After Transmigrating, I Became The Heroine’s First Love! - Chapter 28

The crowd gradually dispersed, and the clamor faded from Jiang Shiyuan’s ears.

Yet turmoil churned within her heart. The recent news that Pei Xiangwan might rekindle her old flame with Liu Zhixu had intensified her anxiety.

This was the last thing she wanted to hear. Pushing through the thinning crowd, she moved closer to Pei Xiangwan.

The surrounding flowers swayed gently in the breeze, as if silently witnessing this invisible struggle.

Jiang Shiyuan watched the retreating figure, her smile frozen on her face.

“Jiang Jiang, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell? Have you been waiting too long?” Pei Xiangwan’s eyes were filled with concern, her voice soft as a gentle rain, radiating boundless warmth.

Jiang Shiyuan looked up, her heart surging with emotion. She forced a smile. “I am a little tired.” But her eyes betrayed a hint of unease.

Qiao Yanxin thought, This damn love triangle! Jiang Shiyuan’s expression changed faster than she could flip through a book—it was almost terrifying. If she actually ended up with Pei Xiangwan, it would be a disaster. But there was a ninety-nine percent chance they wouldn’t.

“I’ll leave you two to continue talking,” Qiao Yanxin said, waving goodbye.

Pei Xiangwan gazed up at the darkening sky and murmured, “We should head home too.”

She gently took Jiang Shiyuan’s hand and handed her the glass jar filled with osmanthus flowers, as if presenting a precious gift.

“This is for you. I was delayed a bit while gathering them.”

Jiang Shiyuan froze, her eyes fixed on the jar of golden blossoms as if searching for some hidden meaning within.

After a moment of silence, she whispered, “Why are you giving me this?”

The flowers swirled within the jar like rolling waves, their warm glow seeming to conceal the confusion in her heart.

“Because they’re beautiful, and I want you to be beautiful too,” Pei Xiangwan replied, her voice soft yet resolute, cutting through the surrounding noise.

At that moment, the world seemed to fade away, leaving only Pei Xiangwan’s words echoing in Jiang Shiyuan’s heart, bringing a bittersweet feeling.

She knew that Pei Xiangwan’s beauty was something she yearned for, but reality weighed heavily on her heart.

But the moment they returned home, their moods shifted dramatically.

As soon as they stepped out of the car, Yu Wei rushed out, “You’re finally back! We’ve been waiting for you two. Come on, come on!” She waved them inside.

“Oh, and Wanwan, your parents are back too! It’s been ages since you’ve seen them. They miss you terribly—they’ve already come out to check four times, getting so anxious when you weren’t here,” Yu Wei said with a warm smile, turning to Pei Xiangwan.

“Come inside already! Why are you just standing there? We finally have some time together, and we’re so happy you and Shi Bao are back on good terms. Hurry!” She urged them to follow.

Jiang Shiyuan glanced at Pei Xiangwan with concern, deeply worried about her. She knew all too well about Pei Xiangwan’s strained relationship with her parents.

So, it’s the cheap mom and cheap dad, she thought. Still, they’re actually pretty good parents. Whenever they have time, they come back to see the temperamental brat.

It was understandable that they were increasingly busy with work. How many parents could drop everything to celebrate every birthday with their child?

Every birthday gift was personally designed by her “cheap old mom,” Lin Muyao, a renowned genius designer. Each piece was unique in the world, yet they were always destroyed by her violent temper.

I might as well give it to a dog, Pei Xiangwan thought. Jiang Shiyuan, mistaking Pei Xiangwan’s silence for sadness, grasped her hand in a comforting gesture. “It’s okay, Wanwan…”

Pei Xiangwan smiled at Jiang Shiyuan. “I’m fine. Let’s go.”

Jiang Shiyuan believed Pei Xiangwan was pretending to be okay, but she didn’t know what to say. The two walked inside together.

The house was bustling with festive cheer, like a New Year’s celebration, filled with laughter. The table was laden with a variety of dishes. As Lin Muyao carried out the final dish, she saw her daughter, whom she had missed dearly. She had been receiving daily reports about Pei Xiangwan’s activities at school.

Lin Muyao was genuinely delighted by Pei Xiangwan’s transformation. How could my daughter ever be a failure? How could she ever be so rude? If only that incident hadn’t happened…

“Wanwan and Shi Bao are back! Take a seat, dinner will be ready soon,” Lin Muyao said, forcing back her tears.

“Aunt Lin, my mother is looking for you inside. She wants to talk to you about something.”

After Lin Muyao agreed and returned to the kitchen, only the three women remained. Pei Xiangwan’s eyes widened in shock as she stared at Ji Tiantian in disbelief. Isn’t this my teammate Ji Tiantian? She looks exactly the same! What’s going on?

Ji Tiantian’s appearance was as sweet as her name suggested, yet her figure was strikingly alluring. While their faces were identical, their fashion styles differed dramatically. Pei Xiangwan’s teammate Ji Tiantian always dressed in a sweet, girly style…

Jiang Shiyuan noticed the change in Pei Xiangwan’s expression, her heart sinking as she felt as if she were surrounded by icy coldness, her entire body prickling with pain.

Just as I suspected.

Ji Tiantian sat down beside Pei Xiangwan, deliberately leaning in close, almost pressing the two lively squirrels against Pei Xiangwan’s arm.

Pei Xiangwan felt uneasy, unable to accept such intimate behavior from someone wearing her teammate’s face. She hastily moved her chair closer to Jiang Shiyuan, seeking a sense of security.

This action struck Ji Tiantian like a blow. The tenderness vanished from her face, replaced by a bitter mix of disappointment and anger. She used to dote on me, but now she’s so cold.

“Wanwan, are you still angry about me going abroad?” Ji Tiantian asked, feigning hurt with a soft, delicate voice. “I thought you’d understand my choice.”

“We clearly agreed…” Pei Xiangwan forced a smile, trying to hide her discomfort. “No, I’m not angry. It’s your right to choose.”

A flash of malice flickered in Ji Tiantian’s eyes, but she quickly composed herself, her voice returning to its gentle tone. “If that’s the case, I’m relieved. I’ve been worried you’d resent me for leaving.”

She turned to Jiang Shiyuan, a hint of provocation in her gaze. “Jiang Jiang, how have you been lately? Are you and Wanwan still close?”

Jiang Shiyuan smiled coldly, her eyes like ice. “Wanwan and I are doing just fine, Ji Tiantian.” Her tone was icy, devoid of warmth.

“How wonderful,” Ji Tiantian said, deliberately emphasizing her words with a mocking tone, secretly pleased.

She had always wanted Jiang Shiyuan to suffer, especially after she had taken what Ji Tiantian cherished most. Seeing her in pain brought her satisfaction.

Yu Wei emerged, carrying drinks and beaming. “Seeing you all getting along so well reminds me of our younger days,” she said, as she began preparing the drinks, clearly delighted.

The atmosphere at the dining table instantly tensed.

Yu Wei had always tried to make decisions for Jiang Shiyuan, frequently interrupting to steer the conversation. “Jiang Jiang, about the competition, I think you should…” Her voice was sharp, as if asserting her authority.

Ji Tiantian immediately chimed in, a smug glint in her eyes. “Exactly, Jiang Jiang! You can’t ignore Auntie’s advice—she has so much experience, after all.” Her words carried a subtle challenge, as if implying Jiang Shiyuan had no real choice in the matter.