After Transmigrating, I Became The Heroine’s First Love! - Chapter 36

Pei Xiangwan sat lazily in her chair, her weary body sinking into the sofa as her eyes were drawn to the lively little white cat.

The kitten frolicked in the sun-drenched living room, bouncing around like a tiny marble, eagerly exploring every corner. Its snow-white fur shimmered in the warm light, and Pei Xiangwan couldn’t help but smile. “I’ll call you White Ball,” she murmured, “it suits you perfectly.”

Aunt Zhang, wiping her hands dry, peeked out from the kitchen doorway, her eyes filled with tenderness and concern. “Miss, you’ve taken a liking to cats again?” she asked with a smile.

“I do like it quite a bit,” Pei Xiangwan replied, her voice languid but her smile genuine. The kitten’s boundless energy brought her a rare moment of lightness, as if it could dispel the shadows in her heart.

Aunt Zhang wiped the water from her hands, her face beaming with relief. “Miss, the teacher Madam hired for you will be arriving soon.”

“Really? Thank you, Aunt Zhang!” Pei Xiangwan looked up in surprise, impressed by her mother’s efficiency. She had only mentioned it casually to Lin Muyao, never expecting her to actually hire a tutor.

Aunt Zhang chuckled warmly, the water stains on her apron glistening in the sunlight. “You should thank Madam. She’s truly remarkable. Miss, you might not want to hear this, but your mother loves you deeply.”

Pei Xiangwan nodded slightly. “I know, Aunt Zhang.”

Seeing that the young lady had nothing more to say, Aunt Zhang hurried off to attend to her chores.

The living room fell silent. Pei Xiangwan’s gaze was drawn to the computer screen, where the “Extreme Spirit Design Competition” logo flashed.

Suddenly, the doorbell rang. Aunt Zhang rushed to answer it, her voice tinged with excitement. “You must be the teacher! It’s amazing you’re a teacher at such a young age!”

The woman who stood at the door appeared to be around twenty-five years old, radiating a fresh and capable aura. Her black hair cascaded over her shoulders, framing delicate features. Dressed in a simple white blouse and dark trousers, she looked like a vibrant figure stepped straight out of a painting.

“Hello, Auntie,” Bai Jie said, her voice crisp and pleasant, carrying an approachable warmth that made one want to draw closer. “Teacher Lin sent me.”

“Just call me Aunt Zhang. Miss Pei is waiting for you inside. Please come in.”

As Aunt Zhang spoke, she couldn’t help but steal another glance at the young teacher, her face brimming with undisguised admiration. How wonderful to achieve such brilliance at such a young age, she thought, unlike me, who’s lived my whole life without ever shining.

Pei Xiangwan turned her head and saw the newly arrived teacher, a surge of curiosity rising within her.

Bai Jie’s smile was warm and sincere as she extended her hand. “Hello, Pei Xiangwan. I’m Teacher Bai, sent by Teacher Lin to tutor you.”

“Hello, Teacher Bai,” Pei Xiangwan said, taking her hand.

Bai Jie set down her bag, which released a faint, bookish scent as she opened it. She pulled out a book and several pristine sheets of paper, saying softly, “Since I’m not familiar with your skill level or style, Teacher Lin showed me your drafts. You’re remarkably talented, and I’d like to learn more.”

“This way, we can identify areas for improvement,” Bai Jie continued, her voice gentle yet firm. “Gems and jade can be refined through books, but ideas—novel ideas—come from…”

She lightly tapped Pei Xiangwan’s forehead with her pen, a smile playing at the corner of her lips. “…from here.”

Pei Xiangwan nodded obediently.

For the next hour, every word Bai Jie spoke held her rapt attention. As their discussion deepened, Bai Jie’s initially tense brow gradually relaxed, and the corners of her lips unconsciously lifted. Her expression grew more relaxed, as if moved by Pei Xiangwan’s talent.

Pei Xiangwan’s talent even surpasses Lin Muyao’s at her age, Bai Jie thought to herself. She couldn’t help but wonder why so many people called Pei Xiangwan the “Flawed Full Moon.” How unfair those judgments and misunderstandings were.

“Your ideas are so fresh and innovative. How did you come up with them?” Bai Jie asked gently, her voice as soothing as a spring breeze.

Pei Xiangwan replied earnestly, “Actually, it just suddenly came to me—a vague outline in my mind, and then it just… emerged.” Her eyes shone with conviction, as if defending her creative vision.

Bai Jie smiled slightly, her expression filled with admiration. “I see. Now, let’s talk about the weaknesses. This section feels incomplete, too sparse. It’s quite obvious.”

Time flew by as they discussed the project. Sunlight streamed through the curtains, casting golden patches that danced across the floor like playful sprites. Outside the window, leaves rustled gently in the breeze, punctuated by occasional birdsong.

“Time really flies when you’re focused,” Pei Xiangwan remarked.

When deeply engaged, time seemed to vanish—like waking up after a blissful day of sleep only to find it’s already over. No matter what, time slips through our fingers.

“Until next time. I should get going,” Bai Jie said, gathering her books.

Pei Xiangwan hurried forward. “Let me see you off, Teacher Bai.”

Bai Jie shook her head gently. “No need, I drove here. You must be tired after our long discussion. Goodbye, Classmate Pei.”

“Goodbye, Teacher Bai!” Pei Xiangwan watched her leave.

The conference room was packed, the atmosphere tense. The empty seat in the middle drew everyone’s attention.

“What’s going on? We haven’t had any issues lately,” Chen Cheng muttered, shaking her head helplessly. “I don’t know either. Let’s just wait.”

Urgent footsteps echoed outside the door, and the conference room fell into complete silence. Everyone held their breath, even their breathing becoming cautious.

The door swung open, and Jiang Shiyuan strode in, her gaze as piercing as an icy wind, sweeping across the room and sending chills down everyone’s spines.

“Is everyone here?” she asked coldly, her voice radiating authority. “Begin the reports.”

Under her intense gaze, everyone lowered their heads, avoiding eye contact. Jiang Shiyuan maintained her icy demeanor throughout the meeting, her voice devoid of warmth, making the attendees sweat with anxiety.

Her presence was like an iceberg, radiating an invisible pressure.

“Does everyone think there are no problems?” Her voice was as cold as a winter gale.

“Y-yes,” the group replied in unison, though a hint of hesitation lingered in their voices.

“I previously announced the launch of new products, but none of your proposals showed any originality. The only passable one was Ling Wan’s dessert plan.”

A cold smile curled her lips. “Our current performance is better than before, but that doesn’t mean we can stop. We want better, not just good enough.”

As she spoke, the atmosphere in the conference room grew increasingly oppressive, as if the very air had solidified.

Everyone felt their hearts racing, terrified of being singled out for criticism in the next moment. Jiang Shiyuan seemed like a judge delivering verdicts.

Under Jiang Shiyuan’s oppressive presence, the meeting proceeded with remarkable speed, ending only when she delivered her final directive: “Submit further proposals by next week.”

The attendees breathed a collective sigh of relief, as if a great weight had been lifted from their shoulders.

“The boss’s cold demeanor is terrifying!”

“Come on, we’ve worked with her for years. Isn’t she always like this?”

“Innovation, innovation! I’m racking my brain. What about a rose-flavored roasted milk tea?”

Chen Cheng hurried after Jiang Shiyuan, her heart pounding. “Boss, is something wrong? What do you need me to do?”

“The stray cat situation—have them investigate more thoroughly,” Jiang Shiyuan said, her tone still icy, devoid of any emotion, as if she were addressing a robot.

“Yes, I’ll arrange it immediately,” Chen Cheng replied hastily, secretly vowing to resolve the matter swiftly.

“And what’s the status of the investigation into Lin Su?” Jiang Shiyuan continued, her gaze sharp as a blade.