The Heroine Pays Me to Fall in Love (Quick Transmigration) - Chapter 12

Night had fallen deep.

The performances had gone on well past midnight. Usually, at this hour, the streets would already be deserted, but tonight the city was still alive with laughter and song—everyone seemed to have saved their energy just for the Lantern Festival.

But Jiang Zhinan was different. With so few amusements in this era, she had grown accustomed to early nights and steady routines. Being forced to stay up so late all of a sudden, she truly felt her body giving out.

The system had long gone to sleep, leaving her without anyone to talk to. With nothing else to do, she turned her attention to A’ning, hoping that conversation might drive away her growing drowsiness.

She hadn’t expected, however, that when she turned her head slightly, she would find A’ning already looking straight at her.

Even though the night was dark, the glow of fireworks in the sky and the lanterns all around were enough for Jiang Zhinan to see the faint smile glimmering in A’ning’s eyes.

That smile was captivating—so much so that Jiang Zhinan’s breath caught in her throat.

“Why aren’t you watching the performance?” she asked after composing herself a little, her voice soft. “What are you staring at me for so seriously?”

“Nothing.” A’ning shook her head, her tone not the least bit flustered at being caught—if anything, she smiled and asked in return, “Is Miss feeling sleepy?”

“No,” Jiang Zhinan denied immediately, insisting she was perfectly awake.

“Is that so?” A’ning didn’t look convinced. She could tell the young lady was forcing herself to hold on.

“If you’re tired, let’s go back,” A’ning said gently, noticing the wind picking up. She couldn’t bear the thought of her Miss catching cold. “There will be many nights like this in the future. A’ning will always be here to accompany you.”

As she spoke, there was light in her eyes—radiant and tender, even brighter than the fireworks above.

Jiang Zhinan looked at her for a while before finally giving in with a quiet, “Alright.”

A’ning smiled, stood up, and helped Jiang Zhinan to her feet.

“Let’s go.”

Jiang Zhinan nodded and had just turned to head back when A’ning suddenly bent down.

“What are you doing?” Jiang Zhinan asked in surprise.

“Carrying you,” A’ning replied simply. And before Jiang Zhinan could protest, A’ning had already hoisted her onto her back.

Jiang Zhinan was light, and it was no effort at all for A’ning to carry her.

But the moment she was lifted, Jiang Zhinan’s face flushed red. “Put me down!” she whispered, flustered.

“It’s alright,” A’ning said, shaking her head. No matter how Jiang Zhinan squirmed, she wouldn’t stop—instead, she tightened her hold. “Miss is tired, isn’t she? Rest a little on A’ning’s back. We’ll be home soon.”

Jiang Zhinan wanted to argue again, but just then, a firework burst overhead with a loud crack, drowning out all sound.

Her words caught in her throat.

A’ning’s body was warm, carrying with it a faint, fresh fragrance that was somehow soothing, almost spell-like. Slowly, Jiang Zhinan began to relax.

Lanterns still shimmered along the way, and the river beside them gleamed with rippling light.

They walked against the flow of the crowd, brushing past laughter and joy, bathed in starlight and falling embers.

Gradually, Jiang Zhinan found herself thinking that this—this feeling—wasn’t so bad after all.

“Just don’t push yourself too hard,” she murmured in the end. “If you get tired, put me down right away.”

A’ning nodded obediently, her tone soft and reassuring.

What she truly felt inside, though, only she herself knew.

By the time A’ning carried Jiang Zhinan back home, several maids were waiting by the gates of the Jiang residence, lanterns in hand.

Seeing the two of them appear, the maids immediately rushed over, fussing anxiously.

“Where have you been?”

“Why so late?”

“You didn’t run into any trouble, did you?”

“No,” A’ning replied gently as she stepped past them, still carrying Jiang Zhinan on her back. “We just went out to see the lanterns.”

“That’s good, that’s good.” The maids, relieved, didn’t dare to say much else, worried that a wrong word might irritate A’ning. “We’ve prepared hot water for Miss. You should help her bathe and rest soon—it’s getting quite late.”

“I understand.” A’ning nodded politely. “Thank you, sisters.”

Though the way back wasn’t far, A’ning had walked slowly the whole time, careful not to jostle the young lady on her back.

By now, Jiang Zhinan was utterly drowsy, yawning nonstop.

“Miss, we’re home,” A’ning murmured, still walking forward. “You can have a good sleep soon.”

“Mhm.” Jiang Zhinan replied softly, her breath brushing against A’ning’s neck. “Hurry up.”

“Alright.” A’ning smiled, quickened her pace, and soon brought the half-asleep Jiang Zhinan to her room. She gently set her down on the bed.

The moment Jiang Zhinan’s head touched the pillow, her eyes drifted shut, and she curled up, ready to sleep.

“Let me wipe your face first,” A’ning sighed softly. She fetched a warm towel and carefully wiped Jiang Zhinan’s cheeks.

The young lady made no response, as though already fast asleep.

Seeing how completely Jiang Zhinan trusted her, A’ning’s heart filled with quiet joy.

When the towel cooled, she replaced it with another, tenderly wiping Jiang Zhinan’s small hands.

When she finished, she should have left.

But she couldn’t bear to. The one she loved was right before her—how could she not steal another moment?

The room was warm. The chill that had clung to Jiang Zhinan had long faded, and her cheeks and lips now glowed with a faint blush.

A’ning hesitated briefly, then reached out, her gaze soft and yearning as her fingertips brushed Jiang Zhinan’s cheek and the corner of her lips.

A moment later, she leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on Jiang Zhinan’s forehead.

Every movement was reverent, almost prayer-like.

“Miss,” she whispered, her voice barely audible, as if speaking only for Jiang Zhinan to hear, “I really like you.”

“And you, how do you see me?” Her voice trembled slightly, laced with bittersweet sorrow. “A’ning truly can’t tell.”

Naturally, the sleeping Jiang Zhinan didn’t respond.

Not that A’ning expected her to. She simply tucked the blanket around her with care, then turned to leave.

Before going, she blew out the candle on the table.

The room was plunged into darkness.

And only then did Jiang Zhinan—lying in bed—let out the breath she’d been holding. Her hands, which had been clenched tightly under the blanket, slowly relaxed.

She had fallen asleep earlier, but because she was such a light sleeper, she had woken the moment A’ning’s hand brushed her cheek.

Not knowing what A’ning intended to do, she had kept her eyes shut, pretending to still be asleep.

Then she heard A’ning whisper that she liked her.

And she’d been kissed—on the forehead.

A’ning’s lips were soft, and that unfamiliar touch lingered in Jiang Zhinan’s chest long after, refusing to fade.

The more she thought about it, the hotter her face grew.

Under the moonlight, she ducked further under the blanket, leaving only her wide, startled eyes peeking out.

Oh no.

What was she supposed to do now?