After Transmigrating, I Became The Heroine’s First Love! - Chapter 32

Pei Xiangwan quickly eased her grip. Her once-bright eyes gradually dimmed, and she lowered her head, her lashes concealing her complex emotions.

To Jiang Shiyuan, Pei Xiangwan now resembled a heartbroken puppy, abandoned and lost, as if she might curl up in a corner and whimper.

So adorable, Jiang Shiyuan thought. I want to keep her.

Jiang Shiyuan’s hand gently caressed Pei Xiangwan’s cheek. “I’m perfectly fine,” she murmured softly.

The icy touch of Jiang Shiyuan’s palm on Pei Xiangwan’s face snapped her out of her self-blame. Pei Xiangwan covered the back of Jiang Shiyuan’s hand with her own, lifting her head, her lashes trembling with sorrow.

“I didn’t protect you well enough, Jiang Jiang.”

Jiang Shiyuan burrowed back into Pei Xiangwan’s embrace. “But I’m perfectly fine now.”

Jiang Shiyuan had instructed Chen Cheng to leak the news, her sole purpose being to make Pei Xiangwan worry about her. If not for that, she wouldn’t have bothered with the scheme.

What truly surprised her was Pei Xiangwan’s reaction—far more intense than she had anticipated. This time, Pei Xiangwan is genuinely concerned about me, she thought. This is my last chance to believe it.

This time, no matter what it takes, she would keep Pei Xiangwan by her side. Even if she had to lock her up, raising a cat and a dog together seemed like a wonderful idea.

Pei Xiangwan clearly felt the person in her arms trembling slightly, as if crying. “Jiang Jiang… Jiang Jiang, what’s wrong?”

“Waaah, Wanwan…”

The Little Fox’s whimpering tore at Pei Xiangwan’s heart. She must have been terrified.

“It’s okay, it’s okay, Jiang Jiang. I’m here. I’ll never let something like this happen again.”

She spoke softly, gently bending down to brush her cheek against Jiang Shiyuan’s hair.

Jiang Shiyuan’s hands slid from Pei Xiangwan’s waist, climbing upward until they circled her neck.

She lifted her head, her eyes rimmed with red, tears shimmering like stars about to fall from the night sky.

Pei Xiangwan tenderly wiped away her tears, her voice gentle. “It’s okay now. It won’t happen again, my sweet Jiang Jiang.”

Jiang Shiyuan saw self-reproach and heartache in Pei Xiangwan’s eyes, emotions that stirred softly within her. “Then… kiss me,” she whispered.

Jiang Shiyuan began recounting something from long ago. “You used to say you’d blow on my boo-boos to make them feel better. My heart hurts now, even though there’s no wound. You’d kiss my cheek back then, right?”

Pei Xiangwan froze, her dark, bright eyes widening in surprise. That damned hothead actually said something like that?! she thought. Damn it!

Jiang Shiyuan’s mood gradually darkened. She released her grip on Pei Xiangwan’s hand and murmured, “Never mind. This is making you uncomfortable, isn’t it? After all, our relationship isn’t what it used to be.”

Pei Xiangwan took a deep breath, mustered her courage, and cupped Jiang Shiyuan’s face. Her fingertips brushed against her skin, feeling a surge of warmth.

Slowly, she tilted Jiang Shiyuan’s head upward, closed her eyes tightly, and pressed a gentle kiss to her cheek—brief and tender, like a breeze skimming across a lake, leaving only the faintest ripple.

Why is this person always so warm? Jiang Shiyuan wondered. Just a touch, and her face burns up. Sometimes I really think Pei Xiangwan is a living flame.

It seemed impossible for a crystal-clear block of ice and a roaring flame to coexist. The ice would always melt away first, but that didn’t matter.

As long as Pei Xiangwan cared… she would make her fall in love. This was a good start.

Someone who felt nothing for you wouldn’t care about your suffering, let alone blame themselves for it. They would only seek superiority over you, relentlessly putting you down.

Pei Xiangwan was changing… she was changing, returning to her former self. Jiang Shiyuan could trust her a little more now.

As the night deepened, silence enveloped them.

“Wanwan, you’re so kind,” Jiang Shiyuan murmured, her voice muffled yet unusually clear.

Qiao Yanxin had gradually grown accustomed to having Ma Wanqing around during meals, and she even occasionally brought her along when going out. It didn’t seem like such a bad thing after all.

“Ma Wanqing, you should talk more! Don’t always be so quiet and reserved. Has anyone been bothering you lately?”

Qiao Yanxin pushed her finished plate aside and stared intently at Ma Wanqing, who sat across from her, eating neatly and slowly.

Ma Wanqing always ate at a snail’s pace. Qiao Yanxin and Pei Xiangwan already ate slowly, but Ma Wanqing was even slower. She chewed each bite for an exceptionally long time.

Even now, after Qiao Yanxin had finished eating and was trying to talk to her, she received no response because Ma Wanqing was still chewing. But Qiao Yanxin wasn’t impatient; she waited quietly, her eyes fixed on the other girl.

Qiao Yanxin found it quite amusing. Perhaps because Ma Wanqing had a small head and mouth, she resembled a hamster when she ate, her cheeks bulging adorably. When flustered, her doe-like eyes would widen, glistening with innocent vulnerability.

If only it weren’t for those hands…

Ma Wanqing finally finished chewing and replied, “I don’t like talking. This is fine. As long as no one bothers me, I’m used to it.” Her voice remained as soft as ever.

Ma Wanqing knew why the others weren’t bullying her as much as before. It wasn’t because they had realized their mistakes and felt remorse or repentance; they were simply afraid of provoking someone more powerful than themselves.

Her eyes cautiously darted to another spot, but the harsh sunlight pierced her vision, forcing her to squint. Slowly, she opened her eyes a crack.

The golden light seemed to favor Pei Xiangwan, draping her in dazzling golden armor. She was so radiant that even as the glare made Ma Wanqing’s eyes water, she couldn’t bear to look away.

Pei Xiangwan had been withdrawn and melancholy these past few days, yet the sky remained its usual clear, cloudless blue.

Back in the classroom, Qiao Yanxin asked her what was wrong. She had noticed Pei Xiangwan’s odd behavior several days earlier.

Given Pei Xiangwan’s initial state, Qiao Yanxin had thought she would recover quickly. Instead, her condition worsened.

“What’s wrong, Xiang Wan? Tell me! Your big sister Yan Xin will solve all your troubles!”

Pei Xiangwan propped her chin on her hand, glanced at Qiao Yanxin, then turned her gaze back to the blackboard.

Her silence and listless demeanor broke Qiao Yanxin’s heart.

“Tell me, Xiang Wan! Talking about it will make you feel better.”

Qiao Yanxin sat in her seat, twisting her upper body frantically like a stuck fan. Her hands repeatedly slapped against Pei Xiangwan’s leg, driving Pei Xiangwan to her breaking point.

“Stop, stop, stop! Yan Xin, stop moving!”

Hearing Pei Xiangwan’s words, Qiao Yanxin froze.

Pei Xiangwan sighed mournfully. “Jiang Jiang has been acting so strange lately.” The mere thought of it made her heart ache.

“How so?” Qiao Yanxin asked, pushing the draft paper on the table aside.