The Heroine Pays Me to Fall in Love (Quick Transmigration) - Chapter 26

This time, it was A’ning who personally helped Jiang Zhinan with her disguise.

In fact, with all the moles and birthmarks, even familiar acquaintances would hardly recognize her. But A’ning, worried about potential danger, insisted on putting a large hat on her head, letting the brim cover half of her face.

Under normal circumstances, this outfit might have seemed suspicious, but since it had been snowing heavily all day, no one paid it any mind.

The two of them slipped on fox-fur coats, casually opened an umbrella, and stepped out of the room.

“Take it slow.” The snow had piled thick on the ground, crunching underfoot. One hand held the umbrella while the other wrapped around Jiang Zhinan’s waist, A’ning worried she might slip.

“It’s fine.” Jiang Zhinan shook her head. The touch made her slightly ticklish, so she pulled her hand from her sleeve and held it out to A’ning.

“What’s this for?” A’ning glanced at her, a faint smile curling at the corner of her lips.

“Hold hands.” Jiang Zhinan said.

“Alright.” A’ning nodded, withdrawing her hand from Jiang Zhinan’s waist and linking fingers with hers.

Her hand was warm. That warmth spread through their closely pressed skin, and for the first time, Jiang Zhinan didn’t feel the cold at all. Even her heart began to feel unusually warm.

“Are you scared?” A’ning whispered softly in her ear, her voice gentle.

“No.” Jiang Zhinan shook her head. “I’m not alone like before. I have you with me now.”

“I’m not scared as long as you’re here.” She smiled and turned to look into A’ning’s eyes.

“Hmm.” A’ning hadn’t expected to hear this. She felt flattered, almost overwhelmed, and immediately lowered her head to kiss Jiang Zhinan’s cheek.

The movement was a bit abrupt; the umbrella tilted slightly, and snow slid off the canopy, falling onto their intertwined hands. Both of them shivered from the icy touch.

“I’ll warm your hands.” A’ning reacted first, cupping Jiang Zhinan’s hands to her lips and blowing on them.

This child, who usually seemed so imposing—as if gods and mortals alike dared not challenge her—could be so adorably tender in private moments. It made Jiang Zhinan smile inwardly, feeling her fondness deepen.

She leaned in slightly, fixing her gaze on A’ning’s eyes, and whispered, “I have something to tell you.”

“Hm?” A’ning responded softly, still focused on warming Jiang Zhinan’s hands. “Say whatever you want, Yu’an. Anything you want to eat or buy, just tell me, I’ll.”

“I like you.” Jiang Zhinan interrupted, a deeper smile lighting her eyes.

It was the first time she had ever spoken these words to A’ning. Against the soft hush of falling snow, they bloomed in A’ning’s heart like a delicate flower.

A’ning’s eyes widened in disbelief, momentarily forgetting even her task of warming Jiang Zhinan’s hands. “Yu’an, what did you say?”

“Nothing.” Jiang Zhinan smiled, mischievously refusing to say more no matter how much A’ning pressed.

After all the teasing of the past few days, this was payback of sorts. Jiang Zhinan’s eyes curved into a gentle arc as she thought this.

By the time the two stepped outside, the snow had eased.

Some small vendors, reluctant to go home for the sake of earning a living, cautiously peeked out from under the eaves. Seeing the snow let up, they gradually returned to the roadside to continue their business.

The capital city was far more bustling than where Jiang Zhinan had lived before. Even in snowy weather, people came and went along the streets. Having been confined indoors for days, she felt an unexpected surge of happiness at the lively scene.

“Yu’an, if you want something, just buy it.” A’ning said, handing a heavy pouch of money into her hands. “There’s plenty at home.”

“Really?” Jiang Zhinan’s eyes lit up.

“Really.” A’ning nodded.

“Alright then.” Jiang Zhinan accepted the pouch and hurried forward.

A’ning followed slowly, silently watching Jiang Zhinan’s back, her heart swelling with quiet joy.

Sometimes, one had to let go. Even to protect her, one could not always restrict her freedom. That wasn’t love—it was selfishness. Over the past few days, A’ning had quietly reflected and learned this truth. She hoped that her affection for Jiang Zhinan would bring happiness, not become a burden.

Smiling slightly at this thought, A’ning’s lips curved upward.

Jiang Zhinan hadn’t been out in a long time, and holding so much money was a rare treat. She soon forgot herself in the excitement, buying without restraint.

A’ning soon saw her return with all sorts of colorful items: tiny decorative umbrellas, various snacks, and oddly shaped sugar figurines. Eventually, the pile became too heavy for her to carry.

“A’ning.” Jiang Zhinan turned to her, her voice soft, lips pursed, seeking help. “Could you hold some for me? I can’t carry it all.”

“Coming.” A’ning said, taking the assorted items from her hands. “Yu’an, why did you buy so much stuff?”

“Save it for later,” Jiang Zhinan said. “You’re often away, and I get bored all alone.”

“I’ll make sure to spend more time with you from now on,” A’ning sighed, realizing that she had indeed been neglecting Jiang Zhinan lately.

“It’s fine,” Jiang Zhinan shook her head. “There’ll be plenty of time later. I can wait until you’re done with your work.”

She really was unbearably gentle.

Hearing this, A’ning felt a pang of shame and inwardly scolded herself for a while. Then, after a moment, she added a new rule to her personal code—the “three principles and five virtues” she had recently compiled for herself:

From now on, I must spend more time with the person in front of me.

Not far ahead was a small bridge, with several vendors crouched on the ground along its span. Jiang Zhinan led A’ning over and finally stopped at a stall selling toys.

Calling it a toy stall was a bit of a stretch—it only had a few rattles, some old-fashioned tiger pillows for children, and a pair of simple cowhide shoes.

Jiang Zhinan found the little things adorable and couldn’t help crouching down to pick up a pillow. Her eyes shone with curiosity.

“Miss,” an elderly woman selling shoes said, “why not buy one for your own little child?”

“No, no,” Jiang Zhinan quickly shook her head. “I’m just looking. I don’t have children.”

“Well, you’d better hurry if you don’t,” the old woman said bluntly, without a hint of embarrassment. “Buy one now—it can be for a future child.”

Jiang Zhinan felt a bit awkward, unsure how to refuse. But then she saw A’ning crouching beside her, wearing an expression that was almost teasing.

“Buy one,” A’ning said with a smile. “Save it for later. You never know—maybe one day you’ll need it.”

Jiang Zhinan: “That’s impossible between us.”

“Why are you butting in?” she sighed, softly scolding A’ning and intending to tell her to be quiet.

But A’ning only pressed further, looking mockingly injured. “Don’t you trust my abilities?” she asked.

Even with all her abilities, she still couldn’t make one!

Jiang Zhinan gave up arguing, quietly shoved the pillow into A’ning’s arms, and pulled out some silver to pay for it.

The system in her mind chuckled, suggesting that with today’s science, if she really wanted, there might be a way.

“No, no, no,” Jiang Zhinan quickly refused.

Having one A’ning was already more than enough; adding another, she didn’t even want to imagine it.

Later, they had to cut their outing short. Jiang Zhinan had bought too many things, and they simply couldn’t carry them all. A’ning quickly promised that she would take Jiang Zhinan out again soon.

“Mm,” Jiang Zhinan replied, walking forward while fiddling with the small items in her hands. Inside, she felt perfectly content.

The two of them strolled back to the mansion and had dinner. Afterward, A’ning began teasing her again, insisting on “testing” something.

Jiang Zhinan nearly lost her temper.

Luckily, A’ning didn’t push it too far. A servant suddenly came rushing to the door, saying that Minister Sun Jin had come to pay a visit.

“Tch,” A’ning frowned, reluctantly letting Jiang Zhinan be. “Stay in your room and don’t go out.”

“Understood,” Jiang Zhinan nodded. She knew Sun Jin had come specifically on an assignment to capture her. Leaving would have been suicidal. She merely told A’ning to be careful.

“I will,” A’ning smiled, straightened her clothes, and strode out.

Sun Jin’s arrival wasn’t a surprise—A’ning had anticipated it. Over these past few days, he had likely discovered quite a lot, including her identity and her relationship with Jiang Zhinan. After all, uncovering such things wasn’t difficult.

She even knew Sun Jin wouldn’t report everything to the Emperor right away. He was a straightforward man, loyal to his principles, and meticulous about any task he undertook. Only if the evidence were undeniable would he take further action, tearing through the final veil of secrecy.

Still, A’ning was curious. She wanted to see what choices a man like him would ultimately make—after all, his decisions would directly influence hers.

Poison or remedy—she would have to prepare something for him, one way or another.