All the Female Protagonists Who Have Been Saved Have Become Obsessed [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 36

Winter brought snow swept by fierce winds.

The streets were nearly empty. The few passersby hurried, wrapped tightly in coats, eager to rush home.

Beixia, just back for the holiday, heard her aunt’s curses from inside, “You useless man! That jinx is back for money! Didn’t you say she wouldn’t return? Why’s she here? Has she nowhere else to go?”

Her uncle smoked, “Quiet down, the kid’s outside. She’s just back to sleep, no big deal.”

“Where’s she supposed to sleep? A grown girl like that, and we’ve only two rooms. Won’t she disturb Bingbing’s studies? Bingbing’s got exams this year! You, a father, can’t earn money and don’t care about his studies!”

Her uncle and aunt argued, “What do you want me to do? She’s my sister’s kid! It’s just us two, our parents are gone. If I don’t care for her, who will? Can’t you bear it? She’s got college exams soon. After that, I’m done with her!”

“No way! What about her college fees? We’ve been paying her living expenses! Bingbing needs tutoring for exams! Have you ever covered that? Your sister married a loser, birthed a jinx, a burden!”

Bei Dawei growled, “Enough! Give me the money! I won’t let her back next time!”

Beixia, outside, clenched her fists. Her faded school uniform hung on her thin shoulders, backpack still on. Bei Dawei opened the door, saw her, forced a smile, and handed her money, “Your textbook fees. Don’t come back this month. Stay at school. Spend wisely.”

Beixia didn’t reach out. Bei Dawei stuffed it in her hand, “Take it. Your aunt gave it. She’s sharp-tongued but soft-hearted.”

Her aunt followed, rolling her eyes at Beixia, “Don’t you dare! Your mom looked down on me, and I don’t like her spawn! Best if you stay gone forever!”

“What nonsense!” Bei Dawei snapped.

As they started arguing, Beixia gripped the money, trembling, eyes red, and ran off silently.

“Look at her! Takes the money without a thank you! Think money grows on trees?”

Beixia ran faster, leaving the criticism behind, racing through the snow like a gust of wind, escaping all gossip.

“What a kid.”

“Her parents got on that plane for her birthday, right?”

“Such a pity, gone so young.”

“Any family left?”

“An uncle.”

“She’s too old to raise easily.”

Words from her parents’ funeral echoed in Beixia’s ears. Her legs gave out, and she fell hard, crashing a deep pit in the snow.

She pounded the ground, sobbing like a wounded beast.

Snow fell harder. Tears froze into ice crystals on her face, snowflakes piling on her shoulders.

Beixia curled up against a wall, shivering.

Her uncle told her to return to school, but the dorms were under renovation. She had nowhere to go.

The money in her pocket—textbook and living expenses—she dared not spend. Hugging her legs, her empty stomach growled. Cold seeped through her thin uniform. Beixia thought she’d rather die than be anyone’s burden.

Wind howled. Night neared, the streets nearly deserted. A figure appeared at the road’s end, holding a red umbrella, wearing a black coat, a long, striped dark red scarf striking in the snow.

So cold.

Zhou Xi shivered, burying her face in her warm scarf.

Looking down, she asked, “Where’s the female lead? It’s too cold for her to be out, right?”

System: “Straight ahead.”

Zhou Xi tilted her red umbrella, the biting wind cutting her face like a knife. Squinting, she saw a huddled figure by the wall.

“That’s the female lead?” Zhou Xi doubted. “Didn’t the info say she’s super smart? What’s she doing out here in this cold?”

System: “She just ran from home.”

Recalling the female lead’s info, Zhou Xi sighed, approaching Beixia.

Beixia was frozen stiff, snow on her head and shoulders. She saw boots stop before her, slowly looking up—a red umbrella, an unfamiliar woman.

A trafficker? So pretty.

Beixia thought.

Zhou Xi tilted her umbrella to block the snow, crouching like she was shielding an abandoned kitten or puppy, propping the umbrella against the wall. She unwrapped her scarf, draping it around Beixia.

Beixia’s face was bloodless, her dark eyes dull, uninterested in why this stranger helped.

Zhou Xi exhaled, white mist swirling in the snow, like a wolf tempting Little Red Riding Hood, “Want to come home with me?”

Beixia nodded.

She didn’t care where she went. Even if this pretty trafficker took her to be gutted, it was fine. She was so cold, and this person felt so warm.

The scarf carried its previous owner’s warmth, giving Beixia a sliver of comfort.

Zhou Xi opened the door, letting Beixia in.

Warm air rushed out. Beixia stood still, eyeing the black footprints. Zhou Xi had just entered, melted snow leaving ugly marks on the white tiles.

Noticing, Zhou Xi smiled, “I just got back, house isn’t tidied. Step anywhere, it’s fine.”

Beixia moved.

She entered, standing, not sitting, gazing blankly at the room.

It was clean, homey. A fluffy sofa cushion matched a plush blanket, the sofa looking soft, inviting you to sink in, warmth enveloping.

Beixia rubbed her left foot against her right, then right against left.

Zhou Xi busied herself, water sounds echoing. Snow on Beixia melted, trickling into her body, her frozen skin now hot and itchy.

Zhou Xi shed her coat, wearing a grey turtleneck sweater, sleeves rolled up, holding a towel, “This is new. You were out too long. Soak in hot water to warm up.”

Seeing Beixia freeze, she set down her backpack. Reaching for her school uniform jacket, Beixia flinched.

Zhou Xi covered her mouth, laughing, “Shy? We’re both women.”

Beixia pursed her lips, took the towel, and headed to the bathroom.

Zhou Xi’s house was small, its layout clear from the door. The bathtub was tiny, just fitting Beixia.

She sat, hugging her legs, staring at her neatly folded clothes on the floor.

Inside was the 400 yuan her uncle gave—250 for textbooks, 150 for living.

Her stomach growled. A savory smell came from outside. Beixia dunked her head underwater.

The water smelled nice, her skin finally warm, a warmth Beixia craved.

Zhou Xi wielded a spatula, grumbling, “This weather—no one’s delivering takeout.”

Big snow, big wind, nearby shops closed. Her fridge had some food. She clumsily made a bowl of noodles, her only dish.

Setting it on the table, Zhou Xi knocked on the bathroom, “Still alive?”

No sound. She pushed the door open. Beixia watched her warily, her clothes—a thin sweater, long johns, school uniform—on the floor.

So little in such cold. Poor thing.

Zhou Xi hung clothes on the towel rack.

“Your clothes are wet. Wear these later. Come eat when you’re done.”

Beixia’s gaze shifted to her hands—a cute pink bunny pajama set, underwear included.

Zhou Xi closed the door, rubbing her brow. Was her task raising a kid?

Appearing on this street, she hadn’t grasped the mission.

Sitting at the table, bowl in hand, she told the system, “Transmit mission.”

[Transmitting mission…]

[Mission transmitted]

[Main mission: Raise the female lead]

[Hidden mission: Achieve A-grade evaluation]

A semi-mandatory task, like the last world where her rating was low.

Ratings had five levels: S, A, B, C, D.

S +15 points, A +10, B +5, C +3, D +1.

This hidden mission made Zhou Xi wonder if her boss added it, having just scolded her for not hitting A.

Pondering “raise,” did it mean just bringing Beixia up?

How long till Beixia’s adulthood? Checking data, Zhou Xi saw six months. Could she finish in half a year? It couldn’t be that simple.

Hearing the bathroom, Beixia emerged in the bunny pajamas.

Her eyes down, her thin frame looked empty even in cotton pajamas, wet hair plastered to her forehead, timid.

Zhou Xi softened.

Her first time facing a child. No matter Beixia’s future achievements, she was just a helpless kid now. High IQ or not, everyone has hurdles.

Zhou Xi waved, “Come eat.”

Beixia sat, chopsticks shoved in her hand, feeling unreal.

Would a trafficker let her bathe, give her pajamas, feed her? Did this pretty woman have other motives? Maybe lull her with kindness, then sell her to the mountains while she slept?

Beixia’s mind flashed with crime news, landing on the 400 yuan.

If this was her last meal, she wanted to return that money to her uncle.

First meeting

Beixia: Pretty trafficker

Zhou Xi: Poor thing