Reborn into the Obsessive Love of a Dark and Twisted Shadow Queen - Chapter 10

Chu Xueyi walked as if a ghost were chasing her, her steps hurried and frantic, like a duck desperately paddling across a lake.

No need to rush so much, is there? Ji Qingshu remarked, though the corners of his lips curled upward slightly, clearly amused by his rival’s misfortune.

If we don’t hurry, we’ll be late, Chu Xueyi retorted, though she knew in her heart whether she was truly trying to avoid Su Shiyu or simply eager to get to the training grounds.

Can I ask you something? Ji Qingshu hesitated, then decided he needed to understand why Chu Xueyi had suddenly turned against Su Shiyu. If Su Shiyu had some terrible flaw that repulsed Chu Xueyi, perhaps he could learn from it and change himself.

But…

Chu Xueyi refused to elaborate.

I know what you want to ask, Qing Shu… but I’m sorry, this is a private matter.

Ji Qingshu had barely met Su Shiyu before pressing her for answers. It was obvious who he wanted to know about.

But Chu Xueyi had no intention of tearing open the scar on her heart again.

Alright, if you don’t want to talk about it, I won’t press you.

Until the day you’re willing to tell me yourself… Ji Qingshu thought inwardly, growing increasingly anxious. What if Chu Xueyi fell for another woman? Would his waiting be in vain?

No.

He needed to accelerate his plans.

At the very least, he had to lure her into his trap and spring the mechanism. Ji Qingshu refused to believe that Chu Xueyi could escape the meticulously crafted web he had woven.

The two walked in silence, their footsteps echoing rhythmically against the rough ground tap-tap-tap.

They soon arrived at the rehearsal stage, where all the student performers had already gathered.

The moment they entered, the room fell silent. As Chu Xueyi scanned the familiar faces and the familiar setting, it belatedly dawned on her how she had escaped her predicament the previous day.

It was all thanks to Ji Qingshu.

Aaaah!

Chu Xueyi, what were you thinking just now?

Did a donkey kick your brain? Even if Ji Qingshu has ulterior motives, turning your back on someone who saved your life is utterly ungrateful!

Chu Xueyi’s fingers curled slightly as she recalled the string of foolish things she had done. She was at a loss for words.

Why are you standing there? Are you feeling unwell?

Ji Qingshu approached her, her eyes filled with concern, even more attentive to Chu Xueyi’s mood than her own mother.

No, Chu Xueyi replied.

I’m sorry. I was in a bad mood earlier and spoke a bit harshly.

Apologizing? This is my personal matter…

Chu Xueyi, when you asked for help, no one said helping was a favor, not an obligation.

Qing Shu, after rehearsal, let’s all go out for dinner together. My treat.

The only way Chu Xueyi could think to make up for her rudeness was to treat everyone to dinner.

But inviting Qing Shu alone would be too ambiguous, so she had to include the whole group. After all, other classmates had also helped rescue her at the venue yesterday.

She couldn’t just ignore them.

Sure, that sounds great.

But I don’t blame you for being cold earlier, Xueyi. You were just in a bad mood—that’s perfectly normal.

As Ji Qingshu spoke, she stepped closer, her slender finger tapping Chu Xueyi’s upturned nose.

Consider this dinner my reward for saving you.

Chu Xueyi !

This person is too perceptive! She can see right through me. From now on, I’ll have to be more careful around Ji Qingshu and hide my true feelings with a bit of acting.

Okay… fine.

Then this young lady will reluctantly overlook your stealing a kiss from my photo and your secret crush on me.

Chu Xueyi thought this to herself, but of course, she didn’t say it aloud. They briefly agreed on a time for the afternoon.

Arriving at the venue, Chu Xueyi first led the other students through a quick read-through of the general plot. Since there was already a film adaptation, they could simply follow the camera angles and shots.

Besides, they weren’t film majors there was no need to innovate. They just needed to emulate the actors’ performances.

During the read-through, there were several lines of flirtatious dialogue. When Chu Xueyi delivered them with her acting skills, they felt perfectly natural.

But afterward, she felt a strange unease.

After all, among everyone present, she was likely the only one who knew that Ji Qingshu secretly harbored feelings for her.

How well has she been hiding it? Chu Xueyi wondered. In my past life, I had no idea at all. What exactly does Ji Qingshu like about me?

With time pressing, they soon had to begin filming. Ji Qingshu placed her coat on a nearby chair and stepped onto the stage.

Their filming schedule naturally didn’t follow the film’s chronological order. Instead, they shot scenes based on who was available and who wasn’t, who was prepared and who wasn’t.

Seeing Ji Qingshu alone on stage, the others froze. Some hadn’t even memorized their lines yet.

Chu Xueyi glanced around. She couldn’t let Ji Qingshu perform a solo act, so she set down her script and walked over.

Perfect, our first scene today.

Just you and me, Xueyi.

Ji Qingshu’s soft tongue swept across her white teeth, a flicker of delight crossing her mind. She had deliberately taken the stage so early, knowing Chu Xueyi’s fiercely competitive nature would compel her to follow.

We rehearsed our lines yesterday and understand the script. The other students are bound to be less prepared.

Chu Xueyi simply shook her head slightly. If there was one lesson she had learned in this reborn life, it was the importance of humility. Otherwise, she’d easily be accused of throwing her weight around.

She recalled the time she had asked her assistant to hold her iced milk tea because it was too cold to hold. The assistant, in a moment of stubbornness, insisted on standing in the sun until the drink was no longer cold.

The resulting news headlines nearly made her choke on her own bl00d

Shocking! Actress Chu Xueyi Suspected of Diva Behavior Punishes Assistant by Making Her Stand in the Sun with Milk Tea!

Chu Xueyi’s Cruel Heart Maliciously Exploits Workers!

Despite doing nothing wrong, Chu Xueyi endured days of relentless online harassment. From then on, she learned to keep a low profile.

When others praised her, Chu Xueyi would modestly reply, Thank you, thank you.

You’re too kind, Senior.

This had become such a habit that she now automatically downplayed compliments most of the time.

As for her assistant, Chu Xueyi was particularly careful and cautious, treating them as a colleague of equal standing whenever possible.

True, Ji Qingshu agreed with a smile, stepping closer to explain the scene they were about to film. Just before the cameras rolled, Chu Xueyi glanced at the script one last time.

What she saw made her jump.

The scene required her, as the wealthy heiress, to slap the male lead!

Chu Xueyi’s lips twitched. She had already criticized this part of the script during rehearsals, never imagining Ji Qingshu would specifically choose this absurd scene to perform.

This movie is ridiculous! Why are there so many scenes of rich young ladies bullying their servants?

In the film, the male lead was a man, so he could withstand the slap. But Ji Qingshu wasn’t! Chu Xueyi worried she might accidentally hit too hard.

Then she remembered Ji Qingshu had practiced fake falls. So, she must have practiced being slapped too, Chu Xueyi reasoned, relaxing slightly. I probably don’t need to worry too much.