Transmigrating Behind the Mirror to Become Her Guardian Lady - Chapter 25

Swish.

Her long, slender eyelashes traced an arc through the air, and the person lying on the carpet opened her eyes.

The familiar ceiling entered her sight, and Shu Mengli knew she had transmigrated back to her own home once again.

Taking advantage of the situation, she simply lay on the floorboards, too lazy to get up. Her eyes flickered slightly, her heart thoroughly filled with regret.

This time, I failed to say goodbye to Luolu again.

She didn’t know what kind of emotions Luolu would experience every time she suddenly departed. She must be extremely heartbroken, right?

Next time, she would absolutely coax her properly.

However, knowing that she could actually transmigrate out into Luolu’s world this time had indeed made her very happy.

If things continued this way, it would be much more convenient for her and Luolu to spend time together in the future!

The issue, however, was that she still wasn’t entirely clear on the rules of the transmigration.

Her eyes flickered as her train of thought drifted, Shu Mengli recalling the time of her third transmigration.

That was the first time the crystal orb appeared. She remembered that when she saw the orb back then, it was still completely empty, and during that third time, she wasn’t able to transmigrate out to Luolu’s side either.

Consequently, by the fourth time she entered the mirror space, the orb was full, and she was able to transmigrate out.

It was exactly as if the substance inside the orb was some sort of energy; only when it accumulated until it was full could she go over to Luolu’s side.

Based on the observed pattern, it could be preliminarily deduced that the orb allowed for one transmigration every time it accumulated energy.

Which meant…

This time she had transmigrated to Luolu’s side, so next time the orb would be accumulating energy, meaning she wouldn’t be able to transmigrate out.

But by the sixth time, once the orb finished accumulating until it was full, she would be able to go to Luolu’s side.

Lying on the carpet, Shu Mengli nodded to herself secretly, feeling that this speculation was quite reliable.

But whether it was genuinely like this or not, she would still have to wait until she transmigrated into the mirror space tonight to verify it.

Thinking to this point…

The emotions that had been far too turbulent after transmigrating back from Jiang Weilu’s world gradually settled down.

Shu Mengli sat up, lifting her eyes to glance at the clock; it was currently only a bit past six o’clock in the morning.

Thus, she prepared to go take a shower, then catch some sleep.

However, right as she stood up, she accidentally caught sight of her heel touching the carpet, freezing slightly.

She saw that the back of her heel which had been rubbed raw and bled profusely over on Luolu’s side was currently completely smooth, without a single trace of an injury.

What is going on here??

Shu Mengli thought her own eyes were playing tricks on her, staring at it a couple more times to defy the odds, yet she received the exact same feedback.

She sat frozen on the carpet, a speculation surfacing within her heart.

Could it be that the injuries she sustained after transmigrating over would ultimately be reflected upon her soul?

Or was it that the mirror space would help heal the injuries she sustained?

Then, what would happen if she died over in Luolu’s world?

Eh!

What on earth am I thinking!

Shu Mengli shook her head violently, appearing to shake the thought straight out of her mind. What kind of ominous thoughts was she harboring first thing in the morning? It was better to go catch up on some sleep first.

When the alarm clock rang once again, it happened to be exactly eight-thirty in the morning.

Shu Mengli rubbed her hair as she crawled out of bed. After washing up, she stepped into the company right on the dot.

However, having already left her house by this time, she was completely unaware that the clothes she brought back from Jiang Weilu’s world and placed at home were currently slowly vanishing.

At that time.

A-Xiang had already arrived at the company three hours prior.

Carrying a small stool, she stood guard right at the main entrance of the office block. The moment she saw Shu Mengli approaching from a distance, she immediately rushed forward, intending to plunge right into her embrace.

“Sister Meng, why did you only arrive just now? I’ve been waiting for you for a long time!”

However, Shu Mengli had long since been on guard against this move of hers, dodging to one side with a swift shift of her body.

Caught unprepared, A-Xiang plunged headfirst right into Jiang Xin’s embrace. The moment she reacted, she hurriedly pushed the person away with a face full of utter disdain.

Jiang Xin hadn’t even recovered her wits yet before being shoved away by someone in a single motion, standing in place with a completely dumbfounded expression.

Holy crap?

Are you a China-Famous Double Standard?

After dodging A-Xiang’s tiger-pounce, Shu Mengli didn’t turn her head, opening her mouth with a helpless sigh.

“A-Xiang, do you not need to sleep at all every day?”

Even if you don’t rest, I still need to rest!

A-Xiang didn’t mind her sister’s coldness at all. Casting Jiang Xin aside, she glued herself to Shu Mengli like a piece of nougat.

“But the moment I think about being able to see Sister Meng, I get so excited that I can’t sleep. I really wanted to see you sooner.”

Hearing this, Shu Mengli let out a light laugh. “Even so, you must still rest properly.”

Yet internally, she thought:

Heh, naive young girl!

Acting spoiled is completely useless against me. My Luolu is way better at acting spoiled than you; her smiles are incredibly sweet and adorable.

My resistance has already been thoroughly upgraded now!

Consequently, during the subsequent exclusive interview Shu Mengli conducted with A-Xiang, she was completely unaffected by the little kid’s disruptions, carrying out her work with an earnest and rigorous attitude.

Right as Shu Mengli finished dealing with A-Xiang and stepped out of the interview room with a tired face, she was grabbed by the wrist and dragged straight into her office by Jiang Xin, who suddenly materialized beside her.

Looking at this person whose face was filled with complete excitement, Shu Mengli was a bit dazed.

“Hmm? What’s wrong?”

Dragging Shu Mengli to a corner, Jiang Xin was so excited her eyes were practically shining. She pointed at her phone, letting Shu Mengli look at the notification message displayed on it.

“Look! The notice up there just stated that a cocktail party will be held tomorrow night!”

Shu Mengli grew even more dazed.

“What cocktail party? What does it have to do with me? Didn’t you use to hate these things the most?”

To her surprise, Jiang Xin who originally detested social engagements to the extreme—grew even more excited upon hearing these words.

“But according to what they are saying, our future boss, President Jiang, will also be attending!”

However, Shu Mengli was half-believing and half-doubting.

“Is that real or fake? Didn’t they say President Jiang’s identity is highly extraordinary? She would actually attend this kind of cocktail party?”

“She will!”

Jiang Xin took hold of Shu Mengli’s hand with a face full of absolute sincerity.

“Supposedly she is coming back to look over the company situation on this side, but I’m not clear on the specific details either. Anyway, she’s coming, that’s for sure. When the time comes, I’ll have to trouble you and Hao Wei to accompany me, going over to gauge our future boss’s temperament!”

Shu Mengli wanted to shake off Jiang Xin’s grip that held her deathly tight, but after tossing it a couple of times without success, she could only give up helplessly.

“You yourself said ‘supposedly’ yet you’re still this certain… Fine then, but I have two requirements.”

“Name them!”

“First, I don’t drink alcohol. Second, I absolutely must reach home before twelve o’clock.”

“Huh?”

Jiang Xin was left with a face full of confusion by these strange and bizarre requirements.

“Holy crap, you’re not drinking at a banquet? Aren’t you just slapping President Jiang in the face? Besides, why does an over-age single young woman like you absolutely have to reach home before twelve o’clock? Are you Cinderella at midnight?”

As she spoke.

Jiang Xin narrowed her eyes as she sidled up close to Shu Mengli in a sneaky manner, asking in a hushed whisper.

“Speaking of which, your daily routine has been incredibly orderly lately. The moment work ends you vanish, you absolutely head home at night, and when I call you out for drinks, you can’t be thrown out. Out with it! Are you seeing someone behind my back!”

Do you think you’re catching an affair?

Amused by the thought, Shu Mengli pushed her away.

“Get lost. You also know what kind of virtue I display if I accidentally get drunk. If I don’t drink, it’s slapping President Jiang’s face; if I do drink, I’m terrified I’ll genuinely go slap President Jiang’s face. When that time comes, you’ll have to pack your small bags along with me and roll right out of Fengxiang’s front doors.”

“As for not going out to play with you.”

Speaking to this point, Shu Mengli couldn’t help but think of the other side of the mirror, of the adorable child she would see every single night, and a smile involuntarily curved upon the corners of her lips.

“It’s just that I recently got to know an interesting little friend.”

“A little friend?”

Jiang Xin raised her slender brows slightly. “Where did you get to know them?”

This was truly difficult to explain.

Shu Mengli pondered for a moment, finding a common and easily understood formulation.

“On the internet, I guess?”

“Holy crap!”

Jiang Xin was instantly astonished. “Shu Mengli, you’ve certainly moved up in the world, actually online-chatting with primary school students! You’re lying to me, right? Given our relationship, just speak the truth. Do you have an illegitimate child behind my back?”

What on earth do you mean by an illegitimate child.

Shu Mengli couldn’t resist rolling her eyes at her. “Get lost!”

Her head is entirely filled with garbage!!!

Then, unwilling to pay this person any further mind, she pushed Jiang Xin aside, turned around, and walked away.

Watching her departure, Jiang Xin lifted her head and shouted from behind.

“Hey! Don’t forget the cocktail party tomorrow night. I’ll help prepare the dress for you!”

“Understood.”

Without turning her head, Shu Mengli waved her hand backward as she replied.

A busy day of work concluded.

After returning home and slumping for a good while, Shu Mengli arrived before the mirror right on the dot at twelve o’clock.

Practicedly extending her hand toward the mirror surface, her vision blurred as she entered the mirror space.

The first thing Shu Mengli did was head over to observe the water curtain.

The result did not fall outside her expectations; this time, the water curtain did not emit light like last time, standing there entirely quietly, looking very much like a regular piece of a mirror.

Afterward, she went to observe the crystal orb on the right side of the water curtain.

The reality seemed to be more or less identical to what she had thought.

The crystal orb which had been filled to the brim with dreamlike substance when she entered last time was currently so empty that only a shallow layer remained at the bottom.

As expected, I can’t transmigrate to Luolu’s side this time; it will probably have to wait until next time before I can go out.

I’ll have to mention this matter to Luolu in a bit.

With this thought in mind, Shu Mengli hurriedly looked toward the water curtain, observing the scene where Jiang Weilu was currently situated.

What entered her sight was a swaying image that made one feel a bit dizzy for a moment. Listening carefully, the surrounding sounds were also slightly boisterous, yet it was faintly discernible that she was inside the internal grounds of the small Jiang residence.

Shu Mengli was still very familiar with this kind of viewing experience, knowing instantly that she was currently staying inside Jiang Weilu’s chest pocket, looking out at the world through the slit of a buttonhole.

Merely sitting here and watching the blurred image of the main hall through the water curtain left her unable to determine what was currently happening.

Fortunately, however, Luolu’s surroundings should be quite noisy at this moment, so she didn’t need to fear any sounds being overheard.

Thus, Shu Mengli extended her hand forward, lightly tapping on the water curtain to tell the child she had arrived.

Almost at the exact split second she finished tapping.

The sound of a violent heartbeat surged upward, instantly surpassing all the surrounding boisterous clamor to pour entirely into Shu Mengli’s ears, declaring the excitement and tension of the heart’s owner to her.

It was even more intense than the sound she had heard inside the car last time.

In the next split second, the mirror owner’s fingertips touched her chest, covering the water curtain.

Then she withdrew her hand, and the scene inside the water curtain moved rapidly along with her movements. The boisterous clamor receded like a tide, and the surroundings gradually turned quiet.

It didn’t completely stop until the scene before her eyes turned into the familiar sight of Jiang Weilu’s bedroom.

Then, the owner of the room gently retrieved the small mirror, and in this exact split second, Shu Mengli saw the face of absolute ecstasy on the other party.

Before she could happily greet Jiang Weilu, she froze.

The astonishment caused Shu Mengli to involuntarily study the appearance of the person inside the water curtain. From the beautiful peach-blossom eyes to the soft lips, and then to the fair, flawless face the girl who was originally as beautiful as a western doll had grown even more exquisite now.

She didn’t know if she had grown taller now, but she had absolutely grown a bit older.

And…

Shu Mengli focused her gaze onto the clothes the person inside the water curtain wore.

She clearly remembered that it was the warm spring of March when she came last time, and Luolu still wore a sweater, yet looking at her again this time, it had turned into short sleeves.

It appeared that her side had already crossed the cold early spring, arriving at the blazing, hot summer.

A trace of sourness suddenly floated onto Shu Mengli’s heart.

This time, how long had she been gone for again?

But very soon.

The ecstatic voice of the person on the other side of the mirror called Shu Mengli’s thoughts back.

Because she was far too excited, Jiang Weilu’s tone was trembling when she opened her mouth.

“Sister, Sister you’re back, you’ve genuinely come back!”

“Sister, I missed you so much. Why did you leave for so long this time? Sister, when are you leaving this time?”

A string of words crackled and popped as they traveled over through the water curtain, leaving Shu Mengli with completely no opportunity to interject.

Abruptly, it caused her to recall that little golden retriever in her memory once again.

In the past, when she left home for a long time and returned, it would circle around her madly, completely identical to the currently chattering child.

Shu Mengli felt both heartbroken and touched, yet she merely listened gently without opening her mouth to speak.

She was truly terrified that the moment she said something, the child wouldn’t be able to resist crying out.

But in reality, without her needing to say anything, the child herself couldn’t hold back anymore.

As Jiang Weilu spoke, she felt like crying, her large eyes looking at her sister tearfully.

“Sister, I’ve been so good. I listened to your words to eat properly and study hard. Sister, don’t leave for that long next time, alright?”

The little pathetic thing looked over with tearful eyes, simply making one’s heart ache to the extreme. It seemed as though if you just reached out your hand to poke her, the child would burst into a massive, weeping fit in the very next second.

Shu Mengli looked at her with a soft gaze, wishing for nothing more than to hold the child in her arms to comfort her properly.

But she couldn’t.

She could only sit inside the mirror space, using pale and weak words to reason with Jiang Weilu.

“I’m sorry, Luolu. You’ve waited a long time for me again this time, right?”

Jiang Weilu rubbed her eyes, answering between stifled sobs.

“Half a year. Sister has been gone for half a year this time.”

It’s over.

Shu Mengli thought to herself.

The intervals between transmigrations were growing longer and longer, practically increasing exponentially.

She estimated that by the time she came over to this side next time, it would at least have to be a year later. What about the time after that? Three years later? How could Luolu endure this kind of parting?

But as the guess floated onto her heart, Shu Mengli didn’t know how she should explain this matter to Jiang Weilu.

Yet before she could open her mouth to explain, Jiang Weilu on the opposite side of the mirror raised a question first.

The little pathetic thing looked at her sister with an aggrieved expression.

“Sister, why aren’t you coming out this time? Aren’t you coming out to accompany me?”

I want to come out too, but…

As her thoughts progressed to this point, a sudden flash of inspiration struck, and Shu Mengli thought of a very good method of comfort.

She lifted her eyes to look at Jiang Weilu gently.

“Next time, the next time we meet, I’ll be able to come out to accompany Luolu to play. It’s just that, in order to come see Luolu, I might be a bit slow. Is that alright?”

“Then, then how long will it take?”

Shu Mengli made a silent estimate in her heart. Being a bit afraid that the child would feel sad, she looked at the person inside the water curtain, opening her mouth with absolute caution.

“About a year?”

As expected.

Jiang Weilu’s face fell instantly.

“Why does it have to take so long?”

Shu Mengli comforted her with a gentle voice.

“Because this way, I can come to Luolu’s side. It’s just that, I don’t know if Luolu will wait for me?”

“Then I can choose not to”

The words halted halfway through.

Jiang Weilu wanted to say she could choose not to have her sister come out, as long as her sister came sooner.

But in reality, her heart deeply desired her sister to come out—she wanted to hug her sister, and wanted to talk with her sister.

Greedily, she wanted both!

But right now, she didn’t possess the opportunity to have both.

Therefore, Jiang Weilu paused, a battle raging within her heart, before she ultimately still made her choice.

She nodded forcefully toward Shu Mengli.

“Alright then! I’ll wait for Sister!”

Hearing this, Shu Mengli let out a light laugh, her gaze soft and warm.

“Wonderful. Then I have already begun to look forward to our next meeting.”

Hearing her sister say this, the regret and anxiety Jiang Weilu had harbored for so long finally faded completely.

Her large peach-blossom eyes were filled with complete excitement, resembling gleaming black gemstones.

“Me too!”

Clearly, however, right at this time, just as Jiang Weilu’s excited voice fell.

Thud, thud, thud.

The sound of a servant knocking on the door traveled over from the entrance.

“Eldest Young Lady, the Third Master is calling for you to come out.”

Hearing this, Jiang Weilu cast a glance back toward the direction of the door. Reeling in the joyful delight she displayed when conversing with her sister, she replied in a slightly cold and flat tone.

“Understood.”

In truth, Shu Mengli had been a bit puzzled when she first arrived as to why the small Jiang residence was so boisterous today.

Now that the two were in private and the child had been coaxed well, Shu Mengli asked without any misgivings.

“Luolu, what are you all doing today?”

Hearing her sister’s voice, Jiang Weilu turned her head back, answering with a smile.

“Ah, because it’s Grandpa’s birthday in another two days. Father and Stepmother are busying themselves with selecting birthday gifts, so it’s a bit more boisterous today.”

“Ah, so that’s how it is.”

Shu Mengli nodded with a look of sudden realization.

“Then do you still need to prepare a gift?”

Jiang Weilu shook her head.

“We younger generation members who are still young don’t need to. Jiang Ming feels that we can’t send any good items anyway, so it’s better to honestly send nothing at all, sparing him from losing face.”

“Ah, but…”

Shu Mengli’s delicate brows knit slightly, “Sending gifts for a birthday is something where what is sent should be the thought, rather than value. Isn’t this putting the cart before the horse? Then Luolu, do you want to send a gift to your grandpa?”

Jiang Weilu tilted her small head as she thought about it, before ultimately still nodding her head.

She genuinely did want to.

Her grandpa loved domestic warmth the most; if she sent a gift, he should like it, right?

Furthermore, her grandpa was quite good to her, so sending a token of her thoughts when it was his birthday was a matter of course.

Hearing Jiang Weilu’s words, Shu Mengli nodded her head, unable to help but analyze silently.

The old patriarch Jiang was probably in his sixties by now; given his identity and status, what hadn’t he seen before?

Therefore, the old patriarch didn’t lack money he only lacked thoughtful intentions.

And this happened to be the exact and only thing Luolu could produce right now.

Shu Mengli bit the tip of her finger.

“Luolu, then has your grandpa faced any worries lately?”

“Worries?”

Jiang Weilu tilted her small head as she thought about it.

“Grandpa and I don’t have much contact. Some things are just what I heard Jiang… my father say. I heard Grandpa had a pot of flowers die recently, putting him in a very bad mood.”

“Oh, and also, Grandpa always loses when playing cards with the grandpa from the Li family, and is currently practicing his card skills intensely.”

What on earth is all this? The points your dad cares about are far too bizarre.

Shu Mengli shook her head with a light laugh.

“Anything else?”

“And… oh!”

Jiang Weilu suddenly recalled something, “I also heard that Grandpa’s sleep quality seems to have consistently been none too good all along.”

Can’t sleep well?

Hearing this, Shu Mengli’s eyes lit up.

She had a solution for this.

She herself had experienced a period of time where, due to long hours of working overtime, her sleep quality was incredibly poor.

At that time, after A-Xiang heard about this matter, she taught her to blend a type of sleep-inducing incense, the effect of which was surprisingly excellent.

The ingredients and formulation of the incense weren’t considered expensive either; anyone within the circle who liked incense would know how to blend it. It was just that it was completely impossible for it to exist in Luolu’s world right now.

Then, she could quietly hand this formula over to Luolu alone, and after blending the incense well, Luolu could take it to give to the old patriarch Jiang as a gift.

Regardless of whether it was expensive or not, at least the thoughtful intentions were delivered.

Thinking to this point, a light laugh curved the corners of Shu Mengli’s lips.

“I understand. Leave it to me.”

In the blink of an eye, three days passed.

The day of the old patriarch Jiang’s birthday banquet finally arrived.

On that day, it truly was a gathering of everyone under one roof, exceptionally boisterous.

Anyone possessing even a bit of friendship with the Jiang family came to offer birthday congratulations, and the old patriarch from the Li family was naturally among them.

After more than half a year of recuperation, the old patriarch whose physical foundation was quite good to begin with had long since been able to run around on the ground.

He rushed into the Jiang family main hall with absolute bluster. Ignoring his own bosom friend, he instead went first to search for Jiang Weilu’s silhouette.

The moment he spotted her, his eyes lit up abruptly.

“My word! My little granddaughter has turned beautiful again! Quick, come over let your Grandpa Li have a look.”

The old patriarch Jiang was long since familiar with his friend’s virtue, merely shaking his head with a light laugh upon hearing this.

Meanwhile, after receiving instruction from Shu Mengli, Jiang Weilu’s etiquette and upbringing were of the absolute highest tier, and her personality grew better and better.

The corners of her lips curved into a perfectly measured polite smile as she greeted the old patriarch Li courteously.

“Hello, Grandpa Li.”

Compared to the old man Li’s enthusiasm, Jiang Weilu’s reaction was far more distant.

“Oh.”

The old patriarch Li slumped his head, dealt a blow by the child’s lack of intimacy, turning a bit deflated instantly.

Right at this time.

Another person walked inside through the main entrance not far away.

Before the person was seen, his voice arrived first.

His voice was elegant and gentle, sounding at first listen like a person with an exceptionally good temper.

“Congratulations to the Master on his birthday.”

This voice entered her ears, and the moment Shu Mengli who stayed inside the mirror heard it, she felt it was highly familiar, so Jiang Weilu was even more familiar with it.

The exact moment she heard this person’s voice, she turned her head violently around.

And at the moment she turned her head, she expectedly caught sight of the old butler grandpa’s face hanging a warm and bright smile.

Jiang Weilu couldn’t hold herself back, walking with quick steps to arrive by the old butler’s side, her gaze looking at him with excitement and joy.

“Butler Grandpa!”

The before-and-after contrast couldn’t be more obvious.

The old man Li was instantly consumed by jealousy.

Everyone is an old man, on what grounds do you get this treatment!

Is it because he isn’t charismatic enough!

Instantly, he couldn’t resist opening his mouth.

“Old man Long! The moment you arrive you snatch my little granddaughter away, I want to duel with you!”

Hearing the voice, the old butler looked over. When he saw the old patriarch Li, a trace of disdain actually appeared on his usually warm and gentle face.

“Huh? You look down on me?”

The old butler ignored him, instead lowering his head with absolute disdain, very calculatedly slandering the person right in front of Jiang Weilu.

“Luolu, pay less attention to this person; his core nature is bad.”

“Huh? Why is that?”

Jiang Weilu was stunned.

She didn’t know where such a massive amount of friction came from between these two old men.

The old man Li was even more furiously enraged.

“You dare slander me!”

Yet he hadn’t anticipated that the old butler would expose his old secrets directly without giving him a shred of face.

“Because this stinky old man possesses zero card etiquette he loves to cheat when playing cards!”

At this time.

The old patriarch Jiang who had consistently been watching them laugh and play from behind with absolute helplessness saw the expression on his face undergo a violent change.