Not A Stupid Beauty [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 7

Shiyu’s vision went black as she fainted. Just before losing consciousness, one thought flickered through her mind—considering Jiang Qiuyan’s insatiable appetite, had she been too rash in making this decision?

Warm water seeped over her skin, and a hand gently kneaded her sore waist, easing the ache.

Shiyu cracked open one lazy eye, only to see Jiang Qiuyan smiling softly. She pressed a kiss to Shiyu’s eyelid, forcing it shut again.

“Sleep.”

And so Shiyu drifted off peacefully.

Jiang Qiuyan washed her carefully from head to toe. Only after the bathwater had turned cold did she lift her out. The moment her hand brushed Shiyu’s waist, Shiyu frowned and let out a soft whimper. Jiang had no choice but to move with an even lighter touch.

The little kitten was completely worn out. Not even the noise of the blow-dryer or the feel of lotion on her skin stirred her awake. But the second her body touched the bed, her eyes flew open in alarm.

“It’s me. Don’t be afraid.”

Ever since she was a child, Shiyu had suffered under her mother’s abuse. She often ran away, spending the night in abandoned houses nearby. She could put up with rough conditions, but she could never sleep well in an unfamiliar place.

Call it being fussy if you liked. She simply couldn’t control it.

Her round eyes blinked in confusion, rimmed with red at the corners, making her look so fragile it tugged at the heart.

Jiang Qiuyan instantly recalled what she had learned from her background check. Lifting the blanket, she climbed in beside her, wrapping the insecure little kitten into her arms.

“Does this feel better?”

Shiyu didn’t answer. She buried her face into Jiang Qiuyan’s chest, curling up small like a ball of yarn.

It did feel better—much better—but she didn’t want to admit it. If she said it out loud, she might start to rely on her.

Jiang Qiuyan seemed to have some kind of magic. As long as she was there, Shiyu inexplicably felt safe.

But right now, Jiang Qiuyan needed her. So what if she leaned on her a little? Even someone who had lived alone this long couldn’t help but yearn for love sometimes.

Just tonight… let me be greedy.

Closing her eyes, Shiyu nestled closer. Jiang Qiuyan tightened her embrace, resting her chin on top of Shiyu’s hair and gently patting her back.

Shiyu had no idea when she fell asleep again. By the time she opened her eyes, the sun was already high. Her body felt even worse than the morning she woke up in the hotel.

Her arms and legs didn’t feel like her own, and her head was so foggy she couldn’t think straight.

After a long while, a thought struck her. She sat up abruptly, only for pain to shoot through her waist and thighs.

“Ugh…”

Leaning against the bed, she clutched her waist, needing a long moment before the ache eased.

By now, had Pei Shuyu gone back?

“She left early this morning.”

Shiyu looked up. Jiang Qiuyan was leaning casually against the doorframe, dressed in white loungewear that showed off her tall, elegant figure. She was strikingly beautiful, radiating presence.

Shiyu stared blankly for a few seconds before asking, “She didn’t ask about me?”

Shi Huaixin had asked Pei Shuyu to take her home. Shuyu wouldn’t have dared to disobey, would she?

“She asked. I told her you were too tired to get up, so she should go on ahead.”

“Huh?” Shiyu blinked in confusion.

Could you just… say that outright? Wasn’t she afraid of being misunderstood?

Jiang Qiuyan saw right through her. That little face couldn’t hide a single thought. Not wanting her kitten to spiral into overthinking, she said, “Get up and eat something. You can go back to sleep after.”

Shiyu nodded. Yesterday, she’d been so anxious about returning to the Shi family that she hadn’t eaten all day. Now her stomach was practically glued to her spine.

She lifted the blanket, about to get out of bed, then realized Jiang Qiuyan was still standing there. Looking up with round eyes, she gave her a clear look.

The meaning was obvious: Please step out, I need to get dressed.

Amusement flashed across Jiang Qiuyan’s eyes. She deliberately asked, “What is it?”

From her tone, Shiyu instantly felt she was teasing her. But so what? She was the patron here. If she wanted to play with her little canary, who was she to complain?

Shiyu had already come to terms with her role and accepted it wholeheartedly.

She meant to stride out of bed naturally, as if it didn’t matter. But she overestimated herself. Her legs gave out like noodles, and she stumbled forward, tumbling to the floor along with the blanket.

Startled, Jiang Qiuyan moved before she even thought, sweeping Shiyu up into her arms.

“Does it hurt? Did you hurt yourself anywhere?”

Shiyu tilted her head up with an embarrassed smile. “I’m fine. The blanket cushioned me.”

Jiang Qiuyan nodded, adjusting her hold so she was carrying her like a child, before striding toward the bathroom.

Looks like they’d need to put a rug around the bed. This sort of thing was bound to happen often.

Inside the bathroom, she turned on the shower and adjusted the temperature before setting Shiyu down under the spray. Shiyu’s gaze flicked to her damp shoulder and she quickly pushed her away.

She couldn’t possibly let her benefactor wait on her like this. What if she used it as an excuse not to pay her later?

Jiang Qiuyan gave her a puzzled look. Shiyu hurriedly explained, “I can wash myself. Please… wait outside.”

“Please… wait outside?” Jiang Qiuyan repeated the words, clearly displeased.

“Yes, please wait outside. Otherwise your clothes will get wet and you might catch a cold.”

Her lashes, damp with water, trembled slightly. Her dark eyes were clear and sincere, guileless even.

Jiang Qiuyan’s annoyance melted away instantly. Without another word, she turned and left. The moment the door clicked shut, her lips curved upward.

She didn’t like being pushed away. But if it was out of concern for her, then she could let it slide.

As she washed, Shiyu racked her tired brain. How could she casually let Jiang Qiuyan know she was strapped for cash—so that she might take pity and slip her a little money?

She didn’t know much about the Jiang family. But judging from Pei Yiyi and Shi Huaixin’s attitude, the Jiangs clearly stood higher than the Peis. Which meant Jiang Qiuyan must be rich.

So rich—what was wrong with letting a little slip through her fingers to her?

Shiyu thought herself perfectly justified.

As the water ran down places that were still sore, the sting only convinced her further—she definitely deserved compensation for “damages.”

******

Knock, knock, knock. A voice came from outside the door. “Xiaoyu, are you done yet?”

It had been twenty minutes and the water was still running. Jiang Qiuyan couldn’t help worrying.

“I’m done! Coming out now,” Shiyu quickly called back, shutting off the shower.

“As long as you’re fine. No rush.”

Wrapped in a towel, Shiyu gave her hair a quick dry before stepping out. Two boxes were waiting at the door: one with underwear, the other with a pink set of loungewear.

She slipped them on. Both the lingerie and the outer clothes were unbelievably soft against her skin. She had never worn anything so comfortable.

Just then, the door clicked open. Jiang Qiuyan came in with a tray of food, followed by two servants carrying a clay pot and a soup tureen.

Normally, Jiang Qiuyan never ate in her room. The desk had been cleared to serve as their table. Once the dishes were set down, the servants left. Jiang Qiuyan waved her over.

“Hiding there for what? Come eat.”

Obediently, Shiyu padded over and sat by her side.

She wanted to ask—was it really okay for her to act this close to her in front of the servants? Back at the Pei house, she hadn’t even been allowed to show her face.

But in the end, she swallowed the question.

She was nothing more than Jiang Qiuyan’s bed partner, no different from a cat or dog she kept. Her job was to fulfill her role as a pet and keep her pleased. The less she asked and the less she imagined, the smoother things would be.

Jiang Qiuyan wanted someone with tact, someone who knew her place. So Shiyu would do her best to be just that.

That way, reaching her own goals would be easier too.

Lost in thought, she didn’t realize every flicker of her emotions was written plain across her face, visible to Jiang Qiuyan.

She couldn’t know her completely, but Jiang Qiuyan was certain—this little kitten was overthinking again.

“No daydreaming at the table.”

Jiang Qiuyan lightly tapped the top of her head.

Shiyu rubbed the spot and gave her a fawning smile before obediently picking up her chopsticks. Watching her eat with surprising speed, Jiang Qiuyan was taken aback. She had expected her to nibble like a rabbit, but Shiyu’s appetite turned out to be quite decent.

How could someone eat this much and still be so thin? The Pei family must not have been feeding her properly.

Jiang Qiuyan’s expression darkened, her gaze sharpening. Now that this little kitten was under her roof, there was no need to keep holding back. The Pei family’s interests tied her hands for the moment, but dealing with Shi Huaixin would be easy enough. To raise a child into such a pitiful state—he deserved to pay for it.

“Why aren’t you eating?” Shiyu turned to her, cheeks puffed like a hamster hoarding food.

Jiang Qiuyan’s lips curved as she looked at her. “Feed me a bite.”

Without thinking, Shiyu picked up a piece of fish with her own chopsticks, moved it to Jiang Qiuyan’s lips—then pulled it back again, leaving her with a mouthful of air.

“…?”

Embarrassed, Shiyu mumbled, “I’ll use your chopsticks instead.”

Of course she should’ve thought of that! How could she be so careless? Jiang Qiuyan would never want to share with her. She reached to take Jiang Qiuyan’s chopsticks, only for her hand to be pressed down.

“Use yours,” Jiang Qiuyan said firmly.

Shiyu didn’t quite understand, but since the patron herself had spoken, she could only obey. She fed her again, and this time Jiang Qiuyan accepted the bite. Soon, she was feeding her everything on the table, and Jiang Qiuyan never once lifted her own chopsticks.

Shiyu felt like she was taking care of a spoiled child, but it wasn’t troublesome. If serving Jiang Qiuyan well meant extra rewards, why not?

When they finished eating, Shiyu leaned back, belly round with food. Jiang Qiuyan slid a porcelain soup bowl in front of her. “Drink this too.”

“What is it?”

“Lingzhi, deer antler, and black chicken soup.”

Jiang Qiuyan lifted the lid. A milky broth, rich and fragrant, wafted out. Unfortunately, Shiyu was already stuffed.

“Can I skip it? My stomach’s going to burst.”

Jiang Qiuyan chuckled, amused by some private thought. “At least a sip. The cook spent three hours making it.”

Shiyu couldn’t bear to waste such effort and such a rare delicacy. She had never even seen food this fine before.

She had to drink it!

Lifting the bowl with both hands, she downed every drop.

“Hiccup—”

A long, uncontrollable burp escaped her. She winced—what an unladylike thing to do in front of Jiang Qiuyan! But her stomach was so full, she could barely breathe.

Jiang Qiuyan only laughed harder, her eyes shining. Somehow, Shiyu’s unpolished honesty made her look even more endearing. Not just cute—irresistibly cute.

Realizing her thoughts were slipping, Jiang Qiuyan smoothed her expression, her tone gentle as always. She reached out, stroked Shiyu’s hair, and asked, “Want to take a walk in the courtyard?”

Shiyu’s eyes lit up. “Can I?”

Could someone like her really appear openly in the Jiang household?

“Why not?”

Jiang Qiuyan rose, pulling her along.

*******

The third floor bustled with servants cleaning. As they passed, everyone stepped aside, but Shiyu still felt the weight of their stares and tensed up.

The Jiang estate was enormous and endlessly vast. Shiyu had thought it was only the manor, but Jiang Qiuyan explained that all the surrounding land belonged to her family too, even the distant mountain range.

“They say an emperor is buried there—that it’s a dragon vein,” Jiang Qiuyan remarked.

Shiyu’s round eyes widened with wonder.

Jiang Qiuyan wasn’t one to boast, but her reaction made her feel oddly content. If not for her family’s legacy, she might never have been able to keep Shiyu. Perhaps she should thank her ancestors for that.

The flowerbeds were being trimmed, gardeners were busy, and maids hurried in and out. Everywhere they walked, there were eyes. Shiyu’s nerves stretched tighter and tighter.

Noticing, Jiang Qiuyan asked softly, “Should I have them clear the way?”

“No… everyone’s working so hard. If you dismiss them now, they’ll never finish their chores today.”

Jiang Qiuyan’s gaze flickered, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Then let’s head back. You must be tired.”

Shiyu nodded. Just as she turned, Jiang Qiuyan hooked her fingers around her hand. Her face remained perfectly composed, as though nothing had happened.

Maybe she was overthinking. It was just handholding, after all. For someone like Jiang Qiuyan, who must’ve dated plenty before, wasn’t this the most basic level of intimacy?

A proper mistress shouldn’t overanalyze. Whatever it was—holding hands, hugging, or more. She only needed to follow Jiang Qiuyan’s lead. That was the duty of a well-behaved companion.

Resolved, Shiyu tightened her grip in return.

Jiang Qiuyan glanced at her, a faint smile softening her fox-like eyes. The flowers in the garden were blooming their final, vibrant colors before wilting, but beside them, Shiyu shone brighter still.

Shiyu, distracted by the blossoms, didn’t notice Jiang Qiuyan’s gaze until much later. “Do I have something on my face?”

Leaning down, Jiang Qiuyan whispered, “Xiaoyu, give me a kiss.”

Though confused by the sudden request, Shiyu tiptoed up and brushed her lips against hers. “There. Is that enough?”

“Not quite. We’ll finish the rest later.”

Mischief glinted in Jiang Qiuyan’s eyes. With her narrow gaze and sly smile, she looked just like a fox plotting something wicked.

They strolled back slowly, hand in hand. The sun was warm but not harsh, a breeze stirred the air, and for once Shiyu felt herself relax, even smiling.

Jiang Qiuyan looked back at the garden, then clasped her hand tighter. The mingled flower scents were too sharp, but Shiyu’s own pheromones—sweet and mellow, like her—were far more intoxicating.

Yes. She liked this atmosphere. Shiyu smiled in it, yet still feared the eyes of others. In that case…

“Qiuyan.”

A woman’s voice cut in front of them.

They both froze.

Bai Lingshuang’s gaze fell on their joined hands, and she sighed deeply. No wonder Pei Yiyi was upset. What a mess this was.

Jiang Qiuyan immediately released Shiyu’s hand. “Go back to the room first. I’ll come find you later.”

Shiyu nodded. This wasn’t a situation she had any place in.

Bai Lingshuang cast her a long, measuring look before turning into the house. Jiang Qiuyan followed. By the time Shiyu stepped inside, the two of them had already shut themselves in the study.

A knot of worry twisted in Shiyu’s chest. If Jiang Qiuyan’s mother refused to let her stay, what then? After all, Jiang Qiuyan was still engaged to Pei Shuyu. What position did she have at her side?

She shook her head, forcing the thought away. This wasn’t something she could fix. All she had to do was stay obediently with Jiang Qiuyan.

Jiang Qiuyan was clever. Surely she had already considered the consequences, maybe even prepared for them.

Curling up on the sofa, Shiyu picked up her phone from the coffee table. The moment she unlocked it, message alerts flooded the screen—dozens of voice recordings, filthy text messages, all from Shi Huaixin.

Whatever doubts she’d had a moment ago vanished. To escape Shi Huaixin and the past, her only choice was to cling to Jiang Qiuyan with everything she had.

The phone buzzed again. Shi Huaixin’s name flashed across the screen. Shiyu hung up instantly. She wanted no more ties to him.

His fury came quickly, spitting out new voice messages, each one dripping with threats.

[Little slut. Don’t think hiding in the Jiang house will save you. I’ll kill you sooner or later!]

Just then, the door opened. The sound startled Shiyu so badly that the phone slipped from her hands and clattered to the floor.

Before Jiang Qiuyan could say a word, Shiyu burst into tears and threw herself into her arms.

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