The Heroine Pays Me to Fall in Love (Quick Transmigration) - Chapter 17

Jiang Zhinan’s head throbbed painfully.

She vaguely remembered getting drunk the night before—wandering out into the cold night air and sitting in the pavilion instead of going to sleep. She also seemed to have run into A’ning there.

As for what exactly happened after that, she honestly couldn’t recall.

She’d slept for quite a while, and now the sun was already high in the sky. Sunlight streamed in through the window, dazzlingly bright.

Jiang Zhinan frowned. She knew she couldn’t stay in bed any longer, so she carefully opened her eyes, preparing to get up and wash.

But the moment she turned, she froze—utterly stunned.

A’ning was lying right beside her pillow.

The girl was fast asleep, long lashes casting soft shadows over her cheeks, her face flushed with color. Strands of black hair rested against her pale, delicate neck, making her skin look even fairer by contrast.

Jiang Zhinan drew in a sharp breath and gingerly lifted the quilt that covered them both—only to see that their clothes were a little disheveled.

She was completely dumbfounded.

Just then, the system returned. Upon seeing the scene, it was momentarily speechless.

“What on earth happened last night?” It finally asked after a long pause. “Did you sleep with her, or did she sleep with you?”

Jiang Zhinan clapped a hand over her mouth and shook her head, mumbling that she didn’t know. Her voice trembled so much it sounded like she was on the verge of tears.

“Calm down,” the system said, trying to soothe her. Then, in its usual analytical tone, it asked, “Do you feel any pain in your waist?”

“I don’t think so.” Jiang Zhinan focused on her body for a moment before softly replying.

“Try speaking,” the system continued. “See if your throat’s sore or hoarse.”

“Okay.” She nodded and tentatively spoke a few words. Her voice came out perfectly fine.

The system sighed heavily. “Then it’s settled—you’ll have to take responsibility for her.”

Jiang Zhinan: “…”

“Honestly,” the system went on, “how much did you even drink? How can you get this drunk?”

Jiang Zhinan’s face flushed scarlet. She lowered her head, silent and embarrassed, like a child who had done something terribly wrong.

While the two conversed, A’ning slowly stirred awake.

When their eyes met, Jiang Zhinan immediately tensed, her gaze filled with nervousness.

“Good morning, Miss,” A’ning greeted softly, a faint smile curving her lips. Her voice was slightly hoarse.

That detail instantly made Jiang Zhinan recall the system’s words, and guilt washed over her.

“Are you alright?” she asked, voice low and anxious. “Does your body hurt anywhere?”

“I’m fine,” A’ning answered, then sighed lightly as if recalling something. “It’s just, my waist aches a bit.”

She wasn’t lying—when she had helped the drunken Jiang Zhinan back last night, she’d accidentally missed a step and fallen, bruising her waist.

As for the hoarseness, that was probably from catching a chill in the cold night air.

But Jiang Zhinan, having forgotten everything, took her words at face value. Her guilt deepened, and she hurriedly sat up. “I—I’ll help you massage it.”

A’ning blinked, a little dazed. She hadn’t expected such treatment.

For a moment she just stared blankly at Jiang Zhinan, but in the end, she obediently turned over and lay on her stomach, waiting quietly.

After all, if her young lady was willing to touch her, A’ning was secretly delighted.

“I’ll have the kitchen make something nourishing for you later,” Jiang Zhinan murmured as she gently pressed A’ning’s waist. “And I’ll brew some tonic soup too.”

“Miss, you don’t have to go to so much trouble,” A’ning said softly, uncertain of what Jiang Zhinan really meant.

“It’s necessary,” Jiang Zhinan replied, lowering her eyes, her tone filled with remorse. “It was my first time. I didn’t know how to be gentle. If you feel uncomfortable anywhere, you must tell me.”

Something about that sounded very wrong.

A’ning tilted her head to look at Jiang Zhinan’s guilty, blushing face—and then it hit her.

Her young lady must have misunderstood. She thought something had happened between them last night.

A’ning almost wanted to explain right away, to tell her: You’re overthinking it. Nothing happened at all.

But when the words reached her lips, she swallowed them back.

Jiang Zhinan had finished massaging her waist and was about to move on to her arms, gently asking her to lift her hand.

A’ning complied obediently—but her intentions weren’t quite what they seemed.

“Miss,” she murmured, her voice soft and coaxing, “can you hold me?”

Her beautiful eyes blinked up at Jiang Zhinan like a child asking for candy.

Jiang Zhinan didn’t even hesitate. She leaned forward, letting A’ning wrap her arms around her, and even reached out to smooth the girl’s hair.

A’ning smiled faintly.

“Miss kissed me last night,” she said. “Your lips were so soft and sweet—sweeter than candied hawthorns.”

Jiang Zhinan froze, her face burning as fragmented memories flickered through her mind. Her cheeks turned crimson, like clouds at sunset.

“Does that mean Miss likes me?” A’ning pressed on, her tone teasing and tender. “Otherwise, why would you do all that?”

“After all, only mutual affection could lead to something like that.”

Her words were so firm, so sure, that Jiang Zhinan could only fall silent. After a moment, she gave a small, almost imperceptible nod.

Whether she meant it or not, even she couldn’t tell.

Seeing that, A’ning’s smile deepened, her arms tightening around Jiang Zhinan as if she was holding something infinitely precious.

“A’ning likes Miss too,” she whispered, for the first time confessing her feelings to a fully conscious Jiang Zhinan. Her tone trembled slightly. “The kind of liking that puts you above everything else—the kind that makes me smile the moment I see you.”

Then she pressed a gentle kiss on the crown of Jiang Zhinan’s head. “The kind of liking that makes me love you even more than myself.”

Jiang Zhinan was stunned for a long while.

She had never imagined she could be so important in this girl’s heart. A mixture of emotions surged within her.

“Miss, did you hear me?” A’ning’s soft voice came again, waiting expectantly for her reply.

“Mm.” Jiang Zhinan nodded, quietly tucking those words deep into her heart.

“That’s good,” A’ning said with a smile. “You told me you liked me, and I told you I love you. That means we’re mutually in love, right?”

“Since that’s the case, I should be honest with you now.” A’ning chuckled, her tone bright and unguarded.

Jiang Zhinan looked at her in confusion.

And then A’ning explained everything.

In truth, nothing had happened between them.

Jiang Zhinan was speechless.

This girl was far too cunning.

Her expression darkened as she stared at A’ning, at a complete loss for words.

Seeing her Miss clearly upset, A’ning quickly sat up and apologized again and again, admitting fault in every possible way.

Jiang Zhinan told her to leave—that she needed some time to herself.

“Alright,” A’ning said obediently. She climbed off the bed, smiling as she added, “Then I’ll go make you some soup.”

Even as she walked away, the corners of her lips were still curved upward.

She was overjoyed.

Because today, she’d gotten her Miss to hold her—and even say she liked her.

Even if that “like” might have been seventy percent misunderstanding, it was still enough.

With those words tucked away in her heart, when the time came for her to leave, she would no longer feel quite so alone.