After Transmigrating, I Became The Heroine’s First Love! - Chapter 43

Deep purple bougainvillea cascaded down the stone walls like twin waterfalls, their vibrant blossoms transforming the street into a sea of violet.

The car was much quieter today than usual. Even the most talkative person eventually tires.

Pei Xiangwan leaned back in her seat and gradually drifted off to sleep. Her red and white striped tie lay motionless against her white shirt, slumbering alongside her.

Jiang Shiyuan gazed at her with a smile in her eyes. Her black-framed glasses obscured her beautiful, captivating eyes, while her sharply defined jawline radiated a potent sensuality.

Once Pei Xiangwan was sound asleep, Jiang Shiyuan hatched a mischievous plan. She gently tickled Pei Xiangwan’s chin.

Like a fleeting snowflake, the touch vanished as quickly as it came. Pei Xiangwan grumbled irritably and swatted at her chin.

Undeterred, Jiang Shiyuan’s restless little paw grew bolder, tickling her repeatedly. Pei Xiangwan’s reactions made her laugh.

Just as she was about to strike again, she was caught.

Jiang Shiyuan’s heart leaped into her throat. A warm hand enveloped hers, trapping her. Forced to smile awkwardly, she stammered, “Wanwan, you’re awake!”

In Pei Xiangwan’s eyes, Jiang Shiyuan’s smile seemed forced, as if trying to hide something.

She remained silent, gazing quietly at the mischievous little white fox, showing neither reproach nor impatience.

“Let’s get out, Wanwan. We’re at school.” Jiang Shiyuan had assumed she could easily withdraw her hand, but Pei Xiangwan’s grip was surprisingly firm.

Pei Xiangwan grinned mischievously as she unbuckled Jiang Shiyuan’s seatbelt, her hand deliberately brushing against Jiang Shiyuan’s waist.

Jiang Shiyuan froze instantly, her body flushing with heat. She had never seen Pei Xiangwan smile like that before.

Pei Xiangwan’s gaze was as dazzling as the fireflies she had first shown Jiang Shiyuan, so bright it made her heart race with panic.

They had watched those fireflies together.

Still dazed, Jiang Shiyuan struggled to think of what to say, but Pei Xiangwan gave her no chance.

Pei Xiangwan’s hand, like a powerful hook, latched onto Jiang Shiyuan’s waist.

Jiang Shiyuan should have been able to break free, but her captor was too cunning, skilled at using the white fox’s vulnerabilities—hallucination-inducing, weakness-inducing magic—to completely control her.

Pei Xiangwan’s voice, perhaps hoarse from sleep, had taken on a raspy quality.

This made her laughter sound like a potent liquor, first burning Jiang Shiyuan’s throat, silencing her, then seizing control of her body, claiming complete dominance.

“Aiyo, you’re wearing more than usual, yet you’re still so cold? Hmm? It’s like hugging an ice sculpture.”

Jiang Shiyuan hated that last remark. With all her strength, she pushed Pei Xiangwan away, her cheeks puffed up in anger.

“Then don’t hug me!” The Little Fox, still fuming, yanked open the car door, ready to bolt out, but the “villain” wouldn’t let her go.

“You little fox, I meant you should wear more layers, not that I think you’re cold.”

Clearly, the Little Fox wasn’t satisfied with this explanation, refusing to even look at her.

Yet, her face, as pale as white flour, gradually flushed with a delicate, rosy hue, like a cranberry steamed bun—soft, pink, and radiating a unique, sweet fragrance.

Pei Xiangwan slowly leaned closer, but the moment she did, Jiang Shiyuan recoiled. “Even if it’s freezing,” Pei Xiangwan said, “I’ll keep you warm. Once you’re warm, you won’t be cold anymore.”

Only then did the Little Fox lift her head, uttering words that left Pei Xiangwan speechless.

“Will you keep me warm forever?”

Pei Xiangwan blinked, forcing a dry laugh. “How could I? Jiang Jiang will find someone she loves someday. These things are for your wife to do, not me.”

She glanced at her phone, feigning urgency. “We’re going to be late! We should go now, Jiang Jiang.”

“But…” Before Jiang Shiyuan could finish, Pei Xiangwan had already hopped out of the car and rushed to the other side to open Jiang Shiyuan’s door.

“Come on, Jiang Jiang.”

Jiang Shiyuan silently got out of the car, unable to accept anyone but Pei Xiangwan.

Only Pei Xiangwan could love her. To Shiyuan, anything Pei Xiangwan wanted to do to her was acceptable—day and night, without end.

It was undoubtedly joyful, endlessly satisfying.

She loved it, she craved it… The way to banish the cold was simple: a roaring flame to envelop a square block of ice.

The ice would forever belong to the flame, as long as there was no betrayal.

The pure blue sky continued its work, while the clouds and sun quietly slipped away for a rest.

“Ma Wanqing.”

Hearing her name called, Ma Wanqing turned off the faucet and found herself facing a completely unfamiliar face.

“Do… do you need something?” she asked cautiously.

Ning Xuemo’s eyes radiated an arrogant, condescending gaze.

“I admire you. I wanted to get to know you. You’re graduating soon, aren’t you? You could come work for my company.”

Ma Wanqing’s expression flickered at the word “admire,” because the woman before her had maintained a haughty, superior demeanor throughout their exchange, showing no genuine admiration.

She gave a polite, slight smile. “Thank you, but I haven’t decided yet. I might have to decline your kind offer.”

Ning Xuemo frowned, her tone turning even colder.

“You should really think this through,” Ning Xuemo said coldly. Do the lower classes even have the right to refuse her? she thought, inwardly cursing Ma Wanqing. Even after being reborn, she’s still so ungrateful.

Ma Wanqing nodded. “Alright, I’ll head out now, classmate.”

Furious, Ning Xuemo slammed her fist against the wall. Why did the heavens give me a second chance only to make everything go wrong?

Her sense of crisis stemmed from Pei Xiangwan. In such a short time, the former “trash” had progressed rapidly, becoming known as a genius, and even her reputation had improved.

People are so foolish, Ning Xuemo thought bitterly. Just a little bit of good, and they forget all the bad.

Ning Xuemo hated how everyone’s attention was now focused on Pei Xiangwan.

So what if she has a famous and powerful mother? I’m a hundred, a thousand times better than Pei Xiangwan. I’ll prove to everyone that Pei Xiangwan deserves to be beneath my feet.

When that day comes, not just Jiang Shiyuan, but ten like her will come crawling to lick my boots, Ning Xuemo’s boots.

“Classmate Pei… could you help me with this? I don’t quite understand what the teacher said.”

“Hey! Stop pushing! I’m trying to get out of line!”

Recently, more and more students had been approaching Pei Xiangwan during breaks, using the pretense of studying to get close to her. Though some genuinely had questions, the crowd had grown so large that Qiao Yanxin couldn’t even get close enough to speak to Pei Xiangwan.

“Seriously! Can’t you guys be a little more serious? I’m not here to ask questions—I need to talk to Xiang Wan about something important!”

Qiao Yanxin’s words earned her a withering glare from the woman blocking her path, who retorted sarcastically, “Well, I have something to discuss with Pei Xiangwan too. Cutting in line and acting so entitled?”

Furious, Qiao Yanxin pointed at herself and demanded, “Don’t you know who I am? We’re in the same class!”

The woman stared at Qiao Yanxin as if she were an idiot.

“Don’t think your looks give you the right to cut in line. Besides, everyone in this line is from our class.” With that, she turned her back on Qiao Yanxin, dismissing her completely.

In a fit of anger, Qiao Yanxin stormed back to her seat, her clenched pencil turning the pristine white paper charcoal black.

She vented her frustration until the pencil snapped and the paper tore.

But sadness and anger aren’t emotions exclusive to one person. At the same moment, Ning Moxue, sitting across the room, was seething with rage.

Her eyes burned into Pei Xiangwan, who was surrounded by admirers. Xiang Wan seemed like a deity’s darling, all the light drawn to her effortlessly. She didn’t need to strive; divine favor simply fell into her lap.

Finally, lunchtime arrived. Qiao Yanxin finally, finally managed to reach Pei Xiangwan’s side. This took forever, she thought, her voice trembling with emotion as she said, tears welling up, “Waaah, after all the hardship, sweetness at last!” She lunged to embrace Xiang Wan.

From Pei Xiangwan’s perspective, Qiao Yanxin, arms outstretched, looked exactly like a flapping black-winged bat. Startled, Xiang Wan dodged away.

“What’s wrong with you? Having another episode?” she snapped, retreating behind Ma Wanqing.