The Heroine Pays Me to Fall in Love (Quick Transmigration) - Chapter 43

Steam filled the kitchen, and the bubbling of the pot grew louder and louder, bursting against the ears like a wave.

But at this very moment, Jiang Zhinan felt as though she could no longer hear anything else.

Su Jin’s words — “girlfriend” — crashed into her like a surge of fire. It exploded beside her ear, then rolled through her chest, each spark spreading warmth until it consumed all other sensations.

All that remained in her world was the person before her, becoming clearer and clearer.

Jiang Zhinan took a deep breath. She didn’t say anything more; instead, she reached out and pulled Su Jin into a tight embrace, burying her face into the crook of her neck with a soft hum.

“What’s wrong?” Su Jin chuckled, patting her back teasingly. “Don’t tell me you didn’t like the way I said it?”

“I didn’t.” Jiang Zhinan nodded, her voice small and childishly pouty. “So, I have to punish you.”

“Oh?” Su Jin played along, holding her even closer. “And what’s my punishment?”

“Call me that again. A few more times.” Jiang Zhinan finally lifted her head, meeting Su Jin’s gaze head-on.

The young woman’s face was fair and delicate, her almond eyes gleaming softly, lips tinged pink — already a picture that could make anyone’s heart skip.

But now, with a shy flush painting her cheeks and the faint tremor in her eyes, her beauty deepened by another layer. Su Jin’s breath faltered, her heartbeat quickening uncontrollably.

“Say it,” Jiang Zhinan urged, voice tinged with anticipation.

“Girlfriend.” Su Jin finally came back to her senses, repeating the word just as Jiang Zhinan asked — one call after another, sincere and devout.

Jiang Zhinan listened with a faint smile, secretly counting each one in her heart — not one more, not one less — exactly ten times.

“I’m done,” Su Jin said after the last call. Before Jiang Zhinan could respond, she leaned in with a mischievous glint in her eyes. “I’ve been so obedient. Shouldn’t I get a reward?”

“Alright.” Jiang Zhinan nodded. “What do you want?”

“A few kisses.” Su Jin pointed to her own cheek.

The two lingered in the kitchen for quite a while, lost in each other and completely forgetting the time.

As for the result.

Naturally, the beef in the pot had been boiled far too long. No matter how Su Jin tried to salvage it, the texture turned out less than ideal.

“Maybe we should just eat out,” she sighed after tasting a piece, frowning slightly. “The meat’s overcooked.”

“It’s fine, really.” Jiang Zhinan shook her head. “We’ll eat at home. After all, my girlfriend worked so hard to cook this for me.”

“It’s honestly not good.” Su Jin sighed again.

“How could it not be?” Jiang Zhinan smiled gently, picking up her chopsticks and putting a piece into her mouth.

The first bite was fragrant — the aroma of beef bursting on her tongue, rich and savory.

But the moment she started to chew.

She coughed lightly, struggling to keep her expression composed, though it was clear from her tightened jaw that she was working very hard to chew through it.

One piece down, and her poor teeth had suffered more than a little.

“Is it good?” Su Jin asked, pretending not to notice.

“Delicious.” Jiang Zhinan nodded firmly, refusing to admit otherwise. “Really, it’s so good.”

Su Jin couldn’t hold back a laugh. Without another word, she picked up the plate and dumped the beef straight into the trash, then took out two packs of instant noodles.

“This was my mistake,” she said as the noodles cooked, guilt flickering in her eyes. “Next time, I’ll make something really good for you. Whatever you want, I’ll make it.”

“Mm.” Jiang Zhinan nodded, pulling one of the bowls toward her and twirling a few noodles with her chopsticks.

As a CEO, she’d eaten every delicacy under the sun — and it had been a long, long time since she’d touched something so simple.

But because it was Su Jin who made it, even the humble instant noodles seemed to carry an extraordinary flavor.

Jiang Zhinan ate quietly, finishing everything — even the broth.

It was, in its own way, the highest compliment.

Su Jin raised her brow, smiling softly at the sight.

After dinner, she found a set of pajamas for Jiang Zhinan and handed them over. “Go take a shower.”

“Okay.” Jiang Zhinan nodded, hugging the clothes as she entered the bathroom. She turned on the shower, closed her eyes, and let the warm water cascade over her.

Tonight, she had eaten Su Jin’s cooking, was showering in her home, would soon wear her pajamas, and stay the night under her roof.

Su Jin’s place wasn’t big — aside from the kitchen and bathroom, there wasn’t even a guest room.

Only one bedroom.

And only one bed.

The thought made Jiang Zhinan’s face flush pink, her mind drifting away into daydreams.

Just then, a familiar voice suddenly echoed in her mind.

“Who are you planning to share a bed with?”

It was her system.

Jiang Zhinan hadn’t heard from it in ages. Her face lit up as she greeted it with genuine delight. “214! You’re finally back! How have you been?”

“Still alive,” the system sighed dramatically. “My partner’s illness has finally cleared up. I could’ve come back sooner, but she wouldn’t let me leave. Honestly, I’ve been completely smothered these past few weeks.”

“That just means she really depends on you,” Jiang Zhinan said with a small laugh.

“That’s true,” the system replied, nodding in agreement. Then, she took off the heavy backpack she’d been carrying and placed it on the floor. “I brought back a ton of medicine this time. If you ever get a headache or catch a cold, just come to me. I promise you’ll be cured in no time.”

“Alright.” Jiang Zhinan nodded and smiled. “Thank you.”

“No problem.” The system grinned, then asked curiously, “Oh, by the way—you never told me. Who are you sleeping with tonight?”

Jiang Zhinan froze, caught off guard by the question. After a long moment, she murmured softly, “Su Jin.”

Her voice was quiet, but the system still caught every word. She stood there, completely stunned, as if struck by lightning.

“Who?” the system demanded in a low, incredulous voice. “You and Su Jin?”

“Mm.” Jiang Zhinan nodded again, the corners of her lips curving into a shy smile.

“When did that happen?” the system asked, sounding utterly betrayed, like someone whose precious cabbage had been stolen from the garden. “How come I didn’t know?”

Its tone was so full of anguish that Jiang Zhinan could only hurry to coax it.

It took quite a while, but eventually, the system came to terms with the situation.

It sighed deeply, began packing up its medicines, and finally pulled out a small tube of ointment.

“I have a feeling you might need this soon,” it said, handing it over. “This is the last one I’ve got, so use it sparingly.”

When Jiang Zhinan came out of the bathroom, Su Jin had already changed into her pajamas and was sitting on the bed, tuning her guitar.

The sleepwear was looser than her usual clothes; with each of her movements, the collar slipped to one side, revealing her pale collarbone and a tempting stretch of shoulder—just enough to make one want to lean in and bite.

“I’m done showering,” Jiang Zhinan said as she sat down beside her. A faint scent of body wash lingered on her skin, and droplets of water clung to the ends of her hair. She felt warm, almost glowing. “You can go next.”

“No rush.” Su Jin smiled, leaning in close to plant a light kiss on Jiang Zhinan’s cheek.

The motion made Jiang Zhinan catch a glimpse beneath Su Jin’s pajama top—where the faint floral tattoos on her chest were already fading.

“They’re almost gone,” Jiang Zhinan murmured. On impulse, she reached out and brushed her fingers lightly over them.

Her fingertips were warm, carrying a softness that made it impossible to stay calm.

Su Jin’s breath caught; her gaze wavered slightly.

“Yeah,” she said after a moment, her voice barely above a whisper. “They were pretty, weren’t they? It’s kind of a shame they’re disappearing.”

“Mm.” Jiang Zhinan nodded and let her fingers trace the faint shapes again, making Su Jin’s heart itch unbearably.

But Jiang Zhinan didn’t even seem to realize what she was doing—her hand stayed there, her fingertips now sketching along Su Jin’s skin, outlining the shape of those little flowers.

The light in the bedroom was warm and soft, filling the room with a gentle glow.

And the person before her was warm too—her fingertips like small flames, setting Su Jin’s skin ablaze, inch by inch, until it felt like she was being consumed by fire.

“Should I draw you a new one?” Jiang Zhinan asked, lifting her head. There was a spark of playfulness and light in her eyes.

“If you want,” Su Jin said, locking eyes with her. “Then I’ll just get it tattooed tomorrow. That way, you can see it every day.”

Her voice softened into something tender and intimate. “I kind of want to keep something that belongs to you—whether it’s here,” she placed a hand over her heart, “in my mind, or in my body.”

She looked so alluring that Jiang Zhinan couldn’t stop her heart from fluttering wildly.

“Alright,” Jiang Zhinan said with a laugh, before adding shyly, “But isn’t it unfair if only you get one? How about I get one too?”

“We could get matching tattoos—right over our hearts. No one else would see them, just us.” Her cheeks flushed pink as she went on. “That way, it’s proof that I’m yours and you’re mine.”

By the end, her voice had grown so soft it was almost inaudible.

“Then it’s settled,” Su Jin said with a bright smile. She stood, went to the drawer, and pulled something out.

It turned out to be a professional-looking art kit.

“I never told you this,” Su Jin said as she dragged a chair over and sat in front of her, “but I actually studied drawing for a while. So don’t worry—leave it to me.”

“You’re doing it now?” Jiang Zhinan asked, watching as Su Jin undid a few buttons on her own pajama top. The warmth of Su Jin’s fingertips brushed against her skin, making her ears turn red.

“Of course,” Su Jin said, smiling. “Think of it as practice.”

“What are you going to draw?” Jiang Zhinan asked softly, shivering a little from the ticklish sensation.

“A star,” Su Jin replied with a grin. She traced the shape with her finger over Jiang Zhinan’s heart. “I really, really like stars.”

“Just a bit more than music,” she whispered, “and a little less than I like you.”