Chapter 2
Ji Yan’an looked at that breathtakingly beautiful face and made a decision on the spot.
She absolutely could not let a beauty pick up a boyfriend from a garbage heap.
Saving someone? She, Ji Yan’an, could do that too.
“Father…” she called weakly, putting on a frail act.
The room instantly stirred.
Everyone’s faces lit up with joy. Even Song Yi, who was still kneeling on the floor, seemed to relax slightly. Only Ji Tong’an wore a smile that never reached her eyes as she stepped forward in feigned concern.
Ji Yongning looked happiest of all. Gone was the dignified bearing of a high-ranking official. The wrinkles on his face crinkled together as he carefully sat beside Ji Yan’an’s bed.
“Yan’an, you’re awake. Are you feeling unwell anywhere?”
A rough man through and through, he could only think of a few questions to ask.
Madam Ji was so relieved she nearly burst into tears. Grasping Ji Yan’an’s hand, she hurriedly added, “Yan’an must be hungry. Mother will go tell the kitchen to prepare something delicious for you.”
The flood of concern and affection left Ji Yan’an completely disoriented.
A sudden sting rose in her nose.
Before transmigrating, she had been an orphan. She’d grown up in an orphanage, independent by necessity, and had never known the warmth of parents fussing over her like this.
“Why are you crying?”
The voice came unexpectedly.
Song Yi, who rarely spoke, suddenly broke the silence, startling everyone.
“That’s right!” Ji Tong’an immediately seized the opportunity to cut in. “Big Sister, why are you crying? Are you still angry because Song Yi pushed you into the water?”
At last, she found a chance to redirect the blame.
Her words instantly ignited Ji Yongning’s anger.
He shot to his feet and glared at Song Yi.
“You still have the nerve to ask? Today is Yan’an’s birthday, and yet you tried to harm her! Tell me, why would you hurt the eldest legitimate daughter of my household?”
Song Yi let out a cold laugh.
She offered no defense whatsoever.
Even though she had witnessed with her own eyes that it was Ji Tong’an who had pushed Ji Yan’an into the water…
Before Song Yi could speak, Ji Yan’an grew anxious.
Ignoring the chill still lingering in her body, she hurriedly sat up and grabbed Ji Yongning’s gold-embroidered sleeve, slipping naturally into a spoiled daughter’s tone.
“Father… Song Yi clearly saved me. How did it become her harming me?”
A few simple words completely reversed the situation.
Ji Yongning’s gaze fell upon Song Yi’s soaked clothes, which she still hadn’t had the chance to change.
If she truly wanted Ji Yan’an dead, why bother rescuing her?
A seasoned veteran of the political world, Ji Yongning narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. Then, with a flick of his sleeve, he turned and left without another word.
“Big Sister!”
Watching him walk away, Ji Tong’an nearly exploded.
She looked ready to rush over and strangle Ji Yan’an herself.
Everything had been planned perfectly.
If Ji Yan’an had died, the blame could have been pinned on Song Yi—killing two birds with one stone. Even if Ji Yan’an survived, Song Yi would still have suffered terribly.
No matter how things played out, Ji Tong’an should have come out ahead.
So how had things turned into this?
“Your elder sister has only just awakened. There’s no need for you to keep disturbing her.”
Madam Ji’s voice regained its usual authority, cutting Ji Tong’an off immediately.
“Come with me to the kitchen. We should see what nourishing soup we can prepare for Yan’an.”
Without waiting for a response, she gently reminded Ji Yan’an to rest well before leading Ji Tong’an and a crowd of maids out of the room.
At last, the bedchamber fell quiet.
Only Ji Yan’an, burning with curiosity, and Song Yi, still kneeling on the floor, remained.
Song Yi’s hair was still wet.
Dark strands clung to one side of her beautiful face, tracing the elegant lines of her features.
Ji Yan’an swallowed.
Beautiful.
Far too beautiful.
“Why were you crying?”
Song Yi asked again.
This time, she was looking directly into Ji Yan’an’s eyes.
Only then did Ji Yan’an realize tears had already gathered in her own.
“I…” She hesitated briefly. “I just felt… sad.”
Song Yi said nothing.
Ji Yan’an continued quietly.
“I know it was Ji Tong’an who pushed me into the water. But I don’t want to expose her. The inner courtyard is such a small place. We grew up together as sisters. I never imagined she would be the one to push me in… and that you would be the one to pull me back out.”
The very first thing Ji Yan’an had experienced after transmigrating was finding herself underwater, moments away from drowning.
In the original story, Ji Yan’an had truly died during this incident.
Death was a heavy thing.
Even mentioning it sent a chill through her body.
Back when she’d been reading the novel, she had already found it unbearably tragic.
Something in her words seemed to touch Song Yi.
For the first time, Song Yi’s expression softened. A faint, bitter smile appeared on her lips.
“So even you think it’s tragic.”
For some reason, the barriers between them—their identities, statuses, and everything else—suddenly seemed to disappear.
It felt less like a conversation between noble daughters and more like two old friends speaking heart-to-heart after years apart.
Remembering that Song Yi was the novel’s heroine, Ji Yan’an didn’t dare continue down that path.
She hurriedly wiped away her tears and flashed a grin, revealing a pair of cute tiger teeth.
“Stop kneeling already. Hurry and get up. Your clothes are still wet. Borrow mine and change before you catch a cold.”
Song Yi remained motionless.
She neither stood up nor showed any intention of wearing Ji Yan’an’s clothes.
Ji Yan’an frowned.
She didn’t understand.
“Why not?”
Song Yi lowered her eyes.
“I’m not qualified to wear your clothes.”
The words hit Ji Yan’an like a bucket of cold water.
Only then did she remember.
Before this, the original owner of the body had once thrown a fit because Song Yi wore silk clothing similar to her own. She’d taken every opportunity to vent her anger afterward and had even forbidden the kitchen from delivering Song Yi’s dinner.
Ji Yan’an nearly buried her face in her hands.
With a temper like that, how had the original Ji Yan’an become the scumbag male lead’s unforgettable white moonlight?
Was this what people meant by birds of a feather flocking together?
Since Song Yi refused, Ji Yan’an didn’t force the issue.
After all, she was still supposed to be the pampered, arrogant eldest miss. She couldn’t completely change overnight without raising suspicions.
With a silent sigh, she called for Jinxi.
“Jinxi, escort Miss Song back to her residence. Prepare hot water for her bath and make sure she doesn’t catch a chill.”
The string of instructions left Jinxi stunned.
Still, she didn’t dare disobey.
As she led Song Yi out, she couldn’t help muttering under her breath,
“Doesn’t the Eldest Miss hate Song Yi the most? Why is she suddenly so concerned about her?”
She only grumbled a few words before abandoning the thought altogether.
After that, she treated Song Yi with impeccable politeness as she escorted her away.
Leaning against the window, Ji Yan’an watched the two figures disappear into the distance.
Only then did she finally let out a long breath.
At last, she had time to sort through the plot.
“Since I transmigrated here, the white moonlight didn’t die. But Ji Tong’an could strike again at any time. And now that I’ve openly protected Song Yi in front of everyone…” She rubbed her temples. “And I definitely can’t let a beauty like Song Yi pick a boyfriend out of the trash.”
Ji Yan’an was willing to swear that even the college entrance exams had never given her such a headache.
“For survival, cling tightly to the heroine.”
“For the heroine’s sake, completely boycott the scumbag male lead in every possible way!”
She solemnly established these two guiding principles for her transmigration journey and nodded repeatedly in satisfaction.
“I’ve heard for ages that Ji Tong’an is a world-class green tea schemer. Well, let’s see what tricks she can pull when I’m the one holding the script.”
Planting her hands on her hips as she sat cross-legged on the couch, Ji Yan’an looked unbearably pleased with herself.
Confidence practically radiated from her face.
