Help! Please Take the Heroine Away [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 35

The moment she saw her wake up, Ye Qingyu’s face lit up with joy. But before that joy could fully blossom, as if remembering something, her smile faded.

Ye Qingyu stood up from the chair. After sitting all night, her legs were numb, and she stumbled, falling straight toward Xie Mingyao. Afraid of crushing her, Ye Qingyu hastily braced herself against the bed with both hands.

“Are you feeling unwell?” Ye Qingyu asked, her tone indifferent once she steadied herself and stood up properly.

Xie Mingyao thought about what had happened the night before, her heart heavy. “I’m fine. Thank you for bringing me here last night.”

Was this all that was left between them now, mere politeness?

Ye Qingyu forced a bitter smile. She knew she had done terrible things before, and the fact that Xie Mingyao could still be civil with her was already more than she deserved.

“I’ll call the doctor,” Ye Qingyu said, then hurried out of the ward.

There was actually a call button by the hospital bed to summon the doctor directly, but Ye Qingyu didn’t use it. She was afraid that if she stayed any longer, her reluctance and sorrow would show.

The doctor ran tests and examined her from head to toe but still found nothing wrong.

Xie Mingyao scoffed inwardly, of course they wouldn’t find anything.

Ye Qingyu insisted on taking her to other hospitals for more check-ups, but after several rounds, the results remained the same.

When it was time to be discharged, Ye Qingyu didn’t show up. Instead, Zhou Ruohan came to pick her up. As she drove, Zhou Ruohan’s expression grew increasingly complicated.

While navigating the road, Zhou Ruohan hesitantly probed, “Mingyao-jie, are you really not going to be with CEO Ye anymore?”

Even though she hadn’t approved of Ye Qingyu at first, after witnessing how frantic Ye Qingyu had been over Xie Mingyao in the private room that day and now, when Xie Mingyao was being discharged, Ye Qingyu had been too afraid to face her and had called Zhou Ruohan to pick her up instead Zhou Ruohan was convinced that Ye Qingyu truly loved Xie Mingyao.

In this lifetime, it was rare to meet someone who loved you so deeply, especially in their wealthy social circle, where genuine love was even harder to come by.

Zhou Ruohan thought she should seize the opportunity.

Xie Mingyao felt a pang of bitterness. I want to, but the system won’t let me. That fool Ye Qingyu actually let me go, and now there’s no use regretting it.

Days passed. Xie Mingyao no longer had to worry about money and spent her time eating, drinking, and traveling with Zhou Ruohan.

But her heart grew emptier, and her mood darker, though she couldn’t let the system notice.

On New Year’s Eve, Zhou Ruohan had to celebrate with her husband and family. Xie Mingyao, an outsider, naturally didn’t want to intrude and declined the invitation.

Alone, she went to the supermarket and bought New Year’s decorations, couplets, window stickers, along with some snacks. She didn’t get ingredients for a New Year’s Eve dinner because the original owner of this body couldn’t cook.

Even so, she filled an entire shopping cart.

Standing in line at the checkout, surrounded by either large families or couples, all wearing happy smiles, Xie Mingyao was the only one alone.

She slumped dejectedly over the shopping cart, gazing absently ahead. When it was finally her turn, Xie Mingyao nearly teared up with relief. But as she reached into her pocket for her phone at checkout, she realized it was gone.

A long line stretched behind her. Xie Mingyao searched everywhere inside and out but still couldn’t find it. These days, a phone was all one needed to get by; she hadn’t brought any bank or credit cards, let alone cash.

Afraid the people behind her would grow impatient and under the cashier’s persistent stare, Xie Mingyao flushed with embarrassment. After all, the cashier had already bagged all her items backing out now would be,

“I’ll pay.” A cool, crisp voice sounded beside her.

Xie Mingyao instinctively turned and was stunned to see Ye Qingyu.

The woman wasn’t dressed in her usual suit and shirt but wore a mid-length black trench coat over a long black dress, the hem peeking out beneath the coat. Her hair cascaded loosely over her shoulders, giving her an effortlessly striking presence.

A mask covered her face, and without familiarity, one might not recognize her from just her eyes. Yet Xie Mingyao knew her instantly.

“Thank you.” Xie Mingyao’s eyes stung slightly. Afraid the system would notice, she quickly averted her gaze, lowering her eyes, her tone flat and indifferent.

Ye Qingyu pulled out her phone, opened the payment QR code, and handed it to the cashier, her expression equally detached. “No need.”

Polite and distant, as if this were truly just a chance encounter, as if she were merely a kind stranger helping out as if they had no shared past.

A young girl behind them, leaning against another, suddenly giggled. “Honestly, you two are obviously a couple. Why pretend to be strangers?”

“What’s wrong with liking the same gender? Just own it,” the other girl chimed in with a smile.

Xie Mingyao and Ye Qingyu turned in unison to look at the affectionate pair behind them. Their smiles were sweet, arms linked clearly not just friends but a couple.

The first girl pointed at Ye Qingyu. “She’s been following you the whole time. Don’t tell me you don’t know each other.”

Xie Mingyao glanced at Ye Qingyu in surprise. Ye Qingyu’s long lashes fluttered slightly. She parted her lips beneath the mask, about to explain, but before she could speak, the cashier cut in.

“All set.”

Ye Qingyu closed her mouth, and she and Xie Mingyao walked out of the supermarket one after the other.

Outside, snowflakes swirled in the air. The city in the distance looked wrapped in silver frost, like a snow kingdom inside a crystal ball.

A cold wind brushed Xie Mingyao’s face as she struggled to lift the shopping bags from the cart. Suddenly, the weight in her hands lightened.

Ye Qingyu effortlessly took the bags, her beautiful, cool features slightly blurred by the falling snow. “Let me take you home.”

Xie Mingyao wanted to say yes, but the system was frantically buzzing in her mind: Host, you can’t agree! It’s OOC! As the villainess, even if you no longer like the male lead, you’d never fall for the female lead, let alone coexist peacefully with her.

Remembering the extended electric shocks, Xie Mingyao shuddered. Without thinking, she refused outright. “No need.”

Snatching the shopping bag, Xie Mingyao struggled to drag it toward the residential complex, with Ye Qingyu following behind her, her expression somber.

On New Year’s Eve, while other households were filled with laughter and joy, Xie Mingyao sat alone on the sofa, nibbling on snacks and watching TV.

Around ten o’clock, fireworks began to bloom somewhere in the city. Xie Mingyao got up from the sofa and stepped onto the balcony, tilting her head to gaze at the sky.

Against the dark blue curtain of night, clusters of fireworks burst like blooming flowers, competing in brilliance, painting the sky with their most dazzling colors.

The biting cold wind left Xie Mingyao stiff and frozen. Rubbing her hands together, she debated whether to go back inside for warmer clothes, gloves, and a hat when suddenly, a soft voice drifted to her ears.

“Happy New Year, A-Yao.”

The voice was so light it seemed carried by the wind. Xie Mingyao wondered if she was imagining it. Instinctively, she turned her head and her pupils constricted sharply.

Standing on the adjacent balcony was none other than Ye Qingyu. When their eyes met, Xie Mingyao saw tenderness in Ye Qingyu’s gaze, a depth of emotion that stirred her heart.

“A-Yao, can you give me a chance? I’ll treat you better than anyone ever could. If you want money, I’ll give you more than you could ever need. If you want love, I’ll shower you with endless affection.”

The loud crackle of fireworks exploding nearby drowned out some of her words, their vibrant hues illuminating Ye Qingyu’s pale, delicate face in flashes of light and shadow. Yet Xie Mingyao heard every syllable clearly.

Such a sincere and fervent confession left her momentarily dazed.

Seeing Xie Mingyao frozen in place, Ye Qingyu took a step forward, closing the distance between them. Her usually calm and composed face remained still, but a closer look revealed the tension and hope flickering in her eyes.

Beneath the surface, she was anything but calm.

“I’m sorry for what happened before. I’ve never liked someone before didn’t know how to pursue them. I thought having you meant we could be together. When I saw you with Zhou Yanfeng, I was so jealous I acted out. Can you forgive me? Even if you can’t, will you give me a chance?”

Only after Ye Qingyu finished speaking did Xie Mingyao finally part her lips.

Her hands clenched tightly, and for a moment, she nearly said yes. But the incessant warnings from her system snapped her back to reason, and she swallowed the words before they could escape.

Slowly, Xie Mingyao shook her head. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to agree, she simply couldn’t.

As Ye Qingyu’s heart ached as if sliced by a knife, Xie Mingyao turned and walked back inside.

“Not even a word of rejection for me?” Ye Qingyu murmured softly, watching her retreating figure disappear into the darkness.

Under the dim night sky, a single tear traced down her cheek and fell silently to the ground, vanishing without a trace.

Back in her bedroom, Xie Mingyao sat motionless on the sofa, the room’s warmth gradually thawing the chill from her body.

Noticing her despondent expression, the system couldn’t help but ask: [Host, you’re not actually falling for her, are you?]

Xie Mingyao forced a smile: [Of course not. I’m just cold.]

The system breathed a sigh of relief and rambled on: [You’re the cannon-fodder supporting female character, the stumbling block preventing the male and female leads from getting together. Your job is to complete tasks, not to get emotionally entangled in these worlds.]

Xie Mingyao propped her chin on her hand, still watching the TV series, and nodded absentmindedly.

On the third day of the Lunar New Year, Zhou Ruohan invited her out to have some fun. Many places in City A were hosting performances, and Xie Mingyao agreed with a nod.

Unexpectedly, when they arrived at the meeting spot, Ye Qingyu was also there.

Zhou Ruohan linked arms with her and said cheerfully, “More people means more fun, right? Besides, President Ye was just idling at home, so I invited her along.”

Ye Qingyu wore a scarf and a beige high-neck sweater, paired with a short white down jacket that softened her entire demeanor.

Xie Mingyao quickly averted her gaze and nodded.

Though Zhou Ruohan claimed more people meant more fun, in reality, Ye Qingyu just silently followed a few steps behind them, while Zhou Ruohan kept chattering away to ease the awkwardness.

When they reached one of the attractions, Zhou Ruohan had everyone stand together and asked a passerby to take a photo, deliberately placing Ye Qingyu next to Xie Mingyao.

Xie Mingyao stood stiffly beside Ye Qingyu, while Zhou Ruohan stood with her husband.

After the photo was taken, Zhou Ruohan posted it on her social media, and the four of them continued their outing.

The crowd was overwhelming. As they walked, Zhou Ruohan and her husband eventually disappeared into the throng. Xie Mingyao didn’t bother looking for them, it was impossible anyway but noticed Ye Qingyu was still standing behind her.

She glanced back at Ye Qingyu, who was half a head taller than her, and wondered how she hadn’t been swept away by the crowd.

Silently turning back, Xie Mingyao continued moving with the flow of people until she grew tired of the jostling. She decided to head back to their original meeting spot to wait for Zhou Ruohan.

Ye Qingyu still followed.

The original spot was less crowded. Xie Mingyao took out her phone to message Zhou Ruohan when the system suddenly spoke up: [Host, the male lead is here.]

Before Xie Mingyao could look up, everything went dark as someone collapsed straight into her. Instinctively, she reached out to catch them.

Her palms grew sticky with something wet, and the cold air carried a faint metallic scent of blood.

Within her line of sight, she saw Zhou Yanfeng’s twisted, furious face.

“Ye Qingyu,” Xie Mingyao murmured, slowly looking down, her almond-shaped eyes widening.

Ye Qingyu lay in her arms, her lips pale from the cold, barely audible as she whispered, “In my will, I’ve left all my assets to you. The conglomerate is too much for you to handle sell the shares, take the money, and go abroad.”

“Could you maybe think of me sometimes?”

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