I Became the Female Lead’s Current Obsession - Chapter 27

Jiang Xing led the group to the entrance of the resort, where a woman in professional attire stood waiting for them with a practiced smile.

Hou Xue trailed behind the group. She wasn’t close to anyone—except for Jiang Qing.

In contrast, the newcomer Sun Qian had already warmed up to everyone. Though she looked shy and demure on the surface, she was actually lively and outgoing—a social butterfly whose first impression was misleadingly reserved.

Jiang Qing kept glancing toward the back of the group but still asked, “Why’d you bring your little cousin along, Xu Miao?”

Xu Miao replied, “Honestly, Qian rarely gets to go out. She’s been pestering me for ages about this, so I finally agreed. Then it just happened to line up with your plans, so I brought her along.”

“She doesn’t get to go out?” Jiang Qing picked up on the implication.

“Qian has a heart condition. Her family’s been very strict since she was young,” Xu Miao sighed. “So, I’ve got my hands full. And her personality is… a bit impulsive? But she means well. I noticed your Hou Xue seemed a bit…”

“Wait a minute,” Jiang Qing interrupted. “Who’s my Hou Xue?”

“Obviously yours. Why, are you two fighting?” Xu Miao teased lightly, “Weren’t you inseparable before the break? Now you’re pretending not to know her?”

“…Don’t worry,” Jiang Qing said calmly. “Hou Xue wouldn’t be interested in your little cousin.”

“You know her that well?” Xu Miao asked.

“Yeah.” Jiang Qing’s voice was steady. “She wouldn’t care.”

Xu Miao glanced back at Hou Xue, who was still following silently behind them. Something about Jiang Qing’s tone was both sour and strange, but Xu Miao was the empathetic type—she wouldn’t deliberately stir up drama.

“Oh right, I’ve been meaning to ask—why are you suddenly into turtlenecks?”

Jiang Qing: “…” She knew this would come up.

While the two bantered, the group of six had already reached the woman in the business suit. Jiang Xing stepped forward and introduced her: “This is Ms. Han, our coordinator.”

“Hello, everyone. I’m Han Lu, your main point of contact at the International Resort. If you need anything or have any issues, I’ll be here to help. I hope you all enjoy your stay,” Han Lu said with a polished smile.

Her features were sharp, her makeup dramatic, giving her a striking and elegant presence.

In truth, the group was still made up of teenagers. Jiang Qing, both in age and mindset, was the oldest among them, so it was only natural that she fell into the role of leader. Thankfully, Han Lu seemed professional enough—perhaps she knew who these kids were, and showed no condescension or annoyance.

“Let’s get everyone checked in and settled first,” Han Lu said, leading them toward the hotel. “Right now, we have both standalone villas and hotel suites available. There happen to be three villas left. You’ll find descriptions on page five of this booklet—feel free to choose based on your preference.” She handed each of them a brochure.

Sun Qian flipped through hers enthusiastically and tugged on Xu Miao’s sleeve, pointing at one of the villas and whispering, “Cousin, I like this one.”

Han Lu noticed and said, “That villa was originally reserved for couples. Since we’re still in the soft-opening phase, we’ve opened it to all guests—but do note, the decor and setup follow a couples’ theme, so choose wisely.”

Jiang Qing had been leisurely flipping through the booklet, but froze when she heard that.

Couples’ suites?

The group pairings had already been silently decided—everyone knew who they’d end up with. Jiang Xing and Yuan Yu were looking at one booklet together, and Sun Qian and Xu Miao had clearly voiced their desire to stay in a villa.

Jiang Qing’s mind raced. Just as she was about to close her booklet and tell Han Lu she preferred a hotel suite, a familiar scent enveloped her.

It was that scent she could never get enough of.

“Let’s stay in a villa together, okay?” Hou Xue approached from behind and leaned close, her fingers resting on the open booklet. She tilted her head and whispered, “Jie.”

Jiang Qing’s brain went blank.

It felt like a firework went off beside her ear, then traveled from her earlobe down her spine and into her brain, making her want to shiver. She felt like a lone traveler, bewitched by the siren’s call in the middle of an endless sea. The words “okay” nearly slipped out before she even thought.

Hou Xue was clearly trying to make peace—and that was cheating. Jiang Qing had always been weak to her calling her “Jie.”

She wanted to give her the whole world.

But weren’t they still on bad terms? After days of tension, could she really be swayed by a single soft “Jie”? That was hardly dignified.

She sighed, but didn’t pull away immediately—for once, she didn’t reject the closeness. A few extra seconds didn’t hurt.

Hou Xue, of course, was more than happy to stay close. Her smile was hard to hide.

Only Han Lu seemed to notice anything. She lingered on them for a few seconds before quickly looking away, careful not to let either girl catch her watching.

Jiang Xing and Yuan Yu didn’t think much of it. The idea of a “couples’ suite” didn’t faze them—they assumed it just meant flowers and mood lighting, nothing major.

The other pairs had already made their choices, so if Jiang Qing hesitated now, it might draw even more attention—especially since all eyes were now subtly on her and Hou Xue.

“Fine,” Jiang Qing stepped away from Hou Xue and said, “…We’ll take a villa too.”

“Great. Let’s head over now,” Han Lu said, seemingly satisfied. “They’re all in this area—close together.”

The villas were indeed nearby, nestled beside a river and surrounded by mountains. A manmade stream wove between the villas, creating a scenic, serene atmosphere. But only four villas had nameplates.

“The Rose villa has already been taken by another guest. The remaining ones are Bellflower, Gardenia, and Sunflower,” Han Lu said.

Jiang Xing was the first to react, dragging Yuan Yu toward the Sunflower villa. “We’ll take this one. Looks the most normal.”

Xu Miao didn’t say a word—she simply led her cousin to the Bellflower villa. She didn’t know much about flower meanings and didn’t care to overthink. To her, the color alone was more appealing than the stark whiteness of Gardenia.

Jiang Qing, left with no other choice, was assigned the Gardenia villa with Hou Xue.

She missed her chance to pick because she was thinking too hard about the meanings of the flowers.

She had wanted to avoid anything that would make her feel guilty—but in the end, she got Gardenia.

The flower of waiting.

Compared to Bellflower’s “eternity” or Sunflower’s “silent loyalty,” Gardenia’s waiting was the one she wanted least. The implication was too strong. Even if no one else picked up on it, she herself felt uncomfortable.

But there was no going back now.

She braced herself and entered the villa.

It was themed entirely around gardenias. But instead of being overwhelming, the interior was tastefully arranged with beautiful floral compositions—fresh and elegant, easy on the eyes.

The villa even had a backyard. With so many similar units behind it, Jiang Qing figured the price to stay here must be astronomical. No way this place turned a profit.

She headed upstairs and, unfortunately, found only one bedroom.

A double bed.

The bed was scattered with pink gardenia petals—likely a hybrid variety, rather than the usual white.

Truly a couple’s suite. They really went all out.

“This is really for couples, huh?” Jiang Qing muttered as she stared blankly at the petals, about to brush them off.

But before she could move, Hou Xue grabbed her wrist.

“Hmm?” Jiang Qing blinked.

Hou Xue pulled her forward, slipped an arm around her waist, and pressed her onto the bed. She braced herself with one hand while pinning Jiang Qing’s wrist above her head with the other, kneeling beside her, gaze lowered.

The girl lay among the petals, surrounded by a subtle fragrance mixed with fresh greenery.

Hou Xue’s gaze drifted down—from Jiang Qing’s eyes, to her lips, her jaw, and finally, to her collar-covered neck.

Jiang Qing swore under her breath, staring up at her. “What’s wrong with you this time?”

If Hou Xue bit her again, she’d really lose it.

“Do you know what gardenias symbolize…?” Hou Xue suddenly asked.

“…No,” Jiang Qing lied.

“They mean waiting,” Hou Xue said slowly. Her eyes narrowed. “I want you to know—I can…”

Jiang Qing raised an eyebrow and suddenly hooked her leg around Hou Xue’s waist, cutting her off. The look of surprise in Hou Xue’s eyes was clear.

Jiang Qing quickly flipped her over, gripping her wrists and shoulders.

“Don’t talk,” she said, pressing her thumb to Hou Xue’s lips. Her intent had been to stop the conversation—but the softness beneath her fingertip made her pause. “Why are your lips…” so soft?

Hou Xue always seemed cold and aloof. Her lips were thin—the typical look of someone emotionally distant.

So why did they feel this warm?

Jiang Qing, a little stunned, rubbed her thumb across them again—harder this time.

“Mm…” Hou Xue frowned slightly.

Clearly, her stepsister wasn’t being gentle.

That little frown and soft noise stirred something in Jiang Qing. She leaned in, inch by inch, toward those warm, pink lips.

Hou Xue froze, wide-eyed, seemingly in disbelief—but she didn’t resist.

She was willing. Maybe even eager.

Jiang Qing was satisfied by the reaction, but just as she was about to kiss those slightly swollen lips, she tilted her head—deliberately missing the mark.

“Jiang Qing…” Hou Xue’s voice was low and raspy, full of protest.

Though she didn’t kiss her, Jiang Qing didn’t pull away.

Instead, she opened her mouth—and bit gently into the pale curve of Hou Xue’s neck.

She knew exactly where the mark had been left on herself.

Hou Xue had bitten her there.

Jiang Qing smiled, but didn’t bite down hard. She simply grazed the skin with her teeth—deliberately, teasingly.

It was… unmistakably flirtatious.

In the end, she left only a faint red mark. Compared to the angry bruise hidden beneath her own collar, this one was barely noticeable—more like the kind of mark left behind from something else entirely.

If she had hoped to return three-tenths of the damage, this wasn’t even one.

Jiang Qing laughed at herself for being soft. She got off Hou Xue and straightened her clothes.

“That makes us even,” she said.

Hou Xue lay on the bed, touching the red mark with cool fingers.

It didn’t hurt—not like Jiang Qing’s did.

She couldn’t figure Jiang Qing out at all.

Returning the items was meant to draw a clear boundary—but the amount Jiang Qing returned felt more like a mockery. On top of that, she even added something new.

Hou Xue pressed her lips together, a dull ache spreading in her chest.

This… would probably remain an entanglement with no end.

But it didn’t matter. She could wait—just like that half-sentence she never got the chance to say: I can wait. Wait for you to be brave, even if that bravery takes a lifetime.

And there was no need to explain anything to Jiang Qing anymore. Her choice had already made everything clear. That lingering reluctance to cut ties completely had already betrayed the truth buried deep in her heart—truths she herself didn’t dare to confront.