All I Want Is to Hold the Heroine in My Arms [Transmigration into a Book] - Chapter 5
“What happened?” Shi Yi stepped out of the clay studio and immediately saw Wan Shuang staring toward the front entrance, lost in thought.
Seeing that Wan Cheng was no longer in sight, Wan Shuang let out a quiet breath of relief. She turned to Shi Yi and said, “It’s nothing. I just needed to find the restroom but couldn’t figure out where it was.”
But what was she really worried about?
What if someone who dressed in clothes worth hundreds of thousands, who also happened to be the CEO of a publicly listed company, suddenly appeared and introduced himself as her flower shop assistant’s older brother?
How would Shi Yi react? Wan Shuang had no idea.
All she knew was that Shi Yi couldn’t find out about it yet.
She hadn’t forgotten that the reason she was hired, aside from being recommended by Jian Xizhuo, was because of the image she presented that day—a college student in simple, inexpensive clothes, probably struggling financially.
If Shi Yi discovered that she wasn’t the poor girl she seemed to be, chasing Shi Yi might become impossible. Seeing her might even become a rare luxury.
“I’ll show you,” Shi Yi said with a light smile, then turned and walked toward the restroom.
Wan Shuang quickly followed, walking beside her on the right.
Shi Yi was wearing a dark brown apron, spotted with bits of dried clay that had fallen on her during work. Her hands, still covered in clay, were held awkwardly in front of her chest. The dried mud made her fair skin look even more delicate. On her right forearm, two small moles sat close together, looking oddly playful.
Wan Shuang’s eyes followed the curve of her arm upward and landed on Shi Yi’s smiling face.
She looked relaxed now, no longer focused like she was while sculpting.
Wan Shuang didn’t know why, but looking at that naturally beautiful face made her suddenly feel unsure of herself.
“Si-Sister Shi Yi…”
“Hmm?”
“D-Do you think I’m pretty?”
When Shi Yi turned to face her, a wave of nervousness rushed through Wan Shuang’s chest.
They both stopped walking.
Shi Yi had noticed the girl’s beauty the very first time they met.
She had a delicate, oval-shaped face and short, ear-length hair. Although her clothes were inexpensive, her personality shone through. There was a sunny, cheerful energy about her that made her stand out.
Now, standing close with a flushed face and lowered gaze, her long lashes fluttering, her pink lips pressed together in nervous tension, she looked both shy and lovely.
“You’re a ten out of ten.”
“What?”
“I’d give you full marks.”
Even after they returned to the clay studio, Wan Shuang was still thinking about those words.
“You’re a ten out of ten.”
Wan Shuang had grown up in an orphanage. Compared to the version of her in the book, the only real difference was that she now had a brother and a home. Her name, appearance, and even her university major were exactly the same.
That was why she could fit into the character so quickly.
Because her appearance matched the original, when Shi Yi complimented her looks, it felt real—like Shi Yi was praising the real her.
For Wan Shuang, being told by someone she liked that she was beautiful meant everything.
The small moment of self-doubt she had felt in the hallway earlier had completely disappeared.
Now, she had only one thought: She wanted to tell Shi Yi the truth.
About who she really was and why she had approached her in the first place.
Just minutes earlier, she had been terrified that Shi Yi might be disappointed if she found out she wasn’t poor. But now, Wan Shuang didn’t want to lie anymore.
Her change in heart had only one reason—she didn’t want to deceive Shi Yi.
She didn’t want to lie to this pure, kind, and beautiful woman.
“Sister Shi Yi,” Wan Shuang said softly, looking at her as she focused once again on shaping the clay.
“What is it?”
Shi Yi didn’t look up, still concentrating on her work, but she responded.
When she didn’t hear a reply, she finally looked over at Wan Shuang.
Their eyes met.
Looking into Shi Yi’s flawless face, Wan Shuang took a deep breath and nervously asked, “Have you heard of Yu Cheng Group?”
Yu Cheng Group was a high-tech company focused on developing and selling beauty and childcare products. Over the years, it had also grown into areas like transportation, finance, banking, securities, taxes, and tourism.
More than a decade ago, Yu Cheng had been one of the most powerful companies in M City. After its chairman, Wan Bo, and his wife died in an accident, the business declined rapidly.
It wasn’t until ten years ago that their eldest son, Wan Cheng, took back control from the other shareholders. With his sharp business mind, he brought the company back from the brink of bankruptcy.
Even Shi Yi’s father had once considered partnering with Yu Cheng, though nothing had been finalized.
Snapping out of her thoughts, Shi Yi nodded. “Yes, I’ve heard of it.”
“Wan Cheng is my brother,” Wan Shuang said quietly. After speaking, she lowered her head, too afraid to look Shi Yi in the eyes.
Wan Shuang knew that with Shi Yi’s family background and life experience, just mentioning Wan Cheng’s name would be enough for Shi Yi to realize who she was.
And sure enough, as soon as Shi Yi heard Wan Shuang speak, the smile on her face disappeared.
Wanbo and his wife had two children: their eldest son, Wan Cheng, and their youngest daughter, Wan Shuang.
When Shi Yi first heard Wan Shuang introduce herself, she had simply assumed it was someone with the same name.
But now, she realized she had been wrong.
The first thought that crossed Shi Yi’s mind was that Yu Cheng Group had arranged for Wan Shuang to get close to her in hopes of securing a partnership with her family.
Shi Yi stood up abruptly, walked to the door without a word, and didn’t look back.
Even with her head down, Wan Shuang noticed the movement. She saw Shi Yi take off her apron, toss it onto the chair, and leave.
Panicked, Wan Shuang quickly got up and ran after her. She caught up and started explaining in a flustered voice.
“I know you’ve always thought I came from a poor background, just an ordinary college student struggling to get by.”
“I never meant to lie to you.”
Shi Yi stopped walking and looked at Wan Shuang with a calm expression. “You didn’t lie to me. You never said you were poor.”
Wait a minute.
That was true.
Wan Shuang noticed that Shi Yi didn’t look as angry as she had feared. She hadn’t ignored her or walked away. That gave her a bit of hope. She hesitated, then asked, “So… you’re not mad?”
“I just have one question for you,” Shi Yi replied. She didn’t directly answer the question. She reached up to fix her slightly messy hair and spoke with a flat, steady tone.
Wan Shuang nodded quickly. “Sure, ask me anything.”
“Why did you go to Jian Xizhuo to find a summer job?”
When Shi Yi had walked out of the clay studio earlier, she had started thinking things through. It didn’t seem like Wan Shuang had gotten close to her because of any business strategy.
She had first gone to work for Jian Xizhuo.
Realizing this, Shi Yi no longer felt angry. Instead, she became genuinely curious. Why would a girl like Wan Shuang be working part-time in the first place?
“Um…” Wan Shuang scratched her head, unsure how to respond.
Shi Yi waited, but after a few moments of silence, she turned and started walking toward the door.
She had only taken a couple of steps when a hand grabbed her gently by the wrist.
Shi Yi turned and saw that Wan Shuang’s face had gone red. She was stammering as she spoke. “Because… because of you.”
What?
“At first, it was because I wanted to help Dr. Jian chase after you… but it’s not like that anymore.”
Shi Yi was about to ask why she would help Jian Xizhuo pursue her, but before the question could come out, she heard Wan Shuang’s soft, nervous voice.
“Now, I… I like you.”
The moment those words were spoken, Shi Yi looked up at Wan Shuang.
One girl stood there, face flushed and full of emotion, while the other stared at her in surprise.
The two of them stood still, eyes locked, neither speaking, as emotions quietly stirred between them.