All I Want Is to Hold the Heroine in My Arms [Transmigration into a Book] - Chapter 2
Wan Shuang exited the GPS app and slipped her phone into her pocket. Thankfully, the novel had mentioned the name of Jian Xizhuo’s clinic. Otherwise, trying to find someone in this huge city would’ve been nearly impossible.
She stepped inside and looked up at the LED sign that read Jianwu Animal Clinic.
The clinic was small, but it was clean and well-kept.
It seemed she had arrived a bit early. Aside from the occasional sounds of animals, the place was quiet.
Near the animal cages, a man in a white coat was moving around, holding a clipboard and writing something down.
Is that Jian Xizhuo? Wan Shuang guessed silently.
He looked deeply focused and hadn’t noticed that someone had entered the clinic.
“Hello?” she called out softly, walking toward him.
Her heart, however, was pounding like a wild horse. I finally get to see my son! Oh no, what does he look like? He must be super handsome!
Before the man even turned around, Wan Shuang was screaming with excitement in her heart.
He heard her voice, paused his work, and turned around with graceful ease.
His skin was fair, his features gentle and refined. His eyes were curved slightly as he smiled, and the corners of his mouth lifted in a friendly arc. He looked like someone easy to talk to.
“Hello,” Jian Xizhuo greeted with his signature smile. “Can I help you with something?”
There was no response. He glanced at the short-haired girl standing in front of him, then gave a small chuckle and repeated, “Hello?”
His warm voice echoed through the small clinic, pulling Wan Shuang back to her senses. She had been completely entranced by his looks and had frozen in place.
Despite her delay in responding, he still stood there with a soft smile, showing no sign of impatience.
Feeling a little embarrassed by her daze, Wan Shuang scratched her head and asked cautiously, “Excuse me… are you Jian Xizhuo?”
“Yes, I’m Jian Xizhuo.”
I knew it! Only my son could be this gentle, this friendly, and so effortlessly graceful!
Nothing like that selfish, obsessive, two-timing male lead.
Thinking about how someone so wonderful could end up with such a tragic ending made her heart ache again. She had to silently curse Jing Yijie a few more times just to ease the pain.
“Um, hi. I’m Wan Shuang. I’m here to apply for a job,” she said, getting straight to the point.
“Apply for a job?” Jian Xizhuo’s eyebrows rose slightly.
“Yes, I saw a listing on a job site saying you were hiring, so I wanted to come try my luck.”
He looked a bit confused. He didn’t remember posting any job ads recently.
“I’m sorry,” he said politely, “but I haven’t posted any job openings online.”
Of course you didn’t. I made that up just to trick you! Seeing him looking slightly awkward made Wan Shuang feel a little guilty for lying.
But then she remembered his ending in the novel and steeled herself. She continued with determination, “Would you be willing to take me in anyway? I’m a student, and I really need a job to help pay my tuition for the next semester.”
She had already expected him to refuse and had prepared her speech on the way there. “Can’t you let me work here? Please?” she pleaded, even putting her hands together and shaking them like she was praying.
Last night, while the story was still fresh in her mind, she had jotted down important plot points in her notebook. She had also taken the time to study Jian Xizhuo’s character.
He was practically a saint.
So based on his personality, she was confident he wouldn’t turn her away.
With that certainty, Wan Shuang grinned proudly to herself where he couldn’t see.
Yiyi, once I get close to Jian Xizhuo and start helping him, I’ll make sure you end up with a good man!
Just as she was feeling one step closer to her matchmaking mission, Jian Xizhuo spoke in his warm voice.
“No.”
I knew he’d say—wait, what?
Wan Shuang blinked and cleaned out her ears. Did he just say no?
She looked up at him in shock. The words “Jian Xizhuo will definitely agree” hadn’t even fully formed in her mind before they were shattered.
Jian Xizhuo was surprised by her reaction. Seeing the disbelief on her face, he felt a little bad for turning her down and gently asked, “You’re not studying veterinary medicine, are you?”
Wan Shuang nodded, then shook her head.
Watching her go back and forth like a bobblehead, he couldn’t help but find it a little amusing.
He reached out and gently patted her fluffy hair. “These little animals may look cute, but they can be rough sometimes. And since you’re not in this field, it’ll be tough for you to pick things up quickly.”
After speaking, he walked over to the front desk, pulled a card from a notebook, and handed it to her.
“A friend of mine is hiring right now. I can give her a call. How about working for her instead?”
What?
Wan Shuang stared blankly, full of confusion.
His reaction completely threw her off. She almost blurted out the truth right then and there—to tell him she wasn’t here for the money or the job, but to help him win the girl.
Frustrated on the inside but calm on the outside, Wan Shuang took the card.
She was about to launch into her backup speech about loving animals and not being afraid of hard work when she happened to glance at the name on the card.
Shop Owner: Shi Yi
That single line stunned her.
“Really?! Thank you so much! I’ll go find her right now!” she said, suddenly full of excitement, and dashed out of the clinic.
She didn’t even have time to say goodbye to Jian Xizhuo.
Wan Shuang sat in the taxi, unable to hide the excitement spilling from the corners of her lips.
Shi Yi, the female lead of the novel.
Wan Shuang absolutely adored her character.
The author’s vivid and graceful writing made Shi Yi feel like a real person who had stepped out of the pages and into the real world.
In front of strangers, Shi Yi always appeared mature and elegant. But among close friends, she was a playful, childlike soul who still held on to her youthful innocence.
This contrast made Wan Shuang want to hug her and kiss her on the cheek.
She carefully tucked Shi Yi’s business card into her bag, turned to look out the window at the passing scenery, and whispered to herself, Xiao Yiyi, I’m coming to you!
Half an hour later, the taxi stopped outside Shi Yi’s flower shop, Yu She.
Although her plan to work at Jian Xizhuo’s clinic had failed, Wan Shuang had already come up with a backup strategy during the ride.
If helping the second male lead chase the female lead wasn’t going to work, then she would flip the approach: let the female lead see through the male lead’s true nature and discover the sincerity and kindness of the second lead instead.
As long as the end result was the same, the path didn’t matter.
But for this new plan to succeed, someone needed to help Shi Yi see the truth. Wan Shuang decided that person would be her.
She would transform from the “white lotus” supporting character into Shi Yi’s thoughtful and dependable best friend.
And the first step was to get hired as an employee at Shi Yi’s flower shop.
Standing outside the door, Wan Shuang straightened her clothes and touched up her makeup. She wanted to look her best when meeting her beloved Xiao Yiyi.
After ten minutes of preparation, she finally pushed open the door.
A small bell above the entrance jingled sweetly as the door opened.
The shop was filled with the fresh scent of flowers.
Wan Shuang stood at the entrance, frozen in place by the overwhelming fragrance. In front of her was a slender figure, back turned, carefully arranging flowers.
She felt a wave of nervousness and anticipation wash over her. Her emotions swirled in her chest, impossible to put into words.
The soft floral scent calmed her racing heart. And at that moment, the figure turned around.
The woman’s face was striking, delicate and alluring. Every smile and glance carried an irresistible charm that made it hard to look away.
“Looking to buy some flowers, sweetheart?” the woman asked, her voice low and sultry.
“I… no, I’m here because Dr. Jian sent me,” Wan Shuang stammered.
What’s going on? she thought in confusion. Why is Xiao Yiyi wearing makeup? The novel said she never wears any!
Her natural beauty, even without makeup, was said to rival that of a celebrity. But this woman’s face was heavily made up, and Wan Shuang couldn’t help but feel disappointed.
“Dr. Jian? The veterinarian?” the woman asked again.
Wan Shuang’s energy from earlier had already faded. Like a wilted flower, she replied softly, “Yes.”
The woman was a bit curious about why this girl suddenly looked so down, but out of courtesy, she didn’t pry. Instead, she pointed to a chair near the entrance.
“Alright then, just have a seat over there and wait a bit. When the owner comes in, she’ll decide whether to hire you.”
With that, she returned to her work and didn’t say anything more.
Wan Shuang stood there in a daze.
Owner?
So that wasn’t Shi Yi?
Realizing this, her mood lifted again. Her earlier disappointment faded, replaced by the excitement of finally meeting Shi Yi soon.
She sat quietly in the seat the woman had pointed to, playing with her phone while waiting for Shi Yi to arrive.
Customers came and went, buying flowers. The bell above the door rang over and over.
Every time it rang, Wan Shuang would look up in hope. After twenty minutes, her neck started to ache from all the movement.
The bell rang again, but this time, she didn’t look up.
Then she heard the sultry voice complain loudly, “Shi Yi! If you don’t come back soon, I’m going to die from exhaustion!”
Wan Shuang instantly lifted her head at the familiar name and turned toward the entrance.
A woman walked through the aisle surrounded by flowers. Her features were delicate and well-defined, her lips curled into an apologetic smile. She casually brushed a hand through her long wavy hair. There was a quiet grace in her movements that caught Wan Shuang’s full attention.
The woman saw Wan Shuang sitting in the chair.
Her smile shifted. A more professional expression appeared on her face as she walked over slowly and reached out her hand.
“Hello, I’m Shi Yi.”