All I Want Is to Hold the Heroine in My Arms [Transmigration into a Book] - Chapter 23

Shi Yi parked her car in front of the villa.

She hadn’t planned to stay long anyway. This visit was just to go through the motions.

As she stepped into the villa, the butler, Jin Hua, greeted her with a bow. “Miss, you’re back.”

“Uncle Jin, how have you been lately?”

Jin Hua had come to the Shi family along with her mother. After her mother passed away, he stayed on for his own reasons instead of leaving.

No matter what, Shi Yi respected him deeply.

After all, he was the only warmth she ever felt in this cold house.

“Everything’s fine.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

While they talked, the two of them walked inside.

In the middle of the living room, two people were chatting and laughing.

But who knew what they were actually thinking behind their smiles?

When they saw Shi Yi walk in, their expressions changed in different ways.

“Xiao Yi, you’re back?” Jing Yijie stood up from the sofa and walked toward her.

“Mr. Jing,” Shi Yi stopped a few steps away and greeted him politely.

“I’ve told you, just call me Yijie.”

He stepped forward, trying to open his arms for a hug, but Shi Yi quickly moved away.

“Xiao Yi!” shouted Shi Xiangnan, who was still sitting on the sofa but suddenly raised his voice, pretending to be angry.

The sight of her father’s stern and angry face made Shi Yi feel irritated. She forced herself to stay calm and said, “I have something to do. I’ll be leaving now.”

As soon as she said that, she turned to walk away.

“Stop right there!”

Shi Xiangnan’s voice rang out again. This time, he stood up from the sofa in anger.

How did he end up raising such a disobedient daughter?

She just got back and now she wanted to leave?

All he did was speak a little louder, and she couldn’t handle it?

“Do you need something?” Shi Yi didn’t turn around. She stood with her back to him and spoke in a calm tone.

“I won’t stop you if you want to leave, but you’re not going anywhere until you’ve had dinner.”

Upon hearing that, Shi Yi, who had always been in control of her emotions, suddenly lost her composure a little.

Her body trembled slightly.

But she didn’t say anything. She just kept walking toward the door.

“Wait a minute.”

A strong hand grabbed her wrist.

Jing Yijie held onto her wrist with one hand, while the other was tucked casually into his pants pocket.

He was smiling, but there was no warmth in his eyes. He looked sideways at Shi Xiangnan, who stood like a proud lion beside the sofa, and said, “President Shi, how about I take Xiao Yi out for dinner instead?”

Shi Xiangnan noticed the change in how Jing Yijie addressed him. The anger on his face from Shi Yi’s actions quickly disappeared, replaced by an unusually pleasant expression that Shi Yi had never seen before.

His voice took on the tone of a kind and understanding elder. “Young people enjoy eating out. If that’s the case, I won’t keep you.”

Jing Yijie smiled slightly. “Then Uncle Shi, we’ll be heading out first.”

“Alright, alright,” Shi Xiangnan quickly replied.

A light breeze passed by, bringing a refreshing chill.

The frustration burning in Shi Yi’s chest slowly faded with the wind.

She looked down at the warmth on her wrist. Jing Yijie was still holding it tightly.

“Mr. Jing, shouldn’t you let go now?”

Jing Yijie didn’t release her. A playful glint appeared in his eyes. “Shouldn’t you be thanking me, Xiao Yi?”

Shi Yi pulled her wrist free and let out a cold laugh. “If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have come back in the first place.”

Jing Yijie rubbed the hand that had just been holding her. He seemed to be savoring the softness of her skin.

He had been with many women, but this was the first time he had met someone like Shi Yi—so fair-skinned, soft, and delicate.

And it wasn’t just her appearance. Every movement of hers seemed to hold a quiet charm that stirred something in him.

She made him want to get closer, to possess her.

He chuckled lightly. “Are you trying to cut ties now that I’ve helped you?”

“You’re joking, Mr. Jing. I have something to take care of. I’ll be leaving now.”

She had only taken two steps when Jing Yijie suddenly said, “I know what you want.”

Shi Yi stopped in her tracks.

He stepped closer and spoke in a low, tempting voice. “Be my girlfriend, and I’ll help you get it.”

As she looked at his handsome face, for some reason, what popped into Shi Yi’s mind was the image of Wan Shuang dancing around cheerfully.

Her voice was soft and calm. “I know a doctor named Jian. I’ll introduce you to him sometime.”

Then she walked toward her car.

Was that an indirect insult?

Jing Yijie realized what she meant, but instead of getting angry, he laughed.

His eyes stayed locked on her car as it drove off, a trace of amusement flickering in his gaze.

“Wan Shuang, I didn’t expect you to be so generous. First day of the new semester and you’re already treating me to a movie!”

The cheerful voice of a boy kept chattering in Wan Shuang’s ear.

His name was Jiang Ye. He was the original host’s only real friend.

From kindergarten to university, they had always gone to the same schools, even been in the same classes.

They were childhood friends.

But the one difference from typical childhood friend stories was that their relationship was purely platonic. There was nothing romantic between them.

When the original host had her accident, Jiang Ye wasn’t in M City.

By the time he returned, he walked straight up to Ning Ran and slapped her across the face.

He said, “I never hit women, but I’m hitting you because you’re not even human.”

Why was this part included in the novel? Because when Jiang Ye hit Ning Ran, Jing Yijie was standing behind him.

The fake innocent look that Ning Ran always wore was seen clearly by Jing Yijie that day.

That scene laid the groundwork for the later drama between Ning Ran and Jing Yijie.

Just as Wan Shuang was about to refund her movie ticket, the original host’s old friend suddenly showed up at her front door.

Jiang Ye had gone abroad for vacation after the school break started and only returned to M City yesterday.

Thinking it over, and realizing that refunds cost a service fee, Wan Shuang simply decided to take Jiang Ye to the movie with her.

As he gave her shoulder a strong slap, Wan Shuang quietly rolled her eyes.

If Xiao Yiyi had not suddenly left, there was no way she would have invited him to the movies.

“Alright, the movie is about to start. Can you calm down for a bit?”

Jiang Ye immediately straightened up and replied seriously, “Yes, Sister Shuang.”

His overly respectful tone made a few beads of sweat appear on Wan Shuang’s forehead. She had no words.

Since she had originally planned to watch the movie with Shi Yi, she had carefully chosen a touching romance film to create the right mood.

The problem was, Wan Shuang could not stand artsy emotional movies. Now that the person beside her was not who she had hoped for, her interest completely disappeared.

Less than ten minutes after the movie started, she fell asleep.

She did not wake up again until the soft sound of someone crying beside her disturbed her rest.

Opening her eyes, she glanced up at the screen. The scene showed the female lead turning away at the train station.

“Why are you crying?” she asked as she handed Jiang Ye a tissue.

“This movie is so emotional. I even cursed you earlier, wondering why you dragged me to a romance film, but now I owe you an apology.” Jiang Ye sniffled and continued softly crying. “This film is just so good.”

“I’m going to the restroom,” Wan Shuang whispered to him. She really could not stand the sad mood in the theater anymore.

Jiang Ye completely understood how she felt. While still wiping his tears, he replied without looking away from the screen, “If you don’t want to keep watching, go wait for me at the sweet drink shop on the fifth floor.”

“Alright.”

As soon as she stepped out of the theater, Wan Shuang took a deep breath and said to herself, “Finally, I can breathe again.”

Next door in Theater 3, the movie had just ended, and a large group of people was filing out.

Wan Shuang leaned against the wall, planning to wait until the crowd passed before heading to the fifth floor.

“Xiaoshuang, what a surprise! You’re here too?”

A cheerful voice rose above the noise and instantly stood out.

The moment Wan Shuang heard that familiar voice, she immediately regretted leaving the theater.

How could she be unlucky enough to run into Ning Ran, the fake sweetheart, even at a movie theater?

Ning Ran walked up with a smile in her eyes and said sweetly, “What a coincidence, Xiaoshuang.”

“Miss Ning, you can just call me by my full name.”

“Why? Xiaoshuang,” Ning Ran tilted her head, her voice soft and full of sadness.

The man beside her narrowed his eyes slightly and looked at Wan Shuang with a hint of hostility.

“Because we are not that close,” Jiang Ye suddenly said as he walked over and wrapped his arm around Wan Shuang’s shoulders, pulling her into his embrace. His expression was smug as he looked at Ning Ran.

Wan Shuang looked at his still slightly red eyes and asked in surprise, “Why did you come out?”

“I thought you might be bored, so I came to find you.”

“Aren’t you curious if the couple ended up together in the end?”

“I can just bring another girl to watch it with me again.”

“Let her see you sobbing with tears all over your face?”

“You better shut up.”

As they talked, the two of them naturally walked farther away from Ning Ran and the man with her. When they were about to reach the elevator, Ning Ran’s voice called out again.

“Xiaoshuang, where are you two going? Can we come along?”

Wan Shuang and Jiang Ye exchanged a glance. Both of them could tell exactly what the other was thinking.

Wan Shuang was thinking, why is she still following us?

Jiang Ye was thinking, I don’t know what she wants, but you better shake her off.

“Sorry, Miss Ning. I’ll have to say no.”

Wan Shuang’s direct response surprised everyone, including Ning Ran and her companion.

Jiang Ye quietly gave her a thumbs-up behind her back.

Luckily, Ning Ran did not cling too hard. After a moment of silence, she gave a graceful smile and said, “Well then, alright. See you tomorrow, Xiaoshuang.”

Watching Ning Ran and the large man walk away, Jiang Ye gently turned Wan Shuang to face him and said, “You’ve changed.”

Wan Shuang froze for a second before realizing what he meant.

In the past, the original host and Ning Ran had been inseparable. Not even Jiang Ye could get between them.

That had always been one of the reasons he disliked Ning Ran.

But what truly made Jiang Ye resent her was when one of his roommates confessed to Ning Ran and was rejected. That roommate ended up drinking himself into the hospital with a bleeding stomach.

Even though it was not Ning Ran’s fault, Jiang Ye still slowly started to distance himself from her.

His reason was simple: pretty girls are trouble.

Over time, that distance turned into dislike. Especially when Ning Ran kept hanging around Wan Shuang.

Now, with her attitude suddenly different, Jiang Ye might be getting suspicious.

Wan Shuang felt a quiet panic rise in her chest.