The Beautiful, Strong, and Tragic Female Lead is Mine [Transmigration Into a Novel] - Chapter 30

After the lights were turned off, the room fell silent.

The bed was soft, and the faint scent of rose petals still lingered. The linen curtains were half-drawn, and through the window, a deep blue night sky dotted with twinkling stars could be seen.

Tomorrow would surely be a good day.

Xie Zhitian stared blankly at the starry sky.

Behind her, she heard the rustle of fabric, followed by a quiet question from the person behind her, “Tiantian, are you asleep?”

Xie Zhitian’s thoughts returned, and she turned around to face her. “Not yet. Can’t you sleep?”

Luo Yang replied, “A little.”

Although this trip was for a mission, she felt like she was on vacation.

A peaceful but not boring journey, an unfamiliar jurisdiction she had never been to, new and friendly companions… everything was so new and wonderful, like a brightly colored, ripe fruit waiting for her to pick.

She should be grateful to Xie Zhitian; it was she who gave her wings and allowed her to see a wider world.

For her, this was more important than being given food and warmth.

Xie Zhitian asked, “What’s wrong? What are you thinking about?”

Even though she had a million thoughts in her mind, she didn’t know how to express them when they reached her lips.

Luo Yang was silent for a moment before choosing a lighthearted topic. “I was thinking about how happy I am to have come on this trip.”

Xie Zhitian smiled. “I’m glad you’re happy.”

She then remembered something else. “Luo Yang, when we get back, would you like to take on a more important role?”

She knew that with Luo Yang’s ability, being just her personal bodyguard was a bit of a waste of her talent. If Luo Yang was willing, she could recommend her to her mother and Ren Meng, and she would likely get a promotion.

“No, let’s just let things happen naturally.”

Luo Yang answered without hesitation, then added, “But if the jurisdiction needs me, I will not hesitate.”

Her current life was very fulfilling and happy. She was content and asked for nothing else.

Besides, if she took another position, she wouldn’t be able to see her young miss every day.

Thinking about that, she wouldn’t be able to get used to it.

Xie Zhitian nodded. “Okay, I understand.”

It was true that Luo Yang had a difficult and bumpy life in previous years, and now she probably just wanted to live a peaceful life. Xie Zhitian didn’t feel it was a pity; as long as Luo Yang felt good, then it was good.

The next morning, Luo Yang had already prepared breakfast. The aroma of toasted bread and fried eggs mingled together, winding its way into every corner of the dining room.

When she saw Xie Zhitian coming down the stairs, Luo Yang’s eyes lit up. “Tiantian, come and have breakfast.”

She wore a light coffee-colored apron tied a little tightly around her waist, making her look even slimmer.

Xia Fufeng, who was sitting at the table, greeted Xie Zhitian with a mouthful of bread.

Xie Zhitian smiled back at her, then walked over to Luo Yang, her tone a little complaining. “Why didn’t you sleep in a little longer?”

Luo Yang lowered her eyes slightly and used a spatula to flip the sizzling bacon in the pan. “I’m not tired. I’ve been used to getting up early for a long time.”

Xie Zhitian took the spatula from Luo Yang’s hand. “You go eat first. I’ll take care of the rest.”

Luo Yang thought for a moment. “Then I’ll cut some fruit, and we can eat together when you’re done.”

Xia Fufeng, who was forced to listen to the whole thing: …I’m still here.

What was this conversation that felt like it was between a married couple? And the tone and expressions of the two people were so natural, as if they had been living together for a long time.

Xia Fufeng couldn’t help but cough twice to signal her presence. “I’m going to work in a while, so I can’t take you out. You two can do whatever you want. Wang Er will come to clean at around nine o’clock. You can ask him if you need anything.”

As the daughter of the leader of the jurisdiction, she naturally didn’t lack resources, but she was used to being frugal, so there wasn’t a lot of stock in the house.

Xie Zhitian asked curiously, “You’re going to work? What do you do?”

Xia Fufeng was a little embarrassed. “It’s nothing. I just do odd jobs at the jurisdiction office. Sometimes, when residents have difficulties, I help them with it.”

Xie Zhitian served the slices of bacon from the pan, and she and Luo Yang brought the plates over together.

She gave two slices of bacon to Xia Fufeng. “Why don’t we go with you?”

Her mother had told her to help Xia Wan with the affairs of the jurisdiction. Now that Xia Wan couldn’t come back for a while, she couldn’t start work. The office was busy with people and things; if they went, they might be able to get some valuable information.

“No, no.” Xia Fufeng was stunned. “You’re guests. You should have a good time and relax. Why would you go to work with me?”

Xie Zhitian smiled. “It’s okay. We didn’t come here to play anyway. Besides, we’ve already heard that the jurisdiction needs help, so we won’t be able to enjoy ourselves. It’ll be more reassuring to do some work with you.”

She looked at Luo Yang, wanting to get her support. “Right, Luo Yang?”

Luo Yang nodded. “Miss Xia, that’s what I was thinking too.”

She wasn’t a person who sought pleasure and took the completion of her mission very seriously. And Xie Zhitian’s parents had treated her so well that she really wanted to do something for them too.

“Don’t call me Miss Xia. Everyone who knows me calls me Xiao Xia. You can call me that from now on.”

Xia Fufeng was very touched and said to Luo Yang, “But you’re so amazing. You were able to bring out the best in Xie Zhitian. It really proves that you become a better person by associating with good people.”

Xie Zhitian’s mouth twitched. She wanted to retort, but then she thought it was still a compliment to Luo Yang, so she let it go.

Xia Fufeng poked the bacon on the plate with a fork. “But I have to warn you, my job is quite boring, and the conditions are tough. If you find it too boring, you can just go back.”

Xia Fufeng didn’t lie. Her office was located near the entrance of the jurisdiction office. It was a small room cluttered with various things.

There was a simple desk by the window. The morning sun shone on the green plant on the corner of the desk, making its leaves look vibrant. A small two-seater sofa and a coffee table were placed perpendicularly to the side of the desk, with a teapot and several cups on it, a standard office setup.

Xia Fufeng asked the two of them to sit on the sofa and then boiled some water in the teapot.

She said, “Pour yourselves water if you want some. I have to start working now.”

Xie Zhitian nodded. “You go ahead and be busy.”

At first, Xia Fufeng was just dealing with some simple documents. After nine o’clock, the small office suddenly became lively, with people coming and going.

Xia Fufeng was right; she was just a gopher. The door of the room opened and closed, opened and closed. She was either asked to run errands to get or deliver things, or to help organize materials, or to fill in for someone where there was a shortage of staff.

And because Xia Fufeng had the skill of taming animals, she sometimes had to help educate unruly livestock and poultry.

Xie Zhitian and Luo Yang followed her, running back and forth several times.

At noon, there was finally a break.

Xia Fufeng went to the cafeteria to get three lunch boxes and brought them back to the office to eat with the other two.

Xie Zhitian and Luo Yang had just finished their work and didn’t feel tired because of their good physical condition. However, Xia Fufeng’s work was really too varied and endless, which was quite worrying and kept them constantly busy.

Xia Fufeng pushed the lunch boxes over. “You’ve worked hard. Eat quickly. We have chicken legs today.”

She fanned herself with her hand. “No, I’m going to wash my face first. I’m so busy I’m covered in sweat.”

Xie Zhitian looked at the wisps of hair on her forehead that were damp with sweat and couldn’t help but ask, “Xiao Xia, is this what you do every day? Aren’t you tired?”

“No, I have weekends off.”

Xia Fufeng blinked, looking like she was enjoying it. “It’s a bit tiring when I’m working, but I don’t have many special skills. I’m just happy to be able to help everyone.”

Before she finished speaking, the office door was knocked on again. “Xiao Xia, come and help!”

“Coming, coming!”

Xia Fufeng put down her chopsticks and quickly got up and went out. After two steps, she turned back and said, “You two eat first. You don’t have to wait for me.”

After a busy day like that, the workday finally came to an end.

Xia Fufeng locked the office door, her tone half-joking and half-serious. “You must be tired, right? You should rest well at home tomorrow and not join in the fun.”

“What, are you trying to chase us away?”

Xie Zhitian smiled and rejected her suggestion. “No way. We have to come back tomorrow to get free lunch boxes.”

Although she didn’t gather any useful information today, she really liked sincere and kind people like Xia Fufeng and was happy to do something to make her life easier.

Luo Yang also added seriously, “Xiao Xia, this level of work isn’t tiring at all.”

Xia Fufeng had no choice but to nod. “Okay, but don’t force yourselves. You’ve helped me so much, I’m a little embarrassed… Hey, I’ll have Wang Er make a big dinner tonight to treat you!”

At that moment, a commotion suddenly came from the end of the corridor, near the entrance of the office.

Xia Fufeng quickly ran over to check the situation, with Xie Zhitian and Luo Yang following closely behind.

At the entrance stood a little girl who looked about ten years old, with two adorable pigtails that bounced as she moved.

The little girl looked a little nervous, her lips tightly pursed and her eyes serious. She was holding the staff member’s hand and saying something.

Xia Fufeng walked closer and asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Oh, it’s Xiao Xia.”

The staff member looked up and saw that it was Xia Fufeng, a look of helplessness on her face. “This little girl insists that the animals in her house are not normal and wants to find the guards.”

Xia Fufeng was confused. “Animals are not normal? Did they become disobedient and hurt people? I can help discipline them.”

The staff member shook her head. “No, she’s been here several times, and she’s never had a single injury on her. She also said that the animals never hurt her, but they just look weird. And we sent staff members to check it out before. Her family has chickens, a dog, and a cat, and they all looked very normal. There was nothing wrong with them.”

She looked at the little girl and sighed. “This child’s parents are clerks in the jurisdiction. They both went on a business trip last month, so she’s been home alone. Maybe she’s too lonely and is imagining things.”

After hearing this, Xia Fufeng’s beautiful fox-like eyes were filled with sympathy. In the post-apocalyptic world, there were too many things that people couldn’t control. If it were in the past, a ten-year-old girl would never be left alone at home for so many days.

She said to the staff member, “Your child is also very young. Go home quickly. I’ll take care of this.”

The staff member was instantly relieved and thanked Xia Fufeng repeatedly before leaving.

Xia Fufeng asked the little girl gently, “What’s your name?”

The little girl looked at her steadily. “My name is Cheng Yiyi.”

“Okay, Yiyi.”

Xia Fufeng smiled and took her hand. “Why don’t you stay with me at my house for the next few days, and I’ll take you back when your parents return? How does that sound?”

She thought this was a perfect solution, but Cheng Yiyi didn’t move.

She looked at the three adults in front of her, and a hint of stubbornness appeared in her clear black and white eyes.

“Sisters, don’t you believe me?”

Xie Zhitian’s heart fluttered as she looked at her stubbornness.

She bent down slightly, making her gaze level with Cheng Yiyi’s. “Yiyi, tell your sister, what’s not normal about the animals in your house?”

“Actually, you can’t see the problem from the outside.”

Cheng Yiyi was silent for a moment and then spoke slowly. The corridor was a bit dark, and the afterglow of the setting sun reflected in her eyes, presenting a strange, almost blood color.

“But I just feel that sometimes, they are too much like people.”

The office was very quiet after work. Cheng Yiyi’s childish voice echoed in the empty corridor, sounding inexplicably eerie.

Xia Fufeng unconsciously touched the goosebumps on her arm. “How are they like people?”

“Their eyes.” Cheng Yiyi stared at her and lowered her voice. “They are observing me.”

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