After Transmigrating, I Became The Heroine’s First Love! - Chapter 5

Jiang Shiyuan left the dance studio and went to the sink. She cupped her hands and splashed water on her face, washing away the heat and sweat. Droplets clung to her hair and even her eyelashes.

The sun blazed overhead, making it hard to open her eyes. Water trickled down her cheeks to her chin, gathering into a bubble like one blown by a child. It grew larger and larger until it finally burst, leaving no trace on its path. Everyone was swallowed by the fiery red light, their faces flushed crimson.

A shoulder bumped into hers. Jiang Shiyuan let out a soft hum and turned to see she had knocked a girl to the ground. She reached out her hand. “I’m so sorry! Are you hurt?”

“Let me help you up,” she said, her voice delicate and gentle, like a dandelion seed drifting weightlessly through the air. When it landed in her palm, it felt utterly weightless, leaving only a faint tickle.

The girl tilted her head slightly, a hint of admiration flickering in her eyes. Her lips parted slightly, but no sound came out. The scorching floor kissed her palm, yet even that couldn’t bring her back to reality.

“Shiyuan, are you okay? Why doesn’t anyone watch where they’re going these days? Don’t help her up—it wasn’t your fault! She ran right into you.”

Chen Zui’s expression darkened. It was bad enough that they were being delayed, but now the girl wouldn’t even get up.

“I’m fine, Chen Zui. It’s this student I’m worried about. Are you alright? Let me take you to the infirmary.” Her hand remained outstretched, but this time she bent down, trying to get a closer look to see if the girl was injured.

Chen Zui’s brow furrowed deeply as he shouted, “Hey, say something! Are you pretending to be mute to scam us?”

Hearing the word “scam,” the girl shook her head violently, tears streaming down her face. “No… no, I’m not trying to scam anyone.”

“Can you get up first?” Jiang Shiyuan asked gently, her smile unwavering. She remained patient as always.

The girl reached out and grasped Jiang Shiyuan’s hand, staring blankly at her. Sunlight streamed down, bathing Jiang Shiyuan in a warm glow. Her smile was so tender it was almost addictive, and the light seemed to form a halo around her head.

Jiang Shiyuan pulled out a tissue and handed it to the girl. “Let me take you to the infirmary.”

The girl accepted the tissue, shaking her head. Streaks of tears and stickiness remained on her face.

Chen Zui immediately grabbed Jiang Shiyuan’s arm and tugged her forward. “She said she’s fine. Let’s go. We’re running out of time, and we’ve got a ton of stuff to do lately.”

“But…”

Chen Zui cut her off. “No ‘buts.’ She clearly looks fine.”

Her mesmerizing voice was drowned out by the crowd, making the whole scene feel surreal, like a dream that had faded, leaving only this tissue behind.

“Jia Yi, you’re here! I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

Li Jia Yi tucked the tissue into her pocket. “Mm-hmm.”

“Goddess Jiang left so quickly. I wanted to talk to her, but I was too nervous.”

Sheng Qiao noticed the lingering tear tracks on Li Jia Yi’s face. “You’ve been crying…”

Li Jia Yi wiped her face haphazardly as she walked. “No… I haven’t.”

Sheng Qiao sighed, knowing how sensitive Li Jia Yi was, and dropped the subject. “I really don’t want Goddess Jiang to get close to that rude guy.”

“How could this even happen? Did that rude guy save the galaxy in his past life, or maybe save Goddess Jiang’s whole family? Why is she so smitten?”

Sheng Qiao pulled Li Jia Yi into the shade, their shadows stretching long and weaving through the dappled sunlight. Li Jia Yi let Sheng Qiao lead her, her soul adrift, leaving behind only an empty shell. She needed an angel’s redemption.

These unwanted words buzzed like flies, burrowing into her ears and gnawing at her brain. Li Jia Yi forced a smile and said,

“Did you argue with your boyfriend?”

The wind lifted Sheng Qiao’s bangs, and her smile vanished instantly, leaving no trace. She fell silent.

Even late at night, the cafeteria remained crowded, filled with boisterous chatter. It felt like being trapped in a sealed glass box, the noise amplified endlessly within the confined space. Jiang Shiyuan remained oblivious, completely detached from her surroundings, blocking everything out as she ate her meal.

Chen Zui couldn’t do the same. He couldn’t bear the stares, even though the gossip wasn’t about him.

“Shiyuan, have you forgotten how Pei Xiangwan treated you? How many times has this happened? And you still trust her?”

“It’s like you forget the pain as soon as the wound heals. Now all those jealous people are laughing at you behind your back.”

Chen Zui’s voice grew agitated, his fingers tapping insistently on the table, his chopsticks clattering to the side. “She’s just bad luck for you.”

“Are you finished eating? Let’s go if you are.”

Jiang Shiyuan wiped her mouth with a tissue, resembling a delicate porcelain doll princess seated in a display case—noble, elegant, and meant to be admired from afar. That’s how Chen Zui saw her: always beautiful, almost perfect.

But even the most flawless moon has its flaws.

The swish, swish, swish of pencils filled the air as a sapphire ring took shape on the paper. Colorful butterflies perched around the gem, their vibrant hues bringing the drawing to life.

Pei Xiangwan scrutinized the sketch in her hand. It had its flaws, but considering the short time she’d spent on it, it was already quite impressive—a testament to her natural talent. Still, it wasn’t enough. Not yet.

Qiao Yanxin leaned forward, her hands braced on the desk as she gazed down at Pei Xiangwan, her voice brimming with excitement.

“That’s enough, that’s enough! Stop staring—you’ll burn a hole through the paper! The teacher’s been praising you non-stop lately. Shouldn’t you relax a little?”

Pei Xiangwan gathered her materials, her tone matter-of-fact. “Even with praise, I still need to work harder. There’s always room for improvement, right? Besides, I haven’t had any free time lately.”

Qiao Yanxin shot her a sidelong glance, her voice tinged with bitterness. “It’s not just ‘lately’—you never have any free time.”

“But how did you suddenly get so into design? Weren’t you the one who hated being forced to do things?”

Qiao Yanxin couldn’t understand it. Someone who had once loathed attending classes was now not only actively participating but had also quickly won the teacher’s favor.

There was only one explanation. Qiao Yanxin pursed her lips into a fish-like pout. “You’ve been secretly working hard behind my back, planning to surprise everyone! You played dumb for years, and now you’re going to make a grand entrance, right?”

Pei Xiangwan burst out laughing and pushed Qiao Yanxin’s hand away. “If that’s what you want to believe, I can’t stop you.”

Qiao Yanxin crossed her arms and scoffed, “I thought this was just your new way of flirting a few days ago. Who knew you’d become so popular without even trying? Your admirers have multiplied!”

“Let’s go, let’s go,” Pei Xiangwan said, wanting to change the subject.

Qiao Yanxin grabbed her backpack and chased after her. “Wait for me! I was just about to say your temper has improved. Guess I don’t deserve that compliment.”

The sky was a deep, purplish-black, and the fountain water mirrored the same dark hue, like an oil painting where purple pigment saturated the school buildings. Deep within the flowerbeds, a python, tired of waiting, flicked its tongue as it slowly approached a small fox, intent on swallowing it whole.

Qiao Yanxin pointed casually ahead. “Heh, isn’t that Ning Xuemo?”

Pei Xiangwan followed her gaze, her expression darkening instantly at Qiao Yanxin’s words.

“A few days ago, she told her admirers at school that she liked Jiang Shiyuan and wanted to pursue her. I didn’t expect her to start so soon.”

Indeed, it was happening even faster than in the original plot. In the book, Ning Xuemo’s pursuit of Jiang Shiyuan didn’t begin until after the school’s talent show. The reborn Ning Xuemo had even considered delaying her move, believing that repeating her previous scheme—drugging Jiang Shiyuan and spreading rumors to ruin her reputation—would ensure success.

Jiang Shiyuan’s allure proved irresistible. After the literary evening, her suitors multiplied daily, forcing Ning Xuemo to confess. Rejection didn’t deter her; she could always enlist Chen Zui’s help to drug Jiang Shiyuan.

What a hollow smile, Ning Xuemo thought, and how laughable that smug, self-assured expression of a supposed victor.

“A-Jiang, I like you,” Ning Xuemo said, stepping closer. Jiang Shiyuan hated strangers approaching her, especially those who spoke with such presumptuous familiarity. It felt like trudging through muddy roads after rain—sticky, dirtying her shoes, and stirring an uncontrollable irritation in her heart.

Jiang Shiyuan frowned deeply, retreating with each step. The crisp crunch of dry leaves underfoot echoed through the air.

“I don’t like you. Don’t get so close.”

Ning Xuemo smiled, unfazed. Even if things went awry, she had ways to ensure Jiang Shiyuan would marry her, love her to madness, and think of her until her dying breath. No matter how many times this played out, Jiang Shiyuan would always belong to Ning Xuemo.

“Jiang Jiang, let’s go home,” Pei Xiangwan said, stepping in front of Jiang Shiyuan to block Ning Xuemo’s hateful gaze. She took Jiang Shiyuan’s hand and led her away.

Away from this repulsive beast.

Ning Xuemo became a mere backdrop, her furious gaze fixed on the retreating figures as they melted into the twilight purple, gradually disappearing from sight.