The Heroine Pays Me to Fall in Love (Quick Transmigration) - Chapter 13

Jiang Zhinan hadn’t slept much all night.

She had never expected A’ning to say those things to her, nor had she realized that the child she had always treated like her own would develop such thoughts toward her.

Jiang Zhinan sighed, her heart tangled with complex emotions.

With the system not around, she had no one to confide in. All she could do was curl up in bed and let her thoughts wander. Unnoticed, the hours passed, and it was already past midnight before she finally drifted into a dazed sleep.

But of course, someone had to come and disturb her. Not long after she had fallen asleep, a knock at the door jolted her awake. A maid announced that Young Master Yang Zimo had come to visit.

Startled by the knock, Jiang Zhinan initially thought she was dreaming. She stood frozen for a long moment before gradually regaining her senses.

“Tell him to leave!” she frowned, her voice tinged with impatience. “Say I’m unwell today and have him come another time.”

“But Young Master Yang insists on seeing you,” the maid replied. “He even brought a pile of gifts, saying he’s here to apologize.”

The word “apologize” instantly reminded Jiang Zhinan of the incident when Zhao Tingting had snatched the hairpin.

At the time, she had thought Yang Zimo was merely speaking casually, never expecting he would actually come. Now, she felt a headache coming on.

“Tell him to wait a moment,” she said after a brief consideration. Ultimately, she decided it would be better to see him, to avoid future interruptions. “Tell him I’ll be there shortly.”

“Understood.” The maid nodded and quickly left.

Jiang Zhinan shook her still-drowsy head, got up slowly, and went to wash and freshen up. After a careful grooming, she finally opened the door and stepped out.

A’ning wasn’t waiting at the door today, and Jiang Zhinan didn’t particularly want to see her anyway. A small wave of relief rose in her chest.

Yang Zimo had brought quite a few things. As soon as she entered the main hall, she saw the household servants gathered together, carrying all the items.

“Take these to the storeroom first,” Jiang Zhinan instructed after a quick glance.

The servants acknowledged her orders and swiftly carried the various boxes away.

Jiang Zhinan watched them leave for a moment before stepping into the main hall herself.

“Long time no see, Yu’an,” Yang Zimo greeted, a faint smile tugging at his lips. He then stood and gave her a proper bow, hands clasped together. “I’ve been busy with family matters recently, which delayed my visit. Only now have I found time to come see you. I hope you won’t mind.”

“Of course not,” Jiang Zhinan replied, pouring him a cup of tea.

Though she didn’t particularly like him, a few polite words were necessary. She went along with his conversation, asking, “What have you been busy with lately?”

“A lot,” Yang Zimo shook his head. Though he smiled, there was weariness in his eyes. “Business hasn’t been easy. Even deals that seemed finalized end up falling through or getting stuck in limbo. It’s been exhausting.”

“Could it be that someone inside your company is secretly causing trouble?” Jiang Zhinan asked.

“We’ve checked several times,” Yang Zimo replied. “But found nothing. Honestly, it doesn’t feel like an internal issue. It seems more like someone is deliberately applying pressure.”

His words piqued Jiang Zhinan’s curiosity.

The Yang family was a well-established business household, with influence and connections—even officials treated them with respect. Yet suddenly hearing such speculation, she couldn’t imagine who could be so audacious.

Perhaps sensing her curiosity, Yang Zimo leaned slightly closer and lowered his voice. “Father says it might be someone in the court—someone very influential.”

Jiang Zhinan froze at his words.

“Maybe we’re overthinking it,” Yang Zimo quickly added when he noticed her reaction. “Those people are busy with their own affairs. Who has the time to pressure a small merchant like us? Yu’an, just take it as a thought, don’t worry too much.”

“Mm,” Jiang Zhinan replied softly. Though questions lingered in her mind, she didn’t pursue the topic further. Instead, she asked, “Do you have any plans for the near future?”

“We might relocate,” Yang Zimo said, nodding slightly. “Business here isn’t going well, so we’ll try elsewhere. That’s the life of a merchant—always on the move.”

“I see.” Jiang Zhinan nodded. She suddenly understood why Yang Zimo insisted on seeing her and why he brought so many gifts.

It was to make a proper farewell.

Although Yang Zimo was flashy and somewhat unscrupulous, to be fair, he had treated Jiang Zhinan well.

Hearing that he might leave soon stirred a faint sense of reluctance in her heart.

For a moment, the atmosphere grew slightly heavy. Yang Zimo gazed at her, and then, after a pause, a small smile curved his lips. “Enough of that. I rarely come here, so you must enjoy yourself with me today.”

“Ah.” Jiang Zhinan responded, smiling in return. “Of course.”

Though they were to have fun, entertainment options in ancient times were limited. After a few rounds, there were only a handful of things to do.

Yang Zimo and Jiang Zhinan had walked together to the pavilion, initially intending just to enjoy the scenery and the breeze. Yet, by chance, they noticed a chessboard set up on the table, apparently forgotten by someone.

“Why don’t you play a game of chess with me, Yu’an?” Seeing the neatly arranged board, Yang Zimo suddenly felt a surge of restlessness in his hands. Without a second thought, he decided to play.

Jiang Zhinan naturally had no reason to refuse.

“My skills aren’t very good,” she said, taking a seat opposite him. “If I lose badly, you mustn’t laugh at me.”

“Of course, of course,” Yang Zimo quickly reassured her. “In that case, you go first, Yu’an.”

“All right.” Jiang Zhinan knew her own abilities well, so she didn’t bother being polite. She reached for the white piece placed by her side.

For some reason, she could swear that the piece felt warm in her hand, as if someone had just been playing here not long ago and their warmth hadn’t yet dissipated.

But before she could dwell on it, Yang Zimo’s voice called her, urging her to make the first move.

She responded with a nod and placed the piece on the board.

Time slipped by quietly as they played game after game.

Jiang Zhinan quickly realized she couldn’t match Yang Zimo in skill and suffered defeat after defeat, losing three games in a row.

Yang Zimo, however, was considerate enough not to laugh. He even encouraged her to try again, suggesting she might win the next round.

But the more he reassured her, the more embarrassed Jiang Zhinan felt. The piece in her hand suddenly felt unbearably hot, as if she couldn’t put it down fast enough.

“Maybe we should just stop,” she sighed, a tinge of shame in her expression. “Let’s go.”

Her words trailed off.

Somehow, without her noticing, A’ning, who had been missing all morning, appeared behind her, a gentle smile on her lips. She even reached out, firmly grasping Jiang Zhinan’s hand holding the chess piece.

Jiang Zhinan startled, instinctively turning her head, only to meet A’ning’s deep, attentive gaze.

Thump.

She could hear her own heartbeat.

“Actually, Miss just overlooked it,” A’ning’s voice whispered in her ear, close enough to feel almost unreal. “If you place the piece here, it could instantly turn the game around.”

“What did you say?” Jiang Zhinan quickly returned her gaze to the board. Sure enough, the white pieces that had seemed cornered now had a new path forward—thanks to A’ning’s move.

She could play chess?

Jiang Zhinan was genuinely surprised.

“Oh, isn’t this Miss A’ning?” Before she could say anything further, Yang Zimo’s voice broke in. “Since you know chess, why not play a few rounds for Yu’an?”

“I’ve only seen explanations in books,” A’ning said, standing with a respectful tone. “It’s all just theory—I wouldn’t dare show off my shallow knowledge in front of Young Master Yang.”

“No need to worry,” Yang Zimo shook his head. “It’s just a game, a way to relax.”

Hearing this, A’ning didn’t insist on declining this time. She turned toward Jiang Zhinan, seemingly waiting for her approval.

“All right, let’s play a few rounds together,” Jiang Zhinan agreed and stood to make room for her.

She had no idea where A’ning had learned chess or how skilled she truly was. This would be a perfect chance to find out.

A’ning was always full of secrets—Jiang Zhinan suddenly found herself unable to figure her out.

“Excuse me for the intrusion,” A’ning said, taking Jiang Zhinan’s seat.

Yang Zimo nodded and reached for the unfinished game on the board, but A’ning suddenly stopped him.

“What is it?” he asked, raising a brow.

“Since we’re playing, why not make it interesting?” she replied smoothly.

For a maid to propose a wager to a young master—such boldness was rare indeed.

Intrigued, Yang Zimo asked, “A wager? What kind?”

“If I lose, Young Master Yang may have me do whatever he wishes,” A’ning said with a playful smile, a spark lighting her eyes. “But if I win, there are a few questions I would need your help with.”