Achieving A Happy Ending With The Tragic Female Lead [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 45

Su Mi barely slept a wink that night. On one hand, she was worried about Lin Nanyue, staying by her side until her fever broke and fearing it might return, on the other hand, she was too restless to sleep because of the feeling of reclaiming something she had lost.

She was afraid that all of this was just a figment of her imagination or a hallucination. Over and over, she confirmed that mark that belonged only to her, terrified it might vanish.

She clasped their fingers together to feel Lin Nanyue’s body heat and presence. Even in her sleep, Lin Nanyue would unconsciously squeeze her hand back.

Su Mi brushed away the stray hairs from Lin Nanyue’s temples, leaning over to look at her, whispering softly, “Little Junior Sister?”

Lin Nanyue remained in a deep sleep, offering no response.

Receiving no answer, Su Mi gently pressed her forehead against the other woman’s, letting out a faint, almost imperceptible sigh: “…A-Yue.”

It was a murmur like a lover’s whisper.

Finally, the person beneath her let out a small, “dissatisfied” hum from her nose.

Later, Lin Nanyue began to toss and turn restlessly because she felt hot. Su Mi lay down beside her, pulling her into a half-embrace.

Initially, this worked. Lin Nanyue quieted down for a while, but before long, she began whimpering again about the heat, her voice trailing off in distress.

Su Mi had no choice but to loosen her hold slightly, trying to find ways to cool her down.

This back and forth quite exhausting; it wasn’t until near dawn that Su Mi managed a short nap, waking up again shortly after.

The first thing Su Mi did upon waking was check on Lin Nanyue. Seeing her complexion was rosy and feeling a normal temperature when pressing the back of her hand against her cheek and neck, she finally breathed a long sigh of relief.

Checking the time, Su Mi stood up, stretched her stiff neck and shoulders, and left the room, quietly closing the door behind her.

She first went to her own room to wash up and clear her head. When she came out to the living room, she poured a glass of water and opened the floor to ceiling curtains.

The rain that had fallen all night had washed away the city’s grime. The early morning sky was unusually clear and bright, large patches of white light illuminated every corner of the living room, conveying a sense of cool freshness.

She took the empty glass to the kitchen to wash it, planning to reheat the pastries left over from yesterday as breakfast for the two of them.

Taking advantage of the time, Su Mi checked her phone and replied to some important messages.

Her mother had sent another message before bed the previous night, asking if she wanted to come home this weekend.

Since returning, Su Mi had only seen her parents briefly, it was indeed time to visit them properly.

About half an hour later, she heard the sound of a door opening. Looking up, she saw Lin Nanyue standing at the doorway, wearing Su Mi’s clothes and holding a cup. Her expression was a bit wilted, like a small flower that hadn’t received sunlight or dew in a long time.

Su Mi put down her phone and walked over. “Do you want some water?”

Hearing her voice, Lin Nanyue turned her head. “Professor Su,” she called out softly.

Having just woken up, her voice sounded a bit hoarse and low, and her tone was listless.

Seeing her like this, Su Mi worried she might have developed a fever again in that short span of time. She couldn’t help but frown. “Do you feel unwell anywhere?”

Even though she had confirmed the fever was gone earlier in the room, she instinctively reached out to check again, but Lin Nanyue dodged her hand.

Taking a small step back, Lin Nanyue looked somewhat nervous, unconsciously rotating the cup in her hand. “I don’t feel unwell now. Thank you for your concern, Professor Su.”

When she woke up and saw the medicine box on the nightstand, she figured Su Mi must have placed it there. She also vaguely remembered the scene of taking medicine last night.

Last night, not long after falling asleep, she had been woken up by the heat. At the time, she felt parched and thought she was just thirsty, so she wanted to go out for a glass of water.

However, she wasn’t familiar with the layout of the house and was in a dazed state. She had even tried to find her way in the dark without turning on the lights. After failing and feeling miserable, she simply gave up and went back to the room to sleep.

Thanks to that brief illness last night, some forgotten memories began to surface in her mind.

Unsure of the reason for the distance, Su Mi looked at the cup in her hand and reached out. “Do you want water? Give me the cup.”

But her outstretched hand missed its mark again.

Lin Nanyue kept her head slightly lowered, looking uncomfortable. When she finally looked up to meet Su Mi’s eyes, her gaze was flickering. “No need, I can do it myself.”

Su Mi pulled her hand back without a word, gave a faint “Mm,” and told her where the water dispenser was.

Lin Nanyue trotted over on her own, making Su Mi feel as though she were some sort of monster in the girl’s eyes.

Watching Lin Nanyue’s back, Su Mi’s thin lips pursed slightly, and a trace of emotion flickered in her lowered eyes.

On the other side, Lin Nanyue wasn’t as calm as she appeared. Her attention was fixed on Professor Su behind her, and she couldn’t help but start looking around the house to see if anyone else lived there.

Recalling everything she had seen, the house seemed to be set up for someone living alone. But then she remembered the news she’d seen about Su Mi being a recent returnee from abroad. Perhaps this was just a temporary residence, and her… [partner] simply hadn’t had time to move in yet.

Lost in thought, Lin Nanyue forgot she was still filling her cup.

Fortunately, Su Mi was watching her. Just as the hot water was about to overflow, she reached out and turned it off.

Lin Nanyue reacted belatedly, but some water had already spilled over the rim. Soon, the cup was taken from her hand, and she was led to the kitchen sink.

Su Mi’s expression was serious as she held Lin Nanyue’s hand under the cool running water in silence.

Lin Nanyue watched her with a dazed expression.

Su Mi’s eyes met hers, and the latter turned her face away as if she had been caught red handed.

Halfway through, Lin Nanyue tried to pull her hand back, but Su Mi insisted on soaking it a bit longer.

With her hand held in Su Mi’s, she could only comply.

After rinsing, a faint red mark remained on Lin Nanyue’s fair skin.

Su Mi couldn’t help but stroke it lightly, as if wanting to confirm something.

Lin Nanyue was startled and immediately pulled her hand back. It was actually a normal gesture, but her reaction made it seem as if something were improper.

Su Mi froze for a moment before explaining, “I wanted to check if there were any blisters.”

Lin Nanyue nodded in understanding. “It was just a slight scald.”

Usually, no one would be this defensive.

Su Mi shifted her attention to the rest of the kitchen.

She went to fetch the reheated food, and seeing this, Lin Nanyue came over to help.

The two sat at the dining table to eat. Su Mi poured her a glass of water and placed it in front of her.

“If you still feel unwell, you can continue to rest here for a while,” Su Mi said.

She had asked Lin Nanyue last night and learned she didn’t have to go to her internship today, and there was nothing happening at school.

Lin Nanyue declined. “I’m already better. I can go back to school today. Thank you, Professor Su.”

Su Mi didn’t force the issue. “I have a class today, so I’ll drop you off at school in a bit.”

Their schools were adjacent to each other, so driving her was on the way.

Lin Nanyue realized this fact as well, so she didn’t say anything to refuse.

The two ate breakfast in silence. A subtle, heavy atmosphere lingered between them, refusing to dissipate.

Su Mi briefly asked about her work, and Lin Nanyue answered everything. Gradually, the tension eased slightly.

After finishing the meal, Lin Nanyue took the initiative to clear the table. Afterward, she wanted to see if the clothes she had washed yesterday were dry.

However, Su Mi beat her to it.

Two minutes later, she returned from the balcony empty handed. “There was an accident. The clothes didn’t dry.”

Lin Nanyue let out a soft “Ah?”

She had followed the steps Professor Su taught her yesterday, and the other woman had approved.

How could something have gone wrong?

Thinking this, Lin Nanyue wanted to go check for herself and take the clothes back with her, but Su Mi stopped her.

“The washed clothes sat in there all night, so I’ve restarted the wash. Besides…” Su Mi asked her with a straight face, “Do you think I would lie to you?”

Lin Nanyue was momentarily stunned. On second thought, there seemed to be no reason for the other woman to lie about such a thing after all, her clothes weren’t worth much.

It was just a bit troublesome that she couldn’t take her clothes now.

Su Mi saw through her thoughts. “I can bring the clothes to you later.”

Lin Nanyue remembered she still had the professor’s clothes as well, so she nodded.

After nine o’clock, the two headed to the garage together. Lin Nanyue instinctively headed for the back seat, but Su Mi opened the passenger door first.

Lin Nanyue had no choice but to sit inside.

Su Mi closed the door for her, walked around the front of the car, and got in. She noticed Lin Nanyue was looking down, struggling a bit with the seatbelt.

She leaned over slightly to help. Lin Nanyue, sensing her approach, looked up, and their foreheads almost collided.

Behind her lenses, the corners of Su Mi’s eyes curved upward slightly. She looked up for a moment before looking back down, helping Lin Nanyue click the safety buckle into place. Their hands inevitably brushed against each other.

It took a moment for Lin Nanyue to react. After pulling her hand back, she sat upright and stared straight ahead. “Thank you.”

Su Mi glanced at her, straightened up, and replied, “You’re welcome.”

The two didn’t communicate much on the way to school. Before arriving at Lin Nanyue’s school, she had intended to ask Su Mi to pull over nearby.

But then she remembered a saying, roughly that there aren’t that many spectators in life, so she didn’t bother the other woman.

Before leaving, Lin Nanyue finally gave Su Mi a smile and a wave. “Thank you, Professor Su. Goodbye.”

Su Mi nodded slightly, watching her close the car door and walk away.

Alone in the car, Su Mi dropped her facade. Her expression turned cold enough to freeze.

She could clearly feel that although Lin Nanyue had been polite before, she hadn’t been this distant and stiff.

What exactly had happened in just one night?

【Master, you might have scared the female lead by being too proactive. After all, to her, you’ve only met a few times. Such a sudden approach is bound to make someone wary.】

Meiqiu, who had witnessed the whole scene, began to explain on behalf of the female lead.

Su Mi’s brow furrowed deeper. “But she wasn’t like this yesterday.”

Yesterday she was clearly joyful and obedient, but today she started avoiding her from time to time.

These small actions and expressions were as obvious as a student thinking the teacher hadn’t noticed their fidgeting in class.

【Master, think about it. If it were someone else, and the female lead acted intimately with them after only a few meetings, what would you think?】

“Who?” Su Mi asked coldly.

Meiqiu shivered and weakly defended itself.

【…I was just giving an example!】