After Transmigrating, I Became The Heroine’s First Love! - Chapter 9

The autumn wind stripped the trees of their withered yellow leaves, and the lawn had turned a scorched brown. A cat with a white scarf sat beside a tree, sniffing the autumn air. Perhaps the ground was too hot, for it lifted one paw and looked around.

Pei Xiangwan had just stepped out the door when she saw Jiang Shiyuan already waiting. “Have you been waiting long, Jiang Jiang?” she asked.

Jiang Shiyuan replied calmly, “Not long. I just came out myself.”

“Mm-hmm…”

The two walked shoulder to shoulder in silence. Pei Xiangwan’s attention drifted to the fallen yellow leaves on the ground. She crushed them under her heel with a satisfying crunch-crunch, the sound oddly reminiscent of chewing cookies.

Jiang Shiyuan watched, the corners of her mouth twitching upward. The rumors and gossip seemed to crumble beneath Pei Xiangwan’s feet.

She still believed that what she saw with her own eyes was the truth.

“Why are you so certain something happened to Snowball, rather than just thinking he went out to play?” Pei Xiangwan turned to Jiang Shiyuan, and the rustling of the leaves fell silent.

“Because lately, they’ve been saying that dismembered bodies are being found hanging from tree branches nearby. By the time they’re discovered, they’re already lifeless. It’s been happening every day, and the person responsible hasn’t been caught. Snowball would never stay out this long.” Her voice was laced with anger, each word spitting fire.

Pei Xiangwan felt sick just hearing about it. She couldn’t imagine the depravity required to inflict such cruelty on a small life.

She wasn’t sure if Snowball was still alive, but she knew he must be important to Jiang Shiyuan. She offered comfort, saying, “We’ll find him.”

“Why didn’t you keep Snowball at home?”

Forgotten memories lay buried in a dusty cardboard box. She was unlucky, and what right did the unlucky have?

Jiang Shiyuan’s expression darkened. She didn’t answer, forcing a smile as she pointed to the lawn before them. “This is where I first met Snowball, a long time ago.”

The lawn wasn’t large, just a small square patch surrounded by trees. Stepping onto it, the crisp scent of the woods filled the air, soothing their anxiety.

“Hmm… I’ll come here every day to wait. Before, he used to dart from here to there, then like this…” Jiang Shiyuan gestured with her fingers as she spoke, a sad smile tugging at her lips. Crimson veins crept across her clear amber eyes, devouring the irises.

“Don’t worry, I’ll help you find him. Once we do, we’ll raise him together, so he won’t disappear again.”

Jiang Shiyuan remained silent, the sunlight and shadows playing across her face. Her lips gleamed like dewdropped cherries, plump and inviting.

Pei Xiangwan reached out and embraced her, the harsh sunlight casting leafy shadows across her arm as she tightened her grip around Jiang Shiyuan’s slender waist.

“Whatever happened, it wasn’t your fault.”

She didn’t know what Jiang Shiyuan had been through, and she wouldn’t force her to reopen old wounds.

Pei Xiangwan thought that if they couldn’t find Snowball, she would ask for his description and search the world until she found a cat just like him to give to Jiang Shiyuan. But that was only a last resort; she was determined to find him.

“Lovebirds sneaking off for a rendezvous near my house?” Lin Su teased.

It was unclear when she had appeared, but judging by her words, she had been standing there for quite some time.

Jiang Shiyuan startled and turned around, while Pei Xiangwan carefully scrutinized the newcomer. Lin Su was bundled up tightly despite the heat, with only her face and hands exposed, a black backpack slung over her shoulder.

“Sister Su,” Jiang Shiyuan greeted.

Lin Su tightened the straps of her backpack, forcing a strained smile.

“Hmm, this is the second time I’ve interrupted you today. I’m so sorry. I’ll leave now. See you next time,” she said, taking a few steps before adding, “I hope I won’t be bothering you next time we meet.”

Her heavy backpack sagged with each step, gradually disappearing from view.

“She’s so strange,” Pei Xiangwan muttered, unable to articulate what exactly felt off about Lin Su.

Jiang Shiyuan asked, “Why do you say that?”

“Her smile felt so fake, and her words were just… odd. I can’t quite explain it.”

“Enough about her. Show me the photos of Snowball so I can find him easier.”

Jiang Shiyuan glanced up at her, pulled out her phone, and scrolled through her gallery. Pei Xiangwan noticed numerous photos of the kitten, arranged chronologically, as if documenting the cat’s growth.

The cat in the photos was an orange tabby, clearly well-fed and cared for.

Its round eyes were the color of jade-green melon, and a dark orange band circled its thick neck like a necklace. Its whiskers drooped like fishing lines, as if a fish were tugging on the hook, making it utterly adorable.

“She’s so adorable. Send me the photo, and I’ll definitely find her. You just focus on practicing and competing. Leave this to me, okay?”

Pei Xiangwan’s voice was incredibly gentle, her captivating mid-range tone like a pale blue island. When you heard it, it seemed to bubble and fizz in your mouth, numbing your entire body. You felt like you were falling into the sea, forever drowning in its tender embrace.

Jiang Shiyuan stared into her eyes and asked, “How did you know I have a competition?” The little deer in her heart pounded wildly against her ribs, as if the desire she had been suppressing deep within her was about to burst free.

Pei Xiangwan gently placed her hand on Jiang Shiyuan’s fluffy head and began to stroke it.

“How could I not know about you, Jiang Jiang? You’re so important to me.” Her fingers slid down, brushing past Jiang Shiyuan’s ear. Jiang Shiyuan’s body trembled slightly, her ear flushing crimson as if she had applied blush. Pei Xiangwan couldn’t resist pinching her soft earlobe.

Jiang Shiyuan lowered her head, unwilling to let Pei Xiangwan see her current state. Even the simplest touch could elicit such a reaction from her.

“We should head back now. We’ve found what we needed for today. Leave the rest to me,” Pei Xiangwan said, tilting her head to gaze at the sky.

Dark, oppressive clouds blanketed the sky, imprisoning the sun in a black box. The wind howled and shrieked, violently shaking the trees, their branches swaying like maracas, playing a mournful melody in the rain.

White mist permeated the depths of the forest, gradually obscuring the towering trees. Their branches twisted and distorted, resembling skeletal hands reaching out to drag people toward death.

A cat lay stiff as dried salted fish atop the weeds. Its bl00d-white fur, washed by the rain, streamed crimson. Its belly looked as if a burly fishmonger had gutted it, discarding the entrails beside it.

“Escaped… it escaped. Lucky thing, just like its owner.”

Lin Su laughed eerily, her eyes gleaming with excitement. She inhaled deeply, relishing the metallic tang of bl00d in the air, her face radiating boundless satisfaction and exhilaration.

The red umbrella clutched in her hand trembled under the relentless downpour. She turned, her black coat flattening the weeds as she gradually vanished into the white mist.

“Do me a favor,” Pei Xiangwan said into her phone. “Find me something that moves and is really cute.”

Qiao Yanxin immediately replied, “Finding people? I’m your girl! What kind are you looking for? I can find anything!”

Pei Xiangwan sighed, a hint of exasperation in her voice. “You’re crazy! I wasn’t finished. I’m not looking for a person.”

She was interrupted again. “God! You’re even looking for ghosts now…”

Pei Xiangwan nearly wanted to drag Qiao Yanxin over and beat her senseless. Gritting her teeth, she threatened, “Are you going to listen or not, Qiao Yanxin?”

“Of course, of course! I’m listening! Tell me.”

“Help me find a cat.”

Qiao Yanxin wondered if her hearing was failing or if she was hallucinating. She checked her phone’s contact list—no mistake, it was Pei Xiangwan. How had she suddenly become a cat lover? Before, she’d always asked for people…

“Didn’t you hate cats? What’s with the sudden obsession? You haven’t even been playing games with us lately.”

“Who could resist an adorable kitten? Just help me find one, and I’ll treat you to dinner in a few days.” Pei Xiangwan paused, then added, “And you should cut back on gaming and drinking. You might drop dead, you know. I’m just looking out for you.”

Qiao Yanxin clicked her tongue, annoyed by Pei Xiangwan’s nagging, which reminded her of her mother. “Fine, fine, I get it. I’ll help you look, but I don’t know if my contacts can find a cat.”

After ending the call, Pei Xiangwan walked to the window. The rain continued to fall relentlessly, showing no signs of stopping. But what was meant to happen wouldn’t be halted by this downpour.