The Entire Harem has Transmigrated - Chapter 30

Ruan Qingqing’s emotions were clearly visible. Noticing her mood, Fu Yeqiu asked, “Are you unhappy?”

“Mmm,” Ruan Qingqing murmured, twisting her fingers. “I miss the Imperial Preceptor.”

Fu Yeqiu paused her leg massage.

The woman’s phoenix eyes drooped, a fleeting shadow of bitterness and dissatisfaction crossing her gaze. Yet her tone remained even as she said, “If you know thinking about him will make you unhappy, why dwell on it?”

Ruan Qingqing stared blankly for a long moment before shaking her head. “I don’t know.”

Fu Yeqiu dripped more rose essential oil into her palm and deliberately traced her fingers slowly across Ruan Qingqing’s calf.

The smooth, delicate sensation sent a tremor through her heart, but Ruan Qingqing remained lost in thought, completely unresponsive to her teasing.

Fu Yeqiu gritted her teeth.

She withdrew her hand, wiped it with a towel, and suddenly said in a low voice, “I should probably call a professional masseuse.”

Ruan Qingqing snapped out of her daze, smiled brightly, and replied, “Okay! Thank you, Qiuqiu.”

Ruan Qingqing truly didn’t care.

Whether it was Fu Yeqiu or a professional masseuse, it was all the same to her?

Realizing this, Fu Yeqiu’s expression darkened.

The masseuse was a middle-aged woman with an ordinary appearance but a gentle demeanor and exceptional skill. After the massage, the soreness in Ruan Qingqing’s calves completely vanished, leaving her feeling light and refreshed.

“You’re truly amazing,” Ruan Qingqing said, thanking her before stepping off the massage chair to stretch.

“Qingqing,” Fu Yeqiu called out.

Ruan Qingqing turned. “Hmm?”

“Come help me untie my hair,” Fu Yeqiu said.

“Okay.” Ruan Qingqing moved behind her, stood on tiptoe, and gently loosened the hair tie. Fu Yeqiu’s long, dark hair cascaded down her back.

“It’s so beautiful,” Ruan Qingqing murmured, gazing at the waist-length tresses. She couldn’t help but recall how the Imperial Preceptor had once worn his own long, dark hair—a style he had since abandoned.

“I remember you saying you loved women with hair that reached their waists,” Fu Yeqiu said, turning to look at her.

“Yes, because back then, I envied women who could wear their hair long,” Ruan Qingqing replied. Then, her eyes lit up with surprise. “Qiuqiu, has your memory returned?”

Fu Yeqiu lowered her gaze. “A little.”

She added, “I plan to leave South City tomorrow. Will you come with me?”

“Tomorrow?” Ruan Qingqing hesitated. She had to visit the Jiang Family tomorrow; it would be impossible.

She shook her head.

She met Fu Yeqiu’s gaze, her eyes clear and unwavering. “Don’t worry,” she said. “I promised to help you recover your memories, and I will. I’ll come find you in Z City as soon as I’ve taken care of things here. It shouldn’t take too long.”

Fu Yeqiu clenched her fists, then relaxed them.

A storm brewed in her eyes, but in the end, she smiled gently at Ruan Qingqing. “Alright,” she said. “Then I’ll wait for you in Z City.”

Ruan Qingqing nodded obediently.

Fu Yeqiu placed her hand on Ruan Qingqing’s head and ruffled her hair. “If possible, I still hope you’ll come with me,” she added. “But even if you can’t, don’t make me wait too long, okay?”

Ruan Qingqing nodded again.

That afternoon, Li Qianxuan received a phone call, her expression darkening instantly. She rushed over to say goodbye to Ruan Qingqing.

The call was from her parents, informing her that her younger brother had been critically injured and was on the verge of death. They urged her to return home immediately to see him one last time.

Before leaving, Li Qianxuan embraced Ruan Qingqing, pressed her lips lightly against her hair, and whispered, “I’ll come back for you as soon as I’ve settled things at home.”

Ruan Qingqing patted her back. “I’m going to Z City in a few days anyway. We’ll see each other again then.”

“Mm.”

Li Qianxuan gave her one last tight hug before releasing her and turning to leave.

“Now that Qianxuan’s gone, Qiuqiu will be leaving tomorrow too,” Ruan Qingqing murmured, resting her cheek in her hand with a sigh.

“Then, by then, I’ll be the only one left by Your Majesty’s side,” Ye Shiyu said, picking up a palm-leaf fan and slowly waving it, her every movement exuding the grace of a classical beauty.

“That’s right,” Ruan Qingqing replied.

Ye Shiyu’s eyes flickered as she suddenly raised the fan, placing it beneath Ruan Qingqing’s chin and lifting her jade-like hand. “Will Your Majesty feel unsatisfied then?”

“Stop talking nonsense,” Ruan Qingqing retorted, snatching the fan and tapping Ye Shiyu’s head with it. “If you behave, I’ll stay a little longer. If you don’t, I’m leaving right now.”

“How heartless,” Ye Shiyu murmured, flipping open a book and reading aloud. “And here I was, pulling strings everywhere to secure your identity. Plus, I bought your phone and the SIM card. Strictly speaking, shouldn’t I be considered Your Majesty’s sugar daddy? Is this how Your Majesty treats her benefactor?”

“You…” Ruan Qingqing, feeling guilty, could only weakly protest, “I’ll pay you back everything when I earn enough! I won’t owe you anything!”

Ye Shiyu covered her mouth with a soft laugh. “Your Majesty really takes things too seriously.”

“What do you mean by that?” Ruan Qingqing asked.

Ye Shiyu adjusted her glasses and winked. “Your Majesty was so good to me before. Now that I’m doing this for you, it’s entirely my pleasure. Talking about paying me back? Isn’t that a bit too formal?”

Ruan Qingqing: “……”

She finally understood: Ye Shiyu was just teasing her. It was best to ignore her.

Having not slept well the previous night, Ruan Qingqing went to catch up on some rest.

When she woke up, Yu Yunfei had sent her a video call. They chatted for a while, and Yu Yunfei shared some amusing anecdotes from the film set.

“I still can’t believe I’ve become the female lead,” Yu Yunfei said, her expression dazed.

Ruan Qingqing encouraged her, “You deserve it. What’s so unbelievable about that?”

Yu Yunfei’s face lit up with joy.

Ruan Qingqing also had something weighing on her mind and, with no one else to confide in, she shared her worries with Yu Yunfei.

“Why would someone who used to be so kind to you suddenly start hating you?” she asked. “What could be the reason?”

Although she knew she owed Jiang Li a great debt, why wouldn’t Jiang Li even give her a chance to make amends? Why was she so determined to forget her?

Moreover, ever since seeing that painting, Ruan Qingqing had begun to suspect that Jiang Li’s supposed amnesia was all an act.

Otherwise, how could she remember every detail of the palace hot spring’s surroundings so clearly, yet have no recollection of Ruan Qingqing at all?

Yu Yunfei claimed ignorance and even asked Ruan Qingqing who she was referring to.

Ruan Qingqing didn’t elaborate.

Yu Yunfei didn’t press further. Instead, she recommended several melodramatic dramas and trashy novels to help pass the time.

“When I’m feeling down, I love watching this stuff,” Yu Yunfei said. “Especially those over-the-top dramas. Every time I see the leads misunderstanding each other, torturing themselves to the brink of death, I can’t help but laugh—it’s so bad it’s good!”

Ruan Qingqing chuckled along. “I’ll give them a try too.”

Yu Yunfei had a night shoot to prepare for, so she ended the video call. Ruan Qingqing immediately searched for the recommended dramas.

But before she could even start watching, she noticed the comments section below.

I just don’t get it! Why doesn’t XX just tell her? It’s just a terminal illness! Why not just come clean? Instead, he’s staging this whole charade of cheating and acting heartless. Does he really think this will make XXX feel any better?

This is even more melodramatic than I thought, Ruan Qingqing mused.

She abandoned the idea of watching the full episodes and instead searched for plot summaries and video clips.

In the video, the male lead was desperately holding back tears, his eyes brimming with deep affection. “She can’t know. I’d rather she think I’m a faithless, cheating, and heartless scoundrel than let her know I’m about to die… If she thinks I’m a terrible person, she’ll only suffer for a while before moving on to a new relationship and a new life. But if she knew the truth and had to watch me die, she might never recover…”

Ruan Qingqing: “……”

Ha ha ha.

It was a bit mean, but Yu Yunfei was right—this kind of drama was genuinely laughable.

Knowing he had so little time left, he should have cherished every moment with her. Why pretend to cheat and inflict such pain?

I don’t understand.

But as Ruan Qingqing’s laughter faded, she suddenly remembered Jiang Minhui’s words:

Jiang Li will die in July of her 19th year, torn apart and devoured by ten thousand ghosts.

Could Jiang Li have suddenly acted strangely because she knew her time was short, deliberately pretending not to recognize Ruan Qingqing?

“Jiang Li, have you… have you lost your mind?”

Ruan Qingqing desperately wanted to confront Jiang Li and demand answers, but as she reached the elevator, she regained her composure.

She first texted Jiang Minhui: “Does Jiang Li know about that?”

Jiang Minhui replied swiftly: “She doesn’t.”

Jiang Minhui couldn’t bear to tell Jiang Li.

Ruan Qingqing pressed again: “Is she absolutely sure she doesn’t know? Could she have heard about it from somewhere else?”

Jiang Minhui insisted it was impossible.

She knew her granddaughter well. Jiang Li showed no signs of knowing her time was running out.

Ruan Qingqing sighed and retreated to her room.

I knew life couldn’t be as melodramatic as a soap opera, she thought.

No longer in the mood for dramas, Ruan Qingqing tried to cast a divination for Jiang Li, but her agitated mind yielded nothing.

Having lost interest in television, she turned to the novel Yu Yunfei had recommended.

Yu Yunfei had described it as a romance between two girls, and Ruan Qingqing, intrigued, clicked to read.

The opening chapters didn’t focus on romance; instead, they centered on soul-snatching.

The female protagonist had transmigrated and accidentally taken over the original owner’s body. To avoid exposure, she feigned amnesia.

Hmm?

Possession? Amnesia?

Ruan Qingqing, ever lacking in self-restraint, immediately thought of Jiang Li again.

Why did Jiang Li cut her long hair short in this life, making her so different from before? Could she also have been possessed?

The thought made Ruan Qingqing restless.

Despite the late hour, she quickly packed a light bag and slipped out.

This time, Ruan Qingqing encountered no danger on her way. She arrived safely at the Jiang Family mansion, spoke briefly with Jiang Minhui, and entered the villa.

“Shall I call Jiang Li down?” Jiang Minhui asked.

“No need. Don’t wake her. I’ll go check on her myself,” Ruan Qingqing replied, her expression utterly serious.

Jiang Minhui agreed.

Jiang Li was already asleep.

Dressed in a thin silk nightgown, she lay peacefully under the covers, her breathing steady and even.

Ruan Qingqing didn’t turn on the lights. She went straight to the bed, pulled back the covers, and tugged open Jiang Li’s already loose nightgown.

“Qingqing?” Jiang Li murmured, her eyes still blurry with sleep. She recognized the figure by the moonlight.

She tried to sit up, but Ruan Qingqing pressed her back down without a word, then formed a hand seal and pressed it against Jiang Li’s forehead.

“Don’t move,” Ruan Qingqing said, her lips pressed into a thin line.

Jiang Li tried to raise her hand, but found herself completely paralyzed.

She instantly snapped awake, her face hardening. “What do you think you’re doing?” she demanded.