All I Want Is to Hold the Heroine in My Arms [Transmigration into a Book] - Chapter 20
The car pulled up quickly in front of a high-rise building near M University.
Although Wan Cheng had always insisted the original Xiaoshuang attend school, when she had pouted and begged him to buy her an apartment near campus, he eventually gave in.
He was worried that the cramped dorms at school might make her feel uncomfortable.
When they got upstairs, Mo Qing was already waiting inside.
As soon as they walked through the door, he stood up from the sofa and greeted them. “President Wan. Miss.”
Wan Cheng gave him a slight nod in response. Xiaoshuang, on the other hand, raised her hand and waved, a bright, youthful smile lighting up her face.
Mo Qing, warmed by her expression, smiled in return and said, “The apartment is cleaned regularly by the housekeeper, so Miss Xiaoshuang can stay here without worry.”
“The fridge is also stocked with fresh groceries on a schedule.”
“And a few new sets of clothes have already been placed in the walk-in closet.”
Xiaoshuang followed Mo Qing into the closet.
The latest seasonal outfits had filled the spacious wardrobe to the brim.
“Brother… What is all this?” she asked, stunned.
Wasn’t this a bit much?
This place was just meant for her to stay occasionally if she didn’t want to go home—not for long-term living.
Wan Cheng gently rubbed her head with his large hand and said, with a hint of melancholy, “I’m going on a business trip abroad soon, so I asked Mo Qing to prepare everything in advance.”
“A business trip?” Xiaoshuang was caught off guard.
“Yes. There are some matters that need handling.”
“While I’m away, I’ll have Aunt Wang come live here with you. Once I’m back, she’ll return home.”
“No need, Brother. Let Aunt Wang take a break. I’m sure Uncle the butler misses her a lot.” Xiaoshuang quickly declined, then glanced around and added softly, “Besides… I think I’d like some time alone for now.”
“…Alright,” Wan Cheng paused for a moment, then eventually nodded in agreement.
The older couple had been apart for a long time—this was a good chance for them to spend time together.
“Okay then, Brother. You and Mo Qing should hurry back to the office!” Xiaoshuang grinned. She truly didn’t understand how people dealing with billion-yuan deals every minute could be this free.
It wasn’t that Wan Cheng wasn’t busy. In fact, when he got Aunt Wang’s call that Xiaoshuang hadn’t come home the night before, he had immediately left a meeting and dragged Mo Qing out to start searching for her.
He had hung up on several important business calls during that time. Most likely, by now, the entire upper management team was fuming and cursing him in silence.
“Alright,” Wan Cheng said again as he gently ruffled her hair. His tone was still warm and affectionate.
“Take care of yourself.”
After seeing them off, Xiaoshuang collapsed onto the soft, springy sofa.
She reached out and grabbed the breakfast Mo Qing had brought, took a bite, and started chewing absentmindedly.
Her expression was blank, like a lifeless eating machine.
Even though she looked calm on the surface, Xiaoshuang was far from unaffected by what Shi Yi had said.
Maybe everything had just happened too fast.
From the day they met to the confession, it had only been a week. And they’d only known each other for about a month.
It felt like… fast food romance.
That phrase came to her mind.
Maybe it was time to slow things down and think carefully.
A strange light flickered briefly in her dull eyes.
Suddenly, the food in her mouth tasted much better.
After quickly finishing her breakfast, she tidied up a little and headed downstairs to walk to school.
“Xiaoshuang!”
Just as she stepped through the school gate, a sweet voice called out behind her.
She turned around.
A girl’s face, as bright and flawless as a pearl, came into view. The white dress she wore looked plain compared to her glow—nothing around her seemed to compare.
This girl…
Xiaoshuang tried to recall the original host’s memories.
As the girl walked closer, Xiaoshuang’s memories began to surface.
Just as the girl opened her arms to hug her, Xiaoshuang instinctively stepped back.
She dodged the hug.
“…Xiaoshuang?”
“Miss Ning,” Xiaoshuang said, her tone far from affectionate.
Ning Ran, the second female lead in the novel.
Yes, second lead.
The original Xiaoshuang had been little more than a side character, barely lasting ten minutes in the story. But Ning Ran stayed in the plot all the way to the end.
Unlike Shi Yi’s soft elegance or Wen Yao’s seductive charm, Ning Ran had a kind of schoolgirl purity. She looked like an innocent bunny, someone completely untouched by the world.
But in reality, she was far more calculating than she appeared.
She and the original Xiaoshuang were classmates. Ning Ran had somehow found out about Xiaoshuang’s real identity and deliberately got close to her.
Driven by a clear purpose, she quickly worked her way into Xiaoshuang’s life and became her friend.
At first, Ning Ran’s goal was to use Xiaoshuang to connect with wealthy elites.
But one day, while shopping together, they ran into Jing Yijie.
Ning Ran fell for him instantly.
Jing Yijie might have been a flirt, but he wasn’t reckless.
Ning Ran was Xiaoshuang’s friend, and he treated Xiaoshuang like a younger sister. So he always turned Ning Ran down.
But she wasn’t willing to give up. After learning that Jing Yijie and Shi Yi were together, she even encouraged Xiaoshuang, indirectly, to kidnap Shi Yi.
That plan ended with Xiaoshuang in prison.
Later, Ning Ran went to Jing Yijie, pretending to be a loyal friend, and cried while apologizing on Xiaoshuang’s behalf.
Then she slept with him.
In short, Xiaoshuang had only one word for Ning Ran now—disgusting.
“Xiaoshuang, why are you being so distant all of a sudden? Why aren’t you calling me Ranran anymore?” Ning Ran’s smile froze for a second, but she quickly recovered, her lips pouting in a practiced, innocent way.
“What I choose to call you has nothing to do with you,” Xiaoshuang replied, irritated.
Ning Ran’s eyes reddened immediately. Her voice trembled as she asked, “Xiaoshuang, what’s wrong?”
Tears welled up in her eyes, and the students passing by glanced at Xiaoshuang with questioning stares.
It was as if every look said the same thing: You’re the villain.
“I’m fine. I just hope you can stay away from me. I’m afraid I’ll throw up if I get too close,” Xiaoshuang said calmly, ignoring the crowd.
Seriously? You’re crying already?
You should’ve gone to acting school. The Oscars owe you a trophy.
“Xiaoshuang! How can you talk to Ranran like that?” a scolding male voice cut in between them.
Xiaoshuang glanced over and sighed in annoyance.
It was Ning Ran’s lapdog, the guy who always revolved around her like she was the sun.
He even ended up in prison because of her.
“Mind your own business.”
Without waiting for a response, Xiaoshuang turned and walked away.
A white lotus and an idiot. Staying any longer would’ve been a waste of her time.
“Ranran, are you okay? She went way too far.” The man tried to comfort Ning Ran after Xiaoshuang left.
Ning Ran kept her red, watery eyes fixed on Xiaoshuang’s retreating figure. Her innocent gaze was quickly replaced by malice.
But within seconds, she masked it again. She shook her head slightly, sniffled, and whispered, “I’m fine. I just don’t know why Xiaoshuang’s acting like this.”
The guy stared at her tearful face and began to question what kind of person Xiaoshuang really was.
The first day of the new semester was uneventful, aside from picking up textbooks.
Soon, Xiaoshuang returned to her apartment, arms full of fresh, crisp books.
She opened the fridge, which was fully stocked, but had no idea where to start.
With Aunt Wang on break, she had to cook for herself.
Only problem was, she had zero kitchen skills.
She didn’t even know how to chop vegetables.
Holding her phone, she checked the time, then typed out a message.
Shi Yi-jie, my brother’s on a business trip and Aunt Wang is on leave too… I’m starving…
After seeing Ning Ran today and remembering how much of a scumbag Jing Yijie was, Xiaoshuang didn’t feel any bitterness. Instead, she just felt sorry for Shi Yi.
So, what if Shi Yi didn’t like her?
That was completely normal.
No one would agree to date someone they’d only known for a month.
Seeing Ning Ran again had fired her up. She was motivated, full of fight like an invincible cockroach.
Clearly, the best strategy was to slowly work her way into Shi Yi’s life.
At that moment, Shi Yi had just returned home. She was crouched down on the floor, refilling Mulberry’s food bowl.
When her phone buzzed, she stood and walked toward the table.
Seeing the message from Xiaoshuang, she hesitated.
Earlier that morning, their conversation had felt off. There was an invisible wall between them.
She wasn’t sure what Xiaoshuang wanted this time.
Starving?
When she read that, something clicked. She walked into the kitchen.
The rice cooker was exactly how she had left it.
She opened the lid. The porridge inside hadn’t been touched.
A trace of sadness stirred in her chest. She typed a reply.
Why didn’t you eat the porridge?
The response came almost instantly.
Because I was mad…
Mad?
I woke up and the first thing I saw wasn’t you. It was a chubby little furball. I was very upset…
A furball? You mean Mulberry?
Shi Yi paused.
She had to admit, Mulberry had gained a bit of weight recently. But now even her cat was being blamed?
She didn’t even realize the real point of the message—
The first thing I saw wasn’t you.
Shi Yi-jie, I’m really hungry…
Send me your address.
Address? Xiaoshuang was momentarily confused.
Shi Yi quickly followed up.
Your school address. I’ll come find you.
You’ll come see me?
Xiaoshuang shot upright on the sofa, suddenly energized.
She had only wanted to ask Shi Yi to grab a meal together.
She never expected Shi Yi to offer to come find her.
She quickly shared her location.
I live in an apartment near campus. Come quickly, Shi Yi-jie. I’ll be waiting.