Help! Please Take the Heroine Away [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 21

When speaking of the person who had lent money to her daughter, Ye Mu’s smile grew even gentler, her eyes brimming with gratitude. She patted Ye Qingyu’s hand lightly and softly admonished, “Even though she asked you to work to repay the debt, you mustn’t slack off just because she’s your classmate. And when you go back, thank her properly on my behalf.”

Ye Qingyu’s usually cold expression softened unprecedentedly as well. She nodded gently and clasped her mother’s hand in return. “Mom, don’t worry. I’ll work hard and pass on your words.”

Zhou Yanfeng frowned. At this point, even without hearing the name, he knew exactly who they were talking about. Anger simmered in his heart.

That woman had deliberately humiliated Ye Qingyu by making her work as a maid in her home, yet here she was, playing the benevolent savior. He would have lent the money to Ye Mu too! He would have helped find a kidney donor too! He was just a step too late!

How calculating.

After sitting for a while longer, Ye Mu grew visibly exhausted from her frail condition. Zhou Yanfeng tactfully stood up and said solemnly, “Aunt Ye, Ye Qingyu, I should get going now.”

Ye Mu smiled warmly. “Be careful on your way. Xiao Yu, see your classmate out.”

Ye Qingyu cast a faint glance at Zhou Yanfeng, whose face was alight with anticipation, then nodded and walked toward the door. Seeing this, Zhou Yanfeng’s eyes gleamed with delight.

As expected, winning over Ye Qingyu’s mother was far more effective than pursuing her directly.

Once outside the ward, the two walked silently down the hospital corridor, their shadows stretching long and thin on the floor, intertwining at the very end.

Ye Qingyu pressed her lips together and shifted slightly to the side, causing their shadows to slowly separate. Zhou Yanfeng didn’t notice this small movement, his sidelong glances repeatedly stealing toward Ye Qingyu.

The girl was simply too beautiful. The same school uniform that looked ordinary on others draped over her like it was made for a model. Her profile was coldly elegant, her nose delicate yet straight every feature was mesmerizing.

Zhou Yanfeng finally broke the silence, speaking first. “Can I call you Qingyu? ‘Ye Qingyu’ feels too formal.”

“No,” Ye Qingyu replied flatly, her gaze fixed ahead, not sparing him a glance. Her tone was icy and blunt.

Zhou Yanfeng was momentarily stunned but quickly found a way to save face. “I just thought since your mother calls you so affectionately, it felt too distant between us.”

“Zhou Yanfeng,” Ye Qingyu stopped walking and turned to face him squarely. Her dark eyes were frosty as she enunciated each word clearly, “I know what you’re after. But I’ve already told you, I don’t like you. Please stop bothering me.”

Zhou Yanfeng’s face stiffened, his tone turning rigid. “Ye Qingyu, I think you’re being too hasty. If you were with me, you wouldn’t have to struggle so much. You’re so smart, your future is limitless. There’s no need to waste time on trivial matters. And with the Zhou family’s support, your path would be even smoother.”

“I believe my future is something I can create myself. I don’t need to trade my feelings for it,” Ye Qingyu replied coolly.

Zhou Yanfeng’s expression darkened completely. His fists clenched tightly, humiliation burning in his chest. Since childhood, countless beautiful girls had thrown themselves at him, flattering and fawning over him even the aloof Xie Mingyao was no exception.

Yet Ye Qingyu, this was his first time pursuing a girl. He had gone out of his way to please her, yet she repeatedly refused to give him any face!

“Understood. I won’t bother you again in the future.” With those cold words, Zhou Yanfeng hurriedly left.

Watching his retreating figure, Ye Qingyu withdrew her gaze and turned back toward the hospital room.

Inside the hospital room.

Ye’s mother remained in the same position as when they had left. Seeing Ye Qingyu enter, she pointed to a poured glass of water by the bedside and said, “Let’s talk.”

Ye Qingyu picked it up, cradling the glass in her hands as she sat on the chair by the window, nodding lightly. “Alright.”

“That male classmate his family must be well-off, right? He’s visited several times. He must like you.” Ye’s mother’s expression was serious.

Ye Qingyu nodded. “I’ve already turned him down.”

“Xiao Yu, ever since you were little, many boys have pursued you, using all sorts of tactics. But he’s the only one who’s gone out of his way to please me. His family is well-off, and if you were with him.” life might be easier.

Before she could finish, Ye Qingyu frowned and coldly interrupted, “Mom, I don’t like him, and he already has a fiancée.” And I have someone I like too.

But those words stuck in Ye Qingyu’s throat.

Not only was there no mutual affection, but Xie Mingyao also liked Zhou Yanfeng. She wasn’t even in a position to express these feelings.

So, she could only bury this love deep in her heart.

“Then that’s definitely not acceptable. Mom just thinks you’re too exhausted.” Ye’s mother sighed, her eyes filled with heartache.

Their family was poor, her husband had died young, and her illness had worn her down. She had long wanted to die so she wouldn’t burden her daughter. But her daughter was sharp, she had sensed this intention immediately, kneeling on the floor in tears, begging her to live.

Ye Qingyu shook her head gently. “Mom, you’re not a burden. You’re my lighthouse. No matter how tired I am, as long as I know I have family, it’s all worth it.”

Ye’s mother’s eyes reddened slightly, choked up and unable to speak.

The next day, during P.E. class.

Perhaps because rain was coming, the weather wasn’t as scorching. The class was held on the outdoor field. Xie Mingyao was in a foul mood, she felt a dull ache in her lower abdomen, a slight throbbing pain.

Earlier, when she’d gone to the restroom, she’d checked and confirmed her period hadn’t started yet. It was probably just a prelude, which only made Xie Mingyao even more irritable.

After finding a spot to sit, she saw Ye Qingyu, who had been shadowing her all along, and immediately directed her anger at her, snapping harshly, “I’m thirsty. Go buy me some water.”

Remembering that the family maid had reminded her that Xie Mingyao’s period was due soon and had even prepared a special warming tonic that morning, Ye Qingyu nodded and headed off the field. She planned to buy water and then stop by the infirmary to have it heated.

Not far away, Wang Yuzhen, who was on the phone, noticed Ye Qingyu walking off alone. A malicious glint flashed in her eyes as she continued her call, following at a distance.

After leaving the field, Ye Qingyu didn’t rush to the store. Instead, she made a quick stop at the restroom.

She had just entered a stall when she heard footsteps outside. She paid it no mind, many students from P.E. classes were around, and someone else might have just come in to use the restroom.

Just at that moment, she suddenly heard a noise coming from the door of her stall. She froze for a second, and after it ended, she stood up and pushed the door, only to find it blocked from the outside, it wouldn’t budge at all.

Ye Qingyu had left her phone in the classroom during P.E. class, so she couldn’t call for help now. She glanced up at the stall door, calculating the chances of climbing over and jumping down safely.

As she was thinking, another noise came from outside the stall. Ye Qingyu quickly called out, “Is someone there? Can you help me open the door?”

No sooner had she spoken than a bucket of ice-cold water was dumped over her head. She had no idea where it came from, but it was mixed with chunks of ice, the freezing water sending a shudder through her body. Her clothes were soaked in seconds.

Whoever had poured the water was definitely the same person who had blocked the door.

Ye Qingyu’s eyes turned cold. In an instant, she leaped up, trying to grab the top of the stall door to climb over and see who was targeting her. But the person outside seemed to anticipate her move, the moment her fingers gripped the edge, something heavy smashed down on them.

“Ah!” Ye Qingyu gasped in pain, her grip loosening as she fell back to the ground. She looked at her injured hand, it was a bloody mess. Whoever was outside clearly harbored deep hatred for her, as if they wanted to crush her fingers completely.

The sharp pain made beads of sweat form on her forehead. Cradling her hand, she struggled to regain her composure. Meanwhile, outside the stall, footsteps grew fainter, and then the bathroom door slammed shut, plunging the entire space into silence.

Ye Qingyu didn’t waste energy shouting. It was class time hardly anyone would come here. Screaming would only drain her strength and ruin her voice.

Originally, she had planned to call for help once class ended, but soon, she realized something was wrong. The water that had been poured on her carried a strange, unsettling smell.

Her head grew heavy, her eyelids drooping with exhaustion. Ye Qingyu bit her tongue hard, trying to stay awake, but the overwhelming drowsiness was impossible to fight. Even when she dug her nails into her flesh, the pain wasn’t enough, she slowly succumbed to the darkness.

Outside, Wang Yuzhen waited patiently for a moment before turning to an elderly woman disguised as a cleaner. “It should be about time now. Hurry up, make sure you sell her deep into the mountains, somewhere so poor she’ll never escape.”

The woman, her skin wrinkled and aged beyond her years, flashed a yellow-toothed grin. “Don’t worry,” she rasped. “We’ve been in this business for decades and never been caught. She’ll be taken care of properly.”

The old woman quickly entered the bathroom. When she saw the unconscious girl on the floor, a flicker of admiration crossed her eyes such a beauty was truly a waste to sell to the mountains.

But remembering the hefty sum the girl outside had offered, she suppressed any second thoughts. Efficiently, she stuffed Ye Qingyu into a prepared trash bin, covered it with a cardboard sheet, and piled foul-smelling garbage on top. Then, she dragged the bin out.

Wang Yuzhen watched as the old woman’s figure disappeared into the distance, her venomous gaze brimming with triumph.

Ye Qingyu, no matter how beautiful you are, once you’re sold into the mountains with no way to cry for help, your sickly mother will never be able to find you.

You’ll only suffer abuse, beatings, and be reduced to a breeding tool, aging before your time!!

On the playground.

Xie Mingyao played with her phone for a while, but when she noticed Ye Qingyu still hadn’t arrived, she stuffed her phone back into her pocket, bored. Puzzled, she asked the system: [System, where’s my female lead?]

The system was currently in a foul mood. It had detected that the male lead’s affection for the female lead had plummeted into negative numbers not a good sign at all.

In this novel, the male lead was supposed to start off already liking the female lead, with an initial affection level of 60, which would then gradually rise to 100 through their interactions.

The system had requested permission from higher-ups to review the events between the male and female leads, but there was still no response.

Hearing Xie Mingyao’s question, it replied impatiently: [Where else would the female lead be? Didn’t you send her to buy water?]

Xie Mingyao didn’t mind the tone, it was obvious the system’s bad mood was related to the leads. She sighed: [But it’s been so long already.]

The system thought for a moment before replying darkly: [Maybe she just doesn’t want to see your old face.]

Pfft. Her face was stunningly gorgeous, radiant and delicate even the female lead liked it! But Xie Mingyao didn’t want to provoke the system further, so she kept the thought to herself. She stood up and walked off the playground.

Logically, the female lead was a grown woman just buying water shouldn’t be an issue. But what if something had happened?

She had to go look.

She had barely stepped off the playground when Wang Yuzhen approached and grabbed her arm. “Mingyao-jie, what are you doing?”

Just then, an old man dragging a trash bin shuffled past in the distance. Xie Mingyao barely paid him any attention as she pulled her arm free. “I’m just going to the restroom.”

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