition. He had never seen her drink before, and her flushed face and reddened nose made her look like she had been crying. Anyone would want to check on her.

“Are you okay, Shiyuan?”

Jiang Shiyuan didn’t look at her, shaking her head in response. Her eyes remained fixed on Pei Xiangwan, who suddenly spread her arms as if losing her balance and began to topple backward.

Pei Xiangwan jumped to her feet in alarm, but Chen Zui grabbed her collar just in time, preventing her from crashing onto the table. Otherwise, the Little Fox would have undoubtedly burst into tears again.

For some reason, after straightening up, a tuft of hair stood up on Jiang Shiyuan’s head. She pouted her small lips in a pitiful manner, wrinkling her flushed nose. “Wanwan, I want to sit with Wanwan,” she whined.

Who could resist such a sight? Especially Pei Xiangwan, who couldn’t refuse Jiang Shiyuan anything. She turned to Qiao Yanxin, who widened her eyes and pointed at herself.

“Me?”

“You sit across from me!” A scholar may be killed, but he cannot be humiliated! I’d rather die than sit next to Chen Zui!

Qiao Yanxin’s initial anger quickly fizzled out. Resignedly, she picked up her drink, abandoned her warm seat, and moved to sit beside Chen Zui. The two glared at each other before simultaneously turning their heads away.

Pei Xiangwan helped the drunken Little Fox over and pulled up a chair so Jiang Shiyuan could lean against her. Jiang Shiyuan hadn’t eaten much from the start, perhaps because she wasn’t used to the food.

As Pei Xiangwan was thinking, she suddenly felt something brush her lips. She turned to meet a pair of dewy, fox-like eyes, their corners tinged with a delicate peach hue.

Dimples appeared as her voice, as soothing and sweet as pear simmered in rock sugar, carried a gentle, honeyed tone that never felt cloying.

“Wanwan eat.”

The amber eyes floated in the white sea of the table, their already mirror-like clarity now illuminated as if a luminous pearl had been placed beneath the surface, making the amber glow even brighter.

Pei Xiangwan glanced down, a faint smile curving her lips. Isn’t this just the bacon-wrapped enoki mushroom? The Little Fox had eaten all the meat, leaving only two small green pepper segments. Quite mischievous, this fox—eating all the good parts and dumping the rest on me.

“Jiang Shiyuan, you’re really…” Pei Xiangwan sighed helplessly. What else could she do but indulge her? She took the two pepper skewers and ate them.

Qiao Yanxin stared at Pei Xiangwan, frozen in disbelief. She actually ate it?!

Doesn’t Pei Xiangwan have a germaphobia…? And this is Jiang Shiyuan… When did their relationship become so close that they’re sharing food indirectly…?

Chen Zui, standing nearby, was speechless. This isn’t some couple’s act! Shameless! Snatching the cabbage I worked so hard to grow!

Qiao Yanxin: When did their relationship get so good?

Chen Zui: Damn it! Snatching the cabbage I worked so hard to grow!