All I Want Is to Hold the Heroine in My Arms [Transmigration into a Book] - Chapter 11
The three of them arrived at a Chinese restaurant. With the server leading the way, they entered a private room that Jian Xizhuo had reserved in advance.
With a silent understanding between them, Shi Yi picked up the menu and began choosing dishes carefully.
“Dr. Jian.”
Wan Shuang leaned over the table and called out softly. She was watching Jian Xizhuo, who hadn’t taken his eyes off Shi Yi, his gaze filled with tenderness.
Even if he was her son in a certain way, Wan Shuang still thought only she should be allowed to look at Shi Yi like that.
Feeling a little annoyed, she tried to redirect Jian Xizhuo’s attention.
“What is it, Miss Wan?” Jian Xizhuo turned to her politely, pulling his gaze away from Shi Yi.
For a moment, he had the strange feeling that there was something oddly mature in Wan Shuang’s expression, a kind of gentle warmth that didn’t quite fit someone her age.
“Oh, don’t call me Miss Wan,” she said casually, waving her hand. “You can call me Xiaoshuang, just like Shi Yi-jie does.”
The room went quiet for a few seconds after she spoke.
Jian Xizhuo smiled gently and gave a small nod. “Alright. Xiaoshuang.”
So warm. My son is so gentle. I love it!
Wan Shuang’s heart almost melted. She had been hit right in the feelings by his calm and kind presence.
But she quickly reminded herself why Jian Xizhuo had come today. He was here to have lunch with Shi Yi. She adjusted her attitude, then politely stood up and poured him a cup of tea, setting it in front of him.
“I still haven’t thanked you for recommending me to work at Shi Yi-jie’s shop.”
Shi Yi paused slightly as she glanced at the menu. Her right eyebrow lifted a little.
She had never told anyone that Wan Shuang was Wan Sheng’s younger sister. Not even Wen Yao knew. As far as everyone else was concerned, Wan Shuang was just a poor college student working part-time.
“I’m just glad I could help… Xiaoshuang.”
“Then hurry and drink the tea, Brother Xizhuo!”
Brother Xizhuo?
Jian Xizhuo looked at her in surprise but quickly returned to his usual calm demeanor.
“Alright.”
While they exchanged polite words, Shi Yi finished placing the order and handed the menu to the server.
She looked over and saw Jian Xizhuo drink the tea in one go. Smiling, she said, “You didn’t actually have to drink it all. Xiaoshuang is just a little playful.”
Her words sounded like she was concerned about Jian Xizhuo, but at the same time, she gently defended Wan Shuang.
The moment she spoke, Wan Shuang quieted down. She sat properly in her chair and lowered her head.
Is Shi Yi-jie protecting me?
I’m so happy.
She grinned to herself, making sure no one could see.
Shi Yi didn’t notice the hidden meaning in her own words. She turned to Jian Xizhuo and asked, “By the way, why did you have time to invite me to lunch today?”
“I’m going on a business trip out of town tomorrow,” he said in a soft, calm voice. “I thought you might bring Sangshen to the shop, so I wanted to let you know in person.”
There was another reason, of course. But he didn’t say it aloud.
He just wanted to see her.
It had been a while since Shi Yi last visited his clinic.
When the trip was scheduled, the very first thought in his mind wasn’t about work. It was that he wanted to see the girl from the flower shop who had captured his thoughts.
When she heard the name “Sangshen,” Wan Shuang looked up.
Sangshen was the name of Shi Yi’s cat.
Shi Yi had found her on the street, her fur covered in purple dye and dirt. The combination of colors had reminded her of mulberries, so she gave her that name.
“I see. Be careful while you’re away,” Shi Yi said, her tone caring but casual, like she would speak to any friend.
But both Jian Xizhuo and Wan Shuang reacted differently to her words.
Jian Xizhuo felt a rush of warmth. Even if her concern was ordinary, coming from someone he cared about, it meant a lot.
Wan Shuang, however, felt a strong sense of danger when she saw the look of affection on his face.
Before she could come up with something to steer the conversation away, the two of them had already started chatting happily.
Shi Yi-jie, this man clearly has feelings for you. I won’t let you smile at him like that.
Unable to join the conversation, Wan Shuang suddenly felt a bit out of place.
As she was growing more discouraged, the server came in with the food.
Seeing the colorful dishes being placed on the table, Wan Shuang smiled brightly and said, “Shi Yi-jie, let’s eat first, okay? We can talk later!”
“Sure.”
Even though they started eating, Shi Yi and Jian Xizhuo kept chatting and laughing. Wan Shuang couldn’t find a single chance to speak.
She knew Shi Yi only saw Jian Xizhuo as a friend. But watching her laugh so freely, looking so different from her usual calm and cool self, Wan Shuang couldn’t help feeling a bit jealous.
After lunch, Shi Yi sat in the driver’s seat. She leaned slightly out of the window and spoke to Jian Xizhuo, who was standing outside.
“Take care on your way home.”
Jian Xizhuo smiled gently, tilting his head as he replied in a soft voice, “You too.”
His natural warmth, combined with his gentle tone, made people want to smile back at him.
And Shi Yi did exactly that. She smiled and said, “Goodbye,” before driving away.
Jian Xizhuo stood still until her car was out of sight. Then he slowly turned and left.
Inside the car, Wan Shuang sat in the passenger seat, staring straight ahead.
But not even a full minute passed before she sneaked a glance at Shi Yi, who was focused on driving.
She wanted to ask—what did Shi Yi really think of her?
Was she a suitor? A friend? Or just a college girl working part-time in her flower shop?
Wan Shuang suddenly wanted to understand things clearly.
Otherwise, even her jealousy wouldn’t have a reason behind it.
“What’s wrong?” Shi Yi had noticed something was off as soon as she started driving. Normally, once the car was in motion, Wan Shuang would be humming a random tune or telling some strange little story she’d never heard before, just to make her laugh.
But today was unusually quiet.
Hearing Shi Yi’s question, Wan Shuang hesitated for a moment.
She wasn’t sure what kind of answer she would get if she asked the question that had been on her mind.
Taking a deep breath, she spoke softly. “Shi Yi-jie, I want to ask you something.”
“Go ahead.” Shi Yi, focused on the road, didn’t see the doubt and conflict on the girl’s face.
“Well…” Wan Shuang turned her head, like she had made up her mind. “Do you…”
But before she could finish, Shi Yi cut in, “By the way, what did you mean when you said you were helping Xizhuo pursue me?”
“Huh?”
When did I say that?
“You said it that day at the clay studio. You told me your original reason for coming to the flower shop was to help Xizhuo pursue me.” At that moment, the car stopped at a red light. Shi Yi turned and looked at her as she spoke.
“T-that…” Wan Shuang suddenly panicked.
“You must be remembering wrong. I said I was going after you!” Her tone was light and innocent, trying to brush off the question with a straight face.
Just a few minutes ago, when they were waving goodbye to Jian Xizhuo, Shi Yi had suddenly remembered what Wan Shuang had said back then.
To her, Jian Xizhuo was just a close male friend. She didn’t believe he liked her that way. So she had brought it up as a joke, trying to tease Wan Shuang a little.
But the innocent look in Wan Shuang’s eyes, followed by that direct and straightforward reply, completely shut down the teasing Shi Yi had been about to say.
The traffic light turned green. Shi Yi turned her head quickly, her attention returning to the road.
Wan Shuang let out a long breath, thinking she had escaped a potentially awkward situation. But then, Shi Yi spoke again.
This time, it was a question Wan Shuang was ready to answer.
“What were you going to ask me earlier?”
“Shi Yi-jie,” Wan Shuang paused for a moment, then asked softly, “What do you think of me now?”
The car fell silent.
Shi Yi’s grip on the steering wheel suddenly tightened. She had expected Wan Shuang to ask something simple, like what they were having for dinner. But not this. Not something that touched on the one emotion she least understood.
What did she think of Wan Shuang?
They had gone from strangers to familiar companions in just a week.
Just when she started to feel comfortable with her, she found out that Wan Shuang, who she had assumed was just a poor university student, actually came from a family background no less privileged than her own. Then Wan Shuang confessed that she liked her.
Shi Yi had been shocked.
It was her first time being confessed to by another woman. Other than surprise, she hadn’t known what else to feel.
Later, when Shi Yi thought Wan Shuang wouldn’t continue working at the shop, she came back again.
That moment had caught Shi Yi off guard. She didn’t know what to say if Wan Shuang confessed again. If she rejected her, she feared hurting her. But agreeing to it was also out of the question.
Thankfully, Wan Shuang had never brought it up again.
So Shi Yi slowly let her guard down.
In the past few weeks, they had been to the amusement park and several other places. They even took trips outside the province together.
To Wen Yao, it seemed like Shi Yi had stopped taking her work seriously since Wan Shuang appeared.
Shi Yi, who used to stay in the flower shop from morning till night and didn’t even have time for a movie, now closed the shop from time to time just to go out and have fun.
But the truth was, Shi Yi had been trying to avoid Jing Yijie.
Ever since she had rejected him several times, he seemed to have become more persistent, constantly saying he would visit the shop.
So whenever Wan Shuang suggested going out, Shi Yi always agreed.
After nearly a month together, Shi Yi could feel the care and affection from Wan Shuang.
But now, when she really tried to search for what she felt in return, she found no answer.
She slowly pulled the car over to the side of the road.
“I don’t know.” After thinking for a long time, she looked out the window and spoke in a quiet voice.
“You don’t know?” Wan Shuang repeated softly.
Shi Yi turned her gaze back, though she didn’t dare to meet her eyes. “Yeah.”
“Pfft.” Wan Shuang suddenly laughed and reached out to take Shi Yi’s right hand. She raised it to her lips and kissed it lightly.
The smooth skin and faint fragrance on her hand instantly lifted Wan Shuang’s mood, which had just been darkened by Shi Yi’s answer.
A gentle “mua” echoed in the quiet car.
Startled by the soft sensation on her hand, Shi Yi turned quickly and shouted, “What are you doing?!”
“Helping you find some feelings,” Wan Shuang grinned. Since Shi Yi hadn’t pulled her hand away, she kissed it again.
The heat rushed to Shi Yi’s hand. Before Wan Shuang could go for a third kiss, she quickly pulled her hand back.
Feeling the softness leave her lips, Wan Shuang grinned even wider and slowly leaned toward Shi Yi.
When their faces were just a few centimeters apart, she stopped.
“I think I know what you’re feeling now, Shi Yi-jie,” she whispered softly into her ear.
“What?” Shi Yi blinked.
“You’ve already started liking me, haven’t you?”
“No.”
“Really? Then why didn’t you get mad when I kissed you?”
Shi Yi held the back of her hand where Wan Shuang had kissed her. After staying quiet for a few seconds, she finally said softly, “Because you’re a girl.”
“But aside from my gender, I’m still someone who’s been chasing after you for a long time without getting any response,” Wan Shuang replied gently.
“I… I didn’t react fast enough just now.”
Looking at Shi Yi’s expression—like a shy girl falling in love for the first time—Wan Shuang felt her heart thudding wildly.
She quickly closed her eyes.
Not seeing Shi Yi’s pretty face helped her resist the strong urge to lean in and kiss her again. She took a breath and said in a calm voice, “Alright.”
After speaking, she quietly returned to her seat. Her calm and composed look made it seem like nothing had happened at all.
A few moments later, Shi Yi had also calmed down and returned to normal.
After they’d been driving for a few minutes, Wan Shuang spoke again.
“By the way, my new semester starts in a few days. So after today, I won’t be coming to the shop. I’ll stay home and rest a little before school starts.”
When Shi Yi heard that, her expression didn’t change much. The spot on her hand where Wan Shuang had kissed her still felt warm. She glanced at her hand and replied quietly, “Alright. I’ll give you your pay when we get back to the shop.”
“No need!” Wan Shuang turned to her, looking confident. “Do you really think I need money?”
The way she said it was exactly like a spoiled rich girl.
Well… that’s exactly what she was.
Shi Yi let out a small sigh and shook her head with a helpless smile.