Chapter 1

“I can drink it myself!”

Long hair fell over the girl’s shoulders, framing a palm-sized oval face, almond-shaped eyes, and a straight nose. Her lips were beautifully shaped, but they had no color at all. Her face was deathly pale.

She turned away, refusing the spoon held to her lips.

The clear, luminous eyes that usually sparkled now looked clouded and sullen. Even her voice was sharp with irritation.

The woman she refused wasn’t offended. A gentle smile still curved her lips as she coaxed the girl like a child. She even blew on the spoon before trying to feed her again.

“That won’t do.”

“Without me watching, Little Ling would pour the medicine out.”

Her voice was soft, but left no room for argument.

Only when the girl’s face flushed with embarrassment did Qi Jinyu finally lower the spoon, looking rather disappointed.

“All right, all right. I won’t tease you anymore.”

With a quiet laugh, Qi leaned back a little, then propped her chin on her hand and watched the girl drink her medicine.

Yu Ling gritted her teeth, glaring furiously at Qi Jinyu for forcing her to take it.

They were close in age, but Qi Jinyu had a gentle, easygoing air. Her eyes were always slightly curved, and she seemed to smile before she even spoke.

With a face that beautiful and eyes that tender, it was hard for anyone to refuse her when she asked for something.

Anyone but Yu Ling.

Yu Ling was thoroughly exasperated by Qi Jinyu’s habit of teasing her, then backing off the moment she looked ready to lose her temper.

The bitterness of the medicine made Yu Ling’s eyes flicker. She looked up and announced irritably, “I’m going to school tomorrow.”

Qi Jinyu answered at once. “Then I’ll come pick you up, Little Ling.”

“I’ve already called Lu Li.”

Qi’s smile didn’t waver. “That’s fine. I’ll go with A-Li to pick you up.”

Yu Ling had expected exactly that kind of answer, so she wasn’t surprised by the prospect of both of them coming to get her.

But that wasn’t what she was really getting at.

“I’m running in next week’s grade president election.”

Qi Jinyu showed no surprise at all, as if Yu Ling’s announcement were the most natural thing in the world.

“Of course. Our Little Ling can do it.” Her voice was soft as a piece of candy settling into cotton.

This time, Yu Ling was the one taken aback.

Tomorrow would be only her third day at school since starting her senior year at Teitan Academy.

Qi Jinyu, meanwhile, was the most principled and conscientious student council president at the academy.

More importantly—

Yu Ling could barely walk on her own for ten minutes. She needed someone to look after her almost every moment of the day. Her legs were disabled, and she was in poor health besides.

And she had a terrible temper.

Yu Ling had been playing the part of the haughty, hot-tempered Eldest Miss with meticulous dedication.

It was her first mission world. She couldn’t afford to make a single mistake.

Since this was her first assignment, Yu Ling had no idea how far she was supposed to take the act. She could only puzzle over the few keywords she’d been given.

Tsundere? Hot-tempered? Eldest Miss?

Yu Ling bossed around the other Eldest Miss, whose family was just as distinguished as her own.

“I want grapes.”

The room was tidy and warm. Beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows lay a lovely garden and a clear lake, where a gardener was trimming the flower beds. The elegant villa sat right in the heart of the city; it was worth a fortune.

Yu Ling was propped up in bed, a soft quilt covering her lower body. Qi Jinyu sat in a chair beside her, watching her every move with gentle attention.

Being ordered around by the Eldest Miss, Qi Jinyu immediately stood and headed for the kitchen to fetch fresh grapes from the fridge and peel them for poor, helpless Yu Ling.

Before she left, she reminded her, “Don’t move around, Little Ling. If you need anything, just call me. I’ll come right away.”

Her eyes tilted warmly at the corners as she gave Yu Ling a careful once-over. Only then did she leave, reassured.

Yu Ling watched Qi Jinyu’s retreating figure with a gloomy expression.

Her chestnut curls fell to her waist, her figure was graceful, and her modern Chinese-style dress lent her the gentle beauty of someone from another age.

Qi was only going to be gone for a few minutes, yet she’d fussed over Yu Ling from start to finish, as if she adored her.

The problem was, Yu Ling’s mission was to win over the protagonists of each world!

And here she was, convinced she hadn’t done a thing, while Qi Jinyu already seemed to have won herself over.

Yu Ling frowned, the usual petulance in her eyes turning sullen.

She thought back over everything she’d done since arriving in this world.

Perhaps to make things easier for a first-time Transmigrator, her life here had begun in infancy.

When she was five, an accident had happened, just as the world’s storyline dictated. She’d been left with a permanent leg disability, and her health had deteriorated until she’d practically been raised on medicine.

The Yu family was wealthy and powerful. They couldn’t bear to leave their precious daughter in a hospital, so they brought a top team of medical specialists to the family estate.

Even so, Yu Ling hardly ever left the house. Her frail body left her no energy to interact with the outside world.

So although she’d lived through this world from childhood onward, she hadn’t had much contact with its protagonists.

Or so Yu Ling believed.

Lu Li was one thing. They were the same age, and their families had introduced them as soon as the girls learned to walk. After Yu Ling’s accident, Lu Li couldn’t visit often, but she still came to the Yu estate from time to time, trying her best to chat with Yu Ling despite the serious little face she always wore.

But Qi Jinyu was another matter. Yu Ling still couldn’t work out what had made Qi so close to her.

She’d only seen Qi a handful of times, on the rare days when she was lucid.

Then, after entering her senior year and finally improving enough to live a relatively normal life with other people’s help, Yu Ling had the energy to pay attention to those around her.

That was when she realized just how astonishingly attentive Qi Jinyu had become.

Qi was two years older than Yu Ling and Lu Li, but now she attended Teitan Academy alongside them.

Teitan Academy was a school for the wealthy and powerful, with an education system all its own.

Middle school lasted four years, and high school five. Graduates left with credentials equivalent to a master’s degree, making it an ideal place for the young heirs and heiresses who would one day inherit their family businesses.

Yu Ling and Lu Li were in their third year of high school. Qi Jinyu was in her fifth.

Yu Ling had just turned eighteen a few days ago.

She also had a younger sister. Though only in her first year of high school, her sister was already so busy that Yu Ling rarely saw her at home.

Her younger sister was one of this world’s protagonists, too, but Yu Ling didn’t think winning her over necessarily meant romance.

After all, the mission’s detailed requirements said she needed to bring a protagonist’s Emotional Fluctuation to its maximum.

The veterans had told her that love was the easiest way to do that. But it wasn’t the only kind of feeling. There was family affection, for instance, and friendship.

Yu Ling had no memories from before she became a Transmigrator. When she arrived in her first world and discovered that all three protagonists were women, she’d been pretty surprised.

Still, she’d quickly accepted it and started thinking about how to complete the mission.

As for her younger sister, even with no blood relation between them, Yu Ling’s sense of propriety had instinctively ruled out romance and placed her firmly in the family category.

There were more possibilities with Lu Li and Qi Jinyu.

Yu Ling had no experience, so she could only take things as they came and see which of them felt most strongly about her.

Unfortunately, she couldn’t check anyone’s Affection Value. She could only find out whether she’d completed her mission after she died at a specific point in the story.

While Yu Ling frowned in thought, Qi Jinyu quickly peeled the grapes and brought them over.

Amused by the girl’s furrowed brows, Qi speared a freshly peeled grape and held it out to her.

“Was your medicine that bitter? Why the long face?”

“Here, Little Ling. Open up. Ahh.” Qi’s voice was full of laughter.

When Yu Ling glared at her, Qi’s slender fingers turned the pick around, bringing the grape to her own lips instead.

Yu Ling couldn’t believe it.

“You…”

Those are my grapes!

She didn’t say it aloud, but her wounded, indignant eyes said it for her.

Just as before, Qi wasn’t swayed in the slightest by Yu Ling’s reproachful stare. Her lips still curved in a smile, and her voice remained gentle.

“Does Little Ling want some grapes?”

“Obviously!”

“Then what am I supposed to do? I want some too. I did peel them myself, after all.”

The protagonists favored by the World Consciousness were naturally blessed with looks and family backgrounds. Every one of them was exceptional in every way.

Qi’s eyes were so soft they were almost sultry. Her gaze lingered over Yu Ling from head to toe, as sticky and tender as honey.

No one could help getting lost in that kind of warmth.

This was usually Qi Jinyu’s opening move before she tried to claim a little reward.

But how could a haughty, hot-tempered Eldest Miss give in to her?

“I’m not eating them anymore.”

Yu Ling held her pretty face stiff, refusing to engage with Qi Jinyu.

“Qi Jinyu, get out of my room.”

What a temper. Yu Ling was sure she was playing the part perfectly.

She frowned and said coldly, “I’m tired.”

Then she rolled over, turning her back on the person who’d made her angry.

Qi Jinyu blinked, as if only now realizing she’d gone a little too far.

“No, Little Ling. I know I was wrong.” She pleaded softly, “Don’t kick me out, okay?”

Her apology sounded entirely sincere. She even lowered herself just to ask Yu Ling to let her stay.

Yu Ling waited a few seconds, listening to Qi Jinyu’s “remorseful” pleas. Only then did she speak, unhurriedly.

“Hmph. I’m not exactly a patient person.”

She slowly turned around, about to face Qi Jinyu again, when—

Two soft lips pressed against hers.

Yu Ling’s eyes flew open. Her mouth parted without thinking.

She was pinned between the wall behind her and the woman in front of her.

The tip of her nose, usually filled with the bitter scent of Chinese medicine, was now saturated with the fragrance of Qi Jinyu, like white tea blossoms.

Yu Ling felt as if she were soaking in a hot spring, hazy and light-headed. The breath stolen from her left her briefly dazed.

Qi’s warm tongue gently parted her teeth. Their saliva mingled, along with the taste of Qi herself and the sweetness of grapes.

A plump, sweet grape passed from Qi’s mouth into Yu Ling’s.

She felt even more light-headed.

This body was hopeless.

Yu Ling blinked rapidly, her lashes fluttering, and saw Qi with her eyes closed, kissing her intently.

Even now, though Qi had been the one to lean in, her expression remained so calm and gentle it was as if she weren’t the one doing this at all.

Thud.

Something heavy hit the floor.

Out of the corner of her eye, Yu Ling saw a black-haired beauty standing in the doorway. She had no idea when Lu Li had arrived.

Lu Li’s face was cold as ice.