The Fake and Real Heiresses Fell in Love (GL) - Chapter 15

Seeing the look in Cheng Xuan’s eyes, Yao Yanyan’s anger inexplicably vanished.

She had known Cheng Xuan for a while and was well aware of how stubborn she could be. There was really no need to get angry at Cheng Xuan over such a small matter.

After all, she was the one who owed Cheng Xuan, not the other way around.

Having come to this realization, Yao Yanyan relaxed the tight expression she had maintained all the way, but she still felt too awkward to apologize. Her tone remained aggressive: “You’re tired, aren’t you?”

Cheng Xuan nodded.

Yao Yanyan belatedly realized she had asked a redundant question and, feeling embarrassed, snapped: “Hurry up and come drink some mung bean soup!”

Cheng Xuan was slightly taken aback: “What?”

The girl stood on the field ridge, hands on her hips, bright and dazzling: “Mung bean soup! I brought you food. Eating something won’t hold up your work too much, will it?”

It wouldn’t.

In fact, Cheng Xuan’s stomach was already burning with hunger.

After a few seconds of internal debate, Cheng Xuan chose to put down her hoe and leaped onto the field ridge.

Yao Yanyan couldn’t help but feel relieved when she saw Cheng Xuan didn’t refuse.

In the later parts of the novel, Cheng Xuan suffers from a serious stomach illness. Yao Yanyan had always thought this was just a casual detail the author included to enhance Cheng Xuan’s tragic-yet-strong character. However, since moving to Fengkang Town, she realized that Cheng Xuan’s stomach problems were caused by years of inconsistent eating habits.

She suspected Cheng Xuan’s appetite was already poor, so she had prepared warming and refreshing food: mung bean soup with barley, as well as pumpkin mash and some steamed pastries.

The food was tightly sealed in containers, hadn’t spilled at all during the trip, and was still warm.

Cheng Xuan was genuinely thirsty and hungry. She thanked Yao Yanyan and began to eat.

Yao Yanyan sat beside her. Seeing Cheng Xuan eating the soup, she leaned over with a teasing smile: “Does it taste good?”

It was a summer night in the countryside. The sky was darkening, and the sound of insects buzzed around them. The girl wore a mosquito-repellent bracelet on her wrist, and her two fair hands were braced near Cheng Xuan, very close.

Cheng Xuan’s dark eyes glanced at her, then lowered her thick eyelashes: “Mhm.”

“Hehe,” she giggled, her eyes crescent-shaped, her amber pupils as sweet as honey. “I made it.”

“Pfft!” Cheng Xuan choked and quickly put the bowl down. “You… you made it?”

Yao Yanyan was also stunned by Cheng Xuan’s look of alarm. She picked up a napkin and handed it over: “I didn’t put anything weird in it, you know?”

“Cough! Cough, cough… No,” Cheng Xuan coughed, her face bright red, her dark eyes slightly watery. “Cough… I wasn’t thinking that.”

She was purely surprised that Yao Yanyan could cook porridge.

Cheng Xuan silently found an excuse for her slip-up.

However, the girl easily and openly voiced Cheng Xuan’s true thoughts: “Are you that happy to drink porridge I cooked?”

“…I’m not.” Cheng Xuan coughed, her face still red. She ignored Yao Yanyan’s teasing look, picked up the bowl, and finished the soup.

“Thank you,” Cheng Xuan said, then independently packed away her empty plate and bowl. She jumped off the ridge and went back to work.

She seemed to be filled with energy after the meal. Yao Yanyan sat on the ridge watching her for a while: “Cheng Xuan.”

Cheng Xuan looked up when she heard Yao Yanyan call her.

“When will you be done?”

Cheng Xuan licked her dry lips: “About… 7:30.”

Yao Yanyan glanced at her phone: “It’s only 6:10 now.”

Cheng Xuan said: “If you’re bored, you can go back first.”

After saying this, she expected the young lady to agree, but Yao Yanyan refused: “No.”

She smiled, sitting on the plastic sheeting, her eyes curved: “I’ll wait here for you, how about that, Cheng Xuan.”

Cheng Xuan nodded, turning up the corner of her mouth: “Okay.”

This seemed to be the first time Yao Yanyan had seen Cheng Xuan smile.

It was as if hard ice had melted. Her dark pupils carried a hint of tenderness, though it was fleeting. Yao Yanyan was momentarily stunned. When she reacted, Cheng Xuan had already reverted to her silent, robotic self, burying her head back into the field work.

The work was done precisely at seven.

Cheng Xuan jumped onto the ridge, covered in sweat: “Let’s go back.”

Yao Yanyan was on the verge of falling asleep. She rubbed her eyes and stood up: “Mmhmm.”

Her voice was sweet, scattered on the summer night wind. As she groggily reached for the bag on the ground, Cheng Xuan’s hand had already picked it up. She shouldered her hoe and turned back to say: “Let’s go.”

“Mhm.” Yao Yanyan followed behind her. They walked one after the other on the bumpy ridges. Yao Yanyan saw the sweat-dampened hair at the back of Cheng Xuan’s neck and her back, where her clothes clung to her skin, revealing her shape.

Faint sounds of panting came from in front of her. Hearing it, Yao Yanyan felt a warmth in her heart.

She knew Cheng Xuan had sped up her work because she didn’t want Yao Yanyan to wait too long.

Yao Yanyan jogged to Cheng Xuan’s side, leaning close with a soft smile: “Cheng Xuan, you’re so good.”

The girl’s voice held a trace of laughter, sweet like lemon drops.

Cheng Xuan’s eyelashes fluttered slightly. She looked up, her dark eyes carrying an unreadable emotion. She ignored Yao Yanyan, quickening her pace and walking forward.

Yao Yanyan’s eyes widened slightly behind her. She thought Cheng Xuan was annoyed and hurried to catch up.

She saw Cheng Xuan put the hoe into her family’s greenhouse and push out a bicycle from beside it.

She got on the bike and looked back at Yao Yanyan.

Yao Yanyan: ?

Cheng Xuan pursed her lips, then turned her head away: “Get on.”

Oh, she was telling her to get on the bike.

Yao Yanyan adjusted her skirt and carefully sat sideways on the slightly tall bicycle, wrapping her arms around Cheng Xuan’s waist.

Cheng Xuan felt a little uncomfortable, remembering the stink of sweat on her back. She turned back and stammered: “…Maybe… you shouldn’t hug me.”

Yao Yanyan: ?

“Don’t hug you, and let you crash and kill me?”

Cheng Xuan: “…”

That’s a fair point.

Cheng Xuan said nothing more and slowly rode off with Yao Yanyan.

Yao Yanyan held onto the fabric around her waist and asked casually: “Cheng Xuan.”

“Mhm?”

Yao Yanyan asked: “Do you have to do farm work often?”

Cheng Xuan didn’t think much of it: “Mhm.”

“What about studying? You’re busy with family matters every day, and with field work—do you have time to study?”

After this question, Cheng Xuan didn’t reply for a long time.

But even if she didn’t say it, Yao Yanyan understood.

In Cheng Xuan’s past life, she was already facing dropping out of school by this time. Even with her consistently excellent academic performance, she couldn’t overcome her family holding her back. Chen Huishu absolutely didn’t want her to go to school; she only wanted to exploit Cheng Xuan, make her find a factory job quickly, and then marry her off for the bride price.

But she was here in this life.

She absolutely would not let Cheng Xuan experience that desperate helplessness again.

The two arrived back at the Cheng house after seven o’clock.

The journey that usually took fifteen minutes took nearly half an hour today, as Cheng Xuan rode very slowly, afraid Yao Yanyan would be scared sitting on the back.

Yao Yanyan got off the bike, her backside feeling a little sore. She and Cheng Xuan entered the house one after the other.

The Cheng family was already home. The family of three was eating in the dining room. Since Cheng Xuan wasn’t there, Cheng Shibao had to be fed by Chen Huishu. Cheng Shibao was too simple-minded. Even though he wanted to feed himself, he hadn’t learned how and was getting food everywhere.

Chen Huishu was blowing on the porridge for her precious son when she heard the door open. She put down her spoon: “Cheng Xuan, come feed your brother.”

A moment later, the curtain to the dining room was lifted, and Yao Yanyan’s beautiful face peered in.

She smiled at Cheng Shibao, who, embarrassed, immediately snatched the spoon and grumbled: “I’ll feed myself! I don’t need Sister… Cheng to feed me.”

Chen Huishu: ?

Chen Huishu scolded him: “How are you going to feed yourself?”

“Why wouldn’t I! I can!” Cheng Shibao yelled at her. Chen Huishu couldn’t stop her precious son from eating. She turned, looking somewhat accusingly at the culprit, Yao Yanyan.

Yao Yanyan smirked, chuckled twice, and led Cheng Xuan upstairs.

“What a nuisance…” Chen Huishu muttered under her breath. Seeing her son getting food all over the table, she was annoyed and yelled at Cheng Xianshun, who was sitting nearby: “Are you just going to sit there and do nothing?! Hurry up and feed your brother!”

Cheng Xuan went upstairs and was ushered into the bathroom by Yao Yanyan.

After taking a shower, Cheng Xuan was about to leave when Yao Yanyan called her name.

“Cheng Xuan, come here.” She put down her phone and patted the sofa next to her.

Cheng Xuan walked over and sat down. Yao Yanyan’s expression was serious: “Cheng Xuan, do you want to work a summer job?”

Cheng Xuan was stunned: “…A summer job?”

“Yes,” Yao Yanyan nodded. “I have connections. I can help you find one. If your mother disagrees, I’ll talk to her. You save the money you earn. You’ll have it for emergencies later. Right now, you’re so busy with family and field work that you have no time to study. From now on, you can come here after work every day. I’ll tutor you. What do you think?”

This proposal was like a gift from heaven, practically overwhelming Cheng Xuan. She felt nervous: “But…”

“No buts. Just tell me if you want to and if you’re willing.” Yao Yanyan looked directly at her, almost seeing through her.

As composed as Cheng Xuan was, she couldn’t help but feel excited knowing that someone would introduce her to a job and tutor her.

This felt like a dream to her, a huge good fortune that shouldn’t be happening to her.

Almost without hesitation, Cheng Xuan looked earnestly at Yao Yanyan: “I want to… I am willing.”

In that moment, Cheng Xuan saw Yao Yanyan as her savior.

Even if this kind-hearted person’s kindness, in Cheng Xuan’s eyes, was so abundant that anyone could have it, Cheng Xuan was deeply grateful and internally promised that she would repay Yao Yanyan in the future.

With the definite answer, Yao Yanyan’s eyes curved in a smile. She suddenly remembered something and pulled a white phone from the cabinet.

“Here, take this.” Yao Yanyan handed over the phone and charger.

Cheng Xuan was startled and quickly shook her head, refusing: “I don’t want it.”

“Take it.” Yao Yanyan smiled gently, placing the phone next to Cheng Xuan’s hand with a soft but firm attitude. “If you go to work, it will be very inconvenient without a phone.”

“…I don’t need it.” Yao Yanyan had already done enough for her. She didn’t want to take any more advantage of her.

Seeing her resistance, Yao Yanyan backed down: “Then let’s say I’m lending it to you, okay?”

She smiled playfully, her eyes bright and lively: “When you get paid, you can treat me to a meal, how about that, Cheng Xuan?”