Forced to Become the Female Lead's Beloved Wife [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 6

The sky was darkening, and a torrential rain poured down. Wen Yige’s keys and phone were still in the classroom, which had already been locked.

“Let’s go to my place first…” Li Wancheng coughed, her voice trailing off. Perhaps due to the chill, her already weakened body grew even more frail. A tickle in her throat made her turn away and cough violently.

Only then did Wen Yige notice the abnormal flush on her face. She quickly patted Li Wancheng’s back to help her breathe. “Are you alright?”

“It’s nothing, just a slight fever.” Li Wancheng had been worried about how to explain why she rushed over if Wen Yige asked. Fortunately, the cough had diverted her attention.

The girl before her had damp hair clinging to her cheeks, her pant legs soaked, and her entire figure looked frail from illness, completely devoid of her usual elegance. Wen Yige felt a sudden pang of guilt. “I’m sorry…”

She had caused trouble for her again.

Suddenly, a gentle hand stroked her hair, soft as a feather brushing against her heart. Li Wancheng’s voice, hoarse from coughing, carried an inexplicable allure. “Dummy, why are you apologizing?”

She accessed the school surveillance through the system and saw that a few girls from her class had locked the door—a common schoolyard bullying trick. Wen Yige was just another victim.

Nearly eight o’clock, the nanny had been waiting anxiously when Li Wancheng finally returned, followed by a slightly thinner girl. The heavy rain had soaked both of them, and the nanny quickly handed them towels.

Li Wancheng took the towel and passed it to the girl behind her before turning to say, “Nanny Wu, could you please prepare some ginger tea?”

She removed her coat and hung it aside. Feeling a gentle tug on her hair, she glanced sideways and saw Wen Yige carefully wiping the water droplets from her hair with the towel, her movements so tender she seemed afraid of causing even the slightest discomfort.

The girl was so focused on drying her hair that she hadn’t even dried herself. Li Wancheng reached out and took the towel from her hand. The soft, fluffy fabric brushed against her neck, and Wen Yige’s warm fingers inadvertently grazed her skin, sending a fluttering warmth through her.

Wen Yige suddenly looked up, meeting Li Wancheng’s earnest, gentle gaze. Her breathing deepened slightly.

The air suddenly thickened, perhaps because Wen Yige’s gaze was too intense. Li Wancheng’s fingers faltered momentarily. Just then, Nanny Wu arrived with two bowls of ginger tea, and Li Wancheng hastily turned to take them.

“Thank you, Nanny Wu. You can go back to rest now.”

Nanny Wu waved her hand. “It’s no trouble. Make sure you drink this and then take a hot shower right away. Don’t catch a cold.”

The freshly brewed ginger tea was still hot, emitting steam. Wen Yige cradled the bowl and took a small sip. The sweetness of brown sugar lingered faintly on her tongue.

After finishing the ginger tea, the lingering chill in her bones had dissipated considerably. Li Wancheng led her to the adjacent guest room. “My room is right next door. If you need anything, just call out.”

After settling the girl, Li Wancheng returned to her room to finish her medicine. Suddenly remembering she’d forgotten to bring Wen Yige a nightgown, she rummaged through her wardrobe and pulled out an old set.

Approaching the girl’s door, she raised her hand to knock but noticed it was slightly ajar. The bedroom was empty, but the light in the adjacent bathroom was on, and the sound of running water echoed faintly.

Through the frosted glass, she could vaguely make out the silhouette of a figure. The curves of the person bending over in the shower were blurred by the steam yet exuded a soft, graceful beauty.

Li Wancheng stared at the glass for a moment, then tapped on it. “I left your pajamas on the bed. They’re clean. Try to get some rest soon.”

The sound of water inside stopped. After a long pause, a quiet “okay” drifted out.

Back in her room, the medication must have kicked in, because Li Wancheng fell asleep unusually quickly. In a half-dream state, she heard faint knocking at the door. She opened her eyes, rolled over, and got up to answer.

The girl stood outside, wearing Li Wancheng’s pajamas and clutching a pillow like a timid quail. She stood quietly, not speaking, just staring intently at Li Wancheng.

“What is it?” Li Wancheng chuckled sleepily, her voice muffled and nasal. “Can’t sleep? Or are you scared?”

A clap of thunder echoed, and a flash of blinding white lightning briefly illuminated the room, revealing the glistening tears in the girl’s eyes, like precious gems in a clear lake, pure and pitiful.

After a few silent seconds, Wen Yige murmured, “I’m a little afraid of the thunder… Can I sleep with you?”

Her brows furrowed, and the pillow in her arms crumpled from her nervous grip, afraid of being rejected.

“I have a fever. You’ll catch it from me.”

Perhaps it was the misty look in Wen Yige’s eyes that stirred Li Wancheng’s compassion. In the end, she let out a soft sigh, her tone half-resigned, half-indulgent, as she said, “Come in.”

The bedroom was spotlessly clean and tidy, just like its owner. A faint lemon scent lingered on the bedding. Wen Yige hugged the quilt tightly, a slow smile spreading across her face.

Because they were sharing the same quilt, every movement of the other was keenly felt. The rustle of fabric in the stillness was particularly noticeable. Sensing Wen Yige’s thoughts, Li Wancheng spoke slowly, “Still not asleep? What are you thinking about?”

The breathing behind her seemed to soften slightly, while moonlight made the tree shadows sway gently.

“Next week is my birthday. Will you come?” The voice was soft, carrying an unspoken anticipation.

So that’s what she was worried about. Li Wancheng turned to face her, their eyes meeting in the darkness. In the night, Wen Yige’s eyes seemed unnaturally bright, as if they held the entire starry sky.

“Mm. What do you want for a gift?”

“Anything you give me will be perfect,” the girl answered softly, her eyes brimming with joy.

Li Wancheng’s eyes curved into a smile, inwardly amused by how easily satisfied this person was.

Li Wancheng glanced up and saw the healing value had already reached forty percent. Her heart stirred, and she fixed Wen Yige with a fervent gaze, her voice low and honeyed:

“You know, you could be a little greedier. Ask for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.”

The tenderness in her eyes was intoxicating. Wen Yige’s heart raced, exploding like a firework before her eyes, utterly captivating.

As the words faded, the healing value settled at forty-five. Li Wancheng withdrew gracefully, her lips curving in satisfaction as she wished her goodnight.

The System, having witnessed the entire exchange, silently gave a thumbs-up. Impressive! Three lines of dialogue and the protagonist skyrocketed my healing value.

Beside her, Wen Yige’s breathing gradually steadied, but her heart continued to race. Clutching the edge of the quilt, she slowly, inch by inch, shifted closer to Li Wancheng. Then, with careful restraint, she draped her arm around the young woman’s waist.

She closed her eyes, the cool strands of Li Wancheng’s hair brushing against her nose, nearly eliciting a contented sigh.

The best gift was already hers.

The next morning, Li Wancheng blinked blearily awake to find the bed beside her empty. She slipped on her shoes and stepped out of the bedroom.

Just then, Nanny Wu’s voice drifted from the kitchen: “This young lady’s quite efficient. She must have plenty of practice with these things.”

Wen Yige pursed her lips and nodded gently. “I usually cook for myself, since I live alone.”

By the time Li Wancheng finished washing up, Nanny Wu had already set the breakfast table. She pulled out a chair and sat down, looking at the unusually lavish spread and chuckling. “Why is breakfast so elaborate today?”

“We have guests, so I made something special,” Nanny Wu replied, her gaze affectionate as she looked at Wen Yige. She pointed to the plate in front of them. “Try these potato pancakes. Yige made them.”

The porcelain plate held several golden-brown, crispy potato pancakes, still steaming hot from the fryer. Li Wancheng picked one up, blew lightly on it, and took a bite. The crispy exterior gave way to a soft, creamy interior, the fresh, earthy flavor of potatoes exploding on her tongue.

Meeting Wen Yige’s expectant gaze, Li Wancheng smiled warmly and lavished praise without reservation: “They’re delicious.”

Wen Yige realized that watching someone she cared about eat her cooking brought a unique sense of satisfaction. A sweet feeling flooded her heart, nearly making her blurt out, “If you like it, I’ll make it for you often.”

Her grip tightened on her chopsticks before she managed to restrain herself and simply ask, “Are you feeling any better?”

“My fever’s gone,” Li Wancheng said, placing a shrimp dumpling in the girl’s bowl. She looked up and asked, “Can you go over the exam paper with me this afternoon?”

This time, Wen Yige didn’t answer immediately. After a long pause, she replied, “This afternoon, I’m planning to visit the hospital to check on my mom.”

With the high school exam approaching and the past half-month consumed by mock exams, she hadn’t been able to visit her mother in days. Even though she’d hired a caregiver, nothing could replace the peace of mind she felt when she was there herself.

Li Wancheng paused, softly acknowledging her words. If she remembered correctly, this seemed to be the first time Wen Yige had ever mentioned her mother to her.

*****

Upon arriving at the hospital that afternoon, Liu Liang informed Wen Yige that her mother’s condition was not optimistic and required immediate surgery.

After seeing the doctor off, Wen Yige suppressed the worry in her eyes and chatted with her mother as if nothing was wrong, her smile as bright as ever.

While stepping out to get water, someone suddenly tapped her on the shoulder. She turned around and saw a man in a suit standing behind her. She frowned, instinctively taking a step back to put some distance between them.

“Yige, right? I’m your father. Let’s talk over there.”

Father? The man did bear a striking resemblance to her. Wen Yige remembered finding a wedding photo of her parents at home; the man before her was undoubtedly the same person in the picture.

But… after so many years of never contacting them, why was he suddenly showing up now?

Wen Feng seemed to anticipate her reaction and remained calm. “Your mother needs surgery, correct?”

Noticing her hesitation, he continued, “I know you’re short on money. If you come home with me, I’ll find the best doctor to perform the surgery.”

Wen Yige lowered her head, the complex emotions in her eyes hidden beneath her lashes.

“Xiao Ge?” The woman noticed her daughter’s dazed expression and called out softly. “What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”

Wen Yige snapped out of her trance, forcing a weak smile. “Mom, I’m fine. I just stayed up too late last night.”

The woman didn’t press the issue, simply reminding her to take care of herself. Seeing her mother’s frail, sickly appearance, Wen Yige barely managed to hold back the stinging in her eyes.

Once outside the hospital room, she finally broke down, covering her face as she sobbed uncontrollably. Her body slid weakly down the wall, the crumpled piece of paper in her hand, now barely recognizable, still faintly revealing a string of phone numbers. The man’s words echoed in her mind:

“I’ll give you time to think. Call me when you’ve decided.”

Overwhelmed by pain and torment, Wen Yige failed to notice the pair of sinister eyes watching her from a short distance to her right.

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