The Heroine Pays Me to Fall in Love (Quick Transmigration) - Chapter 18

After the New Year, it snowed for several days in a row.

Jiang Zhinan hated the cold, so she hadn’t stepped outside once. Every morning after getting out of bed, she would wrap herself tightly like a ball.

A’ning saw this and quietly brewed her some hot tea, turning up the warmth of the brazier for fear that her lady might catch a chill.

With these little comforts, the harsh winter days didn’t feel quite so unbearable anymore.

Jiang Zhinan sat at her desk, clutching her teacup, silently watching A’ning’s back from a short distance away as she began counting in her heart.

Lately, A’ning had been terribly busy. Whenever she came by, it was only to check if the brazier had gone out or if the tea had turned cold. Before even half a quarter-hour passed, she would leave again.

This time was no different. By the time Jiang Zhinan’s count reached one hundred, A’ning had already turned around, seemingly ready to go.

“Wait.” Jiang Zhinan finally spoke, deciding to ask her directly. “What have you been so busy with these days? Why can’t I ever seem to find you anymore?”

“A’ning is preparing for the exam.” A’ning smiled faintly when she heard the question, assuming her lady was simply worried about her. “There’s only a month left before the provincial examinations. I want to do well and earn a good ranking.”

“That makes sense.” Jiang Zhinan nodded, knowing A’ning was telling the truth—yet she couldn’t help but feel a pang of loneliness.

She couldn’t pinpoint exactly when it started, but she had long since grown used to A’ning’s presence—used to seeing her sitting at the desk reading or writing whenever she looked up, used to seeing her smile every day.

Now that she could no longer see her as often, everything felt strangely empty.

“Could it be that Miss is missing me?” A’ning teased gently, turning around and walking toward her with a playful gleam in her eyes.

Ever since that night when she’d managed to coax both Jiang Zhinan’s affection and a hug out of her, A’ning had become increasingly bold.

At first, Jiang Zhinan would blush and stammer whenever A’ning teased her. But after so many times, she had grown used to it.

After all, A’ning only ever said such things—she never actually acted on them.

“Let’s just say I do,” Jiang Zhinan replied softly, surprisingly not denying it this time.

Hearing those words, A’ning felt as if she’d been given the finest wine—sweet, intoxicating, and enough to make her heart flutter.

“Then once I’m done with the exams, I’ll come keep Miss company, all right?” she said, smiling even brighter. “Just give me one month. By then the weather will be warmer, the river thawed, everything alive again—it’ll be the most beautiful time of year.”

“Alright,” Jiang Zhinan agreed with a nod.

“Thank you, Miss.” A’ning smiled once more, then turned and quietly left the room.

Jiang Zhinan stared at her retreating figure for a long while, then couldn’t help but complain to the system in her head that she was far too young to already be living like an empty-nester.

“Be content,” the system replied dryly. “At least you can still see her now. If A’ning passes the exams and earns a title, who knows when you’ll see her again.”

“You’re right,” Jiang Zhinan murmured, not daring to imagine what that day might look like.

Still, if A’ning truly succeeded and became an official, she would be happy for her—of course she would.

Her thoughts tangled in confusion, her heart caught somewhere between pride and sorrow.

The system, unwilling to watch her wallow, finally spoke again. “Thinking so much is useless. Live in the moment.”

“Mm.” Jiang Zhinan nodded, then rose to her feet and called for several maidservants to come inside.

“What are you doing?” the system asked suspiciously.

“Didn’t you just say to live in the moment?” Jiang Zhinan said with a small smile. “They often go out shopping for supplies—I’ll ask them what interesting places there are nearby.”

“…” The system fell silent. Well, at least she knows how to apply advice when she hears it.

The maids hurried in when summoned, bowing respectfully. “Miss, what do you need?”

“I wanted to ask if there are any fun places nearby,” Jiang Zhinan said. “Where has the best scenery, the tastiest snacks, the liveliest streets—tell me everything you know.”

“Miss wants to go out to play?” They looked at one another nervously, having initially feared she might be upset about something.

Once they realized she simply wanted to go sightseeing, they relaxed at once and began chattering excitedly, offering suggestions one after another.

“Slow down,” Jiang Zhinan laughed, picking up her brush to record every place they mentioned.

The day passed quickly, and night gently unfolded its arms over the world.

After hours of listening and taking notes, Jiang Zhinan felt rather pleased with herself—her spirits unexpectedly high.

A’ning didn’t come by that night either. Jiang Zhinan read over her notes for a while, then blew out the candle, lay down, and drifted into sleep.

Somehow, she began to dream again.

It felt so vivid—so real—that it seemed to happen right there in her own room, with her lying on the bed just as she was now.

And the person in her dream was A’ning.

A’ning entered the room quietly, came to her bedside, and crouched down. She gazed tenderly at Jiang Zhinan’s face, smiling softly.

Jiang Zhinan could even hear her voice—gentle, whispering things like “Miss, I really like you,” and “Miss, please take care of yourself.”

Where are you going?

Jiang Zhinan wanted to ask, but no matter how she tried, her body wouldn’t move. She couldn’t even open her mouth—as if her limbs had been filled with lead.

After A’ning finished speaking, she slowly stood up.

Yet she didn’t leave immediately. She lingered by the bed for a long time, reluctant to go.

Finally, she bent down and pressed a soft kiss to Jiang Zhinan’s lips.

For an instant, something cool and damp fell onto Jiang Zhinan’s cheek.

Tears? she thought hazily.

Just then, the door creaked open. Someone else seemed to enter the room.

“Let’s go,” came a low voice—neither clearly male nor female.

“Mm.” A’ning answered softly. Then she turned and walked away, her footsteps fading into the distance.

The door closed again. Silence returned.

The next morning, Jiang Zhinan didn’t know how long she’d slept. Her head throbbed painfully.

Outside, there was noise—chaotic, but strangely subdued. She heard footsteps rushing back and forth, yet hardly any words.

Even when she strained to listen, she caught only a few scattered phrases, as if everyone was deliberately keeping something from her.

A sense of dread crept through her. Ignoring her headache, she forced herself out of bed, splashed water on her face, and pushed the door open.

At once, the servants fell silent.

“Good morning, Miss,” they greeted softly.

“Mm.” Jiang Zhinan nodded, frowning. “What’s going on?”

“N-nothing,” one of them stammered, shaking their head quickly. No one dared to meet her eyes.

The air felt heavy, stifling. Jiang Zhinan’s frown deepened.

She was about to question them further when a houseboy came hurrying into the courtyard. Apparently, he hadn’t seen her standing there, for he raised his voice as he spoke:

“What are you all standing around for? Hurry to the front yard! Second Young Master’s waiting to question everyone! A’ning was Miss’s most favored maid—how could she just die like that without an explanation?”

“What did you say?”

The moment she heard A’ning’s name, unease twisted sharply in Jiang Zhinan’s chest. But when that one word—die—reached her ears, her mind went blank.

It was as if everything around her froze in place, only to shatter a heartbeat later.

“A’ning can’t be dead!” Jiang Zhinan cried, striding forward to grab the man by his collar, her voice breaking. “What nonsense are you spouting?”

“I—I’m not lying!” The servant trembled, stuttering. “A’ning really is dead!”

“We only discovered it this morning! No one knows who she offended, but she was locked in the woodshed and strangled! Whoever did it must have hated her deeply—they even burned her face and flayed parts of her skin! If not for her clothes and the trinkets she always carried, we wouldn’t have recognized her at all!”

“Only now have we confirmed it for sure, it was A’ning.”